June 2025 Newsletter
- Crockery Lake Association
- Jun 26
- 4 min read
JUNE 2025 NEWSLETTER
Crockery Lake Association
Helpful Links:
Crockery Lake Website: www.crockerylake.org
Facebook Page: www.facebook/crockerylake
Independence Day Celebration – July 3, 2025
🇺🇸 YARD DECORATING CONTEST
Show your patriotic spirit!
Decorate your yard for July 3 celebration—there’s a surprise prize for the best display!
🚤 BOAT PARADE
Time: Begins at 7:30 PM
Line-up: By 7:15 PM at Dave & Jody Hyde’s home
Address: 2155 VanDyke – (616) 822-0401
• Register early with Jody Hyde. Forms and boat numbers are on her front bench.
• Please display your number on the starboard (right) side of the boat and return it after
the parade.
• Each boat will make two laps around the lake.
• Open to all, but prizes awarded to CLA members only.
Prizes:
🥇 First Place – $100
🥈 Second Place – $50
🥉 Third Place – $25
New this year: COMMUNITY JUDGING!
Vote for your favorite boat by texting the boat number to:
📱 616-638-6930
Deadline: 9:00 PM on July 3
One vote per phone number.
🔥 RING OF FIRE
Candles are $1.25 each, please pay your CLA rep when they collect your dues:
You can pick up your candles at Bob Blauwkamp – 2380 Crockery Shores Rd (by the back
door). Please do not leave money in the box.
• Light the ring at 9:30 PM
• Burns for 8–12 hours
• Use sand-filled milk jugs, buckets, ice cream buckets, or other fire-safe containers
🎆 FIREWORKS
Show starts between 10:00 and 10:15 PM from the southwest side of the lake.
If you love the fireworks, please donate toward the 2026 show (QR code at the end of the
newsletter). We would like to make next year EXTRA SPECIAL!
Residents are welcome to set off personal fireworks between dusk and 11:00 PM.
✅ Be safe
✅ Be respectful and cleanup
🇺🇸 USA 250th CELEBRATION – 2026!
We’re planning something extra special for our nation’s 250th birthday next year!
Expect:
🎆 Bigger fireworks with the help of your donations!
🚤 A grand boat parade
🎉 Community events
Have ideas? Email us:
👕 FUNDRAISER – 2026 FIREWORKS
“High Five to the Summer of 2025” T-Shirts
Heather gray shirts available now!
💵 $20 each – all profits go to the 2026 fireworks fund.
Order from:
📱 Lesha Gustin – 616-822-7139 (call or text)
High Five to the Summer of
2025
🌊 WAKE BOAT ETIQUETTE
Crockery Lake is an all-sports lake, but wake boats need special care:
• Wake waves are erosive to shorelines
• Pending legislation would require: ✅ Wake mode 500+ feet from shore
✅ 20+ feet water depth
While not law yet, please follow these guidelines now:
✔Use center of lake for wake sport mode
✔ Avoid shoreline
✔ Empty ballasts when not in wake sport mode
✔ After visiting other lakes, rinse & empty ballasts to prevent invasive species
💵 2025 DUES & FIREWORKS DONATIONS
Directors will soon visit to collect:
• $40 annual dues
• Optional extra donations for the 2026 fireworksPay by:
📬 Mail:
Greg Slater
2500 Crockery Shores Rd
Casnovia, MI 49318
🏦 Bank BillPay
📲 PayPal at: www.crockerylake.org (click on
“Association”)
📲 Venmo code 6930
Being a CLA member supports lake health, fireworks, and our shared community.
🌿 LAKE QUALITY UPDATE
In December 2024, Ottawa County Commissioners voted to fund the Crockery Lake
Restoration Project. After a change in leadership, the contract’s validity was questioned.
• Ottawa County hired an independent attorney for review
• A petition was filed in Ottawa County Court to invalidate the contract
• On June 6, 2025, the judge canceled the hearing, citing lack of agreed-upon facts
• Lawyers must now stipulate facts (who signed what, and when) before a ruling
• No deadline for a hearing has been set
Meanwhile:
• Restorative Lake Sciences continues testing for permits
• May 21, 2025: PLM treated parts of the lake for invasive weeds (only affected shoreline
homes received green notice sheets)
• No algae treatment before July 1 (only chelated copper is allowed before fish spawn ends)
• SeClear algae treatment scheduled for July 1 or 2
Due to expected hot weather, algae may increase. We are monitoring water quality to keep it safe
for swimming, fishing, and boating.
🌱 How You Can Help
• NO fertilizers near the water
• Keep grass clippings out of the lake
• Maintain septic and drain fields• If you have not had your septic tank pumped in the past 5 years, NOW is the time!
• Manage stormwater runoff responsibly
💧 OUR SHARED GOAL:
To enjoy our beautiful lake and keep it healthy for years to come.
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.
CLA Board of Directors
President/Betsy Ludwick
betsylud@gmail.com. 616.723.5704
Position Expires:4/30/27
Newsletter Editor, Website and Facebook
page Administrator
Representing: 2392 Van Dyke - 2516 Van
Dyke
VicePresident/DanAtwood
Position Expires: 4/30/26 616.240.5670
Representing: 2833 - 2871 Crockery Shores,
Kayce Lane, Crockery Woods
Treasurer/Greg Slater
Position Expires: 4/30/28 616.638.6930
Representing: 2221 Van Dyke - 2391 Van Dyke
Secretary/Paula Humphrey
Position Expires: 4/30/28 616.498.0363
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: 4/30/26 774.836.7060
Representing: 2081 Van Dyke - 2211 Van Dyke
Bill Marks - williamjrix@gmail.com
Position Expires: 4/30/2026. 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