Bloomberg.com: congressional race is referendum on Obama spending
State to layoff 8,900 employees, deficit higher than predicted
Train station in Whitehall to get stimulus funds
Budget shortfall for Washington County
Now For Some History – 1995
“In 1995…A Line Of Damaging Thunderstorms Developed In The Northern Great Lakes During The Night Of July 14 And Quickly Strengthened As It Moved Into Northern New York By 4 Am On July 15…And Then Into Southern New England By 8 Am. Estimated Peak Wind Speeds In Excess Of 100 Mph Occurred In The Adirondacks And The Storms Themselves Covered Over 800 Miles (From Ontario Province To Cape Cod) In Less Than 12 Hours”
See the Radar Map from that day.
Remember where you were that morning?
Bits of Everything
Governor’s Poll Numbers Continue to Drop
The Governor’s poll numbers reach a new low.
Your Yard and Spring: What You Should Know
North Country Public Radio has an interesting story about how you should care for your yard now that Spring has arrived.
It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s a Car
This was in the national news a few days ago but in case you missed it, here it is again. The Terrafugia is billed as the first flying car. It just completed its test flights from the Plattsburgh airport. So here we see it leaving Plattsburgh by land and by air. Click on the pictures to see them in full size. Plattsburgh isn’t far from Huletts, so keep your eyes open for the flying car. (Pictures with permission of Terrafugia.)
Bits of Everything
Gaslight Village Decision Favored by Many
The Post Star has more on the Gaslight Village Property.
“A total of 21 letters were in support of Concept 1 — the removal of both buildings; four letters were supportive of Concept 2; and 249 letters and signatures on petitions supported Concept 3 and the use of both buildings for events in Lake George.”
It’s good to see that a public use area for tourism and people will be incorporated into this plan.
Adirondack Boat Cake
The Pink Cake Box has an Adirondack Lake Boat Cake (with video) that looks too good to eat.
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.
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!
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.
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.”
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.
The Adirondack Almanack & Huletts
John Warren, who publishes the Adirondack Almanack blog, tells how he is related to the original Huletts family and gives some great historical information about Huletts Landing in his blog today. He also gives a nice mention to the Huletts Current in the same piece. The Adirondack Almanack is probably the best blog out there for Adirondack news so please bookmark it and read it often.
Bits of Everything
There’s Proof – The Air is Cleaner
Here is a good article from the Watertown Daily Times which cites an EPA study that shows that decreased emissions from the nation’s power plants have led to cleaner air and water in the Adirondacks.
Election Date Set for Congressional Election
AMD Plant Snags
The proposed AMD computer chip plant has run into a few snags, the Post Star reports. While not unexpected, these may slow down the plant’s development.
They’ll Take Your Land & Not Pay Their Taxes
This may seem like a strange headline but here is a press release we received from the Lake George Property Owner’s Group, where they call the proposed stream corridor regulations being considered by the Lake George Park Commission a confiscation of private property. Many of their arguments are valid and worthy of discussion.
Additionally, here are two links from the Adirondack Journal and the Times of Ti to stories about the Governor’s proposal to alter the payment of real estate taxes on state forest preserve land.
These stories may combine to make a funny headline but they should be taken very seriously. If they both come to pass in their present form, they will cause property taxes to explode.
Land by the Numbers
This little graphic is pretty interesting. It shows the amount of land preserved over the last 38 years in the Adirondacks. The total forest preserve has grown by 348,575 acres and the total conservation easement lands have grown by 580,443 acres. That’s an increase of almost a million acres of land over the last 38 years. That’s almost twice the size of the state of Rhode Island. Now that’s growth. Let’s just hope the state of NY keeps paying its property taxes.
1970 Adirondack Forest Preserve |
2008 Adirondack Forest Preserve |
|
2,404,536 acres |
2,753,111 acres |
|
1970 Adirondack Conservation Easement Lands |
2008 Adirondack Conservation Easement Lands |
|
0 acres |
580,443 acres |
* Source – Adirondack Life Magazine January 2009