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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.

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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.)

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Bluff Head Bridge Work: Drive Slow Down Mountain

If you haven’t been in Huletts Landing for awhile and are planning on being there for the Memorial Day weekend, please drive slowly as you get to the base of the mountain. The county is working on the bridge to Bluff Head and it’s down to one lane for those heading out that way. There are signs as you come down the mountain to go slow but the single lane comes fast, around the last turn down the mountain, so please heed the signs!

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Whitehall School Enrollment Declines Signficantly

School enrollment figures for school districts across the state were updated recently for the 2014-2015 school year (last school year) and the Whitehall School District’s total enrollment fell to 736 students. This was a drop of 21 students from 757 from the 2013-2014 year.

The complete enrollment figures for 2014-2015 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 736 students into historical context I have updated my yearly enrollment chart below:

# 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08 08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13 13-14 14-15 Percent Change
 885 860 858 845 815 779 753 742 755 757 736       -16.8%

As you can see, enrollment has been down 16.8% since the 2004-2005 school year. It is the lowest enrollment for the district over this time period.

During this time, local property taxes have increased every year. The Board of Education has not passed on any savings from this plummeting enrollment to the local taxpayers, in spite of increased state aid.

Our neighboring school district to the north in Putnam recently decided that the taxpayers of their district deserved a break and has proposed a property tax levy 11.59 % lower than the previous year. Read about it here in the Post Star.

There will be another school board election in May for two seats on the school board. I will ask all the candidates running what their position on falling enrollment and its impact on the budget is.

In the past, many of the candidates running have simply not answered that question. However, there is a cost to the community for not addressing this issue. Until it is addressed – the cycle will continue; businesses and people will continue to leave as taxes and the lack of opportunity drive them away. The problem will only become more pronounced and harder to ultimately correct until it is addressed and rectified. Putnam has taken a big step for the taxpayers of their district, will the Whitehall School Board do the same?

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Sunday & Tuesday: Tryouts for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”


Whitehall’s Amphitheatre in Skenesborough Park, will host a production of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” on August 13, 14, 20, 21 @ 2:00 pm.

If you have talent and would like to be considered for a role in this summer’s production of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in Whitehall, then you’ll want to head to the casting tryouts held Sunday, March 27th or Tuesday, March 29th at the Whitehall Municipal Building. Otherwise see you in the audience this summer!

Learn more about this production at the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/whitehallpublictheater/

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Update on Movie Filmed Locally in 2014


The producers and film crew making an independent short movie in and around Huletts Landing in April 2014 (seen here), recently provided an update on the movie.

In 2014, a film crew and actors descended on Huletts Landing and Whitehall, where they shot an independent short movie. I’m happy to report that after a year and a half of editing, color correcting, and sound design, the film is almost finished. As it stands, it’ll be completed by the end of 2015 and I’ll have more updates for everyone then.

Until then, “that’s a wrap!”

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Bits of Everything

Whitehall Times: Whitehall McDonald’s Future Uncertain
What’s going on with the Whitehall McDonald’s? The Whitehall Times reports.

Post Star: Washington County budget to increase tax levy 1.5 percent.
See why Washington County taxes are headed up again next year.

Adirondack Almanack: Adirondack Downhill Ski Season Begins
See when the trails will open here.

Adirondack Almanack: Battle Hill Brewing, Fort Ann
Learn about a new craft brewery that recently opened in Fort Ann.

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Congresswoman Stefanik Makes Thanksgiving Week Visit to Fort Drum Soldiers in Afghanistan


Congresswoman Stefanik with soldiers from Fort Drum at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan.

Today, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21) returned from an official Congressional Delegation visit to Afghanistan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia with colleagues on the House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee. She released the following statement upon her return:

“This trip was an important opportunity to visit with our brave men and women of the 10th Mountain Division and thank them for their brave service this holiday season,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “These soldiers put their lives on the line for us each day, and as the Vice-Chair for the Subcommittee on Readiness, this was a chance to hear firsthand from our troops. We live in an increasingly dangerous world and I am proud that we have these brave men and women defending our national security.”


Congresswoman Stefanik with soldiers from Fort Drum at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan.

In addition to visiting troops in Afghanistan, Congresswoman Stefanik and the Congressional Delegation met with key officials in Egypt and Saudi Arabia to receive updates on issues including the conflict in Syria, Iran’s Nuclear Program, ISIL and Libya.

(Click pictures to see full-scale.)

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October Dresden Town Board Meeting Minutes

The minutes from the October 2015 Dresden Town Board meeting have been posted.

October Minutes

The November minutes will not be approved until December and so on.

Please Note: Assemblyman Dan Stec will be at the next Dresden Board meeting on December 14th at 7:00 p.m. to speak and take any questions. It would be great to see a full house!

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Tuesday October 27th, Last Day to Submit an Absentee Ballot Application

Please know that the November 3rd General Election is fast approaching. Here is how to obtain an absentee ballot if you are registered to vote in NY state.

How to Vote by Absentee Ballot

Applications for Absentee Ballots are available at the county board of elections.

You may also download a PDF version of the New York State Absentee Ballot Application Form.

Upon completion, applications must be mailed and postmarked to your county board no later than the seventh day before the election (October 27th) or delivered in person no later than the day before the election.

You may also request an Absentee Ballot by sending a letter to your county board of elections. The letter must be received by your county board no earlier than 30 days and no later than seven days before the election. The letter must contain the following information:

the address where you are registered
an address where the ballot is to be sent
the reason for the request, and
the signature of the voter

An application form will be mailed with your ballot. The application form must be completed and returned with your ballot.

Washington County Board of Elections
383 Broadway
Fort Edward, NY 12828

Phone: 518-746-2180
Fax: 518-746-2179

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Gate to Washington County Beach to be Opened During Offseason


The entrance of the Washington County Beach.

Supervisor Gang informs me that Washington County has agreed to leave the gate opened at the Washington County Public Beach over the winter. This is the same policy that has been in effect as before.

The gate will be open on November 1st until sometime in the Spring.

The three fire departments, Dresden, Huletts and Whitehall, also will have keys to the gate so that they can get into the parking area at anytime for practice or water refilling.

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A Good Number to Have

Let’s say you are not in Huletts Landing or even Washington County, and become aware of an emergency in Huletts Landing, perhaps even in your Huletts home, and you need to contact Washington County 911 from outside the county or even from outside the state. Is there a quick way to get Washington County 911 on the phone from outside the area?

Supervisor Gang was kind enough to look into this question. He spoke to the head of Public Safety for Washington County and provided me a direct number to call the Washington County 911 office in the event of an emergency.

It is: 518-747-3325

This would be a good time to print out this number and post it next to your “other” house phone and/or program it into your smart phone. It may save a life someday.