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Tuesday, April 26, 2005

Volunteer for Simcoe Cleanup!

Apr 24, 2005


Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority needs enthusiastic volunteers over 16 who can come next Sunday, rain or shine, to help plant trees, organize groups and other duties at George Richardson Park on Bayview Avenue in Newmarket.

Contact Helpmate Volunteer Bureau at helpmate@volnetmmp.net or 905-884-3839.

Sunoco Earth Days Community Tree planting runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Volunteers will enjoy live music, displays and more.

Donation to conservation foundation

Donation to conservation foundation

Apr 21, 2005


The Lake Simcoe Conservation Foundation got a $1,000 donation last week thanks to the Canadian Ice Fishing Championship.

Championship organizer Rocky Madsen presented a cheque to foundation members Alan Wells, Ernie Crossland, George Connell, Kimberley MacKenzie and Brian Kemp at the head office of the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority.

The funds were raised during the two-day championship. The donation will go toward the foundation's efforts to restore the health of Lake Simcoe, which is under huge ecological pressure, Mr. Wells said.

"This is a much needed cause to ensure the quality of Lake Simcoe remains for people to enjoy and fish populations to prosper," he said.

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

Georgina sailors planning busy season on lake

Lake Simcoe is still locked in ice, but members of Sail Georgina are preparing to weigh anchor on a new season. Rear commodore Rick Bojahra and vice commodore Tim Francis outlined their plans for the coming season before members of council at a recent meeting. "Our intention is to share the joy of sailing," Mr. Bojahra said. That includes Sail Georgina's focus on involving young people through the group's sailing school and Sutton Sea Scouts club. Last year, 85 young people aged 10 to 13 took part in full week classes. There are also classes for adults. The school was run using four dingys donated by members of Sail Georgina and local residents. The club is planning to expand the school thanks to a $39,000 Trillium grant, Mr. Bojahra said. As well, beginner and advanced racing seminars were held for interested sailors last year with people attending from around the lake, along with a boating safety seminar taught by the Canadian Coast Guard. The organization's mission is to promote sailing, encourage safe

Burl's Creek a Simcoe Conservation Priority!

The Lake Simcoe Conservation Foundation recently voted to provide $50,000 toward the restoration of Burl's Creek, located on the north shore of Lake Simcoe.
Studies of the creek conducted last year revealed elevated levels of organic matter and some barriers that limit its support of a cold water habitat for brook trout, according to a statement from the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority.
The organic matter in question may be the result of farming activities or faulty septic systems, according to the authority.

Burl's Creek is one of 19 sub-watersheds that feed Lake Simcoe.

Monday, April 11, 2005

Simcoe cottagers and marinas - Got a weed problem?

New products offered through Northern Tools might be of interest (See below) - also have a look at the home page of this site for the Jenson Lake Mower product.







LAKE RAKE© Uproots Aquatic Weeds

LAKE RAKE© Uproots Aquatic Weeds


""All-aluminum rake is ideal for the seasonal weeding of lakes, ponds or golf course water traps. Rake head is 36in. L and has 37 heavy duty tines with woven wire for uprooting tough aquatic weeds. 66in. vinyl-coated handle. Includes 50ft. rope line. U.S.A.""









In the buff for Lake Simcoe

Annabel Slaight wants to bring attention to the declining condition of Lake Simcoe and she has chosen an unusual method - Slaight and 59 other women are baring it all for nature.



The Keswick resident is one of 60 women in their 40s, 50s and 60s who will be appearing semi-nude in the 2006 Ladies of the Lake Calendar.
Last fall, Slaight, in her birthday suit, sat in the middle of the woods, tastefully posed behind a pile of books.

This week, five more ladies of the lake met with Toronto photographer Jim Panou at Don Campbell's sugar bush in Oro-Medonte Township, north of Barrie. The models believe the photographer is the perfect fit for the project. "He seemed to have the right sensitivity for this," said Jane Meredith.

While the calendar is intended to bring attention to the lake's health, it will also help raise money to support WAVE Healthy Yards/Healthy Lawns, a project tested last year in Keswick by the Lake Simcoe Rescue Coalition.

The coalition started about 18 months ago when residents living around the lake decided it was time to bring attention to the damage being done to the lake. See LAKE on page 22

The lake has been damaged by phosphorous overloads and other chemicals leaching into the water. "The lake's health has been in a decline for the past 30 years," said Meredith.

Slaight was among people who decided to get organized and force residents to care about the lake. They, in turn, will make the politicians pay attention, organizers believe.

The WAVE Healthy Yards/Healthy Lawns encourages residents to replace chemical fertilizers and pesticides with natural, environmentally-friendly alternatives.

Coalition members decided it was time to raise some money to expand the program.

One of the first ideas was to auction off a canoe, then someone jokingly suggested filling it up with naked women first. That led to dropping the canoe and sticking with naked women.

The idea of a calendar featuring nude women who aren't professional models isn't new. The idea was a success with a women's club in England and led to the movie Calendar Girls.

