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The Lake – A Winter Wonderland?

love-the-lakeBy David Ernes – Lake Management Committee

A frozen lake is just one more sign that winter has come to Roaming Shores. It presents a frozen snapshot of the beauty of the lake that has an almost alien quality to it. But have you ever wondered what is going on under the ice? A lake’s “winter” season is not usually associated with December 21st to March 21st, but often based on the dates that the lake becomes fully ice covered. There are some indications that the length of this winter season is becoming shorter with time, although linking this with climate change is a subject of much debate. Regardless, once the lake is frozen, the entire ecosystem changes to cope with the colder temperatures.

The most importance to many of our residents is the effect on the fish population. Fish seek the warmer waters under the ice and can survive as long as the oxygen levels in the water are adequate. They likely migrate to the sections in the lake that are the deepest, to have the best chances for survival. Since they are not warm blooded, they have several mechanisms to survive. Some can actually store fat and use it for energy. Also, their activity level decreases, requiring less energy to survive. This continues until the ice melts and the water starts to warm up again.

Aquatic plants can actually handle the winter better than their terrestrial cousins if they are protected under the water. Some will form nodules, which can store energy while they wait for the sun to reappear. Some may go dormant. However, if they are exposed to the cold air, they may dry out and then freeze. Lakes, who perform a winter drawdown as we have done this year and last, use this behavior as a method to reduce nuisance plants.

As far as algae are concerned, they are once again shown to be very adaptable. Some species can survive at the cold temperatures by become cannibals and consuming other algae species for food they will not get from the sun. Cyanobacteria (aka. blue-green algae) are one group of algae that can actually form a “resting cell” or cyst, much like a cocoon, that will protect them in a dormant state until conditions are more favorable.

This winter may be unusual as we are expecting an impact by an El Niño. If this happens, a warmer winter could significantly reduce the length of time that the lake is completely frozen over. It could also potentially impact the ice depth and it’s strength. Therefore, it is suggested that you be very diligent if you plan on doing any activities on the ice surfaces. Please follow the ordinances (mentioned in the latest “The Shores News”, page 3) regarding activities on the lake for your safety.

Like us, the lake and its many residents slow down their activity during the cooler winter months. But the lake is still an active environment, even if we cannot see it.
(Information presented in this article was extracted in part from Lakeline Vol 34, #4 (2014))

BE LAKE RESPONSIBLE

Warning – Vicious Dogs in the Association

Update: The dogs have been surrendered.

Please be cautious in the area of Rome Rock Boulevard, Callender Rd, and Rock Lane. There are reports of vicious dogs and a Member’s dog being killed. The Association is working with the Village and Village Police, who in turn is working with the Ashtabula Courts and the Ashtabula County dog warden to eliminate the problem. The Association will keep you apprised. Please be aware that extra monitoring of your children and pets is needed until the situation is resolved.

Board of Directors Meeting – Jan 7

The Board of Directors will meet this Thursday, January 7th at 7:3opm at the Village Hall.

RRA Attorney David King will be present to answer questions regarding the lawsuit.

Regarding Paying Dues & Assessments

Just to clarify a few questions that have come up regarding our new online billing option, if you pay your bill using check, there is no fee.

If you pay by your Dues & Assessments using a credit card by mail or in person, there is a 5% fee.

If you pay by your Dues & Assessments online using PayLease, there is a 3% fee for paying by credit card and $2.95 for using an eCheck. Paylease assesses a fee for each account (lot).

Polar Bear Plunge is March 12th

polar-bear-white-bearby Gayle Zirkle – Polar Bear Club President

This year’s Polar Bear Plunge event will begin at 1 pm on Saturday, March 12, 2016 at the Roaming Shores Clubhouse/Main Beach. The actual plunge will begin at 3pm.

The Polar Bear Plunge will include brave students from Jefferson, Grand Valley and Pymatuning Valley Schools, as well as wild and crazy local area residents. Last year’s event was a huge success as we raised $7542. We need your help to make this year’s event even more successful.

This year, the money we raise will be used to benefit the Jeff Meddock Memorial Scholarship, Jefferson Area Local Schools Academic Boosters, Grand Valley Schools student programs in memory of Emily Plickert, and the Roaming Shores Breakfast with Santa event.

