APELL - Volume 7 Issue 3

At this time of the year, let us put aside our petty bickering, our conflicts with our neighbors, our complaints against our elected officials, parochial issues, language problems, and provincial and cultural differences.

We, the Executive, wish to extend to one and all, our best wishes for the holiday season upon us. May your Christmas be merry, and may you be filled with joy and prosperity throughout the coming year. May your trials, troubles and tribulations all be small, and may your rewards be bountiful.

It has once again been a busy year for your association and its executive.

Very early in the year, we received from Stephane Dion, the President of the federal Privy Council and Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs, a letter of thanks for our submission to him in late December last year.

The president of this association has attended every single regular meeting of council throughout the year. He has also attended every meeting of the Federation of which we are a member. We were also present at a number of special events of a political and/or social nature, to represent the association and to make its points of view clear.

In early spring, the association proceeded with taking a large sampling of water from our two lakes and had them tested. We are extremely pleased with the overall results of that testing.

Toward the end of spring, we finally were able to erect our association signs in both directions on chemin du Lac Long. Most of you will agree that the signs were worth the wait and we have received a fair bit of favorable comment on them.

This past summer, we undertook a comprehensive study of Lake Morissette, our sister lake. All of the various reports are in and we will be issuing a special bulletin in early spring, to report on all aspects of that lake. We hope that the report will encourage cottagers and permanent dwellers to change their daily habits, with a view to extending the lifespan of that beautiful lake.

As an aftermath of the ice storm last winter, your president was also invited to become a member of the emergency measures organization of Blue Sea and did so. He is now the contact person in case of emergency situations reflecting upon our members in the community of Lac Long.

This past summer, your president was invited to become a member of the Executive of the Federation of Gatineau Valley Lake and River Associations, and accepted to become a director. In that capacity, he will be reporting on activities in that sector in each newsletter where new information becomes available.

Also this summer, we approved more updating of our association Constitution to bring both English and French versions into line with each other. That process is now essentially complete.

In early fall, your President attended a symposium on water safety given by the Ministry of Natural Resources of Quebec. We supported quiet enjoyment of our lakes and aquatic safety, including severe restrictions on the operation of seadoos on our lakes.

Throughout the year, we continued to pressure the Quebec Provincial Police to increase their presence in our neighborhood, to minimize vandalism. It must had had some positive effects, since we seem to have suffered less vandalism than other communities around us. Let us hope this trend continues.

We are very pleased to announce that our association hit the target figure of 80 memberships this past year. What a wonderful inspiration it is to our executive to realize that so many people care about the environment of our lake(s), even if they do not all attend our public meetings. Thanks to all of you for your support. For 1999, our target figure is 90 members. Help us achieve that target. Encourage other members of your family to join us in this worthwhile cause.

Toward the end of the year, and following difficulties encountered in balancing the accounts of the association this year, the Executive decided to purchase a computer program which, we hope, will solve the problems we were running into.

This past summer, our association successfully re-opened the doors of communication between the Quebec Ministry of Environment and Wildlife and the Municipality of Blue Sea. Relations had been somewhat strained since last year when the ministry requested the municipality to close Blue Sea Lake to fishing in winter, and Blue Sea had refused. The situation had further deteriorated when the ministry 'snubbed' the municipality by not attending an open meeting this summer, called by the recently formed committee to improve the water quality of Blue Sea Lake, to discuss water quality on Blue Sea Lake.

Remember the merger situation between Blue Sea Lake and Messines. Well, its not dead yet. Messines had a consultant report prepared, at the urging of the Quebec Ministry of Municipal Affairs, which presented a glowing forecast if a merger took place. The report was obviously seriously jaded. Blue Sea subsequently had one done of their own, from different independent consultants, and which showed a very different picture, along with a critique of the first report prepared for Messines. We will keep you informed as this file develops.

Well it looks like we shall finally be getting some action with regards to installing safe guardrails along the edge of Lake Denommé (Governor's Lake). At the December meeting of council, they actually talked seriously about prices and perhaps performing the work in the spring. Keep yours fingers crossed.

Late last summer, when the presidents of the various lake associations were convened to a annual meeting with council, the mayor had agreed to meet with the presidents again later this fall. Unfortunately, it seems that Mr.Belanger may have forgotten that winter begins on Dec. 21st and that, so far, there is no word on that follow-up meeting.

The committee for the development of Mont Morissette has yet to be formed. We trust that our local politicians will appreciate the seriousness with which we consider the issue. We are located at its foot and every development there will impact heavily upon our neighborhood. We therefore place a high level of importance upon being represented on that committee.

As most of you already know, 1999 will be a municipal election year. With that in mind, your association will be closely monitoring the issues that arise, especially those effecting cottagers, and the various responses to those events by our elected representatives. We will keep you informed.

On Tuesday, October 6, 1998, the Ministry of the Environment stocked Laurier Lake with approx. 5,000 small speckled trout (omble de fontaine) as part of their regular program for lake stocking in Quebec. Mr. Lalancette of the ministry has also informed me that this lake would be a suitable source and that the ministry would probably look favorably upon any request for lake stocking on a larger and more annual scale at this location. We will keep note of this.

We remind honest fishermen that you are allowed a maximum of 5 rods (a bascule) when fishing on the ice - that you must be in full view of all of them at all times - and that they must not be left unattended overnight. It is also illegal to make a fire on the lake.

For your last minute gift suggestions, why not call Fran to purchase some clothing items with our logo on it. We still have jackets, hats, and sweaters. Her phone number, in Ottawa, is (613) 727-0409.

