Click image to read newsletter.
DEC Finalizes Plans to Relocate and Upgrade Lake George Beach Boat Launch
The final design plans to relocate and upgrade the Lake George Beach Boat Launch are completed New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regional Director Robert Stegemann announced today.
“DEC is committed to increasing recreational access to the state’s natural treasures for both New Yorkers and visitors to the state. The design and operation of the boat launch will provide additional access for boaters to Lake George while ensuring the safety and minimizing the impacts on users of Lake George Beach and nearby residents,” said Director Stegemann. “The input received from residents and local officials led to modifications resulting in a boat launch that boaters, bathers and residents will all appreciate.”
The boat launch is part of a two-year project to improve the roads, parking lots and access to DEC’s Lake George Beach Area – aka Million Dollar Beach. Improvements to the roads and parking lots through the use of porous asphalt and other stormwater management features will also protect the water quality of Lake George. The sidewalk along the beach will be upgraded increasing safety, convenience and attractiveness for pedestrians. A boat wash station is planned for the boat launch that will provide further protection for the lake.
“I am thrilled Governor Cuomo and DEC are upgrading the facilities at Million Dollar Beach to make it more user friendly and provide more protection for Lake George,” said Town of Lake George Supervisor Dennis Dickinson. *The beach is a key asset to our community and its tourism driven economy. We couldn’t be happier with the planned improvements.”
“Million Dollar Beach has always been a primary destination of visitors to Lake George, the planned improvements will raise the attractiveness and accessibility of the beach,” said Lake George Village Mayor Robert Blais. “As chairman of SAVE the Lake, I am also pleased that boaters will have increased access to the southern basin of the lake while protecting the lake from aquatic invasive species.”
DEC held a number of meetings with local officials and residents. In response to the concerns expressed at these meetings and in other communications, DEC undertook a second review of the boat launch project and made changes to the plan. The second review included sampling lake depth out from and along the whole stretch of Lake George Beach.
Due to water depths and problems identified with other possible locations DEC once again concluded that the boat launch will be moved to the site at the eastern end of Lake George Beach. However, in response to the comments received, a number of modifications were made to the proposed design and operation of the boat launch, including:
The ramp location will be shifted west so that it will be 358 feet from the eastern shoreline of residences on Rose Point Lane;
The boat launch ramp is now oriented to point away from the eastern shoreline rather than straight out into the lake;
A 150-feet-wide navigation area will be marked with buoys to keep boats approximately 300 feet from the eastern shoreline;
The swimming area at DEC’s Lake George beach will be shifted 100 feet west to provide sufficient separation from the boating navigation area; and
The boat launch will not operate 24 hours a day during the busy summer boating season.
DEC’s decision to relocate and upgrade the boat launch so that boats can be launched and retrieved throughout the boating season is based on earlier studies that found boaters and local officials wanted additional public access to Lake George and boater*s usage of the southeastern basin of the Lake was far below “comfortable carrying capacity.” The 25-boat capacity planned for the boat launch will not exceed the “comfortable carrying capacity” for that portion of the lake.
Governor Cuomo’s NY Open for Hunting and Fishing Initiative is an effort to improve recreational activities for in-state and out-of-state sportsmen and sportswomen and to boost tourism opportunities throughout the state. This initiative includes the streamlining of hunting and fishing licensing and reducing license fees, improved access for fishing at various sites across the state, and increasing hunting opportunities in various regions.
Lake George Park Commission Unanimously Approves Aquatic Invasive Species Regulations
By a unanimous vote of the Lake George Park Commission on Tuesday, new Aquatic Invasive Species Regulations were approved and will go into effect on May 15th.
Inspectors will be hired to inspect boats being launched into Lake George and if any aquatic invasive species are found, the boat and trailer in question will be subject to a mandatory boat washing.
The Post Star reported in-depth on this in today’s online issue.
My understanding is that for boats visiting Lake George from other bodies of water, after being inspected, the boater would receive a “seal” that no aquatic hitchhikers had been found. So, for example, if someone is renting a dock on the lake for a week, they’d get the inspection and seal when they launch and it would be good as long as they’re there.
