Posted on

Visit to Lapland Pond Includes Plethora of Species


A visit to Lapland pond starts at the Blake Mountain trail head on Pike Brook road.

When you arrive at the Blake Mountain trail head on Pike Brook road, there is actually another destination that you can hike to in addition to going up Black Mountain. That “other” hike is a shorter walk up to Lapland pond. The flora and fauna is quite beautiful and if you walk slowly and take it all in – it is a joy to behold.


The flower of Jewelweed is a natural remedy to poison ivy.


Looking something like a “Tribble” from Star Trek, light green Pincushion moss grows on the side of the trail.


White BaneBerry, is also called “Dolls Eyes,” for its distinctive appearance.


A grove of hemlock trees stands tall.


Watch out for snakes. Here a garter snake slithers along the side of the path.


A tadpole swims quietly in the water.


A beautiful walk in the woods refreshes the soul.

Click all images to see larger versions.

Posted on

Preserve at Pilot Knob to Reopen September 12


Visitors relax at the gazebo on the Lake George Land Conservancy’s Schumann Preserve for Pilot Knob in Fort Ann. View of Lake George is west toward Bolton and north up Lake George.

The Lake George Land Conservancy’s beloved Schumann Preserve at Pilot Knob will reopen to the public on September 12th, five months after being closed due to concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic. Please note that guidelines for responsible recreation continue to be in effect, and the preserve will be monitored to make sure guests are complying and visiting safely. If visiting this or any of the LGLC’s preserves, please follow these basic rules so that they can continue to provide safe recreational opportunities:

Stay local;

Visit in small groups limited to immediate household members;

If you arrive at a preserve and crowds are forming, choose a different park, a different trail, or return another time/day to visit;

If parking lots are full, please do not park along roadsides or other designated areas. To protect your safety and that of others, please choose a different area to visit, or return another time or day when parking is available.

Practice social distancing by keeping at least six (6) feet of distance between yourself and others, while on a trail and in places where people tend to congregate, such as parking lots, trailheads, and scenic overlooks; and

Stay home if you are sick, or showing or feeling any COVID-19 symptoms, such as fever, coughing, and/or troubled breathing.

Posted on

DEC Statewide Forest Ranger Highlights

Town of Fort Ann
Washington County

Wilderness Rescue: On July 26 at 6:10 p.m., Warren and Washington County 911 transferred a call to DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch reporting a separated and lost hiker on Buck Mountain in the Lake George Wild Forest Area. Forest Rangers Donegan and Poulton responded to the area of the hiker’s last known coordinates and at 8:36 p.m., the 25-year-old woman from Antwerp, New York, was located. At 9:56 p.m., Rangers and the lost hiker were back at the trailhead where she was reunited with the rest of her party.

Posted on

Catholic Churches to Reopen

Our Lady of Hope (OLH / Whitehall) and St. Ann’s (SA / Fort Ann) will reopen for Masses this weekend, June 13-14, at 25% capacity, and weekday Masses thereafter. The Chapel of the Assumption in Huletts Landing will open for the season soon.

New York State and the Diocese of Albany have various safety requirements, so please virtuously follow the protocols and be patient with the volunteers reopening the churches.

During the pandemic it is still not obligatory to attend Sunday Mass. Those who are sick or have had contact with COVID should stay home.

Posted on

DEC Forest Ranger Rescues Near Lake George

Town of Fort Ann
Washington County
Wilderness Rescue: On June 1 at 1:50 p.m., Washington County 911 transferred a call to DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch reporting a 45-year-old male hiker from Glens Falls was unconscious after suffering a seizure on the Shelving Rock Bay Trail. When Forest Rangers Callee Baker and Mark St. Claire responded to the scene, the man was conscious and alert. With assistance from the Fort Ann Fire Department, the hiker was evaluated and brought back to the trailhead using a wheeled litter and a six-wheeler. The subject refused further medical treatment.

Town of Bolton
Warren County
Wilderness Rescue: On June 3 at 8:53 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a father and son from Oakland, New Jersey, who were hiking down the Tongue Mountain range when they requested assistance. The 20-year-old advised Dispatch that his 50-year-old father was about 600 yards behind him. Both men had run out of water and were feeling dizzy and nauseous. Coordinates provided by the hikers placed them about a half mile from Montcalm Point. Forest Rangers Chuck Kabrehl and Evan Donegan responded to Green Island and took a boat to Montcalm Point to assist. While awaiting Forest Ranger arrival, the pair contacted Dispatch to advise that they were beginning to shiver and that the father’s lips had turned purple. The pair had abandoned one pack up the trail, and another pack with dry clothing and sleeping bags close to their current location. The hikers were advised to go back to where the pack was until Rangers arrived. Forest Rangers Kabrehl and Donegan reached the two men at 10:50 p.m., escorted them to the boat, and gave them a ride back to shore. Onc

Posted on

May Dresden Town Board Meeting Minutes

The minutes for May ZOOM meeting of the Dresden Town Board, were recently approved and have been posted on the town’s website.

