Ultralite docks at Manchaug Pond

A 5 gallon jug comprises the gas tank which gives an hour of flying time.

Note the air filter and carbuerator to the right of the pilot's face.

Pontoons can be removed with wheels to land on the ground.



The pilot of this ultralite is also an airplane mechanic.

 

Cleanup POSTPONED to SUNDAY

FALL RAMP, ROADSIDE, SHORELINE AND WEED CLEAN-UP
RAIN!!  POSTPONED TO SUNDAY
Saturday, September 24th
9 to Noon 
Meet at the State Boat Ramp.  
Garbage bags and gloves provided.

All welcome to join in!  Bring your fishing club, scout group, neighbors and friends.

Sacred Sunday: On eagle's wings

This afternoon, this adult eagle was seen soaring and circling Manchaug Pond.

Sacred Sunday: Last nights sunset

Register for THE DAM RACE TODAY!

Register by October 1 to reserve your t-shirt! 

Download the registration form  here and send to MPA, Box 154, Manchaug, MA  01526.


Never ran in a race before?  You're all invited to walk it - many did last year... but if you want to give running a try... click here to Get training!   Check out the couch to 5K running plan.


Perhaps we need a trophy for most improved time!


See you on October 15th with your running shoes on,  or be out there to Cheer us on!

August Visitors to the Dam

Photo of two Great Blue Herons taken August 16th.

Power Restored!

At 4:00 pm this afternoon, power was restored to the last area of Manchaug Pond.  We suspect this tree on Manchaug Road just after Holbrook's Campground was the culprit.



Hurricane Irene left the area littered with debris of branches and leaves primarily from oak and pine trees.  Large trees came down on all roadsides around the lake and even into the lake!



During the storm, the rain gauge overflowed after reaching 5 inches with no one willing to go out in the wind and heavy rains to empty it.



Monday and Tuesday brought cool air putting nighttime temps in the 50's, with daytime blue skies and sunshine making the cleanup much easier.

Wind Gusts as Hurricane Irene Nears

Over 3 1/2 inches of rain in the rain gauge overnight with power lost and restored was the situation as Hurricane Irene approaches.

But now just one hour since this photo was taken, the rain continues to be heavy with the winds gusts tearing through the trees and the power has just gone out once again. The stormwater work done around the lake, of catch basins, infiltration areas and rain gardens, has made all the difference to reduce flooding and keep sediment from entering the lake.

and now the power is out once again....

Waterlevel Going Down. Hurricane Irene on the Way!

Forecasters are tracking Hurricane Irene expecting the storm to hit Manchaug Pond bringing with it wind and rain.  Talk is of wind up to 150 mph and 8 inches of rain.

The damowner has secured permission from MassDEP to adjust the waterlevel accordingly.  The MPA/MPF has been notified the waterlevel will be taken down one foot from yesterday's level.

If you haven't already, today would be a good day to take out your boats and tomorrow, batten down the hatches (which includes lawn chairs, umbrellas, and the like.)

All Members & Friends Invited!

You are all invited

  to attend the MPA/MPF Annual Meeting 

this Saturday, August 20th at 10:30 a.m. at YMCA Camp Blanchard in Sutton 

on the shores of Manchaug Pond.

The agenda will include updates and reports from the Board of Directors on issues and events, 

a budget for the upcoming year will be presented for your vote, 

and your input and involvement is needed for upcoming activities and goals.

A special menu has been planned to thank all of you for your continued support and extra effort 

in preserving Manchaug Pond and maximizing our efforts as we become a public charity

the Manchaug Pond Foundation.

If you still need to pay your dues, please have it at the door on Saturday

or use the paypal button here on the blog,

or drop in the mail to MPF, P.O. Box 154, Manchaug, MA  01526-0154.  

$75 for lake shore and waterrights property owners

$35 for all others

If it has been a while since you've attended or if you have never joined us, 

come on down as we have many new families and old working with our common goal of preserving Manchaug Pond.

Let this be your personal invitation!  

Questions?  email me or comment below.  

Thank you and we will see you Saturday!

:)

Take Time to Bail the Boat. Please!!

This is the scene at a local Manchaug Pond campground's dock/marina where a boat sank last Thursday spilling gas & oil into the lake.  While the MPF Board of Directors was holding their monthly meeting, the Sutton Fire Department was rushing to the scene.

Please be sure to bail your boat when it rains!

Two days earlier, Lake Singletary was the site of a spill when a boat sank... the story is told that as the owner and a neighbor worked with heavy equipment to bring the boat up, if flipped over ... spilling gas and oil into that lake.

We've had over 2 1/2 " of rain just this afternoon.... Please be sure to check you boat. Bail often.

One spill can have a big impact on the water quality of the lake.

MORE WINNERS: Brothers Split MPA $10,000 Giveaway Award

The 2nd BIG Boat Raffle/$10,000 Giveaway proved just as exciting as the first!

 With the reverse drawing held at our Spring Social in June, ticket holders and MPA/MPF families shared in the excitement over a delicious chicken dinner.

Children lined up to pluck, one by one, the one hundred and nineteen loser ducks from the little duckie pool in the reverse drawing.



Leaving the winner, # 117, held by winning ticket holders Ken and Mel Winquist.

The two brothers, who own a summer cottage on Manchaug Pond, had the choice of the 2011 Pontoon Boat package valued at over $12,000 from USA Marine or $10,000 cash...

They each chose to receive a check for $5,000!

Congratulations and a huge thank you to all of you who participated in this fundraising event by buying a Big Boat Raffle Ticket.  Your support of our efforts to preserve Manchaug Pond is invaluable!

