Sunny & Very Cold
This picture taken of the Friends of Historic Huletts Landing gallery and library on the morning of December 8th, shows the sun peaking over the mountain on a very cold Monday morning. (Click image to see larger version.)
December 8th Town Board Agenda & Documents
The Dresden Town Board meeting for December 2025 will have a number of things on the Agenda. Here are the documents posted on the town’s website:
County and Town Tax Levy Impact Explanation for Dresden Taxpayers
Town of Dresden – Supervisor Meeting Statement Salary
Lake George Land Conservancy Permanently Conserves 192 Acres in Bolton
The LGLC recently protected 192 acres in Bolton, including more than 1,000 feet of stream corridor.
The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) purchased 192 acres in the Town of Bolton on November 21. The “Wing Pond Addition” has more than 1,000 feet of stream corridor and about three acres of wetlands, which are critical to protecting water quality.
The undeveloped forested property shares nearly half a mile of its boundary with the LGLC-owned Wing Pond Preserve and also borders NYS DEC-owned Wild Forest. Its stream flows into the LGLC’s recently protected 207-acre Sundew Pond Preserve, which flows into Lake George’s Northwest Bay.
In addition to protecting water quality, this purchase provides an even greater expanse of contiguous habitat necessary for our native terrestrial and aquatic wildlife to thrive. Land connectivity is important for whole ecosystem health and vitality, allowing forests, streams, and other freshwater resources to interact uninterrupted for maximum water quality benefits.
Knowing the land’s great ecological value, the Miller family, who owned and cared for the land for decades, was happy to work with the LGLC to see the land permanently protected.
Sarah, Jim, and John Miller expressed, “When Captain James Miller purchased acreage in North Bolton in the late 60s, it was to protect and preserve the land. His children are grateful that going forward, the LGLC will be taking over the stewardship of this beautiful property.”
LGLC Executive Director Mike Horn said, “I want to thank the Millers for working with the LGLC to permanently protect this important land, ensuring that the lush forested terrain and flowing streams will forever remain wild, protecting everything we love about Lake George.”
The Wing Pond Addition acquisition was funded in part with a grant received in 2024 through the Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) grant program administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Additional funding came from generous donors who gave to the LGLC’s $9 million 2025 Land Campaign, which included the Wing Pond Addition as one of several conservation project goals.
Due to its habitat sensitivity, the Wing Pond Addition is not open to the public.
DEC Forest Rangers in the News
Town of Bolton
Warren County
Wilderness Rescue: On November 29 at 7:55 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from Warren County 911 about a hiker with chest pains approximately 1.5 miles in from the Clay Meadow trailhead in the Lake George Wild Forest. Four Forest Rangers and the Bolton Fire Department reached the 56-year-old from Gansevoort, made a health assessment, and determined a carry out was necessary. Rescuers used a wheeled litter to transport the hiker to the trailhead where they turned over care to Bolton EMS. Resources were clear at 10:10 p.m.
A 2025 Thanksgiving Day Proclamation
White House – In 1789, just years after America’s triumph over tyranny in the Revolutionary War, President George Washington established the first National Day of Thanksgiving, declaring “the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.” Decades later, in the midst of the bloody Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln implored the Nation to join in unity for “a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.” In every generation since, this spirit of reverence, trust, and gratitude has preserved our way of life and made America the strongest, greatest, and most resilient Nation the world has ever known.
From the pilgrims who settled our continent and the patriots who won our independence on the battlefield to the pioneers who tamed the west and the warriors who have preserved our freedom in distant lands, the spirit of gratitude and grit embodied by those who celebrated the first Thanksgiving more than 400 years ago have stood at the very heart of what it means to be an American.
This year, God has bestowed abundant blessings all across our land and indeed the entire world. As we give thanks to Him, we continue to advance our Nation through strong leadership and commonsense policy. As a result, the American economy is roaring back, we are making progress on lowering the cost of living, a new era of peace is sweeping around the world, our sovereignty is being swiftly restored, and the American spirit is coming back greater and more powerful than ever before.
