The Ice Man Cometh (Hopefully)

Mohegan Lakers,

Did the record setting temperatures in December give you the SAD's?  Me too.  Good news though.  Temps seem to be getting back to normal, with normal being colder than a witches tit.  Since I leave when it's dark and come home when it's dark, I can't supply a picture, but the lake is now partially frozen.  Yay.  Oooooh, and look at this forecast from the National Weather Service (don't trust any other):

Hope to see you on the ice soon!

Mohegan Lake Day Is Going To Be Hot

Both literally and figuratively.  It's this Sunday.  Schedule below the National Weather Service forecast icon. 

You're going, right?

Petition Party At The MHPOA Beach This Sunday!

There’s actually two parties coming up this Sunday and Monday. Petitions must be signed after 6/2/2015 and returned the the election commission by the 28th. We need over 500 signatures to get our candidates on the Democratic line. It’s a big pain in that election district leaders--similar to our Republican counterparts--normally walk around to peoples houses and solicit signatures.
This year, in additional to surprising you at home, we are inviting you to events where--if you are so inclined and a registered democrat--can come and sign our petitions. We have a list of all registered Democrats in town we can reference, in case you are unsure of your affiliation.
We hope to see you there as it’s a lot less awkward than banging on your door unannounced.

• Party #1 will be from 1-4PM Sunday, 6/14/15 at the Mohegan Highlands Property Owners Association beach located on Mohegan Lake (literally) at 3395 Mohegan Avenue, Mohegan Lake, NY 10547. Hosted by Evan Bray.
• Party #2 will be from 6-8PM Monday, 6/15/15 at Scott Carson’s home located at 1295 Winslow Drive, Yorktown, NY 10598.

Look how fun our beach is.

The Most Important News For Mohegan Lake In Some Time

We got approval for a copper sulfate treatment to control the flaming algae bloom we get every year.  On to aluminum sulfate, hopefully.  Looking forward to a full season of swimming.  No pool pass for us this year. 

Here's a note from MLID president Ken Belfer:

Thanks to the hard work of Laura Kosbar, who prepared the application and handled the follow up, we have received the permit from NYS DEC to apply copper sulfate this season to Mohegan Lake.  The first application date has not yet been set, but will be in June.  Notices will be posted at all of the beaches, as well as an email notification sent to spread the word.  The application will be done during the week, and there will be no swimming allowed for 24 hours after the application.  Let's hope this will allow us to have a swimmable lake for the entire summer this season.

Yay!  And a big thanks to the dedication of a very few number of people in our community on this matter.  They know who they are.  Are you involved with MLID?  Should you be?

MLID Meeting Minutes

MLID minutes are a thing now because Shelley, from the Mohegan Highlands Property Owners Association, is the best.  Keep thinking about how you can contribute to, or passively or actively (think canoe races) participate in, Mohegan Lake day on July 12th.  Without further ado, the informal minutes:

"Big Ben" at MHPOA's Turtle Cove

 Hi all—

For those who missed Thursday’s meeting, here’s a quick recap:

Algae: Copper sulfate permit process continues; we’ve got only one bid on application, but we’d like to have the first application in a couple of weeks to get a good start.

Lake maintenance: Wayne, our lake manager, has hired two returning helpers and they’ll be out on the lake more after their boats are back from repairs. The harvester is also in the shop; Wayne is looking into replacing it with a new one next year. We’re also looking into the possibility of offsetting the cost by cooperating with other lakes, for example offering to clear Shrub Oak Park’s lake, which they currently hire out, in return for a cost offset for us.

They are also working towards putting an aeration station near Mohegan Highlands.

Mid-Hudson Lake Meeting: Just what it sounds like. Friday, July 24, at a lovely location in Putnam County.

Boats: Mohegan Colony has ordered stickers to identify/register all of their boats. We talked about all the benefits of doing this lakewide, so Ken is getting pricing info to see if MLID can just order enough stickers for all of the associations. Current plan is to give each association a run of stickers and leave them to establish how they want to use them. We doubt we can make it mandatory, but having a boat registration action on Lake Day would be a good start. Having a registry of boats with ID numbers would be excellent.

