From the Fire Chief


Approximately 70 people attended an open training class for the community held by the Huletts Landing Fire Company.

The Huletts Landing Fire Company hosted an open training class for the community on Saturday. This comes in response to the support provided by the community in 2015.

The Town of Dresden allocates an annual amount of $25,000 to cover the fire company’s operating expenses. The community contributions enable the department to provide specialized equipment, training and services. The fire company took the opportunity to designate a portion of the contributions for education, based on community requests to have emergency training.

On Saturday, July 9th, an American Safety Health Institute training was provided to the community. The instructor, Cody Jacobsen, Captain of Fort Ann Rescue, along with his 2 Paramedic certified instructors, educated those in attendance on the inner workings of our local EMS system, trauma centers, helicopters, ambulances and local hospitals were all discussed. This was extremely beneficial for all those who attended. All of the participants received the First Aid, CPR, and AED certification. Due to the high level, quality instruction, professional cards were also offered to First Responders, CFR’s EMT’s, and nurses, allowing them to meet NY State requirements.

Refreshments from Historic Grounds and Putorti’s Market were served before and after the training.

Participants were provided with the training at no charge. The fire company paid the individual cost of $45.00 per person. This was money well spent. As Chief, I feel that we have supplemented our 3 medical responders with an additional force of 60. To all those who attended, I hope that you will: Stand Tall and Stand Proud.

Fire Chief
Jay

Photo credits: Jim McMaster.

Tex Benedict Plays at the Casino


The band “Tex Benedict” played at the Casino on Tuesday night. (Click image to see full-scale.)

As we draw closer to the 4th of July weekend, there are some fun things happening at the Huletts Casino. Last night, the band, Tex Benedict, entertained the crowd.

Work Progresses on 6B Bridge


The final segment of the new deck was lifted into place on the new 6B bridge on Tuesday. (Click image to see full-scale.)

Washington county is making a concentrated effort to have the new 6B bridge completed soon. Yesterday, the final segment of the new deck was lifted into place. If you have not been to Huletts in awhile, please proceed with caution as your approach the bottom of the mountain. Work is progressing this week.

House on Mountain Burns Overnight

Update: 3:30 p.m. Tuesday June 28th

I spoke to Huletts Landing fire chief, Jay Vander Plaat, who conveyed the following. The fire has been extinguished and he had the unfortunate task of notifying the owner that the house had been totally consumed. The Huletts Landing Volunteer fire company was on the scene until 2:30 pm when they were officially released. They secured a drafting location at the beaver pond down the road, and shuttled water to the fire (along with the Dresden company) from 5:45 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. The fire did consume the entire structure, causing it to collapse from within and continuing to burn for hours. He wanted to convey special thanks to his entire crew for their dedicated work and to Lee Storms and Tom Conrad who provided coffee and donuts to those working the blaze. Conditions are especially dry this year. Today’s event shows the destructive power of fire and should be a reminder to all to be extra vigilant.

Around 5:00 a.m. this morning, an unoccupied house on the top of the mountain was seen entirely engulfed in flames. Both the Huletts Landing and Dresden fire departments are at the scene and the fire is now almost completely extinguished. As can be seen in the pictures below, not much remains of the structure.


The aftermath as seen from County Route 6.


Smoke still rising from the ashes as of 9:30 am.


The Huletts Landing Volunteer Fire Company responded quickly.


Multiple fire companies are at the scene to see that the fire is completely out.

(Click all images to see full-scale.)

Email to the Editor

On Monday, June, 20th, the guys from our Fire Department were really put to the test.

There are some locations in Hulett’s Landing where the Fire Department has easy access to water for drafting. Other places are challenging, and some have no access at all. Land’s End Road is the ultimate challenge for accessing water.

The Fire Departments of Hulett’s Landing, Dresden, Putnam and Whitehall, held a mutual aid, tanker shuttle relay drill. At the end of Land’s End Road, we set up 3 portable ponds with approximately 4,000 gallons of water on the ground. Our engine can put out 1,000 gallons per minute on a fire. All the fire companies combined, 30 firefighters successfully ran 5 tankers, holding 1500 to 2,000 gallons for over an hour.

I am unbelievably proud of what our senior volunteer’s were able to do in the 90 degree temperatures.

Generously volunteering, the ladies had the hot dogs, sauerkraut, pasta salad and desert waiting at the finish.

It is very rewarding to be part of the Hulett’s Landing Volunteer Fire Company family.

Standing tall,

Jay VanderPlaat
Huletts Fire Chief

Fire on Nobles Island Extinguished

Update: 6:00 pm Monday

I spoke to the Narrow Island forest ranger and he said the fire had been extinguished. The Lake George Park Commission, the Bolton fire department, and the Hague fire department all responded. The fire was most likely started by some embers that were blown out of a fire pit by a strong south wind blowing today. In situations like this, they are concerned that the fire could get underground which makes extinguishing it much harder. All in all, we were quite fortunate that the smoke was seen and the fire was spotted early.

Shortly after noon today, a fire was spotted on Nobles Island off of Huletts. The ranger station on Narrow Island was alerted and responded quickly. Below are two pictures I took by boat. (Click image to see full-scale.)


A state forest ranger boat pumps water from the lake onto the fire on Nobles Island.


