News & Opinion About Huletts Landing, N.Y.
After reading the entry about the Bald Eagle sighting I wanted to share that we also saw a bald eagle the first week of August, just past lands end. We sat there in the boat and watched for a while. He/She didn’t seem to mind us, and preened.
Heather Bondesen
So you’re sitting around at the end of the summer with nothing to do and you pick up that old yo-yo sitting on the shelf.
Here’s Jensen Kimmitt the 2010 World yoyo Contest 1A 1st Place winner to inspire you!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knYCilujrFM
Invasive Clam Found in Lake George
The Lake George Mirror reports on a new harmful invasive species in Lake George.
Hikers: Like George’s Best Kept Secret
Cat and Thomas Mountains. Ever heard of them? If you love to hike you’ll want to read the Adirondack Almanack.
That’s the Sound of the Garbage Hitting the Fan
The DEC will listen on the island trash issue. The Post Star has a story.
This Saturday: The Antique & Classic Boat Show
The Free George has all the details on this weekend’s Antique and Classic Boat Show in Lake George.
Hutch Metro Celebrates Her Birthday, Empire State Building Plays Party Pooper
Bravos to the Hutchinson Metro Center who celebrated what would have been Mother Theresa’s 100 Birthday. Read what it’s all about in the NY Post.
She Does a Brooklyn Accent Too
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UgpfSp2t6k
Just a quick notice that the FHHL Board of Trustees meeting will be held:
Saturday, August 28 at 9:00 am in the new Huletts Firehouse.
(The children’s sing-along will be on Saturday at the Gallery – the old firehouse)
After the Trustees meeting, the yearly annual meeting will be held and is open to the public.
So if you’re interested in history and want to do something positive in the community, stop by and learn more.
Transfer Stations Could Be Cut?
The Post Star reports on Washington County’s planning regarding their transfer stations.
Campers Organize
The Lake George Mirror tells us that island campers have formed their own advocacy group to protest the proposed garbage rules on Lake George islands.
Lake George Beach Closed by Fuel Spill
Shepard Park has had a rough go the last two years. A fuel spill closed the beach according to the Post Star (with video).
How Does Colorado Compare to the Adirondacks?
The Adirondack Almanack has a great post on how Colorado is different from the Adirondacks.
Dear Editor:
The Lake George Association is concerned about the decision made by the Department of Environmental Conservation to discontinue retrieving garbage from collection centers on the Lake George islands. We urge the DEC to reconsider this decision and ask local citizens who love Lake George to join us in finding a better solution.
Expecting our natural resources to bear the burden of cost cutting is fiscally irresponsible. At the LGA, we believe that the cost of cleaning up this problem will be higher than preventing it from happening in the first place.
Alternative solutions could result from a dialogue with Lake users. The LGA has considerable experience on the Lake and a deep understanding of boating, recreation and water quality. Given the opportunity to discuss the situation with the DEC, we could help find a solution that continues to protect Lake George and the water we use for drinking, swimming, fishing and boating.
While the “carry in – carry out” policy is ideal in theory, trash finds its way into the Lake regardless of policies. One isolated example: after Log Bay Day 2010, the LGA hauled away several large bags of trash.
Even conscientious Lake users need a convenient way to dispose of trash. It is considerably easier to empty trash at a central collection point than to clean up wind-blown garbage, especially when it has left an island and gone on to desecrate the Lake.
To allow trash to enter Lake George — after generations of exemplary stewardship by DEC staff — would be shameful.
Sincerely,
C. Walter Lender
Executive Director
Lake George Association
Tuesday’s children’s program sponsored by Friends of Historic Huletts drew a large crowd to listen to stories about the American Revolution.
Scuba divers working for Lycott Environmental install barriers over a small milfoil bed off of Huletts.
This morning I took a short kayak ride out to some scuba divers who I spotted in the bay. It turns out they work for Lycott Environmental, a company that has been hired by the Lake George Park Commission to work on eradicating Eurasian water milfoil from the lake.
Eurasian water milfoil was accidently introduced to North America from Europe and spread westward into inland lakes primarily by boats and also by waterbirds. It is an invasive species in Lake George.
This particular bed had been worked on last year and has responded well.
