The Entry in Jerusalem
Unknown Artist
1030-1040
The J. Paul Getty Museum
LGA Waits to Hear Final Vote Count on Grant
While the Lake George Association is waiting to hear the final, official outcome of votes in the BoatUS Foundation grant contest — the Foundation is reviewing votes to ensure they were fair and accurate (one vote per person per day) — the LGA’s grant vote total surpassed 40,000 in the final day of voting!
That is an astonishing display of love for Lake George – and the LGA is deeply thankful to all of you for that. We know that no matter where you live, Lake George is your home.
So many organizations and businesses from Ticonderoga, Hague, Hulett’s Landing, Bolton, Queensbury, Lake George Town and Village and all around the Lake took the contest to heart and helped get the word out and encouraged voting for the LGA – so THANK YOU! I proudly note that once the contest was posted on the Huletts Current, the LGA pulled ahead.
One funny note on the whole contest is that because of your support, the voting got so intense that the voting overwhelmed the voting program on the BoatUS Foundation website.
How’s that for the power of Lake George?
Whatever the outcome of the actual vote — we know the Lake George Association’s application was ahead in the final minutes of the contest — the Lake George Association wanted to make sure to THANK YOU for showing your love for Lake George.
Lake George Association Gala Set for July 10th
The Lake George Association has set the date for its annual gala at the Inn at Erlowest for 2015: The party will be on July 10th.
The theme is “Masquerade Ball Fit for our Queen” – we’re envisioning the style of Truman Capote’s 1966 Black and White Ball.
Reservations are being taken by phone at the LGA office: 518-668-3558. Remember, LGA members will get priority seat confirmation, so sign up for your membership at the same time!
Book early, as the event always fills up quickly.
Maynard Rushia, R.I.P.
I am sorry to report that Maynard Rushia passed away Thursday morning. He was the Town of Dresden’s Highway Superintendent for many years.
Services will be at Jillson’s Funeral Home in Whitehall on Sunday from 4:00 to 7:00 pm.
No other information is available at this time.
Invite Some Friends or Family to Huletts this Summer
Some visitors to Huletts circa the 1990’s. If you know these people, please invite them back!
Now that daylight saving time has begun, and winter is hopefully drawing to a close, I wanted to opine for a minute on the fragile economic ecosystem of the Landing. Winter has been tough and people are fed up of the cold, so I thought I would talk about summer for a minute.
While most people come to Huletts for the peace and quiet which accompanies the beautiful nature that surrounds us, the Landing also relies on new people coming in during the summer months. Many people who rent their houses rely on the extra income to help pay their property taxes, and the local businesses that give Huletts its unique charm, including the Post Office, need people to support their activities.
Many Adirondack communities are suffering today because new people are not coming into them. People who visit a community are more likely to come back, spend some dollars locally, and perhaps settle there some day.
So here is a call to invite someone new to Huletts this summer. Tell a friend about the beautiful place where we spend parts of our summer. Perhaps consider a family reunion here, or tell people at work where they could go for a getaway.
Invite someone new to Huletts, there are lots of places for them to stay if you don’t have room, and take them out and show them the Landing. Consider bringing some of your children’s friends up with you for a week. There have been marriages here, years later, of people who’ve met in Huletts.
Remember how you or your family first learned of Huletts Landing? Do the same for someone else. Tell someone about Huletts and encourage them to visit. Everything really good needs to be shared.
LGHS Alumna, “Rachael Ray ’86, Returns for Benefit Cooking Show”
This generous fundraiser is hosted by the Lake George High School Alumni Association and the Lake George Central School District. Much appreciation goes to Rachael for this opportunity that allows the Alumni to award scholarships to students, student groups and to fund individual Lake George Central School District Projects.
Ticket Sale Date Saturday, March 14, 2015
Cost $ 25.00 (6 Ticket Limit)
Ticket Sale Time 9:00 am to NOON
Ticket Sale Location Lake George High School Lobby
381 Canada Street, Main Entrance
Rachael Ray Benefit Cooking Show Thursday, April 2, 2015
Doors Open for Book Sales 6:30 pm
Show Time 7:00 pm ‘til 10:30pm
Show Includes:
Pre Show: Food Pantry and Pet Food Donations in Exchange for Raffle Ticket Donation Recipients: Sacred Heart Church Pantry– Lake George, Hadley-Luzerne Food Pantries, Purrs & Paws- Lake George, SPCA– Queensbury
Book Sale $20.00 – $30.00
Recipe Handouts
Cooking Show Q & A
Book Signing and Photo Op with Rachael
“Recipe Tastings” prepared by Deric Buck & Crew, Bogey’s Pub & Grill
Desserts made by the Lake George Baking Company
John M. Barber Sr., R.I.P.
