7830-R2_LSLA_2021_WinetrNewsletter_Web

Winter 2021/2022 Little Sebago Lake Association “Our mission is to protect, restore, and improve our lake’s water quality and fragile ecosystem. We will create and nurture a community of lake stewards, educate users on lake safety, and always be mindful that human needs must be balanced with the needs of the natural environment.” LSLA President’s Message I know you all had the best summer experience our

Another enhancement was the revised Navigational Guide spearheaded by Gary Kenny, LSLA BOD, to address shoreline impacts from wake/surf boats. As you flip through the pages of this newsletter, you will find summer updates from all the committees. You should feel comforted that the association’s board, committees, and volunteers are energetic, progressive thinking and caring souls who makes sure your piece of peace is protected. I feel honored to continue to serve as your president of 15 years because of the team we have. I would encourage you to become part of the team- as many hands make light work. Whether it is a small project of interest or an interest in becoming a board member…you are welcome. Embrace the winter- Some will be south- others will experience all the winter activities that lake life offers. Either way- Embrace it.

beautiful Little Sebago Lake has to offer. Didn’t you think our summer was going to mimic last year’s when we had a warm and sunny June? As our low water level concerns grew, Mother Nature responded by providing us one of the rainiest and coldest July’s since 1915. I

often speak of her and how she is in charge, but we finally got a balance, and the rest of our summer ran smoothly into our brilliantly colored fall. Early winter is when the board of directors and committees start prepping for all the programs that maintain our mission. Each year, these programs seem to take on a life of their own- making improvements and adjustments based upon the previous year’s accomplishments. One such program to be proud of is Water Quality. The synergy with St. Joseph’s College Science Department brings additional expertise and testing to our committee. Special thanks to Liz Schran, St Joseph’s Director or Corporate and Foundation Relations, for making the grant funds available and her push to collaborate with the community.

Warm Wishes,

Pam Wilkinson LSLA President

CONTACT INFORMATION Little Sebago Lake Association

P.O. Box 912, Windham, ME 04062-0912 • 207-809-4706 info@littlesebagolake.com • www.littlesebagolake.com Membership Address Updates Please contact Cheryl Alterman via email at calterman@littlesebagolake.com with corrections to addresses.

BOARD MEMBERS

President Pam Wilkinson

Vice President Andy Mayo

Secretary Cheryl Alterman

Treasurer Jim McBride

Other Members Rod Bernier • Diane Burnell • Steve Davis • Tim Greer • Kevin Kaserman Gary Kenny • Sharon Lamontagne • Debra Lavoie • Kevin Murphy Arnie Rosario • Barbara Sawhill

RESOURCE HELPERS

LSLA Merchandise Tammy Rosario

Database & Membership Support Sharon Young

Water Quality Rick Sullivan

Pirate Parade Organizer Deb Gellerson

COMMITTEES

Dam Committee Jonathan Bernier • Dave Vance • Justine Beaudoin • Bruce Micucci, Honorary Member

Loon Committee Sharon Young Betty Caton

Island Committee Wendy Pickett Carol Ann Doucette

Historical Archives Committee Carol Ann Doucette

Road Association Contacts An ongoing task for LSLA is to maintain an updated list of the road associations around the lake. This list is on our website for members’ reference. ( https://littlesebagolake.com/ resources/ ) If you are the current contact for your road association and you don’t see your name listed, please contact Diane at dburnell@ littlesebago.com so I can revise the list. Thank you!

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Contents... Mission Statement ................................................ 1 President’s Message ............................................ 1 Contact Information .............................................. 1 Membership Address Updates .............................. 1 LSLA Board members ........................................... 2 Road Association Contacts ................................... 2 Little Sebago Lake Environment 2021/2022 Fall/Winter Hopkins Dam Report ........ 3 Courtesy Boat Inspection Program ................................ 4 Water Quality Synergy with St Joseph’s College ........... 5 What’s happening Around My Lake? ................. 6-7 Hybrid Invasive Variable Milfoil Militia Program . 8-9 2021 Little Sebago Loonacy .......................... 10-11 Little Sebago Lake Engagement 2021 LSLA Scholarship Awards .......................... 12 LSLA’s 2021 Raffle Winners ............................... 12

2022 LSLA Online Auction & Raffle Fundraiser .. 13 2021 LSLAAnnual Meeting .................................. 14 LSLA Functions & Finances ................................ 14 Picture Request For 2022 Calendar ................... 14 LSLA Q3 Financial Update ................................. 15 15 th Annual Pirate Parade ................................... 16 LSLA Merchandise .............................................. 17 Education & Topics of Interest 2021 Safety Patrol Program ............................... 18 Historical Committee Update .............................. 19 The Birches at Aimhi - Part II ......................... 20-21 Night Sky on Little Sebago ..................................22 Little Sebago Lake Interesting Facts .................. 22 Thank You to our Supporters .............................. 23 Closing Statement from LSLA Board of Directors 24

