Here is a short piece from the Today Show about how we can all save water.
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No Mid-Year Budget Cuts
It looks like there won’t be any mid-year budget cuts to the Whitehall School District’s budget.
“A 90-minute meeting of the Democratic governor and legislative leaders was filled with accusations and some name calling. But they failed to approach any agreement on Paterson’s proposed $5 billion in spending cuts or any alternatives, some of which surfaced for the first time in the leaders’ meeting.”
Fort Ticonderoga to Cut Jobs
This is what happens when they kill the tax base.
From A …… to Z
This is a good article from the Albany Times Union about what is going on with the budget process, which will ultimately effect the budget for the Whitehall School District and Washington County.
Lost Hiker – Found
This happened on the other side of the lake.
Wouldn’t Want to Run Into One of These
A really cool short clip (about 3.5 minutes) on how the prehistoric short faced bear differed from today’s grizzly bear and black bear. I saw a black bear once on top of the mountain about 15 years ago. If you’re interested in bears, here’s an interesting clip for you.
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Washington County Budget Drawing Heat
From Saturday’s Post Star:
“The 2009 Washington County budget isn’t pleasing everyone. More than 100 concerned citizens filled the Board of Supervisors chambers on Friday to voice their opinions on the proposed $117.3 million spending plan.
The tentative budget contains an 8-percent hike in the tax levy, a $106,000 cut to the county Sheriff’s Office’s budget and a 50 percent reduction in funding to the Hudson Falls arm of Cornell Cooperative Extension.”
Update – ALERT:
“At the same time, supervisors on the committee backed the elimination of two county-run parks,” .. AT THIS TIME THIS INCLUDES THE WASHINGTON COUNTY BEACH
Saturday Quote
“We’ve uncovered some embarrassing ancestors in the not-too-distant past. Some horse thieves, and some people killed on Saturday nights. One of my relatives, unfortunately, was even in the newspaper business.”
Jimmy Carter
“Adirondacks” – Homer Dodge Martin 1879
Serious Route 4 Crash Caught on Tape
The Post Star has this video which shows a bad crash on Route 4.
Please drive carefully. Route 4 has had a number of serious accidents lately.
Did the Lost Dauphin of France Really Stay in Huletts?
This is a great piece from Adirondack Magazine about rural legends of the Adirondacks. Was there really a Lake George Monster? What was the biggest buck ever shot here? Did Napoleon Bonaparte’s brother live in the Adirondacks? Does Presidential brother, Jeb Bush really own land in the Champlain Valley?
From Gerald Ford’s son to the Lost Dauphin of France, the legends are all spelled out here. It a great read. Perhaps you’ll learn of a legend you never knew existed.
Washington County’s Budget
Some interesting posts regarding Washington County’s budget:
No Salary Increase for Department Chiefs
County Avoids the Nuclear Option
Budget Concerns: Taxes and Tourism
One raises a good point: Why isn’t the County’s Budget Online?
When You’re Out of Money, You Can’t Spend Anything
From the Post Star:
This is pretty unprecedented. The issue becomes what will school districts around NY do; use their reserve accounts in the interim and hit property owners with increased taxes next year or actually get control of their spending. Remember the Whitehall school district spent $2.25 million two years ago on tennis courts and a building addition. Sadly the Whitehall school district has never shown a willingness to control spending.
In case you missed it, the Whitehall School district was recently told by the comptroller’s office that they had $150,000 over the amount that the law says they can have in one of their reserve accounts. They have a bunch of them.
Our Dresden > Their Dresden?
Many people are surprised to learn that there are actually two towns named Dresden in the state of New York. The other Dresden is located on the western shore of Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes region. Check out the other town of Dresden here. Our former Town Clerk, Mrs. LeClaire, would say that both towns would occasionally receive correspondence which was intended for the other. Just a fun fact to know if you’re ever on a game show and there’s a category: Towns in NY State.