Bits of Everything

NY Times Interview with Cuomo

The NY Times recently conducted an interview with Andrew Cuomo.

Trash Plant Contract to end Soon

The Post Star did a fairly in-depth piece documenting Washington County’s trash plant woes. The trash plant has cost taxpayers of Washington County a lot of money during its history.

Remembering Huletts

The Adirondack Almanack recounts some old memories of Huletts.

Think Big: Some Spectacular Shots of the Solar System

Boston.com has some stunning shots of our universe.

Bits of Everything

Medicaid & Pensions Bust Budget: Wash County Looks at 18% Tax Rise

The Wash Blog looks at Washington County’s proposed budget for next year. It doesn’t look good.

5 Towns Claim Navy Started There

Yahoo News reports that 5 different towns lay claim to being the birthplace of the US Navy. (Hat tip to Jason Weeber for the link.)

Scientists Look for Common Threats

Lake George and Lake Tahoe Researchers look at common threats, says the Adirondack Almanack.

Voting Absentee

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

Qualifications to Vote by Absentee Ballot:

Absent from your county or, if a resident of the city of New York absent from said city, on Election Day;
unable to appear at the polls due to illness or disability;

A patient in a Veterans’ Administration Hospital;

Detained in jail awaiting Grand Jury action or confined in prison after conviction for an offense other than a felony;

How to Vote by Absentee Ballot

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

You may also download a PDF version of the New York State Absentee Ballot Application Form. ( 261KB)

Upon completion, applications must be mailed to your county board no later than the seventh day before the election 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

Bits of Everything

Transfer Stations Could Be Cut?

The Post Star reports on Washington County’s planning regarding their transfer stations.

Campers Organize

The Lake George Mirror tells us that island campers have formed their own advocacy group to protest the proposed garbage rules on Lake George islands.

Lake George Beach Closed by Fuel Spill

Shepard Park has had a rough go the last two years. A fuel spill closed the beach according to the Post Star (with video).

How Does Colorado Compare to the Adirondacks?

The Adirondack Almanack has a great post on how Colorado is different from the Adirondacks.

Bits of Everything

Post Star Editorial: No Reason to Delay Cell Tower

The Post Star Editorial Board released an editorial dedicated to the Huletts Fire Department’s application for a cell tower.

Garbage Collection on Lake George Islands to End

The Adirondack Almanack spotlights a major change in DEC policy.

Union Rejects Washington County Furlough Plan

A vote by the highway department union is a precursor to less state aid? Read the Post Star piece.

Sometimes You Need a Good Laugh: But Not This Much

An interesting article on Wikipedia about death by laughter. What a way to go!

Bits of Everything

NY State Runs Out of Cash

The NY Post reports on what the state Comptroller says.

Alan Jackson to Appear in Glens Falls

Country artist Alan Jackson is booked to appear at the Glens Falls Civic Center on Sept. 11, says the Post Star.

You Knew Your National Grid Bills Were High

The Adirondack Almanack does a great investigative piece on what the Public Service Commission auditors found.

YMCA Camp on Lake George Proposes Dock for Disabled

See some great drawings of what Camp Chingachgook in Fort Ann is proposing in the Wash Blog.

Underwater Electric Cable from Canada to NY City Moving Forward

The Bottom Line Blog talks about the proposed electric cable down the Hudson.

Bits of Everything

Rogers Ranger Challenge: Fort Ann to Lake George

Are you up to the Rogers Rangers Challenge? Find out what it is on the Adirondack Almanack.

Info-graphic: Teens and Their Mobile Phones

Here’s a great graphic from Flowtown showing how teens use their cell phones.

Lawns on Lake George Face Scrutiny

The Post Star reports on manicured lawns and Lake George.

Webcam: Bald Eagles in their Nest

The Eagles of Hornsby Island webcam stays focused on a Bald Eagle nest in British Columbia.

New Book About Local Archaeology


Dr. David Starbuck, has authored a new book, Excavating the Sutlers’ House: Artifacts of the British Armies in Fort Edward and Lake George.

University Press of New England has just published a new book which details the excavations of Dr. David Starbuck and his associates and colleagues.