I am sorry to post that John M. Barber Sr., father to Dresden Town Councilman, John Barber Jr., passed away on Thursday, January 15th.
John M. Barber Sr. served on the Whitehall Board of Education at one time and was an advocate for prudent spending and high student standards. He also was an avid fisherman.
Here is his obituary from the Post Star.
“May God support us all the day long, till the shades lengthen and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in His mercy may He give us a safe lodging, and a holy rest and peace at the last.”
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Now there is a final reason I think that Jesus says, “Love your enemies.” It is this: that love has within it a redemptive power. And there is a power there that eventually transforms individuals. That’s why Jesus says, “Love your enemies.” Because if you hate your enemies, you have no way to redeem and to transform your enemies. But if you love your enemies, you will discover that at the very root of love is the power of redemption. You just keep loving people and keep loving them, even though they’re mistreating you. Here’s the person who is a neighbor, and this person is doing something wrong to you and all of that. Just keep being friendly to that person. Keep loving them. Don’t do anything to embarrass them. Just keep loving them, and they can’t stand it too long. Oh, they react in many ways in the beginning. They react with bitterness because they’re mad because you love them like that. They react with guilt feelings, and sometimes they’ll hate you a little more at that transition period, but just keep loving them. And by the power of your love they will break down under the load. That’s love, you see. It is redemptive, and this is why Jesus says love. There’s something about love that builds up and is creative. There is something about hate that tears down and is destructive. So love your enemies.
I think of one of the best examples of this. We all remember the great president of this United States, Abraham Lincoln—these United States rather. You remember when Abraham Lincoln was running for president of the United States, there was a man who ran all around the country talking about Lincoln. He said a lot of bad things about Lincoln, a lot of unkind things. And sometimes he would get to the point that he would even talk about his looks, saying, “You don’t want a tall, lanky, ignorant man like this as the president of the United States.” He went on and on and on and went around with that type of attitude and wrote about it. Finally, one day Abraham Lincoln was elected president of the United States. And if you read the great biography of Lincoln, if you read the great works about him, you will discover that as every president comes to the point, he came to the point of having to choose a Cabinet. And then came the time for him to choose a Secretary of War. He looked across the nation, and decided to choose a man by the name of Mr. Stanton. And when Abraham Lincoln stood around his advisors and mentioned this fact, they said to him: “Mr. Lincoln, are you a fool? Do you know what Mr. Stanton has been saying about you? Do you know what he has done, tried to do to you? Do you know that he has tried to defeat you on every hand? Do you know that, Mr. Lincoln? Did you read all of those derogatory statements that he made about you?” Abraham Lincoln stood before the advisors around him and said: “Oh yes, I know about it; I read about it; I’ve heard him myself. But after looking over the country, I find that he is the best man for the job.”
Mr. Stanton did become Secretary of War, and a few months later, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. And if you go to Washington, you will discover that one of the greatest words or statements ever made by, about Abraham Lincoln was made about this man Stanton. And as Abraham Lincoln came to the end of his life, Stanton stood up and said: “Now he belongs to the ages.” And he made a beautiful statement concerning the character and the stature of this man. If Abraham Lincoln had hated Stanton, if Abraham Lincoln had answered everything Stanton said, Abraham Lincoln would have not transformed and redeemed Stanton. Stanton would have gone to his grave hating Lincoln, and Lincoln would have gone to his grave hating Stanton. But through the power of love Abraham Lincoln was able to redeem Stanton.
That’s it. There is a power in love that our world has not discovered yet. Jesus discovered it centuries ago. Mahatma Gandhi of India discovered it a few years ago, but most men and most women never discover it. For they believe in hitting for hitting; they believe in an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth; they believe in hating for hating; but Jesus comes to us and says, “This isn’t the way.”
Taken From “Loving Your Enemies,” Sermon Delivered at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church
Martin Luther King Jr.
17 November 1957
Saturday Quote
“Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius.”
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The Valley of Fear (1914)
Happy New Year & The Significance of 2015
Welcome 2015! I hope that everyone had an enjoyable, and safe evening last night, and that 2015 brings you much happiness.
2015 will mark the 100th anniversary of the Hulett Hotel fire, which I chronicled in my book, on the left sidebar.
As we get closer to the actual date in November, I will post some pictures that did not make the book. Others pictures that did make the book, but which you’ll see better when you can expand them to full-screen and finally one picture that I have found since the book was released that would have made it into the book if I had had it during the first printing.
So once again, Happy New Year to everyone, and please continue reading the Huletts Current. 2015 will be an exciting year.
Top News Story of Huletts: 2014
Since I’ve been writing here on the Huletts Current, I’ve gotten in the habit of recapping at the end of the year what I consider to be the top news story of Huletts Landing from the past year. A lot happened in 2014 in Huletts. An independent film producer shot a movie in Huletts, the Town of Dresden launched a new website, the Catholic Bishop even visited. We had storms, and the Chapel of the Assumption was also renovated inside.
