News & Opinion About Huletts Landing, N.Y.
Great Pictures of Historic Gaslight Village
The Times Union, has an article entitled: Gaslight Village fades to black, with some great historical photos that may bring back memories.
State Considers Pay Freeze for Workers
The Post Star reports that the the state may try something different to reign in government employee salaries.
Roadrunner vs. the Coyote: In Live Action!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ5p9WttVhE
While I’ve been blogging here on the Huletts Current I’ve gotten in the habit of posting what I consider to be the top news story of Huletts Landing from the past year.
This is entirely my own opinion and while others may disagree, I’ve found it to be a fun exercise which a few have told me they enjoy.
So for 2010, the Huletts Current declares the top story from Huletts Landing to be ………..
The dueling cell phone tower proposals.
In one corner we have the AT&T / New Cingular Wireless proposal (otherwise known as the firehouse proposal), which has now been under review by the Adirondack Park Agency since December 28, 2009.
The Huletts Landing Volunteer Fire Company proposed siting a cell tower on its property in late December 2009.
The project is briefly described as follows: “installation of a 100 foot stealth monopole with three flush mounted antenna centered at 84 feet in height with room for two additional carriers to be located below. The monopole will be installed behind the new firehouse with equipment to be located inside the firehouse”.
In the other corner, we have the Independent Towers proposal (otherwise known as the VanderPlaat proposal), which has recently been deemed complete by the APA. The public comment period expired on December 2, 2010. (Which I just became aware of this past week because the APA never sent me a notice.) This is usually the last step before a permit is issued.
This would be for a 90 foot tall monopole which would be located back from the road on a 60 ft by 60 ft wooded area. It also would have room for a total of three carriers.
In a conversation I had with APA staff today, this is the current status of the two proposals. After performing a “balloon test” on both sites, (this is where a balloon is floated at the approximate height of the proposed tower), the conclusive evidence is that the Independent Towers (VanderPlaat) site will have a lower visual impact and have a greater signal range. AT&T is suspending their application until a decision is finalized on the Independent Towers application. At this time, the APA has determined that the Independent Towers application is complete. A final decision is expected by the first week in February.
So no matter where you stand on the issue of a cell phone tower or which proposal you favor, the Huletts Current deems this the biggest story of Huletts Landing from 2010.
Can you hear me now? Maybe in 2011?????
NY Times: Cuomo Wants to Cap Property Taxes
The NY Times has a good analysis of Andrew Cuomo’s tax cap plan with an illustration that shows how school spending is the contributing factor.
How Much is The Trash Plant Worth?
The Post Star looks at how much the Hudson Falls Trash plant could fetch the county.
Man Made Wetlands Coming
The Post Star reports that demolition began at Gaslight Village this week.
Bloomberg Glad He Saddled State with OTB
The NY Post reports that Mayor Bloomberg of NY City is happy he pawned OTB off on the state.
Think Tank: NY Pension Costs Could Explode
The NY Post presents an analysis of where pension costs are going.
Top Aide to Gov: Saratoga closure ‘definite possibility’
The Capitol Confidential Blog speaks about Saratoga’s possible demise.
NJ Gov Talks Tough to Paterson
“I have a bridge to sell you”, takes on a new meaning for NJ gov, Chris Christie. So says NJ.com.
Republicans Take NY Senate, Claim Cuomo is One of Them.
Dean Skelos shares some thoughts about being the new Majority Leader in the next NY state legislative session. Read the NY Post.
When the Gold Cup Came to Lake George
The Adirondack Almanack presents a great piece on the Gold Cup on Lake George.
Have Some Turtles? Here’s a Great Practical Joke
The Encyclopedia of Science recounts a practical joke played with some turtles.
Flying for the Holidays?
Then Cargo Collective wear has some gift ideas for you. (Warning: contains graphic images.)
Washington County Deals with Budget
The Post Star reports on Washington County’s budget (with a small tax increase) for next year. The Wash Blog breaks down how the supervisors voted.
NY State Does NOT Deal with Budget
The Press Republican reports that the Legislature decided not to address a $315 million budget deficit in its special session Monday.
France Grants Asylum for Iraqi Christians
Aljazerra reports on the fate of some Iraqi Christians. According to the Guardian, this is what Pakistan does to Christians.
10 Adirondack Weather Disasters
Adirondack Life has an interesting article on the Adirondack’s worst storms.
Beets No Salt
WNBZ reports that the NY State Thruway is going to experiment this winter with a de-icing material made out of sugar beets and brine.
Grant Money for Lake George Delta
Warren County heard that they are the recipient of a state grant to clear a delta in Lake George. Read the Post Star.
Washington County Proposed Budget: Tax Increase Smaller / Transfer Stations Open
The Wash Blog has a quick synopsis of Washington County’s finance committee meeting this past week.
Counties Fear State Mandates
North Country Public Radio has a great piece on how state mandates drive up property taxes.
Medicaid is the big cost. But when all the mandates are added together, counties wind up spending 90 percent of their tax-revenue on things that Albany is making them do.
