2023 Holiday Issue

4
LAKE HOPATCONG NEWS Holiday 2023
From the Editor
There are two components to this issue’s cover story. The first is the cleanup effort of Lake
Hopatcong, carried out on Saturday, November 4 by an army of volunteers. The second is the
recognition that the lake—thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the Lake Hopatcong Commission and
the Lake Hopatcong Foundation—is cleaner and healthier today than in 2018, the last time the statemandated
5-foot drawdown took place. (See Mike Daigle’s story on page 22.)
Volunteer-driven lake-wide cleanups are not unusual. A quick Google search yields documentation of
people throughout the nation banding together to remove trash from their own cherished lakes.
For example, on a day in September and for the 29th consecutive year, volunteers descended on Lake
Travis in Texas and removed over 7,000 pounds of trash.
In southern Indiana, a cleanup at Patoka Lake was also held in September. The folks there have been
cleaning the lake annually since 2008 and have reportedly removed close to 43,000 pounds of trash to
date.
And, for the first time, New York’s Lake George, whose association is a recognized national leader in
freshwater management, held a volunteer-led cleanup.
The most disturbing headline, though, came out of Lake Tahoe in California and Nevada. “One hell
of a mess,” is how Colin West, founder of Clean Up the Lake, described the scene volunteers from his
nonprofit encountered along one beach, where July Fourth revelers left everything behind. “It was all
intentional,” West told The Guardian news outlet at the time.
Collecting someone else’s trash—whether it’s accidental or intentional—is maddening, but it seems
it’s a necessary task. (Full disclosure: I can claim two pairs of cheap sunglasses somewhere at the bottom
of the lake.)
The Google search also produced stories about lake cleanups of a different sort—the continued battle
to keep freshwater, well, fresh.
At Onondaga Lake near Syracuse, New York, a more than 20-year dredging, capping and habitat
restoration project was just completed. Last year, after nearly 40 years of clean up and restoration,
Muskegon Lake in Michigan got a clean bill of health.
These projects were costly and time consuming. But the agencies and organizations connected to
these lakes had the foresight and gumption to greenlight the projects.
Which brings me back to our cleanup.
Local, county and state officials joined in the November cleanup, an indication that keeping the lake
healthy is important not only to those of us who live in this region but also for those who make policy
and allocate our tax dollars. Their participation signals a shift from ‘you’re on your own’ to ‘we’re here
to help.’ Hopefully, this group of elected and appointed officials will continue to act now to ensure a
cleaner future for the lake.
As always, there are many other great stories in this issue, the last for 2023.
Writer Melissa Summers was busy, writing three of them, including one about Jefferson Township
adding another component to its already great holiday celebration weekend in December. New this year
is a winter stroll at Camp Jefferson. I’m told there will be around 100,000 lights among the many holiday
decorations and activities available. (See story on page 12.)
And in Hopatcong, Kiwanis Club members and first responders will be preparing free meals for
Thanksgiving and Christmas for residents in need. (See story on page 26.)
Then there’s the story of a recently published book, “Archer the
Therapy Dog,” which is authored and illustrated by two locals: Katie
Baron and Emily Beach, respectively. (See story on page 18.)
The photo included here is of my last ride of the season on my
wave runner. It was a Tuesday in early October, beautifully sunny and
warm. I had the lake to myself and—as you can see by my hair (spikier
than usual!)—I wasn’t out for a leisurely ride.
I just love being on the lake—especially a clean one. —Karen
ake Hopatcong News
INFORMING, SERVING AND CELEBRATING THE LAKE REGION
Tidying Up
Coinciding with the scheduled 5-foot drawdown, hundreds of
volunteers removed trash and debris from Lake Hopatcong
DRAMA ON THE RADIO
WINTER STROLL
DOG HAS ITS DAY
A CLUB’S IMPACT
HOLIDAY 2023 VOL. 15 NO. 7
ON THE COVER
Jerry Scanlan trudges through the muddy
water of Lake Hopatcong after retrieving a
tire from the muck in Byram Cove.
—photo by Karen Fucito
KAREN FUCITO
Editor
editor@lakehopatcongnews.com
973-663-2800
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Michael Stephen Daigle
Bonnie-Lynn Nadzeika
Melissa Summers
Maria Vogel-Short
Joe Wohlgemuth
COLUMNISTS
Marty Kane
Heather Shirley
Barbara Simmons
EDITING AND LAYOUT
Maria DaSilva-Gordon
Randi Cirelli
ADVERTISING SALES
Lynn Keenan
advertising@lakehopatcongnews.com
973-222-0382
PRINTING
Imperial Printing & Graphics, Inc.
PUBLISHER
Camp Six, Inc.
10 Nolan’s Point Park Road
Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849
LHN OFFICE LOCATED AT:
37 Nolan’s Point Park Road
Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849
To sign up for
home delivery of
Lake Hopatcong News
call
973-663-2800
or email
editor@lakehopatcongnews.com
Lake Hopatcong News is published seven times a
year between April and November and is offered
free at more than 200 businesses throughout the
lake region. It is available for home delivery for
a nominal fee. The contents of Lake Hopatcong
News may not be reprinted in any form without
prior written permission from the editor. Lake
Hopatcong News is a registered trademark of
Lake Hopatcong News, LLC. All rights reserved.