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Bits of Everything

The Whitehall Times Profiles the Washington County Sheriff

Learn more about Jeff Murphy, the Sheriff of Washington County.

The Free George Looks at Matthew Brady, the Father of Photojournalism

We’ve all seen his famous civil war photographs, but a recent discovery proves he was born nearby.

NY Times: Info-graphic on Every Olympic 100 Meter Medalist.

How would a 13 year old runner today stack up against an Olympic medalist from the 19th century? Find out here.

The Guardian: I Crash-Landed in the Hudson

An interview with a woman on the plane that crash landed in the Hudson River.

The Post Star: Washington County Again Considering Privatizing Transfer Stations

Will they or won’t they?

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Senator Little Receives Fort Ticonderoga’s “Outstanding Citizen” Award


Pictured left to right: Beth L Hill, President, Fort Ticonderoga Association; Peter S. Paine, Jr., Chairman Fort Ticonderoga Association; Senator Betty Little.

New York State Senator Betty Little recently received Fort Ticonderoga’s “Outstanding Citizen” Award at the Fort’s annual Midsummer Gala on August 4. The award was presented to Senator Little by Peter S. Paine, Jr., Chairman of the Fort Ticonderoga Association. Senator Little was honored for her support to Fort Ticonderoga and overall advocacy for cultural affairs and tourism in the region and state. The Fort Ticonderoga “Outstanding Citizen” Award recipients are identified as having made a significant contribution to Fort Ticonderoga and its mission.

“Betty has a keen appreciation of the importance of Fort Ticonderoga and other North Country museums to the economic well being of our region,” said Peter S. Paine, Chairman of the Fort Ticonderoga Association. “She was also the key player in providing significant State support for the Fort at a critical moment in our recent history and we are delighted to honor her for her leadership and support.”

“It was a pleasant surprise to receive this wonderful award,” said Senator Betty Little. “Being able to represent and advocate on behalf of this special historic site truly is an honor. The history of Fort Ticonderoga, its role in the formation of our nation, is recognized and celebrated with each new visitor. And we all recognize its importance as a tourist destination to the economic well-being of Ticonderoga and the region. I thank Peter Paine and the Fort Ticonderoga Association for doing all they do to keep this priceless historic jewel shining.”

Senator Betty Little is serving her fifth term representing the residents of the 45th Senate District, which comprises Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Warren and Washington Counties.

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Signs Remind Warren County Travelers About New Invasives Law


Warren County’s new road signs will alert travelers to their new county invasive species transport law.

Warren County started posting signs this week to remind the public about the new county invasive species transport law.

The county law, a first of its kind for New York State, makes the introduction and transport of aquatic invasive species into any Warren County waterbody illegal. People can transport aquatic invasives into the county on a boat, trailer, personal watercraft, in an aquarium, on fishing equipment or in a bait bucket. If a person transports aquatic invasive species on a public road, releases invasives into a stream, pond or lake, or launches an infested boat, they are violating the law.

Violators can be fined as much as $5,000 and sentenced to as many as fifteen days in jail.

Washington County, where Huletts Landing is located, does not have a similar law.

“The LGA worked for weeks with the county supervisors to help draft this law, which is based on a law that is still pending at the state level,” said Lake George Association Executive Director Walt Lender.

“We are very excited that the county is being so proactive and leading the fight against invasive species, said LGA Education Director Emily DeBolt. “Now we hope Washington and Essex will consider passing similar laws to further help protect the Lake because we don’t know when something will get passed at the state level. We can’t afford to wait,” she said.

The Lake George Association and the Lake Champlain Lake George Regional Planning Board worked together to design the sign. The county is printing the signs. LCLGRPB is working with the New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation to coordinate posting the sign on state launches on other sites in the county. LCLGRPB is also working with the Adirondack Lake Alliance to identify launch locations in the county.

A few of the aquatic invasive plants that people need to be on the alert for, because they are highly invasive, include: Eurasian watermilfoil, water chestnut, curly-leaf pondweed, hydrilla, and Brazilian elodea (waterweed), which is still sold in local aquarium shops.

The public can also learn more about these invasives at an upcoming Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APIPP) plant identification workshop. The workshop will be held from 10am – 2pm at Darrin Fresh Water Institute in Bolton Landing on Thursday June 21. After attending the workshop, volunteers can work for the LGA Invaders Watch Citizen Science program, to lookout for non-native, invasive species along Lake George’s shorelines, and help prevent their spread.

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Bits of Everything

Lake George Road Getting Porous Pavement

For a long time I’ve been a proponent of having technical advances play a part in environmental protection. The Adirondack Almanack has an interesting piece on porous pavement.

Lake George Park Commission Committee Wants All Boats Washed

The Lake George Park Commission is toying with the idea of washing boats before they go in the lake, so says the Post Star.

Whitehall Man Charged in Burglaries

The Post Star reports on a Whitehall man serving time in Vermont being charged with break ins from Washington County.