Pan Mass Challenge at Manchaug Pond!

What were you doing early this morning ? 

Manchaug Pond campers at the Old Holbrook Place were up at 6 a.m. hanging posters and standing by the roadside to cheer on the over 5100 cyclist who came by Manchaug Pond as part of the Pan Mass Challenge.   Many a "Good Morning!" were said!

Click on the movie to catch a taste of what it is like to see 5100 cyclists go by!

The 32nd annual PAN-MASSachusetts CHALLENGE (PMC) is the 2 day, 200 mile charity ride which raises money for cancer research at Dana-Farber in Boston. The more than 5,100 cyclists must raise $500 minimum in donations to ride.


Thanks to our resident reporter for catching the news!

Tonight's sunset

Sacred Sunday: Sunset

Today's photo was taken by an MPA member with his new Nikon DSLR camera. Keep those photos coming!

Sacred Sunday

A snapper swimming Manchaug Pond.

Busy on Manchaug Pond!

Today a comic in the Telegram, Rhymes with Orange has three prisoners checking out the yard bulletin board for their work detail assignments with "Highway Clean Up," "Farm Detail," and "License Plates," the only jobs posted... we see one inmate sighing "No canoeing or archery."  

This morning there is a beautiful cool breeze off the lake, with temperatures in the low 70's.

Yesterday at mid-day and in full sun, that same thermometer showed 127.9 degrees.  On Facebook, the Millbury-Sutton Chronicle asked, "Its the middle of summer and it's hot, where are peole going to stay cool? Any suggestions?"  One said Lake Singletary, the other Manchaug Pond.

Earlier this week and the past few weeks, Manchaug Pond's water level and the future of the dam has been the topic of discussions at a number of meetings and conference calls. Your officers and directors from the MPA remain diligent on this issue.

Also the FUNdrai$ing Committee is planning a Halloween costume party and the 2nd annual DAM road race/walk. The purpose is not only to provide a great community social event but also to raise more money to continue our push to preserve the waterlevel and oppose the breach of the dam.

The MPA Board has formed a new committee to look into private grants sources and reports new members working on the newsletter, the August annual meeting, and the weed issue.

A second grant application was submitted to the state 319 Stormwater Grant program which looks at another 5 problem sites on Manchaug Pond which contribute to the fouling of our water quality and promote weed growth. We should hear late this year on whether or not Manchaug is selected to receive some of those federal Clean Water Act funds.

Thursday's sunset on Manchaug Pond.

Each and every one of you is personally invited to get involved - serve on a committee, work an issue, be a member or friend, attend an event.  Let me know if you are interested, have a few moments to donate or need more information.  Any donation to Manchaug Pond Foundation gets you on the mailing list. A newsletter is in the making as we speak. Use paypal or send a bit of a check to MPF, P.O. Box 154, Manchaug, MA  01526


The next blog posts will star more winners on Manchaug Pond:  the winners of the BIG BOAT RAFFLE!, the winner of the grill raffle at King's Family Campground, and more boats in the boat decorating contest!  Tune in!

Our 2nd Winning Boat Sports the Fenway

Catching 2nd place in the 2011 2nd Annual Boat Decorating Contest is #9  Captain Dave Schmidt's Fenway Park!

The judges noted the originality of the entry, and the theme's hometown pride and promotion of the great Amerian pasttime. Which they felt was in keeping with the July 4th holiday.

The scoreboard especially earned points with the judges who also loved the Citgo sign!



 CONGRATULATIONS!







Stay tuned.... more winners to come!

2011 Boat Decorating Contest 1st Place Winner

# 17 Captain Bob Cadrin and the Pirates of Manchaug took 1st place in this year's 2nd Annual Boat Decorating Contest!

The judges especially loved the mast and sail, the water cannons (which did not fire on the judges!), the costumes, the music, the skeleton, and the very animated crew and their funny mock sword fight!

Click on the video below to catch them "sailing away" in their jolly boat!

Congratulations!

Tune in tomorrow for more winners!

Boat Decorating Contest a Blast! The unofficial photos...

There were those who didn't enter...

... and then there were those who did!  About 20 entries gathering on Blueberry Island to overwhelm the judges whose task was to choose the 3 best vessels!

All winners to be sure!  With lots of laughs shared by participants and spectators!

 

 

Judges official comments and photos to come!  Stay tuned!  

WHO do YOU think is our BEST effort this year??  Comment below!

July 4th Weekend - Manchaug all aglow!

 

A Request for Flag Etiquette... How do I hang the flag on my house?

Display of the American flag
Behind a Speaker?	Display horizontally behind and above the speaker's head.
Flat against a wall?	Display horizontally or vertically with Canton at flags own right. (or to viewers left)
In a window?	Display vertically with Canton at flags own right. (or to outside viewers left)

Displaying an American flag outside my House
On a Pole attached to the wall?	Hang Flag at the top of a pole either horizontally or diagonally from the wall with any other flags below it on the same staff or another staff.
On a horizontal rope from a building?	Hang flag vertical with the Canton farthest from the building.

Displaying an American flag on a Flagpole
More than one flag on a pole?	The US Flag should always fly above other flags and should be the same size or larger than the others.
One flag each on many poles?	The US Flag should always fly on it's own right. When flying with other country flags all flags should be the same size and fly at the same height as the others.

Can I leave my American flag out at night?

The US Flag should always fly in light. If you can see the flag clearly either by mounting a light directed towards it or because of street lights or house lights than it can remain outside during the night. It may also be economical to bring your flag in during harsh weather to save it from excessive tearing. Most flags are considered all-weather however if you buy a 2-ply polyester flag it is the industries strongest and longest lasting flag available.