LAKE IN THE CLOUDS
Report to LITCPOA
December 2024
Hello LITC members,
This month's Board meeting was held on December 19, 2024 in the clubhouse at 6:00 PM. Attending was Charlie Schaffer, Pres., Phil Barrow, VP, Susan Kirstein, Sec., Joan Griffin, Treas., Bill Scott and Joyce Torrey.
As of last month, the Logger Road entrance is open and functional. This Spring/Summer the Board hopes to have both the main West side entrance and the East side entrance completed.
Joan Griffin, our treasurer, reported that we are doing well with our budget and our account balances are ahead of last year. Thank you to everyone who pays their dues in a timely manner.
The Board is aware that one of the pillars at the West entrance has been damaged. We have a volunteer that can repair it for us come better weather.
Under lake ecology:
Lake in the Clouds dam has been inspected and found to be in good condition.
The Board is awaiting the 2025 contract for treating the lakes. We are asking for lily pads to be treated again not just bladderwort and the other plant that I can't remember the name of!
The Board will soon be looking for a lifeguard for the upcoming summer. If anyone is interested or knows of someone, please contact the office with your info. 570-676-0900 or office@lakeintheclouds.org.
Winter is here!
Reminders:
Our snow plowing contract states that there must be 3 inches of snow before they come and plow. The company is usually very good about our roads but we do have quite a few miles of them to be plowed. Please have patience.
The beach, picnic and clubhouse areas are restricted areas. NO MOTORIZED VEHICLES ALLOWED as per the signage. This includes any kind of ATV, snowmobiles, cars, motorcycles.
Please keep any culverts on your property clear of debris.
Speed limit is 20 MPH on all roads. Especially important with snow and ice in spots.
Next meeting will be held on January 16, 2025. 6:00 PM in the clubhouse.
The Board wishes everyone a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!
​
Submitted by:
Susan Kirstein, Secretary
Report to the Community-October, 2024
Board of Directors, Lake in the Clouds
This month’s Board Meeting was held on October 17, 2024, attended by Charlie Schaffer, Pres., Phil Barrow, VP, Joan Griffin, Treas. Susan Kirstein, Sec., Joyce Torrey, and Bill Scott.
As promised, Panther Trucking began work on Logger Rd a few weeks ago, so that we can finally get that entrance re-opened. Unfortunately they can't finish the job until the state inspects what they've done so far! Hopefully they'll surprise us and actually DO the inspection in a timely manner.
We had a beautiful day for the October 5th General Meeting and Election. About 30 members attended, and 81 ballots were recorded. Congratulations to Phil Barrow, Joan Griffin, Susan Kirstein, and Al Sicignano, who were all re-elected to another two year term.
During the meeting, the discussion got a little “lively” at times, specifically on the subjects of lily pads, beavers and short-term rentals. With regard to lily pads and beavers, the Board pledged to do its best to improve conditions for next season; with short-term rentals however, there is no acceptable compromise. We don't allow it and will pursue action against those who break this rule.
BTW, we held two “Meet the Candidates” sessions in September and very few people attended, so next year we will have only one session.
Bill Scott, Charlie Schaffer, and Jeff O'Lear got all the picnic tables up under the pavilion for the winter. And the dead evergreen trees that have flanked the clubhouse/office sign for years, have been taken down. We'll be planting things in their place soon.
Those of us who have lived at Lake in the Clouds since pre-Covid, fondly remember the monthly dinners, card games, holiday parties etc. that were coordinated by Marie Benincasa and the Social Committee. Last month Diane sent out an email asking anyone who might be interested in chairing or joining a Social Committee, to attend this month's Board meeting and share some ideas.
No-one came.
This surprised me, as I had heard from a few people who said they wanted to do it. But you can't just SAY it.... you have to step up and DO it. Get a few willing friends together and say something like “We'd like to have a Dinner Party at the club house on January 14th.” The Board budgets money for food and supplies so we need to hear and approve your plans. Then Diane can help get the word out through email, and we'll get it up on the website and sign boards. The Social Committee decides the menu, coordinates who brings what, etc. Marie Benincasa is here for a few more months and is willing to share her experience.
