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Saturday Quote

“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that but the really great make you feel that you too can become great. When you are seeking to bring big plans to fruition it is important with whom you regularly associate. Hang out with friends who are like-minded and who are also designing purpose-filled lives. Similarly be that kind of a friend for your friends.”

Mark Twain

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2024 Statewide Forest Ranger Actions

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents statewide. Working with other state agencies, local emergency response organizations, and volunteer search and rescue groups, Forest Rangers locate, and extract lost, injured, or distressed people from across New York State.

In 2024, DEC Forest Rangers conducted 362 search and rescue missions, extinguished 122 wildfires covering nearly 6,500 acres, participated in 60 prescribed fires that served to rejuvenate more than 1,155 acres of land, and worked on cases that resulted in more than 1,200 tickets and arrests.

“From wildfires, to floods, to search and rescue operations, whenever emergencies strike, DEC’s Forest Rangers are always the first to jump into action,” DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said. “I commend our Rangers for their heroic work to keep New Yorkers and our visitors safe in some of the most adverse conditions in the world, and for leading the state’s response to emergency situations. Their efforts to inspire the next generation of safe and responsible outdoor enthusiasts are instrumental in DEC’s efforts to support the outdoor recreation economy, and I encourage all New Yorkers interested in joining our ranks to visit DEC’s website to learn how to become the next New York State Forest Ranger and be part of their historic legacy of protecting New York’s forests.”

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Lake George Land Conservancy Protects 45 Acres in Bolton


Kayakers explored the area near the Homer Point Wetlands, shown here, during the LGLC’s 2024 Hike-A-Thon. Photo by Carl Heilman, II/Wild Visions, Inc. (Click image to see larger version.)

The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) has permanently protected 45 acres in Huddle Bay and along Homer Point Road in the Town of Bolton.

The protected land is nearly 90% wetlands, including emergent wetland that shares 2,500 feet of shoreline with Lake George. The wetlands preserve water quality by naturally filtering pollutants, sediments, and excess nutrients before they can enter the lake.

The wetlands on the property include several ecosystem types, including a black spruce-tamarack bog that is uncommon in the area. The conservation of this rare ecosystem provides critical habitat to a wide variety of animals for shelter, food, and breeding. Evidence of deer, black bear, bobcat, coyote, and small mammals has been observed on the property.

The LGLC purchased the land in a bargain sale from the Gillies family, who wished to see the sensitive land permanently protected from development.

“This natural land will forever protect the water quality of Lake George while providing important wildlife habitat and scenic enjoyment to residents and visitors alike,” said LGLC Executive Director Mike Horn. “We are grateful to the Gillies family for choosing to work with the LGLC and for their generous contribution towards this important project.”

“We are so excited to partner with the LGLC to make sure this sensitive wetland property is conserved in perpetuity,” said the Gillies family. “Our family has been enjoying Lake George for decades and we are pleased to be able to do our small part in protecting the lake. We would like to thank the LGLC for their efforts on this project and overall leadership to preserve important lands in the lake’s watershed.”

The protection of these 45 acres is made possible through a partial donation by the Gillies family, and through funding from a Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) grant, which is awarded and administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

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The Golf Course in January


This picture was taken on Thursday, January 9, 2025 looking out over the golf course. There is still very little snow in Huletts. However, the temperature was about 20 degrees. (Click image to see larger view.)

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Update: Wilderness Recovery Near Black Mountain

Town of Dresden
Washington County
Wilderness Recovery: On Dec. 21 at 6:45 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a mother concerned about her son after not hearing from him for three days. Seven Forest Rangers responded to coordinate search efforts with the Washington County Sheriff’s Department. The family indicated they often hiked Sugarloaf Mountain together, so search efforts focused on that area. At 10:20 p.m., Rangers found the 20-year-old from Whitehall deceased at the bottom of a cliff. Rangers conducted a carry-out operation back to the trailhead to turn the subject over to the County Coroner. The Washington County Sheriff’s Department is working with the DEC Division of Law Enforcement’s Bureau of Environmental Crime Investigations to investigate the incident.

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Top News Story of Huletts: 2024

Well here it is – the end of 2024. I hope it was a good year for everyone. While all the major media outlets are recapping the big events of the past year, I like to take one last look back at what I consider the top “news” story of Huletts Landing from this past year.

A lot happened this past year; there were flagmen on Route 22 for most of the summer – with multiple stretches down to one lane causing delays just to get to Whitehall, the remnants of Hurricane Irene struck Lake George hard on July 16, 2024 with lots of trees down, the Dresden Town Supervisor resigned unexpectedly and a new Town Supervisor was appointed by the Town Board. All of these things were quite newsworthy.

However, one story got everyone’s attention like none of the others. That big story was the Lake George Park Commission’s decision to test out the aquatic herbicide ProcellaCOR in two areas of northern Lake George, one area directly off of Huletts Landing.


A well-attended rally in opposition to the application of ProcellaCOR in Lake George was held at 8:30 am on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 outside the office of the Lake George Association. The Lake George Association opposed the use of ProcellaCOR in Lake George.

While there were lawsuits, opposition protests and even a restraining order, eventually a judge allowed ProcellaCOR to be applied by the Lake George Park Commission to the two locations in Lake George. Once that decision was made, the Lake George Park Commission moved quickly with the testing at the two sites.

While the application only allowed the test at the two sites in northern Lake George, there most likely will be more news (and lots of interest) about this in the year(s) ahead. So for 2024, I am naming the Lake George Park Commission’s decision to test out the aquatic herbicide ProcellaCOR in the two areas of northern Lake George as the story of year for Huletts Landing.

Happy New Year to all and on to 2025!

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Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays


Annunciation to the Shepherds
Taddeo Gaddi, church of Santa Croce, Florence
Circa – between 1327 and 1330

“Luke reports that the shepherds were tending their flocks outside Bethlehem when an angel suddenly appeared, announcing that the savior has just been born in the town. Medieval painter Taddeo Gaddi imagines the scene taking place on a steep hill in the middle of the night. Only one of the shepherds is awake so far, the other hunched like a rock behind him. Sheep and dogs are beginning to stir too, as the angel speaks from above – a shepherd and his flock waking up to the astonishing news.”

I wanted to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy holiday season.