Category Archives: Local Events

Upcoming Event: Our Ice Cream Social and Marsh Paddle

Our Annual Summer Ice Cream Social is scheduled for Saturday July 20th at the Clary Lake dam. It will be preceded by a BYOK Marsh Paddle (Bring Your Own Kayak) which will take place in the morning. Needless to say, a canoe is fine too! The Ice Cream Social will follow, at its usual time of 1PM. People who wish to participate in the Marsh Paddle should arrive at the dam by 10AM and bring appropriate clothing, water, and perhaps a light snack. The plan is to leave the dam around 10:30AM and paddle out to the lake (about 1.6 miles one way), explore the floating bog a bit, and then return to the dam around 1PM, just in time for ice cream. The ice cream is free but donations are gratefully accepted!

We’d like to have an idea of how many people are planning to paddle so if you’re looking to participate, please let us know by emailing the secretary@clarylake.org.

(The photo at the top of this post shows a large portion of the great marsh from the air looking roughly southwest. The dam is near the upper right corner, Clary Lake is about a quarter mile off to the left and the Sennett Road is just off the right side. Photo by George Fergusson taken during a flight with pilot and lakeshore owner Terry Crummett, on July 10, 2022).

29 March 2022: ICE OUT! We have a Winner!

It’s Official: the sheet of ice that extended from shore to shore down by the boat launch yesterday and which blocked access to the lake was ground up by the high wind this morning and driven into the cove at the east end of the lake. I just consulted with David Hodsdon and we agree that the official Ice Out date is today: 29 March 2022.

Vicki Grimaldi with her guess of March 25th was the closest to ice out without going over, making her the Winner of this year’s ice out contest! Congratulations Vicki! She’ll be receiving the framed loon photograph by David Hodsdon (see image below). Vicki bought Dennis Morgan’s place on Hodsdon Lane back in the summer of 2021. For runners up we have Jack Holland with his guess of March 24th, winner of the “What do you mean it’s not ice out yet?” award, and Dan Burns and Steve Relyea with their March 30th guesses are both winners of the “Missed it by >< that much” award. All 3 runners up will receive a laminated copy of the Clary Lake Depth Map (image at left).

And so concludes our 2022 Ice Out Contest! A month ago I wouldn’t have bet dollars to donuts that the ice would be out before the end of the first week in April, based on how thick the ice was this winter and how cold it’s been this spring, which I suppose just goes to show you what I know. If you’re forgotten your guess, you’ll find it in this post. It’s also unusual for it to take so long (9 days) to go out once open water first showed up on the north shore (like it always does). The reason it took so long I think it because it really wasn’t ready! Usually ice-out occurs much faster. Even more interesting: this year’s ice out date is the same as last year’s ice out date. I didn’t see that coming!

I’d like to thank everyone for playing and encourage you to try again next year. I’ll be picking up the framed loon photograph and delivering it to Vicki later this week. The runners up will get their prizes the next time I see them, which might be the next time they stop by my house if I don’t stop by their house first!

27 March 2022: Still Got Ice!

I went over to the boat launch today and took the picture at left. After consulting with Google Earth, I estimate there are at least 50 acres of ice left down at the east end of the lake, and 3-4 acres of ice left on the south shore in Jefferson. I think the reason the ice is going out so slowly this year is because it really wasn’t ready to melt off; we got some warm weather and a good rain storm a week ago Saturday and some open water appeared on the north shore. Then 2 days of 35+ mph winds knocked a Big Hole in the ice cover, but much of what remained was still quite solid. Unusual conditions this year, for sure.

25 March 2022: Ice Out Progress

I took these photographs late yesterday afternoon. This morning, the remaining ice is on the move with floes lazily drifting around in the morning sun. Here is a link to the full sized panorama from yesterday.

