A Weekend of Winners: Boat Raffle winner receives $8,000 cash prize!

The 2010 Boat Raffle/$8,000 Giveaway winner Mr. Don Klocek accepts a check for $8,000 from Fundraising Committee co-chairman George Cammuso on the shores of Manchaug Pond yesterday. Mr. Klocek has been enjoying Manchaug Pond for 60 years and praised the Manchaug Pond Association for its efforts to preserve the lake.

1st Annual Boat Decorating Contest a Blast!

18 vessels entered today's contest with many more watching and joining in!

Spectators on shore and in the water were amazed as the boats passed by with flamboyant decorations, music, props and more! Waves and cheers as the lake stood still to watch the boats go by!

And the judges, well they were overwhelmed by the creativity, patriotism, and cleverness and thoroughness of design by all the entries!

Throwing out the traditional 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, our MPA panel of judges decided to award 1 Grand Winner and 6 second place winners!!! Yes! 7 winners! With a sorry judge reporting others she loved and wished to win!



more details, and photos to come.... but after the lighting of the shoreline, campfires, lighted boats, etc..

Still time ....for Boat Decorating and Lighting the Shoreline!

Last night's patriotic sunset was a perfect entry into the Fourth of July weekend!

We have 16 vessels registered so far for the 2010 Boat Decorating Contest scheduled to meet at Blueberry Island today at 3 p.m.  Various themes from patriotic to those you would never have thought of!! and vessels from pontoons, to bowriders, to fishing boats, to paddle boats and kayaks have entered.  Should be great fun for both participants and spectators! 

If you haven't registered for the Boat Decorating Contest and would like your vessel judged, give Karen a call at 508-234-9239 or email her at manchaugpond.bronson@gmail.com. You should also click on the Calendar of Events tab above for details on where to meet, etc.  Be sure your assigned number is prominently displayed. The "Support Our Troops" Flag Ship, entry #1, has been asked to lead the boats past the judges station.


Special thanks to the Boat Decorating Contest Committee, Paula, Alice and Karen, for the idea, organizing and publicizing the event! Also to the MPA Board of Directors for appropriating $150. for prize money! And to our esteemed Judges who will take the time on this busy weekend to review each entry!  And to all participants  - we should have another contest for who spent the most on decorations! and to our Spectators who will cheer us on from the shore!

and

And don't forget to get your flares from your area rep. or from the local campground store to Light the Shoreline at 9 tonight!  This is a long held tradition here on Manchaug Pond!

Thanks to Heidi for sending in this photo on facebook from our 2009's celebration!


Have a fun and safe weekend as we celebrate the birth of our country,  the United States of America !

MassWildlife Working on Manchaug Pond!

Mass Wildlife/Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game are out on the lake taking a survey of our fisheries.  With this year's waterlevel they are able to take their boat into the coves!

Thank you to the 3 MPA directors and 1 member who called in the info and sent this photo.  More are on the way!

Boaters! Watch the water for...

 Do you see it?

DIVER-DOWN Flag

What does it mean?

According to the  Official Massachusetts Boating Handbook it is required equipment.   "All persons scuba diving, skin diving, or snorkeling must display a red and white divers flag. Divers or snorkelers must remain within 100 feet of the divers flag.


If possible, vessel operators not engaged in the diving operation should stay at least 100 feet from a displayed flag. If not possible, vessel operators must reduce speed to no more than three miles per hour. Two types of flags are used to indicate diving activity.


Divers Flag: A rectangular red flag with a white diagonal stripe, at least 12 x 15 inches in size and constructed of rigidly supported material. This flag must be displayed on a vessel or surface float and must extend a minimum distance of three feet up from the surface of the water.


Alfa Flag: A blue and white International Code Flag A (or Alfa flag), flown from a vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver. This flag indicates that a vessel is involved in a diving activity. The Alfa flag may be displayed in addition to the divers flag but does not replace the divers flag.

Sacred Sunday: Sunset sky!

Sutton Police Lake Patrol Program - Boat Safety Education on the Water

Sutton Lake Patrol Program speaking with boaters and personal watercraft operators on Saturday afternoon as part of an ongoing boater education and safety program.

If you didn't click the Calendar of Events tab - this is what you are missing!

July

Fourth of July Weekend ~  BOAT DECORATING CONTEST

and LIGHTING OF THE SHORELINE

BOAT DECORATING CONTEST  
Judging at 3:00 p.m.,  
Saturday, July 3rd

The MPA invites you to participate in a Boat Decorating Contest for the Fourth of July weekend! 


Ca$h prize$ will be awarded for the best decorated boats!

You only need to register if you would like to be judged. Anyone is welcome to join in at no charge. Spectators are welcome!

1. Pick any theme from patriotic to wherever your imagination takes you! Keep it simple or come up with an elaborate plan with costumes and accessories for your vessel, crew and guests!   (Remember safety first! Do not exceed your boat's capacity, and be sure decorations do not obstruct your vision.)
2. Register your boat if you want to be judged in the contest. (see below to register.)
3. Display your number (assigned when you register) prominently on the starboard side and readable from the judges' station on shore. 
4. Meet at 3:00 p.m. Saturday near Blueberry Island for judging.  Boat # 1 will begin the contest, proceeding slowly and safely past the judges' station at the northern end of the lake in a counterclockwise direction allowing all vessels to be viewed twice by the panel of judges.

July 4th Weekend 2009

To Register: email or call in the captain's name, telephone #, boat name, make/model, and theme 
to manchaugpond.bronson@gmail.com or 508-234-9239.  You will be assigned a number which YOU MUST prominently display on the starboard side so it is in full view and readable for the judges on shore.

