Fifth Annual PLIA Paddle Poker Tournament
Mother Nature outdid herself and participants took advantage of the sunny, blue skies as they paddled to five different stations around the lake on Saturday, September 14. 
At each station they were greeted by hosts on a dock or beach or even pontoon boat with refreshments and a playing card to add to their growing poker hand. Some groaned at their bad luck while others exulted in their good fortune. Since there would be prizes for both best and worst hands, the tension built with every card selected.
After all stations had been visited, 
paddlers beached their watercraft at the last stop, where they could compare their hands with others, buy additional cards, choose where to deposit their raffle tickets, and generally socialize while enjoying an array of snacks.
Organizer Shelly Heit welcomed the crowd and thanked
the event sponsor Mountain Road Trading Post. She then introduced the station hosts: Mark and Michele Lefebvre, Bob and Karen Given, Catherine and Roger Frieden, Bill and Ann Noeth, Sue and Mike Herron, and Barb Thompson. She also acknowledged the wide array of raffle prize donors, the biggest number in the Tournament’s history.
Milfoil Dive Coordinator Bob Given gave a brief talk on the status of milfoil in the lake with a summary of recent finds and extractions. Since extensive eradication efforts last summer paid for by a grant from NHDES, milfoil infestations have been drastically reduced. This plant is persistent, however. He stressed the need for more volunteer search divers to look for milfoil plants and explained the process. He also urged volunteers to consider becoming certified as Weed Control Divers.
Next it was time for Mark Lefebvre to announce the results of the poker tournament. The three winners of high-scoring poker hands were (1) Mary Beeman, (2) Mitch Hale, and (3) Mark Wageling. Lowest hand was held by Tom Duffy, who gamely accepted his consolation prize.
Then it was time to pick raffle tickets, with several prizes going to the same family, but 
most going to an assortment of very happy winners.
There were smiles all around as people made their way back home after a delightful afternoon of good company, fun, and games. And most important, the PLIA was a winner with $2,000 raised from the event.