2021/2022 Winter Hopkins Dam Report As I write this on a very warm November 9 th , Little Sebago Lake is 3” above summer high. We were at summer high when the Hopkins Dam was opened for the winter drawdown on October 15 th . Fall rains quickly brought us above summer high. One inch of rain brings the lake up about 3”. We started 19” below the State mandated summer high lake level when the dam was closed on April 15 th . A very minimal winter melt and a dry spring prevented us from achieving a full lake until July 10 th . There were many openings and closings as the summer continued in order to maintain the State mandated summer high water level. other maintenance work and adding safety features to the dam while the gate is being replaced. We are estimating that the cost will be around $75,000. My thanks to the Dam Committee – Dave Vance and Justine Beaudoin. Dave is rotating off and Gary Kenny has joined the committee. Many thanks to Dave for his many years of hard work, for his expertise, and for his continued support. He came right over to help open the gate when it failed – even though he was no longer on the committee. My thanks also to the LSLA Board of Directors, and to the LSLA membership for your support.

There are currently minimal leaks in the sluiceway. The dam gate mechanism failed on October 15 th and we are now operating the dam gate without the benefit of gears. Our plan is to repair the gate mechanism and build a replacement for our rusted 39 year old sluiceway gate. We are looking to have the work done in January of 2022. We will also be doing

Rod Bernier Hopkins Dam

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Courtesy Boat Inspection Program 2021 Pam Wilkinson I i il i

Inspection should not be just at the Mt. Hunger Road boat ramp. Mt Hunger ShoreBoat Ramp is abusy place in the summer. Especially the past couple of summers when people were anxious to be outside and escape confinement. Little Sebago has an infestation of hybrid variable milfoil and we hire courtesy boat inspectors to check boats leaving so the invasive plant is not carried to other lakes. The inspectors also check boats, trailers, anchors, fishing gear entering for any other types of invasive, whether it is plants or other species. Jim and Jackie Fitzgerald are our veteran inspectors who greet you with their friendly smiles and ask for a moment of your time to inspect all areas in order to prevent the spread of any invasive plant or species to other areas or into Little Sebago.

recently been in Lake Champlain, in which Eurasian is known to be widespread. This was a “save” for our lake. It is important to identify all plants that are found on your boat and equipment to verify if they are native or not. In another instance, Long Lake inspector found a small piece of plant called Camomba fanwort in the tire well of the trailer entering their lake. After tracing where it had been, it was found to have first come from Little Sebago but previously was in Stump Pond in Rhode Island. This is not a known invasive plant in this area and only leads to keeping a vigilant eye out next year for any other type of new growth. We all know about milfoil, and this only shows that our borders and lakes are very fragile with new threats. The area that the boat was in the lake was checked as well as the boat ramp to see if anything suspicious was floating or growing. This will be revisited next year. This year 2058 boats were inspected going into and out of the lake which is inclusive of the 15 extra days that recorded 318 boats. Without the extra days the CBI program recorded 1740 boats during Friday through Sunday and the busy 4th of July week. This is a drop compared to 2020 which recorded 2385 boats. Weather factor can explain the changes as 2020 was hot all summer and 2021 had a very rainy cold month of July. It is important that all people who put their boats in at other locations on the lake take the time to make their own inspection, especially coming from another lake or taking out from Little Sebago. It is important that you know what is native and invasive. Any plant should be removed and inspected. If you do not know what it is or have questions contact info@littlesebagolake.com for assistance to identify what you may have.

Val Heuhasser CBI

Because of a monetary grant, we were able to add additional days for invasive inspections. LSLA hired two interns, Val Heuhasser and Mason Morin, from St. Joseph College to assist with inspections and the State required electronic submittals of the daily information collected. Mary Jewett, State of Maine CBI coordinator, found a questionable plant on an entering boat trailer during a site visit in July. It was sent to Lake Stewards of Maine for further analysis and was thought to be another invasive plant called Eurasian milfoil which is more of a threat than our own hybrid variable milfoil. The boat had

Hybrid Milfoil

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Water Quality Enhancement Synergy with St. Joseph’s College of Maine

