News & Opinion About Huletts Landing, N.Y.
When I posted the top story for Huletts in 2010 last week, I mentioned that I had spoken to Adirondack Park Agency staff who gave me an update on the two competing cell tower proposals.
Today I received this notice in the mail. While it is dated November 10, 2010, I just received it today.
It is an “Application Completed Notice” for the Independent Towers (Vanderplaat) proposal. It gives a good, technical description of that proposed project.
Happy New Year’s everyone! I hope that 2011 brings you only good things.
Summer is not far off now!!
Ticonderoga Sentinel
Thursday, February 25, 1915
KILLED BY HIS OWN TRAIN
D & H Fireman Ground to Pieces
Under Cars Near Clemons
Stephen LaRose of Willsboro, a fireman in the employ of the Delaware and Hudson Company, on Saturday morning was ground to pieces by the train on which he was usually employed as a fireman. The accident occurred less than a mile south of Clemons, the first station north of Whitehall, shortly after nine o’clock in the forenoon, the unfortunate man being asleep between the rails at the time he met his death.
LaRose had on Friday night gone from Whitehall to Clemons to attend a dance and during the night he had engaged in a fight. Saturday morning he went to the Clemons station and not finding the ticket office open he broke the window with his fist and offered to fight all persons in sight. Later he started to walk to Whitehall and when about a mile south of Clemons he evidently became tired after his night of gaiety and without realizing his danger lay down between the tracks for a sleep.
He had been asleep but a short time when passenger train No. 1 came along. The engineer saw two men up the track a considerable distance ahead, and when within a short distance from where LaRose lay between the rails he noticed what appeared to be a coat on the track. For an instant he paid but little attention to the object, thinking it was a coat that one of the men farther along on the track had dropped, but almost instantly he realized that the object was a man. He then tried to stop the train to avoid the accident but it was too late.
LaRose was practically ground to pieces under the wheels of the cars and his death was instantaneous. The unfortunate man was married and had for several years been the fireman on the train which caused his death.
CARAVAGGIO
Adoration of the Shepherds / 1609
Oil on canvas
Museo Nazionale, Messina
(Click on the image to see full view.)
Great Pictures of Historic Gaslight Village
The Times Union, has an article entitled: Gaslight Village fades to black, with some great historical photos that may bring back memories.
State Considers Pay Freeze for Workers
The Post Star reports that the the state may try something different to reign in government employee salaries.
Roadrunner vs. the Coyote: In Live Action!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ5p9WttVhE
While I’ve been blogging here on the Huletts Current I’ve gotten in the habit of posting what I consider to be the top news story of Huletts Landing from the past year.
This is entirely my own opinion and while others may disagree, I’ve found it to be a fun exercise which a few have told me they enjoy.
So for 2010, the Huletts Current declares the top story from Huletts Landing to be ………..
The dueling cell phone tower proposals.
In one corner we have the AT&T / New Cingular Wireless proposal (otherwise known as the firehouse proposal), which has now been under review by the Adirondack Park Agency since December 28, 2009.
The Huletts Landing Volunteer Fire Company proposed siting a cell tower on its property in late December 2009.
The project is briefly described as follows: “installation of a 100 foot stealth monopole with three flush mounted antenna centered at 84 feet in height with room for two additional carriers to be located below. The monopole will be installed behind the new firehouse with equipment to be located inside the firehouse”.
In the other corner, we have the Independent Towers proposal (otherwise known as the VanderPlaat proposal), which has recently been deemed complete by the APA. The public comment period expired on December 2, 2010. (Which I just became aware of this past week because the APA never sent me a notice.) This is usually the last step before a permit is issued.
This would be for a 90 foot tall monopole which would be located back from the road on a 60 ft by 60 ft wooded area. It also would have room for a total of three carriers.
