Shoreline Erosion Mitigation Proposal to be Reviewed at Sept 23 JAC Meeting

This Shoreline Erosion Mitigation Proposal will be reviewed at the upcoming Sept 23 JAC meeting at the Park from 10am-11am after we elect new officers.

We have lost a significant amount of shoreline again this year due to ice, flooding, pontoon slip usage, wave action, and lack of adequate root system protection.  We will discuss the approach, cost, and timeline of the project and make a determination if we will move forward with this natural shoreline restoration project.  If we decide to move forward with the project, we will draft the appropriate MDEQ project paperwork, submit to both Association Boards for approval and signature, then submit to MDEQ for approval.  MDEQ approval could take 60-90 days from the submission date.   If you are interested in participating in maintenance of the Park or joining the JAC, please attend this important meeting.

JAC Meeting Scheduled for 10am Sunday Sept 23

We will be having a JAC (Joint Access Committee) meeting at the park on Sunday Sept 23 from 10:00-11:00am.  The current agenda for the meeting is to elect new officers for the committee and discuss park maintenance, including the shoreline erosion project status.  For those that will not be in town and would like to attend the meeting remotely via phone, we will try to arrange an audio conference to call into.  If you would like to call into the audio conference line for the meeting, please RSVP by 6pm Friday Sept 21 by emailing “thepark@strawberryhillestates.org” with a short note letting us know you are interested in the audio conference line option and we will email you details.

Emergency PFAS “Do Not Eat” Fish Consumption Advisory

A warning about fish from the Huron Chain from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

LANSING, MI – State health officials issued an emergency PFAS “Do Not Eat” fish consumption advisory Saturday Aug 4 for several water bodies on the Huron River within parts of Oakland, Livingston and Washtenaw counties.

It applies to all fish between the Huron River at Milford (Oakland County) to the Huron River at Base Line and Portage Lakes (Livingston and Washtenaw county lines) due to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) contamination, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

The advisory issued Aug. 4 replaces previous mercury and PCB guidelines that recommend consumption limits for Huron River fish, per the MDHHS.

Fish from Kent Lake in the Huron River were tested for PFOS and elevated levels of PFOS were found in all fish filets tested, according to the MDHHS. Water bodies affected by the Aug. 4 advisory include Hubbell Pond, Kent Lake, Strawberry and Zukey Lake, Gallagher Lake, Loon Lake, Whitewood Lakes and Base Line and Portage Lakes.

The MDHHS reports fish filets were tested because of Michigan’s perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) effort. The advisory relates to the state’s work to address PFAS and PFOS.

Touching the fish or water and swimming in these water bodies is not considered a health risk, according to the MDHHS. PFAS, which includes PFOS, do not easily move through the skin. An occasional swallow of river or lake water is also not considered a health concern, the MDHHS states.

The department annually releases Eat Safe Fish Guides in the spring, and emergency advisories, as needed. The guidelines are set to be protective for everyone, including children and pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people with existing health problems including cancer and diabetes. The state has been routinely testing fish filets for PFAS since 2012, the MDHHS states.

More information including identified Michigan contaminated sites, water filtration, testing, and acceptable limits can be found here on Michigan.gov.  Safe fish eating guidelines can be found here.

NOTE FROM PBWOA (Portage, Base, & Whitewood Owners Association):  This contamination is NOT related to any weed control activities. It is occurring well above any treatment areas but has progressed downstream.

Time Sensitive Hamburg Township 2020 Master Plan Survey

Hamburg Township is in the process of updating their Master Plan which guides the plan for future growth and development. Your input is important!!  The survey input will close sometime in the afternoon on Friday September 7, 2018.  Please take the time TODAY to go online and take the survey to voice your opinion on Hamburg Township’s future.

Be sure to include anything specific that you’d like to see in the “other” section. For example, specific locations you’d like to see the Lakeland Trail connect to, types of changes you would like to see with our parks/recreation/entertainment, or something you strongly feel that the township does well or is lacking. The survey can be found at the link below. This survey consists of 13 questions and focuses on what you would or would not like to see in the future of Hamburg Township. This link was tested and is a phishing safe link.