For years, every other week from May to October water tests are done in several sections of the lake. The testing was handed down from resident Bruce Micucci to our dedicated Rick Sullivan. Rick took the necessary training and now even hosts training in June for the State. So, if you see someone parked in the same spot lowering equipment early in the morning, please slow down to avoid waves and give him a bit of space to complete his work. Lake residents have expressed concernswith increased algae, plant growth and decreasing water quality. One questions if the changes we are seeing are triggers for further degradation and increased problems. To elevate our efforts in monitoring water quality affecting growth of algae, invasive and native plants, we needed testing and analysis that is beyond the technology and expertise of SLA. LSLA wanted to expand upon our current water testing program of Secchi disc for water clarity and DO testing to measure oxygen in the water to include phosphorus and chlorophyll testing in the upper, middle and lower lakes. This would include testing the water column and sediment from the bottom of the lake in designated places. If the testing program is continued annually, LSLA can quantify any changes that are occurring and hopefully avoid any catastrophic events other lakes have experienced that are costly or impossible to remedy. Saint Joseph’s College STEM faculty and students partnered with LSLAon previous project includingmilfoil remediation and currently a project training student in lake management practices and developing enhanced water quality monitoring capabilities for Little Sebago Lake. STEM students are taught by four disciplines: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in an interdisciplinary and applied approach. As a community organization focused on understanding the complex ecology and water resources of Little Sebago Lake and sustaining it into the future, we benefit from a STEM-literate populace who understand the challenges facing the natural environment. The training and development of students in STEM fields, from pre- kindergarten to college graduates is also an asset for us and the entire state.

Sediment Testing

Rick Sullivan took the students and faculty, if needed, with him twice a month to teach them how to perform DO and Secchi disk testing and faculty would train the students on how to take the phosphorus and chlorophyl tests from the water or sediment. Professor Emily Lesher and Professor Johan Erikson showed the students how to capture water and sediment samples various lab tests to measure for chlorophyll and

phosphorus. Water Quality Committee- Rick Sullivan, Kevin Kaserman, Kevin Murphy, Pam Wilkinson

Val and Mason Water samples

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What’s Happening

Fourth of July Volunteers – Pam Wilkinson

Sparkles in the sky have always captured our hearts since being a child. It is evident that it is especially true on Little Sebago on the Fourth of July. There are several people in various parts of the lake who provide spectacular displays for hundreds of boats to travel from the upper, lower and middle lake to see. And then there are those who make it possible to just stay home and see the sparkles across the lake while enjoying the campfire. What goes up must come down. Depending on the wind patten of that day some of the plastic, foil and cardboard ends up in the lake. This year LSLA asked for volunteers to visit the largest display areas to scour the bottom. LSLA would like this to be an annual event. Those who scuba or snorkel can also become part of the team to clean the bottom beyond the shorelines as

a special thank you to those who created the displays. Even the kiddos can be part of this effort and learn to become a responsible part of their lake community. Special thanks go to Gordon Smith, our milfoil captain, and son Graham; along with Peter Dollar, lake resident and one of our milfoil divers, accompanied with his wife Merle for volunteering their time to make a difference. Gordon & Graham Smith

Fireworks Debris

Peter & Marie Dollard

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Around My Lake?

Inlet Stream Identification and Testing Program – Pam Wilkinson

The lingering quest to identify all streams entering Little Sebago Lake whether they are year-round or seasonal has finally begun. All streams are a vital function of replenishing the lake from our surrounding watershed. A map is being created to name, categorize the type and importance to the lake. It is important to also protect these streams by buffering to prevent contaminants flowing downstream to the lake. There are many streams which have already carried soils to the mouth of the lake creating deltas. This is of great concern as it causes deposits that fill our lake, prevent water flow, adds nutrients which increases vegetation growth, creation of algae, warms our waters and in some instances prevents fish from swimming upstream. Not to mention the human concerns of reduced swimming and boating areas. In the fall, St. Joseph students directed by Prof. Emily Lesher selected several streams to start testing the water flowing into the lake and create a baseline for the future. It was interesting that one needed to travel upstream away from any influences of the lake to find flowing water for the bottle test. The

Stream Students

analysis will be available soon and shared with the lake community. We hope to have this as an ongoing relationship with other students from St. Joseph College. In the aerial picture provided by Kim and Bill Shelley you will see Morgan Meadow which is the beginning of Sucker Brook. Sucker Brook meanders south to the northern end of the upper portion of Little Sebago along with Sandbrook and Birchwood Brook. This shows the vast area that feeds fresh water to our lake. All the streams on the east and west shores are integral to our lake’s existence. They

Morgan Meadow Watershed

are the arteries that feed the heart of our waters. This is the reason to protect their buffers. If you would like to share your story of the stream in your area, please contact pwilkinson@littlesebagolake.com . Include Arial picture by Kim and Bill Shelley

Professor Lesher and St. Joseph students

Stream water sampling

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Hybrid Invasive Variable Milfoil Militia Program 2021 Coordinators: Pam Wilkinson & Tim Greer

2021 Milfoil Crew

Throughout the winter we would like to encourage you to visit sites to learn the difference between native milfoil, native lake plants and the invasive plants, not just hybrid milfoil, that can affect our lake. We do not need another type of invasive invasion to zap our volunteers and financial resources. It is encouraged that you become part of our newly created Adopt a Shoreline and become an IPPer (Invasive Plant Patroller) to help cover our 30 miles of shoreline. The educational part can be shared with your young adults to become lake stewards. We would like to personally thank all those who called in. A special thank you to those who had an interest with the IPPer program, who would occasionally check their area or were able to respond to a request to check out their spot. Please join those who are helping to make this work on all the 30 miles of shoreline plus islands to prevent the spread. We were fortunate to have a local fisherman report milfoil in an area that not many people are used to going to. It was on the west side of Rope Swing Island and very rocky. Our crew extracted 28 bags of milfoil equaling 1120 pounds wet, and approximately 560 when dried. We are blessed to get this out of the lake to avoid fragmentation that will spread to other areas. The total amount of milfoil extracted this year was