It focuses on Rogers Island in Fort Edward, and Fort William Henry and the Lake George Battlefield Park in Lake George. It’s a great local history, which is very well done.

In 1996, on the East bank of the Hudson River, Starbuck’s team discovered the remarkable remains of a sutlers’ (or merchants’) house which had supplied goods to the British armies throughout the late 1750’s.

It retails for $24.95 and can be purchased from University of New England Press.

Maple Season Almost Over


These maple taps, attached to trees near Pike Brook road, are almost finished producing syrup for this year.

Some people may not realize that there are many small producers of maple syrup right here in the Town of Dresden. If you go for a ride toward Ticonderoga or even down Pike Brook road, you will see the taps attached to the trees and the syrup flowing in plastic lines down to bigger drums where it is collected to be heated.

This season is almost over because of the warmer weather and the buds appearing on the trees. (Once the buds appear, the syrup gets a bitter taste to it.) However, I took a ride recently and here were some taps that I could see right from the road.

So the next time you have your pancakes, you might pause and consider that your syrup might have come out of some trees in Dresden!

Interview with Assemblyman Tony Jordan, Part 2


Assemblyman Tony Jordan, from the 112th Assembly District, is Huletts representative in the NY State Assembly. He sat down with the Huletts Current this past week for a wide ranging interview.

Today I post part two of my interview with Assemblyman Tony Jordan.

Could you give us an update on the NY state budget crisis. It seems year in and year out, tax increases far exceed inflation. What are you doing specifically to halt this trend?

I ran on a platform of fiscal responsibility and reduced State spending. I have been working hard in my first term to do everything in my power to bring these ideals to Albany. Earlier this month, I, along with Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward, sent a letter to Governor Patterson asking him to eliminate member items, commonly called pork, from the State budget this year. I think the member item system is a perfect example of Albany’s addiction to spending. While many of the projects that are funded through member items are legitimate and worthwhile, there is the potential for misuse and abuse of this system for legislators to distribute member item money in return for votes or support in a particular community. If the projects being funded are truly worthwhile, it is my assertion that they should be funded through the official budget process thus making the awarding of funds transparent and open to public scrutiny.

In addition to member items, I, along with several of my Republican Assembly colleagues have signed a tax-free budget pledge for the 2010 executive budget. The pledge commits legislators to spending restraint and increased transparency, as well as a promise to vote against any proposed tax increase contained in this year’s budget. We as the elected leadership of this state cannot bemoan the economic hardship facing our citizens and our government and then turn around and burden them with increased taxes and fees. This includes the infamous unfunded mandate. Albany needs to realize that passing the spending burden on to local municipalities crushes our citizens and our businesses. There is a reason that New York is consistently ranked as one of the most unfriendly states in the union for businesses. If we want to grow the New York economy and provide our residents with stable, productive, and quality jobs, we have to reduce the tax burden and make this a state where businesses want to do business.

The Pension Reform Bill passed during the extraordinary session of 2009 is another important step for moving the State to a more fiscally viable position, but it does not go far enough. That is why I have joined with my colleagues sponsoring legislation that provides for a radical change to the retirement system. This bill will take all elected officials in the state, from Governor to Town Councilman, and all political appointees, and take us of the “Defined Benefits” retirement program; replacing it with a “Defined Contribution” plan.

There is still a lot of work that needs to be done. The outline of Governor Patterson’s Executive Budget makes some good first steps, but we need to go further. We need to be aggressive in our search for areas that can be consolidated and run more efficiently. The State, and its citizens, also have to make hard choices about which services we need the State to provide. I would stress the word need. New York has grown accustomed to large government and the myriad of services it provides. I believe there are some things that either the private sector can do, or that people and communities can do more efficiently than the State. A critical examination of the services provided by the State, and what the citizens and taxpayers of this State can actually afford is a critical component of any plan to steer New York out of the trouble waters caused by decades of overspending and bowing to special interests and unions.

With the 2010 elections fast approaching, do you have any predictions about the year ahead?

I think that 2010 is going to be an eye-opener for many elected leaders across the State. The unprecedented financial situation we find ourselves in did not materialize out of the blue as some have suggested. This is a storm that has been looming on the horizon for decades. The day of reckoning has been pushed further back over the years through increased taxes, fees, and borrowing. We have reached the point where the well is dry. We cannot afford to tax our citizens or businesses anymore, and we cannot afford to borrow more money to support our addiction to spending.

