USA wins first Olympic hockey gold medal in 20 years in overtime thriller vs. Canadahttps://t.co/xsB8HpCAr7
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) February 22, 2018
Codie Bascue to drive Bobsled in the Olympics
Update: Monday February 19, 2018
Codie presently sits in 25th place after one run of the two-man Bobsled.
Peter Ballantyne also forwarded this link to an article in Sports Illustrated about Codie.
I recently learned from Dresden Town Supervisor, Paul Ferguson, that Olympian, Codie Bascue, actually hails from Dresden. Video from ABC News 10 below:
Comptroller’s Audit of Washington County’s Procurement Policy Released
Purpose of Audit
The purpose of the audit was to determine whether the County procured goods and services in accordance with its procurement policy and statutory requirements for the period January 1, 2016 through May 31, 2017.
Background
Washington County is located in the eastern part of New York State and has a population of approximately 63,000. The County is governed by a Board of Supervisors, which is comprised of the town supervisors from each of the County’s 17 towns. Budgeted appropriations for 2017 totaled approximately $113.4 million.
Key Findings
The County did not competitively bid six purchases and public works contracts totaling $272,115.
The County did not obtain the required number of quotes or perform competitive bidding for 16 purchases totaling $154,083 and did not seek competition for nine professional service contracts totaling $1,055,270.
Key Recommendations
Ensure that the procurement policy and competitive bidding laws are adhered to when purchasing goods or entering public works contracts.
Ensure that County officials and employees adequately document actions taken when soliciting bids and quotes and retain documentation including other local government contracts when used.
Read the entire report here, including the county’s response.
Our Local 2018 Olympic Athletes
Luger Erin Hamlin poses with U.S. flag after it’s announced Team USA athletes picked her to serve as flag-bearer for opening ceremonies. pic.twitter.com/tZFiFgkQsd
— Aamer Madhani (@AamerISmad) February 8, 2018
With the start of the 2018 Winter Olympics, here is a list our local athletes from New York and Vermont who are competing:
New York (19)
Lowell Bailey M Biathlon 6’1″ 170 7/15/1981 Lake Placid TBD
Codie Bascue M Bobsled 5’9″ 208 7/13/1994 Whitehall Four-Man, Two-Man/Pilot
Tommy Biesemeyer M Alpine Skiing 6’0″ 190 1/30/1989 Keene Super-G
Tim Burke M Biathlon 5’11” 160 2/3/1982 Lake Placid TBD
John Daly M Skeleton 5’9″ 175 6/10/1985 Smithtown Men’s
Matt Gilroy M Ice Hockey 6’1″ 200 7/20/1984 Bellmore Defense
Brian Gionta M Ice Hockey 5’7″ 175 1/18/1979 Rochester Forward
Jordan Greenway M Ice Hockey 6’5″ 235 2/16/1997 Canton Forward
Erin Hamlin F Luge 5’7″ 156 11/19/1986 Remsen Singles
Justin Krewson M Luge 6’2″ 175 7/24/1996 Eastport Doubles
David Leggio M Ice Hockey 6’0″ 185 7/31/1984 Buffalo Goalie
Jon Lillis M Freestyle Skiing 5’6″ 130 8/20/1994 Rochester Aerials
Tricia Mangan F Alpine Skiing 5’8” 140 3/7/1997 Buffalo TBD
Chris Mazdzer M Luge 6’1″ 215 6/26/1988 Saranac Lake Singles
Matt Mortensen M Luge 6’0″ 192 12/11/1985 Huntington Station Doubles
Emily Pfalzer F Ice Hockey 5’3″ 125 6/14/1993 Buffalo Defense
Maddie Phaneuf F Biathlon 5’4″ 140 4/29/1995 Old Forge TBD
Morgan Schild F Freestyle Skiing 5’7″ 150 8/25/1997 Pittsford Moguls
Andrew Weibrecht M Alpine Skiing 5’7″ 190 2/10/1986 Lake Placid Super-G
Vermont (15)
Sophie Caldwell F Cross-Country Skiing 5’7″ 130 3/22/1990 Peru TBD
Caroline Claire F Freestyle Skiing 5’8″ 155 2/2/2000 Manchester Center Slopestyle
Ryan Cochran-Siegle M Alpine Skiing 6’1″ 200 3/27/1992 Starksboro Alpine Combined
Emily Dreissigacker F Biathlon 5’9″ 150 11/29/1988 Morrisville TBD
Susan Dunklee F Biathlon 5’7″ 143 2/13/1986 Barton TBD
Nolan Kasper M Alpine Skiing 5’8″ 180 3/27/1989 Warren Slalom
Devin Logan F Freestyle Skiing 5’9″ 185 2/17/1993 West Dover Halfpipe, Slopestyle
Kaitlynn Miller F Cross-Country Skiing 5’7″ 130 8/9/1991 Elmore TBD
Andy Newell M Cross-Country Skiing 5’10” 157 11/30/1983 Shaftsbury TBD
Caitlin Patterson F Cross-Country Skiing 5’9″ 132 1/30/1990 Craftsbury TBD
Scott Patterson M Cross-Country Skiing 5’11” 160 1/28/1992 Craftsbury TBD
Amanda Pelkey F Ice Hockey 5’3″ 135 5/29/1993 Montpelier Forward
Ida Sargent F Cross-Country Skiing 5’4″ 125 1/25/1988 Craftsbury TBD
Emerson Smith M Freestyle Skiing 6’1″ 168 2/13/1997 Dover Moguls
Liz Stephen F Cross-Country Skiing 5’2″ 105 1/12/1987 East Montpelier TBD
I will attempt to highlight the performances of our local athletes here.
