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Top News Story of Huletts: 2022

Huletts was a busy place in 2022. Things started to return to normal after Covid-19. While all the major media outlets are recapping the big events of the past year, I like to move into the new year by taking one last look back at what I consider the top “news” story of Huletts Landing from this past year. This year a phenomenon happened which many didn’t notice at first, but when I thought about it, was in my opinion, the biggest story of the year.

So for 2022 the top “news” story of the year for me was that property values and sales of real estate reached record highs on Lake George and in Huletts Landing. I’ll try to explain my rationale for picking this as the top story.

I’ve known for some years by the number of calls many receive from realtors, who are looking for listings, that demand for property on Lake George has been increasing. However, 2022 was a year like none before. I had heard anecdotally during the summer (but have no way to confirm this) that over 4,000 potential buyers were scouring the Lake George basin looking for homes to purchase and there were only approximately 100 for sale.

Those types of numbers, if accurate, would lead to an explosion of real estate prices. That is what seems to have occurred. There were a only a few sales that took place locally but many of those were done without even the properties being listed for sale. The prices for real estate all around Lake George and including Huletts Landing surged in 2022. A number of factors are contributing to this – the beauty of the lake, a scarcity of developable land, strong environmental regulations, many large parcels being preserved from any development whatsoever, and last but not least – people recognizing that there really isn’t any other place like Lake George.

This has other effects: those owning lake front property saw their tax assessments rise, those renting property saw rental rates increase, and with more expensive carrying costs for ownership of land – prices for everything in the basin will most likely go up.

So for 2022 the top “news” story of the year was property values and sales of real estate reached record highs on Lake George and in Huletts Landing.

So if you have children who may want to own a home on or near Lake George someday, make sure they’re doing their homework and getting along with the neighbors. Prices don’t seem like they will be coming down anytime soon.

Happy New Year and on to 2023!

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Dresden’s 2023 Town Budget Posted

The 2023 town budget for Dresden has been finalized and posted on the town’s website. Here is a basic summary.

The amount to be raised from taxes in 2023 increases from $824,926 in 2022 to $833,968 in 2023 – an increase of 1.0777%.

The Dresden and Huletts fire companies both receive the same amounts as 2022.

Page two lists the salaries of all town officials.

Many thanks to Dresden Supervisor Paul Ferguson (who is also the budget officer for the Town) and the entire Dresden Town Board for working so hard to keep our town property taxes low. Keeping spending in check, while growing the tax base keeps property taxes stable. Because of the town wide reevaluation that took place in 2022 – in which all parcels were reassessed – property taxes will differ based on each parcel’s new assessment. Tax bills will be mailed out shortly.

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Merry Christmas

IS 9:1-6
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom
a light has shone.
You have brought them abundant joy
and great rejoicing,
as they rejoice before you as at the harvest,
as people make merry when dividing spoils.
For the yoke that burdened them,
the pole on their shoulder,
and the rod of their taskmaster
you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.
For every boot that tramped in battle,
every cloak rolled in blood,
will be burned as fuel for flames.

For a child is born to us, a son is given us;
upon his shoulder dominion rests.
They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,
Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.
His dominion is vast
and forever peaceful,
from David’s throne, and over his kingdom,
which he confirms and sustains
by judgment and justice,
both now and forever.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!

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White Christmas in Huletts?


After a few days of heavy snow and power outages, things are returning to normal in Huletts. The snow has begun to melt but perhaps Huletts will see a white Christmas after all. (Click picture for larger version.)

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Fourth Sunday of Advent


Today is the last Sunday of Advent. The last candle to be lit is referred to as the Peace Candle.

Traditional Advent calendars were made of paper and imported from Germany. The boxes for the days of the season were shaped like windows and one was opened on every day of Advent. The numbers for each day were placed arbitrarily so that part of the fun was finding the appropriate day. The windows opened either onto religious scenes or images of toys, musical instruments or sweets.

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Third Sunday of Advent


On the third Sunday of Advent the joy candle, the only pink one, is lit. Many times it is also referred to as the Shepherd Candle.

In the United States, the Christmas tree became common in the early 19th century. Several cities with German connections lay claim to the first public American Christmas tree: Windsor Locks, Connecticut maintains that the Hessian soldier Hendrick Roddemore, who was captured after the Battle of Bennington, put up a Christmas tree there in 1777, while a POW there. Other claims are made by Easton, Pennsylvania (1816) and Lancaster, Pennsylvania (1821).