This invasive plant is relentless and the war against it continues after 18 years. Our battles keep the invasive milfoil from taking over our swimming and boating areas, ruining the fishing activities, changing the ecology of the lake and maintaining our property values. It is important that you become part of our defense by recognizing what is on the bottom of the lake in your area and reporting concerns to info@ littlesebagolake.com or call 207-809-4706.

Captain Gordon Smith

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Hybrid Invasive Variable Milfoil Militia Program 2021 Coordinators: Pam Wilkinson & Tim Greer

members and adds a layer of documentation for the future. We are always looking for divers to train. Please contact info@littlesebagolake.com with your interest. Training is in June. It is only through your support that this program continues to manage the invasive milfoil and prevent spreading. It will be through your eyes that we will continue to cover as much area as possible during our season of June through September. Remember to “look down” at the bottom and find a new lake world!

Peter Dollard all geared up

219 bags or 4400 pounds. This is an up-tic from last year of 184 bags. The assumption is that the water level was lower than usual in June and the sun was able to reach areas promoting more growth. The 28 bags behind Rope Swing Island added significantly to our totals as well. Our boat received a much needed overhaul of the decking to prevent injuries. To better track our locations and dense bed areas we added a Garmin to better assist the crew. This will help new crew

Tim Greer Pam Wilkinson Milfoil Coordinators

Milfoil Debris

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2021 Little

Elsa: A one day old tiny ball of fluff Day sitting with mom on nest - Photo by Anna Seekins

As I contemplated the past loon season and what to write in my fall report, I was initially quite discouraged at the season’s loon productivity statistics. Then looking closely at the past six years of data tracking I realized that despite the years disappointments, there were indeed positive moments as well. The very most exciting highlight of the year was the successful nesting, hatching, and fledging of our Brigg Island Cove pair. We’ve named this chick Elsa after the storm that immediately preceded her birth. Today Elsa is 15 weeks old, and our very dedicated lower lake Loon Rangers continue to memorialize her progress in pictures, including a video of flight practice. How very exciting it is to be able to watch the first-year chick running across the water, wings flapping wildly, in anticipation of lift off. This activity is part exercise to strengthen their wings for fall migration. What is truly amazing about this family is that “Mom”

is one of the first loons banded on Little Sebago in 1997 – 24 years ago. Shewas with chick then, making her around 30 years old today, and still successfully reproducing. And that’s not all! This family is the very first Little Sebago loon family to successfully use a man-made nesting raft. The nesting raft was first placed in Briggs Island Cove 5 years ago after the territorial pair had two attempts on the mainland fail. It was believed that a mammal destroyed both nests of eggs, thus the need to provide a platform offshore to replace the mainland site. This success story greatly outweighs our disappointment in seeing 6 of this year’s other nests, and 11 eggs, lost to abandonment or washout. It was an unusual year. Several of our territorial pairs did successfully mate and lay eggs only to abandon the eggs shortly thereafter. We’ve not experienced this behavior often, and to have several nests lost to abandonment in one season was certainly distressing

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Sebago Loonacy and cause for concern. The Loon Rangers and others had reported territorial disputes at upper, middle, and lower lake sites. Some repeated over days or weeks. I witnessed a vicious dispute involving the territorial pair closest to me at Sand Island. The battling loons went after one another with wings and beaks, and at one point dragging the opposing loon under water with splashing and flailing continuing above and below. It’s our belief that these disputes with intruders are the reason the resident pairs abandoned their nests. Nature works in mysterious ways. These things are beyond our ability to control. What was the most distressing, was human behavior that caused the loss of two eggs in Hayden Bay just days before hatching. This parent pair had successfully driven an intruder away more than once. And then, just before gestation was complete the aftermath of Hurricane Elsa was upon us, and we watched the lake level rise several inches over a short period. Rangers and friends manually elevated

the nest by adding stones and filling below the nest bowl not once but twice to keep it above water. The parents were watchfully monitoring this extreme effort but did not interfere, and immediately returned to incubating, only to have a boat wake wash the eggs off the nest and into the lake bottom. This was an avoidable loss. Therefore 2021 has been our lowest in successful loon reproduction with a total of 7 nest, 11 failed eggs, and 1 chick surviving its first season on the lake. Watch for LSLA 2022 Loon Monitoring and Conservation Program updates in the spring newsletter, and enjoy the stories and pictures on the Little Sebago Lake Loon Watch Facebook page. Coming soon will be updates to LSLA website with lake specific loon information plus a section with related links for more loon general information. Sharon Young LittleSebago Lake LoonMonitoring andConservation

