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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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Now for Some History: 1921

Excerpted from the Fort Edward Advertiser – November 10, 1921

“Reports from the physical ability tests held in May in the public schools of the state show that several Washington county schools won standing among the leading schools of the state. Certificates for the winning schools are soon to be mailed from the state educational department at Albany.

Of the Washington county contestants, the girls of district number 1 in Dresden stood the highest, both seniors and juniors having 100 percent.”

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Fourth Sunday of Advent


From County Route 6 looking toward Lake George. (Click image to see larger version.)

Fourth Sunday of Advent – LK 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.

“Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.

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Dresden’s 2021 Town Budget Finalized & Posted

The 2021 town budget for Dresden has been finalized and posted on the town’s website. Here is a basic summary.

The amount to be raised from taxes in 2021 decreases to $825,476 from $832,186 in 2020 – a decrease of $6,710.

The Dresden and Huletts fire companies both receive the same amounts as 2020. Page three lists the salaries of all town officials.

Many thanks to Dresden Supervisor Paul Ferguson (who is also the budget officer for the Town) and the entire Dresden Town Board for working so hard to keep our property town taxes low. Keeping spending in check, while growing the tax base keeps property taxes stable.

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Washington County Declares State of Emergency


Huletts has received about 15-16 inches of snow as of approximately noon on Thursday, December 17th.

The Huletts Current is not a weather website per se. However, I do like to focus on the extreme weather we sometimes have to endure in Huletts.

Washington County Board of Supervisors Chairman, Samuel J. Hall, has declared a local state of emergency in effect as of 9:00 AM on December 17, 2020 which will remain in effect for 5 days or until rescinded. The public is strongly encouraged to limit any and all non-essential travel.

The snow is presently letting up but southern Washington county and areas east of Huletts have received even more snow. Please be extremely careful if you have to venture out.

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Second Sunday of Advent


Looking towards Vicar’s island with Brown mountain to the right. (Click image to see larger version.)

Second Sunday of Advent – MK 1:1-8
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
he will prepare your way.
A voice of one crying out in the desert:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.”
John the Baptist appeared in the desert
proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
People of the whole Judean countryside
and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem
were going out to him
and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River
as they acknowledged their sins.
John was clothed in camel’s hair,
with a leather belt around his waist.
He fed on locusts and wild honey.
And this is what he proclaimed:
“One mightier than I is coming after me.
I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.
I have baptized you with water;
he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

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First Sunday of Advent


The Huletts Golf Course the last weekend of November 2020. (Click image to see larger version.)

First Sunday of Advent -MK 13:33-37
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be watchful! Be alert!
You do not know when the time will come.
It is like a man traveling abroad.
He leaves home and places his servants in charge,
each with his own work,
and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.
Watch, therefore;
you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming,
whether in the evening, or at midnight,
or at cockcrow, or in the morning.
May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.
What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”

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Twelve Years Old


Well, here it is – another November 9th. Today is the day I celebrate the creation date or “birthday” of the Huletts Current. It has been exactly twelve years since my first post in 2008.

What a year! In national news, COVID-19 has been the major story, but the Presidential election ranks right up there also. I think, in challenging times like these, it’s more important than ever, if your state of being or mental health gets caught up in external events like these, it is helpful to have a wider religious or philosophical view that is grounded in eternal truths, e.g. Loving and serving God and your neighbor, building a better world, being a more just person. There are so many people suffering whom we may not take note of when other events preoccupy our focus.

The one comment that people of different political backgrounds and religious beliefs make consistently about Huletts is what a special place it is. That’s not to say we are perfect but, on the pendulum or scale of places to be, Huletts is a pretty darn good place to be on many levels. From those who painted circles on the beach, to the first responders who serve us all, to those who bring fresh produce over the mountain, to the workers who cleaned houses and collected garbage, to countless others who make our community better by serving and cooperating with their neighbors, I know we all say thank you for doing what you did this year. It wasn’t easy, but we moved forward.

While news this year has been harder to identify because of social distancing and staying inside, I continue to get lots of hits on the site and the ever present demand for more news is always there. Some days I can give more attention to the site than others, but I receive so many positive comments and emails that I know it is useful.

So thanks again for reading and now onto year thirteen! We’re going to make it. Live your best life right now.