Lake Day:  The day looks like this so far:

9-10:30: Fishing Derby - Mohegan Beach Park.

11-1: Turtle Whisperer and Kids’ games - MHPOA. (The feedback I’m getting is that they would like a shorter time slot. Maybe an hour and a half?)

1:30-2:30: Boat races - Section 1.

4:30: storytelling, followed by potluck with live music, movie, and release of lanterns - Mohegan Colony


We are reaching out to paddleboard/kayak people to try to bring them in for demos, and to get someone to offer water taxi services.

The sooner all of this is locked in place, the sooner we can get out posters/flyers and a press release to the local papers, to let people know about all the great activities we have planned. We need lead time in particular for the MLID newsletter, because mailings have an inherent time drag.

The next meeting is June 11.

Have a great day!

Shelley (MHPOA)

MLID Meeting Thursday, 5/22/2014

I'm having surgery to strip out a Burmese python-sized varicose vein out of my leg and it's daughter # 2's birthday Thursday, so I won't be in attendance, but please do show up to discuss plan B (we're not getting an alum permit this year) and Lake Day planning.  It's very important.  Don't forget, the Brays own the title of fastest canoe on the lake, per last years regatta results, and we don't plan to relinquish the belt!

The Brays, owning it. 

Ultimately the blue-green algae is only a mild skin irritant, at best. If it's your primary drinking source, your pets or kids drink it--you may have some brain issues with the neuro-toxins the algae produces.  I swim late into the season and I'm normal...nevermind.

Official meeting notice:

The endless winter finally passed, and it's definitely spring.  We're faced with some tough questions this year in the Mohegan Lake Improvement District.  In the last two seasons, the County Health Department has closed beaches due to blue green algae.  So far, our record is 0 and 2 in combating excessive blue green algae growth in the lake.  Can we save the 2014 beach season, or will our losing record increase to 0 and 3?  Please join us this Thursday May 22nd at 7:30 P.M. for our MLID meeting to discuss the summer 2014 season.  The harvester is in the water, our lake manager, Wayne Poland, is hard at work, and our summer kids will be starting over the next two weeks.  We will update everyone on the status of our permit application to NYS DEC to apply alum to the lake, discuss a "plan B" if we don't get the permit, review plans for Lake Day (Sunday July 13th), and share ideas for work this season to improve the lake.  We will be meeting at the Calvary Chapel at Mohegan Colony (former Mohegan Colony schoolhouse), 99 Baron de Hirsch Road, Crompond.  Hope to see you there!    Ken

Coyotes On The Prowl

Hi Mohegan Lake Neighbor,

I saw a coyote run through my backyard yesterday evening.  This was after it ate several kittens the cat that lives by us recently had off in the town property south of me.  Mama cat ran to our house and tried to jump on the deck with "Lucky," as we've called the 6 [?] week old baby kitten, in her jaws. 

Lucky.

At about 3 am the wife heard a goose dying a long--full minute at least--death, presumably by coyote too.  She was compelled to yell out the back door because it sounded like a human screaming. I'm actually cool with the goose control, but those poor goslings are so cute.  Remember that time I made that video of them walking to the yakkety-sax?   Or that one of geese and goslings swimming to "Walk Like an Egyptian"? Me too.

I'm just fine thinning the herd with a coyote. It's nature.  It's been pretty goose free up here at the top of the lake today.  Quite.  [queue the eery music and menacing coyote photo].

Question:  If I had a licensed gun and hunter safety card, could I shoot it on my property?  I thought I couldn't discharge a firearm in Westchester, but a little googling makes me think I might be able to if I'm not within 500 feet of a structure. 

Don't forget that Lake Day is This Sunday!

Click here for the schedule and map.

Here's a video of our weed harvester in action last Monday.  Thanks to our lake manager, Wayne, for nursing her back to health.  Glad to see her doing work again.

