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Women’s Guild Wine & Cheese Fundraiser a Success


A large crowd turned out for the wine and cheese fundraiser held in mid-July by the Huletts Landing Women’s Guild.

The annual wine and cheese fundraiser for the Outreach Program was held on Friday, July 14, at the Washington County Park Pavilion by the Huletts Landing Women’s Guild. The fundraiser was a great success thanks to all the residence and guests who supported the event. The proceeds will enable the Outreach Program to provide help to the needy.

Participants enjoyed an evening of wine, hors d’oeuvres, music and fun conversation surrounded by a flair of Adirondack ambience.


The tables were decorated beautifully.

Thank you to the many volunteers on the committee for their teamwork in creating such an enjoyable gathering. It was an evening to remember. Also a special thanks to Bruce Young for sharing his hunting treasurers from escapades around the world. They were a focal point for every table.

Guild volunteers pictured above from left to right: Bernadette Perrone, Millie Gorman, Roberta Raymond, Barbara Gries, Robin DeLucia, Toni Richards, Susan Young, Cathy Leghorn and missing Barbara Davidson, Pam Hansen and Donna Short.

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LGLC Announces its 2017 Season of Lake Talks: Living Lands


“Beekeeping and Honeymaking” with Tom Wells will be one of the talks in this years Living Lands lecture series by the Lake George Land Conservancy.

The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) is kicking off its 2017 Lake Talks Series: Living Lands with Maple Sugaring, on Wednesday, June 28 at 5:30 pm. Local Bolton resident Sam Caldwell of Bixby’s Best will explain the art of maple sugaring and the creation of traditional Adirondack maple syrup.

The LGLC’s weekly Living Lands-themed presentations will take an exclusive and up-close look at the wildlife and people who utilize the land of Lake George and the Adirondacks, past and present.

Held at the LGLC office in Bolton Landing, the family-friendly presentations are free and open to the public, though registration is strongly recommended because of limited seating. Presentations will be held each Wednesday evening (except for July 5) starting June 28th through August 16th.

New this year, the Lakeside Lodge and Grille has generously partnered with the LGLC for an exclusive deal for Living Lands participants. At every unique talk this summer, each attendee will be given a date-specific “Talk Ticket” that can be used that evening at Lakeside Lodge and Grille. When presented, the restaurant will donate 10% of the total meal cost back to the LGLC.

In addition, attendees can add their name to a drawing to win a Lakeside Lodge and Grille gift certificate. The drawing will be held at the conclusion of the Living Lands Series. Attendees can enter their name each time they come to a presentation, so odds of winning increase with each attendance.

Following the maple sugaring talk, other presentations include “Wild Wolves” with Steve Hall of the Adirondack Wildlife Refuge; “Meet the Raptors of the Adirondacks” with Nancy Kimball; “Beekeeping and Honeymaking” with Tom Wells, owner of Pleasant Valley Apiaries; “The Battle of Lake George” historical talk with author & historian William Griffith; “Adirondack Hunting Traditions” with Dan Ladd; and “Timber Rattlesnakes” with Dr. Bill Brown, Vertebrate Zoologist and Herpetologist.

For more information about these programs and to reserve seating, go to www.lglc.org/events-and-programs/living-lands.

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Dresden’s New Veteran’s Sign Unveiled


Unveiling of the Dresden Veteran’s Memorial Plaque by Town Supervisor, George Gang, and the Honorable Frank C. Foster, Whitehall American Legion Post 83 Service Officer.

The town of Dresden officially unveiled the new Veterans memorial sign on Sunday, May 28th. Many people worked very hard to get the plaque and make this event a success. A large crowd came out for the ceremony. Below are some pictures from the day. Many thanks to all who made this happen. (Click picture to see full-scale.)


Sean Patrick Hart, Bugle Player.


Whitehall American Legion Post 83 Color Guard.


Whitehall American Legion Post 83 Adjutant, James Lafayette, and Dresden Town Supervisor, George Gang.