Elsa: All grown up at 15wks - Photo by Anna Seekins

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The Little Sebago Lake Association 2021 Scholarship Awards

To help support our local communities and to encourage lake stewardship, the Board of Directors created a new scholarship in 2015. The goal of this scholarship is to assist graduating high school students who enroll in a college program to pursue a degree in general environmental sciences, water quality or watershed management. Up to two $500 scholarships will be awarded each year, one to a graduating senior from Windham High School and one from Gray-New Gloucester High School. Last spring, we were pleased to award the seventh annual (2021) scholarship to two most deserving students. The scholarship winner from Windham High School was Nicole Snow, a student who has a passion for the environment and plans on working with marine life. She is an accomplished leader who was involved on the tennis team, student council and officer’s class representative. Also recognized as a scholar, she had a 101.58 GPA, and a member of the National Honor Society, and the Spanish Honor Society. This fall she is attending the Maine Maritime Academy to study Marine Biology. The recipient of the Gray-New Gloucester High School scholarship was Nicole Cobb who is attending the University of Maine at Orono to study Environmental Science. Following her passion for the outdoors, Nicole was active in the school’s environmental club, Green Tree Society. As a leader, Nicole was captain of her softball, soccer, and volleyball teams, a member of the Community Service Club, and Class Treasurer. Nicole is a recognized scholar, with a Full IB diploma candidate, and a member of the National Honor Society. We are proud to help support these hard-working students as they pursue their education and careers. 2021 RAFFLE WINNERS

Our 2021 online raffle was very successful this year raising over $10,600! For 2021, the raffle was changed up allowing entrants to purchase tickets towards the prizes they wished to win. This proved to be a huge hit contributing to our 25% growth in sales over last year. Certainly this shows

Cheryl Bolduc $500 LL Bean Gift Certificate

Cheryl Alterman Stand-Up Paddleboard Lessons

David Bailey Airhead Comfort Rider 3 Person Towable Deck Tube

Susan Schaller Little Sebago Lake Shopping Spree

Jodi Tucker Custom Built and Designed Corn Hole Game

Wellens King Inflatable Stand-Up Paddleboard Package

that our members and guests approve of the online format with the targeted ticketing option. Thank you to all that continue to support the association, and special thanks to Debra Lavoie for spearheading this extremely successful event. Next year’s raffle is already being put together. What would YOU like to see for prizes? Please let us know by emailing dlavoie@ littlesebagolake.com with your ideas.

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LSLA Online Auction and Raffle Fundraiser

Dear LSLA Members: As the LSLAMarketing & Communications committee moves into another winter season of virtual discussions and planning, we enjoy a greater familiarity with online solutions- including the LSLA Raffle Fundraiser. Improving upon the inaugural online raffle of 2020 by 26%, this summer’s ticket sales topped $10,000 and garnered the interest of members, families and friends from all areas of Little Sebago. But wait.. we are adding a new twist!

Promising to be a huge hit, and hopefully an even bigger fundraising success, LSLA will be adding an amazing selection of auction items and experiences to inspire a healthy competition between members- for members- but we need your help. If you have a business or service, won’t you please consider making a donation to our auction? What better way to get your name out to your lake family? Each donated item description will include your business name and/or logo and be featured on our online auction site. The fundraiser is promoted on our website, Facebook page and in approximately 4000 email and mail messages to our members. It will also be a shareable experience via social media to non-members. A prominent mention of each donor will be made at our annual summer meeting in July 2022, just prior to the LIVE raffle drawing. All donations are tax deductible. If you would like to participate or need more information, please email dlavoie@littlesebagolake. com. We are excited to partner with our membership in this new endeavor. Are you in? Wishing you warm and relaxing winter months- LSLA Marketing & Communications Pam Wilkinson - Jim McBride -Tim Greer - Debra Lavoie - Kevin Murphy - Sharon Lamontagne - Cheryl Alterman - Sharon Young

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2021 LSLA Annual Meeting

The pandemic took a twist this year with the “D” strain causing the Board to make the disappointing decision to hold it online only using Zoom. The guest speaker, Mary Wicklund, the LakeSmart Program Director for Maine Lakes Society, gave a great presentation on the LakeSmart program. More details about the meeting can be found on our website, including a recording of the meeting (https:// littlesebagolake.com/2021-annual-meeting/).

For 2022, we hope to be back in-person at the VFW hall in Gray having our annual meeting. To be able to see everyone in the flesh again would be great! Please keep watch on the website and Facebook for details.

