News & Opinion About Huletts Landing, N.Y.
We’ve learned that TV personality and chef, Rachel Ray, will be returning to Lake George on Monday, May 11th for a benefit for the Lake George High-School Alumni Association.
Rachel was born in Glens Falls, and grew up in Lake George. She is a 1986 graduate of Lake George High School. Tickets went on sale yesterday, Saturday March 28, at the Lake George High School. We recommend you call the high-school first before you head down.
From the mid-1960’s through the 1970’s these decals were quite common around Lake George. You would peel them off and the front would stick to the inside of a car window. I haven’t seen any in a long time, so this one brought back memories. They might go back farther than this, but they promoted the entire Lake George region. We’re not sure who produced them so if you know anything about them, drop us a note.
The Lake George Park Commission has posted the video from their February 24, 2009 public meeting where public comments were solicited on their proposed stream regulations.
The first video is from February 24, 2009, the first 11:00 AM session. It is 1 hour and 34 minutes.
If you don’t have the time to watch, here are the most salient parts from the first video. The public comments start at 22:30 into this video. Out of the 18 speakers featured in part one, 13 speakers were opposed or had concerns regarding the stream regulations, 5 spoke in favor of them.
If you have problems viewing the file above, use this link to the video file to download and view on your computer. (You can right click on this link and “Save Target As…” to download the entire file to your computer. It is quite large though.)
At 29:23 into the first video, there is an excellent speaker from the Lake George Property Owners Group who speaks about being at all the preliminary meetings where the rules were originally discussed before being drafted (and which went on for two years) and that the proposed rules now being considered bear no resemblance to what was ever discussed at those preliminary meetings.
At 1:30:00 into the first video, the speaker tells how he believes one of the most radical environmental groups active in the basin, the Fund for Lake George, is influencing these rules behind the scenes, through two appointees to the LGPC who were members of the Fund before they were appointed. This apparent conflict of interest is something everyone needs to know about.
If you watch these two speakers you will begin to see how the process is not a fair process but how the environmental organizations are “stacking the deck” in favor of these very extreme regulations.
The second video is from February 24, 2009, the second 11:00 AM session. It is 2 hours and 19 minutes.
Once again, we’ve tried to summarize the most important parts from this video also. Out of the 26 speakers featured in part two, 20 speakers opposed or had concerns regarding the stream regulations, 5 spoke in favor of them and 1 was neutral.
If you have problems viewing the file above, use this link to the video file to download and view on your computer. (You can right click on this link and “Save Target As…” to download the entire file to your computer. It is quite large though.)
The DEC representative leaves before this video even starts. So you can thank DEC Commissioner Grannis, for at least being up front, and not caring what people think.
At 1:00 into the second video, Kathy Simms, the Bolton Town Supervisor, speaks about all the comments she has received opposing the stream rules.
At 5:37 into the second video, Joe Rota, the former Dresden Town Supervisor who now lives in Putnam, tells why he is against the proposed rules.
At 42:00 and again at 1:38:45, we hear two speakers tell horror stories about road salt. Road salt isn’t even covered by these proposed rules.
At 1:10:15, John LaPointe, Town Supervisor of Putnam, states that the people he represents are “vehemently opposed” to the rules as drafted.
At 1:19:02, Mark Schachner, representing the Town of Lake George, states that the rule making procedure is “woefully, legally deficient.”
At approximately 1:57:00 a local logger talks about his love for the environment but also why he is opposing these rules.
The third video is from February 24, 2009, the evening session. It is 1 hour and 30 minutes.
The DEC representative never returns to the evening session.
The public comments start at 20:50 into this video. Michael White repeats his PowerPoint presentation from the first session. Out of the 18 speakers featured in part three, 17 speakers opposed or had concerns regarding the stream regulations, 1 spoke in favor of them.
If you have problems viewing the file above, use this link to the video file to download and view on your computer. (You can right click on this link and “Save Target As…” to download the entire file to your computer. It is quite large though.)
Huletts resident, Pat Peterson speaks at 45:36.
Peter Bauer, Executive Director for the Fund for Lake George, says in 1:25:20 – 1:25:33 that it’s “high time to deal with” golf courses. Listen for yourself.
Sadly, this is commentary and analysis you won’t see on other media outlets. But you can see it here on the Huletts Current. Don’t take our word, watch for yourself.
If you watch the whole thing, you’ll learn that 2 commissioners didn’t attend, the DEC representative left after the morning session and 2 commissioners had ties to the Fund for Lake George. While we won’t call this hearing a farce yet, after all three sessions: 50 people spoke out in opposition or had concerns regarding the draft rules, 11 were in favor and 1 was neutral. Let’s see how these public comments are incorporated. You saw it here, even if you weren’t there.
“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?
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.
