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THIS SITE IS INDEPENDENT FROM THE CANDLEWICK LAKE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Weekly Public Safety report



Who could resist reading the story with this headline?

Sausage-wielding gang attacks vegan cafe...

You have to smile, I didn't make this up!  Ken

Well it's about time... and Europe takes the lead, not us.

BRUSSELS (AP) -- The European Union reached an agreement Tuesday with some of the world's biggest social media firms, including Facebook and Twitter, on ways to combat the spread of hate speech online.
Under the terms of a code of conduct, the firms, which also include YouTube and Microsoft, have committed to "quickly and efficiently" tackle illegal hate speech directed against anyone over issues of race, color, religion, descent or national or ethnic origin. The sites have often been used by terrorist organizations to relay messages and entice hatred against certain individuals or groups.
Among the measures agreed with the EU's executive arm, the firms have said they will establish internal procedures and staff training to guarantee that a majority of illegal content is assessed and, where necessary, removed within 24 hours. They have also agreed to strengthen their partnerships with civil society organizations who often flag content that promotes incitement to violence and hateful conduct. The European Commission and the firms have also agreed to support civil society organizations to deliver "anti-hate campaigns."

Monday, May 30, 2016

In Memorium

In memory of my Dad and his brother, who left by train the same day to serve in different branches of the service in World War 2, just as so many of our finest young men have served in the past and continue to do so.
May God bless you all and those not with us rest in peace knowing you kept and keep us safe.
Ken

Sunday, May 29, 2016

Dale Mediema's Sunday contemplation

THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES ONE DOLLAR BILL
 

Take out a one dollar bill, and look at it.  The one dollar bill you're looking at first came off the presses in 1957 in its present design.
 
 
THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES ONE DOLLAR BILL
 
This so-called paper money is in fact a cotton and linen blend, with red and blue minute silk fibers running through it.  It is actually material.  We've all washed it without it falling apart.  A special blend of ink is used, the contents we will never know.  It is overprinted with symbols and then it is starched to make it water resistant and pressed to give it that nice crisp look.

If you look on the front of the bill, you will see the United States Treasury Seal.
 
United States Treasury Seal
 
On the top you will see the scales for a balanced budget.  In the center you have a carpenter's square, a tool used for an even cut.  Underneath is the Key to the United States Treasury.  That's all pretty easy to figure out, but what is on the back of that dollar bill is something we should all
know.
 
If you turn the bill over, you will see two circles.  Both circles, together, comprise the Great Seal of the United States.
 
Great Seal of the United States
 
The First Continental Congress requested that Benjamin Franklin and a group of men come up with a Seal.  It took them four years to accomplish this task and another two years to get it approved.

If you look at the left-hand circle, you will see a Pyramid.
 
the all-seeing eye
 
Notice the face is lighted, and the western side is dark. This country was just beginning.  We had not begun to explore the west or decided what we could do for Western Civilization.  The Pyramid is uncapped, again signifying that we were not even close to being finished.  Inside the capstone you have the all-seeing eye, an ancient symbol for divinity.  It was Franklin's belief that one man couldn't do it alone, but a group of men, with the help of God, could do anything.

'IN GOD WE TRUST' is on this currency.
 
IN GOD WE TRUST
 
The Latin above the pyramid, ANNUIT COEPTIS, means, 'God has favored our undertaking.'

The Latin below the pyramid, NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM, means,'a new order has begun.'  At the base of the pyramid is the Roman Numeral for 1776. (MDCCLXXVI)

If you look at the right-hand circle, and check it carefully,
 
NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM, means,'a new order has begun
 
you will learn that it is on every National Cemetery in the United States.  It is also on the Parade of Flags Walkway at the Bushnell, Florida National Cemetery, and is the centerpiece of most hero's monuments.  Slightly modified, it is the seal of the President of the United States, and it is always visible whenever he speaks, yet very few people know what the symbols mean.

The Bald Eagle was selected as a symbol for victory for two reasons: First, he is not afraid of a storm; he is strong, and he is smart enough to soar above it.  Secondly, he wears no material crown.  We had just broken from the King of England.  Also, notice the shield is unsupported.  This country can now stand on its own.  At the top of that shield you have a white bar signifying congress, a unifying factor.  We were coming together as one nation.  In the Eagle's beak you will read,

'E PLURIBUS UNUM' meaning, 'one from many.'

