Gaslight Village – In Brief – Decision Due Soon

An interesting project is close to being finalized by Warren County, the Town of Lake George and Lake George Village. There is an approximately 12 acre parcel which is now owned 62% by Warren County, 19% by the Town of Lake George and 19% by Lake George Village. It is the former location of Gaslight Village (the Opera House and Cavalcade of Cars).

A group of environmental organizations have partnered to obtain a conservation easement to build a man-made wetland on approximately 10 acres. There are three different options being considered for the remaining 2 acres. To read about the different options, click here.

Man made wetlands have been the subject of much debate as to whether they actually work but the taxpayers of Warren County and the two municipalities will be paying for the maintenance of the entire parcel going forward. The environmental organizations have advocated Concept # 1 (all buildings removed from the remaining two acres) but a number of people would like to use the existing structures on the two acres, not subject to the conservation easement, for public use.

The subplot of all of this, is to see what the respective governments agree to. A decision may come as early as today.

Updated 3:45 pm – March 20, 2009

The Warren County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously today to approve Concept #3. (Cavalcade of Cars renovated as closed structure; Opera House renovated as open air pavilion.)

It’s Not All Legalese

The public comment period for the draft stream corridor rules being considered by the Lake George Park Commission has now expired. Instead of focusing on the environmental or property rights issues involved, I thought this letter was probably the best I’ve seen at explaining the legal issues involved.

It is written by Mark Schachner, an attorney for the Town of Lake George, who at one point represented the Huletts Landing Property Owners Civic Association. It was cc’ed to all the towns in the basin and ultimately floated out to you on the Huletts Current.

Mr. Schachner raises some serious questions about how the Lake George Park Commission has handled this process and points out some apparent deficiencies in their legal methodologies. This letter only focuses on the legal process of adopting the draft stream rules, it does not address any environmental issues of the current debate.

As citizens of our great country, the legality of our laws should be paramount to all. Read the whole thing. (It’s four pages and the download is over 1 MB, so it will take a few seconds to load.)

Black Market Animal Trade Busted

ALBANY, NY (03/19/2009) An extensive undercover investigation into the poaching, smuggling and illegal sale of protected reptiles and amphibians by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has led to charges against 18 individuals for 14 felonies, 11 misdemeanors and dozens of violations, DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis announced today.

These are some of the types of turtles that were being poached.

To read about the operation click here.

Seen Any Golfers Like This?

When I first saw this video, I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. I will say, if you ever see any golfers that do this, you might want to run away. Or then again, you might want to watch.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twQyu3XIxHQ

Bits of Everything

If This Isn’t Squatting, What Is?

Isn’t there a sci-fi movie plot where there’s a little town out in the middle of no-where and they do things there “differently?” The Wash Blog has a piece on how the Town of Whitehall goes about occupying their office space. There are only a few problems: they don’t own it, they don’t pay rent, and the owner doesn’t want them there.

A Lot of Suffering in the Adirondacks

North Country Public Radio has a poll about the number of people who say they are really suffering in the latest economic downturn.

Now For Some History – 1927

With the country’s recent economic difficulties, and our treasury printing money like crazy, this is an interesting piece of memorabilia. It is an actual bank note issued by the Bolton National Bank of Bolton Landing in 1927. Banks once issued their own notes as “currency” which could be used to purchase things. Maybe it was used by someone to ride the steamboat to Huletts!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

The Legend of St. Patrick

The boy with his hands bound behind his back was chained to other slaves on the deck of the pirate ship. He had been in the dark hold so long that now the daylight blinded him. Beyond the shoreline the earth wore the greenest-green he had ever seen. Above it, in the distance, rose the hills and mists and the mountains of the Antrim coast of Ireland.

Along with other slaves he was jerked ashore. As soon as his feet touched land, a powerful chieftain grabbed him.

“What are you called, lad?” he said, shoving him into the cart.
“Patrick Magonus Sucatus,” the boy answered.
“Fetched from …..?”
“Bannavem Taberniae. I was hunting in my father’s wood. The pirates came on me from behind.”
“A Roman, be ye?”
“My father is Calpurnius, a deacon and Roman official. My mother is Conchessa, and French.”
“Be ye Christian?”
“I am.”
“Away with all. Ye be Patrick, the slave, now, the pig tender.”

It was the fifth century. Ireland was wild, pagan country. Many of the Picts in the north were pirates and slave traders. They saw nothing wrong in this work. They were big brave men who wore bright tattoos on their skin. Their pagan religion had no love in it. No thought for another’s misfortune. It was cruel, and held the people by fear.

