My daffodils are now wilted in the garden. Only a few blooms are still clinging to the azalea bushes. The sweet smell of the Confederate jasmine now lingers in the air. The lemon trees have begun to bloom and the Japanese maple’s leaves have turned from bright red to green. The pollen from the live oak canopy that covers the yard has been washed away by yesterday’s storm. It will be in the mid 80’s today, even warmer tomorrow. Where am I? Well, for sure not on Lynx Lake!
I am sequestered in my home in Charleston, South Carolina. Like all of you, this Covid-19 has altered not only daily routines, but most likely the world, once I re-emerge from my self-imposed cocoon. But I remain optimistic. I am confident that once I return to Lynx Lake, I will find it just as I left it. That will give me, all of us, a renewed sense of normalcy and comfort.
As I’m sure you are aware, Vilas County is asking summer residents not to visit, at least not yet. While it may seem counterintuitive, the problem is not social distancing but the potential strain on the local health system. Because of the older demographic coupled with the lack of hospital beds, Vilas County is woefully unequipped to handle even a minor surge as the result of Covid-19 infection. We should all be taking our guidance from the County officials as we begin our migration North again. Hopefully, we will be given the green light soon.
Most likely, we will be rescheduling our Lynx Lake annual meeting and be pushing it towards the Labor Day weekend. I will be giving you ample notice so you can plan accordingly. We will follow the recommended established guidelines for our health and safety.
At times like this, it is important that we stay in touch with one another because that sense of community is even more important now. Last year we developed and launched our website, www.lynxlakepi.com. If you have not been on it or have not been recently, I strongly suggest you do. We have been posting news updates and articles as well as trying to keep you abreast as to the activities of the Lynx Lake Conservation Foundation and your Homeowners Association, such as our implementation of a scholarship to a local student pursuing a career in conservation, our recent stocking of walleyes, the ongoing testing of Lynx’s water, just to name a few.
All you have to do is to go to www.lynxlakepi.com, and there are simple instructions as to how to subscribe. Once subscribed, you will receive updates when new pertinent information is posted to the website. This will help to ensure we are all figuratively and literally on the same page. I am confident if you take the time to examine our website you will be impressed as to what it has to offer. From beautiful photography to in-depth studies of the lake’s ecosystems, to the current weather and forecast, it is all there. Our web page obviously is a work in progress, and we are soliciting your continued input as to what you would like to see added to the site.
With your permission, we would like to add a directory of Lynx Lake homeowners contact information. This would be voluntary and this contact information would not be shared outside of our Lynx Lake community. I will be sending out a form with my next correspondence that you can fill out. (over)
Because of the logistics and associated costs, the Homeowners Association will not be continuing with our mailings after the next newsletter, which I plan to send the First of June. That is not say that we will discontinue writing them, but rather, we will be disseminating them via our website. This will allow us to do them more frequently and much more timely. And most likely, not nearly so verbose!
As mentioned earlier, there is now a renewed sense of “community” as we pull together and hopefully not apart. Well, maybe six feet apart is okay, but we are all in this together, and together we will get through. Lynx Lake, no doubt, is our common focal point, but Lynx Lake is also part of a bigger community. Presque Isle and Boulder Junction will feel a huge economic setback as the result of Covid-19. We can help those communities and their citizens in need. The Association has done a very good job in collecting dues and raising money. Presently, we have $5,000 in our property owner’s account. I suggest we put half those funds to good use now, as our projects can wait. I am proposing we donate $2,500 to Community Food Bank in Boulder Junction, which serves Presque Isle and surrounding communities, to ease the stress of people in need. This seems the right thing to do as it will be helping our community. Feel free to contact me at ggruca1@yahoo.com if you have any concerns or other ideas as to how to help.
Hopefully, I will be seeing you soon on the Lake. I most likely will be waving.
Gary J. Gruca
President Lynx Lake Property Owners Association
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