The BERLIN LAKE ASSOCIATON
Volume 11 Issue 1
March, 2015
Editor Lynne Duchon
Page 1
Calendar of Events
The Berlin Lake Association’s 2015 events have been scheduled and are listed on page 4. The
schedule of events will also be found in your 2015 directory coming out in May as well as on
the BLA website.
Your 2015 dues and directory advertising forms have been mailed are due by April 1,
2015. When your dues have been paid you should expect to receive your directory by the end
of May.
Directory
Please update your information for our directory. If there have been changes to your address,
phone number or email address please call or email Lynne Duchon at [email protected] or
phone: 330-608-5512 by April 22nd. Those of you who are interested in advertising in our
2015 directory may do so by completing the advertising form included with your dues
statement. The form may also be downloaded from our website at
www.berlinlakeassociation.com
Advertising in the directory continues to be a great value at $100.00 for a full page and $50.00
for a half page. When choosing an ad, your membership dues of $25.00 are included.
Ads sent electronically (email) are preferred but you may also send hard copies. Please
remember that small business cards with multiple colors may not produce the best quality
when enlarged for half and full page ads. Your ads should be sent print ready.
Your dues enable the BLA to fund our mailings, directories, social events and general
overhead involved with the operation of this non-profit organization. Please help us keep our
association strong by renewing your membership and encouraging your friends and neighbors
to join or renew their memberships in the BLA. You can download copies of our
membership application form from the BLA website or pick up a form at any of our meetings
or functions.
President’s Message
Congratulations, you have made it through another Ohio winter. As you have been
shoveling snow and keeping the home fires burning, your BLA leadership team has been
continually working on Berlin Lake issues. The first of these issues came up in November
when the Corps, without any discussion or communication, placed a barricade at the end of
Watson Road, blocking the only ramp in that area of the lake.
Picture of the Corps’ Watson Ramp Barricade.
Page 2
We immediately put together a group that included, the Deerfield Township Trustees, the
Deerfield Fire Department, Congressman Tim Ryan’s office and the BLA to formally object
to this closure. As a result of our efforts this Barricade has been removed. However, the
USACE has now identified the Watson Ramp as a “safety issue” and has notified us that they
will be placing a locked swing gate at this location, similar to the ones currently at Wagner
Road and the Route 14 Bridge. Over the past 2 years the BLA thought we had an agreement
with local Corps personnel that would allow the Watson ramp to remain open until a new
public ramp planned for the German Church Road area was completed. Currently there is not
a viable public ramp in lake areas C or D and anything except very small boats will need to be
launched from lake areas A or B. The BLA will continue to work along side of the groups
listed above to find a way to make this ramp available to our membership and I hope to have
additional information to pass on at our April meeting.
The BLA leadership met with Rick Leonard, District Director and Catey Breck,
District Coordinator for Congressman Tim Ryan at the Congressman’s Warren office
location. At this meeting we had an extensive discussion regarding the Berlin Lake water
level and the impact it has on the economy of the area. We also shared our need for the
Congressman’s assistance with the multiple issues that BLA members will be facing in
dealing with the USACE this coming year. The major issues include the early lake water
drawdown, the Watson Road ramp closure, an upcoming Corp review and potential revision
of the Shoreline Management Plan and the upcoming change in Berlin Lake USACE
management, as Resource Manager Rene Berberich has announced that she will retire
effective May 1st. In regard to the Corps review of the Shoreline Management Plan, I am told
that several public meetings to discuss potential Plan changes are to be held. I will keep our
membership informed as to the areas of the plan that are under review and the times and
locations of any public meetings that are scheduled.
Page 3
Please plan to join us for the BLA spring meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 22rd at
7:00 pm at the Deerfield Town Hall. At this meeting we will have representatives from The
USACE, the Deerfield Township Trustees and the
Thank you and please note my contact information:
Tim Taylor, Cell Phone: 330-232-5811, Email: [email protected]
Walleye Club
The walleye tournament will continue to be held exclusively on Berlin Lake and will consist
of a May and June competition. All entry fees for these events will be returned as cash prizes
to the top competitors. Please see the BLA schedule of events for tournament dates and/or
contact Martha at Les’s Bait at 330-584-6741 for additional walleye tournament entry forms
and information. Participants must be members of the Berlin Lake Association.
Elections
Elections for the BLA will be held at our April 22nd, 2015 meeting. We will be voting for
the two director positions currently held by Martha Cobb and Gary Nahas. You may nominate
candidates for officers and directors positions by contacting Tim Taylor by phone @ 330-5843844 or email @ [email protected]
BLA Events
Thank you to all who participated in, donated to, or gave of their time for the Ulster Project
Boat Rides, the Deerfield Apple Butter Festival, the Lake Cleanup and the Brunch on the
Beach in 2014. Your support helps keep our organization strong! Please contact Tim
Taylor @ 330-584-3844 if you are interested in helping with any of our events or are
interested in volunteering for any committees in 2015.
Volunteers Needed
The BLA needs people who are willing to give a few hours of their time to help strengthen
our organization. You can assist as much or as little as you like so don’t be afraid to
volunteer. If you have suggestions or are interested in assisting on a committee please contact
Tim Taylor at: [email protected]
Did you know? Berlin Lake is the fifth-largest inland lake in Ohio and is renowned for its
excellent walleye fishing. It is one of the very few lakes in the area in which natural
reproduction of the walleye population occurs.
Webpage
Out Webmaster would like to remind everyone to empty the cache on your browser to get the
most recently updated information from our website.
Berlin Lake Association
PO Box 54
Deerfield, OH 4411
Berlin Lake Association 2015 Schedule of Events
Wednesday, April 22
General Membership Meeting: 7:00 P.M.
@ Deerfield Town Hall
Saturday, May 2
Lake Clean-Up: (meet at Town Hall @ 8:45 A.M.
(Contact Tim Taylor @ 330-232-5811)
Saturday, May 16
BLA Walleye Tournament #1
(Berlin Lake, Les’s Bait/Marcko Landing)
Saturday, June 20
BLA Walleye Tournament #2
(Berlin Lake, Les’s Bait/Marcko Landing)
(Contact Martha Cobb @ 330-584-6741)
Saturday, TBA
Ulster Project Boat Rides @ Les’s Bait
(Contact Tim Taylor @ 330-232-5811)
Wednesday, July 15
General Membership Meeting: 7:00 P.M.
@ Deerfield Town Hall
Saturday, October 10
Apple Butter Festival 7am-5pm
@Deerfield American Legion
Wednesday, October 21
General Membership Meeting: 7:00 P.M.
@ Deerfield Town Hall