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.

Test Out the Webcam

Jeff Klauder has been kind enough to give us access to his webcam which continually monitors the condition of Lake George in Kitchel Bay looking out towards Noble Island. This is a trial run of accessing his webcam.

1.) Because this is a test, you will need to enter:
user name: KitchelBay
password: 123456

2.) You will need to download and install the ActiveX file from Panasonic, when prompted, to see the view. (It may take a couple of seconds to have the prompt appear.)

3.) The camera’s view is located on the “Single” tab. That is the only tab you should access. When you’re done watching, please close the browser window to free up bandwidth for someone else. At night you’ll see a lot of darkness.

To access the webcam, click here. Thank you Jeff, for sharing the wonderful view and the real time conditions of the lake!

Bits of Everything

Warren County Resolution Opposes Stream Rules

Read the resolution the Warren County Supervisors passed opposing the stream rules the Lake George Park Commission is proposing. You won’t be getting a copy of this from the LGPC.

What Did Samuel de Champlain Look Like?

See PBS’s conception of Champlain as created in the new documentary; Dead Reckoning ~ Champlain in America

The Treasurer Says We Have No Money

The Post Star reports that the Washington County Treasurer is telling the Supervisors that the County needs to spend less.

Warren County Unanimously Opposes Draft Stream Rules

At their last meeting, the Warren County Board of Supervisors, representing all the Towns of Warren County, unanimously voted to oppose the stream regulations as proposed by the Lake George Park Commission.

Mr. Belden (Hague Town Supervisor) recommended that the board members approve a resolution supporting the Towns and opposing the Lake George Park Commission’s proposed regulations of shoreline setbacks.

Motion was made by Mr. Belden, seconded by Mr. Bentley and carried unanimously to waive the rules of the board requiring a resolution be in writing. Clerk noted it would be Resolution No. 175 of 2009 for the record.

Motion was made by Mr. Belden and seconded by Mrs. Simmes opposing the proposed Lake George Park Commission Stream Corridor Regulations.

Mr. Tessier commented that these new regulations would effect six hundred parcels in Lake George and he urged the board members to support the Towns by opposing this proposal. Paul Dusek, County Attorney, requested a point of clarification. He asked if the County was opposing the regulations or supporting those Towns that had opposed the regulations. Mr. Belden replied the County should be opposed to such action of the Park Commission. Mr. Bentley advised he had a draft resolution opposing the current draft Stream Corridor Regulations proposed by the Lake George Park Commission and he presented the resolution to the Clerk of the Board. Mrs. Sady read the draft resolution into the record. … (Administrator’s Note: I have made a FOIL request for the actual resolution because it was not included in the typed minutes.)

Following discussion, the board members agreed that the aforementioned resolution, if approved, should be forwarded to the Lake George Park Commission, Governor Paterson, State Legislators and the Department of State. Mr. Belden requested a roll call vote on the resolution. Clerk added that the resolution opposing the proposed Lake George Park Commission Stream Corridor Regulations would be Resolution No. 176 of 2009 for the record and the purpose of the roll call. …

Chairman Monroe called for a vote on the resolutions.

Resolution Nos. 66 through 176 were approved.

Bits of Everything

Flood Watch for Washington County

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for an area which includes Huletts.

Bears Be Gone

WNBZ Radio has an interesting story on the DEC’s release of how many bears were taken by hunters in the state this past year.

“Harvest increased in the Adirondacks as well, with a total of 582 bears taken in 2008 compared to 544 taken in 2007 and 318 taken in 2006.”

Get Your Absentee Ballot

Please know that the General Election is now set for Tuesday, March 31st for the purpose of electing a Congressman from the 20th District to replace Kirsten Gillibrad. Huletts residents who are registered as voters will have to send in applications for absentee ballots ASAP in order to receive a ballot.

You can get an absentee ballot application online here and here is the address to mail it to the Washington County Board of Elections. Now you have no excuse.

An Interview with “Grandma’s” Great-Grandson

The renowned American folk artist, “Grandma Moses”, was probably one of the most famous people to have ever lived in Washington County.

What many people do not know is that her great-grandson, Will Moses, carries on her wonderful legacy and is a painter and artist extraordinaire in his own right. He lives and paints in southern Washington County in the town of Eagle Bridge.

Pumpkin House by Will Moses

with Permission from Will Moses

You can check out his artwork at: www.willmoses.com and also visit his Mt. Nedo Gallery on 60 Grandama Moses Road. It’s about 40 minutes from Huletts in southern Washington County. If you’re interested in good art, he also has a catalog which features his original work. Call 800-328-6326 and he’ll send you one.

Will was kind enough to take the time to do an interview with us. We always like to promote Washington County businesses because we’re all in this together.

Grandma Moses is an iconic figure in American art. While she died in 1961, do you have any family stories or memories that would tell our readers a little bit about her?

