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Text Box: The Highland Lakes Newsette welcomes letters from Highland Lakes members on a variety of topics. Letters must include the member’s name, address and telephone number. We regret that the Newsette staff cannot acknowledge receipt of the letters or return unpublished letters. Letters chosen to be published may be shortened for space purposes. Letters must be received at least ten days in advance of a schedule publication date.

 

 

 

 

A Thank You From a Grateful Skater

March '08

On January 26, 2008 I was enjoying ice-skating in the area of Beach 3 when suddenly my skate blades went through the ice and my body followed immediately. I quickly determined that I could not get out by myself. In a very short time, a white SUV, with four passengers, pulled into the beach parking area and immediately realized my dilemma. One man started towards me and his son (I assume) followed with a hockey stick. The man laid down on the ice and pushed the stick to me. Grabbing on to the stick, I was out quickly. I did notice their SUV had Ohio license plates. The next day I drove around Highland Lakes trying to locate this SUV to sincerely thank them which, in the commotion, I don’t believe I did.

By the time I reached the beach, Chris P. from Highland Lakes Security was pulling in and behind him was a member of the ambulance squad who had decided to come to the site rather than the ambulance building (good choice) – all in approximately 7 minutes, I would guess. Soon after, the ambulance and Vernon police arrived. The response time was very impressive! My heartfelt thanks to all responders and to the person who called 911.

My friend presented me with a “pair of picks” manufactured specifically for pulling yourself out, which I will wear around my neck for easy access when I am ice-skating “with someone”!

Thank you all again from a very appreciative member of the Highland Lakes community!

Herb Carlough

 

In Defense of Our Trees

March '08

On a still, cold walk the ice crackles, cedars cast dark shadows; the temperature hovers near twenty. It is surely the dead of winter. It is surely no place to spend time observing nature. Nothing seems to move.

But in the silence there are interruptions, evidences of life near out homes. A woodpecker drums out a rhythm on a dead tree, perhaps a Maple. The smaller woodpeckers, the Downy and the Hairy are no rivals of the larger Red Bellied, and even that is eclipsed by the vigorous digging of the Pileated woodpecker. These sounds we hear, steady and persistent, the sound is welcome, the sight of this energetic Downy even more so, it’s patch so distinctive and bright. Acrobatic chickadees keep up a cheery avian conversation. Curious as they are, they never neglect their search for tiny tidbits hidden along the black birch twigs. Food is essential to these wild beings.  Life depends on their success in finding enough in the trees to sustain themselves through the stresses of a winter environment.

Tall hemlock grow in drier ground. There is always a possibility of finding a hunter owl’s nest in these evergreens. You may see a great horned owl perched close to the trunk, erect, watchful and silent. Their white droppings, too are a giveaway. Searching the ground beneath sometimes turns up a pellet made of regurgitated bones, fur and feathers from a captured mouse, rabbit or pheasant. Juncos may be seen also foraging in a clear tree protected space beneath.

It is much too early to feel or hear or find the real spring: but a broken twig may show a few drops of sap or a taste of sassafras or Sweet Birch.  Daylight about the middle of the month will become noticeably longer; snow, too, if we have a late winter storm will melt faster. The vagaries of the thermometer will show more favorable ups than downs – a pleasing prospect.

Trees have so much to offer to us fresh air, leaves for mulch, shade, beauty and needed food and shelter to our wildlife neighbors.

D. Cooper