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LGA Awarded Nearly $50,000 in Grants from Lake Champlain Basin Program


Hague Brook, where the Lake George Association plans to stabilize the stream bank. (Click image to see full-scale.)

The Lake George Association has been awarded a total of $47,908 in grants by the Lake Champlain Basin Program for programs, projects and equipment for 2016. The grants will allow the Lake George Association to continue to protect Lake George water quality and to provide education for the future.

The largest of the grants totals $19,608 and will be used for major stream repairs – the LGA’s 2016 Project Focus. The two streams targeted with this grant money are Hague Brook and Jenkins Brook – both in the town of Hague. The work that the LGA is planning with our partners is expected to stabilize stream banks in order to prevent sediment and other material from entering Lake George and degrading the lake’s water quality. The stream repairs are also expected to improve fish habitats in both areas and allow fish to move farther upstream than is currently possible.

“Stream health is very important to Lake George,” said Randy G. Rath, Project Manager for the Lake George Association. “Maintaining or repairing the paths of streams and brooks – and stopping stormwater from eroding streambanks – keeps Lake George clear of runoff, sediment, and debris that can contaminate the Lake.”

The second grant – $14,300 – will help to pay for two Invasive Species Spread Prevention Education Interns. With a long history of educational outreach on invasive species, the Lake George Association plans to hire two interns for the season who will help educate visitors and the community about the threats of invasive species – and about ways the public can help prevent the spread of invasive species both on land and in the water.

“The Lake George Association understands the importance of spread prevention education,” said Kristen Rohne, Director of Education for the Lake George Association. “It’s something we have been doing for a long time as part of our mission

“We realize that the more visitors and residents know about the threats, the better they will understand how their everyday actions can protect the Lake as well as protect all of the surrounding water bodies,” Rohne said. “We expect that in addition to their own work, our invasive species interns will supplement the outreach and informational work being done by Lake George Park Commission’s Boat Inspection Program. The interns will be able to interact with visitors and residents away from the boat launches and increase awareness before the visitors even get to the shoreline,” she added.

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Huletts Landing’s Connection to Different Sports Continued


Sanford Stragnell of Huletts Landing refereeing a women’s rugby match.(Click to see full-scale.)

I recently learned that Sandy Stragnell of Huletts now referees rugby matches. If I had known this earlier, I would have included this in my recent post on local connections to sports. So if you don’t know anything about a scrummage or the difference between the rugby league and the rugby union, Sandy would be the one to know.

Sandy was a rugby player in high school and in college. While playing for the Oregon State Rugby Club he was part of a traveling side that played in Wales and England one summer. He also coached both men’s and women’s rugby at Castleton State College (now Castleton University) in Vermont. He played briefly with the Rutland Men’s club and is now a Level 1 Rugby Referee.

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Lake George Park Commmission Public Informational Meeting

The Lake George Park Commission will be holding a public informational meeting on Wednesday, March 2nd at 1PM at the Bolton Town Hall to discuss a proposed increase in boat and dock registration fees on Lake George beginning in the 2017 season. Commission fees have only been increased one time in the 30 years of the Commission’s existence, and the current schedule is not fiscally sustainable given the programmatic needs of the lake and its users. The Park Commission fee schedule is set by the NYS Legislature, and the Commission is seeking the public’s perspective on the current status of Commission programs and the fees that support the Commission’s work. All are encouraged to attend. Please contact 668-9347 or info@lgpc.state.ny.us with any questions.

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Huletts Landing’s Connection to Different Sports Continued


Liam Ballantyne (5th from the left) with the United States Coast Guard Academy’s sailing team. (Click picture to see full-scale.)

In my recent post on our local connections to sports, I failed to include Liam Ballantyne’s participation on the United States Coast Guard Academy’s sailing team, currently ranked fourth in the Northeast. Liam is the son of Peter and Angela Ballantyne.

You can read Liam’s Coast Guard Academy’s sailing profile here. Liam is the skipper of a J70 sailboat, which is quite large, as seen in the picture below.

This past October he won his race at the Boston College regatta where he made a quick tack right approaching the finish line and surged ahead of three other boats.


Liam skippering his J70 (on the left) for the Coast Guard Academy against the Harvard team (right). (Click picture to see full-scale.)

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Ticonderoga Ball in NYC: March 4th


Fort Ticonderoga’s fundraising event, the Ticonderoga Ball, begins at 7 pm on March 4, featuring music, dancing, a silent auction and a lavish dinner.

Spend an elegant evening at the Union League Club in New York City celebrating Fort Ticonderoga’s history and future. The Ticonderoga Ball will be held on Friday, March 4, 2016 beginning at 7 pm. Music, dancing, a silent auction and a lavish dinner make for a festive black-tie evening benefiting Fort Ticonderoga. Individual tickets are $350 and junior tickets are $225 (30 years old and under); Reservations are required.

“The Ticonderoga Ball is Fort Ticonderoga’s largest fundraising event of the year, “said Beth Hill, Fort Ticonderoga President and CEO. “The event, set in the elegant and historic setting of New York’s Union League Club, brings together Fort Ticonderoga supporters from across the United States to celebrate Fort Ticonderoga’s epic history, current programs, and future plans. The Ticonderoga Ball’s theme this year is inspired by Fort Ticonderoga’s 2016 annual focus on the year 1777. That was the year that British and American troops vied for control of Ticonderoga, with the British cannon ultimately compelling the American army to evacuate. Support for this event makes possible Fort Ticonderoga’s educational programs, exhibitions, gardens, and all other preservation and restoration efforts.”

