Boating Safety Week ~ Sutton Police boat NOT in winter storage!

The Sutton Police Lake Patrol boat is pictured here as it wintered in the Sutton Fire Department’s Manchaug Station. But is was cleaned up, inspected and readied for the season back in April and has bee sighted on the waters of Manchaug Pond recently.  Officers will work to educate the many weekend boaters who visit our waters this season as to the practices which keep boating safe and fun. Need a quick review of the boating rules and regs?  Try these: Any size motor boat needs registration, numbers on bow hull (MS  ####  WS), life jackets, fire extinguisher, horn, whistle or bell, anchor with line, and bailer. Any boat with a motor MUST be registered. Registration MUST be in the boat. You need one life jacket (that fits!) for every passenger on the boat. (out of the package, accessible, and in good condition- no rips or cracks!) Children under 12 MUST wear life jacket at ALL times. You must be 18 or over to drive a jetski/personal watercraft or be 16-17 AND have passed the Boating Basic Course with your certificate on your person. NO ONE CAN OPERATE UNDER 16. Kayak/canoe MUST have a whistle or other signalling devise. No …

Manchaug Pond Foundation Safe Boating

Thank you to the Inspectors…Safe Vessel Check a SUCCESS!

The safe vessel check was a success! Thank you to the Worcester County Sail and Power Squadron for bringing us two inspectors from Rhodes Island to give us 4 hours of individual boat safety education! Thank you too to our MPA volunteers Don, Ted and Kevin for holding boats. We had a steady stream of boats coming in to keep us pleasantly busy. Close to 20 boats from all but one of the 8 areas around the lake participated as well as a few from the ramp. The big “I didn’t know that!” was the need for 3 flares in a motorboat on coastal waters AND on some inland lakes as well as the need for a whistle/signaling device in a canoe or kayak was not known by a couple owners. The MPA realized is was a bit early in the season – we’ll try to get those inspectors when the boats are in for the season, the campers are all here, and you had a chance to clean up those motorboats and check for loose wires!   Next year we hope more of you will participate! and the refreshments did arrive! Thank you to the family who made the coffee …

Remember: TOMORROW Safe Vessel Check!

If you haven’t clicked on the new Calendar of Events tab you might not know that tomorrow we have a free and open to all event: SAFE VESSEL CHECK! Does your boat have this sticker? Bring your vessel(s) – canoe or kayak, sail or motorboat- for a free inspection by the Worcester County Sail and Power Squadron. Receive your official sticker certifying your vessel is safe. Manchaug Pond Boat Ramp on Saturday, 22 May from around 9:00 A.M. to around noon.Boats can be on trailers or in the water. Bring one or bring them all!The ramp is located on Torrey Road in Sutton MA.42* 05.473′ N71* 46.118′ W

Spring Cleanup a Huge Success!

Saturday’s Spring Cleanup was a HUGE success! Less trash collected, more roads covered, more families joining in, and more work completed at the state public access boat ramp!  Thank you to our event coordinator, to all that joined in and to the Town of Sutton Highway Department for the use of the truck and to the Sutton Transfer Station for disposal of the trash collected!

Support Manchaug Pond… BUY a raffle ticket!

2010 BASS TRACKER PRO 16 PACKAGE  or  $8,000 GIVEAWAY!     Boat raffle to benefit Manchaug Pond! Win the boat, motor and trailer! or take the CA$H or upgrade for the boat of your choice at USA Marine on Rte 20!  Boat Raffle to benefit the formation of a 501c3 non profit foundation for the preservation of Manchaug Pond. Only 100 tickets sold! $200 per ticket. Buy a ticket yourself or go in with a friend or two.  Can share the boat or split the cash!! or use it for the upgrade to a pontoon boat or something else!Drawing held Saturday, June 19, 2010 at a chicken BBQ on the  Manchaug Pond shore.        Boat will be on-site the day of drawing.    You do not have to be present to win. Winner gets to use the boat this season!    Reverse drawing (losers first!) begins at 11:30 a.m.  … which will prove to be hilarious!  An introduction to the Manchaug Pond Foundation will be given at 11 with food served at noon. For tickets call George Cammuso, Co-chairman of the MPA FUNdrai$ing Committee at 774-280-2328 or email manchaugpondsecretary@gmail.com (email me today as I have 5 tickets to sell!!) Boat package …

Sutton Voters Approve Bylaw Allowing HYDROPOWER

Last night Sutton voters APPROVED a bylaw allowing the installation of small hydropower generators in the 17 dams in town by special permit of the Planning Board and by approval of the Conservation Commission and in accord with DEP and other state agencies which may regulate the flow. This bylaw will offer dam owers a source of income through the generation of electricity to help offset  the costs involved in the ownership and maintenance of a dam. Thank you to the Sutton Town Administrator and the Planning Board for continued consideration of the issues and needs of our lakes and streams offering a very proactive and “green” solution.