LGPC 2017 Boat Inspection Report Released
The Lake George Park Commission has released the 2017 Boat Inspection report for Lake George. It’s a very interesting read with numbers of boats inspected as well as types of invasive species caught before they could enter the lake. (Click the image above to read the entire report.)
Bits of Everything
WCAX TV – Lake George Patrol Officers to be Armed Next Year
That’s right. They’ll be carrying guns now.
The Adirondack Explorer: Grant to Help Salt Runoff and Invasives in Lake George Basin
With the cold, comes salt and it’s harmful effect on the environment. Now a grant seeks to combat this.
NY Post: Snowy Owls being Tracked as they Head South
They have been seen in Huletts. Learn more here.
North Country Public Radio: 50-55 Below Zero Possible on Some Adirondack Summits this Week
No fooling around with cold this cold.
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.)
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.
LGPC to Hold September Meeting in Huletts
The Huletts Landing Volunteer Fire Company will open its doors on September 26th for the monthly meeting of the Lake George Park Commission. If you have never been to a Lake George Park Commission meeting, this would be an easy one to get to! Many thanks to the Huletts Landing Volunteer Fire Company for graciously hosting this event.
518 Prefix Now Needed on Local Calls
You may have noticed this already, but starting last weekend, the 518 area code prefix is now required when making local calls from Huletts. It is part of the transition to the new 838 area code which starts after September 19th in the 17 county region presently served by 518.
After September 19th, new phone numbers, will start with, and get the new 838 area code according to the Public Service Commission. Calls originating outside the local area will need the 1+area code + number.
Times Union Link: Alexander West Convicted of Lake George Boat Crash
Congresswoman Stefanik Visits Afghanistan
Congresswoman Stefanik with servicemen in Afghanistan.
This weekend Congresswoman Stefanik returned from a bipartisan Congressional Delegation visit to Afghanistan and the Middle East. As the Chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, this was an important opportunity for the Congressional delegation to conduct oversight of the policy, strategy, and resource issues associated with Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq/Syria and Operation Resolute Support in Afghanistan.
Among the briefings and meetings, the delegation met with the Commander of all U.S. Special Operations Forces in Iraq and Syria for full updates on current and future operations to counter ISIS, including partnering engagements and operations with the units from the Iraqi Army and the Syrian Democratic Forces.
This trip was also a special opportunity to visit with the brave men and women in uniform deployed in this region. Congresswoman Stefanik had the opportunity to visit many constituents from our district, including servicemen and women from Greenwich, Plattsburgh, Star Lake, Schuylerville, Turin, Saranac Lake, Saratoga, Wilton, Cambridge, South Glens Falls, Lake George and Massena.
Whitehall School Board: January Meeting Minutes
The Whitehall School Board has begun to put the minutes to their monthly meetings online. The Board should be commended for this.
Here is a link to the minutes for the Regular Board Meeting from Wednesday, January 18, 2017. I will begin to post these. (There is no easy way to link directly to these. They have to be printed out and saved as a pdf.)
Please note the following budget items where discussed by the Superintendent in his remarks (Item # 4 Superintendent Comments):
Patrick Dee stated that the State Aid Budget runs will be approximately 1.7% increase in aid. The Governor’s budget: Approximately $124,000 present budget runs for Whitehall.
Patrick Dee stated that there will be an approximate 15% budget increase (approximately $300.000 budget increase) in health insurance for 2017-2018. Whitehall is part of a consortium, which includes twenty eight out of thirty districts within WSWHE BOCES.
NY State Comptroller’s Audit of Dresden Released
The NY State Comptroller has completed its audit of the Town of Dresden and the operations of the Town Clerk. That audit, as well as the Town’s initial response, is included in the report. The Town’s complete response is due to the state within 90-days.
This was a comprehensive undertaking that encompasses the financial health of the entire town, including the general and highways budgets, as well as the overall health of both sewer districts.