Above the Eagle, you have thirteen stars, representing the thirteen original colonies, and any clouds of misunderstanding rolling away.  Again, we were coming together as one.

Notice what the Eagle holds in his talons.  He holds an olive branch and arrows.  This country wants peace, but we will never be afraid to fight to preserve peace.  The Eagle always wants to face the olive branch, but in time of war, his gaze turns toward the arrows.

They say that the number 13 is an unlucky number.  This is almost a worldwide belief.  You will usually never see a room numbered 13, or any hotels or motels with a 13th floor.  But think about this:

13 original colonies,
13 signers of the Declaration of Independence,
13 stripes on our flag,
13 steps on the Pyramid,
13 letters in, 'Annuit Coeptis,'
13 letters in 'E Pluribus Unum,'
13 stars above the Eagle,
13 bars on that shield,
13 leaves on the olive branch,
13 fruits, and if you look closely,
13 arrows.

And finally, if you notice the arrangement of the 13 stars in the right-hand circle you will see that they are arranged as a Star of David.  This was ordered by George Washington who, when he asked Hayyim Solomon, a wealthy Philadelphia Jew, what he would like as a personal reward for his services to the Continental Army, Solomon said he wanted nothing for himself but that he would like something for his people.  The Star of David was the result.  Few people know that it was Solomon who saved the Army through his financial contributions died a pauper.

I always ask people, 'Why don't you know this?'  Your children don't know this, and their history teachers don't know this.  Too many veterans have given up too much to ever let the meaning fade.  Many veterans remember coming home to an America that didn't care.  Too many veterans never came home at all.

Share this page with everyone, so they can learn what is on the back of the

UNITED STATES ONE DOLLAR BILL, and what it stands for.

Saturday, May 28, 2016

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Saturday, May 28th is the big day!

Our pool opens for the season from noon to eight this Saturday weather permitting. We have done a lot of work on the pool in the off season and hopefully this summer will be a great experience for all.
 How many of you know the pool is the most used amenity in Candlewick? I really had not thought about that until last year.
Ken

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Thank the Lord an agreement was reached!

President Ray Morse from North Boone 3 and Owen Costanza from Capron Rescue Squad shake hands on a new agreement of cooperation between the two providers.
They, along with Chief Tony Stepansky and Chief Gail Worley signed the agreement Tuesday evening. This is truly great news. 



A picture and info from Jim Brefeld. (thanks, Jim!)

Bud Mukahirn shot this grass carp with a crossbow...43 inches long and weighed 40lbs.  Good job!!!

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Last day of school celebration


Any problem here?

Syrian refugee immigration into the U.S......... Check the Christians


Monday, May 23, 2016

Your Public Safety Department weekly report



This is a bigger battle than is obvious


We are again fighting problems with the skimmer. the same hydraulic pump went out.... again. The pump manufacturer can not find the problem. All pressures seem correct. The remedy is still being worked on.

The big problem is without the skimmer the inlets are looking bad again. Please understand all possible is being done to handle the situation and for the most part we have not been looking bad. We fight this every year and the lake is actually much cleaner than it was some years ago but the inlets make us look ugly. The work continues!!!!!
Ken

Sunday, May 22, 2016

From an email sent by Tom Pinkowski Sr. This is a good Sunday consideration.






With our family situation I can definitely identify with the last statement.  Ken

Saturday, May 21, 2016

Finances

 Candlewick received the preliminary financial audit Friday. This is a yearly occurrence and we change auditors every three years so our finances are seen through different eyes. We came through with flying colors and our finances are sound as expected. The report is 25 pages long so I am not going to publish it here but you can rest assured all is well financially.
Ken

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Personal Board meeting notes... May 17, 2016

Board meeting notes... May 17, 2016



The AQUA update... Joel indicates an agreement has been reached with Candlewick regarding the road area to be repaired and the type of repair below the dam near their plant. Work will commence when school is out.
AQUA will be changing approximately 600 meters in Candlewick during 2016. Homeowners will be contacted directly to set appointments for the one half hour job.
AQUA has agreed to adjust our cost to fill the pool. Before this when we filled the pool we paid the bill for the sewer part as well even though when drained the sewer was never used. This will make a serious difference in the cost.



Pam Cangelosi presented the board with a solar lighted cap for the address sign at the Rec Center. Thank you Pam.