Steve LaVigne with the state Association of Counties. “Medicaid alone costs property taxpayers over $7 billion a year. So if the state were to take over full fiscal responsibility for the Medicaid program, the counties could begin to reduce the property tax,” LaVigne argued.
Vermont @ Siena / Local Schools Tip Off Tonight
For all our college basketball fans, a fun local game previewed here on the Saints Blog.
Whitehall Students Launch Pumpkins
The Post Star reports on an interesting physics contest in Whitehall.
State Warns of Layoffs
Read the Times Union to learn more about Governor Paterson’s plans to layoff 898 state employees.
NY Post Opinion: Cuomo Must Confront Unions
The NY Post opines that Cuomo must take on the public unions. Will he?
Times Are Bad: WNBZ
WNBZ tells us how bad things are for state government right now here and for next year here.
NY Times Interview with Cuomo
The NY Times recently conducted an interview with Andrew Cuomo.
Trash Plant Contract to end Soon
The Post Star did a fairly in-depth piece documenting Washington County’s trash plant woes. The trash plant has cost taxpayers of Washington County a lot of money during its history.
Remembering Huletts
The Adirondack Almanack recounts some old memories of Huletts.
Think Big: Some Spectacular Shots of the Solar System
Boston.com has some stunning shots of our universe.
Elephant in Room Can’t Be Ignored: Property Taxes Killing NY
The Times Union starts a series on NY’s debilitating property taxes.
Whitehall’s High Taxes & Freebies Kill Two Marinas?
The Wash Blog and the Post Star tell the sad story of present day Whitehall.
Whitehall’s School Enrollment Up Now / Down Long-Term
A Time to Learn Blog notices Whitehall’s school enrollment is headed downhill for the foreseeable future. (Hat tip to Will Hudson for the link.)
Fee Hikes to Pay for Island Trash Removal?
The Adirondack Almanack reports on an interesting development on the proposal to end trash pickup on the islands.
Paladino Unfit? Open Letter Shows Hypocrisy
BuffaloNews.com posts an opinion which is worthwhile reading. It takes on three politicians who object to Carl Paladino being well … a politician.
“D’Amato, McCall and Koch see Paladino as a threat. Yet they have no problem with a state government that never saw a tax, a fee, a patronage job or a public-sector perk that it didn’t like. In the last 10 years, the state budget hyperinflated from $77 billion to — hold your breath — this year’s $136 billion. That is a hike of nearly 80 percent. If you let your household budget run that wild, you would be out of a house.”
Paulist Fathers Ponder Future
Looks like the Paulist Fathers are evaluating their land on Lake George, says the Adirondack Almanack.
No Joking Around: Peterson Says State Layoffs to Start Soon
The Times Union says that Governor Paterson is going to start layoffs by the end of the year.
EZ Pass in Ti
Now can now buy EZ pass in Ticonderoga. So says Denton Publications.
Cormorants Flock to Lake George
The Post Star had a good story on a bird problems.
87 Exit 6 Interchange Finished
I know a lot of people who come up from NY City stop here along the way. The Times Union reports the work is done.
Bolton Mountain May Be Purchased by Conservancy
The Post Star had an article on the Lake George Land Conservancy possibly buying a mountain in Bolton.
Super-stylish Houseboat Living in Germany
If you thought houseboats were ugly, check out Freshome.
Sometime in the mid-1970’s my father took me and my brothers to the World Trade Center. We went to the observation deck, stopped at Windows on the World, and generally had an outing for the day. I was probably 10 years old. I remember the spectacular views and how diverse the clientèle was at Windows on the World. It was a day that I’ll never forget. It was one of those places where most people from the NY metropolitan area would go at sometime in their life.
Well recently, I came across one of the tickets from the World Trade Center that we used that day. It says “Adult” so it may have been my father’s. It was at the bottom of an old box of childhood “stuff” that I was going through recently.
So I thought I’d share the actual ticket here.
The ticket is actually smaller than the scanned images above. I blew them up to get a better picture. It was certainly a poignant moment when I found the ticket and realized that that little piece of paper was all that was left from our visit to that wonderful and magnificent engineering marvel.
On this anniversary of September 11, 2001, let us remember those we lost, and let us also remember how we came together to help get America through one of the most difficult days in its history. Let us remember the heroism of the brave men and women who have fought for freedom in Afghanistan and Iraq. And let us all, never forget what happened that day.
Invasive Clam Found in Lake George
The Lake George Mirror reports on a new harmful invasive species in Lake George.
Hikers: Like George’s Best Kept Secret
Cat and Thomas Mountains. Ever heard of them? If you love to hike you’ll want to read the Adirondack Almanack.
That’s the Sound of the Garbage Hitting the Fan
The DEC will listen on the island trash issue. The Post Star has a story.
This Saturday: The Antique & Classic Boat Show
The Free George has all the details on this weekend’s Antique and Classic Boat Show in Lake George.
Hutch Metro Celebrates Her Birthday, Empire State Building Plays Party Pooper
Bravos to the Hutchinson Metro Center who celebrated what would have been Mother Theresa’s 100 Birthday. Read what it’s all about in the NY Post.
She Does a Brooklyn Accent Too
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UgpfSp2t6k