It is my hope that the people are going to vote this fall for representatives at the State level that will champion the tenants of fiscal responsibility. Without a change in the culture of Albany, it will be much harder for those of us who are striving daily to bring reason and fiscal prudence to the halls of the capital. I was recently ranked as the most conservative member of the Assembly based on my voting record this past year. This ranking was based on my votes against the budget bills of 2009 which dramatically increased State spending despite an historic deficit, and my consistent stance on fiscal and personal responsibility. I think my record, as indicated by this honor, will prove to the people of the 112th Assembly District that I am working hard to reduce the crushing middle-class tax burden and spur economic growth in the State and the District. I hope that we will see more people who share my views and goals for the State elected to the legislature in November.

Finally, residents of Huletts Landing are concerned about the decline of Whitehall. Lots of stores and businesses have closed, enrollment is plummeting at the school, taxes are continuing to go up and the population is stagnating. Could you tell us some of the positive things, that you hope for in Whitehall?

For the past 6 years I have had the honor of representing the Village of Whitehall as their Attorney. This has allowed me the opportunity to get to know the people of Whitehall and the community. The Village of Whitehall has a tremendous amount of upside. Its location on the canal should provide the catalyst necessary for economic opportunity in the future.

Given its physical location, however, it has struggled with attracting and keeping businesses with competition from both Rutland and Glens Falls. The leaders of Whitehall are working diligently to upgrade and improve the infrastructure of the Village with little impact on the taxpayers as possible. I will continue to work with the Village and State seeking efficiencies and consolidation where appropriate. It is my hope that between the Canal Corporations commitment to the community, the location on the waterway and the proximity to the lakes that Whitehall is able to enjoy the success it is capable of achieving.

Thank you Assemblyman Jordan for speaking to the Huletts Current. Please stop by sometime during the summer when the “Landing” is in full swing.

Interview with Assemblyman Tony Jordan, Part 1

Today, I post part one of my interview with Huletts Assemblyman, Tony Jordan.

Thank you Assemblyman Jordan for agreeing to be interviewed by the Huletts Current. You are the Assemblyman for Huletts Landing and the Town of Dresden. While you are a relatively new Assemblyman, you have strong roots in the Adirondacks. Could you tell our readers about yourself?

I grew up in North Creek in the heart of the Adirondacks and graduated from Johnsburg High School in 1982. I received my Bachelor’s degree in business with a concentration in finance from the University of Notre Dame in 1986. After working for eight years in Glens Falls as a corporate lender, I went to law school receiving my Juris Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania School of law, graduating in 1995 Magna Cum Laude.

I now live in the Town of Jackson in Washington County with my wife Wendy and our four children: Gabrielle, Tricia, Luke and Eliza. In addition to being the Assemblyman for the 112th Assembly District, I am a Partner in the Law firm Jordan & Kelly located in the Village of Greenwich.

Right now you are pushing for some broad ethics reforms that are much needed. Could you tell us what you’re hoping to accomplish?

Ethics Reform has been a much discussed topic in Albany and necessarily so. Whether it is the Joe Bruno trial, Governor Patterson’s current distractions, including charges of ethical violations, or a litany of prior legislators who are under investigation or have been removed for inappropriate conduct, it is important that we pass strong and effective ethics reform to begin restoring confidence in New Yorkers in their elected officials. To me personally, the most important element is to look at the causes for ethical violation and how best to address the conduct.

One would hope that a person’s own moral compass would guide them properly. For the vast majority of the legislators in Albany that is the case. Unfortunately, the few who lack a solid moral compass have caused a black eye for the whole.

One of the primary contributing factors to the recent instances of apparent ethical violations all seem to stem from power and money. In the Albany political system currently, the leaders of the respective houses of government control all of the power both in terms of allocation of monetary resources and staffing allocation. Additionally, the majority also control what Bills are advanced through committees and make it to the floor for vote. With this disproportionate control and power comes great opportunity for abuse and attempted influence by special interest groups. One way to address this problem is to allocate resources, including both monetary, staffing and movement of Bills, equally rather than based on ones membership in a particular party.