Finance Commission had no meeting due to our annual audit in progress so there are no numbers for last month.
Write offs for the month total $5,459.69 and there are no accounting adjustments.



Lake Management reports Bill Batzkall stepped down from the commission. Charlie Sewell will take over as co-chairman and Todd Jones will chair the Education sub-commission.
Egg addling is complete and remaining eggs buried. Volunteers are needed June 5 at 9 a.m. to re-plant some areas in the bioswales. Fish shocking was completed April 26 with a report expected soon. Bass Tournament will be June 4 starting at 6:30 a.m. and the Kid's Fishing Tournament will be June 19 at 8:30 a.m. Having a kid's event at the same time as church services has bothered me for years.



Events reports the dues raffle netted $512.00 to five lucky winners.The Independence Day parade planning is in full swing with several sign-ups already.



The ECC had no unusual activity or requests.



Communications has ordered marketing items to be sold at Candlewick. There will be tumblers, floating key chains, can cozys, and six pack coolers. They will be available at the Rec Center, Office, and Savannah Oaks. Only two photos have been entered for the next photo contest. All are due by June 15th. An ad is being considered for the Northwest Herald promoting Candlewick Lake.



The Rec Commission mentions punch cards are being sold for $30.00 and are good until Dec 31st, 2016. Class drop ins are $6.00. Zumba, Circuit, and Line dancing are having trouble reaching their 5 participant minimum so if you wish to see these continue we need participation. A pool exercise class is planned for this summer. Watch for details.Nine trees have been planted at the dog park and the fire hydrant is placed.
Benches to arrive soon. 24 people showed up for Bunco on March 18th.




Your golf course reports the sprinklers have been run and seem to be working fine. Still some dryness on the greens but a wetting agent has been applied plus some deep tining to address the problem. Mowing is being kept up and fertilizer has been applied to greens and tees.
The Men's League has 28 golfers this year so it is going strong. Cinco de Mayo went well. May 7th was the first tournament and 10 teams entered. May 21 youth league sign-up starts and May 28 is the Memorial Day tournament.



The Outpost replacement planning is continuing. An architect needs to be hired and specs put out for bids to see where we are in cost.



The Roads commission has been working on training for shoulder repairs. Two culvert replacements will be needed this year. The commission is working with AQUA on repair of the damaged area from lift station replacement. A recommendation will be forthcoming to the board for resurfacing a long run on Candlewick Drive starting near Oak Tree Park plus a two mile stretch of chip and seal in another area depending upon available funding.
The board approved a new policy detailing specifications for shoulder backfilling, grading, and compaction in repaired areas.



Public Safety issued 70 citations and 163 warnings during the month of April. Rules are being enforced.



Dandy Donuts spoke to the board regarding the possibility of putting in video gambling machines after they obtain their beer and wine license, wanting a feel for board opinion before proceeding the investigation. Your board is split on the subject and asked Mary and Dan to return when they had further information regarding how the proposed gaming area would be operated.

Be sure to watch for official minutes printed in your Candlewick Paper.

This and that

 The skimmer was out again today (Tuesday) doing it's job with no problems. Cross your fingers!

 What the heck are those bags hanging on our newly planted trees? They are DeWitt watering bags, a slow drip system to keep the roots moistened while establishing themselves.

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Saturday, May 14, 2016

And that is that!

Jim Brefeld tells me the egg addling is now complete until next year. Lee Odden, Tom Pinkowski, Dale Mediema, and Blackie removed 25 eggs from four nests and buried them today. He thanks all the volunteers. Next spring here they go again!

You wanted a restaurant so let's give our opinions

Dan and Mary want to supply what you want to have so it is time to let them know your thoughts. Simply print this out, fill it out, and bring it in to the Cafe for them.

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Lake treatment soon!

This treatment is to get a head start controlling "curlyleaf." Curlyleaf is an aquatic plant that can take over a lake and we need to stay on top of it to avoid future problems. See below...
Management strategy: Like Eurasian watermilfoil, curlyleaf pondweed is not native to the United States and often causes problems due to excessive growth. When control is necessary, herbicides and harvesting can be effective.


Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Bargain time!



A good summer job. Jump right in!


Message boards driving you nuts?

