Delavan Lake Breeze August 2020

Breeze Delavan Lake

Serving the Delavan, Delavan Lakes and Darien area

BUY A BOAT • ENJOY THE WATER • INTO THE WEEDS

SUMMER 2020 VOL. 8 NO. 3

PUBLISHED BY SOUTHERN LAKES NEWSPAPERS

PAGE 2 • AUGUST 2020 • DELAVAN LAKE BREEZE

Boating is good for your health and mind As the coronavirus pandemic continued to weigh on the world, the former director of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention had a simple message for Americans: get outside.

“Enjoy nature,” Tom Frieden said. “It’s good for us, and it has very low risk of spreading the virus.”

Everyone from the former Food and Drug Administration commissioner to health experts from Harvard University echoed Frieden’s comment, saying research continues to show that outdoor activities – including boating – are a much better way of staying safe from the virus than any type of indoor activity.

The research is why boat ramps and marinas were among the first public spaces and businesses to reopen following the initial COVID-19 shutdowns. Even in hardest-hit states in the Northeast, officials determined that getting out on a boat could be done safely while other recreations like golf remained off-limits.

“Boating or paddling can provide a refreshing outdoor escape during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Peter Francis, boating division director for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Being able to go boating during the pandemic – or at any time, really – is great news, because studies also show that being on or near the water is a boon for psychological health. And who among us couldn’t use a mood booster now and again?

Igniting your ‘blue mind’ Wallace J. Nichols, the author of Blue Mind, knows all of this information well. His bestselling book looks at the scientific reasons why being in, on or under the water can make us happier and healthier.

“Simply the mere sight and sound of water promotes wellness by lowering cortisol, increasing serotonin, and inducing relaxation,” Nichols said.

In fact, he says, when it comes to reducing stress, being on a boat can be considered a type of medicine.

“Blue mind is when we disconnect and logout,” Nichols continued. “We move away from the screens and we get out on the water, and leave all of that technology and information behind. We give our brains a break—and our brains love that.”

The science is clear – boating is good for your health and mind. Get out there, as soon and as often as you can. The water, and reduced stress, are awaiting you.

STOCK PHOTO The Breeze

Water is healing In October 2019, researchers at the University of Exeter Medical School in the United Kingdom published a study showing that people who live near the ocean are 22 percent less likely to report depression and anxiety symptoms than people who stay inland. The beneficial effects of “blue health” – interacting with bodies of water – were especially high among lower-income households.

The British study followed a Canadian study in 2018 showing that people living closer to the water lowered their risk of mortality by as much as 17 percent. The “protective effects” of being near bodies of water were especially noteworthy among women and older adults. In fact, just the sounds of bodies of water can help to reduce stress, according to a 2013 study. Get yourself within earshot of a lake, river or ocean, and you can immediately feel better.

The power of sunlight In late-April, during the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the Department of Homeland Security also released a study related to the life cycle of the virus on non-living surfaces. The study detailed the anticipated times the virus can survive on surfaces given variations in temperature, humidity, and exposure to sunlight.

In the end, the results concluded that the virus would die in about two minutes at a temperature above 70 degrees Fahrenheit with relative humidity at 80% and direct exposure to sunlight, which is good news for boaters.

For more information, visit www. discoverboating.com.

SPECIALIZING IN

INSURANCE PRODUCTS FOR SENIORS

J’s antique cars

Call Your Local Agent

ANNAMARIE BLAWAT 1-414-545-7878 1-800-924-4061

Sales, Service & Storage Specializing in Model As

5495 State Road 50 Delavan, WI 53115 262-728-5438 delavanlakeboatshed@gmail.com

Allied Senior Services

Insurance & Investments

ltd

246881

FORMERLY NANCY BLACKMAN INSURANCE

377485

DELAVAN LAKE BREEZE

• AUGUST 2020 • PAGE 3

Boating is BOOMING How to ride the wave of demand and get top dollar for your boat Not only is it peak boating season, but the impact of COVID-19 has inspired a renewed interest in boats from coast-tocoast as people start getting outside and enjoying the water while maintaining social distancing.

