November FOCA elert

November FOCA elert

FOCA was recently presented with the "Leadership and Service - Education and Outreach" award from the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS), at their 35th annual symposium in Saratoga Springs, NY.


FOCA recently wrote to the new federal Ministers in key departments, to remind our government leaders of Ontario's important waterfront issues, and that we are watching on behalf of our members across Ontario.


See a complete list of Federal representatives, and read FOCA's letters to MPs, here:
http://foca.on.ca/federal-election-2015/
'Tis the season for woodstoves, so FOCA reminds you to ensure there are functioning fire AND carbon monoxide (CO) detectors at your permanent and seasonal residences. Click here for tips to beat CO, the silent killer.


November is Radon Gas Awareness Month. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that you can't see, smell or taste, and is the leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Find out more here about radon here:


Click here to see the full elert
http://bit.ly/1Qpatj2 FOCA

Streets Lights on Champlain Road

If you opposed to having street lights on Champlain Road

It would be helpful if we could get as many people as possible contacting Council before the December 14 meeting. Below is draft which might form the basis of such a letter or email, but please feel free to adapt it to reflect your own thoughts.

Your correspondence should be addressed to the Mayor and Members of Council at:

Township of Tiny c/o C.A.O./Clerk
130 Balm Beach Road West
Tiny, ON L0L 2J0
or
Email: council@tiny.ca

----------------------------------------

Mayor and Members of Council
Township of Tiny c/o C.A.O./Clerk
130 Balm Beach Road West
Tiny, ON L0L 2J0
Email: council@tiny.ca



I strongly urge Council to reject the proposed installation of three (3) streetlights along Champlain Road.

One of the reasons many of us chose to live and vacation in Tiny is the rural nature of the area. We enjoy the clear night sky and the enjoyment of rural living without light pollution.

Champlain Road from Toanche to Kettle's Beach is well maintained with good signage and speed limits which err on the side of caution. Science does not support a popular belief that street lights reduce accidents or crime, and the Township's own research shows no history of incidents at the recommended locations. Science does show that artificial night light has an adverse impact on night life in the vicinity. New technology may well reduce, but does not eliminate, these impacts. And the costs of the proposed new lights appears to be understated if they were to conform to the Township Standards for street lighting which call for 7.5 metre precast concrete poles.



I ask that Council review the facts and adopt PublicWorks Report PWR-13-15 Option 1 (do nothing) during your 2016 budget deliberations.

13 sneaky storage spots you’ve probably overlooked

13 sneaky storage spots you’ve probably overlooked

I am always looking for places to put the things you only need once in a while at the cottage. Check out the link below, you may not be able use all of them at your cottage, but there are some very good ideas



http://bit.ly/1Mvnvqi Cottage Life

How to Pick the Best Firewood for Clean-Burning, Long-Lasting Fires

How to Pick the Best Firewood for Clean-Burning, Long-Lasting Fires
http://bit.ly/1VsYsZ9 Lifehacker

It is that time of year again. If you heat with wood here is a quick guide to getting the best burning for your money.

FOCA Elert - October 2015

FOCA Elert - October 2015
http://bit.ly/1WAwUU7 FOCA
Lots of great information, here are some of the highlights

With less than a month to go before the Federal Election, FOCA encourages you to make your voice heard - by VOTING on October 19th.

FOCA has sent an Open Letter to the Federal Party Leaders, posing questions on some of our priorities.

Visit FOCA's Federal Election webpage (http://foca.on.ca/federal-election-2015/) to read FOCA's letter, access links to the info you need about relevant "waterfront" issues as well as some questions FOCA wants you to ask your local candidates, and other handy voter information.

Bill 66: The Great Lakes Protection Act (GLPA) - FOCA appeared before the Legislative Committee on September 23rd, in support of the Great Lakes Protection Act, 2015. FOCA appreciates the Bill's focus on setting targets, measures and timelines, and strong community involvement in its implementation. Find out more from FOCA, here: http://foca.on.ca/new-great-lakes-protection-act/

Bill 37: The Invasive Species Act - This bill, to give the government more powers to fight invasive species, passed second reading with a 95 to zero unanimous vote. FOCA has submitted comments in favour of the Bill. Read our comments and follow the issue here: http://foca.on.ca/invasive-species-act-for-ontario/

Bill 52 - Anti-SLAPP - This bill, the Protection of Public Participation Act, to curb "strategic litigation against public participation" (SLAPP) lawsuits in Ontario, passed second reading and was sent to committee. Learn more here: http://foca.on.ca/slapp-protection-of-participation-act/

Former Bill 85 - Ontario Not for Profit Corporations Act (ONCA) - The Province has delayed this legislation once again. This Act, when it finally arrives, will have implications for many FOCA-member Associations. Read more on the subject, here: 
http://foca.on.ca/onca-on-hold/

2015 FOCA Lake Stewards Newsletter

2015 FOCA Lake Stewards Newsletter
http://bit.ly/1ISWGtg FOCA

Decision on Hydro One’s 2015-2019 Distribution Rates Application

Decision on Hydro One’s 2015-2019 Distribution Rates Application

August 31, 2015: Following up on the August 4, 2015 submission to the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) by Hydro One, FOCA has written to the OEB to express concerns about looming rate impacts to customers, especially those being moved out of the seasonal rate class.

