Breaking News

Memorial Weekend brought crowds of people to Grand Rivers, Canal Campground reopened, and Grand Rivers and all of the holiday events received great press coverage in the region. In the last week, Grand Rivers and our businesses have been featured on WPSD-TV Channel 6 news, WCCK Radio Calvert, and WSRQ Radio Sarasota, FL as well as in the Paducah Sun, the Calvert Lake News, the Clarksville Leaf Chronicle the Henderson Gleaner, Heartland Boating Magazine, and Kentucky Monthly Magazine. Whew. Thank you Gerran Thomas, Greg Leif, Gid Pool, Shelley Byrnes, Loyd Ford, Maria McClure, Chuck Stinnett, Kate DeMay, and Steve Vest for all of the great coverage on Grand Rivers.

And there is MORE. So my news may not be professional publication news worthy, but at my house it is big. And believe me; it will get even bigger. I have done something that I told my husband I would never again do in my lifetime. I was firm in my statement when I made it. Then I saw these baby blues and all reason went out the window. It was love at first sight. We are now the proud parents of a new puppy. Please meet baby Riley (as in the life of). Riley is 12 weeks old and an impressive 34 pounds and 22 inches at the shoulder. It is big news and he is going to be a big boy. Just remember, you read it here first.

A Nurturing Nature

If you have visited the Tourist Information Office in Grand Rivers, then you know that right next door to me is the Grand Lakes Clinic. Since they are my neighbors, I have gotten to know and love the staff there. I also have first hand knowledge of their excellent care when it comes to poison ivy (my husband), rope burns (my nephew), colds, general wellness, and wasp stings (me).

Last year the Clinic and I coordinated new landscaping in front of our shared building. We both planted knockout rose bushes. True to their nature, the clinic staff lovingly watered, weeded and tended to their new plants. True to my nature, I took the tough love approach to landscaping. While I have never claimed to be nurturing I do believe that I have a supportive nature and will give you tons of positive feedback as you do things for yourself. My way works for the strong, but for the times in life when you need nurturing for growth and wellness; thank goodness for the Grand Lakes Clinic my friend. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so let me spell it out for you this way -

NP Denice Lindsay in front of the Clinic's Knockout Rose bushes.

Me in front of mine.

SOS

Yes. I know I haven't been here in a while. In my defense; it is boating season. I'll post pictures soon and let you know what I've been up to and it is nice to know that one or two of you miss me. I did want to share with you this letter from the lovely and talented (and sometimes forgetful) Karen Dodson-

"...SOS...

There is nothing like a small community when a distress signal is sent out. I recently returned from a trip to Berea, KY where I left my husband AND THE KEYS TO OUR HOUSE !!! After calling three locksmiths, to no avail, Del Henson at Lake Realty mentioned that Harry Sayle (of Green Turtle Bay) might be able to help me. I knew Harry from chatting with him during my early morning swims while he was trying to clean the pool around me. Del got him on the phone and I explained my dilemma.

I was sitting on my front porch waiting to be rescued, when Harry arrived along with Mayor Tom Moodie. Those two guys sized up the situation and went to work on a stubborn, heavy-duty, dead bolt lock. My cheer could be heard all across Grand rivers when they succeeded with their mission ! Many, many thanks to Tom and Harry from a grateful Grand Rivers citizen and very happy CYC member. Green Turtle Bay is lucky to have this caliber of men in their ranks and I'm lucky to have them in a beautiful small town where they were easy to find and pleased to help.

Most Sincerely, Karen Dodson"

I loved this letter. And, I do have a call into Karen asking if she found her keys and husband. :)

Sign up for the Sunfish Sailing Fleet- Learn to Sail.

Learn to sail by joining the new Sunfish Sailing Club in Grand Rivers. This new club will offer a quality sailing program for the youth in Grand Rivers and the surrounding Lakes area. The Sunfish is a popular small sailing dinghy that can be easilly handled by one person.

The program will operate out of the beach area at Green Turtle Bay Resort and will be offered on selected Saturdays. Please sign up today and let everyone you think might be interested know it is time to join the Fleet.

Here is the sign up process: go to the Commonwealth Yacht Club site at http://www.cycgtb.com/ Download the membership application from the home page. Complete the form and mail with the appropriate fee to the CYC Treasurer, Pat Jones, PO Box 654, Cape Girardeau, MO 63702. You can download the fee schedule, but the fees are $25.00 for youth members, $35.00 for adult members and $65.00 for a family membership.That's it! What could be easier.

Sign up today so the club will have your spot for summer. Get on the water and learn to sail.

Happy May Day

I know that officially summer starts around the 20th of June (summer solstice), but ancient cultures celebrated May Day or May 1, as the first day of summer. I like their thinking.

Friends Frank and Cindy of the Peacekeeper are back from Florida. Here is a picture of their arrival last week at Green Turtle Bay Resort. Friends Joe and Judy are also back.

Every week I see more and more visitors and boaters in Grand Rivers. Temperatures are warming up, even the rainy days are warmer. Flowers are blooming. The trees damaged from the storm are finally leafing out. Happy first day of Summer (unofficially) yall. I love May in Grand Rivers.

Light up the Lakes

The Patriotic Lighted Boat Parade in Grand Rivers has to be one of my favorite events of the year. I guess because it combines so many of my favorite things- lights, boats, the lakes, and a tribute to service.

This year’s parade is scheduled for Saturday, May 23 and the club wants your help in lighting the lake from shore to shore. This event is open to all boaters and vessels.

This year, CYC will award trophies and prize money totaling $800 in two categories; Vessels 20 foot and under and Vessel greater than 20 foot. Each category will include first and second place prizes for most wattage, most patriotic, and best display. There will also be a crowd pleaser award. The trophies are sponsored by Lake Realty and prize money is sponsored by Green Turtle Bay Resort. Judging will occur at the Grand Rivers Jetty by Lighthouse Landing.

So decorate your vessels with simple or complex lighting, and patriotic decorations to honor those who have given us our freedoms. Gather your family, friends, organize your pier or office, call your neighbors. Rent a barge; bring your small or large vessels with a few or many lights. Come by land or water and help light the lake from shore to shore.

Register before May 16, 2009 and be early in the lineup. For more information visit the website at cycgtb.com or contact Dave Rittenhouse, Fleet Captain at fleet captain@cycgtb.com or call 618-322-9312.

Not a boater? Join us Saturday, May 23 to view the parade at the Grand Rivers Jetty. The event time is dusk; around 8:45 or 9:00 p.m.

Quilt Man

Congratulations to Larry Krohn of Princeton, IN for taking top honors in the Grand Rivers Spring Festival and Quilt Show. Larry’s quilt won first place. Here are all the winning entries from the event:

Quilt People’s Choice Winners
1- Larry Krohn, Princeton, IN
2- Joyce Puffinbarger, Symsonia, KY
3-Kelly Culp

Wall Hanging People’s Choice Winners
1- Nancy Wilson, Arlington, KY
2- Joyce Puffinbarger, Symsonia, KY
3 - Bethel Downs - Benton, KY

Other weekend happenings included the opening of the Grand Rivers Farmers Market at Moodie Bait Company. The market features fresh seasonal plants from Local Livingston County Farmers.

And the CYC Blessing of the Fleet at Green Turtle Bay Resort. It was a gorgeous day, and the minister was the Rev. Dr. Evans. He used the historical blessings that were used particularly on the Sea of Galilee and he wore a stole that was handmade in Guatemala and used there for similar blessings.

It was another beautiful weekend at the Lakes.