However, the biggest “story,” in my opinion, was a series of changes that have occurred and which will soon go into effect at our local Post Office.
The Huletts Post Office began 2014 on the US Postal Service’s POST plan. This meant that the community had to come together to vote to keep the Post Office open albeit with reduced hours. The vote was indeed impressive, not only because of the number of people who voted but also because of the impressive margin by which the community voted to keep the Post Office open. Out of 136 questionnaires returned, 133 or 98% voted for realigned hours, while 3 made no selection.
The next change to occur, was that Pam Stragnell, our beloved and long-serving Postmaster, announced her retirement. Her dedication and love for our community has not gone unnoticed. She now joins the likes of other former Hulett Postmasters who served with distinction going back to the days when the original Post Office was opened by Philander Hulett himself. While she will not be at the Post Office’s window, Pam still resides in Huletts and she might even answer a question about how to mail something if you see her!
So for 2014, I’ve selected the changes at our Huletts Post Office as the: Top News Story of Huletts for 2014.
Merry Christmas
Nativity of Christ – medieval illustration from the Hortus deliciarum of Herrad of Landsberg (12th century) (Click image to see full-scale.)
I wanted to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy holiday season.
Postmaster to Retire
The long serving Postmaster of the Huletts Post Office, Pam Stragnell, has recently announced her retirement. I know I speak for the entire Huletts Landing community in wishing her much success and happiness. In an effort to learn more about her plans and what the future holds for the Huletts Post Office, I asked her a few questions.
Can you give the readers of the Huletts Current a brief synopsis of the changes going on today in the United States Postal Service.
The Postal Service wants to keep its small offices open. With the increased use of email instead of First Class Mail, revenue has fallen. The Postal Service decided to save money in small offices by having them be remotely managed instead of having a manager or “Postmaster” in each one. All small offices across the nation are losing their Postmasters. We are being replaced by hourly employees who will not have the benefits we had. I had three choices: transfer to a larger office somewhere else where there was an opening, retire early (I am only 60), or I will be layed off at close of business January 9, 2015. With the health challenges I face living with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, my husband and I decided I should retire rather than return to commuting over the Huletts mountain every day.
Can you explain what changes will take place in the Huletts Post Office?
The Huletts Landing Post Office will convert to a Remotely Managed Office on Saturday, January 10. The Whitehall Post Office will be the administering office and Huletts will be staffed by a Postal Support Employee which we hope will be Jennifer Hallock. The staffing decision has not yet been made. The reduced hours will take affect and have been announced as Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. That is the time someone will be there staffing the window. The building will be open from 8:00 am through 4:30 pm every day. The automatic door and timer lights have already been installed. Saturday operations will not be affected – they will remain open from 8:00 am to 11:45 with the building open from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon. Everyone should use their keys to access their mail boxes. Also recently installed are Parcel Lockers. They will be used to deliver packages to people who can’t be there between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm. The package gets delivered to one of the lockers, the locker key is put in your PO box, you use your key to open your PO box, get the parcel locker key and use it to get your package. The parcel locker key is then locked in place until the postal worker unlocks it the next day.
You will be retiring but not leaving Huletts. Can you fill us in on your plans?
My husband and I are not leaving Huletts Landing, I’m just going to be home more often. I will miss seeing everyone at the Post Office but I’ll see everyone on the road or somewhere around town.
I’d like to take this opportunity to say “thank you” to all of my Huletts Friends for my surprise retirement gift at the Fire Company Christmas party. I am deeply touched by everyone’s generosity and support. My husband and I look forward to our long weekend in Maine at one of our favorite places in warmer weather. Thank you so much for thinking of me.
Any finals thoughts?
Don’t forget to keep supporting your local Post Office. The USPS will re-evaluate the small offices each year to make sure they are open the correct number of hours. Please keep sending in your Stamps by Mail orders. I will miss you all.
Pictures from Dresden’s Christmas Party
Santa Klaus stopped by the Dresden Christmas party this past Saturday to give out gifts to the children. (Those in attendance were amazed that he looked so much like Deputy Town Supervisor, John Barber.)
Here are some photos from Dresden’s Christmas party held at the town hall this past Saturday. There was a large crowd of children, who were very happy to all leave with a gift. There were many people who worked to make the event such an enjoyable time for those in attendance. From those who donated gifts, to those who prepared the food, as well as those who decorated the town hall.
Town Supervisor, George Gang, tried to convince Santa that he had been good all year.
Former Town Supervisor, Sue Foster-Ives, along with husband Mark, worked tirelessly to make the event a success.
Santa was kind enough to leave some delicious food for his young friends.
A child’s smile says it all. Thanks to everyone who made this event such a huge success.