News & Opinion About Huletts Landing, N.Y.
In Case You Missed Times Square
Here’s a great panoramic view of Times Square on New Years complete with sound from panoramas.com. Can you see the ball drop? (Hint: Grab the mouse and look up.)
No Bridge, No Rest
The Post Star did an interesting follow-up on what people are doing without the Crown Point bridge.
Boathouse Hearings to be Held
The Adirondack Park Agency is going to hold a series of hearings before revising their boathouse regulations, the Adirondack Almanack reports.
Salt Alternatives to Protect the Environment
This is an interesting piece I ran across regarding alternatives to rock salt from the Mother Nature Network.
This is What Happens When You Overspend
David Paterson announced the budget mess is so bad, he’s withholding 10% of school and local aid, it was reported by the NY Post. Why not start tying school aid to enrollment figures?
Cool Pictures of Lake Champlain Bridge Design Concepts
The NY State Dept of Transportation has released different design concepts for the new Lake Champlain Bridge between Crown Point, NY and Addison, VT.
December 1st was the deadline for all state agencies to comply with Governor Paterson’s Executive Order 17, which among other things, mandated:
“On or before December 1, 2009, each state agency shall review its regulations and report to the Secretary to the Governor …… on any proposed changes to regulations which could reduce the impact of existing mandates on local governments and generate property tax relief for New York State property taxpayers.”
So I made a Freedom of Information Act request to the Lake George Park Commission. Here is their response to my request for this information:
“The report of the Lake George Park Commission to the Secretary to the Governor pursuant to Executive Order No. 17 is not completed and is expected to be available in 21 days.”
Executive Order 17 also requires that any proposed mandate which is offered by a state agency must be accompanied by a fiscal impact statement which estimates the costs to local governments.
I also requested in the same Freedom of Information Act request the information submitted to the Governor’s office as it pertained to the proposed stream corridor regulations. The Lake George Park Commission responded that this information was exempt from being released to the public.
“Information submitted to the Governor’s Secretary in regards to the Stream Corridor Regulations are intra-agency drafts which do not represent a final agency policy or position.”
Interesting.
Local Athletes Try for Olympics
North Country Public Radio has a good piece on those local Adirondack athletes trying to make the 2010 Winter Olympic team.
See Where NY’s Rose Fits In
I came across this neat website where all the state flowers come together to make a beautiful bouquet. Cool!
Panel Urges Pay Cut, Furloughs for Washington County Supervisors
Give them credit for trying to cut the budget. Members of the Washington County Finance and Personnel Committee proposed cutting supervisors’ pay by 6 percent in addition to taking the equivalent of two furlough days. Read about it in the Post Star.
Unknown Filmmaker Gets $30m for Robot Movie
This is what’s great about the Internet. An unknown filmmaker from Uruguay has been given $30m by Hollywood studio bosses – to turn his $500 YouTube video of a giant robot invasion into a movie. Read about it and watch the clip here.
Ice Age Giants from our Backyard
Denton Publications reports that Mastodons roamed our area long ago. Learn about a great exhibit in Albany where 100’s of extinct local animals are detailed.
December 1, 2009
Sen. Betty Little
Albany Office
506 Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12247
Re: NYS Budget
Dear Senator Little:
The purpose of my letter is to voice my concerns regarding the financial situation facing our state and the failure of the legislative body to do anything to help solve these problems.
From all I can gather from the TV news and local newspaper, either the legislature doesn’t believe there is a financial crisis and/or budget deficit or they are just not capable of dealing with it. What a shame! Governor Patterson finally gets it, but not our elected State Legislatures.
While I fully understand that your party (Republican) no longer controls the State Senate, it would seem to me that you all represent the state of New York and would do what is best for the state and all taxpayers. You do represent taxpayers and this is our State and, more importantly, our tax dollars.
Though I understand no legislator ever wants to cut services or in fact anything, I find your position on school aid rather naïve. A week or so ago, I saw an interview you gave to a local TV station where you said you could not support cuts to school aid at mid year because it would be devastating to schools. I find that very interesting and would like to know on what you base your premise.
From all reports that I have seen regarding school districts that you represent, none of the proposed cuts were drastic, averaging overall to be about (2 {two} or 3 {three} percent. What percentage increase did they originally receive this school year from funding sources?? I am sure, way more than that.
Second, do you have any knowledge of the fund balances and the reserve funds these school districts have available? If not, you might be quite surprised. Would it be out of the question to ask the school districts to use some of these fund balances and reserve funds during these difficult times as they certainly have no intentions of giving these surpluses back to local taxpayers.
