Congratulations to PJ Ferguson and the Tennessee Strange for their new song: “Don’t Tell Me What to Play.”
PJ Ferguson is the son of Town Supervisor, Paul Ferguson.
Lake George Land Conservancy Receives Donation of Land in South Basin
The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) has been given a donation of 4.4 acres of undeveloped land in the Town of Lake George. This property borders the LGLC’s 12-acre East Brook Preserve and includes more than three acres of wetlands and 600 feet of forested steam corridor that help to naturally protect water quality.
The “East Brook Addition” donation was gifted to the LGLC by Karen Azer and her late mother Helene Horn.
“I am glad the parcel will remain forever wild,” said Karen Azer, “not only benefitting water quality but also protecting habitat for wildlife.”
LGLC Executive Director Mike Horn (no relation to Helene Horn) said, “We are incredibly grateful to Karen and Helene for their generous donation of land for conservation. Their gift creates a legacy that will forever work to protect Lake George.”
In total, the newly expanded East Brook Preserve includes more than 1,100 feet of East Brook, one of the top ten tributaries of Lake George, and is heavily forested with some impressive hemlock, white pine, ash and sugar maples scattered throughout.
The original 12-acre East Brook property was protected in 2018 with a bargain sale from the McPhillips family, who desired to see the land protected. Around the same time, the LGLC helped to protect the 317-acre McPhillips Preserve on neighboring French Mountain, in partnership with the Towns of Lake George and Queensbury. More than 2,000 feet of seasonal streams flow down the steep slopes of the McPhillips Preserve and join with East Brook far below.
Since Lake George flows north, protection of its headwaters in the south, including tributaries like East Brook, is imperative to its overall health. This region of Lake George is also facing intense development pressure, creating all the more urgency for conservation of key areas like streams, shoreline, and sensitive, steep slopes that are susceptible to erosion. For this reason, the LGLC’s South Basin Conservation Initiative focuses on key lands such as the East Brook Addition as important for long-term protection of the lake’s water quality.
To date, the LGLC has protected a total of 2,736 acres within the south basin. In addition to its important water quality protection, these properties provide significant recreational opportunities. The LGLC plans to open a trail on the East Brook Preserve which will include educational signage. Once completed, this trail will link to the Lake George Elementary School’s extensive nature trails. A crosswalk on Bloody Pond Road will ultimately connect the East Brook Preserve to the McPhillips Preserve. The Town of Lake George is working to create a multi-use trail system on the McPhillips Preserve. The finished trail system is expected to include several miles of challenging trails for hiking and mountain biking, and offer a clear view of Lake George’s south basin, including Prospect Mountain on the opposite side.
Welcome 2024: Happy New Year
I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied, “Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than the light and safer than a known way”
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night. And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of the day in the lone East.
“Gate of the Year”, Minnie Louise Haskins, 1908
Top News Story of Huletts: 2023
As we complete another circle around our sun, it’s my habit to reflect on our past year. I’ve always believed that it’s good to reflect on what happened over the last year and what might shape the future. I also like to move into the new year by taking one last look back at what I consider the top “news” story of Huletts Landing from the past year.
I have been posting and writing here on the Huletts Current since November 2007. I have done this annually since then and I usually get feedback one way or another.
So here it is for 2023. While it may have happened on the other side of the mountain, I am naming the actual installation of the Champlain Hudson Power Express cable down Route 22, through our beautiful Town of Dresden, as the Top News Story of Huletts for 2023. My rationale is below.
Seen here in June 2023, the cable bringing power from Canada to New York city was actually installed along state Route 22 in Dresden during 2023.
The project has been in the works for many years, but during 2023 the actual cable was installed along state Route 22 here in Dresden. It will carry electricity that will be generated almost exclusively in hydroelectric plants in Canada down to the New York city metropolitan area. It will not carry gas, oil or other hazardous materials. It will carry a lot of power though. The CHPE is expected to be fully operational in the spring of 2026, delivering 1,250 MW of renewable power directly into the New York Metro area. This $6B project ensures that generations of New Yorkers will benefit. Wide support exists from communities up and down the line, as well as labor and environmental groups. The buried line also ensures reliable power delivery in extreme weather.
It will have an an enormous future impact on Huletts in that it will bring revenue to Dresden, the Whitehall school district and Washington county for many years. The developers of the project estimate that it will bring $1.4 billion in tax revenue to communities throughout New York State over 30 years. The payments to local jurisdictions are expected to start in 2025 in the form of payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreements. The early estimates are that the Whitehall Central school district will receive combined payments of $750,000 for the first year, growing to about $2 million in the 30th and final year. The Town of Dresden is estimated to receive $3.27 million in total PILOT funds over 30 years. Our locally elected office holders will decide how these funds will be appropriated. Every voter should ask; “how is this money going to benefit us?”
There will be much more on this in the years to come, making the installation of the Champlain Hudson Power Express cable down Route 22, through our beautiful Town of Dresden, as the Top News Story of Huletts for 2023. Happy New Year!
A Merry and Blessed Christmas to All
Merry Christmas! Wishing you and your family the very best of the season!
(A Ukrainian religious painting, from an iconostasis, showing the Adoration of the Shepherds. Tempera on wood. Circa 1650 to 1700.)
