July 2025 Newsletter
- Crockery Lake Association
- 5 days ago
- 6 min read
JULY 2025 NEWSLETTER
Crockery Lake Association
Helpful Links:
Crockery Lake Website:Â www.crockerylake.org
Facebook Page:Â www.facebook/crockerylake
Independence Day Celebration – July 3, 2025
CROCKERY LAKE ASSOCIATIONÂ
JULY 2025Â NEWSLETTER
CROCKERY LAKE WEBSITE:Â www.crockerylake.org
CROCKERY LAKE EMAIL: crockerylakeassociation@gmail.com
CROCKERY LAKE FACEBOOK:Â www.facebook/crockerylake
A GREAT LOSS FOR CROCKERY LAKE
Patricia Kay Wolters 5/18/39-7/14/25
Crockery Lake's own Patricia Wolters has departed this earth on July 14, 2025. Pat was a fervent advocate for Crockery Lake for almost 60Â years. Along with her husband, Karel Wolters (d. 2/10/24), they helped form the Crockery Lake Association. They organized the fireworks, helped start and run the Senior Dinners program for Chester Township for over 30 years, helped form the Grand City Show Skiers, and learned everything they could learn about lakes and lake quality. Crockery Lake and their family, which included everyone they knew, were the most important things to Pat and Karel. They both had hearts bigger than the lake itself and never met a person who didn't become a friend.
Pat Wolters will be missed for her kindness, her love for others, her love for Crockery Lake, and her wonderful laugh. She leaves a legacy of good lake stewardship that we hope to continue for Crockery Lake.
Visitation with friends and relatives will take place from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Friday, August 29, 2025 at Cook Memorial Chapel (East Building), 4235 Prairie St. SW, Grandville, MI 49418. A celebration of Patricia’s life will commence 1 p.m. Friday, August 29, 2025 at Cook Memorial Chapel (East Building). Interment will be at Rosedale Memorial Park after the celebration of life.
The family welcomes memories and messages at www.cookcaresgrandville.com in their guestbook online.
We also bid farewell to Don McClure February 23, 1939 - August 24, 2024
Don and Susan McClure bought their cottage on Van Dyke in 1963. Don taught himself to be a carpenter after he replaced the joists in half the floor, used marine grade plywood, laid red oak flooring, and stopped the water from coming under the cottage. Over the years he built garages, (he and Andy (son) built the garage at the cottage that Rab (son) had designed as an architectural student at Yale, remodeled both cottage and the house in Pennsylvania, and built furniture, including bookcases in every room and an oak Shaker table that seated ten in his dining room.Â
Our newest Riparian
The newest little lake resident arrived on Sunday, July 27, 2025. Truett David Heitzman is the son of Tyler and Mary and baby brother of Cooper. And the great-grandson of Georgia Kaywood. Congratulations to everyone!
JULY 3 2025 CELEBRATION ON CROCKERY LAKE
BOAT PARADE WINNERS
What an outstanding day we all shared on our lovely lake! There were gatherings everywhere and the sound of laughter and fun was a welcome sound. The boat parade had 7 boats entered this year! Thanks and a round of applause to all who participated! And the winners are:
We hope you are all thinking about a theme for next year 2026 for a great birthday celebration for our country!
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LAWN DECORATING WINNER
The Langelands swept away the Lawn Decorating Contest for 2025! They showed lots of Red, White, and Blue patriotism including a Crockery Lake Alligator! Thanks for giving us a great show!Â
FIREWORKS 2026 - USA’s SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL 250 YEARS!
Thank you to everyone who donated to the fireworks fund this year. They were fabulous! And a special thanks to all of you who have donated to the 2026 fireworks fund so far. Crockery Lake fireworks are totally paid for from contributions from our lake residents and friends. In order to enjoy the same show next year we need to raise a minimum of $7,500. Anything more than that will just enhance the fireworks display!Â
We hope to add more excitement for our July 3, 2026 celebration! Donations can be made via the website at: www.crockerylake.org or
Send to:Â Greg Slater, 2500 Crockery Shores Road, Casnovia, MI 49318Â
BECOME AN ASSOCIATION MEMBER
Being an association member benefits you and everyone. The CLA Association plans the July 3 activities including the fireworks. They closely monitor the health of the lake and they are involved with Chester Township, Ottawa County, EGLE, Restorative Lake Sciences, and Professional Lake Management for a healthy, beautiful lake for everyone to enjoy. They keep you informed by the newsletters, website, and Facebook page. Visit us at www.crockerylake.org for more information about what your Lake Association does for you
Dues are $40 per household. Any amount you give over the $40 goes towards fireworks. Firework donations are tax deductible.
