Thoughts on June

June was always a great month for us as children because it was the beginning of summer vacation. When you are a child, three months of summer vacation seems like an eternity with September light years away. We were always encouraged to read, play golf or tennis, and generally stay busy. Our mother wouldn’t allow any TV watching. Such good memories. Those childhood memories stay with you for a lifetime. Parents have it a bit harder. It’s a lot to manage with many children at home. Many of the grandparents and extended families in the community help with watching younger ones during the summer months.

Huletts has always been a place for families. It can be hard with all the summer commotion and activities, but the sounds of children always make it worthwhile. Hopefully 2023 will be a wonderful year of making good memories for all families. Young and old! Three months of happiness starts today.

Stiling Ferguson Knight: August 28, 1926 – April 20, 2023


Stiling Ferguson (Ty) Knight, 96, resident of Huletts Landing, NY, passed away peacefully on April 20, 2023, surrounded by family.

Ty was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, on August 28, 1926. As a boy, he attended the one-room Red Schoolhouse in Huletts Landing, NY, and was always an avid reader. He graduated from Whitehall High School in 1943. At seventeen years old, Ty enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served in Europe, as a Browning Automatic Rifle specialist, with the 4th Infantry Division. He was awarded medals and citations, including Bronze Service Stars for campaigns in Germany and Central Europe, the Combat Infantry Badge, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Belgian Fourragère and Presidential Unit Citation for his unit’s action in the Battle of the Bulge demonstrating exceptional heroism in accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions. After serving in World War II, Ty graduated from Columbia University, School of General Studies, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. He had a successful career as a research chemist for Best Foods, a division of CPC International. Ty was an organic chemist and held several patents on edible oils that were essential to the development of Best Foods’ products such as Mazola® corn oil.

Ty met his beloved wife of 66 years, Delphine (Del) Wagner Knight, in Huletts Landing, when they were teenagers. After Ty returned from serving in World War II, Del and Ty married on June 4, 1955. They raised their family in Forest Hills, NY, and Huletts Landing. Ty was a devoted, loving and supportive son, husband, father and grandfather. He was a protector and champion of his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends listening, advising and encouraging them to succeed in their endeavors and try new adventures. Ty loved reading books, especially on military history and politics, researching, writing, sharing ideas, playing golf, swimming and boating on Lake George, walking in the woods and gazing out at the Lake, as well as visiting with friends and neighbors.

Ty was predeceased by his beloved wife, Del, his parents, Winthrop Proctor and Edith Babb Knight, his brother, David Winthrop Knight, and his sister, Molly Knight Minon. He is survived by his children Delphine Knight (Sean) Brown of Darien, CT, and Dr. William Stiling Gerard (Emia) Knight of Port Washington, NY; his grandchildren Derek William Chan Knight, Ian Wagner Brown, Caitlin Chan Knight and Delphine Marie Brown; as well as many treasured nieces and nephews.

Calling hours: Friday, April 28, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Jillson Funeral Home, 46 Williams Street, Whitehall, NY.
Funeral Mass: Saturday, April 29, at 10:00 am at Our Lady of Hope Church, 9 Wheeler Avenue, Whitehall, NY.
Interment: Friday, May 26, at 1:00 pm at Clemons Cemetery, in Clemons, NY.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Skenesborough Emergency Squad or the Wounded Warrior Project, in memory of Ty Knight.

The Bacon Brothers Sing “My Adirondack Home”

“My Adirondack Home” performed by the Bacon Brothers, pays tribute to the summer home of Michael and Kevin Bacon and their families, as they have a family camp in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. The song features in the Emmy Award-Winning documentary “Songs to Keep: Treasures of an Adirondack Folk Collector.” The program showcases folk music collected by a historian named Marjorie Lansing Porter in the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s. Producer Paul Larson won the Emmy for outstanding documentary at the Boston/New England Regional Emmy Awards. “Songs to Keep: Treasures of an Adirondack Folk Collector” is a production of Mountain Lake PBS.

Saturday Quote

“There isn’t time, so brief is life, for bickerings, apologies, heartburnings, calling to account. There is only time for loving, and but an instant, so to speak, for that.”

Mark Twain

Palm Sunday, Holy Week Begins


Remember those special family Easter traditions you experienced as a child and as a parent? Easter baskets, egg hunts, family movies, chocolates, the sheer joy of the day!

Is that joy still there? Those family traditions give holy week a special significance for so many of us. Easter’s coinciding with the newness of another spring should awaken gratitude in our hearts! Winter is fading away; the days are getting longer, and we have hope in our hearts.

So don’t forget those traditions, continue them or begin them again. Try even establishing a new one – holy week is here and so are we. The habit of expressing gratitude tends to keep us focused on the good things of life and prevents us from falling prey to negativity.

May this week awake in you those things that give you joy and happiness and may this week bring you renewed hope. Easter will be here soon. Blessings and joy to everyone, whatever your traditions may be.

Thoughts on February

With temperatures in the northeast approaching extreme lows, I wanted to reflect on the month of February. I once knew someone who said he simply could not understand why so many people subscribed to the common assumption that February was the dreariest month of the year.

He always said that in his opinion it was no worse than any other month and at least it was the shortest with a bonus every leap year of one day shorter. I suppose he had a point even though we do not have a leap year in 2023. He also said that in February we also see the end of the worst of winter and the lengthening of days.

At any rate, we are now here and so far, the weather hasn’t been too bad up to this point. As my friend said, after a few more nice days – it will be Valentines Day and we will start seeing the budding of the flowers and the trees.

God bless everyone and keep warm and well during this misunderstood month of February. Before we know it, spring will be here!

Ernest ‘Tim’ Soothcage, Rest in Peace


I’m very sorry to report that Ernest ‘Tim’ Soothcage, 83, passed away on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 after a long illness.