Grand Valley Schools strives to improve student programs in the memory of Emily Plickert, a beloved cheerleader, classmate and friend to all.

Jeff Meddock was a resident of Roaming Shores and the beloved principal of Pymatuning Valley High School. He died unexpectedly and the money we raise helps to continue his pursuit to educate.

Both Jeff and Emily were very proud active members of The Polar Bear Club.

The Jefferson Academic Boosters strives to reward students for academic success. Also, a portion of the money we raise is also used to host the Roaming Shores Breakfast with Santa event.

If you are interested in taking the Plunge, a minimum of $55 must be raised. There is no age limit (minors will need parental consent). Each courageous person that takes that icy Plunge will get a t-shirt as a thank you for participating. Please contact us using one of the methods listed below to get required Plunge forms.

There will be a DJ and a 50/50 raffle! We’ll be serving hot dogs, chili, popcorn, chips and soda. Additional merchandise will be available for sale. You can purchase items before and/or after the plunge. First come, first serve.

For plunge participation forms and information, please visit or contact:

http://www.roamingshores.org/RRA1/clubs/polar-bear-club/

Facebook: Joey ThePolarBear
Joeythepolarbear@yahoo.com
Gayle Zirkle, President
440-228-7850

If you are a business that is interested in sponsoring our event, please contact club Treasurer Shawn Morris at 440-725-2770 for more information.

2016 Dues & Assessments

Your Dues & Assessment invoices will be sent out after the first of the year. There are a few changes this year, so please make sure to read all of the contents contained within your envelope.

Dues & Assessments:

New for 2016:
You will notice there is a one-time lawsuit assessment of $25 added to your account for 2016. This new assessment is due to the lawsuit brought against the Association by the Neighbors for a Better Roaming Shores. Please tear off the bottom of the statement and return with your payment. Dues and assessments are due and payable May 1, 2016. Late charges will be added to bills after that date.

Payment Options

Online
The RomeRock Association is now offering owners the ability to pay dues online through our payment processing partner, PayLease. Using PayLease will allow you to:

  • Pay online with a credit/debit card or electronic check**
  • Make a one-time or recurring payment
  1. Visit the RRA Website (roamingshores.org/RRA1/) and go to Pay Online. Direct Page (http://www.roamingshores.org/RRA1/pay-dues-and-assessments-online/) Or visit PayLease.com
  2. Follow the instructions to search for and select your property.
  3. Enter your contact information, and create a password to create your account. Your account number is your lot number and it must be 4 digits. Ex. Lot 123 would be 0123.
  4. To add additional lots, under Manage Accounts (middle of screen), click Add Account, under link another account—put in your account number (4 digits) then type @RRA right after the number, then your last name, and then Submit.
  5. Once registered, you can process a one-time payment and/or set up Auto Pay

**Note: There is a fee accessed for paying online. 3% is charged for using a credit card/debit card and $2.95 for an electronic check. Paylease assesses a fee for each account (lot).

If you have questions regarding your account balance, please contact The RomeRock Association at 440-563-3170. For questions regarding PayLease or your online payments, please contact PayLease Support at 1-866-729-5327.

Bank Bill Pay:

Many banks offer their customer’s bill pay on their website. You can set the RomeRock Association as a biller. If you use this option to pay your Dues, please make sure that your lot numbers are listed on the check (you can set your account number to your lot number(s)).

Mail:

You can send you payment via US Mail to P.O. Box 8, Rome, OH 44085. Checks and credit cards/debit cards are accepted. (If paying by credit/debit card please use form on the back of the return portion of your statement, there is a 5% fee).

In Person:

The Office’s winter hours are 8am – 6pm, Tuesday – Saturday. Checks, credit cards/debit cards (+5% convenience fee), and cash are accepted.

Early Bird Drawing

The RRA will again be holding an Early Bird Drawing for those who pay their Dues & Assessments in full early.

Each account paid in full before 5pm each Thursday between January 14th and March 17th will be eligible for weekly drawings for cash prizes. These prizes start at $500 per week until the award for March 17th becomes $50. This totals $2,750 in prizes. Good luck!

Pay your total RRA balance, AT ONE TIME, as soon as possible. Winner chosen will be returned to the box for the later drawings.

The sooner your Dues & Assessments are paid in full, the more drawings you will be eligible for!

