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Where Do You Buy Stamps?


A postage paid order form to buy stamps by mail from the Huletts Post Office.

I’ve received a few emails from people wanting to help keep the Post Office open. One thing we can all do to support the Huletts Post Office (even if you are not in Huletts) is to buy stamps from our local Post Office. Ordering stamps by mail is a great way to support the Huletts Post Office. It’s free and incredibly easy. The order form comes in a return postage paid envelope and the stamps arrive at your door within a few days. It’s that simple and it helps. Everyone needs stamps, so give it a try.

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Huletts Post Office on POSTPlan: Your Vote Counts

So you’ve heard that the Huletts Landing Post Office is officially on the POSTPlan. This is the plan that cuts hours at rural post offices. It has been proposed that the Huletts Post Office have it’s hours cut from 8 hrs per day to 4 hrs per day. You think that’s the end of the matter. WRONG. The US Postal Service has been eliminating small rural Post Offices on the POSTPlan. This is how. Cutting the hours is but one option, all other options will lead to the closing of the Post Office. Over the next 24 months, the Postal Service will mail a letter, customer survey and the date of a community meeting to customers of post offices on the POSTPlan. USPS will provide four options for POSTPlan post offices. Choose the option for “realigned hours” in the USPS customer survey. Return it immediately to USPS. Any of the other three options will mean closure of the post office. That’s right! If any of the other three options are chosen, USPS will close the Post Office and announce that that was the preferred choice of the community.

Examples of this letter and survey can be found here.

USPS will tally the survey results and tell the fate of the post office at the community meeting.

The new realigned hours will go into effect 30 days after the community is notified of the fate of the post office, ONLY if that is the preferred option by those voting.

The Postal Service will be notifying postal customers over then next 24 months; however it is important to be ready. ONLY the Option for Realigned Hours will keep the post office open!

Realigned hours means postal service hours will be reduced to two, four, or six hours.

This message will repeat over the next two years until this letter and survey is mailed.

Please look at the draft letter and survey so you are prepared to help.

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FHHL Announces Two Speakers for 2013 Summer Lecture Series


The Friends of Historic Huletts Landing (FHHL) announced two speakers for their 2013 summer lecture series.

The Friends of Historic Huletts Landing (FHHL) will again host a summer lecture series on the “Landing” this upcoming 2013 summer season.

I’m pleased to announce two exciting speakers, who will speak this summer.

Dr. David Starbuck from Plymouth State University is going to present the Archaeology of Fort William Henry: Digging Up an American Legend. Plan on attending in July and learn about the historical archaeological digs at Fort William Henry which he has been involved with.

Mr. Jerry Ferris, the last man to officially swim Lake Goerge in the 1980’s and who also swam the English Channel, will present: Swimming Lake George. Plan on attending in August and learn how he swam the entire length of the lake.

More on specific times and dates later.

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NY Assemblyman Gives Thoughts on Budget

Assemblyman Dan Stec (R,C,I-Queensbury) shared his thoughts today on the 2013-14 New York State budget. Stec felt there while there were a few negatives in the budget, the bulk of it more than adequately addressed the needs of his constituents while holding the line on spending, increasing it by less than one percent.

“This year’s budget contains many positive items for our communities,” said Stec. “There is a much-needed commitment to improving our highways and bridges, a measure I have strongly supported even before I entered the Assembly. In another commitment to our many lake communities, there is increased funding in this budget to combat our aquatic invasive species. The Olympic Regional Development Authority also received continued support and investment, an issue of importance to many in my district.

“There was also a renewed focus on education and our economy. Our schools will see the overall increase in aid they need to provide our children with the quality education they deserve. Another $150 million was laid out for the Regional Economic Development Councils, further helping our job creators grow and develop our economy.

“Unfortunately, there were other items included in the budget I can not support. The $36 million for the SAFE Act only goes further toward treating our responsible, law-abiding gun owners as criminals and I will continue working to repeal this violation of our constitutional right. I voted to fully restore the $90 million cut to non-profit providers of care to the developmentally disabled, a cut which is unconscionable. We need to renew our commitment to ensuring we take care of those who are unable to care for themselves.