 Me too, but help is on the way. I am speaking of the west gate board and now to a degree the east gate as well. Some of the cells are out making part messages. We have budgeted for a new sign for the front gate this year and parts from the current front gate sign will be used to repair the west gate. It will all be corrected in time. Hang in there!
Ken

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

We have had more than one of these calls at home

Scam Alert!
There have been recent reports by Boone County Citizens that they are receiving phone calls from the IRS regarding owed taxes. Please be aware that this is a scam. The IRS will not contact you by telephone for tax issues without contacting you by mail first. Please take a minute to watch the attached video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y5z0kWgBcM
Tax Scams
The IRS warns taxpayers about an increasing number of tax scams in communities across the country. For even more information go to IRS.gov and type “scam” in...
The IRS will never:
1) CALL TO DEMAND IMMEDIATE PAYMENT, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill;
2) Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe;
3) Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card;
4) Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone; or
5) Threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
Report the calls to the IRS at 800-829-0433 or on their websitewww.tigta.gov.
No need to report to the law enforcement agencies.
PLEASE SHARE to warn others, especially the elderly, not to fall for this widespread scam.

See any problem here?

Hillary Clinton has received nearly $75,000 in political contributions from employees at the Department of Justice, the agency that would decide whether or not to act if the FBI recommended charges against Clinton or her aides following its investigation into her private email server.



Let me tell you about the restaurant

 Some folks from Saint Louis with questionable business sense decided it made sense to build a large upscale restaurant in a rural town of less than 400 residents. Buildings were razed and this very nice building went up in their place on the main drag in town. The restaurant (called the Fireside) featured a bar with tables in that area plus a large room with probably thirty tables with tablecloths, fancy cloth napkins, and pricing to match. Remember this is in one of the most impoverished areas of the state of Iowa.
 Fran and I stopped there a couple years ago and we were the only patrons. The food was good but anyone could see this was never going to make it.
 Last week we stopped there again at Fran's insistence. It had changed hands over a year ago and is now called the "Back Forty." That signifies forty acres of land for you non farmers. It was interesting to say the least. We were the only patrons... again! although four more people arrived by the time we left. When we went to the table we were told on Wednesdays they only serve fried foods. We were given a list of about ten items including only two "baskets," fish or chicken strips. I ordered the fish and asked what came in the basket. "FRIES!" he said. What kind of fish. "Darned if I know, I will check." He went to the kitchen and returned, proudly saying "COD."
 The baskets came with a chunk of fish that wouldn't fit in the baskets. Thin and probably fourteen inches long. We broke the pieces of fish and put them on a supplied plate. It really wasn't bad but then the check came. A little over $26.00 plus tip. We did share one order of onion rings but only water to drink. If and when we visit the area again I don't see us eating there.
 The next evening we are in another town at a place called RUMORS. Their motto is "If you heard it here it probably isn't true!" Fran and a hamburger that had to be at least a half pound and I had a pork tenderloin that was over twice the size of the large bun. We were stuffed. The check? A little under ten dollars. Guess where we will eat next time???????
Ken

Monday, May 9, 2016

An interesting trip

Fran and I finally got away for a couple days and went to Southwest Iowa, my home area. Lots of gravel dust, roads called level 8 (use at your own risk, dirt road), closed roads, White paint sprayed on our car by a truck painting center lines, one of the oddest restaurant menus I have ever seen, my home town with the main attraction a big painted rock, trying to find the site of Caledonia Iowa (now a ghost town) where Bonnie and Clyde bought medical supplies to treat their wounds then giving it up due to the roads being impassable, and I could go on.
Now for the more interesting part. We stayed at a very small motel in the middle of nowhere only to find U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley was staying there also. I saw him check out. The desk clerk said he was campaigning.
Among other places we went to Three Mile Lake, off Hiway 35. We just happened to be there during a Crappie tournament. A huge number of boats were on the lake but the fish were not hitting. I was told the water was still too cold, which is odd. Still, a beautiful clear lake with an interesting reader board with lake information. See below...........




Sunday, May 8, 2016

Happy Mother's Day Mom, and to all the rest of you/

Being a Mom is probably the hardest job out there. You must love, protect, teach, comfort, encourage, and yes, admonish if necessary. There is a lot of prayer and worry. You do all this with little sleep at first then as time progresses the sleep is better but the job changes. Not any easier, just different. My hats off to all of you. I know I couldn't have handled it.
Mom at 92

God couldn’t be all over the place, and in this manner, he made moms.
Mother is the name for God on the lips and hearts of little kids.
The most critical thing a father can accomplish for his children is to love their mom.

Motherhood: All affection starts and finishes there.