Please take the survey:    https://visionhamburgmi.wixsite.com/hamburgmasterplan

Park Spring Clean-Up 2018 – Saturday, May 19th at 10:00am

Please join us for a couple of hours on Saturday at 10:00am (or however long you can offer) to spruce up the park heading into summer. If we get rained out, we will try the following day (Sunday) at 12:00pm.

We will be working on the following:

– Rototilling the volleyball court and beach
– Spreading sand on the beach and volleyball court (sand delivered at 11:30am)
– Repairing / sanding picnic tables
– Stacking / restacking the firewood (wear gloves!)
– Possiby repairing the porta-potty surround

*Note that we will not be raking rocks (that is all done).

Please bring your own tools (rakes, shovels, wheelbarrow, etc). In addition to this posting, we will post a notice on our sign out front.

Volunteers Needed for Park Maintenance Saturday May 5 (8-11am)

We need volunteers to assist from 8am-11am this Saturday (May 5) with raking out gravel being delivered to the Park circle drive. We are also in need of shovels and steel rakes for those who have the time but do not have the tools to assist in the effort. So if you have the tools, the time, or both, we would greatly appreciate the help. Hope to see you there. Note: If you’re planning to launch your boat Saturday, be forewarned that you may be delayed from getting to the boat ramp until the drive is completed. It might be best to plan to launch your boat before 730am or later in the afternoon when we have completed spreading the gravel.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: BEWARE OF RECENT SCAMS TARGETING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD

Recently, and in the past, there have been various types of scams reported in the neighborhood including:

  • email phishing scams (click here to learn how to avoid phishing scams)
  • email campaigns requesting money, lottery tickets, personal information, etc.
  • postal mail campaigns requesting things like signing up for a new subdivision website, donation of money, etc.
  • use of Association Board member names or email addresses to request lottery tickets, money, or pay overdue association dues or other bills charged by Association Board members.

Beware of anyone or any request that is soliciting personal information or money or asking for you to meet them somewhere.  Ask yourself if there is anything strange about the request.  Be aware that people can call your phone and display different phone numbers on caller id, or email you from email addresses that appear to be from someone you know by using a different domain or creating a very similar email address that has been slightly modified with a different spelling that may not catch your eye.  All scams usually use a “sense of urgency” and request you to take advantage of a time sensitive deal that ends soon or to help someone that has a time sensitive problem or issue to resolve.  In the event that you determine someone is impersonating someone you know, contact that person being impersonated directly and let them know this is happening so they can take action.  Additionally, contact your local police with any evidence that you can obtain, like emails, postal mail, phone numbers, etc.  Don’t be the next target of the next scam.

Additional resources to learn how to stay secure online:

https://www.stopthinkconnect.org/resources/preview/tip-sheet-basic-tips-and-advice

https://www.wired.com/2017/03/phishing-scams-fool-even-tech-nerds-heres-avoid

http://www.phishing.org/10-ways-to-avoid-phishing-scams

 

 

 

 

Boards of Directors & Park Committee Members – 2017-2018

Strawberry Point Bluffs

President: Craig Haitz
Vice President: Jim Dwyer
Treasurer: Frank Nelson
Secretary: Beth Freiberg

Member at large: Laura McGinity
Member at large: Marge Andres

Strawberry Hill Estates

President: David Walmroth
Vice President/Secretary: Corinne Kass
Treasurer: Craig Mestach

Park Joint Access Committee

President: Craig Mestach
Vice President: Marge Andres
Secretary: Sean Kass
Treasurer (and Park Key keeper): Irene Gauthier

Estates representative: Kris Bellinghausen
Estates representative: Scott B.
Bluffs representative: Laura McGinity
Bluffs representative: Craig Haitz

Association Addresses

Strawberry Point Bluffs
PO Box 612
Hamburg, MI 48139-0612

Strawberry Hill Estates
PO Box 833
Hamburg, MI 48139-0833