For seven years Patrick tended pigs on Slemish Mountain. He was often cold and hungry. It was then that he came to love Jesus so much. For Jesus was all he had left from home. And compared to the gods the Irish worshiped, Jesus was a marvel of love. He talked to him through all his loneliness. He spoke to him in the prayers he knew. And he made up new ones for comfort. Now all he wanted was to be free, so that he could become a priest.

There were only two things in this country he hated. And he always saw them together: the deadly snakes that slithered through the moist green fields, and the evil power of the pagan religion over the people.

One night he had a dream. In it he heard a voice saying: “Run away, Patrick. A ship is waiting to take you home!”

The next night Patrick escaped. He ran through the darkness to the Irish coast. There, as the dream promised, a ship was about to sail for France. He had no money, but he promised the captain his parents would pay his passage and he was taken aboard.

Aftre a perilous journey, they arrived at Patrick’s old home. There was much rejoicing. Patrick’s family told him of their great plans for him. But he was restless. He wanted to become a priest. He missed the land of his slavery. He went to France. There, we are told, he lived like a hermit and studied under the great monk-teacher, Martin of Tours. He became a priest, then a bishop. All the while he longed for Ireland.

And then one happy day Patrick was chosen to head a mission back to his land of slavery! It was not easy to change the faith of a nation and it was not easy for Saint Patrick. But gradually he worked through the land. Everywhere there was talk of him.

“The love of him,” the people said. “To leave his own and become one of us.”
“The greatness of him,” they said. “He drummed the snakes out of Ireland into the sea.”
“The pure wisdom of him,” they cried. “With the little shamrock he explains the Trinity.”
“The power of him,” they boasted. “He brings us heaven and ends the sting of death.”

Under Saint Patrick the whole country became Christian. Some say he was seventy-six when he died. Others swear he lived to be one hundred and twenty. Some say he comes back every Easter Eve, and that at midnight, if the wind is right, you can hear him singing hallelujahs in the Irish hills. It is indeed safe to say he will live in Irish hearts forever.

Happy St. Patrick’s day.

The Social Scene

Michael Rawitz & Tracy Einhorn

We just learned that Michael Rawitz, who many remember from his days working in the Casino, recently got married. Michael is the son of Charlie Rawitz who lives on Pike Brook Road. To see the happy couple, here is the story from the New York Post. Congratulations Mike and Tracy!

Fr. Santora writes about Fr. Santoro

Here is a story about longtime Huletts guest, Fr. Michael Santoro, written in NJ.com by Fr. Alexander Santora. It tells about the good work Fr. Santoro is doing in his NJ parish, running some great fish dinners during Lent. As some may know, Fr. Santoro loves to fish when he visits the lake.

New Hudson River Exhibit in Albany

The Albany Institute of History & Art has a very interesting collection. Here is a video about their new exhibit about the Hudson River. There’s an interesting story about the chain which George Washington used to close the Hudson River.

Bits of Everything

Plans for County Beach Moving Forward

The Post Star has an interview with Dresden Supervisor Bob Banks about plans for the Washington County Beach this summer.

A Picture’s Worth a 1000 Words

Adirondack Life Magazine has a photo contest every year. Here is the page showing their winning pictures for 2009. If you’re a photographer consider submitting some of your best shots, you just might win!

Legacy Banks Refuse TARP Funds

We received the following letter from Legacy Banks (which has a branch office in Whitehall), where they state they will not participate in the federal TARP bailout.

“You may have read in the most recent edition of Your Legacy newsletter that we received preliminary approval to participate in the U.S. Treasury Capital Purchase Program (CPP), a component of the Troubled Asset Repurchase Program (TARP). Since the newsletter was printed and distributed, we have made the decision NOT to participate in this Program. Our approval was based on our financial strength and strong capital position, and it is for those same reasons that we have decided to decline federal funds.”

Bits of Everything

More People Using State Parks

CBS 6 has a story that reservations are up in state parks.

Road Salt is Bad for Your Health

The Albany Times Union has a story about how road salt can be damaging, not only to the environment, but to your health also.

This is Like Asking the Whitehall School District to Let Us Out

The Post Star reports, that some folks in Queensbury and Fort Ann are so fed up with paying high taxes, they want to have their own village.

A Wind Tower Coming to a Hill Near You?

The Post Star talks about an idea that may make some sense for the Adirondacks. We certainly have wind.