There’s currently no charge for an inspection. The cost of the program is covered through state grant funding and local contributions, and that is committed to the first two years this is in place. Beyond that, the LGPC has not said anything.
For those who use their boats only in Lake George, I am still trying to ascertain answers. This will be a big story and I will post any news as I learn it.
Governor Cuomo Presents 2014-15 Budget
Today, the Governor presented his 2014-15 Executive Budget.
Among the highlights, of this year’s budget from the Governor’s Press Release:
Holds spending increases below 2 percent for the fourth consecutive year – fiscal discipline that has resulted in a projected $2.2 billion surplus by 2016-17.
Cuts taxes for New York’s families and businesses by more than $2 billion by 2016-17, using the budget surplus generated by our fiscal restraint, including:
A property tax freeze for two years for homeowners in qualifying jurisdictions that agree to stay within the state’s property tax cap and work to cut the cost of government through initiating shared services with other local governments in their county;
Additional targeted real property tax relief based on a homeowner’s ability to pay;
Corporate tax reform that reduces the tax on net income from 7.1 percent to 6.5 percent – the lowest rate since 1968;
Estate tax reform that increases the exclusion threshold from $1 million to eventually conform with the Federal exemption amount; and
Renters’ personal income tax credit to help defray the impact of escalating rental housing costs.
Increases education aid by $807 million, almost 4 percent, driving an average increase of more than $265/student per year.
Continues to put our students first by funding a universal pre-K program, expanded after-school programs, rewards for teacher excellence, and a Smart Schools Bond Act to ensure that all of our children have access to the latest technology needed to compete on the global stage.
Grows our state’s economy and creates jobs by providing an additional round of funding for the Regional Economic Development Councils and linking them with the START-UP NY program to attract businesses from around the world, delivering on the promise of the “Buffalo Billion,” and making strategic capital investments in Upstate projects.
Helps hospitals, nursing homes and long term care facilities restructure to provide quality community based care by advancing $1.2 billion in capital funding.
Protects our state’s greatest resource – our environment – by increasing the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), expanding outdoor recreational opportunities and access to NY-grown agricultural products, and providing a new round of New York Works capital funding for environmental facilities.
Strengthens our public higher education system to excel both academically and as an economic engine by providing $110 million for a new and expanded round of SUNY2020 and CUNY2020 programs and $8 million in funding for a new Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) scholarship program;
Connects the successful NY Youth Works program to our community colleges and expand the tax credit program from $6 million to $10 million annually to help encourage more employers to hire inner city youth; and
Provides new economic opportunities and improves services for veterans.
Click here to read full details of the Governor’s 2014-15 Executive Budget.
Assemblyman Stec Launches ‘Stec Speaks’
In an effort to keep North Country residents aware of the happenings in Albany, Assemblyman Dan Stec (R,C,I-Queensbury) launched his first installment of ‘Stec Speaks,’ a weekly video update of his actions during the Legislative Session. The videos will be posted to his Facebook page (Facebook.com/AssemblymanDanStec), as well as on YouTube.
Among the topics addressed this week was a measure to have the state primary election day sync up with the Congressional primaries in June, a measure that would save localities millions annually.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVm2OTVSJZA&feature=youtu.be
Now For Some History: World War I
This picture appears to show Washington County soldiers headed off to World War I.
It was given to me by Don Hart. Don’s wife, Pamela, is the granddaughter of Ruth Foote. Ruth was the sister of Earle Foote of Huletts Landing. Taken if front of what was then the Whitehall Armory, the name; H. Sullivan is written below the man sitting in the middle.
A larger version of the picture can be seen if you click on the above image. If anyone can identify any of the other soldiers or provide more details about the photograph, I’d appreciate hearing from you.
Interview with Ellen Apperson Brown
The Dome Island Memorial Sanctuary is designated by a plaque in memory of John S. Apperson.