If you pay by PayLease, when we are notified that your full payment is received, we will then enter you into the contest. We are not notified instantaneously.

Boat Decals

2016 Rates:

Type of Boat Fee


Watercraft Over 10HP $50
Watercraft Under 10HP $20
Jetski $50
Over 5 Watercraft Additional $100
Non-Powered Watercraft N/A (ensure lot number is on ALL watercraft)

 

Office Relocation Meeting of December 10, 2015

by Jim Swartz, Chairman

On December 10, 2015, the Board of Directors with the help of Jen Addair and Dan Mullins, presented the status of the Office relocation options via a PowerPoint presentation. Approximately 50 people were in attendance. The two outcomes seemed to indicate that the Board should consider: (1) a survey and a (2) cash flow analysis. The Board is considering these outcomes.

To view the Presentation, click here.

My New Year Resolutions

love-the-lakeBy Dick Hurwitz – Lake Management Committee

That time of year again—late in December.
My time to resolve (and then to remember)
To do those things which in my mind
Will improve the world and humankind.

Some resolutions I’ll keep to myself—
Better they stay on my private shelf.
And others would not interest you much,
They relate to my family, my friends and such.

But two I’ll share for our village’s sake;
They concern our greatest resource—our lake.
So here they are, presented in rhyme
With the hope that when you have some time
You’ll make “love the lake” resolutions of your own
And the seeds of a healthier lake will be sown.

One
If against farmland runoff we shall ever make progress
We need to move members of our Ohio congress.
So my first resolution to make the lake better
Is to write each of my reps a well worded letter
That asks them to support any proposed legislation
Seeking to regulate farmers’ use of fertilization
In the watershed that feeds our Roaming Rock Lake.
How much time could that letter writing take?

Two
If you haven’t heard yet, you may hear it soon—
No, not the latest pop hit from I-Tune,
But a plan from the Lake Management Committee
For better testing to keep our lake healthy and pretty.
My resolution is to get involved with this plan
To learn, to get trained, to do what I can.
I’ll watch for info in the news and website
And jump in when it’s time to do what is right.

So there you have it—my two for “The Shores.”
Consider these and others, and make them yours.

President’s Comments from December 2015 Board Meeting

By Tom Sopko
The following is a summary of the President’s Comments for the December 2015 Board Meeting.

  1. The Lawsuit filed against the Association by Neighbors for a Better Roaming Shores, Barry O’Connell, Joseph Petraus, and Pat Long.
    1. The Lawsuit Docket can be viewed at:
      http://courts.co.ashtabula.oh.us/eservices/home.page.2 And then following the prompts. In the Search Box for Company, insert “neighbors”. For the Start Date insert “March 20, 2014.” It should bring you to case: 2014 CV 00234.
    2. The case is listed as Closed, however, the Settlement Agreement may lead to further activity by the Board.
  2. 2016 Budget
    1. Budget approved for 2016
    2. Exceptions
      1. Boat fees will increase by $5.
      2. 2017 Boat Fees may increase to cover the cost of Police on the Lake.
      3. A one Time Assessment of $25 will be billed to each Member to cover the Association costs of the Lawsuit by Neighbors for a Better Roaming Shores, Barry O’Connell, Joseph Petraus, and Pat Long.
  3. Dredging.
    1. No additional Dredging has been done.
    2. 5790 cu yards removed so far for the year 2015.
    3. The excavator equipment, which can be used for more than dredging, can now be used from land to continue dredging if the weather and the Lake drawdown permits.
  4. Board Member – updated. One seat was vacated when a Board Member moved from the Community
    1. The Board interviewed four candidates.
    2. Several Ballots resulting in a tie. A coin toss was considered.
    3. Two leading candidates were interviewed after the November Board Meeting.
    4. John Lindemann is the new Board Member. Welcome aboard John.
    5. Matt Conway will be the Chairman of the newly formed Amenities Development Committee. (the official committee name to yet be finalized).
  5. Office – updated
    1. There will be a public presentation of the locations options. Scheduled for December 10, 2015, 7:30pm, Clubhouse.
    2. The Office on Route 6 had been the Office for about 46 years.
    3. Board is thinking long term and in the best interest of the Association.
  6. Collection of back Dues, Assessments and Late Charges.
    1. We continue to work with David King and Kaman & Cusimano on collecting back Dues and Assessments.
  7. Social Functions
    1. Promotion Club Tree Trimming. Tomorrow, Friday December 4, 2015, 7pm.
    2. Polar Bear Breakfast with Santa. Saturday December 12
    3. Quilters Guild, December 16.
  8. The Board will study healthcare benefits for the Association employees.

