Summer Fun on the Lake

The grass is green, flowers are blooming, and the 2010 summer season on Big Alum is just ahead. Your committees and Board of Directors have been busy planning activities to enhance this summer's fun!

On July 3rd we will hold our second Parade of Lights. Residents are invited to decorate their boats with lights and join in an evening cruise around the lake.  Those who prefer to enjoy the parade from shore are encouraged to turn on porch lights or line their properties with Tiki torches and help us celebrate the July 4th weekend in style!

Our annual Family Picnic will be held on July 24th at Bob and Janet Garon's home on Roy Road. This year's party will feature children’s games, great food, and entertainment for all. Our “bash” chairmen, Tracy and Nancy Murphy, will provide us with all the details soon.

Boat Ramp Repairs

Our boat launch on Clark Road was repaired by the State this past fall.  The repairs included the extension of the concrete ramp with pre-cast structures, and the building of curbs along the sides of the ramp to guide boats as they are being launched into the water.  Workmen returned to Big Alum the first week of May to re-pave the tarred access road to the ramp.  Signs have been posted giving Massachusetts boating regulations and State recommendations for weed control.  The ramp is all ready for this summer's boating!

2009-2010 Officers and Directors

Membership and Dues

If you click the "Membership" link-button at the left, you will find the Membership Committee's letter regarding dues and the benefits of belonging to our association. Attached is an address form to be mailed with dues payments. Please be sure to print and fill it out so that we can update our mailing list and keep everyone informed about lake doings throughout the year. If your mailing address, e-mail address, or phone number has changed since last year, please contact Barbara LaRochelle at 508-347-3040 or e-mail changes to tonysgrammi@aol.com.

BALA Online

If you have an e-mail address, but have not shared it with us yet, please consider adding it to our e-mail list.  Throughout the year, our corresponding secretary, Pat Howard, sends out e-mail messages and announcements to the members whose addresses we have.  Pat's e-mail address is: howpat19@hotmail.com.

For those of you who are reading our newsletter online already, please take a moment to visit other areas of this site.  By clicking the buttons to the left, you may read the minutes of past meetings, see our classified ads and notices, learn a bit of Big Alum history, and print dues, picnic, and other forms. The site is easy to navigate and is updated frequently.  

Environmental News

This spring Big Alum's Environmental Committee and representatives from Cedar Lake, South Pond, Leadmine Pond, and Walker Pond met with one of the Town's Selectmen to develop the Sturbridge Lakes Advisory Committee.  The group discussed such issues as water maintenance, environmental concerns,and financial responsibilities.  Weed treatment, water level monitoring, and other lake maintenance matters are now subject to stringent State regulations are very high, and by joining together the Sturbridge Lake Associations hope to be able to preserve their beautiful lake environments.  SLAC holds meetings on the last Wed. of each month at the Sturbridge Senior Center.  Meetings are open to the public and Big Alum residents are encouraged to attend.  The president of the Webster Lake Association will be presenting fund-raising ideas at the May 26th meeting.  Please attend if you can.

Lycott Environmental Engineering has a new owner.  BALA has signed a contract with the company for weed treatment, and a plan for permitting is set through January 2013.