WHAT WE DO Little Sebago Lake Association Functions & Finances

Milfoil Mitigation and Invasive Threat Awareness Membership Database Update Financial/Budgets By-Law and Policy Reviews Fundraising Planned Giving/Endowments Safety Patrol Program Courtesy Boat Inspections

Grant Writing Public Forums

Pirate Parade Day Annual Meeting Planning Operations of Organization Water Quality Testing Dam Monitoring & Emergency Plan Strategic Planning Fleet Maintenance Organize Educational Forums

Town-State-Federal interactions Road Associations Networking Website Newsletter Merchandise Lower Narrows Restoration Watershed & Erosion Control

2023 LSLA Calendar Pictures

Do you have any amazing photos capturing year- round activities, sunrises, sunsets, wildlife, etc. on our beautiful lake? I am always accepting high resolution .JPEG formatted pictures for consideration for the LSLA calendar. I have already begun saving potential selections for the 2023 edition. Please send your favorite pictures to Diane at dburnell@littlesebago.com

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LSLA Q3 Financial Update - Jim McBride, Treasurer

Through the first nine months, it has been another very good year on the lake with strong support from our membership. Overall, Little Sebago Lake Association continues to be in excellent financial health. Here is a brief update based on the first three quarters of the year: • Year-to-date 2021 total income was $139,495, ahead of last year by $35,835 or 35%. Almost all income categories are higher than last year. Grant payments are up by $20,000 including a new $7,000 grant from Maine Community Foundation and $13,000 from State of Maine DEP that was not yet received last year. Donations and endowments are higher than last year by $14,200, and much better than expected. • Year-to-date total expenses were $109,643, higher than last year by $5,138 or 4.9%. Boat ramp wages, merch purchases, milfoil, and safety costs are up from last year. But the dam maintenance and sandy narrows dredging are lower this year. • Year-to-date income was much higher than expenses and we show a positive cash flow or surplus of $29,852. • Net Worth at the end of Q3 shows total assets of $471,810 including $43,169 in our operating account. Compared to year-end 2020, our assets are up by $86,665. Endowment and Reserves with Maine Community Foundation In 2015, the LSLABoard of Directors decided to partner with the prestigious Maine Community Foundation to manage both the Endowment Fund and the Reserve Fund for the association The Maine Community Foundation is a statewide public foundation whose core purpose is to work with donors and other partners to improve the quality of life for all Maine people. The Maine Community Foundation (MCF) invests our funds, along with the other assets in their Primary Investment Portfolio, with a goal to preserve and enhance the real value through prudent institutional investment strategies. As you probably know, the markets have continued to be strong this year and overall, our investments have grown by more than 15%. At the end of September our Endowment totaled $107,310 and our Reserve Fund totaled $321,330. So far this year, we have received additional gifts for the Endowment totaling almost $13,000. Please consider a generous donation to the Little Sebago Lake Association Endowment Fund as part of your year-end charitable giving.

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15 th Annual Pirate Parade

Well, maties, we did it again! Thank you to all who come out on the lake and all who cheer on the Parade from the shores of Little Sebago! We well exceeded the number of ships out there this year from previous years. Not as many big masted ships but plenty of small vessels loaded with just as much energy and enthusiasm! There were a few mishaps this year and we need to be mindful of safety and use care not to swamp the boats around you. The waves from the hundreds of boats out there create a situation that is not one that we are accustomed to dealing with and we need to be extra cautious. Please place your first focus on safety and then on fun. Be mindful of everyone around you.

There are a great group of Pirates who want to experience those rough seas and soaking battles and there are another wonderful group who would like to enjoy dressing up and enjoying the experience of the parade in a less rowdy manner. We likely will try an earlier start next year for those Pirates who wish to evade those rough seas. Then, the others can follow along behind and battle away. This will allow the smaller boats to parade ahead of the waves and still be a valuable part of an exciting Pirate experience! One thing is certain. The Pirate Parade event continues to show the energy of the Little Sebago Lake patrons and I’m sure the event will continue for many years to come. Cap’n Sully

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We would like to thank the residents of Little Sebago Lake for their continued support through purchases of our association’s merchandise. We have had open houses and have also displayed merchandise at the Gray Blueberry Festival and the Gray Legion Hall Holiday Fair and we hope to continue with these shopping opportunities in the future. You can also contact us directly at any time to shop at our home where we have a display of merchandise. To arrange for an appointment, please call or email either one of us to determine our availability We have an adequate inventory on hand but it is not cost effective for us to carry all colors and sizes. If we don’t have what you want, we are able to submit orders to our vendors and will try to meet your requests subject to occasional supply chain issues. The Little Sebago Lake Association 2022 calendars are now on sale for $20. Don’t forget to order one today! They make an excellent holiday gift!

