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Senator Stec: State Budget Hinges on Robust Federal Aid Package

State Senator Dan Stec (R,C,I-Queensbury) today said Governor Andrew Cuomo has proposed an unprecedented state budget for its heavy reliance on federal aid to balance the state’s financial books. Cuomo is seeking $15 billion in state and local aid from the federal government to close a huge budget gap in the upcoming fiscal year.

“The governor says he has a lot of friends in Washington, DC so when it comes to the funding I say ‘go get it’,” said Stec. “According to the governor, New York State is the number one donor state, putting in more and getting back less from the federal government year after year. He said this has persisted going back to the days of Senator Patrick Moynihan who retired from the US Senate 20 years ago.

“The governor has had ten years to address what he calls ‘a chronic injustice’ but he hasn’t. The time is now and he needs to get the job done,” said Stec.

Stec said the governor’s approach of waiting for federal assistance will create an enormous challenge for lawmakers as well as advocates, including schools, hospitals and not-for-profits, trying to figure out what will and won’t be possible to fund.

“On an executive budget presentation day, we might typically say ‘the devil is in the details’ but, based on what we heard today I am thinking this is a budget based on a ‘hope and a prayer’.

“From my perspective, job one is restarting the economy. I have been and will continue to talk with our chambers of commerce and local businesses to see what the State of New York should be doing to help them in the months ahead,” said Stec.

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DEC Update on Lake George Hemlock Wooly Adelgid Treatment


HWA infestations can be most noticeably detected by the small, white, woolly masses produced by the insects that are attached to the underside of the twig, near the base of the needles.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and partners recently issued an update about ongoing efforts to limit the spread of the invasive pest Hemlock Wooly Adelgid (HWA) on Forest Preserve lands in Washington County as part of an ongoing, multi-year initiative. DEC confirmed the HWA infestation in August 2020, and began treatment in October on affected hemlock trees in the Glen Island Campground on the shores of Lake George.

Treatment began Oct. 6, 2020 along the shorelines of Lake George and was conducted over a four-week period by DEC staff. DEC prioritized the infestation at Paradise Bay due to the site’s size and levels of infestation. Crews treated 2,374 trees with insecticide on 138 acres of Paradise Bay and injected insecticides directly into the trunks of 80 trees close to sensitive areas. In addition, the New York State Hemlock Initiative released 620 Laricobius beetles, a biological control for HWA, in the treatment area to feed on HWA.

Since the initial finding of HWA at Glen Island, DEC and its partners continued to survey for the insect in surrounding areas. These surveys led to new findings of HWA at Shelving Rock; Buck Mountain Trail Head; Dome Island, private property along the southern shore of Lake George in Queensbury; and Moreau Lake State Park. To address the infestation, DEC is planning consecutive annual treatments to treat many of the trees in the infested areas, as well as additional strategies. Spring treatments at Glen Island Campground will begin after ground thaw when trees begin to transpire and will take up insecticides and end before the campground opens for the season. Treatment dates and strategies are being determined and will help limit the spread of HWA and protect accessible priority hemlock resources that provide habitat and water quality protections, opportunities for recreation, and aesthetic benefits.

Early detection and rapid response to invasive pests is central to protecting New York’s natural resources. DEC and its partners’ efforts to further prevent the spread of HWA are critical to protecting the hemlock forests in the Lake George watershed and greater Adirondack Park.

Signs of HWA on hemlock trees include white wooly masses (ovisacs) about one-quarter the size of a cotton swab on the underside of branches at the base of needles, gray-tinted foliage, and needle loss. DEC is asking the public to report signs of HWA:

Take pictures of the infestation signs as described above (include something for scale such as a coin);

Note the location (intersecting roads, landmarks, or GPS coordinates);

Contact DEC or the local Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) by visiting DEC’s website.

Report the infestation to iMapInvasives; and

Slow the spread of HWA by cleaning equipment or gear after it has been near an infestation and by leaving infested material where it was found.