​
Meanwhile, LITC Member Ray DiPaoli had a great idea. He suggested a community art show, saying “many people have hobbies and talents...some hidden...and given the chance they could share their work at an art show.” He went on to list things like paintings, photos, carving, pottery, quilting, arts and crafts...well you get the idea. The Board really liked the idea so I called Mr. DiPaoli and chatted with him about it, and he has agreed to manage the process! We discussed holding an event in early September 2025 giving everyone a chance to prepare. Before he can really start planning, however, he needs to get a feel for how many of us might be interested. So, with his permission I am putting his email address here: rpraymond1@gmail.com Please send him a note if think you'd like to participate
On the Monday following the General Meeting and Election the Board met to elect it's officers. Charlie, Phil, and Joan retained their positions as President, Vice-President, and Treasurer respectively. And then I nominated Susan Kirstein to be Secretary, and she was unanimously elected. I did enjoy the job....but it was time for someone else to do it, and I'm thankful to Susan for being willing. So congratulations are in order for your Board Officers.
With Susan as Secretary, I am officially retired as the author of these Board Reports. The Board gave me special permission to write this one, which will be my last installment. I am totally aware that this will come as welcome news to those few of you who have been criticizing them since the first one I did in November 2021, but... as my old dad used to say... “we can't all be Robert Frost; some of us just have to be Ogden Nash”.
In any case, I thank those of have you who sent kind words of support.
Joyce Torrey, Ex- Sec
Report to the Community-August, 2024
Board of Directors, Lake in the Clouds
This month’s Board Meeting was held on August 15, 2024, attended by Charlie Schaffer, Pres., Phil Barrow, VP, Joan Griffen, Treas. Bill Scott, and Joyce Torrey, Sec.
Here are a few quick updates:
-The work on the Logger Road entrance is now scheduled for September, (Yes, finally!) The trees have been topped and we are next on Panther Trucking’s schedule once they have completed a job in progress.
-As I reported last month, the 2025 budget-- which you will vote on in October-- does not include any dues increase. Joan Griffin is currently doing some last-minute tweaking to make sure we have allocated sufficient funds for the variable areas such as snow removal and lake ecology, but it looks good for our financial health in the coming year.
-Charlie, Bill Scott and Jamie Brush have re-mulched the path up to Lookout Point. If you haven’t made the easy climb up there yet you really, really should. It’s an amazing view of the Delaware Water Gap….and in my opinion New Jersey never looked so good! (Kidding!)
-Marie and Jerry Benincasa, long- time and very active members and volunteers for this community, will be moving away this fall to be closer to the grandkids. Hopefully they (and you!) will be able to attend our bonfire scheduled for September 14thso we can all thank them properly and wish them well.
Picnic! We had amazing weather, and boy, were we lucky considering the storm that came through the day before. (There was a rumor going around the picnic grove that I had sacrificed one of my ex-husbands to the rain gods to ensure the good weather. This is not true…I would NEVER have been able to choose which one had to go off the rim of the volcano.)
120 people came and ate and chatted with neighbors and played games, and by all accounts had a great time. Which makes all the work worthwhile.
Once again, we really owe it all to the picnic volunteers. The Grill Guys (Charlie Schaffer, Jerry Benincasa, John Cafarella, Gerry Daidone); the Servers (Peggy Keyser, Joan Griffin, Kat Lauer, Judy Sweeny, Susan McClure, Roe Gagliardo, Linda Foran, and Fran Daidone); The registration table (Marg Cafarella, Jan Olsommer, Pat Pancoast); the distinguished parking attendants, Jon Pancoast and Bill Scott; our photographer Mike Foran; and a special thank you goes to Paul Burke our most excellent volunteer DJ, and to Stephanie Pace and Kat Lauer for selling all those 50/50 tickets!
And Marie Benincasa. What can I say. Shopping, cooking, texting, inventory, commiserating and good advice…honestly, I don’t know how this picnic will happen next year without you.
In closing, remember, if you want to run for a seat on the Board you need to tell me or Diane in the office by 8/25, and return your bio form by that Friday 8/30. The ballot will be mailed 9/5!
See you at the BONFIRE, September 14th. Bring chairs and whatever you’re drinking.
Joyce Torrey
Sec. Board of Directors.