Recently, I had the chance to interview Ellen Apperson Brown, the great niece of John S. Apperson, the famous preservationist who single-handedly preserved some of Lake George’s most pristine shoreline, including Dome Island. She has been working on his biography and has copies of most of his correspondence.
Below is my interview with her.
To begin, Ms. Brown, you have a website dedicated to your great uncle’s memory and work. Can you tell our readers the address and what they might learn on your site?
I created this website about one year ago, as a way to publish excerpts of letters and other documents that have never been made available to the public. I decided to call it Apperson Associates, since that name suggests that there have been many, many people who believed in the value of Apperson’s work and who became his ardent supporters. So, if you look up www.appersonassociates.com, you will find an assortment of articles written about him (by journalists and historians) and a sampling of his correspondence. Also, there is another website I have created (www.vahistoryexchange.com) with a section devoted to the Apperson family, along with several academic papers I wrote during various graduate programs, describing his childhood and family and giving an overview of his work at Lake George and in the Adirondacks. One other suggestion, for anyone who’d enjoy seeing examples of his early photography, is a Facebook page set up by volunteers a few years ago, at the Adirondack Research Library, in Niskayuna. (see Adirondack Research Library – Facebook).
How is your biography of your uncle coming along? When do you expect it might be published?
I have written several articles over the past year or two that have appeared in such prominent publications as Adirondack Explorer, Adirondack Wild, Adirondack Almanak, the Lake George Mirror, and the New York History Blog. These articles have focused on specific (and colorful) topics: about his “kidnapping” of Governor Al Smith ( in 1923), his leadership in persuading the D & H RR to allow campers to take camping gear on the railroad (1913), and his friendships with some of the “great and gracious,” including George Foster Peabody and William K. Bixby. I plan to keep writing short articles as a way to reach a wide audience. In August I ventured into self-publishing and produced a booklet entitled Back in the Day: How John Apperson formed an early neighborhood association in Huddle Bay at Lake George. Copies are available for purchase ($12.95) at Trees, a gift shop in Bolton Landing, or by contacting me directly (inglesferry@gmail.com).
It is very hard to set aside sufficient time to write a big biography, especially without the support of a fellowship or other grant funding. I hope that Union College (Kelly Adirondack Center) will soon find sufficient funding and will consider inviting me to spend a semester or so to work in the Apperson archives, and to teach students and researchers there about the contents of this very important collection of papers!
The story of Dome Island being preserved is a long one. Can you explain why it was important to your great-uncle and why it is still important today?
Often described as the centerpiece of Lake George, Dome Island was the “jewel in the crown” of all of Apperson’s projects and achievements. Ever since his first excursions to the lake, in the early 1900s, he began wondering how this island could be protected and preserved. He thought of it as the gateway to the islands of the Narrows, and soon began promoting the idea of a Lake George Park. His dream was to bring all of the western (Tongue Mountain) and the eastern (Paradise Bay and Black Mountain Point) shores under state control, but he was frustrated by many factors, including corrupt governmental officials and the desire of several landowners to maintain their holdings for their own exclusive use.
He corresponded with Pliny Sexton, owner of the island, and explained to him why he had gone to the trouble of repairing the shoreline (hauling tons of rocks, and building a wall to protect the soil and trees) at his own expense. Sexton did not seem very interested in the problem, or very appreciative of all the hard work. Apperson sought advice from key wealthy people, hoping they might be able to help him solve the problem. In October of 1917, William K. Bixby offered to be “one of a group of five or six to buy Dome Island if Mr. Sexton does not lease it for the public.” Then Bixby continued, “I should favor giving the island to a board of trustees for the benefit of the Town of Bolton. Establish restrictions. Let the board of trustees be five men of standing and who love Lake George, with power to select their successors.” This wonderful idea did not ever come to pass.