Read more on the FOCA website




http://bit.ly/1hPLzeN FOCA

Septemer FOCA elert

The latest FOCA elert is out
http://bit.ly/1JRwSmo FOCA

Hydro
As directed by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) earlier this year, Hydro One responded in early August with their plan to realign their customer classes, and provided their proposal about how to lessen the year-over-year impacts to their customers.

 In the face of TRIPLE DIGIT increases coming for some low-use Hydro One customers, FOCA has recently contacted the OEB to voice our concerns.

Learn more on FOCA's Electricity Pricing pages:


Federal Election
Canada's Federal Election will take place on October 19th, 2015. Did you know:
 you might be able to designate your cottage riding as your vote location for this election?
there are ways to cast your vote before election day?
Get information and updates from FOCA about key topics in the upcoming election, here:
  
and much more

FOCA Elert - July 2015

FOCA Elert - July 2015


Find out about:

Lake Partner Program

Algonquin Land Claim AIP signed

Hydro rates

OPP report Boating Fatality Numbers

Cottage Succession Seminar: live or on DVD

Preventing Lyme Disease at the cottage

New Air Quality Notifications for Ontario

FOCA joins call for action on Great Lakes toxins

Trent Severn Waterway funding announcement

The FOCA Board of Directors

and much more

http://foca.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/FOCA-Elert-July29-2015.pdf

Family Fireworks displays

If you are planning a family Fireworks Display, please check out Tiny Townships web site

Link to application for fireworks display for other than Victoria Day, Canada Day and New Year Eve/New Years Day. Includes some safety guide lines

http://www.tiny.ca/Shared%20Doc…/Fireworks%20Application.pdf


Links to the 2 by-laws on fireworks
07-054
http://www.tiny.ca/Shared%20Documents/By-law/07-054.pdf

12-057
http://www.tiny.ca/Shared%20Documents/By-law/12-057.pdf

A Scientific Guide To Surviving Summer

http://bit.ly/1JNsZfv IO9

Hummmmm

The science behind why the return-trip always feels shorter than the trip there

The science behind why the return-trip always feels shorter than the trip there

http://wapo.st/1Bf1yfe Washington Post

Now there is an theory..

Just a reminder you need a fire permit to burn outdoors.

Just a reminder you need a fire permit to burn outdoors.

Fire Permit Information
Fire permits can be purchased through the Township of Tiny Office, at 130 Balm Beach Road West
(9:00 am to 4:30 pm) Monday to Friday.

They can also be purchased for $20.00 cash only at the 6 (six) following locations:

1) Lafontaine SuperMarket, 345 rue Lafontaine Road West, Lafontaine
2) Wyevale Jug City, 870 County Road 6 South, Wyevale
3) Mailloux Jug City, 594 Champlain Road, North West Basin
4) Adamson Gas Station, 120 County Road 6 South, Perkinsfield
5) Marc's Hardware, 520 Cedar Point Road, Lafontaine
6) LA Hill Esso Station, 2 Lafontaine Road East, Lafontaine

You can also download a copy of the Fire Permit application and rules, by clicking on the link located on the left side of this page entitled "Fire Permit Application".

It is the applicant’s responsibility to know if a Fire Ban is in effect.

For FIRE BAN INFORMATION contact the Township of Tiny office at (705) 526-4204 or check the Fire Rating Symbol on the Home Page,

REMEMBER IT’S ILLEGAL TO BURN WITHOUT A VALID FIRE PERMIT

Kidde Recalls Residential Smoke Alarms and Combination Smoke/CO Alarms

Kidde Recalls Residential Smoke Alarms and Combination Smoke/CO Alarms

Along with Health Canada and the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, Kidde has issued a recall of AC/DC powered (hardwired with battery backup) residential smoke alarms and combination smoke/CO alarms, models KN-COSM-IBACA, i12010S-CO- CA and i12010S-CA.




http://bit.ly/1GVxfHa Tiny Township

2015 Spring Cottage Life Show

Had a great time at the 2015 Spring Cottage Life Show at the The International Centre yesterday.

Met up with Larry & Dana K. for a bit, it was great to see them again. Met Vera P., it was a pleasure to finally meet her. I even ran in to my cousin and her husband. You never know who you will see that a Cottage Life Show.

Entered the draw for a stand up paddle board at the FOCA booth. Had a good chat with Terry, Michelle, and Tracy from FOCA. Talked to someone from Cade Insurance learned some some more about cottage insurance.

Saw 3 great presentations: Terry Rees (FOCA) on Bio Diversity at the cottage. Jim Caruk on Steel Roofing. Rob Davis on Septic systems. Learned a lot. There were many more presentations to see but those were the 3 I picked.

There is a great exhibit by the Ontario MNR. Seeing a baby sturgeon was cool. Asian Carp are scary.

Picked up lots of great information on a lot of subjects.

Found a great new cottage board game called UPSET and was shown how to play by one of the inventors. Looking forward to playing it at the cottage.

