Pictures 1 20 2012

Part of our covey



Where is shed 10? Changed view of D dock, Scenic Bay

Harborview

Boileau's

Some have asked for winter pictures. This is a little on the dreary side however, taken January 20, 2012.
Problems in some Marinas, one boat shed collapsed and a float home in dire straights.

Winter has arrived for Bayview.

Norma Jean

Pesky Poster

My pesky poster moved over to bayviews.blogspot and was harassing him. Someone, and frankly I can see you chuckling, sits at their computer and feels that it is funny to pose themselves as regulars on Herb's blogspot. It is not funny, actually the exercise is rather childish and possibly may mean that this person needs to get their head examined.

I support Herb's decisions.

I resent being mis-represented by this pesky poster.

Norma Jean

Snow and more snow

After driving to work this morning I decided I would see if we could get a "snow" day. Luckily the powers that be decided that it might be wise to send Norma Jean home. Not too many folks work at CP and drive as far as we do to get to work on time! The roads were not too bad this morning but the snow continued through the day. My ride share and I arrived safe and sound in Bayview. We were however driving back into the storm that had passed through Liberty Lake or maybe another storm.

That is it! I am not joking with any more customers from Alaska.

Wish I could get copies of all the comments I have received from happy customers. Would be great to share with the Grinch. Makes me feel that I am a valued employee. Surprise, surprise.

I have lost one of my other rider shares because of a conflict in scheduling. When she rode with me for the last time I volunteered to post on my blog for her.

She lives in the Athol area on Clagstone. Her son went out to the back storage shed the other day and discovered that both of their dirt bikes were missing. Long and short of it someone or someones probably came through the back area of her property and decided they needed the dirt bikes more than she did. She is a single working Mom with two children. Hardly seems fair. A friend has offered a $500.00 reward for the return of the bikes and I will gladly field responses. The missing dirt bikes are a Honda and Suzuki.

Norma Jean

More on the Logging at Farragut

I received another email concerning the logging that is occurring in Farragut State Park. I am not a reporter not am I an editor. I volunteered to post this information because we should be upset by the methods that are being used for "thinning" of Farragut. Paul Chesney gave me permission to post his letter: Norma Jean

"Last Monday afternoon, 12/26/11, when driving in the Park just before Whitetail Campground along the South Rd. planning to take my usual hike from the docks east along the upper trail above the lake, I saw a pile of about 14 or 15 feet wide and 6 feet high of recently felled smaller logs, along the south edge of South Rd. in front of some heavy logging equipment, and I stopped to take a closer look.

It may have been that the smaller logs piled in front of the equipment clearly visible to traffic was intended to suggest to the public the thinning of the smaller overcrowded bull pine as has been done along much of South Rd.

However, behind the logging equipment, in an area just now being logged, were numerous large felled Douglas fir logs ready for hauling out of the Park measuring in the range of 19", 22", 17", 21" etc.

Hiking further back from there towards the path that leads to a clearing into the west side of Whitetail Campground about 300 yards in and starting at a point where the Linx trail leaves the trail into Whitetail, are numerous large Douglas fir that have just been felled and limbed. This is in an area off to the left of the trail. The area (so far) covers roughly 6 to 8 acres. Random diameter measurements for these show: 17", 11", 17", 12", 10", 15", 14", 20", 15", 10", 18", 13", 14".

Only a small number of the big standing trees in this area remain. The area here still had fresh limbs covering much of the ground. Numerous piles of these larger logs are scattered throughout the area and were also ready to be hauled back to South Rd. where the heavy equipment was parked.

Park and Rec. or Fish and Game will tell us they are just thinning this area of Farragut and will undoubtedly downplay the aesthetic damage we see and the harm to the existing wildlife and will say that the “thinning” is necessary to lessen the possibility of the spread of forest fires or wildfires within the park

There are two kinds of thinning, however; one which is, I believe, legitimate: that is, thinning out the smaller, stunted, dry, overcrowded growth that occurs when years ago, virtually all the trees germinated at essentially the same time. They are far more vulnerable to the initiation or spread of fire. In Farragut, this kind of thinning has been accomplished in various areas of the park and is especially noticeable along some of the main roads.

The second kind of thinning, I believe, is not legitimate; it is a process where the underlying motive in most cases is ultimately for profit. It involves (1) removing most or all of the brush and smaller trees within a stand of large, mature trees, as well as (2) "thinning" the large, mature trees and leaving only a smattering of them within the logged area.

Park management, will justify this kind of “thinning” by using the well worn argument that the danger of wildfires is reduced when enough of these trees are logged so that the tops or crowns of the trees has sufficient space between them. This is a bogus explanation and simply not true for a variety of reasons.

Significantly more sunlight is allowed in these logged, “thinned”, areas. As a consequence, drier conditions soon result, and within a relatively short period of time the loss in the ground cover and habitat for both plant and animal is quite dramatic. Moss and lichen that were present before, rotted logs that had served as shelter and habitat for smaller animals and birds, and much of the ground cover will dry up in what once was a shadier, cooler, environment.

