Maidstone Lake Mirror – 2024 Fall Edition
Fall Greetings!
The warmish then coldish weather keeps us all guessing! Hope you all get to enjoy the 70 degree temperatures expected tomorrow for Halloween. The boats & docks are in, lawn furniture is put away, summer camps are winterized and the memories of the summer of 24 are fading. Thanks to everyone for another great summer of memories @ Maidstone Lake! Now let’s enjoy all the Fall & Winter have to offer in the Northeast Kingdom!
Congratulations to:
Your 2024-2025 Board of Directors & Officers:
Sharon Atkinson – President
Chris von Alt – Vice-President
Greg Poer – Treasurer
Sharon Taylor- Secretary
Carroll “Sam” Gorham – Director
Preston Horton – Director
Bill Pete –Director
David Atkinson- Director
Jan Barker – Director
Appointed Positions:
Chris vonAlt- Aquatic Nuisance Project Manager
Sam Gorham – Process Agent
2025 ICE-Out Contest! – It’s not too early to get your 2025 Ice-Out tickets. Tickets on sale now! Extra credit for picking the ice-out time before the ice is even in!
Our goal is to sell $3,000 worth of tickets so please help us achieve that goal by playing early & often!
You too can be a part of the Vermont tradition of the Ice-Out contest!
No skills required other than guessing! And yes a few $ on your part to potentially win $1000 plus….. what a deal! Just click the link below and begin your guessing on when the Ice will go out on Maidstone Lake! Thanks for considering this FUNdraiser!
3 Simple steps to success:
- Click on the link. (provided below)
- Fill Out the Form with the times and dates of your guesses and selecting the number of guesses you made – THEN click Submit. You will get an email receipt with your guesses.
- Then a screen will appear and you need to Click on the link that appears after you fill out the form and Pay via Credit Card or the options listed. There is a small fee added on for processing – thank-you!
Click the link below to get started!
https://forms.gle/GiS7ZC6Bm9b6kVvV9
Guessing Hint: The Ice will likely go out in April …as it has 15 of the last 17 years!!
Our winner in 2024 won $1,120.00
Previous Ice Out Dates since 2008 as follows:
April 26, 2008
April 19, 2009,
April 4, 2010
April 28, 2011
April 4, 2012
April 23, 2013
April 29, 2014
May 4, 2015
April 6, 2016
April 24. 2017
May 3, 2018
April 30, 2019
April 25, 2020
April 11, 2021
April 15, 2022
April 17, 2023
April 12, 2024
Tickets donations are just $3 each, 2 for $5, or 5 for $10. 10 for $20, 15 for $30 and 20 for $40.
Ticket Sales End on or before April 1st, 2025 unless this date needs adjustment by the MLA Board & Ice Out team.
2025 Lake Yard Sale! – There is work underway to coordinate a Lake Yard sale in June of 2025 at the Day Use Area Front lawn. Stay tuned for more details in the Spring!
2025 MLA Annual Fun Day & Picnic – Save the Date! We have scheduled the Annual Meeting & Picnic to Saturday July 12th, 2025.
We Appreciate our Lake Business Affiliates – Many thanks to our Lake Business Affiliates who pay to advertise their businesses on our website which defray the cost of operating it.
Please support them!
https://maidstonelake.net/business-affiliates
Service Matters! The MLA Board is always seeking new board members so…. Anyone interested in shaping the future of our lake should seize this opportunity to serve. Be part of the future! Email us back if you are interested.
Boat Trailer Parking: As a reminder – There is NO Parking in the trailer lot of any kind in the OFF Season. The Boat trailer parking lot on the East Side requires a sticker EACH year to be present on your trailer. We have modified the Boat Trailer Parking lot program. Stickers will be required each year and will cost $55 for non-MLA members and $5 for members. We also ask that you put your name on the trailer near your sticker — should there be an issue that we need to contact you. Please….Only boat trailers in the lot please, Not construction trailers with kayaks in them or any other trailer not designed to hold a boat/watercraft. Contact Sam Gorham for a sticker: 802-676-3965 – 5142 Maidstone Lake Road. The trailer lot is only available for parking during the summer.
Other News & Updates:
FOMO?: If you missed the annual meeting last summer and want to catch up on the happenings – the full MLA Annual Report can be found online at:
Membership Matters!