Mohegan Lake Day 2013

Sunday July 14 will be that time of year again when we celebrate one of Yorktown's natural treasures: Mohegan Lake.  Below is the the official Mohegan Lake Improvement District press release and schedule; attached is a map of our Lake's beaches.  There will be lots of fun, family activities, food, drink and informative presentations all day long.  Oh yeah, and boat races; a regatta if you will.

Rock Hill Park (Holland Sporting Club) – Horton Road

9:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. Volunteer trail work led by Walt Daniels

Section 1 Beach (Mohegan West) -3250 Lakefront Ave.

12:30 P.M. – 2:30 P.M. Registration / Boat Races

1:00-Rowboats, 1:20-Canoes,1:40-Kayaks, 2:00-Sailboats

Note: Personal Flotation Devices mandatory for all racers

Mohegan Highlands Property Owners Association

- right on the curve going up hill on Mohegan Avenue

2:30 P.M. – 3:00 P.M. Presentation: Yorktown Walking Trails

(Including hiking trails near Mohegan Lake) by Jane Daniels

Mohegan Beach Park - Lakeshore at Christine

3:30 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Presentation: Water Quality Testing in Lake

 by Randall Duggan

Amazon Beach - Wenonah Trail

4:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. Beach Games, Meet Your Mohegan Neighbors



Mohegan Colony Beach – Parking lot at end of Oak/High Streets

5:00 P.M. Pot Luck Dinner – Bring dish to share

6:00 P.M. on Music

7:30 P.M. Secret Life of Plants in Mohegan Lake (what is that stuff?)

8:30 P.M. Video on Beavers by a nature cinematographer

8:45 P.M. Chinese Floating Lanterns on the lake

9:00 P.M. Movie (to be announced) on the handball court – suitable for
both adults and kids. (Bring your own chairs, popcorn)

Sponsored by Mohegan Lake Improvement District

Rain Date:  Sunday, July 21, 2013

6.6.13:MLID Meeting Notes

I'll aim to bring you full, proper notes of all meetings going forward.  Here are abridged, unofficial notes:

Mohegan Lake day will be on July 14th, 2013.  Save the Date.  Details of all activities to follow shortly.  Remember what a good time we had last year.  This year will be on par.

We love our beavers.  They do pose a problem.  Mohegan Ave is constantly flooded and it's too much maintenance for the town to keep up with.  There's a reason people say "busy as a beaver."  These cute little critters are industrious; they are making an amazing comeback all around the region (we should welcome it since our fore bearers nearly extincted them).

We are opening discussions with the town.  Aiming for a bridge over Mohegan Avenue because that's the real (and natural) solution.  Wetlands are supposed to regulate the level of the lake.  It's supposed to flow back and forth. Mohegan Ave never should have been built as it is because it completely blocks that natural flow of the lake to the wetlands and vice-versa.  The real solution is that the Army Corp of Engineers redesigns it.  In the meantime, we'll do our best with our able bodied Highway Department. 

Lake health is not awesome, but water quality is still fully swimmable--as of today.  Many factors contribute to water quality, but one problem is invasive plant species.  The kind that live under water, like water chestnuts and curly leaf pondweed.

Our weed harvester was bought new in 1984.  I was 6 years old then, now 35 with 4 daughters.  It's a machine and is basically kaput.  We have a decent budget, about $96,000 a year, but a new harvester is about 100K.  We'd have to bond it.  Going to be done as it's a necessity, not happening this year.
Wayne--our lake manager-- and his boys are using the Jon boat and elbow grease to do everything possible to remove as much plant matter as possible.  Remember, those plants just die and add to the nutrients that fuel the algae blooms.

Algae is bad and we'll get it again this year. We are exploring several solutions: barley straw, Phoslock (way too expensive), and Alum (expensive, but we could swing it, but there are DEC permitting issues).

If you have an interest in Mohegan Lake, please stay tuned and get involved.