Storm Raises Lake Level Significantly
This picture, taken on December 19, 2023, shows the water surface level of the lake reaching its highest peak in the last year after the storm at the beginning of the week.
This week’s storm has passed and things are beginning to dry out. At approximately 1:00 pm on December 19, 2023, the lake reached its highest level during the past year.
I use the USGS site here to check every once in awhile.
Huletts Sewer District #1 & #2 October Committee Minutes & Future Meeting Update
I know concerns have been raised about the sewer committees meetings and I would suggest anyone with property in Huletts in sewer district #1 or sewer district #2 read the minutes. There are plans to spend a good deal of money (which will be borne by the users of the district) and I would suggest all users read the minutes to become familiar with the issues involved.
I will be doing a longer post in January before the next meeting giving my analysis and more of the back story. These minutes were only provided to me on December 19, 2023 – almost two months after the meeting – after I emailed the committee members directly.
I have always been a proponent of open government and believe the more people know about how their municipal government works – the better our community is. The out-of-control spending by all levels of our government is not sustainable. We all need to know who the elected and unelected individuals are who are proposing borrowing and spending and where that money is going. Government spending gets passed along in many ways.
Please note that the joint Sewer Committee meeting for Huletts Sewer Districts #1 and #2 is usually held the fourth Monday of each month at 7:00 pm as necessary at the Town Hall. There was no meeting in November and the December meeting has been canceled due to the Christmas holiday. The next scheduled meeting of the sewer committees is scheduled for January 24, 2024.
Belmont Stakes to be Run at Saratoga in 2024
It has been announced that the 156th running of the Belmont Stakes (also known as the third race in the Triple Crown of thoroughbred horse racing) will be run at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, June 8, 2024.
Belmont Park on Long Island is undergoing renovations and will not be available to host the race in 2024.
The New York Racing Association will increase the purse of the Belmont Stakes from $1.5-million to $2.0-million this year.
Saratoga will also host a “four-day festival” from Thursday to Sunday, June 6th to 9th, featuring “23 stakes races in total with purses totaling $9.7 million.”
Whitehall Board of Education Proposal to Repurpose the Current Pool Space Headed to District Vote February 6th
Architectural renderings of what a new STEM space would look like if the current area where the school’s pool is located is replaced with numerous new facilities.
The Whitehall School Board voted unanimously in March 2023 to repurpose the space currently occupied by the pool located inside the Whitehall School.
Ultimately it will be up to the voters who will decide by vote on February 6, 2024.
There is a big difference in the total cost and the percentage to be borne by the taxpayers between Option #1 (repurposing the space) and Option # 2 (refurbishing the pool).
Here is the entire capital project described by the school system on Railroaders.net.
Emergency Planned Power Outage: Saturday, December 9
An emergency power outage is scheduled for Huletts Landing, Dresden, Clemons and other nearby areas on Saturday, December 9 from approximately 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Whitehall volunteer fire house will be available for Dresden/Putnam residents in need of warm shelter during the electricity outage. The kitchen facilities will also be available. Please contact Brian Brooks @ 518-744-0722.
Thank you Whitehall volunteer fire company for your service and support.
The American legion in Whitehall is offering anyone needing warm shelter from 7:30am until electricity is restored on Saturday. Coffee and refreshments will also be available. Please pass this on to all persons affected by this power outage. Thank you for your support Whitehall American legion.
First Sunday of Advent Reflection
This Peanuts cartoon has always been my favorite. We are all called to “light our light” by trying to make this world a better place. Sometimes it is very difficult, even discouraging. Sometimes we don’t always see the fruits of our efforts. Sometimes we run into the Lucys of the world who would prefer yelling at the darkness. However, if we give up – we only have darkness.
I pass along this holiday practice which was given to me some time ago. Many people put a light in their window at this time of year. When you see lights in the neighborhood – be inspired to be a light in the world.
In addition to this, think of the many people who have gone before us and recognize and honor how they used their talents to light up this world, our community, or your life, in a positive way.
Every day between now and Christmas, think of one person that made a difference to you. Recognize and honor that person in your heart. Remember that it probably wasn’t easy for them either. On Christmas day – remember all these people in your heart who have gone before us (you might even have to write their names down) to the Christ child who is born as the ultimate light of the world. Make this your gift on Christmas morning. Let it inspire you by focusing your thoughts on the good in the world that has come from all the small acts of goodness from those choosing to light their candle.
Never stop “lighting” the world up. If those who have gone before us did it, so can we. Make up your mind now. Let us all be more like Linus and less like Lucy.
DEC Forest Rangers in the News
Department of Environmental Conservation Officers participating in Lake George Village’s ‘Lite Up the Village.’
Village of Lake George
Warren County
Public Outreach: On November 25, 2023, Forest Rangers Donegan, Kabrehl, and Morehouse participated in the annual ‘Lite Up the Village’ event in Lake George. Rangers strung lights on a 6×6 with a litter basket, a Type Six Engine, and an inflatable raft boat to highlight the wide range of a Ranger’s duties.
November Dresden Town Board Meeting Minutes
The draft minutes for the regular November meeting of the Dresden Town Board have been posted on the town’s website.
Huletts Christmas Party: December 2nd
On Saturday, December 2nd at 5:00 pm the annual Christmas party will be held in the Huletts Landing firehouse.