Happy Holidays!

Although you’d never know it by looking outside, Christmas is almost here. It’s been a great year for the OLRA. We introduced several new events this year, beginning the summer with a bottle drive that helped to fund other initiatives that followed. The perennial exchange offered residents a way to spruce up the garden. Most popular by far was the community garage sale we organized in June. Jay Jensen and Samien Bell won with their entries in the first annual OLRA pumpkin contest. Traditional events were well received too. As always, the picnic was a day of tremendous fun, and except for a mad scramble to escape rain and high winds at the very end the weather was on our side. At the AGM we had a great variety of speakers to offer insight into topics such as septic re-inspections, healthy waters, and grants for shoreline and septic projects. We look forward to increased participation during the next season.

As our thoughts turn to giving during the holidays, we’d like to offer a few more goodies and fun ideas to our friends and neighbours.

Food is an integral and much loved part of the Christmas season. We all have those traditional favourites that we enjoy only at this time of year. At our house, the festivities last until Orthodox Christmas when, in honour of my hubby’s heritage, we share traditional Ukrainian foods such as borscht, cabbage rolls, and perogies with friends and family. Why not celebrate the future with a taste of the past? Reach back to your roots and serve up a new old dish. Send us your traditional holiday recipes and, if we receive enough, we’ll put together a booklet and have copies available at next year’s events.

Looking for ways to spend the day without technology this year? Decorate a family member as a Christmas tree. If we actually see snow by then, have a snowball throwing contest. Before the big day, print off a Christmas movie trivia quiz. A few years ago, my cousin and I raced to see who could finish dessert first – without utensils. You can offer prizes, or just do it for the fun of it.

What would Christmas be without reaching out to friends and family near and far? Take advantage of our Facebook page by joining and posting your best wishes to your neighbours. And while you’re online, check out our new Pinterest account. If you’d like to be able to add pins to our boards, send us an email and we’ll set you up.

As Linus advised Charlie Brown, presents and pageantry are not what Christmas is all about. Still, it’s a time of year when we’re extra conscious of value for our dollar. OLRA membership is still just $10 for the year, and includes admission to both the annual picnic and general meeting, plus exclusive emails all year for members only. Take advantage of our holiday bonus by buying your 2016 membership via the PayPal link at the top of this page before January 1st and we’ll deliver a free OLRA t-shirt to your home or cottage door next summer. Please indicate your preferred size when you note your Orr Lake address during the enrollment process.

We are grateful to those who, in ways both large and small, have made our progress this year possible. It is in this spirit that we say thank you and best wishes for the holidays and happy New Year. To all of our Orr Lake neighbours, may you find time during this hectic season to enjoy life's simple blessings and the beauty of each quiet moment.

Contest and Creativity

Despite threats of strikes all summer, and not even a tentative deal for elementary teachers as yet, the school bell has rung and classes are back in session. Some students bounded through the doors happy to be back, and others had to be physically dragged out of bed on that first day. As a kid, I was part of that latter group. It wasn’t that I disliked learning – I just wanted to learn what I wanted, how and when I wanted to. The curriculum didn’t make concessions for my whims. Now that I’m all grown up, I still like to learn new things and I get to pick and choose now. Most adults do enjoy expanding their horizons so, in honour of the first week of school, we’ve compiled a few lesson plans of our own. Read on to find out what your fall classes have to offer.

Math – Those of you who watch Jimmy Fallon may have seen this one on The Tonight Show. We don’t get many trick or treaters in Orr Lake, but you can still get into the spirit with a pumpkin time bomb. Just get a pumpkin and some rubber bands (all bands the same size). Wrap the bands around the pumpkin and track the number of bands it takes to make it explode. You may be wondering how this is particularly pertinent to our little hamlet. Actually, it’s not but there’s a math teacher at John McGregor Secondary School in Chatham who turned it into a math lesson and even created a Google Form that will collect data from people around the globe trying the experiment. His name? Jon Orr. To learn more about this project go to tapintoteenminds.com/3act-math/pumpkin-time-bomb. For more ideas, visit his website: http://mrorr-isageek.com/3-act-problems.

Art – If blowing pumpkins up isn’t your thing, get your creative juices flowing and enter our pumpkin art contest, open to anyone who has purchased a 2015 or 2016 membership – cottagers and permanent residents alike. Carve them, paint them, stack them, arrange them to re-enact the Battle of the Plains of Abraham – whatever medium or form you like. Don’t worry if, like me, you aren’t terribly talented in the arts department. We’re offering one prize in each of two categories. The first is artistic merit and the second is creative invention (where the idea counts more than the execution). Just take a photo of your creation and email it to us by October 30th along with your name, address and preferred contact information. The winning photos and short interviews with the creative geniuses will be featured in an upcoming article right here in this column.