Thanks to everyone who has joined the Association over the years! Membership runs from July 1 – to June 30th annually.
Our online Paypal form has helped us improve responses and dues — however we hope to get 100% participation!
Click the following links to pay online for dues, donations, & trailer parking!
The Maidstone Lake Service Award:
The MLA Service Award was established in 2014 to honor those who have placed service above self to improve our lake community. You can cast your vote for 2025 anytime!
Prior Award Recipients:
Lee & Mary Stewart
Lin Mixer
Sam Gorham
Bert Desrochers
Bill Sanborn
Willy Barrett
Bob “Gator” Lancraft
Gail Giampaolo
Carol Anne Gorham
Jim Mazzonna
The nomination period for this year’s award will be due June 27, 2025
Please click on the link below to make a nomination!
It is important to recognize those that have selflessly given so much to improve our community for the benefit of all. There is no other way to have done all the great work at the lake over the years without people who care, and will look beyond their own self-interest to serve a greater cause that will help preserve & improve our shared environment!
Boating Safety
Please review the boating safety highlights: Yes – we can start thinking about next summer!
Wakeboat Rules
Please see the new rules for Wakeboats.
https://dec.vermont.gov/watershed/lakes-ponds/maps-wake-sports-areas-based-proposed-rule-conditions
Safety Matters! – Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Maidstone Lake has 2 AED’s that are presently mounted and ready for service – one on the East Side and the other on the West Side. The locations are 4488 Maidstone Lake Road on the East, and 37 Private West 2 on the West. There is signage showing you where they are located on the property and there will be further signage along the lake road to indicate their location.
Maidstone Lake Directory: Mary von Alt maintains the latest version of our Directory, so please let her know of any changes. What a wonderful resource this is for us! Thanks Mary! Did your email or other contact info change? If you would like to update, join, or validate your info that we have in the current Maidstone Lake Directory – please email Mary vonAlt at [email protected]. This directory is voluntary and the Association does not share that information.
Membership Form Info: Here is an online membership form if you are old school and want to print one out!
Rubbish & Recycling: 2024 Schedule – please note that recycling is every other week now.
https://maidstonelake.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024-Maidstone-Waste-Packet.pdf
Just a reminder – Recycling is every week in the summer months. Rubbish & Recycling is picked up on Mondays unless Monday is a holiday – then it is Wednesday. Please put your trash in containers that animals cannot get into!
Maidstone Lake History…A few Books still available but not for long – Great gift item! Get a copy of the Maidstone Lake History Book! The cost of the publication is only $35. The book is 186 pages of color and some black & white photos along with the history of the lake & camps. Pass the word to those who are not connected! Thanks for the support! For those who want to order online and want a book shipped:
http://bit.ly/MaidstoneHistory
Maidstone Lake Gifts: Also… don’t forget the great variety of items that Sam & Carol Gorham have for you to buy! From shirts to hats to sweatshirts to all kinds of lake crafts – they have something that would make a great gift or something you buy as a gift and keep for yourself! Contact the Gorham’s at their camp or email us and we will get you connected. 802-676-3965 – or visit 5142 Maidstone Lake Road.
Boating Safety: Think Summer! The boating safety course is available online at: https://www.boat-ed.com
Doing work on your property? Here is a handy worksheet to help determine what is needed when developing your property:
Information when doing work on your property
MLA Directors Meetings & Feedback Loop:
The MLA Directors meetings start in May and end in October. If you have any input – please reply to this email.
Please email [email protected] or contact one of the Directors if you have anything you would like to pass along.
Save Valuable First Responder Time!! – Get your 911 Signage:
You can still reserve/purchase your sign from the MLA. If you don’t have one – you really should so that if there is ever an emergency – first responders can locate your camp. If would like to purchase a sign please email us at [email protected]
Your cost is our cost: $10.
Maidstone Town News: See the latest information & resources online at the New Town of Maidstone Website.
Selectboard Meeting First Monday of Every Month – 7 PM via ZOOM, or in person.