An interesting project is close to being finalized by Warren County, the Town of Lake George and Lake George Village. There is an approximately 12 acre parcel which is now owned 62% by Warren County, 19% by the Town of Lake George and 19% by Lake George Village. It is the former location of Gaslight Village (the Opera House and Cavalcade of Cars).
A group of environmental organizations have partnered to obtain a conservation easement to build a man-made wetland on approximately 10 acres. There are three different options being considered for the remaining 2 acres. To read about the different options, click here.
Man made wetlands have been the subject of much debate as to whether they actually work but the taxpayers of Warren County and the two municipalities will be paying for the maintenance of the entire parcel going forward. The environmental organizations have advocated Concept # 1 (all buildings removed from the remaining two acres) but a number of people would like to use the existing structures on the two acres, not subject to the conservation easement, for public use.
The subplot of all of this, is to see what the respective governments agree to. A decision may come as early as today.
Updated 3:45 pm – March 20, 2009
The Warren County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously today to approve Concept #3. (Cavalcade of Cars renovated as closed structure; Opera House renovated as open air pavilion.)
The public comment period for the draft stream corridor rules being considered by the Lake George Park Commission has now expired. Instead of focusing on the environmental or property rights issues involved, I thought this letter was probably the best I’ve seen at explaining the legal issues involved.
It is written by Mark Schachner, an attorney for the Town of Lake George, who at one point represented the Huletts Landing Property Owners Civic Association. It was cc’ed to all the towns in the basin and ultimately floated out to you on the Huletts Current.
Mr. Schachner raises some serious questions about how the Lake George Park Commission has handled this process and points out some apparent deficiencies in their legal methodologies. This letter only focuses on the legal process of adopting the draft stream rules, it does not address any environmental issues of the current debate.
As citizens of our great country, the legality of our laws should be paramount to all. Read the whole thing. (It’s four pages and the download is over 1 MB, so it will take a few seconds to load.)
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.
Jeff Klauder has been kind enough to give us access to his webcam which continually monitors the condition of Lake George in Kitchel Bay looking out towards Noble Island. This is a trial run of accessing his webcam.
1.) Because this is a test, you will need to enter:
user name: KitchelBay
password: 1234562.) You will need to download and install the ActiveX file from Panasonic, when prompted, to see the view. (It may take a couple of seconds to have the prompt appear.)
3.) The camera’s view is located on the “Single” tab. That is the only tab you should access. When you’re done watching, please close the browser window to free up bandwidth for someone else. At night you’ll see a lot of darkness.
To access the webcam, click here. Thank you Jeff, for sharing the wonderful view and the real time conditions of the lake!
Warren County Resolution Opposes Stream Rules
Read the resolution the Warren County Supervisors passed opposing the stream rules the Lake George Park Commission is proposing. You won’t be getting a copy of this from the LGPC.
What Did Samuel de Champlain Look Like?
See PBS’s conception of Champlain as created in the new documentary; Dead Reckoning ~ Champlain in America
The Treasurer Says We Have No Money
The Post Star reports that the Washington County Treasurer is telling the Supervisors that the County needs to spend less.
1903
Today
At their last meeting, the Warren County Board of Supervisors, representing all the Towns of Warren County, unanimously voted to oppose the stream regulations as proposed by the Lake George Park Commission.
Mr. Belden (Hague Town Supervisor) recommended that the board members approve a resolution supporting the Towns and opposing the Lake George Park Commission’s proposed regulations of shoreline setbacks.
Motion was made by Mr. Belden, seconded by Mr. Bentley and carried unanimously to waive the rules of the board requiring a resolution be in writing. Clerk noted it would be Resolution No. 175 of 2009 for the record.
Motion was made by Mr. Belden and seconded by Mrs. Simmes opposing the proposed Lake George Park Commission Stream Corridor Regulations.
Mr. Tessier commented that these new regulations would effect six hundred parcels in Lake George and he urged the board members to support the Towns by opposing this proposal. Paul Dusek, County Attorney, requested a point of clarification. He asked if the County was opposing the regulations or supporting those Towns that had opposed the regulations. Mr. Belden replied the County should be opposed to such action of the Park Commission. Mr. Bentley advised he had a draft resolution opposing the current draft Stream Corridor Regulations proposed by the Lake George Park Commission and he presented the resolution to the Clerk of the Board. Mrs. Sady read the draft resolution into the record. … (Administrator’s Note: I have made a FOIL request for the actual resolution because it was not included in the typed minutes.)
Following discussion, the board members agreed that the aforementioned resolution, if approved, should be forwarded to the Lake George Park Commission, Governor Paterson, State Legislators and the Department of State. Mr. Belden requested a roll call vote on the resolution. Clerk added that the resolution opposing the proposed Lake George Park Commission Stream Corridor Regulations would be Resolution No. 176 of 2009 for the record and the purpose of the roll call. …
Chairman Monroe called for a vote on the resolutions.
Resolution Nos. 66 through 176 were approved.
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.