Executive Meetings:

• Feb. 17, 1999, 7:30p.m., Marcel Lacasse, host
• April 7, 1999, 7:30p.m., Steve Slaby, host.
• June 19, 1999, 10:30a.m., John Devlin, host.
• July 24, 1999, 10:30a.m., Lise Parent, host.
• Aug. 28, 1999, 10:30a.m., Terry Sametz, host.

• Jun. 26, 1999, 10:30 AM, Salle des Loisirs
• Aug. 7, 1999 , 10:30 AM, Salle des Loisirs
• Sept. 11, 1999, 10:30 AM, Salle des Loisirs

• Jul. 10, 1999, 10:30 AM, Public Access

• Children's Picnic: Aug. 7, 1999, 12:00 PM, Baressi cottage
• Adult Picnic: Aug. 14, 1999. 2:00 PM, Slaby cottage

You will remember that the Camirand family, who operated the restaurant in Blue Sea for a year, went to Gracefield and are currently operating the restaurant in the Vimy Hotel. Well, Micheline, the cook of the establishment, can seemingly handle the operation without too much effort on the part of Robert her husband. He has therefore been on the lookout for his own opportunity to present itself. It would appear that the situation is at hand. Mr. Pilon, who formerly operated the fruit and vegetable stand, in Gracefield (between the Vimy and the Milano Restaurant), retired due to poor health. Robert, who has many years expertise in that field, struck up a deal with Mr. Pilon, and has now taken over the fruit and vegetable establishment, and intends to operate it full time, year round. He claims his prices are better than the local supermarket, and his produce fresher. We wish him well in his new enterprise, and invite people to check him out when the opportunity arises.

As to the former restaurant in Blue Sea Village, it re-opened on Dec. 4, 1998. Mr. Morin, who formerly operated the video shop in Gracefield, then turned it into a pizza shop (the white house as you enter the village), has now closed shop in Gracefield and has opened up in Blue Sea. We also wish him well and hope that perhaps this restaurant location will stay open for the foreseeable future. God knows, Blue Sea is sorely in need of a year-round restaurant - if only the local population will patronize it in strong enough numbers to extend its existence.

Many of you have commented on the dangerous hill on the way to the public access, just past Louis Cousineau's rented house on the corner. If negotiations between Louis Cousineau and the municipality pan out, we may yet see the end of this situation.

It has apparently been proposed that there be some sort of land swap between Mr. Cousineau and the municipality. Mr. Cousineau would grant title to a road easement cutting across in triangular fashion from a point before you arrive at his rented house, passing behind the existing garage and woodpile, and coming out the other end at the bottom past the existing hill. In return, Mr. Cousineau would acquire the present road easement area, which is dangerous to everyone.

It would appear to be a win/win situation for everyone. Mr. Cousineau would consolidate his rented property holdings on a single landmass, rather than the split area he now occupies, and the municipality would rid itself of a dangerous hill. It is our understanding that Mr. Cousineau will be cutting his lumber in this area during the winter months, and come spring, will formally approach the municipality with the offer. We wish them success in their dealings on this issue.

This summer, the clean up was organized and took place on July 12, 1998, with our director John Devlin, at the helm. More members participated than ever with large and small motor boats and even a pontoon boat. At the western end of the lake another director, Terry Sametz, with help from Sean Moore and Geof Adcock, cut, pulled and cleaned `Turtle Beach`.

At the public access, logs coming in created a back-log, until Morris Richardson's trusty Jeep made short work of them. Some trees found floating were exceptional in length and girth (from 10 to 40 feet long) and had to be cut at water`s edge before the Jeep could pull them out. Seeing was believing.

Newcomer Bob Landry brought us much dangerous debris from his site across from the boat launch and helped considerably with his brawn and his chainsaw at the public access. Thanks Bob and welcome to the lake. I hope we weren`t too demanding on your inaugural event.

We would like to thank all those members who participated in the day`s effort to make our lake a cleaner and safer spot for everyone.

A final word. We would like to thank Gerry Lapensee for assisting us in cutting up the timber left at the public access and also thank Bob Landry for hauling it all away from there..

Laurier Lafontaine is busy again this year cutting trees in the Apell Crescent area, as well as his land bordering on the Tremblay property. We have no problem with his right to carry on business in these areas, since he does own the land, and is apparently carrying out operations in full compliance with established regulations.

However, even a cursory look at the manner in which the work is being carried out leaves a bad taste in one's mouth. The resulting logged area looks like a tornado zone. Small trees, trimmed branches, and unwanted trees lay everywhere, like popsicle sticks, causing a potential fire hazard come spring. It is also a serious hazard to wildlife.

He sold us the land surrounding the woodlot and we thought we could enjoy the nearby presence of wildlife, such as deer, on a regular basis. But his logging operation is bringing this to an unfortunate pause.

We believe that the physical damage to the woodlot, and to the wildlife would be greatly minimized, and the danger to fire next spring equally so, if the operator of the heavy equipment were more careful in the manner in which he carries out his daily routines.

And far be it for us to tell him how to run his business but we believe the same may hold true of his land holdings on Lake Morissette. It is not too encouraging for a potential buyer to purchase cottage property on chemin de la Perdriole when one has to pass in front of his logging operation on that street and imagine what the future holds in that area.

Email: contact@apell.org

Website: www.apell.org

The executive welcome calls from members, but we would ask they be before 9 PM.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our new sponsors for supporting our assocation, and we invite our members to avail themselves of their services and products whenever the opportunity arises.