Wishing you every happiness this Holiday Season and prosperity in the New Year. Thank you for being a part of our wonderful community and subscribing to it's monthly newsletter. We look forward to continuing our relationship in the coming year.

 

All the best to you and your family,

 
Doubletree Lake Estates

It's that time of year, again. Ice is forming on our lake and we thought it would be a good idea to go back into the Newsletter archives and retrieve a commentary written by our local Fire Chief, Kevin Radtke. Please take a moment to remind your family how important it is to avoid walking on the ice.

 

Each winter Doubletree's ponds & lake freeze over and many of us question, "is the ice safe?". The answer is ice is never really safe. Ice can be eight inches thick on one end of the lake and just 1/2 inch on the other. There are also several factors that can weaken ice rapidly. Duck holes are places in the ice where it never freezes completely due to ducks or geese taking turns swimming around to keep the water from freezing. Aerators in ponds will also keep enough water moving to avoid complete freezing. Even fish can weaken ice by congregating in the same small area causing a warming of the water in that general location. In addition, Doubletree is a natural spring lake which can create movement of water beneath the ice causing weakness.

 

Every year our fire department responds to emergency calls for animals that have fallen through the ice. We take these calls for help seriously and will respond. I cannot stress enough that if your pet falls through the ice, do not attempt to go out to save them. Dial 911. If the ice was not strong enough to support your dog, then it isn't going to support you either. Again, always dial 911. We have extensive training and equipment to allow us to make the rescue in a safe manner.

 

"When in doubt, don't go out".

 

The Doubletree Winter Fun Event is this Saturday and the Special Events Committee has lined up the fun.

 

This festive event is FREE to Doubletree Lake Estates & Doubletree West residents and their guests. Photo Packages and Holiday Cards will be available for a fee from the attending professional photographer & Doubletree resident, QT Photography. Please call (219)945-1331 to RSVP for Photos.

 

 

The Doubletree Special Events Committee wants your ideas for social events. Send them to tpingel@doubletreelake.net. Our next committee meeting will be held January 13th where the year will be planned.

Doubletree resident Jesus "Amore" Villarreal is a husband, father, brother, and one of 6,000 people needing a bone marrow transplant. On December 11th a Marrow Donor Drive will take place at Holy Spirit Church in Winfield. This is your chance to help Jesus Villarreal and others.

 

To join, you only need to be between the ages of 18 and 60, be willing to donate to any patient in need, and meet certain health guidelines.

 

Life. It's in you. More information can be found at 1-888-862-7769 x 103 or visit www.marrow.org.

Doubletree Resident John Olmstead is heading a new Park Planning Committee. If you are interested in joining this committee send an email to tpingel@doubletreelake.net.

 

The committee will take a strategic approach to planning the already identified park areas as well as investigating future ones.

 

Okay, we've only gotten a taste of what's to come. We are sure to see much more of the fluffy stuff. Which means more shoveling and snowblowing. Yikes!!

 

Here are a couple guidelines to follow this winter which will help crews clear the streets of snow more efficiently and quickly.

 

1. Refrain from snowblowing snow into the road and.. 

2. Don't park on the street.

A few new policies were adopted by the Doubletree Board of Directors. Those and others may be view anytime at http://www.doubletreelake.net/poa/covenants.html.