Phys Ed – Did you know that Orr Lake Golf Club has a 3 Hole Par 3 Course called the Orr Lake Learning Links? This initiative increases the opportunity for kids, families and beginners to try out the game of golf. The 3 holes are 51, 98 and 48 yards and, instead of the usual 4 inch putting cups, include 8 inch cups making it easier for beginners. The Learning Links costs $5 per person and includes a chipping club, putter and 3 balls.

Language – This course involves a bit of shameless self-promotion. Orr Lake is home to a member of local writing group, Wye Write. That would be yours truly. The group has just published our fourth collection of short stories and will be touring the area presenting The Stories Behind the Stories. Keep an eye out for posters around town, and be sure to read the Springwater News cover to cover so you don’t miss the next event. To order a copy of the new book, just send off a quick email to wyewrite@gmail.com. If you do attend an event, please be sure to let us know you heard about it here.

Music – Here’s one you can do when you’re outside relaxing or getting in those last few boating outings during these last warm days. Match a song to how you feel when you’re cruising the water or just sitting back watching the waves. Send us your titles and the name of the artist. If we get enough submissions, perhaps we can put together a playlist that can be burned to discs for everyone who submits a song to enjoy.

Science / Social Studies – Before old man winter gets a grip on the land, find one thing that you can do today to make the lake more sustainable or be kind to our wildlife. Clean up a patch of the road or plant a naturalized shoreline. When you fertilize or treat for weeds and pests, use natural products. Build a bat house, plant milkweed or get the suet feeder ready for the cold months. Let us know what you accomplish – you can even send us photos to post on the blog.

If you’ve considered all these possibilities, and still find yourself wanting to burrow back under the covers, take heart. If the folks from the Farmer’s Almanac know what they’re doing there are plenty of snow days in the not too distant future when you’ll be able to do just that!

Garage Sale and Golf Tourney

The gardens are in, spring cleaning is behind us, and the kids are ready to burst out the doors on the last day of school.  It’s the perfect time to gather up items you can no longer use and earn some extra cash by taking part in the Orr Lake Community Garage Sale.  On Saturday, June 27 just set up in your own driveway between 8:00 am and 2:00 pm and let the OLRA do the advertising.  At the end of your sale, if you prefer not to tote everything inside again, why not donate your unsold items to the Seasons Centre for Grieving Children for their garage sale in August?

Let us know if you plan to participate so that we can better publicize on your behalf.  Provide your address via email to orrlakeratepayers@gmail.com, text 905-716-2571, or call 705-322-7568.  To arrange pick-up of your leftover items, call or text 705-725-4120 or email the above address.

Once you’ve decided to hold your sale, follow these tips to make it successful.

Start gathering the week before the sale.  If you leave it until the last minute, you’ll be far too rushed to make sure you have the time to earn top dollar.  Ask friends and family members to join you with their things if you feel you don’t have enough items to draw customers.

To make your sale as organized and as appealing as possible, group like objects together (glassware/kitchen items in one place; toys/children's books in another; and tools/lawn equipment in still another, for example).  Hang up items for maximum visibility and so people can go through "your racks," just like they do at the store. 

Place large items near the street to grab attention and, if possible, include items that will appeal to both men and women.  Once you’ve drawn customers in, keep them interested. If you’re selling dishes, set a small table with flowers and a cloth.  Create a reading nook for browsing books.  Offer muffins and coffee, or cold drinks on a hot day. 

Make sure items are clearly priced.  Nothing turns shoppers off quicker than having to ask a price for every item they pick up. Always mark chipped or cracked items "as is" so buyers know the price is for the item, flaws and all. Whatever the condition of the items, make sure they look their best—press the linens, wash and wipe dry glasses and china, etc.

Be ready to haggle.  Your browsers aren't looking to spend a fortune at your sale. Be ready to negotiate by pricing items slightly higher to leave room for price-haggling. When you set prices, factor in price breaks of about 20 percent to 30 percent off the price you'd like to receive.  Have plenty of change on hand in a safe location, and provide boxes or bags to pack sold items.

Offer freebies.  Pick out a bunch of things that you never want to see again and place them in a box that says 'free’.  This way shoppers and browsers alike can pick out what they want from the box and everyone wins. Place this free box near the curb so passersby will be more inclined to see what else you have for sale.

