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LGLC Receives $50k for Pilot Knob Restoration and Enhancement


Visitors relax at the gazebo on the Lake George Land Conservancy’s Schumann Preserve for Pilot Knob in Fort Ann. View of Lake George is west toward Bolton and north up Lake George.

The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) has been awarded a $40,000 from the New York State Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) and a $10,000 grant from the Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust for a comprehensive Trail Reconstruction and Enhancement Project at the Schumann Preserve at Pilot Knob in Fort Ann.

In total, more than $123,000 has been raised through grants and individual donors to complete the massive project, which includes an expanded parking area (completed this summer), the re-routing of the preserve’s trails and the installation of features that will result in less erosion from storm water, and a safer pathway for users. The LGLC has contracted with Tahawus Trails to design and complete the trail work. The Pilot Knob Project also includes the creation and installation of a new kiosk and trail-side educational signage to better promote the land’s ecological and conservation values.

The LGLC’s Pilot Knob Project is one of more than 1,000 projects across the state to receive $755 million in awards through the seventh round of the REDC competition, which was announced by Governor Andrew Cuomo on December 13.

The Capital Region Economic Development Council, whose coverage area includes Lake George, received $85 million supporting 110 projects that support economic growth. The LGLC grant comes through the Recreational Trails Program, administered by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

“Outdoor experiential recreation and education is proven to increase local economies,” said LGLC Executive Director Jamie Brown, “boost health and provide a positive impact for all involved, including the hiker, tourist, local business and local community. The work to be done at Pilot Knob will boost and improve the user experience by providing additional trail amenities, which in turn, will provide economic benefits to the surrounding towns.”

The grant from the Solomon Charitable Trust will fund the purchase of six educational signage panels and stands, as well as a sustainable kiosk at the head of the trail. This signage will present informative, relevant and useful information to visitors of all ages in regards to the Preserve, the plants and animals present, as well as the role of land conservation in protecting the water quality of Lake George.

All of these improvements will reflect positively on the Preserve and in turn will raise visibility of the LGLC and the importance of land protection and proper stewardship throughout the area and the Adirondack Park.


Preserve improvements like this newly expanded and improved parking area are part of an overall reconstruction project for the LGLC’s Schumann Preserve for Pilot Knob in Fort Ann.

In addition to these latest grants, the LGLC also received $40,000 for the Pilot Knob Project from the New York State Smart Growth grants awarded in August, and $33,600 from private donors.

“We are very excited to see so much support for this iconic Preserve,” said Brown. “The Preserve’s location and relatively short hike with a beautiful view of the lake makes it very popular, and these grants will allow us to make sure the trails stay safe and environmentally sustainable for many years to come.”

Named in honor of LGLC’s past executive director, Lynn LaMontagne Schumann, who was instrumental in its preservation, the Schumann Preserve at Pilot Knob is a 223-acre preserve on Pilot Knob Road. Protected by the LGLC in 2000, the popular Preserve now hosts over 4,000 visitors each year, which is not sustainable with the existing trails.

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Gift Idea: Water & Light – S.R. Stoddards Lake George


The cover of Water & Light, a new book of Seneca Ray Stoddard’s photos of Lake George. (Available in hard cover or soft cover.)

The Chapman Historical Museum is offering for sale a wonderful new book comprised of the best Seneca Ray Stoddard photos from its collection. Stoddard, who photographed Lake George in the 1870’s to 1890’s, captured fantastic views of the lake’s hotels, islands and dramatic shorelines.

With an introduction by historian Joseph A. Cutshall-King, the book contains 150 inspiring and original photos of Lake George and its surroundings. It can be purchased from the Chapman Museum online store.

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An Aerial View on ‘Black Friday’

An aerial view of Huletts, taken on Thanksgiving day, November 23, 2017. (Click to see full-scale.)

While you are hopefully enjoying “Black Friday”, preferably from in front of a computer screen, here is an aerial view of the Landing, taken from above Burgess Island. (Many thanks to Liam Ballantyne for the photo.)

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Bits of Everything

Whitehall Times: Local Vendor May Quit because of ‘Honor System’ Decline
The Whitehall Times reports on a local produce vendor who is about to throw in the towel because of thievery.

Spectrum News Rochester (Article & Video): Golisano Withholding Tax Payment Because of Geese Problem
What do you do when the you have a really bad geese problem? Here is his response.

The Sun Newspapers: New ‘Text Stop’ on 87
New Northway “Text Stop” profiled in the Sun Newspapers.

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Rescue on Black Mountain


A state helicopter lands on Black Mountain on Sunday, October 8th, rescuing an injured hiker.

