Welcome to the
Star Lake Protective Association
The SLPA has been dedicated to the preservation of Star Lake
since 1901.
The Star Lake Protective Association's
mission is "to promote the protection and improvement of Star Lake and the surrounding property and environment".
We are a non-regulatory, non-profit organization which conducts meetings
twice a year and sponsors recreational events and activities for lake
residents and visitors. See
About the SLPA
for more information.
Star Lake, located in northern New York State, is a small, pristine lake situated in the western
foothills of the Adirondack Mountains.
Star Lake shares its borders with a
hamlet of the same name. About half of its
lake residents live here year-round in winterized homes, enjoying four true
"north country" seasons. Others
come to Star Lake on vacations,
week-ends or "for the summer" to visit their vacation cottages,
some of which are well over 100 years old, built in the true Adirondack
camp fashion. All enjoy the
cool, crystal-clear lake water in a
great variety of ways. Fishing, swimming, and all types of water sports
and boating are popular. There is a Star Lake Regatta every year for
sailing enthusiasts. Canoes and kayaks are in abundance.
Many
consider their "rafts" the vehicle of choice as they slowly
motor around the lake in relative luxury and comfort. Motor boats
and jet skis are also popular for tubing, knee boarding and water
skiing. No matter what your favorite watercraft, you can enter the
annual Poker Run. Star Lake has a sandbar that has been referred to as the
"village green," where Star Lakers get together to socialize. There is something for everyone on this very special
little lake.
This site was developed in March, 2007
and is constantly evolving as new new content
is being planned and articles are revised. You are invited to browse around
and come back often for updated or new information. If you are a
member, look for Association news, particularly in the
Members' Area (you will need to be a
member with a
username and password). If you are not a member, please consider
joining us in our endeavor to keep Star Lake beautiful, clean and safe
for all to enjoy for generations to come. Please feel free to use
the multi-purpose
Feedback form to comment on the site or ask
for information. |
Two Loon Injuries in One Week!
Read about them in
the Members' Area (Username and Password Required)
8/28/2023 Another Sad Day...Yesterday,
it was reported that an adult loon was acting sickly and had beached
itself, indicating that it was in distress. On closer inspection,
it was the loon initially rescued and tagged. Today, it was
captured to be treated by Dr. Nina Schock and crew from the Adirondack
Center for Loon Conservation; but sadly, it did not survive the trip to
Saranac Lake.
Necropsy (cause of death) reports can be seen
here. (Username and Password Required) 7/18/2023 It's a
Very Sad Day on Star
Lake. One of the baby loons was found
dead next to our dock. It was last seen alive
yesterday.
It is not clear whether the sibling attacked it, another
predator killed it, or it got hit by a boat. Its body will be sent to the
Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation for examination.
One Member's Rant Regarding the Loon Injuries...
It goes without saying that
all this drama and suffering is the result of human
carelessness. I am spitting nails as I observe the
careless, reckless operation of jet skis by mostly young and
too-young drivers who apparently lack the mental maturity to
watch where they are going and can't think of others because
they are so wrapped up in their own fun. I'm sick to
death watching these machines barreling into narrow bays
around the lake that clearly are 5 mph/no wake areas where
people are swimming. I'm livid when I see a
jet ski going around in circles, jumping its own wake, when
there are people nearby in canoes or kayaks, or loons or
ducks swimming nearby. I hate seeing tubers or water
skiers with or without spotters when the driver is turned
around watching the tuber or skier instead of watching where
they are going. We own a jet ski, but it does none of
those things. It's not the machines' fault. I'm
clearly talking about operator error. It's the result
of human carelessness, disregard for the law and disrespect
for the Lake!
C'mon folks. Respect the lake and
ALL its residents. Educate yourselves as to the laws and
rules of the lake. Then, supervise and educate your
kids. Show some empathy for those who just want to
quietly enjoy the lake. Read about how to behave
around loons
here. And, "if you see something,
say something". --Bo R.
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A Record Early Ice-Out March 16, 2024! |
A New 2024 Membership Form is Available. |
A mild,
breezy early spring is upon us and the ice is finally out.
3/15/2024 An unusually mild winter has all but promised an
early spring. March was "in like a lamb" this year, cutting
short winter activities on the lake. Most of the lake still
has a thin layer of ice; but there will be no more snowmobiles or
ice fishing this year. Ice has retreated from around most of the shoreline and it
has become darker in the middle. Hopefully, March will not be
"out like a lion". We think it will be a record-early ice-out,
fully a month earlier than last year's ice-out which was April 13th.