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Lake George Land Conservancy Buys More Property


View of the Bolton back country from land recently protected by the LGLC.

The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) has purchased two properties in the Town of Bolton, a total of 48 acres of forest and wetlands, including 3,745 feet of Indian Brook and seasonal streams that feed into it.

In October the LGLC purchased a 10-acre property that adjoins 130 acres previously protected in 2016. Extending the protected boundary with this acquisition enhances the ability of its large wetlands to slow and filter surface waters and to mitigate storm events that deliver sediment to the lake. Larger contiguous areas of conserved lands also provide better wildlife habitat and are more resilient to natural disturbances.

The second property, a 38-acre parcel that includes nearly 3 acres of wetlands, was purchased November 22. This land features a mature hemlock forest and steep slopes.

These projects are part of the LGLC’s Indian Brook and Northwest Bay Conservation Initiative that is focused on protecting the watershed of one of Lake George’s largest tributaries, Indian Brook, which empties into Lake George’s Northwest Bay. Including these two properties, the Initiative has permanently protected more than 2,500 acres of land within this critical region.

“In protecting these properties,” said LGLC Executive Director Mike Horn, “the LGLC is providing permanent protection for the waters flowing into Lake George, as well as expanding the connected landscape for animals that rely on healthy, intact forests.”

Current zoning on these two properties would allow for development that could result in disturbed soils, impervious surfaces, and septic systems that would threaten the water quality of Indian Brook and Lake George itself.

Mature and healthy hemlock stands exist on these lands, which will be monitored by the LGLC for signs of the invasive pest hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA). If HWA is identified, the LGLC will manage the infestation to prevent the spread and limit the water quality impacts of the invasive pest.

More information about the LGLC’s Indian Brook and Northwest Bay Conservation Initiative and how to support this project can be found at LGLC.org/projects

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Second Sunday of Advent


On the second Sunday of Advent the faith candle, also a purple one, is lit. Many times it is referred to as the Prophecy Candle or the Candle of Preparation.

It is believed the first Advent wreath dates to 1839 and was the idea of Johann Hinrich Wichern (1808-1881), a Protestant pastor in Hamburg and a pioneer in urban mission work among the poor.

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Stefanik Makes Formal Request for Amtrak’s Timeline to Reopen Adirondack Line

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik sent a letter to Chief Executive Officer Stephen J. Gardner formally calling on Amtrak to commit to a timeline for fully reopening the Adirondack line.

“I write to you today again urging Amtrak to publicly commit to a timeline for reopening full rail operations on the Adirondack line. The Adirondack line runs through the 21st Congressional District of New York has been closed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. To this point, Amtrak has failed to provide a specific date or details indicating when it will resume service along the Adirondack line. The Adirondack line is a significant economic driver for Upstate New York and the North Country. The continued delays to resume service are causing significant harm to citizens throughout New York State and the North Country, many of whom rely on passenger rail service for critical transportation,” Stefanik wrote. Read the full letter here.

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DEC Statewide Forest Ranger Highlights

Town of Fort Ann
Washington County
Wilderness Recovery: On Nov. 27 at 9:30 a.m., Forest Rangers were notified about a hunter having cardiac issues walking down the Pilot Knob trail to the Buck Mountain trailhead. When Rangers and Pilot Knob Fire arrived, the hunter was unconscious. Other hunters, hikers, and fire department personnel were performing CPR on the hunter. Rangers and EMS personnel continued these efforts. At 10:18 a.m., the hunter was declared deceased by the lead Fort Ann EMS Paramedic. DEC Investigator Goodrich also responded.

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Ernest ‘Tim’ Soothcage, Rest in Peace


I’m very sorry to report that Ernest ‘Tim’ Soothcage, 83, passed away on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 after a long illness.

‘Tim’ as he was known to many, did a lot of work in Huletts Landing in the 1980’s and 1990’s. He was an extraordinary contractor and an expert dock builder. I had many conversations with him where he explained how a dock can shift in the winter, and how a dock should be properly constructed. He had extremely high standards and everything he built for us, is working well. He worked for many people in Huletts Landing and had a wonderful laugh. He will be missed. Our condolences go out to his family.

He and his brothers ran Soothcage Brothers Construction and Arctic Cat Sales and Service. If you were fortunate enough to have work done by Tim, you had quality work done that was built to last. He expected perfection in anything he did.

