Skeleton Lake News

Re: News Update from 'The Village Harbour'

This email is primarily directed to all boat storage, parking & docking customers who have been storing their boats at Troy Cove Marina, now known as The Village Harbour Marina.

I am pleased to announce that at this time we have professional mechanical staff who have vast experience in the marina business, and are now ready to winterize, wrap and store your boats.

Unfortunately at this time the marina is closed in terms of selling gas and convenience store. However, should anyone need help, emergency gas or mechanical service we can help, please call us at 416-580-0352.

For the 2021 season the marina operation, gas bar and store hours will be open 7 days a week during summer season from 9am till 6pm. Also we will be providing professional licensed mechanical service.

I apologize if this delay has caused you any frustration. I can assure you we are going to make this marina a beautiful place to come visit and do business for well into the future.

Since I took over this role (2-3 weeks ago), I have been wrestling with a limited database of customers which was left behind by the previous renter.

I kindly ask that you please contact us with your name, telephone #, email address, boat slip number (photo would work) and a brief description of your craft. This information will vastly help our mechanics organize each craft that is ready for pulling out of the lake.

Also, could you please tell me when you are ready for us to store your boat. This information will help with logistics so we can plan appropriately.

Thank you for your patience and your business. We are looking forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Steve Staley

tel:   416-580-0352

email: TheVillageHarbour@gmail.com

Water-Access Septic Tank Pump-outs (2nd-call)

Are you water access?  Have you had your septic tank pumped out in the last 5 years?  Give yourself some peace of mind and get it pumped out this year. Most septic systems should to be pumped out  every 3-5 years. 

The SLCO is once again organizing a septic pump out for water-access cottagers.  Muskoka Septic Services (MSS) is one of only a few remaining service providers that has a purpose-built barge available for use on Skeleton Lake.  And once again, MSS is offering a special discount to members of the Skeleton Lake Cottagers Organization.

MSS plans to be on Skeleton Lake around the 3rd week of September.  You don't need to be at your cottage as long as your tank is accessible and easy to find.  Pricing is as follows:

Tank Size	Reg Price	Member Price*
800 gal	$1,130	$1,030
1000 gal	$1,200	$1,100
>1000 gal	+ add $35 / 100 gal

As usual, SLCO members will enjoy a $100 discount^*.  
So if you haven't renewed your membership yet, or you still haven't become a member, visit our website at www.skeletonlake.ca to renew your membership today - it's only $50!
If you're interested in participating in this season's septic pump-out, please reply to this message or email us at admin@skeletonlake.ca
The Skeleton Lake Cottagers Organization

* based on 10 or more participating

August 4, 2020_Clothing and Membership.pdf

July 31 2020_Clothing and Photo Contest Update.pdf

July 2020_Newsletter.pdf

We know you have some great photos of summer fun at your cottage.  So we are inviting you to join in our photo contest.  Thanks to those that have already submitted their favourite pics.  The theme is 'Life at the Cottage'.  Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 photos and the SLCO Board will determine the winners.  Please submit your photos in their best possible format to photos@skeletonlake.ca.  Winners will be announced during the fall.  Please note that any submitted photos may be used in future SLCO Newsletters.

Please be advised that due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the State of Emergency declared in Ontario the SLCO has rescheduled it's Annual General Meeting (AGM) to September 15th, 2020 at 7:00pm.  

The AGM will be broadcast online using Zoom.  An AGM package and Instructions for joining the online AGM will be sent to eligible members, who are paid-up and in good standing, on or before August 25th, 2020.

If you wish to attend and vote at the meeting and to receive the AGM package, it is advisable to renew your membership by August 25th, 2020.  You can renew online at www.skeletonlake.ca or mail your renewal fee to P.O. Box 108, Utterson, ON, P0B1M0.

Thank you for your understanding in these difficult times and we look forward to having you join us.

If you have any questions, please contact our Secretary at betsy@skeletonlake.ca

At our May 15^th Board meeting, the SLCO Board of Directors made the difficult decision to cancel all of its summer events due to the ongoing pandemic and social distancing requirements.  This includes the Regatta, Sailing Race, Family Day and Bugs in the Mud.

We realize many of you will miss the annual fun and social events. However, our Recreation Committee is considering alternative activities and virtual contests that can be held while observing social distancing rules.  If you have suggestions of your own for such events please forward them to our Recreation Director Bob Smith at bob.smith@skeletonlake.ca.

While many of you start to venture back to the lake, please observe the current fire regulations and respect the local health recommendations.  Stay well, stay safe.

Regards,

Jeff Crocker

SLCO President

The purpose of this note is to inform you that the second Case Management Conference (CMC #2) for the Lippa appeals, originally scheduled for Wednesday March 25, has been postponed because of COVID-19.

We appreciate your ongoing support in our campaign to stop the proposed Lippa Pit & Quarry.  We will send out a further update as soon as we receive notification about the rescheduling of CMC #2.

 

Sincerely,

 

Skeleton Lake Cottagers Organization Board

As advised in my last communique, a Case Management Conference (CMC) took place on Thursday, November 28 in Port Carling.  A big thank you to everyone that attended the CMC.  Once again, we filled the hearing room, a clear demonstration of the community’s continuing opposition to the quarry. 

For those that were unable to attend, the CMC was procedural in nature.  None of the substantive issues were discussed.  Instead, the following key points were discussed or agreed upon:

• The Skeleton Lake Cottagers Organization (SLCO) and several others requested Party status on the second appeal; this will be decided at the next CMC.

• 46 people requested and were granted Participant status on the second appeal.  It is proposed that SLCO’s lawyer will draft a joint statement that these participants may sign, although some  participants may prefer to prepare their own written submission. 
  
  
• There was discussion about what rules govern the two appeals.

• A list of issues is to be agreed to by the Township of Muskoka Lakes and Lippa prior to the next CMC.

• The next CMC will occur on Wednesday March 25, 2020 in Port Carling.  It is scheduled to be in-person, but if sufficient progress has been made the parties could hold the CMC by conference call.

We will continue to keep you advised as more information becomes available.  In the interim, please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.  Again, thank you for the strong support at Thursday’s CMC.

Sincerely,

Jeff Crocker

President - Skeleton Lake Cottagers Organization

e:   jeff@skeletonlake.ca

c:   289 221 7903