Boat Trader – boating’s largest online marketplace – confirmed this spike in demand in all regions across the country and reported that their traffic in the second quarter jumped 74% over 2019. Even areas less known for boating are seeing recordhigh listing engagement. What’s more, all boat types, new and used, are experiencing a buying boom with center consoles, pontoons, and ski/wake boats among the most popular segments in terms of lead volume.

Because many boat manufacturers around the world were forced to reduce or halt production in the wake of the global pandemic, the current rise in market activity suggests there will be tighter inventory later in the year. As interest in boating shows no signs of slowing and supply shrinks as new boaters buy boats, the time is ripe for current boat owners to ride this wave of demand and sell and upgrade now before a possible waiting period for new models sets in.

What do surging boat sales mean for

boats currently sitting in driveways?

Buyers are snapping up affordable inventory: Right now, as historic numbers of people are looking to buy a boat, marketplace insight shows the highest demand is for vessels priced under $25,000, followed by boats under $50,000.

Sale prices are up According to data from Boat Trader, in May and June the average sale price per boat sold in the used, under 26-foot category, increased 5.24% – more than $1,600 – over last year. Though there are many factors that determine the sale price of a boat, like condition, engine hours and age, this trend is yet another signal that demand is strong.

Families want to go boating Americans, to the tune of more than 10 million boat shoppers per month, are relying on the convenience of technology more than ever to get on the water. For a minimal price, you can sell your boat locally on Boat Trader and get up to 10 times the exposure of free ads. The site also populates boat specs from the manufacturer, making it easy to list and market your boat.

How to sell for top dollar Beware the buzz – There’s a joke in real estate about spotting watchwords in listings. For example, “close to shopping,” could mean you can hear traffic noise from the backyard. Be careful writing a boat listing with phrases like “custom

paint!” or “rebuilt engine!” because, without explanations, these well-meaning buzzwords can raise red flags.

Picture perfect – Upload multiple photos to your boat listing and post the best photo first to encourage maximum engagement. The “sweet spot” falls between 11 and 25 photos, and in these times of social distancing, share video tours. Listings with video tours see more activity than those without.

Market price – Position your boat as the catch of the day with competitive pricing. To determine an accurate price range for your boat, look at listings for

similar boats in similar condition. For quick research, use the Boat Trader Price Checker tool.

Be responsive – As the seller, it’s important that you build trust with a potential buyer, which can lead to a faster sale and willingness to pay more money.

Respond within 24 hours – if not sooner – to keep interest high and attract that perfect sale.

The bottom line is this: Timing is everything. If selling your boat has crossed your mind, either in order to upgrade or put money in the bank, the time is now.

(BPT)

Delavan Lake

Breeze

EDITOR: ............................................... Tracy Ouellette CREATIVE DIRECTOR: .............................. Heidi Schulz PAGE DESIGNER: ..................................... Jen DeGroot ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: ................. Vicki Vanderwerff

For advertising opportunities call (262) 728-3411

A publication of Southern Lakes Newspapers

1102 Ann Street, Delavan, WI 53115 • (262) 763-3411

ABOVE: Surging interest in boating and limited inventories could mean faster sales and more money in your pocket if you take action today.

ON THE COVER: A beautiful summer sunset as seen from Delavan Lake HEIDI SCHULZ The Breeze

PAGE 4 • AUGUST 2020 • DELAVAN LAKE BREEZE

Boating – The perfect on-demand summer vacation for families If you like the idea of taking an impromptu vacation whenever the whim strikes, Discover Boating says you should be a boat owner.

Whatever your favorite boating activities may be, you probably already know that when you step aboard a boat and cast off the lines, life’s stresses melt away in a heartbeat.

And speaking of heartbeats, it’s been scientifically proven that getting out on the water on a boat promotes a restful state, with various physiological and psychological benefits that we like to refer to as “blue mind.” Not to mention, national surveys have shown that boaters report higher levels of satisfaction in marriage and romance, as well as many other aspects of life.

Boating a vacation on-demand The bottom line? Boating isn’t merely fun – it’s also good for you and your family in countless ways. It soothes the soul, recharges your internal batteries, and improves your attitude. Think of owning a boat like it was owning your own personal never-ending vacation.