Those areas in the Park with the larger, mature trees clearly should be left alone."


Paul Chesney

Odds and Ends

I noticed an article in the Coeur d’ Alene Press dated December 24, 2011.  Seems there is a thief or thieves taking items out of mail boxes.  While visiting my friends on Parks Road for a fantastic Christmas dinner, a tradition we have enjoyed for several years, the same subject came up.  Seems there is the same thing occurring in the rural area of Athol.  Opened mail has been found opened and  lying on the ground.  The authorities were called but no report was taken.  Guess the folks living in the country are not as important as those living in the city!  Hmm. Watch your mail boxes.  Times are tough.

Well the election occurred without incident for the Chamber of Commerce.  After last year’s staggering attendees, the 8 that showed up for the meeting decided to vote for the slate of officers’.  So, Norma jean was elected as the Member at Large, Vic Woolever as Vice President, and Ken Saunders will continue as the Treasurer.  The ensuing months will be interesting and Norma Jean obviously ignored the threat to stay out of the local politics.

Dean greeted me with the statement “since you are the one who does all of the baking …” On Saturday I made the traditional cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning, as well as a small apple pie and two pumpkin swirl cheesecakes.  Dean’s job was to make the family Christmas Eve dish of Duppa.  My family was Swedish and my memories were having a cup of coffee (with lots of milk) and fresh out of the oven cinnamon rolls after we arrived at Grandmother’s house in Buhl Minnesota.  Duppa was a soup made from the drippings of the various roasts that were made in preparation for Christmas Day, a day by the way that was considered holy.  The broth has various sausages as well, crusty fresh bread was served, rice pudding, and for dessert we always had apple pie.  While we were eating Santa would bring our presents, Christmas Eve dinner was always served in the kitchen.  Santa needed the privacy of the living room.  After dinner we opened our presents.

This is a tradition that has been carried on with our family and our children.

We did not travel to see our children this year but I keep getting messages from my daughter about how she really misses not having us around for Christmas, actually I think they all miss the baking I do for the holiday.

We hope that everyone had a blessed Christmas with your family.

Next is the tradition we picked up while in Georgia – black-eyed peas, collard greens, southern corn bread and ham hocks!

Chipmunk escaped again this evening, she runs around in a 5 acre radius. She eventually decided to walk back home with me. She is not dangerous just likes to take herself for a run upon occasion. We cannot seem to break her of this bad habit. So if you should happen to see a white Siberian Husky someday just tell her to go home. She is a wonderful dog, just likes her freedom upon occasion!

Farragut Logging

After several conversation and permission from Harvey Brannigan I am posting this letter that has been sent out via email. I felt the subject warranted a closer view:

"Farragut State Park

There are many wonderful ways to spend a day in northern Idaho and a trip to Farragut State Park is certainly among them. We don’t need Frederick Olmstead to design a Central Park for us. Mother Nature did all the heavy lifting. Farragut is truly a unique place. It is both beautiful and historic.

I was troubled recently when my wife and I were hiking near Blackwell Point, one of our favorite vantage points for viewing Lake Pend’Oreille. A large “swat” had been clear cut below the lookout and continued toward the cabins just beyond the Willow day use area.

I had been told that the area might be thinned in a manner similar to that which recently happened in other parts of the park. I expect to see the area “thinned” with the larger trees left standing. This was not the case. Every tree had been cut and removed.

I am not averse to logging. I am concerned, however, when the Park’s beauty is degraded and the ecosystem currently home to dozens of seasonal eagles is disturbed so that Idaho Fish and Game can generate revenue from their property.

I am aware that IF&G is funded solely by the licenses they sell with no moneys coming from the Idaho State general funds. They are desperate to generate revenues but there are prescriptions and directives regarding logging practices within the park. Wouldn’t it have been “nice” if IF&G followed these prescriptions?

Wouldn’t it be “nice” if there were a citizens committee composed of people interested in park related issue? The committee needn’t have any binding capacity but could exist strictly to discuss the publically owned park openly so that we can eliminate the need for any further litigation which only harm all parties and certainly make future events more dubious?

If you are concerned about Farragut State Park please go and see the sight that is currently being logged by IF&G near Blackwell Point and/or contact the following people list below with your opinion(s).

Thanks,

Harvey Brannigan

Call or email:

Terry McDermott – Panhandle Regional Commissioner

mcmule@ msn.com 208-263-2200

Sharon Kiefer – Boise Deputy Director (programs and policies)

idfginfo@idfg.gov 208-334-3772

Chip Corsi – Supervisor IF&G

ccorsi@idfg.idaho.gov 208-769-1414

David Leptich – Regional Wildlife Habitat Biologist

dleptich@idfg.gov 208-769-1414

Randall Butt – Farragut State Park Manager

rbutt@idpr.idaho.gov 208-683-2425"

Norma Jean