On Sunday, October 8, 2017, the Huletts Landing EMS responded to a mutual aid request from Dresden at 4:24 PM. A male hiker had fallen on the Black Mountain trail about 300 yards from the summit and broke his leg. A group from our fire company responded, including Jim Leghorn and Bill Clough climbing up the mountain to rescue the hiker.


The approximate area of the hiker’s fall.

A forest ranger helicopter made a difficult landing at the summit and then transported the patient to the Glens Falls Hospital. Jim, Bill, several Dresden firemen, and a State Trooper are to be commended for making the difficult climb up the mountain to perform the rescue, then hiking back down in the darkness while carrying a heavy stretcher and supplies.


Many thanks to the brave men and women who serve us in Huletts Landing.

(Click images to see full-scale.)

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Ballot Proposal # 3 Helps Forest Preserve Communities While Protecting the Enviornment

Election day will be November 7th this year. Over the next few weeks, the Huletts Current will spotlight some local elections as well as some ballot proposals. Today, Ballot proposal # 3 is explained.

The NY State Senate gave the required second passage to a proposed New York State Constitutional amendment to create a 250-acre Forest Preserve Health and Safety Land Account for the Adirondack and Catskill parks. It will now appear on the November 7th ballot as Proposal # 3.

New York State’s Constitution protects the State’s forest preserve as wild forest land and generally prohibits the lease, sale, exchange, or taking of any forest preserve land. The proposed amendment will create two new exceptions to this broad protection of the forest preserve to make it easier for municipalities to undertake certain health and safety projects.

First, the proposed amendment will create a land account of up to 250 acres of forest preserve land. A town, village, or county can apply to the land account if it has no viable alternative to using forest preserve land for specified health and safety purposes. These purposes are (1) to address bridge hazards or safety on specified highways; (2) to eliminate the hazards of dangerous curves and grades on specified highways; (3) to relocate, reconstruct, and maintain highways; and (4) for water wells and necessary related accessories located within 530 feet of a specified highway, where needed to meet drinking water quality standards. The State will acquire 250 acres to add to the forest preserve to replace the land placed in the health and safety land account, subject to approval by the Legislature.

Second, the proposed amendment will allow bicycle paths and types of public utility lines to be located within the widths of specified highways that cross forest preserve land. The work on the bicycle paths and utility lines must minimize the removal of trees and vegetation. The proposed amendment will allow a stabilization device (such as a guy wire) for an existing utility pole to be located near the width of a highway when necessary to ensure public health and safety and when no other viable option exists. The proposed amendment prohibits the construction of a new intrastate gas or oil pipeline that did not receive necessary state and local permits and approvals by June 1, 2016.

Washington county would be one of the counties eligible to use the Proposal 3 land bank.

A “yes” vote supporting this amendment would: create a 250-acre land bank, which would allow local governments to request state Forest Preserve land for qualifying projects in exchange for the state adding 250 new acres to the preserve; and allow bike paths, sewer lines, and utility lines within the width of highways on preserve land.

A “no” vote opposes this amendment to:
create a 250-acre state Forest Preserve land bank; and allow bike paths, sewer lines, and utility lines within the width of highways on preserve land.

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Adirondack Life Magazine Showcases Local Photos


The cover of the September/October 2017 issue of Adirondack Life magazine.

Carrie Burr, daughter of Peter and Cathy Burr from Meadow Point Road, a professional photographer along with Jim McMaster, the President of Friends of Historic Huletts Landing, get the center pages of the most reent issue of Adirondack Life magazine. The article is entitled: Historic Home of Huletts Landing.

This “Historic Camps of Huletts” photo project sponsored by the FHHL, has been ongoing for two or three years. Carrie has photographed approximately ten Huletts camps so far. The hope is to eventually do as many as 40 to capture the unique architecture found on the Landing. The Adirondack Life article is the first time any of these photos have been made public.

So please go out and get a copy of Adirondack Life magazine to see these remarkable photos.

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Cyber Monday: Local Online Merchants

I sometimes get asked the question: “Who are some local merchants – where we can buy some items with a Washington County or Adirondack flare?” So for Cyber Monday here are some ideas:

Adirondack Life Magazine has an online Marketplace and gift subscriptions available.

Will Moses (who is related to the famous Grandma Moses) has an online store dedicated to Washington County art.

The Washington County Historical Society has books on local history that can be purchased online.

The Argyle Cheese Farmer has many gift baskets, among other products, that can be purchased online.

The Dancing Ewe Farm Store has many local products, including olive oils, marmalade’s, and cured meats.

Mapleland Farms is a Washington County producer of many different maple products.

The well-known photographer of all things Lake George, Carl Heilman, has an online store where you can purchase puzzles, prints and playing cards, among other great products.

There are many others, I am sure, and if you know of others, please let me know.