Another issue being addressed is outside employment. Many suggest we should go to full-time legislators banning outside employment. Our founding fathers never intended our legislators to be full-time. In fact it is the proliferation of full-time professional legislators that has contributed to our ever-growing government. If we were to restrict the length of legislative session to perhaps two months, as many other states do and have done successfully, reduce the pay to legislators correspondingly and then require all legislators to disclose not only their outside income but also the amount of time they commit on a monthly basis to that outside employment, we could go a long way toward reducing influences of Special Interest groups through employment opportunities. At the same time by reducing the legislative season, we reduce the number of Bills that become law that frustrate and limit business opportunities in the State.

In April of 2009 the Assembly passed an Ethics Reform bill that introduced many important new safeguards. Regrettably, neither the Senate nor Governor acted on that legislation. Earlier this session both the Senate and the Assembly passed an Ethics Reform bill that was not as strong as it could have been but was widely regarded by watch dog groups as a vast improvement over current law. Unfortunately, the Governor vetoed the Bill. I imagine because of the Governor’s current personal crisis and the fact that we are in the budget negotiation season the Ethics Reform Bill has not received the attention it should. It is my hope that once we move through the budget season that we are able again to pick up this important piece of legislation to find an appropriate compromise to insure its passage.

Presently, the Huletts Volunteer fire department is trying to obtain approval for a cell phone tower that would cover a major part of the northern basin of Lake George. The public would benefit and the volunteer fire department would also receive much needed income. You must hear many comments about the slow approval process for cell phone towers in the Adirondacks. The Adirondack Park Agency has moved from protecting the environment to actually working against Adirondack communities. Is there anything that can be done to encourage high tech investment in Adirondack communities and make the APA accountable for nonsensical delays?

Expanded agency control and regulation is one of the biggest issues facing our state right now. Many State agencies have run wild and wandered far from their original purpose and intent. The APA is a prime example. Instead of focusing on protecting and/or enhancing the natural beauty of the Adirondacks, the APA has created a bureaucratic machine that has stifled any meaningful economic development in the park since the late 1970’s. Much of what the Park Agency does is important and well intended. Cell phone towers and the current wind project at Barton Mines are examples where the Agency has lost its way. Projects that should be completed in 6-10 months take years. As an example, cell tower projects outside the park are generally subject to 2-5 photo simulations as a part of the balloon tests. In the Park, they have to perform up to 50 photo simulations which can more than triple the cost of the application to the company.

The State Legislature and Governor must reign in these out of control agencies and get them back to working toward their primary goals. In addition, a modicum of common sense needs to be exercised by these agencies rather than an endless pursuit to render business and manufacturing opportunities in New York extinct.

…. to be continued. I will post part two of my interview with Assemblyman Jordan on Saturday.

An Interview with Assemblyman Tony Jordan

I had the distinct privilege and honor this week to conduct a wide-ranging interview with our NY State Assemblyman, Tony Jordan. We discussed many interesting topics, ranging from Assemblyman Jordan’s deep roots in Washington County, his work on ethics reform, the growing problems at the Adirondack Park Agency, to even the dysfunction of New York state government as a whole and his predictions for the 2010 elections.

We covered so many topics I will break the interview out over two days. I expect to post part 1 of our interview later on Friday afternoon and part 2 on Saturday.

So stop back later to the Huletts Current for an interesting look at local issues with our Huletts state representative in the NY Assembly, Tony Jordan.

Innovative Transport of Power Through Whitehall & Canal Proposed


A major supplier of electricity to the Northeast is proposing to go down Lake Champlain, through the Champlain Canal in Whitehall, and back into the Hudson River to bring power to New York City and Long Island. This would be a new way to supply the growing power needs of our country without disrupting scenery.

It has been reported on North Country Public radio about a proposed power supply route that would use the historic route between Canada and New York which passes through Whitehall.

What is truly innovative, as I understand it, is that there would be no overhead lines, no cutting of trees and the power would come from renewable sources.

Here is a video that describes the concept.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75d6-SHFE08

I’m sure we’ll hear more about this in the months ahead.