Maidstone Lake Website: Open 24 Hours a Day! Please explore the entire site that is full of reference material and other great resources – open 24 hours a day! http://maidstonelake.net/
Check out all the Online Resources that are easier to find:
https://maidstonelake.net/mla-lake-info
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Vermont Boating Regulations & Resources
All persons born after January 1, 1974, must successfully complete an approved boating safety education course to legally operate “any” motorized vessel including personal watercraft. The card must be carried when operating the motorized vessel. Online training & certification can be found at: https://www.boat-ed.com/vermont/
No one under 12 years of age may operate any vessel powered by a motor of more than 6 horsepower.
No one under 16 years of age may operate a Personal WaterCraft (PWC),even if they have successfully completed a boating safety education course.
“All vessels”, except sailboards, must carry one wearable US Coast Guard approved Type I, II, III or V Personal Floatation Device (PFD) for each person on board. That includes paddle boards, peddle boats, & tow behinds. The PFD’s must be readily available, serviceable and of the proper fit for the intended wearer. A person under 16 years of age must wear a PFD at all times while on board a sailboard.
“All vessels” 16 feet or longermust have a US Coast Guard approved Type IV throw able PFD on board and readily accessible.
Children under 12 years of age must “wear” a US Coast Guard approved Type I, II, III PFD at all times while underway on the open deck of any vessel. Anyone being towed must wear a PFD.
Please take note of this as it is a common issue on the lake: Every vessel towing a person(s) on water skis or any other device must have a person who is at least 12 years old on board in addition to the vessel operator, in a position to observe the towed person(s). If towing a person(s) with a Personal WaterCraft, the PWC should be rated for at least the number of persons involved, operator, observer (facing backward) and towed person(s). Maintain 100 feet of distance between the towed person(s) and a swimmer, canoe, rowboat, kayak or any other small vessel with a person on board.
Everyone on a Personal WaterCraft must wear a PFD.
A Personal WaterCraft must have passenger capacity for everyone involved in its activity.
Registration & Validation: Your motorized vessel must have a valid registration. Additionally, if your vessel is registered outside Vermont – you MAY need to have a Vermont Validation sticker if your boat is used in Vermont waters for more than 30 days in any calendar year. Check out all the requirements at: https://dmv.vermont.gov/registrations/new/off-road-vehicles/registering-your-motorboat & also https://www.boat-ed.com/vermont/handbook/book.html
Know your Speed & Wake requirements! Improper Speed or Distance is not maintaining a proper speed or distance while operating a vessel or while towing a person on water skis or any similar device.
Specifically, the following actions are ILLEGAL:
Operating a vessel (except sailboards) at greater than “no wake speed’s WITHIN 200 feet of:
– The shoreline
– A person in the water – A canoe, rowboat, or other vessel
– An anchored or moored vessel with a person on board – An anchorage or dock
SO……Maintain 200 Feet (at least) to the above situations!
Operating a vessel at speeds of five miles per hour or greater within 200 feet of a marked Swimming or Diving Areas. Swimming Area is marked with buoys offshore of the Day Use Area of Maidstone State Park.
Diver Down Flag
Operating a vessel at speeds that may cause danger, injury, or damage. Be aware of and obey all regulatory markers, including areas marked as “No Wake” “No Wake Speed” means … operating your vessel at a speed at which the vessel does not produce a wake, not to exceed five miles per hour.
Vermont law prohibits anyone from boating while intoxicated (BWI) due to alcohol, drugs or any combination.
Navigation lights must be displayed between sunset and sunrise. Personal Watercraft may not be operated between sunset and sunrise.
Fire extinguisher (a Type B) is required on all motorized vessel, it should be easily accessible and in proper working condition.
Milfoil & Aquatic Nuisance: inspect your vessel, trailer and equipment and remove any plants prior to launching. Please report any issues found to the Launch Greeter or MLA and do not launch your vessel if you have identified Milfoil or other Aquatic Nuisance.
Safety & Compliance Patrols: You will see the waters being patrolled – on occasion – by either the Vermont State Police (VSP) or Local Game Warden. Please have your registration on the vessel and all required safety gear. The VSP can do a safety check and you would receive a Decal if you have met all the requirements.
Northeast District Game Warden for Maidstone: Trevor Szymanowski – 802-695-1314
https://vtfishandwildlife.com/contact/contact-a-warden
Vermont State Police Derby Barracks
35 Crawford Rd
Derby, VT 05602
802-334-8881