Keewaydin Chronicle

Good news: the wind stopped.

Bad news: black flies are out.

Although there was no winner in the Turtle Island Ice Out contest this year (the closest were those who chose April 12 ,Adam Helm, Linda Johnson, and a gray cat named Gulliver ) the good news is we were able to send the data from this year and the last 5 years to scientists working on a climate study of Maine. What started as a few dates scribbled on a miniature out house for a fun contest is now data in a global study—so maybe the planet earth won?

There was some debate on what constitutes Ice Out day. We used the same criteria that the study states and that the Curtis family has used for the last 5 years..(See below).

Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I’ve tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice.

Robert Frost

Peter Maier of Ban Grover Road explains his intricate syrup making operation.

If you are 65 or older, subscribe to Stoneham Rescue and save lots of money if you end up using the ambulance service this year.

If you are single, send check for $35 to the address below. If you are a couple, send $55. You are also welcome to send more money as a charitable donation.

Matt Goodwin of Yarmouth and his childhood friend Andy Hutchinson picked the best day of the year to go ice fishing. Andy had not been ice fishing in 40 years. The 18 inch land lock salmon caught the week before by Matt is one reason fisherman love Lake Keewaydin.

Meet up at the dam at 10 am to grab your bag and head west on Maine street to find all the cans and bottles. In a few hours we could clean the entire lakefront and have a nice outing with your neighbors. Call Barry at 802-345-9193 if you have questions.

Thank you , Jeff for less power outages this winter. Trimming those trees in sub zero weather helped us stay warm in houses bathed in light. We are grateful for your service.

Loons turn their eggs during incubation to regulate temperature as evenly as possible. I'm not sure where the "two times a day" comes from. It's much more often than that on most days, depending on the weather. I've observed loons turn eggs multiple times within a few minutes.

Loon Ranger Lee

lcattix@gmail.com

Dedicated to the protection and welfare of loons and their lakes through collaboration, education, and the implementation of successful conservation actions.

These photos of a Fuzlee look alike immature loon were taken last week off Campabello Island by my friend Ralph Fletcher. I asked the Loon Ranger what Fuzlee might be up to these days.

Photo prints available from Ralph Fletcher at fletcher17@earthlink.net

I imagine Fuzlee is busy learning valuable social skills, hopefully making friends who may be needed at various times throughout his/her youth. That along with continuing to hone foraging skills.

Loon Ranger Lee

Name : Gremlin. See Hope 619 Maine street and pick up a dozen eggs for $3.00 while you are there.

The tall pine trees of Turtle Island are a popular hang out for Bald Eagles traveling between their nest on Virginia Lake. Skidder (the Springer) and Baxter (the Doodle) keep a close eye on this mammal predator descended from the ancient dinosaurs. Their deep barks echo through prehistoric history.

by Reishi

Okay, I’m a little dog. I admit it. Ketal and Samson, the Flattop retrievers of the Owen household on Ban Grover Road ,are a bit taller than me. And, to top it off, these dogs love to jump and dive in the water. We have a good time. (see video below)

Are you interested in preserving our beautiful lake and its creatures for generations to come? You may want to join FOLK :Friends of Lake Keewaydin. Contact Adam at adamfhelm@gmail.com for more information.

Like the news itself, this Chronicle has no deadlines, only lifelines. It will be continually updated till the end of the current month. Keep refreshing to find new stories. Past editions can be found at link below. You are the reporters. Send news, pics and video links to barrylane55@icloud.com. We will publish everything that applies to our mission of building community on the lake and being stewards of our wild world or just sharing local stories and history of the lake and surrounding area. You are all reporters and the story surrounds us.

Tell your friends to subscribe to the free newsletter. Send emails to barrylane55@icloud.com to get on the list.

Email: barrylane55@icloud.com
Phone: 802-345-9193

Take West Stoneham road and bear left onto slide in road. Follow the signs to the honey.

It seems like merganzers are the first birds back to Lake Keewaydin each spring.

Each spring the high waters often dislodge a float from a Keewaydin Residents beach. The photo above shows such a float. If it’s yours go to Checkerberry Cove on Ban Grover Road to retrieve it.

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the milky way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed—and gazed—but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

William Wordsworth