/Blog/nowake/home.aspxDiscussing the latest gossip, rumors, some gripes and news - - don't blame us for what we say... we're only sharing. :ben-usCopyright 2012, Wawascene-NAFri, 18 May 2012 19:54:41 GMTMon, 30 Apr 2012 19:55:44 GMT1http://emmisinteractive.comHeather Harwood, Executive Director with the WACF, recently responded to a few questions we sent to the WACF about Buckingham withdrawing their offer to purchase the Oakwood property.  Below you'll find the Q&A. What discussions occurred between Buckingham and WACF? Over the last few months, there were several proposals made by WACF and the Petitioners on number of watercraft and uses for those watercraft. Due to Buckingham's recent bid withdraw, is it fair to assume that the WACF and Buckingham couldn't come to an agreement on a pier plan? After numerous meetings, phone calls, various proposals – lots of time and effort to come to an agreement  - we were unable to reach a proposal acceptable to all parties:  Buckingham and the Petitioners (WACF, WPOA, SLA and five individual property owners). We were flexible in understanding their business issues, but they declined to define the watercraft slip usage and needs. What are .../Blog/nowake/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10378264Chris@wawascene.com (Chris C.)/Blog/nowake/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10378264Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:55:44 GMTWawascene.com has been able to confirm that Buckingham has withdrawn their bid to purchase Oakwood.  This does not mean Buckingham Companies won't rebid with a possible partner, but it appears the bidding process will reopen for the Oakwood Inn and surrounding property. The withdrawl has been tied to Buckingham's pier proposal and the WACF appeal to the approved pier plans. We'll report more as additional information becomes available. What do you think? Is this good news?/Blog/nowake/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10377712Chris@wawascene.com (Chris C.)/Blog/nowake/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10377712Sat, 28 Apr 2012 02:07:44 GMTWawascene.com received word today that the application #PL-21782 has been approved by the DNR.  Four 4 foot wide piers will extend up to 150' and an additional three 4' wide piers will extend 170' into the lake in the configuration applied for by Buckingham Companies.  (see picture)  A final pier in a "Y" configuration at the center of the property completes the proposed configuration. There is no limit to how many slips can be configured as long as the main "spokes" of the pier configuration fall within the guidelines above. A few conditions were placed on the approved application. Installation must minimize the movement of re-suspended bottom sediment from the immediate project area. Small tools must be used to install the piers by hand - no heavy machinery is allowed, among other conditions. This ruling may be appealed by applying for administrative review. More details can be found in the .../Blog/nowake/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10348161Chris@wawascene.com (Chris C.)/Blog/nowake/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10348161Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:50:13 GMTThis recap comes directly from Mark Knecht, OPOA Board President who has been kind enough to share with us and you... (photo from last DNR hearing on Buckingham's proposal) ---------------------1)      There was overflow attendance, perhaps 85 people, many standing due to lack of seating.  The nature of the meeting is not interactive…it’s a sequence of people providing their input/opinion to the DNR, who summarizes it, and provides to the ruling DNR staff.2)      At the start, a show of hands resulted in not a single hand (i.e. none) in support of the dredging.3)      There remain questions regarding the impact of public opposition…does it matter?  Will political pressure be brought to bear?4)      DNR exists to enforce the laws relevant to the Lake, namely environmental, safety, and public rights.  So the focus of most speakers was how dredging might impact the ecology of the Lake.5)      Speakers recognized and .../Blog/nowake/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10332844Chris@wawascene.com (Chris C.)/Blog/nowake/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10332844Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:11:26 GMTJanuary 5, 2012 Re: PL-21944 – Dredging at Oakwood on Lake Wawasee  Dear Ms. Oliger, Based on the 119 years of Park history, all Oakwood property owners have an interest and potential impact from your decision in this matter. Firstly, we come to Oakwood for the enjoyment and beauty of Lake Wawasee.  The magnitude of the proposed dredging will most certainly have an environmental impact on the Lake.  But, what is the impact?  We ask that you please take the time necessary to perform a detailed environmental impact study so that a clear understanding of the inevitable effects can be determined. Secondly, Oakwood residents have used the waters directly east of the Oakwood Inn as a swimming area since 1893.  This has been one of the most desirable swimming spots on the Lake for hundreds of years.  The area consists of sand and gravel.  