Boating is more affordable than you think.

You might be wondering, if being a boater is so great, wouldn’t everyone out there already own a boat of their own? Well, if all those people perpetually stuck on dry land knew how great boating was, they probably would.

Then, of course, there is the financial end of things. Hopefully you’ve already checked out the Discover Boating Boat Loan Calculator, and realized that buying a boat really isn’t very different from buying a motorized vehicle intended for use on land.

There is such a thing as affordable boating.

Take a look at these 23 Affordable EntryLevel Boat Models, which may surprise you as many have starting price points at well under $30K, $20K, $10K and even $5K. Comparing costs Compare the costs of boating to other vacations. What’s even most surprising for many consumers is how well buying a boat compares with other types of vacationing expenses. Consider the following: • A two-week vacation in the Bahamas will cost a family of five around $10,000, on average. If you vacation once a year for five years, that’s $50,000. There’s also a huge range of very nice bowriders, deckboats, and jet boats large enough to easily fit the entire family – plus several guests – in that price range. But with your own boat you won’t be going back to the same place over and over again, and instead can visit virtually limitless

Buying a boat is an investment but isn’t much different from taking the family on a series of vacations, putting in an in-ground pool, buying a timeshare, or making a different sort of land-based recreational purchase like a vehicle or a piece of property. Boating offers the chance to enjoy the great outdoors with family and friends potentially every weekend.

DISCOVER BOATING PHOTO The Breeze

lakes, rivers and bays.

• You can enjoy various watersports; go boat camping; try your hand at freshwater fishing or saltwater fishing and take day cruises.

The list of all the fun activities you can enjoy on each and every mini-vacation never ends – and you can find more activities to do onboard by reading 10 Fun Things You Can Do on a Boat. You’ll never be shoe-horned into a campsite surrounded by crowds of other people, and you’ll be miles away from noisy hotel rooms.

A boat is long-term investment Another factor to keep in mind is how many days do you think you might use your boat? Those trips to the Bahamas ended up costing you about $714 per day. But you’re free to use your boat whenever you’d like, and if you use it just 30 times a year the cost per day of fun is less than half that, at $333. Or, it would be if your boat merely disappeared – poof! – like those vacations do.

But since you own your boat you eventually gain back its resale value.

As a general rule of thumb (*note that resale value on used boats can vary quite a bit depending on their condition and location) a

boat depreciates around 20-percent the year it’s sold, then about 10-percent a year beyond that. Crunch the math and you’ll find that the $50,000 boat should still be worth something like $26,244 five years after you bought it.

To learn more, be sure to read the Discover Boating guides, Trade-In or Sell Your Boat: What Are Your Options? and How to Sell Your Boat.

Let’s play it safe, and say the boat’s value is half its original cost ($25,000). When you collect the proceeds from selling it that cost per day of fun also gets halved, which puts the bottom-line number at $166.50 – less than a quarter of the cost of a day vacationing in the islands. So, what other fun experiences could a family of five have, for $166.50 a day?

Go golfing? Nope. The average fees of $36 per person at a public course add up to $180.

Maybe taking the kids to an amusement park would be fun? For sure, but with an average ticket price of $50 per person plus $10 parking fees, that day at the park will tap you for $260.

How about paintball? Not by a longshot, that shakes out to around $55 per person per day or $275 for the entire family.

What about taking the gang to a baseball game? At an average cost of $65.06, you’re looking at $325.30.

For an NFL game push that up to $150 per person, or $750.

Ouch. Those few hours of fun are probably going to cost a whole lot more than an entire monthly payment on that boat, even if you bought it with no money down.

Is buying a boat the right option for your family? Of course, we do need to realize that there are other expenses associated with all of these vacation options and activities. That includes boats, too, and we wouldn’t want anyone to go into the boating experience without a full comprehension of what’s involved financially.

To get a more complete view of the big picture, be sure to visit the Discover Boating Cost of Boat Ownership page.

For more information, visit discoverboating.com.

Leslie Roanhouse Market Liaison Cell: 262-374-2514

RESPITE STAYS NOW AVAILABLE! 905 East Geneva Street Delavan, WI 53115

Tel: 262-728-6319 • Fax: 262-728-6693 check us out on

377568

VA Contracted

Boating is a great family activity as kids (and grownups) of all ages enjoy getting out on the water.