23 March 2022: Still Got Ice

23 March 2022: Ice Out Update: Close but No Cigar!

Clary_cam-1

I have never seen the ice disappear from Clary Lake as fast as it has this year! Last Friday there were people ice fishing. Rain on Saturday and with winds on Monday and Tuesday with gusts of 35-40 mph really hammered the ice into submission. As of this morning, winds have let up considerably but are still blowing 8 mph or so. There is a considerable amount of ice left on the south shore both in Whitefield and Jefferson. We’re not calling ice out yet, but it won’t be long now. Tomorrow we’re expecting rain during the day with moderate winds from the south which change to the east and pick up in intensity come night fall. It’s hard to imagine the remaining ice hanging around to the weekend.

You can keep an eye on things with our Clary_cams (which President Dave Knight insists on calling Spy_cams) and if you haven’t tried yet, livestream them!

21 March 2022: Ice Out Update

Last Friday, only 4 days ago, there were people out on Clary Lake ice fishing. Today there is a sizable portion of open water on the north side of the lake, easily visible in this picture taken this morning. You can just barely make it out on Clary_cam-1 as a thin dark line in the distance. High northwest winds forecast for today will push that open water further towards the south shore. We’re still quite a few days, away from open water.

Here are the 2022 Ice Out Contest guesses. Good Luck Contestants! Continue reading →

06 March 2022: Clary Lake Ice Out Contest Closed to New Entries

I have closed the 2022 Clary Lake Ice Out Contest to new entries. 36 people have made their guesses (below). Now, we wait… for ice out. I have no idea what the No U-Turn sign has to do with anything.

Good Luck Contestants!

2022 Ice Out Guestimates

These are the guesses for ice out. The timestamp column will be used to decide on who was first in the event of a tie. Hint: you can sort on any of the columns by clicking on the header:

Timestamp	Your name:	Ice Out Guess:
02/27/22 09:43 AM	Sophie Seba	03/23/22
02/27/22 10:45 AM	Jack Holland	03/24/22
02/27/22 11:01 AM	Vicky Grimaldi	03/25/22
02/27/22 11:30 AM	Dan Burns	03/30/22
02/28/22 10:13 AM	Steve Relyea	03/30/22
02/28/22 08:35 PM	Hillary Relyea	03/31/22
02/27/22 01:03 PM	Ronnie Spann	04/01/22
02/27/22 03:13 PM	Linda S Gallion	04/01/22
02/27/22 02:41 PM	Rob Rowland	04/02/22
02/27/22 08:45 PM	Tim chase	04/02/22
03/01/22 09:27 AM	Cathy johnson	04/02/22
03/04/22 11:51 AM	carolyn curtis	04/02/22
02/27/22 05:00 PM	Malcolm Burson	04/03/22
02/27/22 09:36 AM	Karen Stutzer	04/04/22
02/28/22 05:47 AM	Geoff McCullen	04/04/22
02/28/22 08:06 AM	Thurlow Crummett	04/04/22
02/27/22 01:41 PM	June m Lordi	04/05/22
02/27/22 09:31 AM	Bill Hall	04/06/22
03/01/22 09:26 AM	Bambi Jones	04/06/22
03/03/22 03:55 PM	Mary Gingrow-Shaw	04/06/22
02/27/22 12:23 PM	Gayle Knight	04/07/22
02/27/22 06:52 PM	Steve Cowles	04/08/22
03/03/22 03:49 PM	Amanda Knight	04/08/22
02/27/22 12:19 PM	Kate Seba	04/09/22
02/27/22 08:27 PM	Donald Hogg	04/09/22
03/01/22 10:32 PM	Ben Gerdts	04/10/22
03/02/22 09:12 AM	David Knight	04/10/22
03/04/22 10:10 AM	Stephen Viti	04/11/22
02/27/22 11:42 AM	Arlene Wing	04/12/22
02/27/22 09:54 AM	Beverley Bowen	04/13/22
02/28/22 05:24 AM	Cary McCullen	04/15/22
02/28/22 05:26 AM	Geoff McCullen	04/16/22
02/27/22 09:21 AM	Sara Roy	04/17/22
03/03/22 01:11 PM	Gareth Bowen	04/18/22
03/01/22 11:23 AM	Cheryl Smith	04/20/22
02/27/22 08:16 PM	Thomas vigue	04/21/22

