We're trying something new this month. Guest writer Diane Clarke has contributed several pieces to this newsletter. We hope you'll enjoy her fresh perspective and consider contributing to future editions. Your assistance will be greatly appreciated!

Winter has arrived at Paradox!

October-November at Paradox has shown us some surprising temperature swings! I don’t recall too many past Novembers with daytime temps into the 70’s.  I was grateful for the extra time to pull in pots gradually to winter over and feel the sun on my face.

I have sweet daydreams with our Upstate NY winters being shorter, a gradually erupting spring, followed by leisurely (longer) summer and colorful fall seasons. We can dream, right?  Reality struck on the 15th of November when we awoke to a sparkling white 5” blanket of snow. Our  nighttime temperatures plunged 50 degrees lower than last week into the more seasonal teens and 20’s.

Sometimes we who live in the North Country bemoan the length and severity of our Adirondack winters.  Yet, if I find myself envying sunny warmer climates in other states I need only to remind myself of the many homes lost to fires in California and how I felt sitting in the dark during gusting torrential rain in Orlando, Florida during Hurricane Ian in September of this year. Devastation surrounded us.  We were fortunately safe. I told myself: If I were home at Paradox our generator would run, and we could cook our food! But we must also recall that it does take quite a while to dress in all our many layers of duds to go outside to do anything in winter- especially if dressing multiple children!  Seasonal change helps to maintain an attitude of gratitude!

Building a Paradox Lake Community (online and in person)

Having a common purpose can overcome shyness. And many hands make light work!

This past summer of 2022 I discovered many people joining together to raise funds to pay for the battle against invasive species like Milfoil threatening the lake we enjoy all summer long swimming, skiing, boating, paddling, and fishing. We cannot assume it will be the same lake indefinitely if uncared for. We must spread the word of the importance of preventive boat washing in between enjoyment of different waters. I NEVER want to see our home lake look like another one I have seen with uncontrolled overgrowth. The lake that had to be mowed; boat propellers tangled in dense mats of “weeds.” Very UN-appealing to swim in during 90 degree weather! Education about fertilizer ingredients, runoff, sewage is all important to raise awareness.

I felt the passion and pride of all the Paradox Lake volunteers marking, pulling, diving. I saw the dedication and leadership of the PLA Board members gathering facts and planning before I ever arrived on the scene.

We can meet our neighbors, discover friends we never knew, offer a few hours, utilize our skills.  We can jointly brainstorm ways to raise funds to keep our lake pure for our children and grandchildren, and generations to come.

- by Diane Clarke

Ice starting to form in the inlet bay! Photo by Micki Kuttler

PLA Calendars for Sale and Going Fast!

PLA Calendars, filled with beautiful photos taken by our members and guests, are now in stock, and selling fast! Don’t wait - they’re three quarters gone! We can ship them to you or you can pick them up locally. But if we’re shipping, to be sure you get yours before Christmas, please order before December 1!

Volunteers Invited to Join Committees

Our Board of Directors is busily engaged in new and continued activities. We welcome assistance from all our members! Please contact our committee heads by clicking on their names in each paragraph below.

The Fund Raising Committee, headed by Teanna Fullen, will be starting up activities in late winter. If you were on the committee last year, she’ll reach out to you when it’s time! If you'd like to join this energized group, contact Teanna.

A new committee, the Inlet Committee, headed by Sandra Courneen, will be looking into ways to safely remove beaver dams and restore the health of the inlet, aka Paradox Creek. Reach out to Sandra if you want to be involved in this project which could affect not only the health of the Creek but the Lake as well.

The Communications committee, headed by Micki Kuttler, is looking for guest writers to add interest and diversity to the newsletters. Big thanks to Diane Clarke who contributed most of this edition!

Of course our largest group of volunteers is the Invasives Team, our dedicated group of volunteers who seek out and destroy milfoil in the Lake and inlet and outlet! We value your work and will be reaching out to you in the spring! If you’re not hearing from this group and would like to be on the list, please reach out to Nancy Girling.

Please consider where your talents might lie and reach out to our Board Members.

How to Raise Money for the PLA Without Really Trying!

There are 2 ways to do this, and they are SO easy!

One, set up a smile.amazon.com account and choose the PLA as your charity. It works exactly like your amazon account, but PLA gets money every time you place an order!

Use Microsoft BIng as your Search Engine and choose the PLA as your charity. Every time you search for anything, PLA gets money!

There it is! So easy, anyone can do it!

Featured Paradox Laker: Ellie George

Article by Diane Clarke, Guest Writer

I recently had the privilege of walking on a nearby “road less travelled by…” with Ellie George, her husband Cal and dog Maple (like the tree,) and my husband Paul.  I reached out to her for several reasons. I repeatedly noticed her talent for many exceptional wildlife photos in our most recent 2023 Calendar, Notecards, Fundraisers and in previous PLA Newsletters and Website Photos.  I was fascinated by her up close bird photos.   Her emailed little stories and photos demonstrated much lesser-known loon knowledge and a high level of understanding. Her background in Biology gave her her start, as well as her hands-on research in her canoe and volunteering to count populations.  It takes great patience to become “friendly” with these beautiful unique creatures without stressing them. She takes care to avoid eye contact too soon when she approaches their space. I think it’s very apparent they have reached a wonderful understanding!

Ellie has been monitoring the Loons for multiple organizational studies in NYS.  She has helped us become a Certified Loon Friendly Lake.  Our Sister organization, Schroon Lake Association also shares this honor.  The link below explains this further.   Not only does she do counts of chicks, but Ellie also carefully observes and documents their nesting and feeding habits.  The shared pictures of the chicks hitchhiking on parents are adorable!  We can identify!  She monitors Loon behaviors as they leave, migrating from Paradox Lake before it freezes.  Ellie and Cal were generous in sharing their winter walking time, pointing out observations, and even photos with us which she is allowing us to attach and share.  We thank you!

Sept 4, 2022 Email: “The last thing a fish sees….”  Story and Photos by Ellie George 
Subject: The last thing a fish sees. . .

I was hanging out with one of the Paradox loon chicks this morning, and it yawned a few times.  Loons yawn probably because they are tired, but also to help swallow or move down a large or prickly fish or crayfish.

At one point, the chick was quite close to me and looking right at me when it yawned.  The attached photos show the last thing a fish sees when it gets swallowed by a loon.  Notice the many tiny "teeth" that point backwards on the roof of the loon's mouth.  I'm sure they help to keep the prey moving down the throat, and also help the loon to grip the prey.  Ellie

Looking out for our neighbors

Now that it’s cold out, please keep an eye out for your neighbors. Winter can be a very isolating time at Paradox, and it’s good to stay in touch. Also, many of us have new neighbors now - be sure to tell them about our Association and invite them to join! You can send them a copy of this newsletter or suggest they go to our website, paradox-lake.com.

We wish you a warm and tasty Thanksgiving!