In a conversation I had with APA staff today, this is the current status of the two proposals. After performing a “balloon test” on both sites, (this is where a balloon is floated at the approximate height of the proposed tower), the conclusive evidence is that the Independent Towers (VanderPlaat) site will have a lower visual impact and have a greater signal range. AT&T is suspending their application until a decision is finalized on the Independent Towers application. At this time, the APA has determined that the Independent Towers application is complete. A final decision is expected by the first week in February.
So no matter where you stand on the issue of a cell phone tower or which proposal you favor, the Huletts Current deems this the biggest story of Huletts Landing from 2010.
Can you hear me now? Maybe in 2011?????
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLXn–oxvAk
I am sad to report that Janice Oliver passed away this past week.
Janice worked in the Clemons Post Office and also filled in at the Huletts Post Office for many years. Her brother, Duane Bennett, served on the Dresden town board for many years.
My memories of Janice are all positive. One of the last is when I stopped in the Huletts Post Office a few winters ago, when I was racing over the mountain to beat an incoming snow storm and Janice told me if I didn’t make it she would come looking for me. Her warmth and caring demeanor will be missed by all.
The Post Star published her obituary this week.
“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.”
The Lake George Park Commission released a press release this week, spotlighting the success they have had in fighting the spread of Milfoil. Here are some of the highlights:
A program to manage Eurasian Watermilfoil in Lake George, spearheaded by the Lake George Park Commission, eliminated more than 670,000 plants in 2010. 93% of the 183 sites where nuisance milfoil has ever been found in the Lake were clear of all milfoil at the conclusion of 2010.
The 2010 results are summarized in a report that has been posted to the Commission’s website www.lgpc.state.ny.us. The results indicate that the number of dense beds requiring future management has been steadily reduced in recent years. In 2010, for the first time, more bottom barriers were removed than added indicating that the program has reached a significant level of control.
The Lake George Park Commission has been the lead agency for the management effort for 25 years providing most of the funding from annual user fees paid by local boat and dock owners. Since 2006, State Senator Elizabeth Little has secured annual allocations of State funds from an invasive species program established that year. “It takes a tremendous effort to achieve a result like this,” said Senator Betty Little. “I’m pleased to have been able to play a small role in securing funding. The battle continues, but this level of success has implications beyond Lake George as other communities and organizations will no doubt look here to learn how to successfully fight invasive species that threaten water bodies throughout the state.”
Invasive species are now generally recognized as the most significant threat to the Lake. The Lake’s superior water quality, the signature characteristic for which Lake George is world renown, is in large part a function of complex biological interrelationships. Invasive species have the potential to alter these relationships, the web of life in the Lake, and thereby destroy the Lake’s most attractive qualities.
NY Times: Cuomo Wants to Cap Property Taxes
The NY Times has a good analysis of Andrew Cuomo’s tax cap plan with an illustration that shows how school spending is the contributing factor.
How Much is The Trash Plant Worth?
The Post Star looks at how much the Hudson Falls Trash plant could fetch the county.
Man Made Wetlands Coming
The Post Star reports that demolition began at Gaslight Village this week.
Bloomberg Glad He Saddled State with OTB
The NY Post reports that Mayor Bloomberg of NY City is happy he pawned OTB off on the state.
BBC produces a lot of high quality stuff. Here’s an outtake from the show “The Joy of Stats” which tracks the health and wealth of 200 countries over a 200 year period in an extremely imaginative way.
After watching this video you should feel better about the world out there. It makes you appreciate living in the times that we do.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbkSRLYSojo
On November 13th in some nameless food court at some mall somewhere in America, people started singing the “Hallelujah Chorus” of G. F. Handel.
I can’t stop watching this video because I can’t tell after the people who start it off, who the “plants” are and who the bystanders are who just decide to join in.
Big hat-tip to the girl who starts it off.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE
During December, Google releases its Google Zeitgeist report that aggregates “billions of search queries people type into Google” over the year. Google says the Zeitgeist “captures the spirit” of 2010.
Congratulations to Lake George’s Rachel Ray who was #10 in the fastest rising Food & Drink Category.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0QXB5pw2qE