2022 Clary Lake Ice Out Contest! [UPDATE]

This is our third year running a Clary Lake Ice-Out contest. This year’s prize for first place is a beautiful 12″ H x 15″ W framed loon photograph taken by David Hodsdon. If you guess the correct ice-out date or come closest without going past it, you’re the winner. In the event there are two (or more) people who guessed the same winning date, the person guessing first (based on the recorded timestamp) will be the winner and the other less-lucky (but still lucky!) person (or persons!) will win a laminated 8.5″ x 11″ Clary Lake Depth Map as a runner up prize (see below). FYI, the earliest the lake has been deemed completely free of ice was on March 13, 2016; the latest the ice has gone out was on April 24, 2001. Last year’s “official” ice out date was March 29th which was correctly guessed by Bambi Jones. She won a blue “We Give A Dam” tee shirt. We also awarded second places (also tee shirts) to Kelley Doore and Alan Nicholas Decker who correctly guessed the “What Do You Mean It’s Not Ice Out Yet?” date of March 28th. Visit our Ice In and Ice Out page to see all our historical data back to 2001. Reviewing historical ice-in and ice-out data is NOT CHEATING!

[UPDATE]: I’ve posted the current guesses at the bottom of this message and I’ll update the list at least daily. We’ll close the contest some time before the ice actually goes out. And yes, you can submit more than one guess, but only your last guess will count 🙂
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Continue reading →

21 September 2021: Dry Fire Hydrant Installation Complete

It’s been a long time coming, but finally the dry fire hydrant installation over at the Clary Lake dam is complete. The work was started on Saturday but we encountered ledge which required a redesign of the piping and a few more elbows. Work resumed on Monday and proceeded quickly. The hydrant is actually located on land belonging to Steve and Julie Cowles, adjacent to the Clary Lake dam property. Access to the hydrant is over the Association property. Many thanks to David Boynton for donating his time and equipment and for Steve Cowles for managing this project!

The Clary Lake Association provided the funding for this project and has plans to install another dry fire hydrant in Jefferson near the intersection of Routes 215 and 126 perhaps as soon as next year. Here are more pictures of this installation:

[Show slideshow]

Hatha Yoga Classes at Clary Lake Bed & Breakfast This Summer

Looking for something to do this summer near Clary Lake? There will be Hatha Yoga classes held at Clary Lake Bed & Breakfast this summer! The classes will be held outdoors on Saturdays from 10-11 am. Classes will start June 13th, and continue all Saturdays throughout the summer until the end of August, with the exception of the 4th of July.

This is the second year these classes have been held at Clary Lake B&B. For more information please contact Kathryn Jensen or Linda Gallion.

CLA Hors D’oeuvre Party Announcement!

We're having a party! We’re having a “We can’t believe it’s 48 days until Spring” party! Only kidding! We don’t need an excuse to gather together and have a little neighborly fun. The date is Saturday, February 1st and the place is the lovely home of Beverly and Gareth Bowen at 739 Gardiner Road in Jefferson (map). The time is 7 PM. Everyone is asked to bring their own favorite beverage and a hors d’oeuvre platter to share. Bring yourself and bring a friend! We hope to have a good showing, there’s plenty of room, and it will be a great opportunity for people to get together, get reacquainted with other CLA members, and meet new friends. Let’s shake off those mid-winter doldrums together! Maybe someone will even bring a guitar and we can sing the CLA theme song. Hmmm… do we even have a theme song? Well, we can think of something! Continue reading →

Greetings Friends of Clary Lake!