Normally, ice-out occurs in the third week of April and is called
when a watercraft, usually a raft, can successfully navigate from
third lake, through the cut to second lake, or vice-versa.
3/16/2024 After a night of just 32 degrees, the ice
continued to recede the next morning. The chilly trip to the
cut was on again as team Sovay/Ritchings bundled up and headed for
the cut for another attempt. This time, due to a wind shift,
we were able to break the 1 to 2 inches of ice holding us back
yesterday. We cruised through the cut to 2nd lake, around the
island and back to Swiss Point. We had some cold weather
ahead; but we were able to navigate the cut. So, a very early
"official" ice-out was declared. Let
the 2024 lake season begin! Click here for
more.
(A username and password is required)
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Star
Lake has about 170 lake property owners; yet the SLPA averages
only 60 to 80 members.
7/23/2024
The recently-formed SLPA Membership Committee
is currently focusing on
increasing “continuous” year-to-year membership. The committee has
developed a Membership Form,
the purposes of which include communicating the goals of the
organization (via listing of current committees and opportunity to
donate to invasive species fund) and range of participation
opportunities, ensuring the organization has updated contact information
for members, and providing a more tangible reminder of the need for
continuous SLPA membership. The committee recommends the following
action steps: 1) current members complete the form, 2) members share the
form with other community members who are potential members, 3)
post the form on the website, and 4) examine 2024 membership data in
August.
If you own property on
Star Lake, please download
the form, print it, fill it out and send it to us, per instructions
on the form. "Thank you". |
Visit
Us Through the Star Lake Handbook
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Postcard
Gallery--Take a Historical Tour
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The Star Lake Handbook is a 20-page color
booklet describing scenic
Star Lake and the Star Lake Protective Association.
Contents include historical facts about the lake,
pictures, a map and fishing and boating information. The
Handbook is a compilation of many people's efforts and is
provided to inform and entertain.
Click
here
to access and read the most recent
edition of the Handbook. Use the
feedback link to order printed copies, if
you like. Past editions are available for viewing in PDF
format. |
2/5/2017
The
Postcard Gallery has been recently
updated with 36 new (old) postcards in the
Members' Area. Take a
tour of Star Lake as our
great-grandparents knew it. Many of the postcards date back to the
early 1900's, when Star Lake was a thriving recreational summer retreat. Visit "Post Cards" to see Star Lake in a
totally different way. (A username and password is required) |
2025 SLPA Meetings and Events
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Date |
Event |
Place |
Time |
Sat, June 28 |
Regular Meeting, socializing/meeting to
follow |
SOS Adirondack Exhibit Center |
10:00 am |
Weds. July 9 |
First Lake Road Clean-up |
Meet at CFCS (school) parking lot |
9:00 am |
Sat, July 26 |
19th Annual Poker-Run |
Meet at the sandbar to register |
12:00 noon |
Weds. Aug 13 |
Lake Shoreline Clean-up |
Meet at the Sandbar |
10:00 am |
Sat. Aug 30 |
Annual Meeting, socializing/meeting to
follow |
SOS Adirondack Exhibit Center |
10:00 am |
Sat. Aug 30 |
Potluck Picnic ? To be determined |
To be determined |
? |
Weds, Sept 10 |
Second Lake Road Clean-up |
Meet at CFCS (school) parking lot |
9:00 am |
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Boating
Safety Class Now On-line
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Please Use the New DEC Boat Washing Station
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The
NYS Parks and Recreation people have announced that anyone can
now receive a boating safety certificate by taking the course
on-line. This course is equivalent to the 8-hour classroom
course offered locally in the past. Once the course has
been successfully completed, a written certificate is issued and
boaters can, at their option, have the certification stated on
their driver's license, learning permit or non-driver ID, much
like motorcycle certification is indicated on the license.
For more information about fees and how to
enroll, follow
this link. If you are local and would like to
know more about enrolling in a classroom Boating Safety course
this summer, use our feedback form
and we will provide local instructor contact information.
Currently, it is a legal requirement for
all jet ski (pwc) operators and for all boat operators born
after May 1, 1996 to successfully complete the boaters' safety
course. For jet ski operation,
only children 14
and up can take the course and operate a PWC legally.