Smoke rises from the fire on Nobles.

New Sign Installed at Huletts Library & Gallery

A new sign has recently been installed by the Friends of Historic Huletts Landing at the Huletts Library and Gallery. The original pen and ink drawing of the graphic was created by Suzanne Straton as part of a logo for the FHHL. Sign production was managed by Dan Hollander. Bill Clough, Stephen White, Tom Keating, Lucy White, and Jim McMaster handled the installation.

Many thanks to all those who contributed to this worthwhile project which improves the “Landing.”

Bridge Dedication in Memory of Maynard Rushia Well Attended


A plaque on Dresden bridge T-11 on Pike Brook road, now commemorates former Dresden Highway Superintendent, Maynard Rushia.

On Saturday June 18th, a large crowd attended the bridge dedication ceremony on Pike Brook Road in honor of former Dresden Highway Superintendent, Maynard Rushia. “Maynard” as he was known to the people of Dresden, served many years as the Highway Superintendent. Friends and family gathered to remember the man who did so much good around the town for many years.


Dresden Town Supervisor, George Gang, spoke to those assembled, about Maynard Rushia’s many good deeds for the townspeople of Dresden through the years.


Former Dresden Town Clerk, Patricia LeClaire, remembered how “Maynard” worked diligently on the many roads in Dresden.


Former Dresden Town Clerk, Patricia LeClaire, (left) former Dresden Town Supervisor, Robert Banks, (center) along with Mrs. Rushia (right).


The Rushia family was appreciative for those who came out in honor of Maynard.

County Route 6B Bridge Update

I wanted to give a quick update on the work progressing on the 6B bridge to Bluff Head. I spoke to the county crew yesterday and they’re hoping to have it completed by the first week in July. A lot depends on the weather but they’re finishing up on the abutments and work is progressing rapidly. There is water to the golf course and work will continue next week. Below is what things look like as of this morning. (Click images to see larger view.)

Mrs. Connie Ballantyne, R.I.P.


Mr. & Mrs. Ballantyne

Constance Aimee (Martin) Ballantyne, Connie, passed away gracefully on 8 June 2016, with her husband of 73+ years at her side. She was preceded to heaven by her brother Robert Arthur and sister Vivian Irene. Connie’s mother was a teacher, and her father was an architect.

Connie was born on 3 March 1923 in Southside Hospital in Bayshore, NY. She grew up in Garden City, NY, and attended The Stratford Avenue School and Garden City High School, advancing ahead of her class. Connie was great in math and sciences, and wanted to be a singer. She was president of her drama club, loved horseback riding and travel. Her favorite song while growing up was “Indian Love Call,” and her favorite flowers are gardenia, tulips and aster.

She met the love of her life, Reginald ‘Buck’ Ballantyne in 1939, and their first date was going to a polo match, followed by a bite to eat at Howard Johnson’s. She liked Buck because he was a gentleman and handsome. He liked her because she was “cute, blonde and fun.” They went to movies, dances and polo matches.

Although her mother told her they were too young, they married at 8 pm on 23 December 1942 in Spartanburg, SC, on their way to Fort Benning, GA, where Buck was preparing to deploy to Europe for WWII. Connie was a stay-at-home mother who raised six children. She took pride in the fact that each one is successful in their own way, and all are college graduates, and law-abiding good citizens, doing good for others. The family spent summers at the idyllic Hulett’s Landing on Lake George in the Adirondack mountains of NY.

Connie taught the family to waterski–you could say she taught much of the summer crowd at Hulett’s to waterski–and she was a skilled boat driver. She loved swimming, singing, and playing tennis. There wasn’t much she couldn’t do…except pass up chocolate; Connie loved chocolate!

After her six children were grown and on their own, she dove back into singing and acting, primarily with church groups and the local school fundraisers. She loved reading, summer swimming, watching “Jeopardy” and singing, especially “Danny Boy.”

When asked her favorite color, she’d say “Red and Blue,” likely because of her patriotism. She valued honesty, truth and trust.

She is survived by her husband of 73+ years, Buck, six children, Reginald III, Paula, Margot, Bruce, Peter and Barbara; ten grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Family will receive friends on Wednesday and Thursday from 2-4pm and 7-9pm at Donohue-Cecere Funeral Home, 290 Post Avenue, Westbury, NY, (516) 333-0615. Mass will be held this Friday at 10am at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church, Carle Place, NY. Interment to follow at Calverton National Cemetery, Calverton, NY.

Bridge Dedication & Plaque Ceremony for Maynard Rushia

The Town of Dresden is hosting a dedication service in memory of Maynard Rushia, for his many years of commitment and service to the Town of Dresden Highway Department and the very special attention that he gave to the needs of the citizens of the town of Dresden. Whenever property owners and residents were in dire need of help with their roads and driving needs in the town of Dresden, they could always count on Maynard Rushia’s help. All through his tenure as Highway Superintendent, Maynard strived to give the best service possible, not only to his own town, but to surrounding towns as well, wherever a helping hand was needed.

There will be a Dedication & Plaque Ceremony for Maynard Rushia in his honor on Saturday, June 18th at 11:00 AM at the newly constructed bridge by his & Marion’s family home at 776 Pike Brook Road.

All are welcome.

Family and Friends of Maynard & Marion Rushia