Patrolling the Pond
by Mike Miller, VP Lake Lotawana Homeowners Association
Falling Into Fall
Clear skies, cool nights, low humidity, long shadows, and a hint of color in the leaves are all good signs that fall has arrived and summer memories are growing more distant. The good news is, it’s also a great time to make even more memories! Lotasmoke, our local BBQ competition and one of the more recent additions to the community calendar, kicks off on Friday, October 9th and runs through the 11th. Friday night events and tent parties are always popular. The contest is on Saturday, with judging that afternoon. I was fortunate to judge the 2025 version of Lotasmoke. It was a blast! And great food to boot! The weather is looking great. If you haven’t attended Lotasmoke before, find a way to make this year your first. Now back to the water.
In the last edition of Patrolling the Pond, I reviewed some of the rules and regulations about navigating in no-wake zones and checking your navigation lights. With the sun setting earlier (go to www.lotawananews.com/weather to bookmark a weather page that lists water/air temps at the lake and sunset and sunrise), you will want to check your navigation lights to make sure they are on at least 30 minutes after sunset. I recommend you turn them on AT SUNSET this time of year because 30 minutes past sunset in the fall is darker than 30 minutes past sunset in the summer (it has to do with the angle of the sun causing shorter twilight). Safety is key. Also, if you are on a PWC or kayaking without lights, it’s safer to wrap things up at sunset vs. 30 minutes past. While this is not an official Lake Association rule, it is a good choice as the days get shorter and shadows grow long.
Fall can extend summertime memories at the lake. I think it’s a great time to sit by the fire and enjoy the cool evenings and other beauty that this time of year has to offer. September and October have become two of my favorite months. This year is shaping up to be no different. Cooler days and crisp nights make for bonfires, and s’mores are on the menu this month. With the first real cold spell still projected as a few weeks out, there is plenty of time to fall into fall. Until next time, see you on the pond!
Safer Seven is taking a fall break. In the next issue, Safer Seven will share updated summer safety statistics and other news from our Lake Patrol team. Stay tuned for that in the next issue.