In his retirement, he very much enjoyed his monthly breakfast get-together with his nephew Don Lee, and long-time friends William Pike, Ted Plude and Nick Sabo (deceased).

He was predeceased by his mother Hazel Rathbun and his father Leslie Soothcage and also his brothers Albert and Leslie Soothcage.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Janice; his daughter Tammy Kirshon (Steve), grandchildren Christopher (Amanda) and Carolyn Pepper (Scott) and great-grandson Miles; his daughter Terry Brooks and grandsons Derek and Ryan, his daughter Tonya Dudley (Chris) and grandchildren Olivia, Logan and Christopher Jr. (Courtney) and great-grandson Christopher III.

The family will conduct a graveside service in the spring. Tim’s arrangements are under the care of the Jillson Funeral Home, Inc. Online condolences may be made at jillsonfuneralhomes.com

“May God support us all the day long, till the shades lengthen and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in His mercy may He give us a safe lodging, and a holy rest and peace at the last.”

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First Sunday of Advent

It’s not known when Advent was first celebrated, but it has certainly existed since the days of the early church. According to the historian/bishop St. Gregory of Tours, the celebration of Advent was in existence in the 5th century when the Bishop Perpetuus of Tours, who died in 490, ordered the faithful to fast three times a week from St. Martin’s Day, November 11th until Christmas Day.

Today’s traditions during Advent are both religious and secular. Some originated as religious and have become less so, and most began in Lutheran areas of Germany. These traditions included praying an Advent themed daily devotional (a book of Bible verses and prayers for each day of the season), lighting an Advent wreath, lighting a Christingle, performing seasonal music, keeping an advent calendar, and of course, erecting a Christmas tree.

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Notice of the Start of Construction for Segments 1 & 2 of the Champlain Hudson Power Express Project (through Dresden)


The Champlain Hudson Power Express Project will run down route 22 through the Town of Dresden.

On or about November 18, 2022, construction activities for certain parts of Segments 1 and 2 of the Champlain Hudson Power Express Project (“CHPE”) are anticipated to begin. The Construction Zone for Segments 1 and 2 consist of a 17.6-mile overland cable route running from the western shore of Lake Champlain in the Town of Putnam to the Canadian Pacific (“CP”) Railroad right-of-way (“ROW”) in the Village of Whitehall. This underground transmission line segment runs through the Towns of Putnam, Dresden and Whitehall, as well as the Village of Whitehall, via County Route 3, Lake Road, New York State Route 22 and Bellamy Street to the CP Railroad ROW, as shown on the enclosed map. The initial construction work will commence at the Project’s construction laydown area located off of Ryder Road in Whitehall.

On October 13, 2022, the New York State Public Service Commission approved CHPE’s Environmental Management & Construction Plan (“EM&CP”) for Segments 1 and 2 of the Project. Upon receipt of a Notice to Proceed with Construction letter sent by the New York State Department of Public Service’s Office of Electric, Gas and Water, CHPE will be authorized to commence construction activities for the approved Segments.

CHPE has established a toll-free number for questions regarding the Project, including a complaint resolution plan for issues arising during construction: 1-800-991-CHPE (2473).

Questions or requests for further information can be directed to: publicoutreach@chpexpress.com or by mail to Molly Hollister, WSP USA, One Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, New York 10119. Facility construction falls under the jurisdiction of the Commission, which is responsible for enforcing compliance with environmental and construction conditions, and which may be contacted through Matthew Smith, Office of Electric, Gas and Water, New York State Department of Public Service, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223, via telephone at (518)474-8702
or email at matthew.smith@dps.ny.gov.

Details of the planned work locations, including construction drawings showing in detail the approved Segments, are available on the Project website at: https://chpexpress.com/overviewof-public-documents/environmental-management-construction-plan/. The full Commission docket for the Project can be accessed via the Commission’s website at:
http://documents.dps.ny.gov/public/MatterManagement/CaseMaster.aspx?MatterCaseNo=10-T0139.

Paper copies of the EM&CP for Segments 1 and 2 will be available for viewing at the following local document repositories: Black Watch Memorial Library, 99 Montcalm St., Ticonderoga, NY 12883; Whitehall Free Library, 12 Williams Street, Whitehall, NY 12887; Dresden Town Hall, 1 Lillians Way, Clemons, NY 12819; and Putnam Town Hall, 14 Putnam Center Rd, Putnam Station, NY 12861.