Children from 10 to 19 cannot
operate a boat alone unless they take and pass the course.
The SLPA supports any effort to keep our lake
and the people who use it safe and we encourage anyone who
operates a motorized boat or jet ski to take this course.
Hopefully this will lead to the safe, responsible operation of
watercraft.
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A
New Boat Washing Station is in operation
for the Clifton-Fine area as part of a pilot program by the
State to keep invasive species at bay. The site is located
at the corner of Rt. 3 and County Rt. 60, near J&L. The
wash station is manned by volunteers from Paul Smith's College
five
days a week from 7 am to 4 pm and will eventually be available
seven days a week.
The DEC advises boaters and anglers to check
their boats, trailers and other fishing and boating equipment
for any plants or animals that may be clinging to it. It's
the law: "Following
a thorough inspection, boats should be cleaned, drained and
dried." If you stop in with your boat, you will
receive a free careful inspection and a 140-degree power washing
to kill free-loading plants and creatures.
Lakes in the Adirondack Park are relatively
free of invasive plants and animals so far; but there has been a
recent push by New York State to insure that they do not get
introduced into our pristine lakes and streams. Invasive
species like milfoil, zebra mussels, clams, and water fleas can
be introduced to clean lakes by careless boaters and fishermen.
Invasive species generally come from Lake Ontario, the St.
Lawrence river or other contaminated bodies of water clinging to
boat bottoms, trailors and fishing gear. Boats, trailers,
livewells, and gear need to be properly inspected and
cleaned before launch into another body of water. This new
washing station should make it easier for those who move boats
from lake to lake. So, if you are heading across the Route 3
corridor, please stop in for this free inspection and washing.
And please, help us to keep our lakes and waterways free
of invasives. For
more info, go
here; click graphic to enlarge for viewing; press back to
return.
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New York State Boater's Guide
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SLPA Hosts
Cycle Adirondacks to Star Lake |
The
New York
State Boater's Guide, which we have made available
to members at meetings in printed form, provides a wealth of
boating information. Included in this guide are useful links to various New York
agencies and current legal requirements for boating
registration, licensing and operation in New York State.
"This guide provides basic boating safety information on such
topics as registration, operation, equipment and rules of the
road, however we strongly encourage every boater to sign up for
some formal boating instruction before venturing out on their
own."
If you are new to boating; or if you would like
to know more about New York boating regulations, you should read
this booklet. The free guide can be downloaded
here in .pdf form to
be read or printed.
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On
Sunday, August 23, 2015, 150 to 200 cyclists stopped in Star Lake,
one of six stops on their 450+ mile journey through the
Adirondacks. While in town, SLPA volunteers took
those interested on a raft ride, culminating in
a get-together on the sandbar where refreshments were served. One of Star Lake's
distinctive features is the more than 100 motorized rafts that
slowly cruise around the lake. Cyclists got to see
what makes this lake so special to all of us as they rode
on these unique water crafts. After being picked up at the
Star Lake Haven's shore, they rode over to the sandbar to partake of
some true Star Lake hospitality and socializing, sandbar-style. Many other
activities were planned by community leaders including a free
concert at the school. The raft ride was
just one of them, but as many said later, it was the most
memorable, pleasurable experience--much positive feedback was
received by the Cycle Adirondacks participants.
To read the article about Cycle Adirondacks
and Star Lake rafts in Vermont Sports, go
here. An article from Adventure Cycling Magazine can
be found here. To Learn more about Cycle Adirondacks, go to
their website
here. |
Articles
about Star Lake Rafts...
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2024 Poker
Run--Good Times Had by All...
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Click
the picture on the left to read a June 27,
2010 article about Star Lake rafts in The Plain Dealer of Cleveland, OH,
written by Evelyn Theiss, recent visitor to Star Lake.
(press "back"
to return to this page).
Read another article in
Vermont Sports about Star Lake rafts and Cycle
Adirondacks' visit to Star Lake on 8/23/2015.
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7/27/2024 On a Perfect
Summer's Day, the 18th annual poker run was well
under way. The weather was beautiful this year
with no rain in sight. The theme of this year's
poker pun was "Country and Western". We had plenty of
cowgirls and cowboys and we also had several
well-decorated rafts. One raft had singing, dancing and
riding toy horses, for entertainment.
