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We Need to Talk About Energy

With prices of electricity and energy exploding in New York, I am going to start spending some time highlighting energy issues.

The first video below is U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright giving an outline of energy production in three-minutes. I especially liked this part: “Germany invested half a trillion (in renewables) and now produce 20% less electricity at 3 times the price,” Wright noted.

He succinctly explains that businesses and industry flee when our energy policy is so misguided.

The next video is of our State Senator, Dan Stec (R,C-Queensbury) at yesterday’s joint Legislative Environmental Conservation and Energy Budget Hearing. Senator Stec engaged in a discussion with NYSERDA President Doreen Harris and PSC Commissioner Rory Christian over the energy policies as laid out in Governor Hochul’s 2027 Executive Budget proposal.

In his discussion with President Harris, Stec questioned her about the financial impact and stability of our energy grid due to the CLCPA mandates. PSC Commissioner Christian and Stec engaged in a discussion over the reasons New York’s energy taxes and rates are considerably higher than in neighboring states. With ratepayers in the North Country and statewide currently facing some of the highest costs in the nation, this was Stec’s opportunity to hold the state’s energy policymakers accountable.

Senator Stec highlights the shockingly high number of New Yorkers who are behind in their electricity payments.

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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

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Memorial Day – 2025

Memorial Day

A quick note on the difference:
Memorial Day honors those who died in military service, while Veterans Day, observed in November, honors all who have served, both living and deceased. It’s a distinction that often gets blurred, but it’s one worth remembering.

A little history:
Memorial Day began after the Civil War and was originally known as Decoration Day, when families would lay flowers on the graves of fallen soldiers. Today, it’s a national holiday observed on the last Monday of May.

Etiquette reminders to keep in mind:
If you’re flying the American flag, tradition says to raise it to half-staff until noon, then to full-staff for the remainder of the day. Half-staff means the flag is raised only halfway up the flagpole—this position is a mark of mourning and respect. Raising it to full-staff at noon symbolizes the nation’s resolve to carry on in the face of loss.

At 3:00 p.m. local time, pause for the National Moment of Remembrance. Just one minute of silence can be a powerful and unifying gesture.

It’s not a “Happy Memorial Day.” A more thoughtful message might be, “Thinking of those who served and sacrificed,” “Honoring our fallen heroes today,” or “Thank you for your service.”

If you’re attending or hosting a gathering, a short toast or moment of silence before the meal is a gracious way to acknowledge the day.

Even a quiet moment of reflection, on your own or with loved ones, honors the spirit of the day more than we often realize.

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250 Years Ago


“The Battle of Lexington, 19 April 1775,” Oil on canvas by William Barns Wollen, 1910.

“Lay down your arms, you damned rebels.”
A British officer to American militiamen on Lexington Green in 1775. The site of the first skirmish of the Revolutionary War.

We know how that worked out.

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Congresswoman Stefanik’s Statement on Appointment as Chairwoman of House Republican Leadership


Rep. Elise Stefanik with President Donald Trump. (Photo Credit: Rep. Elise Stefanik Facebook page.)

April 9, 2025

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik was appointed by Speaker Mike Johnson as Chairwoman of House Republican Leadership for the 119th Congress. In addition, she was reappointed to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence where she will maintain her seniority. She also resumes her role as a senior Member of the Armed Services Committee and Education and the Workforce Committee.

In addition, Stefanik was appointed by the Speaker to the Boards of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China and the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation.

“I am honored to be appointed Chairwoman of House Republican Leadership to lead House Republicans in implementing President Donald Trump’s mandate from the American people for an America First agenda that includes securing our borders, strengthening our national security, growing our economy, and combating the scourge of antisemitism across our country,” said Chairwoman Elise Stefanik. “I’m proud to continue my work as a senior Member of the House Intelligence Committee, House Armed Services Committee, and the Education and the Workforce Committee to secure results for my constituents in New York’s 21st Congressional District and the American people. I look forward to the work ahead in enacting President Trump’s historic agenda.”

