Area News Spring 2016
Spring is… "the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine..." Frances Hodgson Burnett
How's the Lake?
When will the ice go out? On April 22, there was still a lot of ice on the lake. About 11 inches total, but only half of that is clear ice. Fairly cool temperatures over the next week are likely to keep the ice around a bit longer. Chances are good that the ice will be gone by the end of April.
How's the Road?
A common topic of conversation around the lake, the condition of the road is even more popular than the weather. Spring is here indeed, and the road surely shows it. Potholes galore! But no sucking mud…yet. The Roads Board section was graded last week. Hopefully the city will grade the rest of the road soon.
Spring Cleaning - - Tipping Fee Holiday
The Greater City of Sudbury Spring clean-up / tipping fee holiday is from May 2nd to 7th.
Kukagami area residents are advised to deliver their solid non-hazardous waste to the Sudbury Site (Hwy 17 East, about 2 km past Mid-North Motors, across from the Chateau Guay Motel - Moonlight Avenue intersection). Click here to go to the city website with details.
Forestry Update:
The only logging currently scheduled will occur around Ashigami Lake this summer. You can see the planning maps here. Click on Sudbury Forest, then go to Annual Work Schedule, Maps, then Operations. Look for Operations 5305160 for Ashigami, and Operations 5305170 for Kukagami (there is no logging planned around Kukagami Lake, but the map is interesting.) Vermillion Forest Management staff are available to do field trips with us this spring or
summer. Contact KEWatch@gmail.com if you would like to participate.
There may be some aerial herbicide spraying … KEW will send info on this if it is planned.
Standing trees are important for wild life species, and for recovery of the land.
Please do not cut any standing trees in the logged areas.
Firewood may be gathered from the sites, but only wood that has already been cut at the side of the dirt roads. You will need to contact Bert Gauthier at 705-564-7853 at MNRF to purchase a permit. The permits are very inexpensive.
Spring Road Clean-up
Once the snow finally melts away, KEW will host the annual spring Road Clean up! Between now and May 8th, you can sign up to clear the litter from a section of Kukagami and Fox Roads. To register for your section of the road, drop a line here at kewatch@gmail.com .
Bring a friend – it's a fine way to spend a spring day while at camp.
**Please note! The City wants us to sort the roadside trash into separate bags of recyclables and garbage. We have clear bags for the recyclables, and black bags for the garbage. Please let us know if you need these supplies!**
Please wear a bright orange vest while working, and keep yourself safe!
Sky Watch Mars is getting bright! Here's why…
Earth will pass between Mars and the sun about a month from now, on May 22. Mars is bright when it and Earth are on the same side of the sun. It's faint when it and Earth are on opposite sides of the sun. The best months for Mars viewing in 2016 are May and June. But the planet remains bright throughout the summer of 2016. Watch for it in the evening sky!
Bonus! This week, the moon is near the planet Saturn. Find them both near the moon in the predawn sky on April 25th.
Snowbird Report Vicki Thurlow
Living in two different locations didn't seem to faze me too much the first couple of years but as I age things change...and I don't just mean the usual bagging, sagging & nagging. Packing to head south for the winter, or head north for the summer, never seemed to be such a chore. I know I'm supposed to pack "light" as we travel both ways with relatives & so must be considerate of the other couple. The dog comes along as well but he is never a problem, just say "car ride, Winston" & the old boy jumps for joy, barks like crazy, then flops down on his blanket & promptly falls asleep. As long as he is with his Mom & Dad, he's happy....actually he's usually comatose in the comfort of the car.
I used to be too but I'm wondering if either age or lack of time has changed my view point. Little things that I laughed at before have suddenly become annoying. I feel slighted & rushed as I'm told to "pack light", "don't bring anything unnecessary" & "really? You will actually need/use this?" It takes me about 2 hours to pack up the suitcases to head in any direction so I figure I do well. This past winter our Xmas/45th anniversary/birthday/Mothers' & Fathers' Day gifts were all rolled into one, a cruise on the Oasis of the Seas. That of course meant packing formal wear, dress shoes, jewelry, evening bags etc. NO DEAR...THE DINING ROOM WILL NOT LET YOU WEAR SHORTS TO DINNER! I can't count the number of times I heard "I'll never get this all in the car". Once in the car, I felt crowded in my seat, no room to move, the dog insisted on sitting in my lap BOTH WAYS, north & south. Our beloved aunt & uncle brought all their usual baggage, coolers, boxes, briefcase, shoes etc. & assortment of junk food for the trips. Getting out of the car at rest stops was an adventure. By the time I managed to get the dog over into the seat vacated by auntie, drop his pillow & blanket on top of him, undo my seat belt, root around until I found his leash under shoes, purses, junk food bags, tablets, cameras etc. & then try to find the poop bag...the other three were heading back to the car, anxious to hit the road again. Hey, wait a minute; I'm not going to make it to the next rest stop unless I hit the ladies room NOW! It seemed no matter where we stopped, they were always waiting for me.
We are like gypsies this time of year. At the time of writing this, we have been in Whitby to drop off the aunt & uncle & are now currently in Ottawa visiting our oldest son. Gorgeous weather here & have not seen any snow since leaving Kukagami in November. That too is a change as on last year's trip home we saw patches of snow from Michigan all the way up to Sudbury. Temperatures have been great, lots of people in shorts. So why is it that our neighbors tell us it will be another week to 10 days before we can hope to get into our driveway? In a couple of days we'll leave here to "visit" with our other son as our gypsy ways continue, thanks to Mother Nature.
Time already seems to be speeding by & as we pack & unpack at two homes, twice a year it seems to go even faster. While not all change is welcomed, I certainly should not complain as I am fortunate enough to enjoy mine so much, no matter where I am.
Don't sweat the small stuff. Welcome each & every day that you have left & take joy in what each has to offer!
Stories Requested!
A great many young people bought Kukagami lakeshore properties in the late 1950's. Now, far too many of these aging men and women are passing away. Their children and grandchildren now enjoy life at Kukagami, simply because we were lucky enough to have parents and grandparents who forged the way. KEW would like to encourage all generations to send stories, memories, events for future issues of this newsletter.
Submissions for the Summer issue need to arrive by early July: kewatch@gmail.com .
Website and Newsletter
The KEW newsletter is published quarterly, and sent by email to any interested person. If you know anyone who would like to receive the KEW newsletter, send his or her e-mail address to kewatch@gmail.com.
** If you would like to be removed from the list, please reply to this address.**