Report to the Community-June, 2024
Board of Directors, Lake in the Clouds
Dear LITC Members,
This month’s Board Meeting was held on June 6, 2024, attended by Charlie Schaffer, Pres., Phil Barrow, VP, Bill Scott, and Joyce Torrey, Sec.
FIRST the good news! We have a lifeguard for the beach! Rayvin Gieratowski has agreed to come to work for us again this summer, and will be starting on June 15th.
Now the not-so-good news: We STILL have not heard from PennDot and our engineering firm about when the work on Logger Road entrance can be started. Bureaucracy at its finest!
On the other hand, the Panther Trucking proposal for repair work on our own roads was approved by the Board, and that work will begin shortly. Our all-volunteer Pot Hole Gang started work in May and that work is continuing.
If you have noticed that the beech trees on your property appear to be dying you are right. It’s a recently discovered problem throughout the northeast US, and it’s called Beech Leaf Disease.
I spoke to a gentleman named Logan Goddard, who is the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Service Forester for Pike County. He explained that Beech leaf disease is caused by Litylenchus crenatae ssp. mccannii (LCM), a nematode that parasites tree leaves. This disease has only been discovered in recent years and much about it, including the full cause and how it spreads, is still unknown. Unfortunately, so is a proven effective treatment.
If you want to learn more about it, here is a great website with a lot of information about BLD:
https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/GoodNatured/pages/Article.aspx?post=198
I also spoke to Mr. James Rickert who is Pike County Dog Warden and he was kind enough to send me information on our dog laws and on Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement. If you would like more information visit LicenseYourDogPA.pa.gov
I have some dates for you to remember: Picnic is August 10th, notices will go out early in July. Community Yard Sale is Aug 17th. There will be a community bonfire Sept. 14th. And we will have a potluck dinner at the clubhouse after the General Meeting and Election on October 5th.
Hope you all have a great summer!
Joyce Torrey, Sec.
PS: All three of our lakes will be treated for bladderwort and pondweed on Wednesday June 19th. Please avoid all contact with the water until Friday the 21st, and that includes your dogs!
And PLEASE read our Schedule A and B Documents before beginning any construction at your home.
Report to the Community-November, 2024
Board of Directors, Lake in the Clouds
Hello LITC members,
This month's Board meeting was held on November 21, 2024. Attended by Charlie Schaffer, Pres., Phil Barrow, VP., Susan Kirstein, Sec., Joan Griffin, Treas., Bill Scott, Al Sicignano.
Logger Rd entrance construction is completed and open! Lakewood Dr. (East side) entrance will be under construction starting in the springtime.
Joan Griffin wants to let everyone know that she is a licensed notary and available to members if needed.
Panther will again do our snow plowing for next year.
Social Committee still is in need of volunteers. Roseanne Gagliardo has a lot of ideas for different events and hopefully will be starting up again in January.
Seems our volunteers put up the Lake in the Woods snow fence just in time for the first snow. Thank you to the helpers.
A few REMINDERS from LITC Rules & Regulation:
#3 states 20 mph speed limit on roads by all vehicles.
#4 states NO HUNTING within LITC boundaries.
#5 states ABSOLUTELY NO DISCHARGING OF ANY FIREARM within LITC. This includes your private property.
#9 states that all dogs must be on leash when on LITC roads or common areas.
Pets are not allowed to run free or chase people or cars. Please be in control of your animals and clean up any waste.
Also, please be conscious of your neighbors. Shooting off fireworks can be very disturbing to some people and also animals causing great distress.
Thank you,
Susan Kirstein, Sec.
Report to the Community-September, 2024
Board of Directors, Lake in the Clouds
This month’s Board Meeting was held on September 19, 2024, attended by Charlie Schaffer, Pres., Phil Barrow, VP, Joan Griffin, Treas. Bill Scott, Susan Kirstein, Al Sicignano and Joyce Torrey, Sec.
Panther Trucking will start work on Logger Rd this month, so that we can finally get that entrance re-opened. The Board wants to thank the Logger Rd folks for their patience during this LONG ordeal.