The House Republican Leadership Chair is a senior leadership appointed position focused on strategy, communications, and executing on the mandate from the American people to pass President Trump’s agenda. This position also serves on the Steering Committee. It has been used by multiple previous Republican leadership teams for longtime senior Members like Bill Paxon, Rob Portman, Greg Walden, and Garret Graves titled as Chair of Committee on Committees or Chair of Elected Leadership Committee or Chair of House Republican Leadership at critical moments to deliver for the American people such as the 1994 Contract with America and the 2010 Tea Party wave election. This role comes with budget, staff, and an expansive strategy, legislative, and communications portfolio.

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USPS in the News


The Huletts Landing Post Office as seen on July 4, 2024.

There has been a lot of discussion about reported potential changes at the United States Postal Service in the news.

It is important to keep in mind that more than any other agency, changes in the Postal Service are the most difficult. The USPS is the only agency mentioned in the US Constitution. Also, the USPS is the largest employer in the country. Unwinding it and making major transformations would be a massive undertaking that could not be accomplished in a few months. Additionally, whoever is in charge of delivering mail will need facilities to handle and distribute that mail.

The biggest cost for the USPS is labor costs and that would be the focus of any cost cutting moves. Rents on post office buildings are a small piece of the USPS budget, and therefore of less interest.

There has also been discussion of UPS, Amazon and Fed Ex taking over for the USPS because of how the mail has changed in recent years. However, none of those organizations will want to deliver six days a week to every address in the country. It is unlikely that Congress will accept that because of pressure from constituents. I will work diligently to inform everyone about the USPS as news happens.

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Top News Story of Huletts: 2024

Well here it is – the end of 2024. I hope it was a good year for everyone. While all the major media outlets are recapping the big events of the past year, I like to take one last look back at what I consider the top “news” story of Huletts Landing from this past year.

A lot happened this past year; there were flagmen on Route 22 for most of the summer – with multiple stretches down to one lane causing delays just to get to Whitehall, the remnants of Hurricane Irene struck Lake George hard on July 16, 2024 with lots of trees down, the Dresden Town Supervisor resigned unexpectedly and a new Town Supervisor was appointed by the Town Board. All of these things were quite newsworthy.

However, one story got everyone’s attention like none of the others. That big story was the Lake George Park Commission’s decision to test out the aquatic herbicide ProcellaCOR in two areas of northern Lake George, one area directly off of Huletts Landing.


A well-attended rally in opposition to the application of ProcellaCOR in Lake George was held at 8:30 am on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 outside the office of the Lake George Association. The Lake George Association opposed the use of ProcellaCOR in Lake George.

While there were lawsuits, opposition protests and even a restraining order, eventually a judge allowed ProcellaCOR to be applied by the Lake George Park Commission to the two locations in Lake George. Once that decision was made, the Lake George Park Commission moved quickly with the testing at the two sites.

While the application only allowed the test at the two sites in northern Lake George, there most likely will be more news (and lots of interest) about this in the year(s) ahead. So for 2024, I am naming the Lake George Park Commission’s decision to test out the aquatic herbicide ProcellaCOR in the two areas of northern Lake George as the story of year for Huletts Landing.

Happy New Year to all and on to 2025!

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President Trump Nominates Rep. Elise Stefanik to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations


Rep. Elise Stefanik with President-elect Donald Trump (Photo Credit: Rep. Elise Stefanik Facebook page.)

President Trump in a statement to the NY Post said: “I am honored to nominate Chairwoman Elise Stefanik to serve in my Cabinet as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Elise is an incredibly strong, tough, and smart America First fighter.”

House Republican Conference Chair, Elise Stefanik, released the following statement:

“I am truly honored to earn President Trump’s nomination to serve in his Cabinet as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. During my conversation with President Trump, I shared how deeply humbled I am to accept his nomination and that I look forward to earning the support of my colleagues in the United States Senate.

President Trump’s historic landslide election has given hope to the American people and is a reminder that brighter days are ahead — both at home and abroad. America continues to be the beacon of the world, but we expect and must demand that our friends and allies be strong partners in the peace we seek.

The work ahead is immense as we see antisemitism skyrocketing coupled with four years of catastrophically weak U.S. leadership that significantly weakened our national security and diminished our standing in the eyes of both allies and adversaries.