“While there were several negative items in this budget, there was a great deal that will greatly enhance the quality of life in our communities. I believe that the budget we are passing today importantly holds the line on spending.”

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Supervisors Approve Privatization of Transfer Stations

Earlier this month, the Washington County Board of Supervisors approved a lease with an option to buy of the five county owned transfer stations with Earth, Waste and Metal, a Vermont company.

Most Huletts residents are familiar with the Whitehall transfer station and may be asking what effect this transfer will have for residents that dispose of their trash there.

The county lost a combined $600,000 on the five transfer stations in 2012 and had been in talks for some time to privatize the transfer stations.

Earth, Metal and Waste, a company which operates a number of transfer stations in Vermont, will lease the facilities under a five- year agreement that includes a purchase option.

The supervisors voted 17-0 to approve the agreement which will see the county receive $5,000 per month to lease the stations with 60% of the lease payment credited toward the $1.47 million purchase price if the company chooses to buy the stations within 12 months. If the company exercises the right to buy after the first 12 months, a lower portion of the rental proceeds would apply to the purchase price.

I spoke to Dresden Town Supervisor, Bob Banks, and learned that the official date that the agreement will go into effect will be June 1st. That is when Earth, Waste and Metal will begin operating the Whitehall transfer station. They will continue to accept transfer stickers previously purchased from the town clerk and will also have a cash register on site. Stickers that were previously purchased should be good for at least another year. Supervisor Banks sees additional hours being added to the station during the summer months.

“This company is big into recycling,” stated Supervisor Banks, “they will do a good job and residents of the town will be happy.”

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Kerry McNelis, R.I.P.


Kerry McNelis (center) on the Lake with her four nieces.

I have very sad news to report. Kerry McNelis (Kevin’s wife) passed away Saturday, March 23rd.

Kerry was a joy to all who knew her and will be missed by the entire Huletts community.

“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.”

Visitation information:

Wednesday March 27 and Thursday March 28
2:00pm – 4:00pm and 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Moloney’s Bohemia Funeral Home
1320 Lakeland Avenue
Bohemia, NY 11716
631.589.1500

http://www.moloneyfh.com/events

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Dresden Girl Raising Money For Inspiring Trip

Recently, I received this letter from Sadie Sheldrick.

Sadie is a eleven years old and is an “A” student in the 5th grade. She lives in Dresden with her family and has recently been selected to be a People to People Student Ambassador to the Canadian West.

For those unfamiliar with the People to People Ambassador Program, President Eisenhower in 1956 proposed a peaceful solution for a war-ravaged world. That solution? Give everyday citizens of different countries the opportunity to meet and get to know each other, and the result will be understanding, friendship, and lasting peace. Out of this vision came the inspiration for People to People Ambassador Programs.

Sadie is trying to raise money to be able to pay for her trip, which will be entirely financed through private donations. As you can read in her letter linked to above, she has been collecting bottles and cans, recycling cell phones, and reaching out to local residents who would consider supporting her. In April, her family will be having a “Basket Party” in support of her.

I spoke to Sadie on the phone recently and have already made a donation to her effort. She asked me if I could post her letter on the Huletts Current, which I am more than happy to do. Perhaps you will consider donating to Sadie also. She is a young lady, with a lot of motivation, who would like to bring the hospitality of our small town to the citizens of the Canadian West.

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Now For Some History: September 5, 1918

In the David W. Phillips documents that Lane DeMuro emailed me, there was a “Lake George Health District” report of the outside of the Phillips boarding house done in 1918 by Harry Finkle, who I presume was the local health official. It gives a fascinating glimpse into life in Huletts Landing in 1918. The complete report can be viewed by clicking on the links below but I have typed out the examined areas and responses at the end of this post.

It’s interesting to note what happened to the garbage (#5) and the fact that the house itself would be inspected on another day (#11). A “100” rating was given in every category.

This is a rare historical find which could not be shared unless Lane DeMuro passed it along. Many thanks to Lane for providing this.