Bill Scott, Charlie Schaffer, and Ed Kirstein have been trying to stay ahead of a group of VERY busy beavers in Lake in The Woods. The beavers are felling trees and attempting to block off the spillway. Unfortunately this puts us in the position of trying to balance two conflicting PA State regulations: 1. Dam spillways must be kept open and free of debris; and 2. It is unlawful to destroy, disturb, or interfere with a beaver dam or house. Some days it seems the beavers are winning, but the guys aren't giving up.
The Sept 14 bonfire was well attended and we were able to appropriately thank Jerry and Marie Benincasa for their long and active service to this community. (They were THRILLED to receive our gift of a Lifetime Free Pass to the annual picnic! :-) With Marie's departure we need a new Chair for the Social Committee. If that sounds like a fun job for you please come to a Board Meeting and tell us your ideas!
We have had some amazing weather this past month and we are hoping it lasts into October. With that in mind, we will hold off making a decision on whether to hold the October 5th General Meeting and Election inside the clubhouse or outside at the pavilion., until a day or two beforehand. When you arrive at the meeting, look for the crowd and you'll know what the decision was!
Regardless of the weather we will hold a Potluck Dinner at 6PM on October 5 in the clubhouse. PLEASE let us know if you plan to come so that we can set up tables etc. Just leave a message at the office, or email office@lakeintheclouds.org
The General Meeting and Election itself will start at 1PM on October 5th. Mailed ballots must be in by October 1st.
Have a great fall and see you on the 5th.
Joyce Torrey, Sec
Report to the Community-July, 2024
Board of Directors, Lake in the Clouds
This month’s Board Meeting was held on July 18, 2024, attended by Charlie Schaffer, Pres., Phil Barrow, VP, Joan Griffin, Treas. Bill Scott, Susan Kirstein, and Joyce Torrey, Sec.
First off, I want to make sure everyone is aware that our Board meetings have been rescheduled to the 3rd Thursday of every month at 6PM. The first part of our meetings are open to members. The only exception is when we are having a violation hearing that evening. You can call Diane in the office (570-676-0900) Thursday afternoon to check if all is clear for you to attend.
The July meeting started off with some good news, from Treasurer Joan Griffin. She told us that despite a hefty snow plowing bill and the cost for our road repairs, she is still forecasting a small budget surplus for this year. The Board then voted on and approved a motion to forego any dues increase for 2025. Dues will remain at $700 for developed lots and $625 for undeveloped lots for the 2025 year.
Summer is naturally a busier time for our Building and Grounds volunteers. Bill Scott rescued the “Slow down for children and pets” sign that someone accidently (we hope) knocked over near the West Side sign board, and got it back up…a little higher this time. He has also been busy helping to get the picnic grove and pavilion ready for our annual picnic (it’s August 10th, PLEASE RSVP), cleaning the grills, spraying for ants etc.
Charlie and Bill, with help from Frank Widener, got some rocks moved out of the boat launch area to allow for easier access. They also spread a new layer of wood chips on the path up to Lookout Point. Speaking of chips, the enormous pile in the West Side parking area has been closed for any new additions. Please inform your tree contractors that they may not dump any more there this year. And remember the wood chips that are there make a great mulch and they are free for the taking for any LITC member.
Homeowners on Cherry Point Cove, who are dealing with the rapid buildup of lily pads on their shoreline, will be happy to hear that the Board has voted to have those areas treated this coming fall. The lily pads, while attractive, create a problem for small boats propelled by paddles, such as the kayaks, rowboats and canoes most of us own.
Panther Trucking has completed the contracted repairs to our roads, and they have also correctly positioned the large drainage pipe that was protruding upwards on the side of Lakeview Terrace. They got it down and horizontal and then put some large rocks on it to hopefully keep it down where it can do its job.
I’d like to close this months’ report with an early reminder that our fall General Meeting and Board Elections will be held October 5th, 1 PM. There will be four Board seats open on this year’s ballot. Anyone interested in running will need to inform me—either directly or through Diane at the office—of their intentions by Monday, August 25th. We will then supply you with the short form you need to fill out and return to us by Friday August 30th. These deadlines may seem early to you, but are set up so that Diane can prepare the election packet and ballot that our bylaws say must be in the mail to you by September 5th.
See you at the PICNIC, AUGUST 10th (please RSVP by August 2nd).
Joyce Torrey
Sec. Board of Directors.