DISCOVER BOATING PHOTO The Breeze

DELAVAN LAKE BREEZE

• AUGUST 2020 • PAGE 5

Grace Bahr steers a harvester toward Community Park to offload weeds.

MIKE HOEY The Breeze

Resident questions weed harvesting practices

By Michael S. Hoey CORRESPONDENT

Delavan Lake resident recently lodged some complaints about the weed harvesting the Delavan Lake Sanitary District does on Delavan Lake. Erik Tonge, who lives near the end of Lake Shore Drive, contacted the Enterprise about weeds being left overnight on a harvester near his home resulting in an unbearable odor.

Tonge said similar incidents happened twice last summer so when it happened again on June 8, he decided to bring attention to the issue. Tonge said weeds should never be left on harvesters overnight and he took issue with the sanitary district purchasing lots zoned for residential use and using them for business purposes.

“Leaving stinky weeds overnight on a warm summer night in a zoned residential community is a public nuisance and poor management,” Tonge said.

He said residents don’t fill their boats with weeds and leave them overnight for neighbors to have to smell and he did not believe the DLSD should do so either.

Tonge acknowledged weed removal from the lake is extremely important, but so is proper management of the process.

The DLSD owns two lots on the west side of the lake at 2502 Manor Lane – the property close to Tonge’s – and 4453 South Shore Dr. Lake Manager Charlie Handel said the DLSD had parked its harvesters at the shore

A

See WEED HARVESTING, Page 7

A harvester that had just been in use on Delavan Lake offloads weeds, algae and a few fish, the latter of which are saved with a net if alive.

MIKE HOEY The Breeze

PAGE 6 • AUGUST 2020 • DELAVAN LAKE BREEZE

MARINE TRADING POST

377570

BUYING, SELLING & SERVICING BOATS AND MARINE EQUIPMENT

CLASSIFIEDS Boats

19’ SEA RAY STILETTO Boat, Stern drive w/Tandem Axle Trailer. $3,800 262-215-6565 Fontana, WI Call for and appt.,

12’ LUND FISHING BOAT Nice cond. w/15 hp motor (needs work) and trailer. $1,400 224-788-5072

1994 20’ COBALT excellent cond., only 312 hrs, 2003 Cobalt 2 axle trailer, like new. $12,000 815-751-2376

18’ MUD HEN SAIL BOAT All accessories, teak seats camper top, 4 HP Mercury Motor performance trailer hardly used, stored inside. $2,500 815-382-0129

NICE PONTOON BOAT No torn seats or carpet. $7,000/OBO. Call 608-8974177.

24’ SUN TRACKER PONTOON party boat. 40hp. Mercury, low hours,20 gal., on board gas tank, tilt, mini convertible top, full cover, Sun Tracker trailer, upholstery in great shape. $6,995 OBO 262-723-5710 or 262-903-5441 WE BUY - BOATS/RV/PONTOONS/ SLED/ATV’S & MOTORCYCLES! “Cash Paid” Now! AMERICAN MARINE & MOTORSPORTS SUPERCENTER, SHAWANO 866-955-2628 WWW.AMERICANMARINA.COM (WCAN)

LAKES AREA CLASSIFIEDS BOATS FOR SALE Ski Boats/Fishing Boats

2003 Tracker, 65 hp. Outboard, electric trolling motor, well maintained. $ 2950 SOLD (630) 886-6667

1980’s Runabout bow Rider, 100 hp Johnson, trailer $95 (262) 949-6997

Lift and Lift Parts

Jet ski lift, Needs some repair $25.00.

1985 Mastercraft Prostar 190, trailer, (262) 949-6997 garaged, $2975 best. Text please (630) Jet ski lift, Lauderdale location. S95.00.

886-6667 Delivery available. (262) 949-6997 1990 Mastercraft Prostar 190, low hours, excellent ski boat, trailer, lift kept Shore station lift parts, cheap.