American Legion Post 83 Chaplain, Henry Gurney. (WWII)


Honorable Jack Eggleston. (Vietnam War)


Conrad Peterson. (Marines WWII)


Stiling Knight. (WWII)


Michael Huntington with his father, William Huntington. (WWII)


Honorable Frank Barber and wife, Betty.


Dresden Town Councilman John Barber and wife, Julie.


Whitehall American Legion Post 83 Color Guard preparing to do gun salute.


Honorable Jack Eggleston and Honorable Frank C. Foster (also Service Officer for Post 83).


Post 83 Chaplain, Henry Gurney (WWII), Mark Ives (Vietnam), Stiling Knight (WWII), and Jack Eggleston (Vietnam).


Jim Lafayette, Former Dresden Town Supervisor Sue Foster Ives, and Frank C. Foster.

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Memorial Day: 2017

“I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” – – Nathan Hale

Update: 10:00 AM
I just learned that Conrad Peterson is going to be the Whitehall Memorial Day Parade’s Grand Marshall.

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Happy Easter

This morning’s Gospel reading is John 20:1–9:

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.

Crown Him With Many Crowns – Fountainview Orchestra and Singers

Wishing you much much happiness and joy as the world celebrates Easter today.

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Good Friday 2017

Christ Crowned with Thorns
Hendrick ter Brugghen 1620

“Christ is shown with his head down, quietly suffering in the forecourt of Pilate’s palace, surrounded by jeering soldiers.

The scene depicts one of the torments that Christ was subjected to on the long Friday that ended in his death upon the Cross. Mockingly he has been called the King of the Jews, and now his tormentors have crowned him with thorns and wrapped him in a scarlet cloak to indicate his kingly stature.

One of the soldiers kneels before Christ in mock humility, handing him a stick in lieu of a sceptre.”

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LGLC Welcomes Michele DeRossi as Staff


Michele DeRossi has joined the staff of the Lake George Land Conservancy.

The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) is pleased to announce the addition of Michele DeRossi as the organization’s community engagement and events manager. In her new role, Ms. DeRossi will be managing community and fundraising events for the LGLC and working with the staff to raise funds and awareness for the importance of land protection throughout the Lake George watershed.

Ms. DeRossi brings a versatile background in development, event planning, and conservation. Prior to joining the LGLC, Ms. DeRossi worked for The Nature Conservancy, where she spent 3 years working in development, most recently as a Donor Relations Manager for both individual donors as well as foundations and corporations around the eastern New York region and in New York City. Prior to her work at The Nature Conservancy, she worked as events manager for the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, organizing and facilitating major events to raise money for restoration projects around historic Saratoga Springs. Ms. DeRossi got her start in non-profit work while living in Jackson, Wyoming where she was the marketing and events associate for Jackson Hole WILD, an organization dedicated to promoting stewardship of wildlife through the use of media.

Born and raised in Connecticut, Ms. DeRossi grew up coming to Lake George in the summers with her family and continued to be a part of the Bolton Landing community through college, working at several local restaurants and contributing to the Lake George Mirror. Ms. DeRossi holds a BA from Fordham University in Journalism and Communications and attended the Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, CT. Although she now lives in Saratoga Springs, Ms. DeRossi can often be found at her family’s home in Diamond Point. In her free time, Michele writes a food column in Saratoga, is working on becoming an ADK 46’r with her fiancé and loves to explore new places, whether on skis or by foot.

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Saturday Quote

“Touch of the Master’s Hand,” by Myra Welsh

T’was battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But held it up with a smile.

“What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried,
“Who’ll start the bidding for me?”
“A dollar, a dollar,” then, two! Only two?
“Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?

“Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;
Going for three . . . ” But no,
From the room, far back, a grey haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;

Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening the loose strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet
As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said: “What am I bid for the old violin?”
And he held it up with the bow.