As we prepare to celebrate 250 glorious years of American independence, this Thanksgiving, we summon the faith, resolve, and unflinching fortitude of the giants of American history who came before us. We vow to build a future that echoes their sacrifice. Above all, we offer our endless gratitude to Almighty God for His love, grace, and infinite blessings.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 27, 2025, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage all Americans to gather, in homes and places of worship, to offer a prayer of thanks to God for our many blessings.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fifth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fiftieth.
DONALD J. TRUMP
Washington County 2026 Budget Approved
The Washington County Board of Supervisors, at their November 21, 2025 meeting, approved a 2026 budget that increases the property tax levy by 16.97% and cuts 22 jobs. (10 full-time and 12 part-time county jobs). This is a decrease in the number of jobs proposed to be eliminated under the tentative budget.
The board had previously voted to override the tax-cap for 2026.
November Sewer Committee Minutes
The November minutes from the Huletts Sewer District # 1 committee have been posted on the Town’s website.
Town Begins Work on Foster Brook Sewer Pipe Burial
The work to bury two exposed sewer lines in Sewer District # 1 under Foster Brook has begun. Here are some pictures of where the work currently stands.
The first location is the site closest to the lake. This picture was taken on the south side of Foster Brook. The directional boring going under Foster Brook is in progress.
This picture is taken from a slightly different angle from the first. The directional boring can be better seen in this photo.
This picture was taken from the site farthest from the lake. It was taken on the north side of Foster Brook. Once the directional boring is completed at the first site, digging will start from this northern side and proceed south from this location under Foster Brook.
Please stay away from the work as it progresses.
Second Preliminary Engineers Report for Sewer District # 1 Released
As I have previously reported, during the summer of 2023, an engineer’s study was conducted on the overall health and status of Sewer District #1 in Huletts Landing. After more than 2 years, the final report still has not been completed.
However, in the last week the Town has released a new updated unfinalized report detailing what the engineer’s report shows at this time. It is posted on the Town’s website here. It is still not final.
So this document contains the most recent response from the engineering firm in the ongoing comment period with the NYS Environmental Facilities Corp, grantor of the Engineering Planning Grant that paid for the system study of Sewer District #1. EFC acknowledged receipt on 10/17/25 and EFC will review this latest round of responses.
There is no response window deadline for the state. We continue to wait for the final report but thanks to the Town for releasing this now to show where the process presently stands.
Saturday Song
I have to say, the tambourine player’s reactions and energy have to make you smile. Also the bee of the drum is classic.
Reminder: Cutoff Date for Fertilizing Lawns is December 1
If you plan to fertilize your lawn this fall, remember that it is against New York State law to fertilize lawns between December 1 and April 1. Some areas also have local laws about selling and using lawn fertilizers.
Visit DEC’s Lawn Fertilizer webpage for more information. The law does not apply to agricultural fertilizer or fertilizer for gardens.
Choose a lawn fertilizer with no phosphorus.
Lawn fertilizer can have unnecessary phosphorus that runs into waterbodies. Excess phosphorus in freshwater lakes and ponds can cause algae overgrowth, with serious impacts to the environment and public health.
Snow on the Mountain
The top of the mountain is covered with light snow today. Sugarloaf mountain can be seen through the trees. (Click image to see larger version.)
Monday November 10th Sewer Board Meeting – Moved to November 12th
The Sewer District #1 committee meeting scheduled for Monday, November 10th has been MOVED to Wednesday, November 12, 2025 at 6:00 pm because the preconstruction meeting for the Foster Brook Pipe burial is on Wednesday November 12, 2025 at 2:00 pm and then there will be a meeting with affected homeowners immediately thereafter who will be individually contacted.
If the meeting was held tonight there would be missing critical information which will be presented on Wednesday, November 12, 2025 at 6:00 pm.