"Thank you" to the five stations
that made it fun to collect cards for the poker hands.
Some of the stations had pictures taken with signs, some
had Jello shots and Roy Rogers appeared at one of the
stations!
This year we included a 50/50 Raffle.
It was a great success.
(more) |
Vessels of all sizes returned to
the sandbar to compare poker hands. |
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Recent Meeting Minutes:
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Member Information & Logon
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If you're interested in what
happened at the last meeting, visit the recent
meetings link. While the archives are for members
only, we are providing minutes from the most recent meetings in order to
keep everyone in the community informed of SLPA activities and
events. Also, a copy of the latest
spring mailing is found here. If you are on the lake, perhaps you might come to
the next meeting?
(photo by Rod Miller)
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We maintain a members' area that is password-protected to
insure the
privacy of our members. If you already have your logon
info, feel free to visit the
Members'
Area. If you are a member and don't yet
have a username and password; or, if you would like
to join the SLPA, please use the feedback
form to contact us. Currently, dues are $20 per calendar
year.
(photo by Leon Zois)
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Local Star Lake Weather at a Glance...
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Live-view of Weather on Star Lake
The weather station on Swiss
Point came on-line August, 2012. Real-time
data is sent out to Weather Underground and Davis WeatherLink
(on the left).
An almost real-time view Star Lake is
provided by a webcam on Swiss Point, installed
in 2014. The picture above is
updated every five minutes to provide an up-to-the
minute view of the weather.
For more weather info, visit the
Star Lake Weather
Page.
(A username and password is required)
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(Follow the links above for more detailed
information; press "back" to return to this page) |
'Tis the Season...
Here are the most recent seasonal pictures of the lake,
in chronological order.
Go to the
'Tis the Season page to see more than
15 complete years of seasonal
pictures of Star Lake! To go to the
'Tis the Season page
in the Members' Area, a username/password is required.
Members can use the feedback link and fill out the form to request the
current username and password. (click on a picture for a larger
view; press "back" to return to this page).
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10/8/2024 The double-rainbow points
to the pot of gold in 3rd lake. |
10/8/2024 The sunrise before the
rain storm that produced the rainbow. |
10/5/2024 Same sunrise, but
different view. |
10/5/2024 Cool, crisp, foggy sunrise
as a little more heat leaves the lake. |
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9/30/2024 A great day to pull the
buoys. Many thanks to Pat S. |
9/30/2024 A timely fall picture with
Maple Mountain's leaves turning. |
9/30/2024 The visiting mergansers
trespassing/basking in the sun. |
9/30/2024 The new "5 mph" signs fit
right in--suggestive; not too intrusive. |
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9/30/2024 Fall colors were slow to
appear this year. |
9/28/2024 'Tis the season for
gorgeous colors at sunrise. |
9/22/2024 Where's Waldo (the blue
heron)? |
9/22/2024 Cotton candy reflections
on a beautiful Star Lake day. |
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9/20/2024 A group of common
mergansers stopped by for lunch and a visit. |
9/19/2024 Sugar maples provide a
splash of color; but are still not peak. |
9/17/2024 The full harvest moon was
a super moon with a partial lunar eclipse. |
9/17/2024 Fall colors progress on
Swiss Point and Maple Mountain. |
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9/17/2024 Cherry Hill is beginning
to color up for fall. |
9/16/2024 Two ducks were sitting on
a rock talking to a painted turtle... |
9/15/2024 An almost full moon lights
up the evening sky. |
9/14/2024 A lone loon doesn't seem
to be afraid or intimidated by us. |
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9/13/2024 Colors are getting
brighter as a very warm week progresses. |
9/11/2024 Another beautiful sunrise
starts another beautiful Star Lake day. |
9/10/2024 Fall is right around the
corner with some trees already turning. |
9/1/2024 September starts with four
loons hanging out together. |
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8/27/2024 Two loons hanging out near
Swiss Point. |
8/24/2024 A gorgeous double-rainbow
off Hiawatha Island after a short shower. |
8/23/2024 Not fishing with that long
lens...who are these guys cruising the shorelines? |
8/23/2024 Another shot of Mr. heron
surveying his domain. |
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11/6/2010 A wintry panorama of Star Lake, looking east off
Swiss Point, kind of makes you shiver as cloudy sky and early snow showers
blanketed the lake in shades of gray, devoid of any remnants of
recently-departed fall colors.
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