We strongly oppose any piers and .../Blog/nowake/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10332840Chris@wawascene.com (Chris C.)/Blog/nowake/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10332840Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:57:57 GMTThe board of Directors of the Wawasee Property Owners Association (WPOA) would like to express its opposition to the dredging of the area around the Oakwood Hotel.  The association represents over 2000 Wawasee homeowners.   Lake Wawasee has experienced significant deterioration over the past 60 years due to erosion, run off, prop wash, general effects of increased boating pressure and we have deep concerns that the proposed dredging will affect water quality in general on Lake Wawasee and specifically in the  sensitive Conklin Bay area and set a dangerous precedent for the future.  The DNR has established an Ecozone nearby and a dredging project of this magnitude certainly seems contrary to all of our efforts to preserve the unique natural features of the bay.   The area designated for dredging is a natural, sandy lake bed that has been enjoyed for generations by residents and guests of Oakwood. The area also includes native .../Blog/nowake/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10332209Chris@wawascene.com (Chris C.)/Blog/nowake/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10332209Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:33:58 GMTWeb letter by John Holderman and Heather Harwood: Pier project perilous to Lake Wawasee The Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation shoulders responsibility for maintaining, protecting and improving the water quality of the Wawasee watershed. The result of this effort benefits everyone living within the watershed and the water flowing downstream to the Elkhart River and ultimately Lake Michigan. There are lakes in our area that have deteriorated due to carelessness and misuse. Lake Manitou in Rochester was forced to close for two years because of the release of an exotic weed, and Shipshewana Lake actually “died,” costing the state more than $1 million to restore. Should the water quality of Lake Wawasee be compromised, we risk the health of our lake, the loss of water rights and a resultant erosion of property values. Our carelessness and indifference may carry heavy costs. We are facing a serious problem with the threat of .../Blog/nowake/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10331812Chris@wawascene.com (Chris C.)/Blog/nowake/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10331812Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:26:58 GMTOn October 12, 2011 at or about 7:30 pm officers from the Kosciusko Drug Task Force and Syracuse Police Department made an undercover purchase of Methamphetamine from Justin Simpson on County Line Road just east of SR 13. After the purchase officers moved into arrest Simpson and he then fled from the officers, leading them on a chase that lasted about 10 minutes. During the chase, Simpson, age 30, of Goshen drove through Maxwelton Golf Course then through some yards on North Shore Drive before crashing his scooter and fleeing on foot. Simpson then jumped into Syracuse Lake in an effort to elude the officers, he was taken into custody a short time later when he emerged from the water. Simpson was charged with Dealing Methamphetamine over 3 grams as a Class “A” Felony, Fleeing/Resisting with a vehicle as a Class “D” Felony and Criminal Mischief as a Class “A” .../Blog/nowake/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10301091Chris@wawascene.com (Chris C.)/Blog/nowake/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10301091Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:44:40 GMTBrett Nelson passed along a story he wrote detailing his memories of growing up in Oakwood Park.  He wrote to us saying... "I’m a property owner in Oakwood (laker), I wrote an article about growing up in Oakwood, and it was published in the Mail Journal last month. The reason I wrote it is to bring awareness to what Oakwood means to people..." We hope you enjoy Brett's story as much as we did.  Click the image below for the full file. /Blog/nowake/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10298565Chris@wawascene.com (Chris C.)/Blog/nowake/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10298565Fri, 07 Oct 2011 23:22:00 GMTAt the Sept. 20 meeting of the committee studying a proposed wind turbine for Wawasee Middle School, a Power Point presentation was given by Dan Rawlins, architect with InterDesign. For the presentation, photos were taken from various vantage points around or near Lake Wawasee. Using a combination of Google Earth and Photoshop, a simulated drawing of what the wind turbine could look like from those vantage points was inserted into the photos. In the accompanying photos, the darkened circle shows where the wind turbine would be in relation to the vantage point. Shown above is a photo used during the presentation. The photos were provided by the Wawasee Community School Corp. What do you think?  /Blog/nowake/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10296043Chris@wawascene.com (Chris C.)/Blog/nowake/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10296043Sun, 02 Oct 2011 13:49:26 GMT