Lauderdale Lakes. (262) 742-3665 $5250 best (262) 949-6997 1995 Mastercraft Sammy Duvall Golf Carts series, Corvette engine, flat wakes great slalom boat $11,500 best. (262) Golf cart, 4 seater, needs new batteries.

742-3665 SOLD 1998 Supra Legacy, Super low hours, $975. Text please. (630) 886-6667 clean, kept in heated garage, bow rider, great family boat. $7950 best. (262) Ski Equipment 949-6997 Ski trainer, easy to get up on, builds 2000 Supra Legacy, very clean, confidence. $75. Text (262) 949-6997 garage/lift kept, bow rider, 275 hours, Slalom ski, HO high performance, $9750 best. (630) 886-6667 perfect shape. Was $500- now $95.

(630) 886-6667

Fishing Boats

STORAGE

BOAT, RV OR AUTO STORAGE RATES –– 2020

SIZE

6 MONTH RATE

Up to 20 feet Up to 24 feet Up to 28 feet Up to 32 feet Up to 36 feet Waverunners

$375.00 $395.00 $445.00 $495.00 $550.00 $195.00

Inside secure storage. Concrete floors.

Pontoon pickup/delivery available.

ELKHORN

SURE LOCK STORAGE

814 N. Wisconsin • 262.949.6997

14 foot aluminum fishing boat, trolling motor, oars, battery. $395. (262) 742-3665.

DEL AVA N

YOU STORE IT, LLC

1034 Ann Street • 262.949.6997

SERVICES OFFERED and Indooroor d t O u ge Stora es Packagble Availa

Boat and Trailers

Prof Grouessional Rest nd-up Servoration ices

• Indoor Storage-Summer and Winter • Outdoor Storage-Summer and Winter • Shrink Wrap • Sales • Repairs • In/Out Valet Services • Pickup/Delivery Services Antique Auto • Antique Boat Restoration • Indoor Storage-Summer and Winter • Gel-Coat/Fiberglass Work • Restoration • Custom Woodwork (Transom bars) • Cleaning and Detailing • Cleaning and Detailing • Consignment • Bottom Wash • Consignment • Upholstery • Upholstery • Covers Copyright © 2003-2015. All rights reserved.

375340

DELAVAN LAKE BREEZE

• Weed harvesting of land owned by Shodeen, and the people who owned it prior to that, for years.

Shodeen recently developed the land, so the DLSD had to find new places to park.

Handel said the district had the opportunity to purchase the land it had been parking the boats but chose not to.

Handel said the harvesters, which travel around the lake cutting and removing weeds, are parked in places to make the process more efficient. One of the places weeds are offloaded from the harvesters is between the two lots the DLSD now owns making those locations very convenient.

According to Handel, the harvesters would likely remove half as many weeds or less than they currently do if they had to be parked at Community Park because of the distance they would have to travel.

The Community Park board launch is also busy, so it would be difficult to constantly maneuver the harvesters around boat traffic near the launch.

The only other alternative, Handel said, would be to use more barges, but three would have to be used to keep up with the harvesting and they would be even more difficult to maneuver in and out of the boat launch area.

Parking issues Handel said the properties are used to park the harvesters overnight Monday through Wednesday only and are not kept there on weekends when more residents are in attendance.

“We try to be good neighbors,” Handel said, though he admitted the harvesters can be loud at 7 a.m. when

• AUGUST 2020 • PAGE 7

(Continued from page 5) they are started up.

Handel said the only time weeds are left on a harvester overnight is if there has been a mechanical issue of some kind. If the breakdown happens early enough in the day, an attempt can be made to remove the weeds by hand.

On June 8, Handel said the dump truck that was going to be used for that purpose got stuck in mud and could not get there by the end of the day. The weeds were removed as early as possible the following day.

District Administrator Jim Deluca also said weeds are only left on harvesters overnight when unforeseen mechanical problems force them to be but it’s not the DLSD’s plan or desire to leave the weeds overnight.

Tonge was not satisfied with the responses he received from the DLSD. He said more effort should have been made to remove the weeds even if some workers had to put in overtime. He said Deluca needs to do more to focus on the issue to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

In Tonge’s opinion, there has to be a better place to store the harvesters but Handel said there isn’t.