By 1939, Appy noticed with alarm that a contractor was removing trees and appeared to be preparing to build a house or perhaps a hotel, so he sprang into action. He persuaded his close friend and associate, Dr. Irving Langmuir, to loan him some of the money, and they managed to purchase the island for $4,500. This was during the depression, and represented a truly remarkable expenditure, especially by a man whose sole means of support was his salary as an engineer at General Electric.
It took him another 15-16 years to find a suitable, lasting solution, when he gave the island to the care of the Nature Conservancy. Today, at Lake George, we all hear about easements and various legal strategies, allowing landowners to leave their properties (e.g. – to the Lake George Land Conservancy) with restrictions against future development, but in 1956, this was a ground-breaking experiment! Appy was a pioneer!
A view from Dome Island.
Dome Island is closed to the public but there are researchers who are allowed to enter. Can you tell us a little about them?
There is a special Dome Island Committee charged with the responsibility for watching over the island, for conducting various research projects, and for organizing annual events. To understand how this committee was formed, we must go back to the 1950s, when Apperson was struggling to find a permanent solution for Dome Island, having concluded that giving the island to the State of New York might not be a viable option. He eventually made friends with Alvin Whitney, Head of the New York State Museum, and one of the founders of the Nature Conservancy (Eastern New York Chapter), and by 1956 they hatched a plan whereby Apperson would give the island to the fledgling organization, along with an endowment of about $20,000, with the understanding that the island would be protected, in perpetuity. Irving Langmuir and scores of friends made generous contributions to the endowment, and by the time of Appy’s death, in 1963, the Island was being protected by a special group, the Dome Island Committee.
Are there any days when Dome Island can be entered upon?
For anyone who is disappointed to learn that Dome Island is restricted from camping and hiking, they should be reminded that scores of other islands are available for such uses, and that Dome is protected, for good reason, by the covenants of an agreement, signed more than fifty years ago. Several local residents serve on the committee, and have offered me hospitality over the years. About 15 years ago, I went along for the annual visit to the island, riding in a boat owned by Bill White, one of Appy’s most faithful friends, as well as Doug Langdon and Henry Caldwell. For more up-to-date information about what is happening at Dome Island, perhaps Henry Caldwell would be a good source of information…at his store in Bolton, called Black Bass Antiques. Otherwise, I suggest folks might want to contact the Lake George Land Conservancy, where Nancy Williams or someone else on her staff could put you in touch with current members.
So is Dome Island private or public property?
Dome Island is a private nature preserve, protected by a deed of gift established in 1956, and owned by a non-profit land conservancy. There is still a special fund that is dedicated to the island (for repairs and research). The jury is still out as to whether this experiment in environmental preservation will last another fifty to one hundred years, but I believe that my great uncle would be delighted to see how well it has survived, and to know that people are still interested in his efforts to save it!
Can you tell us something that most people do not know about John Apperson?
This question reminds me of the story of the blind men and the elephant. Each of them examined one section of an elephant’s anatomy and concluded that the elephant was…a snake (the trunk), a tree (a leg), a rope (the tail) and so on, but none of them could grasp the overall size or appearance of the beast. Similarly, many scholars have helped collect and pass along stories about John Apperson – about his amazing enthusiasm for hiking, camping, skate-sailing, skiing; about his passion to save the islands at Lake George through a sustained effort to recruit volunteers to rip-rap the shores; of his successful grassroots campaigns to defend the forever wild clause of the NY constitution; and of his gift of Dome Island to the Nature Conservancy…but virtually no scholars have had an opportunity to study the documents that reveal all the details of his methodology and strategic plans.
They don’t know that he was a documentary photographer and film maker, or that he had such a masterful command of the politics of his day. They don’t realize that he had formed important relationships with FDR and Eleanor, with Al Smith, and with George Foster Peabody. And they don’t realize what he sacrificed and endured along the way, making enemies of a long list of conservation commissioners and of the greatest power broker of all time – Robert Moses. In summary, I suppose most people don’t know how ambitious he was, and how successful…in accomplishing his main goal – of creating a Lake George Park.
What are some of the other important aspects of your great uncle’s legacy that you want people on Lake George to know?