“Last year we put a barrier down and this year almost all the milfoil is gone,” said one of the workers. “We see a little growth around the edges, but we hand harvested last week and now we’re adding some more barriers. We really see an improvement in this particular bed from last year.”
Here is a picture of a strand of milfoil, for those unfamiliar with what it looks like.
Thank you Lycott Environmental and Lake George Park Commission.
The State Department of Transportation has issued a press release saying that work will commence between exits 18 and 24 of the Northway later this month and continue into October.
This area of highway will be resurfaced and motorists should expect single lane and shoulder closures.
Existing pavement will be removed, portions of guide rails will be replaced or repaired, new asphalt and traffic data collectors will be embedded in certain sections of the highway.
If you’re traveling to or from Huletts, factor this into your trip.
Last night I took a short boat-ride with some friends. We headed across the Lake and behind Vicars island, heading south. We then trolled slowly between tiny Steere island and the shore. About 500 yards south of Steere island on the west shore, we looked up and there was a bald eagle perched on the top of a going-dead tree. We pulled right up underneath it and watched it for about 4 minutes. It then took off and flew south about another 100 yards to another tree on the west shore. Unfortunately I did not have my camera with me.
I would estimate that it was a relatively young bald eagle with about a 6 foot wingspan. What a sight!
So if you’re in the vicinity, keep your eyes open for a beautiful bald eagle.
The garbage I collected from County Route 6 from the “steep hill” sign at the top of the mountain to the old firehouse at the bottom of the mountain.
With the recent news that the DEC will no longer be collecting garbage from the islands next year, I decided to conduct a small “test” yesterday.
I decided to see how much garbage accumulates on the road as it leads into Huletts. I started at the top of the mountain and I worked my way down to the old firehouse. I collected garbage on both sides of the road. I used what I would call a “visual criteria”; if I could see it from the road, I would pick it up. While no means “scientific”, I think it pretty accurately reflects what accumulates on the road into Huletts.
Here is what I collected:
4 plastic bottles
4 tin cans
1 coffee cup and lid
3 cigarette cartons
1 paper towel sheet
It may not sound like a lot but when you consider that all this stuff would eventually find its way into the Lake, and it was only one trip down the mountain, I think it’s readily evident that this poses significant visual and environmental problems. I had to go to up the mountain later in the day and I already noticed “new” garbage which was not there earlier in the day when I conducted my “test”.
Woodsy owl’s old slogan; “Give a hoot – don’t pollute!” still applies.
Aug 13 (Fri) – 10am – 12noon – Pember Museum of Natural History – Bernadette, Museum Educator at this amazing Granville, NY museum, talks about mammals and birds of the Adirondacks.
Aug 17 (Tue) – 10am – 11:30am – Molly McMaster Reading – Adirondack Myths
Aug 21 (Sat) – 9:30am – 10:45am – Childrens’ Sing-A-Long – Elizabeth Straton, well-known singer and songwriter, will be teaching traditional patriotic, fireside, old-fashioned, & American tunes to children.
Aug 28 (Sat) – 9am – FHHL Annual Meeting
Aug 28 (Sat) – 9:30am – 10:45am – Childrens’ Sing-A-Long – Elizabeth Straton, well-known singer and songwriter, will be teaching traditional patriotic, fireside, old-fashioned, & American tunes to children.
Aug 31 – 10am – 11:30am – Molly McMaster Reading – Adirondack Nature Stories
All events to be held at the Huletts Gallery and Library (old firehouse) unless otherwise noted. There are no bathroom facilities at the Gallery.
Please email Lucinda Bhavsar (lucindafh@yahoo.com, 917.517.7826) with questions on Children’s Programs.
Open to all Huletts Landing residents and guests (and renters).
Updated 2010 program information is available on the website at
Huletts Family Hoe Down
Saturday, August 14th
7 pm – Midnight
@ The Casino
Dinner, Music, Games, 50/50 Raffle,
Prize for Best Dressed!!
Tickets:
Adults $15 **
Kids Under 8 $5
** Price includes draft beer + signature hoe down cocktail!
For Ticket Information contact
Doreen Stoecker or Carli Donsky (Smith)
(Or Contact the Casino: 499-0361)