I stand ready to advance President Donald J. Trump’s restoration of America First peace through strength leadership on the world stage on Day One at the United Nations.

I will forever be grateful to my beloved constituents in New York’s 21st Congressional District for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to work my very hardest to serve and give them a voice at the highest levels of Congress.

Ten years ago, Upstate and North Country voters took a chance on a young, first-time, unknown candidate who very few believed could win. I was proud to be the youngest woman elected to Congress at the time and to earn their overwhelming vote of confidence in six general elections.

Thank you to my colleagues in the House for entrusting me to serve as House Republican Conference Chair as a part of your leadership team.

I am proud of my strong record as a senior Member of the House Armed Services Committee, the House Intelligence Committee, and the Education and Workforce Committee, as well as the legislative and constituent services results my office successfully delivered to our district.

Thank you to the hardworking families, small businesses, farms, law enforcement officers, military families, veterans, seniors, and local elected officials whom I have worked so closely with on behalf of our communities. And most especially, thank you to my extraordinarily dedicated staff in the District and Washington offices for serving our constituents tirelessly for the past decade.

My family and I are excited for this next chapter in New York and Washington to work hard to serve our country on President Donald Trump’s team. No matter where this journey takes us, Upstate New York — the cradle of the American Revolution — will always be my heart and home.”

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Why We Celebrate the 4th of July

Yesterday a former member of SEAL Team Six was in Huletts and he impressed me with his love for our flag. This 4th of July, I repost my post from last year. There’s no greater country than our beloved United States of America. Happy 4th of July!

The colonies had been in conflict with England for over a year in June of 1776. A Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia on June 7 of that year. Richard Henry Lee from Virginia offered up a resolution with these now famous words:

“Resolved: That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.”

Lee’s words spurred the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. A committee of five was appointed to draft a statement making the case for the colonies, a statement to the world of the intent and the reason behind that intent.

Members of the Committee were John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Robert R. Livingston of New York and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia. Jefferson took on the task of actually drafting the document as we know it today.

The Continental Congress reconvened on July 1, 1776, and on the following day, the resolution for independence by Lee was adopted by 12 of the 13 colonies, with New York not voting. Minor changes were made to the Jefferson document.

Work on the document continued through July 3 and into the afternoon of July 4, when the Declaration was officially adopted by the Congress. Of the 13 colonies, nine voted in favor of the Declaration, two — Pennsylvania and South Carolina — voted No, Delaware was undecided, and New York again abstained.

As we all know, John Hancock, President of the Congress, made his signature large enough for King George to read “without his spectacles.”

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Memorial Day: 2024


Today we honor and give thanks for all Americans who died while serving and protecting America. We celebrate the lives and sacrifice of our fallen.

I hope we remember to thank God today that we have such patriots who gave up their lives because they believed that America is our home, our land, the heart of who and what we are as not only a nation among others, but a key part of our very identity.

“May God support us all the day long, till the shades lengthen and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in His mercy may He give us a safe lodging, and a holy rest and peace at the last.”

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From AI: Where Do Local Swallows Go in the Winter?

One of the best things about the spring and summer is to awake to the sounds of birds singing. There are lots of swallows around Huletts in the summer and they should always be left alone because all swallows are state and federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

I’ve always wondered exactly where our swallows “winter homes” are? One great thing about the new artificial intelligence, ChatGPT, is that you can get answers to questions you want to learn more about extremely quickly without doing any searching. So here is what ChatGPT gave me when I asked the question.

Question: Where do barn swallows from upstate New York go in the winter?

ChatGPT answer: “Barn swallows from upstate New York migrate to warmer regions for the winter. These migratory birds typically travel to Central and South America. Specifically, barn swallows are known to winter in countries such as Argentina, Brazil, and other parts of South America.

Migration is a common behavior among barn swallows and many other bird species to avoid harsh winter conditions and ensure a steady supply of food. They return to their breeding grounds in North America, including upstate New York, during the spring and summer months for nesting and raising their young.

The long-distance migration of barn swallows is an impressive feat, and these birds cover thousands of miles during their annual journeys.”

It seems our small swallows travel the farthest in winter!