Arnie Rosario 207-894-8415

Tammy Rosario 207-671-7464

Arnier1000@gmail.com

Te.rosario@gmail.com

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Safety Patrol Program 2021 From Sharon Lamontagne, Director

The summer of 2021 was a success! NO ACCIDENTS were reported on Little Sebago Lake, and that is the whole point of this program. Thank you to all who are diligent enough to learn the laws and regulations and consistently follow them. They have been signed into law for a reason. They save lives! We had the wardens here a total of 23 times and 702 boats were checked. 38 citations and 48 warnings were issued, the majority of which were for PFD violations. Other violations included headway speed, registration issues, fishing without a license and towing without an observer. It is difficult for us to determine who on the lake isn’t getting the message that wearing life jackets for those under 11 is mandatory and that we need at least one PFD in the boat for every adult. We have decided that we will focus on this message next year, it is a pretty simple message. Life preservers are mandatory and will save lives in an emergency. We have seen a huge increase in the number of rental properties on the lake and maybe most of these warnings and citations are issued to new folks who just don’t know the law. Our focus next year will be to reach out to these weekly vacationers and educate them before they jump into that rental boat. We will spend the winter brainstorming on how best to reach out to them. Possible solutions include a registry for owners, contacting rental agencies, marinas, road associations and more. The Safety Patrol boat was out all summer long, logging in a total of 585 hours on the water. The main goal of this boat is to cruise the perimeter of the lake each shift, observe boating behaviors, educate where and when we can and help out when needed. We jump started and or towed many boats this year and

are happy to do so if we are out on the water and come across a distressed vessel. We were also at the public boat launch Saturday and Sunday mornings to meet and greet newcomers to the lake. We offered educational materials, life preservers if needed, reminders of registration and fishing license requirements, maps and advice. Trespassing onto private islands and beaches is still an issue and we will continue to educate and advise those that we see. All and all it was a great summer and we thank you for all of the friendly waves, support and acknowledgments. I want to thank Roger Leblanc for all of his help managing the team and the boat. And of course, a big thank you to our drivers John and Susan Bernier, Katie Martin, Steve and Gwen Sayian, Dale Brunell, Jeff Viola and Peter Bailey. We will be adding extra shifts next summer and will be looking for one or two more drivers. If you are at all interested, please reach out to me and I will give you more information. See you all next summer and remember SAFETY IS NO ACCIDENT.

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Historical Committee Update The LSLAHistorical Committee continues to move forward with its project of pulling together historical information about Little Sebago and the people who have enjoyed it over the last century. As winter slowly closes in on Maine, we are looking for individuals who have stories, images, and artifacts to share. We are also looking for volunteers to help us with oral interviews and archival work, both of which can be accomplished remotely as well as in person. Do you love Little Sebago and might be looking for a winter project? We would love to work with you! Currently we are working with a professor from St Joseph’s College (Standish, ME) who is looking for lake visitors/residents who were either on the lake in the 1940s -or- have stories to tell about other family members who were here in the 1940s. She is developing an oral history project for her students to take place at the beginning of 2022 and needs people to interview. Know of someone we should interview? Have a story from your family from the 40s that you would like to share? Have other memories (earlier or later) that you would like to share? Care to join us in the process of collecting info? Please complete this very brief survey to let us know! In the meantime please enjoy this image of a postcard from circa 1910 of the lake. This came from a blog written by Linda Shufflebean about her visits to the lake as a child. To see more stories and images from Little Sebago on her blog please click here and leave a comment!

Postcard circa 1910 : Source: Linda Stufflebean, as posted here

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One of Aimhi Lodge’s original cabins was auctioned off at the “Farewell to Aimhi” picnic and Annual Meeting on July 13 th 2013. Starting bid of

was owned and operated by generations of family. Friendships forged in a single week out of the year would go on to last a lifetime.”This was true of Tom and Bill, who reached out to me about their experiences at this special place. It was Tom’s goal to capture a bit of the past for his parents with the journey to bring Birches to its new home. A bit of history of the camaraderie between Tom and Bill is exhibited in this little note from Bill. “Here’s a picture of the two of us as kids in the 1960’s. Tom at the top, Bill “in the hole”. This was a (to us) epic hole that we dug right on the bathing beach at Aimhi, a few feet from the edge of the cabana. It got so deep we needed to bring one of the bunk bed ladders to climb down and keep digging. Tom calls the effort and this picture in particular, “The Great Escape”. When asked why anyone would want to escape from Aimhi he said “No, you’ve got it wrong, this is the other end of the tunnel - it’s where the escape takes you TO”. Here are Tom’s notes about the start of Birches journey posted on Facebook. Oct 20, 2014 “At a fund raising auction in July, 2013, I bought a small unweatherized cabin from Aimhi Lodge in North Windham, Maine on Little Sebago Lake. This was a family camp that we vacationed at as children and later on with my parents, siblings and the grandkids. Aimhi closed in 2006 after being run by four generations of the same family since 1919. The land has been subdivided and the lots are being sold. Most of the cabins are gone, but I was lucky enough to be able to salvage a part of a very sentimental and meaningful experience for

