We hope you all enjoyed the boat parade this year...

Did you happen to notice Boat #2, "Zebra Mussels - NOT In Our Lake!"?

We'd like to introduce you to the young adults participating on this boat - who are also the same hard working young adults that staff the boat launch as part of the LSCA Greeter Program.

From left to right: Brock Baker, Kate Hayes, Naomi Haviland, Levi Haviland, Lucas Milazzo.

Our Greeters have been trained to identify invasive species (like spiny waterflea, asian clams, water chestnut, starry stonewort and zebra mussels) to stop them from entering LSC. They also educate boaters about the importance of looking for these invasives on their boat or trailer so they are not spread to LSC or another lake.

Each year, they do a fantastic job checking vessels and educating the lake community on the dangers of invasive species for Lake St. Catherine. They appreciate your patience as you launch your boat so they can follow all the new safety guidelines.

Keeping invasive species out of LSC is extremely important - so for the past 2 years, we have worked to increase the days and hours that Greeters are are on duty at the boat launch.

The Greeters boat theme was designed to raise awareness of zebra mussels. Zebra mussels are an invasive, fingernail-sized mollusk that is native to fresh waters in Eurasia. Their name comes from the dark, zig-zagged stripes on each shell. Zebra mussels negatively impact ecosystems in many ways. They filter out algae that native species need for food and they attach to and incapacitate native mussels. Unfortunately, zebra mussels were recently discovered in Lake Dunmore, only 40 miles north of Lake St. Catherine.

We'd like to thank the Greeters for participating in the boat parade - but most importantly, we'd like to thank them for their work at the boat launch!

Finally, we'd like to thank their grandfather, Rod Willard for working the boat launch while the parade was going on. At 80 years old, he has proclaimed himself the oldest Greeter on duty in Vermont!

Rod Willard and his daughter, Marcia Baker.

So, a big thank you to all involved! Great job!