Sunset on Manchaug Pond

Beautiful evening for a boat ride - turtles, heron, osprey, and mallards were also enjoying the lake.

Everything I need to know I learned from Noah's Ark...

 A Douglas resident found this in Sunday's church bulletin and thought we on Manchaug Pond would enjoy it!

Everything I need to know I learned from Noah's Ark...


1.  Don't miss the boat.  

2.  Remember that we are all in the same boat.  

3.  Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark. 

4.  Stay fit. When you're 600 years old someone may ask you to do something really big. 

5.  Don't listen to critics,  just get on with the job that needs to be done. 

6.  Build your future on high ground. 

7.  For safety's sake, travel in pairs. 

8.  Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs. 

9.  When you're stressed, float a while. 

10.  Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs, the Titanic by professionals. 

11.  No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting.

Sacred Sunday: Deer in the Watershed

Thanks to our newest photographer for sending in today's photo!

Did You Enter Yet? Manchaug Pond Boat Decorating Contest!

Register your boat today!

Any boat, any theme!  Cash prize for 1st, 2nd 3rd place winners!
  Join the fun either on the water, as a judge on the judges' boat or on the shore cheering them on!

Take a look at some of last year's entries:

Boat Decorating Contest

Sunday, July 3rd ~ 2nd Annual 

Boat Decorating Contest 

 Break out the garland, streamers and your imagination!

The Second Annual Boat Decorating Contest is scheduled for Sunday, July 3rd starting at 2:00pm.  

Pick a theme, decorate like crazy, and parade around the lake for all to see. We’ll follow the same route as last year, starting at Blueberry Island. We hope to have judges on the water this year so they can get a birds-eye view of your decorating skills!

To participate, you will need to register. You’ll be issued a number that must be prominently displayed on the starboard and port sides of your boat.  If you don’t want to be a contender for the cash prizes, feel free to bypass the registration and simply decorate and join in the procession.

To register, email boat.decorating.contest@gmail.com or call 508.234.9239. Please provide the following information:
Captain’s Name:
Telephone #:
Boat Make/Model
Decorating Theme:

Everyone had a lot of fun last year and the turnout was great with at least 18 boats decorated and parading around Manchaug Pond! 

Cash prizes will be awarded!

WANTED: JUDGES -- We’re looking for people to volunteer their time to judge this contest. Please contact me at the email or telephone number above if you’re interested in being a judge.

Certified Safe Vessel Performs Rescue on the Water!

Late yesterday afternoon a pontoon boat which had participated in the Vessel Safety Check co-sponsored by the Manchaug Pond Association and the Worcester County Sail and Power Squadron performed its first rescue.   Lake residents commonly help inexperienced boaters in trouble on Manchaug Pond.

The Captain wrote on Facebook:  "Rescued two women in a capsized canoe today. The younger of the two, my age, thought if they could just get help with righting the canoe they could get back in and be on their way… the 83 year old nun she was with was already in our boat, happy to be rescued, and wanted nothing to do with getting back into the canoe -- another time, I'm sure."

The canoe went over in choppy water.  The glare of the setting sun made it difficult to count heads and determine if the people were just taking a swim or in need of help.  But our new Captain, 1st mate, and crew, jumped in, rescued the two in the water, and hauled the canoe on board and took them safely home.

Heading off after their Vessel Safety Check on Saturday.

Well done!

* Canoes and kayaks are required to have a signaling devise, a whistle around the neck or attached to the life jacket is very accessible.  A life jacket for each person is also required. If your canoe has a motor of any kind, it must be registered.   

Sacred Sunday

Ahoy Mateys ! Get your boat to the ramp for the VESSEL SAFETY CHECK this morning!

Let the inspectors help you get your boat ready for the water this season! This FREE Vessel Safety Check helps you know exactly what your motorboat, kayak, canoe, rowboat and jetski needs to be safe and legal on the waters.  Do you need a horn, a fire extinguisher or 2, a flare, lights?  What!?

No fines, no fees!

Come today to the Manchaug Pond state boat ramp between 9-12, tell the gatekeeper you are just here for the vessel check - no launch, no fee.

Feel confident this summer when the police boat pulls up aside of you for a check!    I'm told Environmental Police love to see the Safe Vessel sticker!

Here's a few photos from last year's event!

Special thanks to the Worcester County Sail and Power Squadron for organizing and cosponsoring this event with the Manchaug Pond Association! www.usps.org/worc

June 18th VESSEL SAFETY CHECK!

