Revised Lake Boon Water Carnival Schedule

Due to the threats of mosquito-born EEE and the beach closure because of potential toxic cyanobacteria, Friday and Saturday Water Carnival events will be revised as follows:

2019 Lake Boon Water Carnival

Friday Night 8/30, 7:30-9:30 pm – Sunset at the Beach BEACH FIRE CANCELED 

Enjoy the sunset at Pine Bluffs Stow Town Beach, roast marshmallows and watch for the music boat about 9:30.

Friday Night 8/30, 7:30-11 pm – Music Boat & Lighting of the Lake 

TAKE MOSQUITO PRECAUTIONS 

The music boat will begin in the second (south) basin at 7:30 pm, going around counter-clockwise and then into the first (north) basin about 9:15 pm going counterclockwise.  All are invited to sit by the shore or go out in a boat, canoe or kayak (all must have lights) as the Lake Boon music boat passes by, featuring the Dwayne Haggins Band performing country-blues-rock.  The music boat may be viewed at the Stow Town Beach/Pine Bluffs Recreation Area about 9:30 pm.

Lake residents are encouraged to participate in “lighting of the lake” with small lights or luminaries (but not bright flood lights please) along the shoreline. In case of bad weather the music boat may be postponed to Saturday night–call 978.562.2203 after 6 pm for a recorded message.

Saturday 8/31, 9:30 am – 4:00 pm Water Carnival Beach Day

Stow Town Beach/Pine Bluffs Recreation Area

9:30 – Canoe races CANCELED

10:30 – Field races

11:30 – 1:00 – Lunch

12:30 – Children’s entertainment

1:30 – Swimming races REPLACED WITH EXTENDED MAGICIAN SHOW AND FIELD ACTIVITIES

2:30 – Beach games HELD ON ATHLETIC FIELD

Prizes are awarded for many of the races. There will be face painting, balloon toss, pie eating contests, and much more. Bring a picnic or purchase a grilled lunch prepared by the Lake Boon Association. A variety of LBA T-shirts, bags and lake history books will also be available for purchase.

Sunday 9/1, 10:00 am – 12:00 am  Historical Lake Tour

Residents are invited to join a narrated tour aboard a pontoon boat for a slow cruise around the lake, pointing out the famous and infamous highlights of Lake Boon’s past and present. Adults 18 and older wishing to join the cruise must make a reservation with Dave Gray at grayscale@earthlink.net or 781-856-5158 as seating may be limited.

Sunday 9/1, 2:15 – 4:00  Annual Decorated Boat Parade

The parade begins at the First Basin Narrows Buoy with registration on the water before 2:15 pm, and continues counter-clockwise around the first (north) basin and then to the second (south) basin. Off-lake residents can view the boat parade at the Stow Town Beach about 2:30 pm. We want to thank past supporters including Main Street Pizza, Honey Pot Hill Orchard, Stow House of Pizza, Brothers Pizza, CJ’s of Hudson and Sudbury and the Lake Boone Ice Company. In addition to prizes for the best decorated boats there is a prize for the most enthusiastic shore party so get out there and cheer on the boats!

Monday 9/2, 2:00 – 4:00  Sailing Regatta

During Labor Day quiet hours and weather permitting, join other sailors for informal cruising and ad hoc racing in the first basin beginning at the Pine Point buoy. Each participating boat will receive an LBA T-shirt. Slow power boaters and landlubbers at the Town Beach are welcome to observe ‘the tall ships of Lake Boon’ in action.

Please also see this announcement from the Stow Board of Health regarding the Town Beach closure, warnings against water contact for people and pets, and EEE 

Important Water Carnival updates: new schedule and safety info

IMPORTANT—please read this entire email for your safety.

The Lake Boon Water Carnival Weekend and the rest of the season are affected by two environmental threats: mosquitoes carrying EEE and potentially toxic algae in the lake.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus-carrying mosquitoes have been reported in our area. EEE is a rare but very serious disease that requires precautions to minimize exposure. if you are out Friday evening for Lighting of the Lake and watching the Music Boat, take precautions to minimize your, your friends’ and your family’s exposure. Regrettably we are also cancelling the beach fire to reduce exposure. State recommended precautions are listed at the bottom of this email.

Potential cyanobacteria
The contracted Nashoba Boards of Health has observed algae potentially containing cyanobacteria at the town beach and at the dam and therefore the Stow Board of Health has continued to keep the Stow Pine Bluffs Town Beach closed. The Board of Health indicates that this potential hazard applies to the entire lake. Pets must be kept out of the water and especially not allowed to drink it. Cyanobacteria could be lethal to them.

Saturday all events will be held up on the athletic field starting with field events at 10:30 am. No water-contact events including canoe races will be held. We will have an extended magician show, grilled lunch for sale, new water activities using well water and games. Kids may want to bring towels; adults may want to bring chairs.

Sunday and Monday events: the History Tour, Boat Parade and sailing regatta will go on as scheduled.

Department of Public Health precautions against EEE.

Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours – The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during the evening or early morning. If you are outdoors at any time and notice mosquitoes around you, take steps to avoid being bitten by moving indoors, covering up and/or wearing repellant.