LIGHTING OF THE SHORELINE 
at 9:00 p.m., Saturday, July 3rd

 The tradition of lighting the shoreline is longstanding here on Manchaug Pond! At 9:00 p.m. on Saturday evening, set your flares aglow at your beach or shoreline.  Flares are available from your MPA Area Representative or purchase at cost at the local campground store.  $3. each or 2 for $5.00.

No Storm on Manchaug Pond!

A heron flys in the heat and sunshine of the blue, cloudless skies of Manchaug Pond.

Psst! Check out the Calendar of Events tab for the MPA's latest bit of fun for Manchaug Pond!


and Hey! What did you think of that fancy newsletter? Next on comes out the beginning of September with an August 15th deadline... Want to place a classified ad? get on the mailing list? submit an article?
Email manchaugpondsecretary@gmail.com and I'll forward you to an MPA volunteer!


Thanks for supporting the MPA's work to preserve Manchaug Pond!

And the Winner of the 50/50 Raffle at the MPA Spring Social was...

Ron McCrohan with his 10 of diamonds!  Ron took home $85.00, as did the MPA!

Congratulations Ron!

(Thought you'd like to hear about another winner at Saturday's event!)

And the Winner of this year's BOAT RAFFLE is ...

Ticket # 99!  Congratulations to Don and Marilyn Klocek!  The 2010 winners of the MPA Boat Raffle/$8,000 Giveaway!

MPA Fundraising Committee co-chairman and Master of Ceremonies, George Cammuso, gets the last two ticket holders on the phone to see if they want to split the winnings or go for broke! (one was visiting the state of Maine, the other on his way to the airport!)

Deciding to go for it all, Mr. and Mrs. Klocek edged out David and Beverly Gravison - holders of ticket #79 - as the duck bearing the winning # 99 was pulled out of the pool.
















The day was a huge success with attendees enjoying the beautiful weather, good company, and a hugely delicious barbecued chicken dinner at the Camp Blanchard boat house on the shores of Manchaug Pond.

Special thanks to the YMCA for use of the facility, to USA Marine for providing a prize boat on site the day of the event, and to all those who purchased a ticket, sold tickets, and attended the event which raised $12,000 to benefit the formation of a 501c3 foundation for the preservation of Manchaug Pond.

It was great fun for a great cause with the co-chairmen promising to make it an annual event!

MPA SPRING SOCIAL & Reverse Drawing of the 2010 BOAT RAFFLE/$8,000 GIVEAWAY!

I'm writing and posting photos, so check back later!

Sacred Sunday: Last Night's Sunset - the end of a great MPA day!

The Grand Prize Awaits 1 Lucky Winner Here on Manchaug Pond!

Traveling to the MPA Social - Watch for Cyclists!

Seems Manchaug Road will be a popular place this Saturday!  MPA's Annual Spring Social is not the only event planned.... seems we will be sharing the road with over 300 cyclist who will be competing in the 1st annual Purgatory Road Race bicycling race.

So expect delays and please drive cautiously!  Cyclist will be racing from Whitins Road to Manchaug Road to Lackey and Putnam Hill.  Check back here later as I am checking with officials to determine if there will be any detours or one-ways. The Boston-based cycling team, Green Line Velo, is hosting the competition and their forum tells of an expected 300 cyclists.

Update:  Lackey Road will be a one-way heading north up the hill.

BOAT RAFFLE Tickets are a Hit!

SOLD OUT!!!  The FUNdrai$ing Committee co-chairman reports with just a month of promotion all 100 tickets have been sold.  As we are still getting requests for tickets, the MPA Board of Directors deeply appreciates the community's support of this event and our work to preserve Manchaug Pond!

Next is the DRAWING & Celebration:  this Saturday, June 19th at the YMCA Camp Blanchard facility.  Weather permitting we will be down at the boat house along the shore of Manchaug Pond.

Our Co-chairmen, George and Kevin, who brought this idea to the MPA, promise a good time for this year's social:

• at 11:00 we begin with coffee and conversation and an introduction to the 501c3 FOUNDATION. 
• 11:30 the REVErSE DRAWING will give a few laughs as the numbers are pulled and checked off as we climb toward the winning ticket!  
• by noon, you'll be enjoying a lake side menu of barbecued chicken, red bliss potato salad, tossed garden salad, a roll and butter, and the traditional Helen's Bakery brownies for desert. Rumor has it Chef Paul is bringing a large pot of his legendary seafood chowder. A 50/50 raffle for a buck will add to the fun! Also you'll have an opportunity to buy your flares for the July 4th and Labor day weekends' Lighting of the Shoreline, and purchase or order a new MPA T-shirt.
• for the children you'll find a table of play dough, crafts, sidewalk chalk and more!
• and the winning ticket.... lets have a poll!  What do you think the winner will decide?  Check later (right column) for an opportunity to vote or comment below.

  With calls coming in today asking for tickets,  we are promising to do it again next year!  With only 100 available, our President asked sellers to focus first on the lakeshore community, family and friends, then other users of the pond, sports clubs, business and the world!  All to benefit Manchaug Pond!

Sacred Sunday: Keeping the Children in Line!

Thank you to our guest photographer who took this one May 21, 2010 on Manchaug Pond.

Set to Break a Record...16 yr. old Sailor Rescued at Sea

Since it has been raining much of the day on Manchaug Pond, lets turn to the Indian Ocean for a story of skill, determination and courage... the story of a young woman out to set a world record for sailing around the world.

This week, two thousand miles off the coast of Australia a storm took the mast of her sailboat, "Wild Eyes" making a rescue at sea necessary. Click on the title of this post to read more of her story on the personal blog of 16 year old sailor Abby Sunderlund. Below are a few photos from her blog.

Heron Enjoying the Sunshine and Quiet of the Lake

It is raining on Manchaug Pond but...

why the umbrella on the channel marker ?