The last Saturday in April was sunny and cool in Huletts Landing. (Click image to see larger version.)
Four School Board Seats Up for Vote
Four of the nine seats on the Whitehall School Board will be up for a vote in this year’s election.
Interested candidates have until Monday, April 20th at 5 pm to submit a petition to the school district clerk, Kim Manney.
Tom Baker, James Brooks, Richard Lachapelle and Pat Norton are the members whose terms are expiring. Baker was appointed to fill Michael Rocque’s seat this past October when Mr. Rocque resigned.
The election will be held on Tuesday, May 19th from noon to 8 pm at the high school.
DEC Forest Ranger Rescue on Black Mountain
On April 11 at 7:35 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a hiker reporting his brother was overdue returning from Black Mountain in Dresden NY. The caller stated that they last saw the 15-year-old male from Hudson Falls on the summit of Black Mountain at 5:30 p.m., when he proceeded down the trail alone. The teen was reported as having only his cell phone and the clothes he was wearing.
Forest Rangers Evan Donegan and Mark St. Claire responded to the location, and at 8:15 p.m., Dispatch established text contact with the hiker and advised him to call 911. Washington County 911 got coordinates from his call, which placed him by a stream off the trail but near a road. Ranger St. Claire proceeded down the road from the trailhead where he was able to see the hiker’s cell phone light. Ranger St. Claire located the hiker, escorted him out of the woods, and gave him a ride back to the trailhead where he was met by his family. All Rangers were cleared from the scene at 9:26 p.m.
School Enrollment Falls Again
School enrollment figures for school districts across the state were updated recently for the 2018-2019 school year (last year) and the Whitehall School District’s total enrollment fell to 699 students. This is the lowest number since I have tracked this and the first time the number has fallen below 700.
The complete enrollment figures for 2018-2019 school year can be found here.
I have been tracking and reporting on the enrollment for a number of years. To put this number of 699 students into historical context I have updated my yearly enrollment chart below:
| School Year | 04-05 | 05-06 | 06-07 | 07-08 | 08-09 | 09-10 | 10-11 | 11-12 | 12-13 |
| Students | 885 | 860 | 858 | 845 | 815 | 779 | 753 | 742 | 755 |
| School Year | 13-14 | 14-15 | 15-16 | 16-17 | 17-18 | 18-19 | |||
| Students | 757 | 736 | 736 | 758 | 708 | 699 |
The district has now reached the lowest enrollment since I have been tracking this.
During this time, local property taxes have increased every year. State aid has also increased every year. Sadly, the Board of Education has not passed on any savings from this plummeting enrollment to the local taxpayers, in spite of increased state aid during the same time period.
Instead of managing the decline in enrollment to help the taxpayer, we are in this perpetual cycle where enrollment falls and taxes go up.
A Greeting of Hope
Fr. Rendell Torres sends a greeting of hope to all parishioners and visitors of Our Lady of Hope in Whitehall, St. Ann’s in Fort Ann, and the Chapel of the Assumption in Huletts Landing.
Huletts From Across the Lake
A view of Huletts Landing from the opposite side of Lake George taken on Thursday morning, March 26, 2020. Photo Credit: The Lake George Association (Click image to see larger view.)
Today, Pat Dowd, the Director of Communications for the Lake George Association, emailed some pictures from some of the surrounding communities around the Lake. All is very quiet. The above picture caught my attention so I asked Mr. Dowd if I could share it here. It was taken this morning from the scenic overlook from the west shore of Lake George. As you can see, there is still snow on the ground from this week’s snowfall. Many thanks to Mr. Dowd and the Lake George Association for obliging. For all of us riding out the COVID-19 pandemic, all pictures of Lake George are very welcome indeed.
Washington County Chairman ‘Calls Upon’ People to Stay Away
Washington County’s Chairman of the Board, Samuel J. Hall, issued the following on March 25th.
Washington County’s Chairman of the Board, Samuel J. Hall, today, March 25, 2020, calls upon our visitors, weekenders, second-home owners and short-term rental owners and those with rental listings to refrain from visiting Washington County during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
There are currently six (6) confirmed cases of COVID-19 (2019 Novel Coronavirus) in the County and we are attempting to proactively reduce further exposure as it impacts the County’s population and our limited health and public safety assets.
We are beginning to see an influx of travelers from outside the County who are staying at second homes and short-term rentals, like AirBNB and VRBO. We are also seeing people who believe that they will receive faster testing services by leaving their main residence and coming here. Washington County is already following one positive case in which a non-County resident arrived thinking they would receive better access to testing. Unfortunately, seeking refuge from the more populous areas will not protect you from this global pandemic.
Both Governor Cuomo and Washington County have called upon the populace to halt the spread of the COVID-19 virus by limiting their movements to travel that is absolutely necessary. That is the only way we can stop the spread and protect our families and friends from this dangerous virus that can be dangerous and even fatal to the elderly and people with underlying health conditions.
It is unquestionable that the number of exposed people will increase with a more mobile population. An influx of people, no matter where their original domicile, can only lead to more cases in Washington County, thereby overwhelming its resources.