Clothing Can Help reduce mosquito bites. Although it may be difficult to do when it’s hot, wearing long-sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
   
Apply Insect Repellent when you go outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), IR 3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be in concentrations of 30% or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age. Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear and should not be applied to skin.

Mosquito-Proof Your Home
Drain Standing Water – Many mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or getting rid of items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools, and change water in birdbaths frequently.
Install or Repair Screens – Some mosquitoes like to come indoors. Keep them outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all of your windows and doors.
See also:  https://www.cdc.gov/easternequineencephalitis/tech/epi.html#casesbystate

Found paddleboard

This paddle board was on its own adventure on August 22, and has been awaiting its owner on the deep-end dock at Pine Point cottage, 68 Pine Point Road. If it’s yours, come and get it.

Stow Town Beach closed for algae testing

The Stow Board of Health has put out this alert:

Stow Town Beach at Lake Boon closed until further testing for Algae

Based on a visual examination at the Town Beach on Friday morning 8/23/19, by the Board of Health, it appears that an algae bloom could be starting.  Testing will be performed, but as a precautionary measure the beach will be closed for swimming to humans and pets until confirmation is received by the State. https://www.stow-ma.gov/home/news/beach-closed-until-further-testing-algae

We hope with the cooler weather forecast for the next few days that this potential threat will dissipate in time for the Water Carnival beach events on August 31.

Found: Chocolate labrador on North Shore Drive

Update: The dog has been reunited with his owner.

This male chocolate lab was found running on North Shore Drive without any tags. It was thundering so he followed a neighbor home and hung out in the yard while the homeowners waited to see if anyone was looking for him.

Since they didn’t spot anyone searching for him and didn’t want the dog to get hit by a car out on the street, they called Stow Animal Control. The dog is now with the animal control officer at her home. If this is your dog you can pick him up by contacting the Stow Police Department at (978) 897-4545.

 

2019 Lake Boon Water Carnival

Friday, Aug 30^th evening through Monday afternoon, Sept 2^nd, a 100-year old tradition with old fashioned summer entertainment for all ages sponsored by the Lake Boon Association.

Friday Night 8/30, 7:30-9:30 pm – Sunset at the Beach 

Enjoy the sunset at Pine Bluffs Stow Town Beach, roast marshmallows and watch for the music boat about 9:30.

Friday Night 8/30, 7:30-11 pm – Music Boat & Lighting of the Lake 

The music boat will begin in the second (south) basin at 7:30 pm, going around counter-clockwise and then into the first (north) basin about 9:15 pm going counterclockwise.  All are invited to sit by the shore or go out in a boat, canoe or kayak (all must have lights) as the Lake Boon music boat passes by, featuring the Dwayne Haggins Band performing country-blues-rock.  The music boat may be viewed at the Stow Town Beach/Pine Bluffs Recreation Area about 9:30 pm.

Lake residents are encouraged to participate in “lighting of the lake” with small lights or luminaries (but not bright flood lights please) along the shoreline. In case of bad weather the music boat may be postponed to Saturday night–call 978-562-2203 after 6 pm for a recorded message.

Saturday 8/31, 9:30 am – 4:00 pm Water Carnival Beach Day

Stow Town Beach/Pine Bluffs Recreation Area

9:30 – Canoe races

10:45 – Field races

11:30 – 1:00 – Lunch

12:30 – Children’s entertainment

1:30 – Swimming races

2:30 – Beach games

Prizes are awarded for many of the races. There will be face painting, balloon toss, pie eating contests, and much more. Bring a picnic or purchase a grilled lunch prepared by the Lake Boon Association. A variety of LBA T-shirts, bags and lake history books will also be available for purchase.

Sunday 9/1, 10:00 am – 12:00 am  Historical Lake Tour

Residents are invited to join a narrated tour aboard a pontoon boat for a slow cruise around the lake, pointing out the famous and infamous highlights of Lake Boon’s past and present. Adults 18 and older wishing to join the cruise must make a reservation with Dave Gray at grayscale@earthlink.net or 781-856-5158 as seating may be limited.

Sunday 9/1, 2:15 – 4:00  Annual Decorated Boat Parade

The parade begins at the First Basin Narrows Buoy with registration on the water before 2:15 pm, and continues counter-clockwise around the first (north) basin and then to the second (south) basin. Off-lake residents can view the boat parade at the Stow Town Beach about 2:30 pm. We want to thank past supporters including Main Street Pizza, Honey Pot Hill Orchard, Stow House of Pizza, Brothers Pizza, CJ’s of Hudson and Sudbury and the Lake Boone Ice Company. In addition to prizes for the best decorated boats there is a prize for the most enthusiastic shore party so get out there and cheer on the boats!

Admission to the beach Saturday, Sunday and Monday, is free and a great opportunity to enjoy the improvements made there by the Stow Recreation Commission.

Monday 9/2, 2:00 – 4:00  Sailing Regatta

During Labor Day quiet hours and weather permitting, join other sailors for informal cruising and ad hoc racing in the first basin beginning at the Pine Point buoy. Each participating boat will receive an LBA T-shirt. Slow power boaters and landlubbers at the Town Beach are welcome to observe ‘the tall ships of Lake Boon’ in action.