With a fully developed lake, there aren’t vacant parcels not located next to existing homes along the shoreline to park the harvesters, according to Handel.

Tonge said he’s not a fan of having the harvesters parked overnight near his home but is willing to accept that.

However, weeds left on them overnight is unacceptable and the DLSD needs to do more to prevent it from happening.

HOURS:

Sunday-Thursday 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.

Friday & Saturday 10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.

State Road 50 Delavan • 262-728-1951

Regular breakdowns Deluca said mechanical issues like a fuel line or hydraulic line failure cannot be predicted and if it happens at the end of the day the harvesters are parked and fixed as soon as possible. Deluca said the DLSD does not permit overtime and many of the workers, who Handel said work 10 hour shifts, leave at the end of their shift for second jobs.

“Failures are the nature of these pieces of equipment as they work hard,” Deluca said.

If a mechanical issue happens early in the day, Deluca said an attempt is made to remove the weeds by hand, but that’s difficult, can take up to eight hours, and has led to injuries. He said weed harvester injuries are the top rated claim for workman’s compensation for most of the municipalities that have them.

Limited options Deluca said if the Town Board requested it, he could ask the DLSD commissioners to consider no longer parking the harvesters at those two locations, but it could mean an end to weed harvesting on that end of the lake.

Town Administrator John Olson said he was quite sure the board wants weed harvesting to continue on the west side of the lake and he does not expect the board to make such a request. He did say the town would be willing to support other ideas or options that might help out unhappy property owners if any are presented.

Town Chairman Larry Malsch said he has told the DLSD to empty the weeds daily and not leave them overnight.

Deluca said the DLSD has the right to park its harvesters at those properties based on DNR rules for lake front property owners and he was not aware of any law that prevented it.

Heather Marquardt, Walworth County Zoning Administrator, said as long as the harvesters are parked in the water, they are not violating county ordinances.

She did say no harvesting activity should be happening on the property itself including the parking of employee vehicles. Marquardt said parking business or commercial vehicles on a residential property to conduct business from that property is not consistent with residential land use. Handel said one employee vehicle is typically parked on the property when the harvesters are in use.

Marquardt said the DLSD has not yet been cited for that but has been cited in the past for installing a gravel parking area on the South Shore Drive lot and she herself posted a stop work order at the Manor Lane location last summer for activities related to harvesting.

Deluca said the county seems to want to stop the weed harvesting that has been going on for 117 years. He said the weeds that are removed are given to local farmers to use as fertilizer and the DLSD is one of the few to make an effort to remove and save fish that get caught on the harvesters.

“The Town and the DLSD will continue to work under our DNR permit and serve the public with these operations as it has since 1903,” Deluca said.

ADVERTISE IN THE BREEZE

351300

1101 ANN STREET DELAVAN, WI www.aacdelavan.com

FREE LOANER CARS, FINANCING & SHUTTLE

262-728-2944

WE SP EC IAL IN IZE CU ST OM SE ER RV ICE

Includes FREE Roadside Assistance, Towing, Oil Changes and Much More!

375810

Present this ad for $20 off any service over $100

SERVICE CORNER To Place Your Ad cAll JAckie (262) 725-7701 ext. 128

328 Kenosha St., Walworth, WI 262-275-2171 • www.toyntonfuneralhome.com 324030

377571

PAGE 8 • AUGUST 2020 • DELAVAN LAKE BREEZE

BURTNESS Chevrolet BUICK

GMC

For the Best Deals in Walworth County Driveburtness.com

1389 West Main Street Whitewater, WI 53190

1421 West Main Street Whitewater, WI 53190

Come See Us At Our 2 Locations!

WHEN THE PRODUCTS ARE SIMILAR IT’S THE DEALER THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE

262-473-2522 • 262-473-3072 • www.driveburtness.com

377566

AUTHORIZED SALES & SERVICE OF TM

Made In The U.S.A .

and

EQUIPMENT Includes Hand-held Equipment

LARRY’S TOWING & RECOVERY authorized dealer of wright and redmax

377569

1217 Grant Street, Lake Geneva, WI 53147 262-249-8698 • www.hookmeuplarry.com