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Washington County COVID-19 Vaccine Statement

COVID-19 VACCINE INFO (Update: 01/12/2021, 4:45 PM)

Information is forthcoming and changing quickly from the state, all deployments / distribution of vaccine are dependent on the current supply of vaccine being available. Deployment of the limited vaccine available is being coordinated at the state level for the regional vaccination HUB areas. Please Note: Eligibility does not guarantee vaccine availability for each individual in the category and appointments will be made as vaccine is available to local distribution sites.

While our Washington County, NY Public Health Department continues their planning and coordination efforts for distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine with the Capital Region HUB partners, we are currently awaiting a supply of vaccine and do not have any available for distribution at this time. PLEASE DO NOT call our Public Health office relative to vaccine, when PODs (Points of Distribution) are open, an announcement will be made on all of our sites / outlets and all scheduling will be done through the state’s system online or by phone with the NYS Vaccination Hotline (**launching at 4:00 PM today**) at (833)NYS-4VAX. We caution there will not be vaccine available to all eligible individuals at one time, appointments will be scheduled as vaccine availability will allow. Per the Governor’s announcement, at the current rate of supply, it will take approximately 16 weeks to complete vaccine rollout to those currently deemed eligible.

I WANT TO BE VACCINATED, WHAT CAN I DO?

Are you eligible? http://bit.ly/COVID19_AmIEligible
No internet access? Call (833)NYS-4VAX (after 4PM today)
Check with your Healthcare Provider for vaccine availability
Check with Pharmacies: CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens & Kinney
Check our site for updates: washingtoncountyny.gov/coronavirus
For the latest information on the COVID-19 Vaccine and NYS Vaccine Distribution Program, check the state’s website here: https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/

Our team at Washington County, NY Public Health Department remains committed to ensuring all those in our county who wish to be vaccinated can be vaccinated! The distribution of vaccine is an extensive process and will take a significant amount of time to get to everyone, we are required to abide by the stipulations as set forth in the state’s distribution program and are limited by supply. We encourage everyone to stay up to date, informed and be patient as we all work through these challenges together.

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DEC Dresden Wilderness Rescue

Town of Dresden
Washington County
Wilderness Rescue: On Jan. 9 at 5:16 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a 28-year-old hiker from Ballston Spa who became disoriented and lost the trail while hiking Erebus Mountain. Three Forest Rangers responded to assist. Ranger Hess entered the Lake George Wild Forest at the end of Shelving Rock Road while Rangers Donegan and St. Claire entered by boat from the Green Island Maintenance Center. At 9:30 p.m., Rangers located the lost hiker and proceeded to warm her and assess her injuries. The hiker was safely escorted down to the boat for transport back to the maintenance center and given a courtesy ride back to her vehicle at the trailhead. Rangers were cleared of the scene and back in service at 10:55 p.m.

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Top News Story of Huletts: 2020


The “Top News Story of Huletts” for 2020 is how the community responded to the COVID-19 international pandemic.

So here we are at the end of 2020, with 2021 now in sight. What a year it has been.

For the “Top News Story of Huletts” for the year – the unforgettable one is clearly how the community responded to the COVID-19 international pandemic.

Everything changed radically as the coronavirus spread around the world during the early months of 2020. States of Emergency were declared in New York and surrounding states, the Chairman of the Washington County Board of Supervisors called upon people to stay away and travel was limited to and from states with high transmission rates. Construction projects in Huletts were halted as workers were forced to “lock down.”

As people started returning to Huletts in the spring, changes were necessary everywhere to protect the community. For a place like Huletts, which has a very active social life, things changed rapidly for the 2020 season. Association meetings moved to online platforms, social gatherings were extremely limited, social distancing started even on beaches and large gatherings ceased. Masks were worn everywhere.

However people worked together to allow the summer season to go on. Everyone stepped up and the season – which had begun with extreme anxiety – transformed with an attitude of “we can do this.” I will not forget, on one early morning walk, I encountered the President of one Association painting “six foot” circles at 5:30 am so that people could enjoy the day but be safe at the same time. Signs were made, changes occurred in the daily routines of almost everyone – but the summer went on and people were able to enjoy the beauty of Lake George and the surrounding Adirondacks. It wasn’t easy at times, but we made it through one year and hopefully the worst is behind us.

As the year ends – a vaccine is now out. When will things truly return to normal? We don’t know. However we look to the future with hope knowing that we made it through the pandemic year of 2020 working together to keep Huletts safe.