Keep Your Holidays From Going Up in Flames!

Ashtabula County Fire Chiefs’ Association Offers Fire Prevention Tips for a Safe and Festive Holiday Season

For most of us, the holiday season represents a time for family festivities and good cheer. What few of us consider is that the holiday season is a time when there is an increased risk of home fires. According to the Ashtabula County Fire Chiefs’ Association, many households engage in holiday activities that serve as some of the leading causes of U.S. home fires, including cooking. Christmas trees, candle usage and holiday decorations also significantly contribute to the seasonal causes of home fires. Add to that the hectic nature of the holidays, when people are trying to accomplish multiple tasks at one time, and the chance for home fires grows even more.

“As everyone gets busier during the holidays, we often become rushed, distracted or tired,” says Rome Fire Chief Ed Koziol, President of the Ashtabula County Fire Chiefs’ Association. “That’s when home fires are more likely to occur.”

Fortunately, with a little added awareness and some minor adjustments to holiday cooking and decorating, the season can remain festive and safe for everybody. “By taking some preventive steps and following simple rules of thumb, most home fires can be prevented,” says Chief Koziol.

With unattended cooking as the leading cause of U.S. home fires and home fire injuries, Chief Koziol says to stay in the kitchen while you’re frying, grilling, boiling, or broiling food. Most cooking fires involve the stovetop, so keep anything that can catch fire away from it, and turn off the stove when you leave the kitchen, even if it’s for a short period of time. If you’re simmering, baking or roasting food, check it regularly and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking. The Ashtabula County Fire Chiefs’ Association also suggests creating a “kid-free zone” of at least three feet around the stove and areas where hot food and drinks are prepared or carried.

Candles are widely used in homes throughout the holidays, and December is the peak month for home candle fires. The nonprofit National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) statistics show that two of every five home decoration fires are started by candles. The Ashtabula County Fire Chiefs’ Association encourages residents to consider using flameless candles, which look and smell like real candles. However, if you do use traditional candles, keep them at least 12” away from anything that can burn, and remember to blow them out when you leave the room or go to bed. Use candle holders that are sturdy, won’t tip over and are placed on uncluttered surfaces. Avoid using candles in the bedroom where more than one-third of U.S. candle fires begin or other areas where people may fall asleep. Lastly, never leave a child or pet alone in a room with a burning candle.

According to NFPA, U.S. fire departments respond to an average of 210 home structure fires caused by Christmas trees per year. Three of every ten of them is caused by electrical problems, and one in four result from a heat source that’s too close to the tree. The Ashtabula County Fire Chiefs’ Association offers the following advice for picking, placing and lighting the tree:

  • If you have an artificial tree, be sure it’s labeled, certified or identified by the manufacturer as fire-retardant.
  • If you choose a fresh tree, make sure the green needles don’t fall off when touched; before placing it in the stand, cut 2” from the base of the trunk. Add water to the tree stand, and be sure to water it daily.
  • Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit, and is at least three feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, space heaters, radiators, candles and heat vents or lights.
  • Use lights that have the label of a recognized testing laboratory, and make sure you know whether they are designed for indoor or outdoor use.
  • Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords, or loose bulb connections. Read manufacturer’s instructions for number of light strands to connect.
  • Never use lit candles to decorate the tree.
  • Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving the home or going to bed.
  • Check if your community offers a Tree Recycling Program.
  • After Christmas, get rid of the tree. Dried-out trees are a fire hazard and should not be left in the home or garage, or placed outside the home.
  • Bring outdoor electrical lights inside after the holidays to prevent hazards and make them last longer.

By following these fire prevention tips and measures, The Ashtabula County Fire Chiefs’ Association says you can greatly reduce the risk of fire in your home, and enjoy a safe holiday season. “The holidays can quickly turn from joyful to tragic when a fire occurs,” says Chief Koziol. “By taking simple precautions, people can avoid potential fire hazards, and make this time of year a healthy and happy one.”

 

 

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