‘Tim’ as he was known to many, did a lot of work in Huletts Landing in the 1980’s and 1990’s. He was an extraordinary contractor and an expert dock builder. I had many conversations with him where he explained how a dock can shift in the winter, and how a dock should be properly constructed. He had extremely high standards and everything he built for us, is working well. He worked for many people in Huletts Landing and had a wonderful laugh. He will be missed. Our condolences go out to his family.

He and his brothers ran Soothcage Brothers Construction and Arctic Cat Sales and Service. If you were fortunate enough to have work done by Tim, you had quality work done that was built to last. He expected perfection in anything he did.

In his retirement, he very much enjoyed his monthly breakfast get-together with his nephew Don Lee, and long-time friends William Pike, Ted Plude and Nick Sabo (deceased).

He was predeceased by his mother Hazel Rathbun and his father Leslie Soothcage and also his brothers Albert and Leslie Soothcage.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Janice; his daughter Tammy Kirshon (Steve), grandchildren Christopher (Amanda) and Carolyn Pepper (Scott) and great-grandson Miles; his daughter Terry Brooks and grandsons Derek and Ryan, his daughter Tonya Dudley (Chris) and grandchildren Olivia, Logan and Christopher Jr. (Courtney) and great-grandson Christopher III.

The family will conduct a graveside service in the spring. Tim’s arrangements are under the care of the Jillson Funeral Home, Inc. Online condolences may be made at jillsonfuneralhomes.com

“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.”

Happy Thanksgiving

With great gratitude and appreciation, we would like to wish you and your family a happy and safe Thanksgiving! Thank you for contributing to our success this year and we look forward to working with everyone in the future. As you prepare to gather with loved ones, may you have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Seen on the Big Screen at Citi Field


Congratulations to Adeline (right) who worked at the Huletts Landing Soda Fountain in 2022. Her school band performed recently at Citi Field and her saxophone performance was captured on the Big Screen!!

Joseph R. Rota, R.I.P.

I am sorry to report that Joseph R. Rota, 89, the former Town Supervisor of Dresden, passed away on September 5, 2022. Mr. Rota served numerous terms as the Town Supervisor of Dresden during the 1980’s and was instrumental in the creation of the Town Sewer District #1 in Huletts Landing.

In addition to serving as Dresden Town Supervisor, Mr. Rota also served many years as Executive Director of the Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board. Demonstrating the importance of every vote, he won his first election as Dresden Supervisor by one vote.

On a personal note, I found Mr. Rota to always be fair and an extremely hard worker. I once delivered documents to him as he boarded a train to leave on vacation. A vocal defender for private property rights, he was instrumental in the formation of the first Huletts Sewer District, working with many local citizens, elected state officials and different state agencies to guide the project through a myriad of obstacles.

Our condolences go out his family.

His full obituary and online condolences may be found here: www.carletonfuneralhome.net/joseph-thomas-rota/

“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.”

Pictures from the HLVFC 2022 Community Day

Many thanks to the members and supporters of the Huletts Landing Volunteer Fire Company who made this year’s community day a great success. The volunteers brought out the fire company’s trucks and new fire boat for a drill and demonstration of their capabilities on August 28, 2022.






Many thanks to the great individuals who protect our community!

Update: Injured Boater Airlifted from Golf Course

Update 8/10/2022
Huletts Landing V.F.C was dispatched to a possible drowning across from 987 County Route 6 at approximately 4 pm on Tuesday afternoon.

Deputy Chief Leghorn arrived to find a 25 yr old male on the shore of the lake with a serious head injury.

Victim received injury after diving off boat and striking his head on a rock in the water. He was helped to shore by friends who were with him at the time of the accident.

Emergency Medical care was given by members of Huletts Landing Vol. Fire Co., Skeensborough Ambulance and a nurse and pediatric doctor who were in the area at the time of the accident.

The patient was flown by Lifenet helicopter to Albany Medical center. Huletts Landing Firefighters set up and coordinated the Landing Zone.

At approximately 4:00 pm on Tuesday, August 9th, an injured boater was airlifted for medical attention from the Huletts golf course. The Huletts Landing Volunteer fire department responded and coordinated the airlift for the injured boater.

Photos & Results from the 2022 ‘A Day to Remember’


Part of the race course from the 2022 Kerry McNelis Memorial Race, held on August 6th.

Congratulations to all the participants in the 2022 ‘A Day to Remember’ and many thanks to those who worked so diligently to make the day a success.

2022 Kerry McNelis Memorial Race Results

Men:

12 & under
1. Caelyn Webber
2. Asher Yarmel
3. Wyatt Renolds

13-30
1. * Jimmy Mintel
2. Jonathan Biondo
3. John McNelis Jr.

31-54
1. Matt Clarke
2. Mike Renolds
3. Dan Yarmel

55+ (Champions)
1. John McNelis
2. John Shultz
3. Mark Davy

Women:

15 & under
1. Machenzie Linhart
2. Lizie Hamilton
3. Morgan Linhart

16-30
1.* Finn Cotton
2. Angelina Buttigieg
3. Alanah Walsh

31-44
1. Gina Yarmel
2. Tharyn Hamilton
3. Rachel Renolds

45+ (Champions)
1. Nancy Hurley
2. Doreen Stoecker
3. Kim Shultz

* Denotes First place overall winner for men and women.

Specialty Awards
Youngest: Henry Renolds (7 years old)
Most Experienced: Rixhie Smith & Lisa Gilinski

Golf – Winners (Score of 25)
Greg Hurley
Gary Hurley
Colin Hurley
Kevin Keough

To those we lost – we will never forget you.
(Click all images to see larger versions.)