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Lake Testing and Clean-up FUNDRAISER
Another fundraiser to help raise money for the lake testing and clean up. Lesha has options on T-Shirts, Hoodies, and Polo shirts with our lake emblem on them. Designed and printed by Lesha Gustin. Contact Lesha at 616-822-7139 call or text. Thank you, Lesha.
LAKE QUALITY REPORT
To date the lake has had a weed treatment in May and an algae treatment in July. The excessive heat we have experienced in July has caused some filamentous algae to form. Although it is not pleasant to swim with it is perfectly harmless. We are monitoring the lake daily for any deterioration that could indicate a more problematic algae bloom. Thanks to Chuck and Linda Lane who monitor the visibility and the dissolved oxygen every week. We are keeping close tabs on water quality.
We have consulted with Dr. Jennifer Jones who is doing our state required testing that is required to apply for EGLE permits for lake remediation. She has suggested that we wait to do another algae treatment with any copper product because it will deplete the dissolved oxygen even more. That would be very detrimental to the fish. So unless there is a serious algae event we will hold off on another treatment.Â
This is what she reported this week: The bottom TP (Total Phosphorous) concentrations were 250 mcg/L and 460 mcg/L so they are climbing higher (becoming worse). It will be interesting to see if September is higher yet. The very high heat and water temps are selecting for cyanobacteria and outcompeting other good algae. The hot temps can also exacerbate filamentous algae. I would avoid any copper treatments during periods of very hot temps as this can lead to localized DO (dissolved oxygen) depletion in the epilimnion.
STATUS OF CONTRACT FOR LAKE REMEDIATION
The contract between Ottawa County and Chester Township for Lake Remediation that was signed in December 2024 has been challenged by the new board of commissioners. Currently, it is being reviewed by attorneys for Ottawa County and Chester Township. An Ottawa County Judge requested additional factual information from both parties that they both agree are factual. Once the attorneys agree to all facts they can ask for a new hearing date for the judge to decide validity of the contract. We appreciate Chester Township and their commitment to helping us and our community have a healthy lake and watershed.
ADVERTISERS Â
Advertising in this newsletter is FREE to Crockery Lake Association Members.
Advertising for business is $25/year. Inclusion of any advertisement in the CLA Newsletter does not equate to an endorsement by the Crockery Lake Association. Â
CLA Board of Directors
President/Betsy Ludwick betsylud@gmail.com.   616.723.5704
Position Expires:4/30/27Â Â
Newsletter Editor, Website and Facebook page Administrator
Representing: 2392 Van Dyke - 2516 Van Dyke
VicePresident/DanAtwood
Position Expires: 4/30/26 Â Â Â 616.240.5670
Representing: 2833 - 2871 Crockery Shores, Kayce Lane, Crockery Woods
Treasurer/Greg Slater greg.gsesllc@outlook.com
Position Expires: 4/30/28 Â Â Â 616.638.6930Â
Representing: 2221 Van Dyke - 2391 Van Dyke
Secretary/Paula Humphrey paulah2700@gmail.com
Position Expires: 4/30/28 Â Â Â 616.498.0363
Representing: 2700 Van Dyke St - 2835 Van Dyke
Bob Blauwkamp - rblauwkamp@gmail.com
Position Expires: 4/30/27.    616.957.9007
Representing: 2332 - 2550 Crockery Shores, 24th Ave, Hoover
Blake Williams - Blake.a.williams@hotmail.com
Position Expires: 4/30/26 Â Â Â 774.836.7060
Representing: 2081 Van Dyke - 2211 Van Dyke
Bill Marks - williamjrix@gmail.com
Position Expires: 4/30/2026. Â Â 616.430.8372
Representing: 2563 Crockery Shores Road - 2798 Crockery Shores Road
Tyler Heitzman - tdheitzm@gmail.com
Position Expires: 4/30/27.    616.293.5029
Representing: 2519 Van Dyke - 2681 Van Dyke
ADVERTISERSAdvertising in this newsletter is FREE to Crockery Lake Association Members.
Advertising for business is $25/year. Inclusion of any advertisement in the CLA Newsletter does not equate to an endorsement by the Crockery Lake Association.