Meredith explained the difference with this calendar. "We're not hiding behind potted plants," she said. Instead, all the backdrops feature stunning views in and around Lake Simcoe.

Last September, the group put the call out for volunteer models. The first meeting attracted about 40 women, and the numbers climbed to about 60 who made the final cut.

"It was just electrifying," said Meredith.

Margaret Hyvarinen is one of February's cover girls.

During the warmest day in February, a balmy 8 C, she and another model bundled up in a dog sled out on the ice. All was well until the six Siberian huskies attached to the sled spotted some people walking their pets some distance away and took off.

The dog handler managed to call the dogs back before the walkers were exposed to more nature than they bargained for.

"I live on the lake," said the 49-year-old Pefferlaw resident, "and I've seen a deterioration of the lake.

"I see my neighbours still putting pesticides and chemical fertilizers on their lawns, and it ends up in the lake. It's time for awareness," she said.

The women share a similar motivation for baring it all: the future of the lake.

"Unless people start paying attention to Lake Simcoe, its future is bleak," said Shanty Bay resident and model Rosaleen Crooks. "Do we have to wait until it's completely covered in green slime and weeds to fix it?"

Sponsors will be paying the production costs of the calendar, so all proceeds will go towards the coalition project.

The goal is to raise $250,000 for the Lake Simcoe Rescue Coalition's WAVE Healthy Yards/Healthy Waters.

The calendar will be available in August for $15. Calendars will be available at area retail outlets, and through not-for-profit organizations, which will be sharing the proceeds with the coalition.

Thursday, April 07, 2005

Women bare all for lake health

Women bare all for lake health

Apr 7, 2005
Julie Debruin, Metroland News - More from this author

Annabel Slaight wants to bring attention to the declining condition of Lake Simcoe and she has chosen an unusual method: Mrs. Slaight and 59 other women are baring it all for nature.

The Georgina resident is one of 60 women in their 40s, 50s and 60s who are appearing semi-nude in the 2006 Ladies of the Lake Calendar.

Last fall, Mrs. Slaight, in her birthday suit, sat in the middle of the woods, tastefully posed behind a pile of books.

Five more women met with Toronto photographer Jim Panou this week at Don Campbell's sugar bush in Oro-Medonte Township, north of Barrie.

The models believe the photographer is the perfect fit for the project. "He seemed to have the right sensitivity for this," Georgina resident Jane Meredith said.

While the calendar is intended to bring attention to the lake's health, it will also help raise money to support WAVE Healthy Yards/Healthy Lawns, a project tested last year in Keswick by the Lake Simcoe Rescue Coalition.

The coalition started about 18 months ago when residents living around the lake decided it was time to bring attention to damage being done to the lake through phosphorous overloads and other chemicals. "The lake's health has been in a decline for the past 30 years," Mrs. Meredith said.

Mrs. Slaight was among people who decided to get organized and convince residents to care about the lake. They, in turn, will make the politicians pay attention, organizers believe.

WAVE Healthy Yards/Healthy Lawns encourages residents to replace chemical fertilizers and pesticides with natural, environmentally friendly alternatives. Coalition members decided it was time to raise money to expand the program.

One of the first ideas was to auction off a canoe, then someone jokingly suggested filling it with naked women first. That led to dropping the canoe and sticking with naked women.

The idea of a calendar featuring nude women who aren't professional models isn't new. The concept was a success with a women's club in England and led to the movie Calendar Girls.

Mrs. Meredith explained the difference with this calendar. "We're not hiding behind potted plants," she said. Instead, all the backdrops feature stunning views in and around Lake Simcoe.

Last September, the group put the call out for volunteer models. The first meeting attracted about 40 women, and the numbers climbed to about 60 who made the final cut. "It was just electrifying," said Mrs. Meredith.

Margaret Hyvarinen is one of February's cover girls.

During the warmest day in February, a balmy 8 C, she and another model bundled up in a dog sled out on the ice. All was well until the six Siberian huskies attached to the sled spotted some people walking their pets some distance away and took off.

The dog handler managed to call the dogs back before the walkers were exposed to more nature than they bargained for.

"I live on the lake," the 49-year-old Pefferlaw resident said, "and I've seen a deterioration. I see my neighbours still putting pesticides and chemical fertilizers on their lawns and it ends up in the lake. It's time for awareness."

"Unless people start paying attention to Lake Simcoe, its future is bleak," said Shanty Bay resident and model Rosaleen Crooks.

"Do we have to wait until it's completely covered in green slime and weeds to fix it?"

Sponsors are paying the calendar production costs, so all proceeds go toward the coalition project. The goal is to raise $250,000.

The calendar will be available in August for $15. Six photos are complete: in a fish hut at de Grassi Point; peeking through 250-year-old cedars at Sibbald's Point; riding nude on a dogsled; kayaking in the Black River, confronting blustery waters near Georgina Island and in a sugar bush in Oro-Medonte Township.

Calendars will be available at area retail outlets and through non-profit organizations, which are sharing the proceeds with the coalition.