Save The Date: June 13th, 2013

I can't find a link on the official Yorktown or Historical Society websites--but below you can see a picture of a flyer I found at town hall last week: Former 20 year resident and Mohegan Lake folk hero David Wright--not to mention, prominent Yorktown attorney--will be giving a presentation on the 300 year history of Mohegan Lake. He is encouraging any memorabilia or good stories to be contributed by us.

7:30pm.  June 13th, 2013.  Ground floor nutrition center at the Yorktown Community and Cultural Center @ 1974 Commerce Street.  Be there, or be square. 

The Mohegan Lake Recap: 5/15/2013

Our Mohegan Lake Improvement District lake manager fired up all of the aeration stations on the lake, less the one on Horton Road that was damaged during Hurricane Sanday.  Nice work, Wayne.

We should expect to further our discussion about the Faith Bible Church Proposal at their public meeting on May 20th.  And don't forget the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting on Thurday, May 23rd.  Word on the street is they are excited to meet with us again.

Beavers!  Did you see the Yorktown News Article about "public enemy #1," the beavers that have taken up residence in the lake?  Unfortuanately that publication does not have a web presence and I can't link to the article.

The Mohegan Highlands Beach is opening up Memorial Day weekend.  We need volunteers to help float our swimming docks and ropes.  If you can help scrup Canada goose poop off the docks, maneuver them into position and tie ropes and buoys this weekend, please email me at YorktownCode@gmail.com. This Sunday.  1pm.  MHPOA beach.  Be there, or be square. 

Mohegan Lake Is Incredibly Beautiful

Just stumbled on this photo from the freak Halloween snow storm last year.  Can't not share.

White Red Green Lake

Last Weekend

I've just begun my ice fishing career and, to date, have not caught a fish.  Skating a lap around the lake at a 6 minute a mile clip while drinking my coffee (seriously), I ran into Tom and Frank.  They are seasoned anglers and were having great success.

From top left to bottom right: yellow perch, white perch, sunny

 There's a real chance the skating may be great again this weekend, but we may have trouble accessing the ice on the edges.  Let's wait and see.  In the meantime, here's some video of last weekend.  It's kind of nauseating, but you can appreciate Jones Hill/Mohegan Highlands to the right of the screen--especially at the end.

Mohegan Lake Day Is Going To Rock Your World [figuratively speaking]

Mohegan Lake Day is Sunday, July 15th, 2012 starting at 1pm on the MHPOA beach.  Please check out the tentative details by clicking on these ridiculously over-sized words to be transported to the MLID blog.

Mohegan Lake Day: Sunday July 15th, 2012

Has it already been another year?  My goodness, it has.

Mohegan Lake is great lake, worthy of celebration.  On Sunday July 15th, 2012--beginning at 1pm on the Mohegan Highlands beach we will kick off this year's festivities with a special guest speaker.  Refreshments?  Oh yes.  There are activities at nearly every beach association on the lake throughout the day.

I was at the Mohegan Lake Improvement District (MLID) meeting tonight and we are laying out a great itinerary.  There is a regatta (boat races!) for all different vessel classifications.  Wind permitting, we'll even have a sail boat class.  Live Music.  A kid friendly movie night?  You bet.  Lots more too.

You'll be receiving a mailing or seeing a poster here or there soon.  And of course, you can get information here.  In the meantime, let's revisit this video about how to save snapping turtles from getting hit on the road from a Will Ferrel doppelganger.  It's genuinely heart-warming.

Lake Day

Sunday, July 17, 2011 is Lake Day--sponsored by the Mohegan Lake Improvement District. There are various activities at several beaches. Highlights include, a demonstration of the weed harvester (have you seen it? It's very cool), talks about the health of the lake, volleyball, and a water taxi. Take a look at one of the various posters up around the lake, as seen below. You can click on and enlarge the image below and should be able to probably read most of it.

My contribution to Lake Day will be to raise awareness about snapping turtles. I spotted one in my backyard about a month ago with a shell about 2 feet long (apparently they get much bigger). Below you will find a very short film on how one can safely move a snapping turtle, in case you find one on Mohegan Ave, or in another dangerous situation.