Be prepared for lots of walking.

http://bit.ly/1IHHnG0 Cottage Life Show

Hydro rates going up?

Hydro rates going up

Now word that hydro rates are going up.
The average customer in Ontario will pay another 137 dollars for electricity next year.

http://bit.ly/19p4AAr CHAY

Simple ways to protect your home or cottage from spring flooding

Simple ways to protect your home or cottage from spring flooding

http://bit.ly/1BJyeeR Cottage Life Blog.

Some great ideas/tips, best to start now before there is a problem.

2015 SPRING COTTAGE LIFE SHOW

SPRING COTTAGE LIFE SHOW

MARCH 27 - 29, 2015

Warm up and chill out at the Spring Cottage Life Show!

Meet more than 575 exhibitors showing boats, docks, builders, contractors, innovative building products, green solutions, decor and style, arts and crafts, food and entertaining, water toys and more.

It’s our 22nd annual kick-off to summertime fun and we can’t wait to see you at our cottage!

Show Dates/Hours
Friday, March 27, 2015 – 10:00am–8:00pm
Saturday, March 28, 2015 – 9:00am–7:00pm
Sunday, March 29, 2015 – 10:00am–5:00pm

http://bit.ly/1Mr23V5 Cottage Life

I am thinking of going on the Saturday, anyone else thinking of going?

How to downsize your stuff for a move to the cottage

How to downsize your stuff for a move to the cottage

The time is finally here—you’re packing up your city life, leaving the concrete jungle behind, and making the cottage your permanent home. The only thing now standing between you and the loons on the lake is packing. And, if you’re like most people, your cottage is smaller than your house, which means before you pack, you have to downsize.

Here’s how to make the process easy and efficient.

http://bit.ly/1AXeZgk Cottage Life Blog


Good blog post, some good ideas. Works if your cottage is full already. One of my project this year is to downsize a lot of the stuff at the cottage. The main issue is finding the time.

FOCA Elert - February 2015

FOCA Elert - February 2015

http://bit.ly/1ux2kko FOCA

Register now for the AGM!

Members: join us for the FOCA Annual General Meeting and Spring Seminar on Saturday, March 7th in Toronto.

This is an important opportunity to network with fellow associations from across Ontario, and to interact with our expert presenters on hot cottage country topics, including legal tools and tips, organizing for success, and safety and crime prevention. And don't miss the presentations from our featured member associations!


Next FOCA Webinar:

Due to popular demand, we will be hosting another webcast of FOCA's Cottage Succession event, "Keeping the Family in the Family Cottage," on April 17, 2015. Sign-up details will come in next month's Elert - stay tuned for details!

Great Lakes Water Level updates

The International Lake Superior Board of Control says water levels in the lake are at a 17-year high, and that Lakes Huron, and Michigan are similarly at multi-year highs for the month of January. See more about the Great Lakes and this recent news here: http://foca.on.ca/great-lakes-strategy-and-action/


Recap of the Toronto International Boat Show

The 2015 Toronto International Boat Show was a great opportunity to gear up for the coming boating season, in the midst of a dark January!

More than 70,000 boat enthusiasts took in the show. FOCA was pleased that so many of our members took advantage of our free passes. We saw familiar faces and met lots of new and enthusiastic boaters.

and much more

FOCA at the 2015 Toronto Boat Show

I was at the Boat Show on January 10th, and spent a fair bit of time at the FOCA booth. Found out about several new initiatives planned for this year. If you go to the Boat Show this year drop by the FOCA both

Great Lakes water levels set to hit 15-year high

This spring, cottagers along the Great Lakes who have been anxious about disappearing shorelines are in for the highest water levels in 15-years, thanks to two unusually wet years.

Last month, Lakes Superior, Huron, Michigan, and Erie were above their average monthly levels for the first time since the late 1990s, when the levels began decreasing. Experts believe that the dredging of the links between lakes to accommodate shipping and increased evaporation from climate change could have caused the low levels.

“On Superior, Michigan, and Huron, we haven’t seen two-year water level increases of this magnitude” in recorded history, said Keith Kompoltowicz, a hydrologist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers district office in Detroit, in an interview with the CBC.

Read the rest of the story on the Cottage Life Blog

http://bit.ly/1sm9Ddw

7 New Year’s resolutions every cottager should make

7 New Year’s resolutions every cottager should make

‘Tis the season for reflecting on the year that was. But along with the typical resolutions to eat better and get to the gym more, we’d like you to think about some promises that might actually be a little easier to keep—and will make your time at the lake a little more enjoyable

http://bit.ly/175NQxk Cottage Life Blog

Some great ideas. Hope you all have a great cottaging year in 2015.

No Ice is 100% Safe

 Our friends at FOCA published an Ice Safety blog post

This time each year, snowmobilers are reminded that no ice can be considered 100 per cent safe to ride on with a snowmobile.

It is especially true this winter when ice is forming earlier than usual in many areas and may look safe, but is not yet thick or strong enough. This ice warning also applies during any prolonged period of thaw or rain, and late in the season after ice begins to deteriorate from milder temperatures.

Read the full post by clicking on the link below



http://bit.ly/1Bodk23 FOCA