May 2021 be a better year, full of good tidings for everyone.

Happy New Year!

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New York State Thruway Moves to Cashless Tolls

If you traveled to Huletts within the past two weeks on the New York State Thruway, you may have noticed that all tolls are now cashless. Beginning at 1:00 am on Saturday November 14, 2020 – the New York State Thruway – a 570-mile highway – converted to an entirely cashless toll system.

All employee-staffed toll booths will be replaced with overhead gantries outfitted with cameras and sensors to capture license plate numbers as motorists zoom by.

As motorists come on and off the Thruway, gantries will record their locations and bill them accordingly, without requiring them to stop or slow down on the roadway, or complete a cash transaction.

Overhead cameras will snap photos of license plates so drivers can be billed by mail and EZ-pass will handle cashless payments. In the coming months, all toll booths will be removed and road configurations will be changed. All toll plazas should be removed by the end of 2021.

Tolls have been collected on the New York State Thruway since 1954.

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Wilderness Rescue on Black Mountain


A helicopter wilderness rescue on top of Black Mountain in Dresden.

On Nov. 14 at 12:30 p.m., Washington County 911 transferred a call to DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch reporting a hiker with a non-weight bearing knee injury on the trail near the summit of Black Mountain. Forest Rangers Baker, O’Connor, Donegan, Bode, and Hess responded, along with Dresden Fire Department and Skenesborough EMS, to the trailhead. Forest Ranger Donegan was the first on scene with the 46-year-old woman from South Glens Falls and requested the assistance of New York State Police Aviation. Forest Ranger DiCintio responded to the Schroon Airfield, and at 4:48 p.m., advised that he linked up with New York State Police Aviation and was en route to the hiker’s location. At dusk, NYSP Aviation performed a power-on landing at the summit of Black Mountain and the injured woman was loaded into the helicopter. The hiker was flown to a local airport where she was turned over to an ambulance for transport to the hospital for medical treatment.

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DEC Announces Seasonal Closure of Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Parkway


A view from Prospect Mountain, looking down into Lake George Village, at the southern end of Lake George.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced that the Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Parkway will close for the 2020 season at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11th.

Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Parkway climbs 5.5-miles from the entry gate to a parking lot just below the summit. There are three separate overlooks along the parkway – the Narrows, Lake George, and Eagle’s Eye – from which to enjoy the scenery of the Adirondack Mountains and Lake George. More adventurous visitors can hike to the summit on a 1.5-mile trail, which climbs 1,630 feet from its trailhead on Smith Street in the village of Lake George.

Prior to the seasonal closure, DEC helped to reduce the spread of COVID-19 at this site by implementing several precautions, including closing the roadway to the summit of Prospect Mountain to public vehicle traffic and not operating the shuttle from the parking lot to the summit. Visitors can park in the parking lot 155 feet below the summit and walk the 0.2-mile paved path to the top. Picnicking is prohibited and the public restrooms remain closed. View scopes at the pull-offs and on the summit have been temporarily removed.

Use of the parkway has been free this year as DEC encourages New Yorkers to Play Smart, Play Safe, Play Local and enjoy the outdoors responsibly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Typically, use of the parkway costs $10 for a car, $5 for a motorcycle, and $50 for a commercial bus.

If you’ve never been up Prospect Mountain, it offers beautiful views of Lake George, and is worth the trip.

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DEC Statewide Forest Ranger Highlights

Town of Bolton
Warren County
Wilderness Rescue: On Oct. 31 at 1:28 p.m., Warren County 911 transferred a call to DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch requesting Forest Ranger assistance with an ill hiker on the trail in North West Bay on Lake George. The caller advised that a 27-year-old woman from Katonah was conscious, but not responsive. Forest Ranger Donegan responded, along with members of the Bolton Fire Department and EMS squad using their fire boat from Green Island. The hiker was located at 2:15 p.m., and carried onto the fire boat by Forest Rangers, members of the Lake George Park Commission, and Bolton Fire and EMS. On the boat, the subject was transported to the landing zone to be airlifted to a local hospital by New York State Police Aviation. The incident concluded at 4:15 p.m.