“Grandma passed away when I was fairly young. However she was such a focal point of everyone’s attention and conversation I guess that even as a young child I knew enough to pay attention to her and what was going on around her. The fact of the matter was though, that while she was indeed very famous she was also very Grandmotherly and always welcomed her family in to visit with her. I have very distinct memories of watching her paint and visiting with her or just having a cookie at her house. I also remember her 100th birthday celebration which seemed to be quite a big affair and was covered in-depth by the media of the day and seemed to go on for some days.”

I’m sure she influenced you. Could you tell us how your artwork is similar to hers?

“Grandma’s work has indeed influenced me simply because her painting and her legacy is what I grew up with. We had her paintings in the house and her memory has lived on in a very strong way with the entire family. In reality though, I always credit my grandfather, Forrest Moses (Grandmas son) with encouraging me to paint. Forrest Moses was also a painter in his own right and he had picked up the knack from Grandma. After she died, he took it up with more seriousness and in so doing, he strongly encouraged not only me but all of his grandchildren to paint. Without his patience and encouragement I am sure I probably never would have begun to paint much less carried on with it.”

Washington County is really rural America at it’s finest. Do you have any personal favorite paintings or scenes from Washington County?

“I guess most of my paintings probably have their roots in this region. The rolling hills and checkerboard of farms and fields and woods and villages lends itself to the style of art I attempt to paint. As for favorite paintings I tend to like the most recent painting the best (perhaps just because I am happy to finally be finished with it).”

We notice that your artwork is always filled with people. We’re always interested in fostering the idea of “community” at the Huletts Current. Can you tell us how your idea of community influences your art.

“Yes, often times my paintings are filled with people in part to reflect that idea of community and responsibility we all have to our communities. I think the roles we play in this regard have changed over the years and our obligations may not be as apparent (yet never needed more) as they were years ago when folks were more reliant on their neighbor and themselves. Years ago a group of good people with good intentions would come together and build schools, hospitals, churches, roads etc. They didn’t need governments to tell them how. The need was there and the people did it. Today we elect a school board for example and all they seem capable of doing is appointing sub committees to make the decisions they were elected in the first place to decide. We need a new generation of people willing to take responsibility for their communities. People need to become active in politics, not for selfish interest but because they can offer sound leadership and make their towns a better place to live. People need to volunteer to be fireman and EMS responders, teacher aids and look after those who can not take care of themselves. It is this simple; if you are not willing roll out of bed in the middle of the night to save someone’s house or child, then you have no right to expect anyone to come to you, in your time of need. When your house is on fire, your government funded community organizer won’t save you but your neighbor just might.”

We have a number of young readers. Can you tell us how you became interested in painting and what you enjoy most?

“I became interested in painting and took it up as a career simply because my Grandfather took the time and interest to pass it along to me. Looking back on it, I am sure he probably had other things he could have been doing with his time but he was a pretty good old fella and his grandchildren were a joy to him and the fact that he did take the time has meant that I have been able to make painting my life’s work. I think if he were here today he would get a big kick out of knowing that.”

Will thank you for taking the time to talk with us, we would like to extend an offer for you to come up and paint a scene from Huletts Landing anytime you are free. Please take us up on this offer.

Here are directions to Mt. Nedo Gallery and their hours.
Please stop by and support Will.

We Hate To Bring You Bad News…

…but we’ve got some tax increases on the horizon that we can still prevent if we speak up now.

1.) The Whitehall School District is talking about a 6% increase in property taxes for the coming school year. Even though enrollment is falling and with record hikes in education spending the last two years, the district can’t control spending. They’re talking about cutting some positions but they need to probably double the cuts they are considering. Supposedly they are getting federal stimulus funds but they’re continuing down a path to destroy the tax base of the town of Whitehall. The vote on the proposed budget and election of some board seats will be held on Tuesday, May 19th from 12 pm to 9 pm in the large group instruction room. There will be one public meeting on the proposed budget on Monday, May 11th. Why not solicit comments now when the budget is being formulated and not at a shame meeting when they’ve already decided that they’re going to stick it to the taxpayers again? What can we do?

A.) We need to identify committed tax cutters to run for the Board of Education. The current Board is simply not getting it done. Every year enrollment drops and taxes go up 5%-6%.
B.) We need to write letters like the Post Star proposes to the school district. See Post Star editorial.
C.) Know our school board elected officials and let your voice be heard.

2.) The Governor, has not backed down from his proposal to change the way the State of NY pays property taxes on its forest preserve land. Here is a great letter to the editor which explains what he is proposing. If this takes effect in next years budget you’ll see a significant shift in property taxes toward private owners. The Governor’s popularity has fallen to a 30 year low so while he may not get it, at least we do. Hello Rudy or Andrew.

We’re not powerless. Start speaking out.