Here’s wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a very happy and healthy New Year… and more inclusively, Happy Holidays, or whatever and however you choose to celebrate this time of year, this special season that we all cherish as we try to adapt to the waning light of winter. Remember, the light shines from within: may we always be mindful of the blessings we have been given and work to share those blessings with those less fortunate. Continue reading →

12 August 2019: Lincoln County News Article on CLA Annual Meeting

2019 Annual Meeting

It’s been a little over a week since we held our 2019 Annual Meeting and I apologize for not posting anything about it until now. We were all pretty busy in the weeks leading up to the Annual meeting, and I for one needed a break. I had meant to post about the Annual meeting, but Lincoln County News reporter Jessica Clifford beat me to it. She attended the Annual meeting and has written a great article (with pictures!) that appeared in last week’s 8-8-2019 Lincoln County News paper. The article however has not been made available online so posting it had to wait until I could scan and format it for the website:

Lincoln County News 8-8-2019 CLA Annual Meeting

I’m more or less back in the saddle now, and ready to get to work. There are some neat events planned for later this month and this fall. Stay tuned for details!

23 July 2019: CLA Annual Meeting and Community Cookout Update

Plans for the 2019 Clary Lake Association Annual meeting are coming along nicely! The meeting will be held at 2:00 PM sharp at the Clary Lake dam on Saturday August 3rd. There will be a short business meeting to start followed by our main program including a presentation by Midcoast Conservancy’s Maranda Nemeth about their hopes to establish fish passage into Clary Lake, and a discussion of our Association’s long term goals led by outgoing President Malcolm Burson. Since our membership year runs from annual meeting to annual meeting, in order to participate in the meeting (i.e. vote, speak) you need to be a paid up member. If you plan to pay your dues at the meeting (as many people do) please arrive a little early! We’ll have a registration desk set up by 1:00 PM and plan to start the meeting promptly at 2:00 PM. You can also sign up online. Dues are $25 per year per person.

There will be a number of canopies set up to provide shade along with tables and chairs but it can’t hurt to bring a folding chair or 2 if you have them. We’re expecting the field adjoining the dam property to have been hayed by the time of the meeting so parking should not be a problem.

We have traditionally held a pot-luck supper at the conclusion of our Annual Meeting. This year have decided to invite the larger community of lake lovers to join us in celebration of our restored natural treasure. A cookout open to the public will start at 4 PM. The Clary Lake Association will be offering hot dogs, hamburgers (and some veggie burgers) and an assortment of beverages, and we encourage folks who plan to attend to bring an offering of a side dish or dessert to round out the fare. We also plan to polish off the ice cream left over from our recent Ice Cream Social. The cookout and food is free but donations will be gratefully accepted. We hope to see you there!

A final reminder: for some time now, full Membership in the Association is open to “all persons who support the purpose of the Association as stated in the bylaws and who pay annual dues to the Corporation.” You need not be a Clary Lake shore owner to be a Member, we’re especially interested in attracting New Members from the wider community. There is strength in numbers, and we encourage you to invite your neighbors and friends of Clary Lake to come to the Meeting and join us in our celebration. See you at the Annual Meeting!

16 July 2019: Ice Cream Social a Great Success!

Two of our event-coordinators Kelsie French (left) and Melissa Palmer-Karas.

Our first Ice Cream Social was a great success! By the middle of the afternoon there were about 50 people hanging out on the Clary Lake dam property and on the adjoining property belonging to neighbors Steve & Julie Cowles. Many thanks to them for their help getting the site ready and allowing us the use of their property. It was a beautiful sunny day and the canopies we set up provided much appreciated shade. Jeff French and his family arrived by boat! Many thanks to our volunteers for pulling off such a well-organized event and special thanks to Joe Holland of the Jefferson Scoop for donating tasty Gifford’s Ice Cream, and to Linda Gallion who brought home made chocolate and strawberry ice cream. This wasn’t really intended to be a fund raiser, but we did collect over $70 in our donation jar which helped cover the costs. Next year we’ll do a better job with promotion.

Sorry for not posting something sooner, but the past couple of days have been pretty hectic. Here is a gallery of pictures from the event. I’ll get around to adding some captions when I find a round tuit: