Aerial America – Vermont (Full Episode)

The Smithsonian Channel is having a marathon viewing this weekend of their Aerial America show encompassing all 50 states. If you’re unfamiliar with this show, they view a state by air, highlighting the scenic wonders and historic places. This morning they spotlighted our neighbor Vermont.

They don’t allow embedding but the entire Vermont episode can be viewed on YouTube here.

Update: Saturday January 2, 2016

This morning the New York state episode aired. The part featuring the Adirondacks is below:

Pictures from the 2015 Huletts Christmas Party


The Huletts firehouse as it looked for the 2015 Christmas party on Saturday night.

The Huletts Landing community was treated to another spectacular Christmas gala celebration on Saturday evening, December 5th, at the Huletts Landing firehouse.

The firehouse was, once again, magically transformed into a wonderfully decorated Christmas venue with twinkling trees, bright lights, holiday music and all things shinny and bright. The event saw a new record attendance, which included HLVFC members and their families, friends and neighbors of the Landing, invited firefighters, first responders and EMT members from neighboring communities who had frequently answered the call this year for aid and assistance during emergencies in Huletts Landing, and Dresden Town Supervisor, George Gang.

Many thanks to HLVFC President John DeLucia, Fire Chief Jay VanderPlaat and the outstanding support team of “Santa’s Helpers” that planned and carried out all of the activities that made this an enjoyable night of great fun and entertainment. The Huletts Landing Volunteer Fire Company would like to extend its sincerest thanks and appreciation to its valued supporters in the community for their very generous response to the Company’s fund drive this year, and sends along it’s best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2016.

Correction: John DeLucia is the current President of HLVFC. Mr. DeLucia took over for Luke Smith this past October. I wrongly cited Mr. Smith as President of the HLVFC in my original post. My apologies for the mistake.

Happy Thanksgiving


‘Signing the Mayflower Compact 1620’, a painting by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris 1899.

Before they established their colony in Plymouth, the Mayflower Compact was signed aboard the Mayflower on November 11, 1620 by the Pilgrims. They used the Julian Calendar, which, at that time, was ten days behind the Gregorian Calendar. Signing the document were 41 of the ship’s 101 passengers, while the Mayflower was anchored in what is now Provincetown Harbor within the hook at the northern tip of Cape Cod. They had planned to settle in Virginia but had reached America farther north.

Mayflower Compact (Modern Version)

In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, defender of the Faith, etc.

Having undertaken, for the Glory of God, and advancements of the Christian faith and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic; for our better ordering, and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.

In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, 1620.

Wishing you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving!

Update:

On PBS Thanksgiving Day at 8:00 pm EST (check your local listings)

The story of the Pilgrims – who they were, what drove them on – their searing first years in America and pivotal interactions with Native Americans – how they succeeded and how they failed – and how and why we have come to remember them as we do – is a tale far more harrowing and strange – and far more revealing – than the Thanksgiving myth we think we know.

From acclaimed filmmaker Ric Burns, The Pilgrims uncovers the riveting story of the men and women of the Mayflower – exploring the historic forces and personalities that motivated their crossing – and the harrowing events that unfolded in their crucial first decade in Massachusetts.

What Are You Doing This Off-Season? Playing Music on the San Diego Waterfront on Veterans Day


Peter Ballantyne plays on the San Diego waterfront last week.

The pictures here were provided to me by Peter Ballantyne, whose band played the San Diego Freedom Festival during last week’s Veteran’s Day parade alongside the parade route. The USS Midway is the big ship in the background.

Many in our Huletts community travel to different parts of the country when we’re not in Huletts. So if you’re some place fun, interesting or unique, send me a picture, and I might post it. I know lots of people who go to interesting places and see fun events when they’re not in Huletts. So if you’re doing something fun this off-season, send me a picture and let your friends see the excitement here on the Huletts Current.

Peter’s planning on playing in the Casino next summer, so come out and see him then!

(Click pictures to see full-scale.)

Saturday Quote

“Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting.”

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Saturday Quote

“Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.”

Eleanor Roosevelt

Tom Hall Joins LGLC Board


Diamond Point resident Tom Hall is the newest member of the Lake George Land Conservancy’s Board of Directors.

The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) has announced that Diamond Point resident Tom Hall is the newest member of its Board of Directors. Mr. Hall joins the Board with extensive environmental and management experience, as well as a deep local connection to the lake.

LGLC Executive Director Jamie Brown said, “We are thrilled that Tom has agreed to join our Board. His passion for Lake George, the outdoors, and the environment are a perfect fit for LGLC. Tom’s experience working at the DEC will provide a helpful perspective on our efforts to protect the special places around the lake.”

Mr. Hall said, “I am excited by the good work the Lake George Land Conservancy does, and am looking forward to the opportunity to put my skills and experience to work to advance the mission and objectives of the organization.”

Mr. Hall retired from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) nearly 5 years ago after a 33 year career in public service that focused on environmental protection. At retirement, he held the position of Special Assistant/Assistant Regional Director for NYS DEC Region 5 – an eight-county upstate area approximately the size of the State of Vermont that includes most of the Adirondack Park and all of the Lake George watershed.

During his tenure with DEC, Mr. Hall was involved with implementing NYS’s Freshwater Wetlands Law, an important but controversial regulatory program that set the stage for protecting NYS wetland resources; managed environmental permitting as an Environmental Analyst and Permit Administrator; was responsible for the oversight and management of NYS DEC’s environmental permitting program within NYS DEC Region 5 as Regional Permit Administrator; and, as Assistant Regional Director, served as a NYS representative to the Lake Champlain Basin Program, administratively managed the Warrensburg DEC office and oversaw the Regional Legal Affairs Office. He also served as a Lake George Park Commissioner for a number of years.

Since retiring from public service, Mr. Hall has worked part-time as a Regulatory Specialist for AECOM and currently holds the same title with VHB Engineering & Planning. Both are private sector engineering and environmental planning firms with local offices in the Albany area.

Mr. Hall is President of the Board of Trustees of the Hillview Free Library in Diamond Point, Treasurer of the Town of Bolton Local Development Corporation, on the Board of Directors of Norowal Marina, Inc. and on the Board of Directors of the Lake George Music Festival.

Mr. Hall and his wife, Lydia, live in Diamond Piont, and their two adult children also live locally.

Email to the Editor

George, we just wanted to let everyone know that we returned from a wonderful trip to the Maine coast. We used the gift certificate and gift card given to me by the Community at the time of my retirement last December 31.

My husband and I enjoyed 4 nights and 5 days in the hot sun in Ogunquit. It was even warm enough for swimming in the ocean! We ate lobster, walked on the Marginal Way, relaxed, played in the waves and totally enjoyed ourselves. Thank you, thank you to everyone who made this trip possible. It was fabulous!

Miss you all!
XOX
Pam Stragnell

Happy Labor Day


The arrival of Labor Day brings fewer children to the beach as the school year begins.

As we celebrate Labor Day with family and friends, I hope you’ll join me in remembering the hardworking men and women of American Labor who make America so great!

If you’re leaving Huletts today, drive safely and come back again soon.

HLPOCA Labor Day Picnic Details

The Huletts Landing Property Owners Civic Association will hold their annual Labor Day picnic on Saturday 9/5

Join your friends, family and neighbors on the “beach and village green” for a full day of barbeque, refreshment, music, adult and children’s games, raffles, 50/50 and door prizes.

Adults 21 & Over $ 30 (INCLUDES DOOR PRIZE ENTRY)
Child 10 & Over $ 15

Each family – please donate one wine or liquor bottle for “Baskets of Cheer” to Nita Smith, No later than Friday 9/4 – aluminum trays for food donations may be picked up at the Caddy Shack or from Mike and Nancy Gorman

Fundraiser to Help Ticonderoga’s St. Mary’s School


Margot Kapusinski stands in front of St. Mary’s in Ticonderoga with a donation for the school, which is still recovering from last year’s fire.

Last September, St. Mary’s School in Ticonderoga, was ravaged by a suspicious fire prior to the start of the school year. Now almost a year later, the school is about to reopen.

The school is asking for donations of school supplies which can be found here and here.

Margot Kapusinski has begun a School Supply fundraiser to help the children of St. Mary’s school in Ticonderoga.

She dropped off her first donation on Sunday and is in the process of generating more donations.

She would appreciate your support and any donations of supplies for these nearby children.