$500 with all furnishings included minus some staging items. The main cabin was 16 x 14, bath was 3 x9 and porch was 12 x10 Total square footage without the porch was 251 sq. ft. The final and winning bid was $650 with the winner being a former lifetime Aimhi summer visitor. It was exciting and very touching to see the joy in the winner, Tom Eyman’s email when informed. Birches went to Franconia, New Hampshire and here is the rest of the story. Tom and Aimhi lifetime friend, Bill Seixas recently collaborated on this article on the former Aimhi Lodge. “Once upon a time on the shores of Little Sebago Lake there was a place so magical to those who knew it that, although it ceased to exist a decade and a half ago, lives on vividly in their hearts, minds, senses and very beings. Aimhi Lodge was an idea as much as it was a physical place. When you drove through the birch gate with the Aimhi Lodge sign on it and down the dirt road, landing on the peninsula where through the pines you could glimpse the waters of the lake and the brown and green pine board lodge, you were arriving in another world - a world set apart from the go-go modern paced life. Your car was parked and idle for the week. There was no TV, which suited this TV-addicted child of the 1960s just fine. There was too much for a child to do at Aimhi to be stuck in front of a TV. You arrived with your family and quickly became part of a larger family. Many families returned the same week year after year and sometimes generation after generation. And just like these generations of guests, Aimhi

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my family and I. All the cottages at Aimhi had names. This cottage was known as “Birches. In August of 2013, I spent five days dismantling the cabin, plank by plank, which the photos show. It is in storage now and I am preparing the site on our property here in Franconia, NH where I will be re-constructing it

9/17/2017 It’s been a bittersweet and exhausting week, but my cabin “Birches” has said goodbye to Franconia and is now securely stored in a container in Newark, VT where she will enjoy a beautiful view after she’s rebuilt next summer. She’s had a good life, moving from the shores of Little Sebago Lake in Maine at Aimhi Lodge where she was born in the 1940s, to staring lovingly at Franconia Notch (NH) and now looking forward to the beauty of Burke Mountain in Vermont. Yes she is state hopping, but she’ll never make it to NY. The surgery has been hard on her, but the doctor is devoted to making her as good as new.

next spring/summer- This past week I measured out the exact location of the building footprint, dug the post holes and poured concrete posts. The site is now ready for the cottage, and I won’t have to wait around for the Northern New England ground to dry out next spring.”

Aimhi Windham

Newark, Vermont

Newark, Vermont

Aimhi Windham

Newark, Vermont

Franconia, New Hampshire 2014

So for the present, Birches is safe and sound with a loving caretaker who has spent the last years recreating as much of the past as possible, living its best life with the beautiful views of Burke Mountain in the distance. Visit the original virtual tour at https://view.paradym.com/v/The-Birches- Aimhi -Lodge-Windham-ME-04062/3075937/ sk/300 It has over 4000 views!

Franconia, New Hampshire 2014

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Night Sky on Little Sebago by Jared McKenna

If you, like me, have been coming to the lake for many MANY summers, you may also have noticed the remarkable increase of lights along the shoreline. A reminder of how popular our lake has become, these lights vary from twinkling to blinding, depending upon the wattage and the area being illuminated. The Maine night sky is a wonder to behold, and sadly some of these outdoor light displays can make stargazing harder to enjoy. In addition, bright lights facing out onto the water also pose a hazard for boaters as well as birds who are navigating at night. The International Dark Sky Organization (http://www.darkssky.org) suggests the following when using outdoor lighting: ● Should only be on when needed ● Only light the area that needs it ● Be not brighter than necessary ● Have low blue light emissions ● Be fully shielded (pointing downward) For more information on ways to light your property while also sharing the night sky with others, please visit: https://www.darksky.org/our-work/lighting/lighting-for-citizens/lighting-basics/

Little Sebago Lake Interesting Facts 2009 acres • 30.7 miles perimeter 54 feet deep • 5.76 miles long as the crow flies 6.742 miles from Twin Brooks to Hopkins Dam 25 private islands • Cold and warm fresh water fish

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A Very Special Thank For All of Your Support to The Following:

To Shaws. for supporting our cause through their Reusable Bag Program.

To The Good Ship Gelato for their generosity with the coupons for safe boating To Hannaford Bros. for supporting our cause through the Hannaford Helps Re- usable Bag Program.

To Gray Public Library for the use of their facility for monthly board meetings.

Good Ship Gelato

To the Town of Windham for your financial support for the milfoil remediation. To the Town of Gray for your financial support for the milfoil remediation.

To The Maine Warden Service for patrolling our lake this summer.

To Sharkey Graphic Solutions for their great service & expertise in

To Maine Label and Printing for all of our printing.

putting together our newsletters!

And to all who have supported the goals of LSLA to keep Little Sebago Lake safe for all to enjoy!

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Giving thanks to all for your generous support and stewardship. Wishing the best the holidays can offer. The Little Sebago Lake Association Board of Directors