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Governor Cuomo Announces New Travel Policy

During his daily press briefing on Saturday, Governor Cuomo announced a new travel policy which will require all people traveling from out of State to be tested for the COVID-19 virus. The new policy requires all persons entering New York to have proof of having had a COVID test performed within the last three days. Then, upon arriving in New York, all travelers must quarantine for three days and then take another (second) COVID test on the fourth day. If the test yields a positive result, such persons must remain in quarantine. People that choose not to get tested on the fourth day must remain in quarantine for the full 14 days. The new policy does not apply to people traveling to and from contiguous states (NJ, PA, CT).

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Plastic Bag Ban Now Being Enforced in New York State

New York State’s s ban on single-use plastic bags went into effect earlier this year, but the state officially began to enforce the rule on Monday, October 19, following a seven-month pause.

The ban took effect on March 1 of this year but was not enforced until now because of a lawsuit by plastic bag manufacturers (in addition to the coronavirus pandemic). The New York State Supreme Court struck down the lawsuit last month but said businesses need 30 days’ notice to prepare for the enforcement of the ban.

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DEC Statewide Forest Ranger Highlights

Town of Bolton
Warren County
Wilderness Rescue: On Oct. 2 at 9:30 p.m., Warren County 911 transferred a call to DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch from two hikers who became disoriented on Pole Hill Pond. The hikers, from Brookhaven, did not have a light source or warm clothing with them as temperatures dropped. Dispatch advised the hikers to stay where they were until help arrived. Warren County 911 shared coordinates to the hikers’ location as their only working cell phone battery died. Forest Rangers Donegan and Kabrehl responded to assist, arriving on scene at 10:30 p.m. Voice contact was made at 12:15 a.m., and the hikers were found off the trail at 12:33 a.m. Forest Rangers escorted the couple back to their vehicle at the trailhead.

Town of Bolton
Warren County
Wilderness Rescue: On Oct. 3 at 7:53 p.m., Warren County 911 transferred a call to DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch from a hiker stating that she and her eight-year-old daughter were stuck on the trail for Pole Hill Pond. The hiker stated that they did not have any light sources and that she had fallen, causing minor injuries. Forest Rangers Donegan and Kabrehl responded to the pair’s location along with Bolton Fire and EMS. Rangers proceeded up to the trail to locate the stranded family from Saratoga Springs and Ranger Donegan advised that he was with the pair at 10:48 p.m. After being assessed by Rangers, the mother and daughter were provided light sources and safely escorted back to the trailhead. At 10:58 p.m., the incident concluded and all emergency service providers were cleared the scene.

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DEC Announces Sentencing of Saranac Man for Illegal Taking of Moose

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced the sentencing of a Saranac man for illegally poaching a moose in October 2019. On Sept. 3, 2020, DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement investigation into the moose poaching concluded when Zachary Vaughan, 26, of Saranac, New York, was sentenced in the Town of Franklin Criminal Court to 60 days in county jail and $5,525 in fines and surcharges. DEC also revoked Vaughan’s hunting privileges for five years.

DEC’s investigation began on Oct. 31, 2019, when ECO Favreau received a call from a camp member in the Chateaugay Highlands Easement reporting a dead cow moose on the property. The moose was transported to DEC’s Delmar Wildlife Resource Lab for a necropsy. The crime scene investigation continued with the aid of DEC K9 Diesel. Following a series of anonymous calls and an anonymous tip reported to the DEC Environmental Crime Tip-Line, Zachary Vaughan was identified as the shooter.

While Vaughan initially denied the claims, ECOs obtained a supporting deposition. A search warrant was executed on Nov. 26, 2019, by DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement at the home of Vaughan and his parents, during which officers obtained a voluntary statement from Vaughan regarding the poaching incident. On Dec. 4, 2019, Vaughan was charged with four misdemeanors: taking of a moose; possessing a loaded firearm in a vehicle; use of an artificial light in a vehicle while in possession of firearm; and hunting deer with the aid of an artificial light. He also was charged with three additional Environmental Conservation Law violations.

The moose, a protected mammal in New York State, is the largest member of the deer family and the largest land mammal in New York. Hunting moose in New York State is illegal.