“A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?
Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?
Three thousand, once; three thousand, twice;
And going and gone,” said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,
“We do not quite understand
What changed its worth?” Swift came the reply:
“The touch of a master’s hand.”

And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,
Much like the old violin.

A “mess of potage,” a glass of wine;
A game, and he travels on.
He is “going” once, and “going” twice,
He’s “going” and almost “gone.”

But the Master comes and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought
By the touch of the Master’s hand.

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Famous Painting: The County Election, 1852

The County Election, 1852 by George Caleb Bingham (1811–1879). Oil on canvas. Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis, Mo., Gift of Bank of America. (Click to see full-scale.)

All the goings-on in Washington D.C. recently, reminded me of the famous painting shown above.

“The County Election pictures the American democratic system in progress. The story takes place in a small Midwestern town in the mid-nineteenth century, when the rituals of voting were still taking shape, particularly on the frontier. George Caleb Bingham, known as “the Missouri artist” for the state where he lived and worked, recognized the responsibilities as well as the rights of citizenship; and because he played an active part in Missouri politics, he gained a personal perspective on the contemporary electoral process. In “The County Election“, Bingham presents a raucous voting party as an enactment of democracy, bringing together a variety of residents in a rural community to make decisions for the common good.”

Abstracted from the Picture America Resource Book
Read more about what is represented by this picture.

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Saturday Quote

“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”

John Wooden

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Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays

To celebrate Christmas, I offer you a poem by J.R.R. Tolkien, most famous for his work The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. This and another of Tolkien’s poems were uncovered in 2013 by researchers in England. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas.

NOEL by J. R. R. Tolkien

Grim was the world and grey last night:
The moon and stars were fled,
The hall was dark without song or light,
The fires were fallen dead.
The wind in the trees was like to the sea,
And over the mountains’ teeth
It whistled bitter-cold and free,
As a sword leapt from its sheath.

The lord of snows upreared his head;
His mantle long and pale
Upon the bitter blast was spread
And hung o’er hill and dale.
The world was blind, the boughs were bent,
All ways and paths were wild:
Then the veil of cloud apart was rent,
And here was born a Child.

The ancient dome of heaven sheer
Was pricked with distant light;
A star came shining white and clear
Alone above the night.
In the dale of dark in that hour of birth
One voice on a sudden sang:
Then all the bells in Heaven and Earth
Together at midnight rang.

Mary sang in this world below:
They heard her song arise
O’er mist and over mountain snow
To the walls of Paradise,
And the tongue of many bells was stirred
in Heaven’s towers to ring
When the voice of mortal maid was heard,
That was mother of Heaven’s King.

Glad is the world and fair this night
With stars about its head,
And the hall is filled with laughter and light,
And fires are burning red.
The bells of Paradise now ring
With bells of Christendom,
And Gloria, Gloria we will sing
That God on earth is come.

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Cyber Monday: Local Online Merchants

I sometimes get asked the question: “Who are some local merchants – where we can buy some items with a Washington County or Adirondack flare?” So for Cyber Monday here are some ideas:

Adirondack Life Magazine has an online Marketplace and gift subscriptions available.

Will Moses (who is related to the famous Grandma Moses) has an online store dedicated to Washington County art.

The Washington County Historical Society has books on local history that can be purchased online.

The Argyle Cheese Farmer has many gift baskets, among other products, that can be purchased online.

The Dancing Ewe Farm Store has many local products, including olive oils, marmalade’s, and cured meats.

Mapleland Farms is a Washington County producer of many different maple products.

The well-known photographer of all things Lake George, Carl Heilman, has an online store where you can purchase puzzles, prints and playing cards, among other great products.

There are many others, I am sure, and if you know of others, please let me know.

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Generations of Service


Mr. Reginald “Buck” Ballantyne (center) meets with Rear Admiral James Rendon, the Superintendent of the United States Coast Guard Academy (right) along with Mr. Ballantyne’s grandson, Liam, a cadet at the Academy (left).