While I know that nothing I say will change your or any other legislator’s position but I know come budget time next year, the biggest lobby in Albany (United Federation of Teachers) will be at your door urging further increases in state aid to schools. You will vote another increase just like what has happened year in and year out, never taking in consideration the excessive amount in cost per student or the lack of significant test score improvements, of which there are virtually none to speak of.
The legislators will just increase state funding. Local districts willl negotiate pay increases for administrators and teachers while the local taxpayers will get little or no raises (if they even have a job) and little or no increased statistical educational results for their children. Is there something wrong here, Senator Little?
In closing, I just want to let you know, I am not anti-education as I served on a local school board for 20 (twenty) years and worked very hard at doing what was best for the students. I am just concerned that throwing money at education is not the answer.
Maybe it is time to say, show me some positive results and I will have serious consideration for an increase in school aid. Until then, make do with the status quo.
Very truly yours,
MARK J. IVES
New York’s Budget Crisis Worse
The NY Post reports that the Comptroller says the budget crisis is even worse than Gov. Paterson says it is.
Washington County Cuts Some / Adds Some
The Whitehall Times reports on some cuts and additions to the budget.
World’s Most Amazing Golf Courses
Check out this link to deckchair.com to see some really unique golf courses. Be sure to check out the pictures and video for the Legend Golf & Safari Resort (the second one down).
NBC News had a great segment on the extreme measures people have been forced to take to cross Lake Champlain now that the Lake Champlain Bridge in Crown Point has been closed.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Post Star Notices Adirondack Park Agency Craziness
There was an editorial in the Post Star about new proposed Adirondack Park Agency regulations regarding boat houses. Everyone is noticing how fast the APA is killing communities. Read the whole thing.
“The APA apparently has a lot of free time on its hands, now that half the land in the Adirondack Park is protected by statute and the other half is being abandoned faster than an underage drinking party during a police raid. Lacking a sufficient number of puppies to kick and left to its own gluttonous impulses, the agency has decided to extend its regulatory reach to telling lakeside property owners what they can do with the roofs of boathouses.”
Washington County Sales Tax Revenue Up This Month
Nick Reisman at the Wash Blog reports some good news and bad news.
Bridge Must Go
The Addison County Independent has a story about the need to demolish the Lake Champlain Bridge spanning Lake Champlain at Crown Point and Addison, VT.
No Deficit Deal So Far in Special Session
More of doing nothing, makes the deficit go up. Read the Associated Press article.
Vermont Catamounts Open Season at Loyola Friday
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEz2ozOzFqE
Cool Science Website Shows How Small Things Really Are
This is for anyone who loves science. Here is a cool website from the University of Utah that I stumbled upon which shows how small things really are at the microbiological level. Use the scroll bar to zoom in on the bottom.
Maryland Eastern Shore Newspaper Spotlights Huletts Chapel
The Dialog, the Catholic newspaper for Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore, spotlighted our own Chapel of the Assumption as one of their “Holy Places”. Now who might have submitted that? (You’ll need to scroll to page 9.)
Governor Paterson Calls Special Session
The Times Union reports that the Governor is calling a special session of the legislature to deal with the budget deficit.
In case you missed it, here are Jay-Z & Alicia Keys singing Empire State of Mind .. New York from Game 2 of the World Series. Watch the players get down. Wow! It’s going to be hard to top in Game 3.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRVZvxjBrw8&feature=related
Please Buy Postage from Huletts
Please remember that even when you’re not in Huletts, you can still buy postage for all your mailing needs from the Huletts Post Office. I recently received a copy of our Postmaster’s appeal, which I pass along here.
PBS Stations Picking Up Locally Made Documentary
The Adirondack Almanack tells about a documentary shot locally at Fort Ticonderoga that will be seen on PBS stations throughout the country.
Governor Says Deficit Worse Than Expected
Governor Paterson says the state’s deficit will hit $10 billion over the next two years. The NY Post reports on it here.
WOW Picture of Chimps Grieving
This National Geographic picture really jumped out at me. It shows chimpanzees grieving for one of their own.
Rachael Ray Wants These Rockers Inducted
Spinner reports that Lake George’s own Rachael Ray wants some certain rockers inducted into the Hall of Fame. If successful, maybe she can get them to play the Casino.
Crown Point Bridge Closed
The Crown Point Bridge was closed last week by the state Department of Transportation. This is a major artery between Ticonderoga and Vermont. Here is the Governor’s state of emergency with a phone number to call for updates. The Post Star talks about how its closing could impact Whitehall. The Press Republican has a picture of the bridge.
Rachael Ray’s Menu Goes Public
The NY Post had a piece about Lake George’s own Rachael Ray. It seems that she’s just created a menu for the city’s public schools.
Public Pension Sign Up’s Surge
The Times Union reports that public pension sign up’s are surging. More bad news for the taxpayer.