He has left us a big challenge, asking us to figure out how to be stewards of the land and water. He fought against greed and self-interest, confronting wealthy land-owners to think about how the beautiful scenery might be enjoyed by future generations, and not developed into great mansions, city lawns, and tacky, Coney Island – style dance halls, motels and amusement parks. He tried to teach everyone to think critically, to get organized, and to make things happen. I hope future generations will become familiar with his life’s work, and carry on his good example!
Ms. Brown – thank you again for your thoughts. Please stop by and visit your “friends” in Huletts Landing some time.
Photos provided by Ms. Brown.
NY State Ballot Measures: Results
Reminder: Election Tuesday
This is just a reminder that Tuesday, November 5th, is election day and there are many interesting town-wide positions being contested.
I checked with the Board of Elections and as of 3:30 pm today they had received requests for 54 absentee ballots from Dresden and had received 45 completed absentee ballots back.
The absentee ballots won’t be counted until Tuesday, November 12th.
So this is just a reminder to remember to vote if you’re eligible.
I will post the results here as soon as they become available.
2013 Ballot Proposals: Proposal # 6
The official ballot text for Proposal #6 reads as follows:
Increasing Age until which Certain State Judges Can Serve
The proposed amendment to the Constitution, amending sections 2 and 25 of article 6, would increase the maximum age until which certain state judges may serve as follows: (a) a Justice of the Supreme Court would be eligible for five additional two?year terms after the present retirement age of 70, instead of the three such terms currently authorized; and (b) a Judge of the Court of Appeals who reaches the age of 70 while in office would be permitted to remain in service on the Court for up to 10 years beyond the present retirement age of 70 in order to complete the term to which that Judge was appointed. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?
What it Means?
The current mandatory retirement age for judges is 70, set in 1869. Proposition 6 would change the limit for two courts: the Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court, and the state Supreme Court.
The current rule is simple for Court of Appeals judges: they must retire at the end of the year in which they turn 70. For Supreme Court justices, after they turn 70, they can get up to three two-year extensions if a panel of appellate judges decides their services are needed and a doctor thinks they can still do the job. A Supreme Court justice cannot continue serving after age 76.
Proposition 6 would change both rules and allow both types of judges to serve until age 80.
The basic arguments for and against this proposition essentially boil down to this: Should New York end the practice of putting seasoned, capable judges off the bench due to their age, or should the state open up its courts to new judges so they are not ruled by a few individuals for long periods of time?
2013 Ballot Proposals: Proposal # 5
Ballot Proposal # 5 deals with an Adirondack issue.
The official ballot text reads as follows:
In Relation to a Land Exchange in the State Forest Preserve with NYCO Minerals, Inc.
The proposed amendment to section 1 of article 14 of the Constitution would authorize the Legislature to convey forest preserve land located in the town of Lewis, Essex County, to NYCO Minerals, a private company that plans on expanding an existing mine that adjoins the forest preserve land. In exchange, NYCO Minerals would give the State at least the same amount of land of at least the same value, with a minimum assessed value of $1 million, to be added to the forest preserve. When NYCO Minerals finishes mining, it would restore the condition of the land and return it to the forest preserve. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?
What it Means?
NYCO Minerals, is a mining operation in the towns of Willsboro and Lewis. It employs over 100 people.
This amendment would grant access to more veins of Wollastonite, a mineral used in paint, plastics used in the automobile industry, brake pads and linings, and more. This swap would allow NYCO to remain viable in Essex County for 10 more years. Currently, the only two Wollastonite mines in the country are located in the North Country.
NY would transfer the 200 acres to NYCO in exchange for 1,500 acres of company-owned property and a promise to return the 200 acres back to the state as reclaimed property down the road. Basically in exchange for the short-term use of the 200 acres, NY would gain 1,500 acres now and these 200 back later. Among other things NY would obtain, a pair of trout streams and new access to Jay Mountain, where a long, rocky ridge-line provides spectacular views of the Adirondack High Peaks, Lake Champlain and Vermont’s Green Mountains. NYCO will continue to operate and 100 Adirondack jobs would be preserved.