Does your boat have this sticker?

Bring your vessel(s) - canoe or kayak, sail or motorboat- for a free inspection by the Worcester County Sail and Power Squadron. Receive your official sticker certifying your vessel is safe. Inspectors will tell you just want you need to be legal on the water!

The inspection is free and all are welcome.

Manchaug Pond Boat Ramp on Saturday, 18 June from around 9:00 A.M. to around noon.

Boats can be on trailers or in the water. Bring one or bring them all!

The ramp is located on Torrey Road in Sutton MA.

42* 05.473' N

71* 46.118' W

Program brought to you by:
the Manchaug Pond Association and the Worcester County Sail and Power Squadron

And the winner of the 2011 BIG Boat Raffle/$10,000 Giveaway is.....

three ducks remaining.... with only a representative of ticket holder #96 at the event.

The Fundraising Committee chairman and M.C. for the event offers #96's daughter the option to split the prize money with the other two remaining.....

.....#96 says no split, "Go for it all!"

So the children pull the losing ducks first....

first to go is #22.    AAHH!

next to go is #96.  AAAHHH!!

leaving the winner #117,          who is happily taking the $10,000 cash!     Congratulations!




A HUGE thanks to the 120+ who bought raffle tickets, the 82 who attended the Saturday event, the YMCA for use of the facility, to the many MPA volunteers who designed, printed and publicized the raffle or was involved in shopping, setup, served food, etc, and to our 9 member FUNdrai$ing Committee and our Board of Directors which is 24 strong who sold tickets and oversaw the whole program. 

Great day!  Great event!  Great fundraiser! Great cause!

Tomorrow is here! 120 tickets sold.... who will be this year's Lucky Duck!

The ducks are numbered,

the chicken dinners are ordered,

the tickets are sold out!








See you tomorrow at the Spring Social for the reverse drawing of our BIG Boat Raffle/$10,000 Giveaway!

Great odds for a great cause!  

ALL proceeds benefit the Manchaug Pond Foundation.

Got Boat ? Decorate!

Boat Decorating Contest: SUNDAY, JULY 3rd

Break out the garland, streamers and your imagination! The Second Annual Boat Decorating Contest is scheduled for Sunday, July 3rd starting at 2:00pm.  

Pick a theme, decorate like crazy, and parade around the lake for all to see. We’ll follow the same route as last year, starting at Blueberry Island. We hope to have judges on the water this year so they can get a birds-eye view of your decorating skills!

To participate, you will need to register. You’ll be issued a number that must be prominently displayed on the starboard and port sides of your boat.  If you don’t want to be a contender for the cash prizes, feel free to bypass the registration and simply decorate and join in the procession.

To register, email boat.decorating.contest@gmail.com or call 508.234.9239. Please provide the following information:
Captain’s Name:
Telephone #:
Boat Make/Model
Decorating Theme:

Everyone had a lot of fun last year and the turnout was great with at least 18 boats decorated and parading around Manchaug Pond! 

Cash prizes will be awarded!

WANTED: JUDGES -- We’re looking for people to volunteer their time to judge this contest. Please contact me at the email or telephone number above if you’re interested in being a judge.

Sacred Sunday - Blue Skies!!

After the storm - Pollen!

The tornado/thunderstorms split going north and south of us here on Manchaug Pond with just little rain received.  But now pollen is seen dusting the water. 

Skies and Wind

6:00 p.m. Danger Passes... for now.

At 6 pm as the weather reports show footage of a tornado touching down in Whitinsville just east of Manchaug Pond, these photos were taken here on the lake.

25 minutes later,  we're told the "Sutton storm" is strengthening with thunder rumbling loudly giving us a bit of a shake to the west - Whitinsvile and south to Douglas - with lightening seen to the north.

With many summer homes both cottages and camper trailers and tents on Manchaug's shore,  we pray all continue to be safe.

Stay tuned as another storm area has formed and grown once again in the Springfield area with another tornado now being reported in Westfield.

TORNADO COMING this way! NOW!

MANCHAUG POND!  Too late to batten down the hatches ... if the storm holds together, East Douglas and Sutton are in the path of a tornado currently in east of Sturbridge heading toward us at 40 mph.

Be prepared to head to the cellar/basement and invite that neighbor in the summer camp to join you.

If you are watching the news - you know the shape of Manchaug Pond to know where we are!

Check Twitter on the right side of the blog for our updates!