Saturday Quote
“If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world ablaze!”
St. Catherine of Siena
A Bedtime Poem on Cold Nights for Little Leaves
I’ll tell you how the leaves came down,
The great tree to his children said.
You’re getting sleepy, yellow and brown,
Yes very sleepy, little red.
It’s quite time to go to bed.
“Ah,” begged each silly pouting leaf,
Let us a littler longer stay.
Dear Father Tree, behold our grief,
‘Tis such a very pleasant day.
We do not want to go away.”
So for one more day
The great tree to his children clung.
Frolicked and danced and had their way,
Among the autumn breezes swung.
Whispering all their thoughts among.
“Perhaps the great tree will forget,
And let us stay until the Spring,
If we all beg and coax and fret.”
But the great tree did no such thing,
He smiled to hear their whispering.
Come children all to bed, he cried,
And e’er the leaves could urge their prayer.
He shook his head, and far and wide
Fluttering and dancing through the air
Down came the leaflets – everywhere.
I saw them – on the ground they lay
Golden and red – a huddled swarm
Waiting for one, from far away
White bed-clothes heaped upon her arm
Should come to keep them safe and warm.
The great bare tree looked down and smiled,
“Good-night dear little leaves,” he said.
And from below each sleepy child
Looked up and murmured
“It is so nice to go to bed.”
Now for Some History: 1947
Two hotel guests stand next to the original Casino in 1947.
Seasons Come and Go
With Columbus Day behind us, and the days getting shorter and colder, here is a great image courtesy of NOAA & NASA which shows the earth’s position and axis in relation to the sun. Someone recently described this time to me as the “sad days away from Huletts.”
This is a photograph of a poster that illustrates the position of the Earth for each season, spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Courtesy of NOAA & NASA.
Bits of Everything
Study Shows Adirondackers Pay High Taxes
The Adirondack Journal reports on an interesting study.
Canon Mishap Story Questioned
The Post Star tells about a freak accident at Fort William Henry in Lake George.
Pakistani President Lands in Rutland
Who would have known? According to Denton Publications the President of Pakistan touched down in Rutland recently.
Washington County Searching for Ways to Deal with Budget
According to the Post Star, the Washington County Board of Supervisors is looking at all options to close the gap in next year’s budget.
Columbus Day 2009
Columbus Before the Queen – Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze – 1843
Click the Image to See Full Scale
October 12, 1492
“On the thirty-fifth day of the voyage, two hours after midnight, a sailor on the Pinta shouted “Land!” He could see land by the light of the moon. That morning, October 12, 1492 all the men went ashore. The place? Guanahaní, an island in the Bahamas, renamed San Salvador.”
“Called Guanahani by the native Lucayan Indians, Columbus renamed the island San Salvador or “Holy Saviour,” noting in his journal: “The beauty of these islands surpasses that of any other and as much as the day surpasses the night in splendour.””
Foster Brook Dredging Pictures
For those who have been waiting patiently, here are a series of pictures which show the dredging work on Foster Brook. (You’ll need to click on the picture to see it in full resolution and then use the “Back” button to return to this page.)
Saturday Quote
“Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear? All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.”
Matthew 6: 26-33
Now for Some History: 1960?
I came across this old picture of some folks enjoying the soda fountain. My guess is that it is from approximately 1960.
If you know any of the people in the photo, please let me know.
Friday Afternoon Fun
Never Underestimate the Power of a Great Story
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6EJfM59ZO4
Moose Sighted
If you are going to be around Huletts this weekend, be sure to have your camera.
Neil Hannan reports that last Sunday while heading back to the Lake from Whitehall, he saw a moose in the field on the left hand side of the road just after going over the South Bay Bridge. We had a moose in Huletts about this time a few years ago, so perhaps this one will stay around for awhile.
Interview with Town Board Candidate George Gang
Today, I present my questions to town board candidate, George Gang, and his responses. He is running for one of the two seats up for election on the town board this year.
Could you please tell us about yourself and why you are running for the town board?
“I have been a member of this community for thirty years and have been attending town meetings, on and off, for most of that time. My wife of twenty eight years is a teacher at BOCES in Hudson Falls and I am currently retired. I was a Senior Purchasing Agent for Tyco Healthcare in Argyle for 22 years until the medical device plant moved to Mexico. I have an undergraduate degree in Business Management and a Masters degree in Public Administration. I am currently a full time care-taker for my mother-in-law and a seasonal part-time employee for H&R Block as a tax preparer. I see my role on the town board as a person who will work toward bringing the diverse communities of Dresden together for the betterment of all.”
The first question has to do with taxes. The readers of the Huletts Current are concerned about rising property taxes. The current Town Board has cut taxes 2 years in a row. Will you try to continue this practice? If not, why? If so, what will you cut?
“As for the current level of taxes levied upon the residents of this town I can promise I will do my best not to allow any future increases. I realize that we have very little to say concerning the level of school taxes we now pay to Whitehall due to taxes assessed thru property values. I will work with other towns and our state representatives to make changes in the way our school taxes are assessed. We also need to look into the availability of stimulus funds for projects around the town, possibly to upgrade and repair our town buildings or better cell phone availability. Monies are being made available and if we do not access them they will be spent somewhere else.”
Many residents of Huletts Landing have turned to renting their property in order to afford the exorbitant taxes we pay. What steps should the Town of Dresden take to market and promote Huletts Landing as a popular destination?
“I feel that the marketing of our town, both Lake George and Lake Champlain, is an area that the town has not handled very well. There are many ways, some with little cost, in which Dresden can be positively promoted. For one we should have signs on both the north and south borders of the town on RT 22. We should also have an official town website that is tied into the state tourism website. Fishing on Lake Champlain, water sports on Lake George, historical sites and the Beach at Huletts can all be presented. These can be completed at minimal costs with help from the diverse residents of the town.”
This year the Town kept the Washington County Beach open. Could you give us your thoughts on how things are going with the Town running the beach and what we should expect in the future if you are elected?
“We are currently awaiting a report from the current town board on the status of the town helping to keep the Washington County Beach opened this past summer. I cannot comment on this until this report is issued but I will say that it is imperative that the beach remain opened and maybe we can find some stimulus monies to help keep it opened in the future.”
You have lived in Dresden for a number of years and have been involved in civic life. What are some of the things you would share about small town life with those who might be thinking of moving here?
“I moved up here from the bustling city of New York. Having traveled extensively around the world, both with the Navy and on my own, I found Dresden to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. For the peace and quiet, access to two beautiful lakes, a strong sense of history and all of the friendly people, this town cannot be beaten.”
“Again, thank you for the chance to answer these questions to the voters of Dresden. If anyone would like to discuss these subjects, or any others, any further they can contact me at the phone number below or visit me on Lake Road.”
Thank you,
George D. Gang
39 Lake Road
Whitehall, N.Y. 12887
499-2761
geordav@aol.com
Thanks All Around
I received copies of these nice two letters from Patricia Portela and Patrick Gorman to Walter Lender, Executive Director of the Lake George Association expressing their thanks to the LGA for its work on the Foster Brook dredging project.
Update October 6, 2009 – 5:00 pm
Mr. Lender replied back:
“What wonderful notes. I can’t tell you how much we appreciate them. You folks have been great to work with, too, and you have been a big help coordinating with the residents. Thank you all very much!”