Pdf. of front of report
Pdf. of back of report

(1) Gen. sanitary condition of premises: Excellent

(2) Sewage disposal: Kitchen sink, flush toilet connected to cess pool, Sink & toilet in excellent condition

(3) Cesspools: Are located 300 ft from Lake, 200 ft from house, the same being covered, no overflow

(4) Privies: Two compartment privies 150 ft from house wooden construction, pits, good condition

(5) Garbage: Fed to pigs, kept in small pail, emptied three times daily, absolutely no fly contamination

(6) Water supply: private no pollution

(a) Well: none
(b) Springs: none
(c) Surface supply: Spring brook, intake is 1700 feet from house, screened intake, no pollution

(7) Flies: Very few

(8) Stables or Barns: One barn and stable located 300 ft from Lake, 200 ft from house, no drainage to Lake.

(9) Manure: At end of barn, Hens kept same spread, and same is dry, and no flies are not breeding in same

(10) Mosquitoes: None no stagnant pools or breeding palces, no evidence of a breeding place, only natural

(11) Screening of house: Kitchen is well screened, the remainder of the house is not on the day of inspection.

(12) Additional points not covered above: I personally inspected the dining room and positively found the room without any flies

Recommendations: The general conditions are most Excellent.

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Whitehall School District to See 3.8% Increase in Proposed State Budget

Governor Coumo’s proposed 2013-2014 state budget calls for a 4.4% increase in state aid to school districts. However the proposed increase is not uniform for all districts. The Whitehall School District is presently slated to receive a 3.8% increase.

The state aid figures are not final until the state legislature adopts the budget. Until that happens, the amounts proposed by the Governor are tentative only.

State law limits local property tax increases to 2%, although that amount can go higher with 60% approval by the voters.

The Whitehall School District has hemorrhaged enrollment over the past decade. The enrollment for years 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 is included in the school district’s report card. That information is not publically available as of this date.

See the Whitehall School District’s share of state aid under the Governor’s proposed 2013-2014 budget.

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Now For Some History: 1899


A school tax receipt from 1899.

In the documents Lane DeMuro recently passed on to me from David W. Phillips, there was a school tax receipt from 1899. This is a real shocker compared to today’s rates but the school tax bill was 64 cents (yes, cents) for the entire year. The signature on the receipt (for the school) is Edward Noble, who must be from the Noble family that Noble island is named for.

Click image to see full scale.

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Blizzard Nemo Update

Saturday: 3:15 PM

Looks like the final snowfall total is between 7 to 8 inches in Huletts. This isn’t particularly bad when you consider how other parts of the northeast got hit. It was reported locally that Hudson Falls got 6.5 inches, while Nemo dumped 19-inches of new snow on Whiteface Mountain, in Wilmington, N.Y.

Saturday: 6:30 AM

Snow has stopped falling. Will post pictures and snowfall totals later today. Wind blowing hard from the North.

Friday: 6:15 PM

About 6 inches on the ground now. Winds have picked up considerably from the Northeast.

Friday: 2:15 PM

It’s been snowing since about 7:00 a.m. this morning, with about 2 to 3 inches on the ground already. Snow is coming down heavy at this time.

I received the following from National Grid:

Outage reporting hotline – Call 1-800-867-5222 to report an outage.

Text messages – Customers can receive text message alerts by texting the word STORM to NGRID (64743). Customers can opt out at any time by texting the word STOP to NGRID (64743).

Find us on Facebook or Twitter to connect with us and other customers. You can also view images from the field, get safety tips and the latest updates on our restoration efforts.
Remember, if your power goes out, you can access our mobile website by going to nationalgrid.com on your mobile phone. There you will be able to report outages, check the status of your outage, view outage maps, view important messages and access safety tips.

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Now For Some History: 1894


A newspaper receipt from the Washington County Post, dated July 30, 1894, to Mr. David W. Phillips of Huletts Landing.

Lane DeMuro emailed me a number of documents today from David W. Phillips of Huletts Landing, dating from the 1800’s and early 1900’s. Included was a newspaper receipt from the summer of 1894.

Many thanks to Lane DeMuro for passing this along.

Click on image to see enlarged view.