Once you’ve cleared some clutter and earned some cash, why not spend it on a day of fun and prizes by reserving a spot in the upcoming OLRA Golf Tournament taking place at Orr Lake Golf Club on July 4^th?  For OLRA members the cost is just $38 for nine holes, $48 for non-members.  Enter individually or recruit a team.  Call or text Susan Eccleshall at 705-725-4120 to reserve a spot. 

We are still looking for volunteers to help with canvassing for memberships, and for the Annual Picnic in July.  Contact us using any of the options mentioned in this article to offer a bit of your time.  We do provide community hours for students, so let your kids and grandchildren know how to reach us as well. 

We hope you are all looking forward to the break from routine that the summer holidays provide and wish you a safe and happy season.

Bottle Drive

Just a reminder that we are holding our bottle drive this Sunday, May 31 in support of community events planned for the duration of the season.  Beer and liquor empties may be dropped at the park entrance on South Orr Lake Rd between the hours of 10 a.m. and noon only.  Alternatively, you may leave them at the end of your driveway for pick-up if your property is within Orr Lake boundaries.

We appreciate your support, and look forward to your participation in the summer fun your contribution will help to provide.

Coming Events

We hope that everyone enjoyed the summer kick-off weekend known as May 2-4, and the Orr Lake Ratepayers have planned a season packed full of events to help keep the ball rolling.  We welcome our neighbours in Elmvale and Hillsdale to join us for any or all of the events coming up. Invite family and friends, and mark these dates on your calendar now:

Sunday, May 31, 10 AM to noon - Bottle Drive.  Drop off empties in support of community events at the park on South Orr Lake Rd or, if you live within the borders of the Orr Lake community, leave them at the end of your driveway on Saturday evening for pick-up.

Saturday, June 13, 9 to 11 AM - Perennial Exchange.  Meet us at the park on South Orr Lake Rd with whatever you have too much of and pick up something new.

Saturday, June 27, 8 AM to 2 PM - Community Garage Sale.  Just display your items in your own Orr Lake driveway and we’ll take care of the advertising at roadsides and in area papers.  Don't want to deal with leftover items?  Donate them, or your proceeds, to the Seasons Centre for Grieving Children for their garage sale in August.  Call or text 905-716-2571 or email orrlakeratepayers@gmail.com to arrange pick-up.

Saturday, July 4, 9 AM - Golf Tournament.  Come on out to beautiful Orr Lake Golf Club for fun and prizes.  Only 72 spots available. $38 per person including cart for OLRA members, $48 for non-members.

Sunday August 2, noon to 3PM - OLRA Picnic.  Admission is free to OLRA members (includes extended families), or $10/family for non-members.  This year, in addition to races & contests with prizes for all ages, and BBQ treats at low prices we invite you to decorate your boat with a movie theme and cruise by for your chance to win.  Also new this year is a lip sync contest, open to individuals or groups of all ages. Contact Susan Eccleshall at 705-725-4120 to volunteer time, or prizes for raffles & events, and don’t forget to bring your Young Naturalist booklets (see below).  

Sunday, August 9, 1 PM – Annual General Meeting.  Topics at this year’s AGM will include healthy shorelines and septic re-inspections, with presentations from many of our partners and associates.  This is your opportunity to volunteer your time, which is desperately needed, and voice your concerns.  We hope to see you all at Orr Lake Golf Club for this important meeting.

Young Naturalist Program.  Geared toward children aged 9 and under, this program provides seven booklets of fun and educational activities covering the topics of  wetlands, mammals, birds, herptiles (amphibians and reptiles), insects, plants, and fish. Collect and complete all seven, then bring all the booklets to the annual picnic to receive a Young Naturalist Certificate.  If this program is well received, we will create a Junior Naturalist program for older kids. Check the board at the park approximately every two weeks for a new booklet. On the board, we also have an "I spotted a _____" clipboard. Write down all of the animals you have seen.  In conjunction with this program, have your kids enter our photo contest.  They can snap shots in three different categories - landscape, summer fun and wildlife.  Email digital copies of photos to orrlakeratepayers@gmail.com.  A prize will be awarded to the winners of each category.

We welcome volunteers for membership drive, clean-up, and picnic.  We are also looking for a volunteer naturalist and artist, and if we are able to enlist the volunteered help of local musicians we would love to host a musical event. Contact us via phone or text to 905-716-2571, 705-725-4120 or email orrlakeratepayers@gmail.com. 

July is a busy month for our handful of volunteers but we’re trying to arrange another event or two so check this column regularly and also visit our blog at orrlakeratepayers.blogspot.ca.   If you scroll down, you’ll find a link on the right that will allow you to have interesting and important updates delivered right to your email inbox.  Meanwhile, be safe and happy as you enjoy our lake this season!