Winter Raptor Fest Celebrates Endangered Birds of Prey

An interesting symposium on at-risk winter birds.

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Bravos to Washington County

… for including in this year’s tax bill an easy to read, concise explanation as to where every cent of every tax dollar goes.

It’s a real eye opener. Now if only the school districts would do the same.

What caught my attention is how bloated NY’s Medicaid system is:

The largest single mandated program Washington County must pay for is Medicaid.

  • $23.07 of every $100 of County taxes goes to fund the local cost for Medicaid. New York has the most expensive Medicaid program in the nation.
  • New York’s Medicaid costs are higher than the next two States combined (California and Texas).
  • New York is one of five states that mandates County governments pay a portion of the State cost of Medicaid.

    • Read the whole thing. It’s good to know where every cent of our tax dollar goes, but it’s maddening also.

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    Bits of Everything

    Whitehall School Board Takes Early Stance on Tax Levy

    The Post Star reports that the the school board doesn’t want taxes to exceed the new property tax cap. How about decreasing taxes by the enrollment loss?

    NY Post: What Cuomo Must Do in 2012

    Inside Albany looks at five things Governor Cuomo must do in 2012.

    New Washington County Officials Sworn In

    The Post Star tells us about newly elected Washington County officials.

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    Clemons PO Gets Temporary Save


    The Postal Service has postponed the Clemons Post Office closure slated for January 6th.

    I spoke with Clemons Postmaster Debbie Winkler this morning who confirmed that the Clemons Post Office will not close on January 6th as originally planned.

    Evidently, a number of United States senators pushed for a moratorium on post office closings until May.

    Ms. Winkler could only tell me she received a call and was told that the facility would remain open until at least May.

    More on this as it develops.

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    Washington County Adopts Budget

    Today I heard from Dave Richards, President of the Federation of Huletts Associations, who passed along this information from Bert Windle, President of the Lakes Community of Putnam Homeowners Association.

    As you may know, Bert has been a strong taxpayers advocate fighting the good fight to keep our property taxes down for the towns of Putnam and Dresden. Bert was also a co-presenter, along with colleague and LCP member, Gene Frost, who gave a very informative presentation on this very subject to our Huletts neighbors at the last FHA meeting in August.

    Washington County adopts budget with spending increase

    How they voted
    Washington County Board of Supervisors voted 13-4 earlier this month to pass the 2012 county budget. The spending plan was adopted by a weighted vote of 3,460 to 672.

    Robert Henke, Argyle: Yes
    William Watkins, Cambridge: No
    Robert Banks, Dresden: Yes
    John Rymph, Easton: Yes
    Gayle Hall, Fort Ann: No
    Mitchell Suprenant, Fort Edward: Yes
    Matthew Hicks, Granville: Yes
    Sara Idleman, Greenwich: Yes
    Donald Sady, Hampton: Yes
    Dana Haff, Hartford: Yes
    Brian Campbell, Hebron: Yes
    Alan Brown, Jackson: Yes
    James Lindsay, Kingsbury: Yes
    John LaPointe, Putnam: No
    Seth Pitts, Salem: No
    Robert Shay, White Creek: Yes
    Richard Gordon Jr., Whitehall: Yes
    Budget summary

    Read the Post Star report here.

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    Last Day for a Clemons Postmark will be…


    The Postal Service has already decided to close the Clemons post office.

    I confirmed with the US Postal Service yesterday that the last day of business for the Clemons post office will be Friday, January 6, 2012.

    The Postal Service said they will notifying their customers in Clemons this week.

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    Bits of Everything

    Theodore Reale, Designer & Engineer of Huletts Sewer Systems, R.I.P.

    Recently the Times of Ti carried the obituary of Theodore Reale. “Ted” as his friends called him, was the principal of A.P. Reale and Sons, the primary designer and contractor for both of the sewer systems that serve Huletts.

    Washington County Leaders Want Budget Lowered

    The Post Star reports that the 2012 Washington County budget was struck down by the county Board of Supervisors who didn’t like the 1.97% increase.

    Know Every Adirondack Tree? If Not, Buy This

    The Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK) is reprinting Forests and Trees of the Adirondack High Peaks Region by the late Edwin H. Ketchledge, the definitive guide to Adirondack trees. What a great gift idea! Read the Adirondack Almanack to learn more.

    Zip Line Down French Mountain Spurs Two Towns

    When it comes to a new zip line, both Queensbury and Lake George are ready to lead, so says the Post Star.

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    Bits of Everything

    Popular Ti Restaurant Closes

    The Times of Ti reports on the closing of the Carillon Restaurant.

    Lake George Rock Climbing Gets National Exposure

    The Lake George Mirror tells us about Paddle to Crag on Lake George.

    Saranac Lake Community Store Profiled in NY Times

    The hearty residents of Saranac Lake started their own store and made the NY Times.

    Cash Coming In from Trash Plant Going

    The Post Star reports that Washington county will receive a windfall because we no longer have the trash plant to operate.