May Minutes of the Dresden Town Board.

An important update is in this months minutes: Supervisor Ferguson who is also the Town’s Budget officer, has completed four years of audits on the Town books – 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. The state makes towns complete ‘old’ audits before new ones can be completed. The 2013 audit has held things up for a number of years. These audits predate Supervisor Ferguson’s time in office, but as reported, they have now been submitted to the state.

Posted on

NYS Coronavirus Update

The number of new COVID hospitalizations is dropping steadily. Total hospitalizations dropped to 2,978, from 3,121 the day before. Tuesday, New York had 135 new COVID hospitalizations, down from 154 the day before. Yesterday 49 New Yorkers died of the virus — the lowest number since March.

Outdoor dining at restaurants will be permitted in Phase 2 of reopening. Restaurants in the seven regions that have already entered Phase 2 — including our own Capital Region can reopen for outdoor dining beginning tomorrow, June 4th.

NYS Executive Order (not a mandate) Allows Store Owners to Deny Entry to People Without Masks Governor Cuomo announced an executive order last week that will allow private owners to refuse service to people who are not wearing a mask. “We are giving store owners the right to say, ‘If you’re not wearing a mask, you can’t come in,'” Cuomo said. It is not a law or a mandate. You do not have to refuse service to someone wearing a mask, but it allows you to do so if you choose.

Posted on

NYS Coronavirus Update

The number of total COVID hospitalizations continues to decline. Total hospitalizations fell to 3,436, from 3,619 the day before. Saturday, NY state had 191 new COVID hospitalizations.

Daily fatalities drop to lowest level since March 23rd. 56 New Yorkers died from COVID. This is a tragic number — but we are thankful it is much, much lower than where it was at the peak. As this number goes down, it is expected to level out. The question is how low it will go before that happens.

Grab the tennis balls! Finley, a 6-year-old Golden Retriever from Canandaigua, NY, was recognized by Guinness World Records for being able to hold six tennis balls in his mouth with no assistance — shattering the previous record of five tennis balls. Congratulations to this very good boy on his world record.

Posted on

NYS Coronavirus Update

The number of total COVID hospitalizations continues to decline. Total hospitalizations fell to just over 4600, from 4,844 the day before. The number of new COVID hospitalizations fell to 208, from 225 the day before. Tragically, we lost 84 New Yorkers to the virus Friday.

Please remember that social distancing rules apply at State Parks and all public outdoor spaces. You must wear a mask whenever it’s not possible to maintain six feet of distance from others.

Posted on

NYS Coronavirus Update

The number of total COVID hospitalizations continues to decline. Total hospitalizations fell to 4,844, from 5,187 the day before. The number of new COVID hospitalizations fell to 225, from 246 the day before. Tragically, we lost 109 New Yorkers to the virus Thursday.

Gov. Cuomo issued a statewide executive order Friday night that now allows any gathering of up to 10 people, so long as social distancing is observed. The order permits “any non-essential gathering of ten or fewer individuals, for any lawful purpose or reason, provided that social distancing protocols and cleaning and disinfection protocols required by the Department of Health are adhered to.”

Vote for your favorite “Wear A Mask” PSA. NY state received 600+ submissions in our Wear A Mask NY Ad Contest. Watch the video finalists, the honorable mentions and vote for your favorite at wearamask.ny.gov.

Posted on

NYS Coronavirus Update

The number of total COVID hospitalizations continues to fall. Total hospitalizations fell to 5,187, from 5,570 the day before. The number of new COVID hospitalizations fell to 246, from 295 the day before. Tragically, we lost 105 New Yorkers to the virus Wednesday.

Due to Coronavirus, there is a shortage of blood and blood donations are desperately needed. New York State is working with blood banks to ensure safe social distancing protocols are being followed. Learn how and where you can donate at http://ny.gov/donateblood.

Posted on

NYS Coronavirus Update

Message from Representative Stefanik on Wednesday’s Capital District Phase 1 Reopening “Brighter days are ahead.”

The number of total COVID hospitalizations continues to decline. Total hospitalizations fell to 5,570, from 5,818 the day before. The number of new COVID hospitalizations fell to 295, from 335 the day before. Tragically, we lost 112 New Yorkers to the virus Tuesday.

Wearing a mask in public makes us all safer.To help get the message across, NY state launched a contest asking New Yorkers to create a video and share in their own words why New Yorkers should wear masks in public. After receiving over 600 great submissions, five finalists have been selected. The winning video will be chosen by an online vote and will be used as a PSA. Watch the videos and vote for your favorite here.