The Ticonderoga Ball attracts more than 170 people each year who attend in support of Fort Ticonderoga’s mission of preservation and education. The Event Honoree for the 22nd Annual Ball is Phebe Thorne, longtime Fort Ticonderoga supporter and enthusiastic advocate of Fort Ticonderoga’s mission. The night begins with a cocktail reception and silent auction at 7 pm; followed by an elegant dinner at 8 pm. A live auction and dancing complete the night. Dance music will be provided by the Lester Lanin Orchestra, known for their unique, homogenized music with lively patina. For more information or to receive an invitation, please contact Martha Strum at 518-585-2821 or by emailing mstrum@fort-ticonderoga.org.

Fort Ticonderoga is an independent non-profit educational organization. All proceeds for the Ticonderoga Ball support Fort Ticonderoga’s mission to ensure that present and future generations learn from the struggles, sacrifices, and victories that shaped the nations of North America and changed world history.

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Huletts Landing’s Connection to Different Sports

While so many of us are fans of some team or sport, I wanted to try and put as many connections that Huletts Landing has to individuals, teams or sports that might be of interest. While I can’t say that these are all of them, I wanted to try and start compiling a list. So here’s to sports in our community:


Aileen Colligan holds her Silver Medal in Figure Skating from the 2016 Empire State Games.

Empire State Games

Aileen Colligan, daughter of John and Beth Colligan of Huletts Landing, recently won a Silver Medal in Figure Skating at the 2016 Empire State Games in Lake Placid. This follows her Gold Medal from the 2015 Winter Games.

Princeton University Football

Brett Stewart, son of Jeff and Pam Stewart of Huletts Landing, just finished his freshmen year playing defensive back for the Princeton Tiger’s football team. Stewart’s grandfather played football in the NFL for the Chicago Bears. Read Brett’s Princeton football profile here.

George Washington University Basketball

Mike Lonergan, who I interviewed when he was the head coach of the men’s basketball team at the University of Vermont, is now the head coach at George Washington University, where his team is fighting for an NCAA berth. Mike and his family are frequent visitors to Huletts Landing. Recently, he recounted for a DC Radio station, the hilarious story of when he was asked to leave his daughter’s JV basketball game.

Historical

1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympic Games

Russ Considine, who grew up in Huletts, and who continues to visit, took many award-winning photographs at the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics. His blog account of the famous games can be found at: http://rustyconsidine.blogspot.com

The following video by Yahoo Sports, contains many of his award-winning photos of speed-skater Eric Heiden who won 5 gold medals at the 1980 games. (It contains a short 15 second advertisement at the beginning.)

Former MLB Baseball Player – Ebba St. Claire

Former Major League Baseball Player, Ebba St. Claire, and his wife Maxine ran the Soda Fountain during the 1970’s while their son Shane constructed some docks in Huletts Landing. Randy St. Claire, one of their other sons, has had a long career in Major League Baseball, first as a pitcher for the Montreal Expos and later as a pitching coach. Most recently, he served as the pitching coach for the Miami Marlins last year.

Former NFL Quarterback – Ken O’Brien

Finally, I have been told, that former NY Jets starting quarterback, Ken O’Brien, who was born in Rockville Centre, once visited the Casino when he stopped by Huletts. He evidently posed for some pictures – which if anyone has – I will gladly post. Is this enough to make any Patriot’s fan switch their allegiance to the Jets??

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Huletts Landing Volunteer Fire Department News

Jay Vander Plaat, Chief of the Huletts Landing Volunteer Fire Department, was kind enough to provide an update about some winter training activities.

Wanted everyone to know that on the Saturday of Super Bowl weekend, Jim Leghorn brought up two donated ice rescue suits. We now have four and we can practice rescues. Now it’s not as hard to find someone to play the victim. It doesn’t take a lot to get it started and by 2:00 pm on Saturday there were ten of us on a dock in Indian Bay.

So, Terry Storms and his wife, Lee, Jim Leghorn and his wife, Cathy, John Delucca and his wife, Robin, Barb Semcken, our medical person, (just in case), Jay Vander Plaat, Luke Smith and Sandy Stragnell all made our way out onto a dock in Indian Bay. Some ice, some open water, perfect conditions to refine our skills. No one expected that the ice would be thick enough to support us. It takes two people about three minutes to get someone into a suit.

While that was going on, some practiced throwing our rescue bags and some practiced repacking them so they could be thrown again. Everyone in the water is tied off with a rescue line. People on shore have special life preservers on. Everyone needs to have an understanding of what’s happening and what happens next.

Our teamwork continues to improve. Every time we try this conditions are different; old ice 12 inches thick that you cannot walk on, new ice less than two inches thick that you can sit on the edge and dangle your feet in the water, or no ice where we just practice simple skills like what happens when you lose your balance and turn over on your back like a turtle. With practice you can defeat the instant panic on not being able to get your feet back underneath by rolling onto your stomach. It’s all good.

Everyone has a real commitment to community service and the fellowship is next to none. Looking forward to seeing everyone again in the summer.

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Dangerously Cold Weather Arrives


A screen shot of the temperature in Huletts at 6:45 am on February 14, 2016.

Hopefully you are someplace warm this morning because it’s definitely not that in Huletts.

Issued by The National Weather Service
Albany, NY – 5:32am EST, Sun Feb 14

… WIND CHILL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON…
* LOCATIONS… ALL OF EAST CENTRAL NEW YORK AND WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.
* HAZARD TYPES… LIFE THREATENING WIND CHILLS.
* WIND CHILL READINGS… 25 TO 60 BELOW ZERO AT TIMES. THE COLDEST WIND CHILL VALUES WILL BE ACROSS THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF THE SOUTHERN ADIRONDACKS AND SOUTHERN GREEN MOUNTAINS.
* TIMING… THROUGH EARLY THIS AFTERNOON… WITH THE COLDEST WIND CHILL VALUES THIS MORNING.