Please Read: COVID-19 Update Washington County NY
Governor Cuomo has announced that “New York State on PAUSE” plan, takes effect 8 p.m. Sunday, banning all non-essential gatherings of individuals “of any size for any reason.”
Also, all workers should stay home unless they fall into the list of essential businesses.
Washington County Board of Supervisors Chairman Samuel J. Hall has declared a State of Emergency for Washington County, effective as of 2:00 PM on March 16, 2020, and will remain in effect for the next thirty days, or until rescinded. The State of Emergency allows the county to continue facilitating the ongoing response to COVID-19 and to provide the County of Washington and local organizations with the flexibility needed to respond to this imminent threat to public health, safety and quality of life.
Updates can be found here:
http://www.washingtoncountyny.gov/coronavirus
As of 3/22/2020 3:30 pm
There are now 4 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Washington County
None of the identified COVID-19 positive patients are related or from the same household, all are from different geographic areas across the county. During the Public Health investigations, one of the COVID-19 positive patients self-identified as an operator of an in-home daycare facility. Once symptomatic they contacted Public Health and their family doctor for further evaluation and testing and ceased operating the daycare with notification of symptoms to the parents of those in their care. All of those in their care and with close physical contact have been notified and are now registered as PUIs.
While many in our communities would like to know more specific information about the COVID-19 positive patients and their locations, due to privacy regulations coupled with the county’s privacy policy, Washington County will not routinely release specific identifying information about patients (i.e., age, location) unless it aids in the Public Health investigation and identification of additional PUIs. Please remember, the identified PUIs and COVID-19 patients are under quarantine for 14 days from the date of exposure and are not out in the public. Public Health conducts a public health investigation on every COVID-19 positive patient and makes notification to those identified as having close personal contact with a COVID-19 positive patient
Most Washington county offices are closed.
PLEASE NOTE:
Send home or separate anyone who becomes sick.
If you identify a case, inform people who might have been exposed.
Continue to safely clean and disinfect all areas.
If you have been exposed to someone who may be sick, please stay inside and self-quarantine.
There are people in the community with weakened immune systems – please be considerate to all those you encounter. Please use social distancing at all times.
I have spoken to Huletts Landing Fire Chief & Safety Officer, Jay VanderPlaat, who wants people to know that treatment protocols have changed rapidly and that the personal protective required articles are in short supply or are back ordered from the county and/or state. Because of these requirements and the shortage of protective gear, local EMT’s may be unable to respond to COVID-19 or breathing issues and those so afflicted may have to wait for an ambulance during the current emergency.
This is an unprecedented time in the history of our nation, state and Washington County, including Huletts Landing. Please act accordingly.
Spring Arrives
Narrow island seen in the distance from Huletts Landing on Friday, March 20, 2020. (The first day of Spring.) Most of the ice is now gone from Lake George. (Click image to see larger version.)
Special Notice from the Town Clerk/Tax Collector About the Payment of Taxes
Marcinda Wilbur, the Dresden Town Clerk / Tax Collector, will not be accepting In-Person Tax Payments for the remainder of the 2020 Tax Collection process. Read the special notice on the Town’s website.
This only applies to people bringing tax payments directly to her office. Taxes will still be collected by mail and by submitting them to the lock-box outside of her office.
February Dresden Town Board Meeting Minutes
The minutes for the regular February meeting of the Dresden Town Board, were recently approved and have been posted on the town’s website.
Good News Abounds
With all the trouble going on in the world, I thought a post reflecting on all the good things happening in Huletts would be appreciated. To begin, there is no doubt in my mind, that our nation and society will get through COVID-19’s visit.
To begin, the weather is getting warmer and the days are getting longer, meaning the ice on Lake George is getting thin. Water is beginning to be seen in shallow areas along the shore. I would highly caution that no one venture onto the ice at this time.
The ice is getting thin and cracks are appearing on the lake.
There are many contractors and projects going on in Huletts right now. Houses are being constructed, docks are being worked on, and assorted landscaping projects are all underway. New furniture is arriving and life is returning for another season. The number of people investing in Huletts is a fantastic sign.
I have spoken to individuals who are either moving into the community for the first time or who have purchased additional homes in Huletts. We’ve also seen incredible demand for rental units. We got calls this week wanting to know when the Soda Fountain and Golf Course would open. (Those are a little farther away.) I’m also happy to report that there will be more marriages taking place in Huletts in 2020.
While I can’t share everything I am aware of, good things are happening and more are in ‘the works’ for this upcoming season. I’m looking forward to seeing what Spring brings and so should you. I believe a great season with many blessings is ahead for all.
Snow All Around
Looking up Margot Way toward the Casino (Click image to see full-scale.)
My usual rule of thumb is that if you want to see snow in Huletts, February is a great month to observe it. Here you can see Huletts has about 7-8 inches of snow on the ground with drifts all around.
Winter from the Top of Black Mountain
Looking north up Lake George from Black Mountain shows the northern end of the lake is still open water. (Click image to see full-scale.)
Looking northwest from the same spot shows the middle of the lake is mostly frozen. The snow covered mountain in the upper left center of the photo is Mt Marcy. The sharp peak in the far distant close to center of the photo is Whiteface. (Click image to see full-scale.)
And clouds of white
The bright blessed day
The dark sacred night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world”