Here is a video in support of Prop #5
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X1C4kvlRm8#t=111
Stec, Gov. Cuomo Honor Keene Valley Resident
Assemblyman Dan Stec (left) and Gov. Andrew Cuomo (right) honor Keene resident Ron Konowitz with a Hurricane Irene Recovery Award.
Assemblyman Dan Stec (R,C,I – Queensbury) and Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently honored Keene Valley resident Ron Konowitz with an Emergency Preparedness Award during the governor’s Conference on Emergency Preparedness. The award was given in recognition of Konowitz’s extraordinary courage and dedication as a volunteer firefighter in service of our communities.
“When times were tough and things were at their worst, Ron Konowitz was at his best,” said Stec. “Ron was on the frontline as a volunteer firefighter and his courage and dedication to helping others has proven crucial not only in helping our friends and neighbors recover in the wake of Hurricane Irene, but in saving the lives of others. It was an honor to present him with an award recognizing his service to our communities and on behalf of the entire 114th District, I thank him.”
2013 Ballot Proposals: Proposal # 4
Ballot Proposal 4 hits very close to home.
The official ballot text for Proposal # 4 reads as follows:
Settling Disputed Title in the Forest Preserve
The proposed amendment to section 1 of article 14 of the Constitution would authorize the Legislature to settle longstanding disputes between the State and private entities over ownership of certain parcels of land in the town of Long Lake, Hamilton County. In exchange for giving up its claim to disputed parcels, the State would get land to be incorporated into the forest preserve that would benefit the forest preserve more than the disputed parcels currently do. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?
What it Means?
This has been appropriately described as the “queen of all property title disputes”, predating both the Adirondack Park and the Forest Preserve. Titles to 216 parcels of land, equating to approximately 1,000 acres, on the shores of Raquette Lake in Long Lake, Hamilton County, New York, have been in dispute for the past century. The land was originally incorporated into New York, which was a colony at the time, as the “Totten and Crossfield Purchase” in 1771 and was known as “Township 40.”
The state claims that the lands under dispute were purchased from private residents in a tax sales in the late 1800s. Both the state and private residents, a utilities company, a fire department and a public school have conflicting ownership claims on the land. Some disputes have been resolved in courts, but others have not been due to the lack of ownership proof by any of the parties. Because the residents do not have clear and obvious titles to the land, many have been denied title insurances and certain loans. Attempted once in 2007, private landowners backed out of an exchange due to what they deemed to be too high of fees demanded by the state.
In return for settling the dispute, the state would gain land to be incorporated into the forest preserve at no cost to taxpayers.
Here is a video made by those who support a “Yes” vote.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udwzkmpNZ58#t=20
2013 Ballot Proposals: Proposal # 3
This week, I’m going through all the ballot proposals to be decided on election day.
The official ballot text for Proposal # 3 reads as follows:
Exclusion of Indebtedness Contracted for Sewage Facilities
The proposed amendment to Article 8, section 5 of the Constitution would extend for ten years, until January 1, 2024, the authority of counties, cities, towns, and villages to exclude from their constitutional debt limits indebtedness contracted for the construction or reconstruction of sewage facilities. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?
What it Means?
The measure would allow municipalities to address sewage needs without impairing their ability to finance other needs. The new date of January 1, 2024 would extend the time period by ten years.
If approved, Proposal 3 would amend Article VIII, Section 5, subsection (E) of the Constitution of New York to read:
E. Indebtedness contracted on or after January first, nineteen hundred sixty-two and prior to January first, two thousand fourteen twenty-four, for the construction or reconstruction of facilities for the conveyance, treatment and disposal of sewage. The legislature shall prescribe the method by which and the terms and conditions under which the amount of any such indebtedness to be excluded shall be determined, and no such indebtedness shall be excluded except in accordance with such determination.
The League of Women Voters noted that they could not find any opponents or opposing arguments.