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Stefanik Makes Formal Request for Amtrak’s Timeline to Reopen Adirondack Line

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik sent a letter to Chief Executive Officer Stephen J. Gardner formally calling on Amtrak to commit to a timeline for fully reopening the Adirondack line.

“I write to you today again urging Amtrak to publicly commit to a timeline for reopening full rail operations on the Adirondack line. The Adirondack line runs through the 21st Congressional District of New York has been closed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. To this point, Amtrak has failed to provide a specific date or details indicating when it will resume service along the Adirondack line. The Adirondack line is a significant economic driver for Upstate New York and the North Country. The continued delays to resume service are causing significant harm to citizens throughout New York State and the North Country, many of whom rely on passenger rail service for critical transportation,” Stefanik wrote. Read the full letter here.

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Ernest ‘Tim’ Soothcage, Rest in Peace


I’m very sorry to report that Ernest ‘Tim’ Soothcage, 83, passed away on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 after a long illness.

‘Tim’ as he was known to many, did a lot of work in Huletts Landing in the 1980’s and 1990’s. He was an extraordinary contractor and an expert dock builder. I had many conversations with him where he explained how a dock can shift in the winter, and how a dock should be properly constructed. He had extremely high standards and everything he built for us, is working well. He worked for many people in Huletts Landing and had a wonderful laugh. He will be missed. Our condolences go out to his family.

He and his brothers ran Soothcage Brothers Construction and Arctic Cat Sales and Service. If you were fortunate enough to have work done by Tim, you had quality work done that was built to last. He expected perfection in anything he did.

In his retirement, he very much enjoyed his monthly breakfast get-together with his nephew Don Lee, and long-time friends William Pike, Ted Plude and Nick Sabo (deceased).

He was predeceased by his mother Hazel Rathbun and his father Leslie Soothcage and also his brothers Albert and Leslie Soothcage.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Janice; his daughter Tammy Kirshon (Steve), grandchildren Christopher (Amanda) and Carolyn Pepper (Scott) and great-grandson Miles; his daughter Terry Brooks and grandsons Derek and Ryan, his daughter Tonya Dudley (Chris) and grandchildren Olivia, Logan and Christopher Jr. (Courtney) and great-grandson Christopher III.

The family will conduct a graveside service in the spring. Tim’s arrangements are under the care of the Jillson Funeral Home, Inc. Online condolences may be made at jillsonfuneralhomes.com

“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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Notice of the Start of Construction for Segments 1 & 2 of the Champlain Hudson Power Express Project (through Dresden)


The Champlain Hudson Power Express Project will run down route 22 through the Town of Dresden.

On or about November 18, 2022, construction activities for certain parts of Segments 1 and 2 of the Champlain Hudson Power Express Project (“CHPE”) are anticipated to begin. The Construction Zone for Segments 1 and 2 consist of a 17.6-mile overland cable route running from the western shore of Lake Champlain in the Town of Putnam to the Canadian Pacific (“CP”) Railroad right-of-way (“ROW”) in the Village of Whitehall. This underground transmission line segment runs through the Towns of Putnam, Dresden and Whitehall, as well as the Village of Whitehall, via County Route 3, Lake Road, New York State Route 22 and Bellamy Street to the CP Railroad ROW, as shown on the enclosed map. The initial construction work will commence at the Project’s construction laydown area located off of Ryder Road in Whitehall.

On October 13, 2022, the New York State Public Service Commission approved CHPE’s Environmental Management & Construction Plan (“EM&CP”) for Segments 1 and 2 of the Project. Upon receipt of a Notice to Proceed with Construction letter sent by the New York State Department of Public Service’s Office of Electric, Gas and Water, CHPE will be authorized to commence construction activities for the approved Segments.

CHPE has established a toll-free number for questions regarding the Project, including a complaint resolution plan for issues arising during construction: 1-800-991-CHPE (2473).

Questions or requests for further information can be directed to: publicoutreach@chpexpress.com or by mail to Molly Hollister, WSP USA, One Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, New York 10119. Facility construction falls under the jurisdiction of the Commission, which is responsible for enforcing compliance with environmental and construction conditions, and which may be contacted through Matthew Smith, Office of Electric, Gas and Water, New York State Department of Public Service, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223, via telephone at (518)474-8702
or email at matthew.smith@dps.ny.gov.

Details of the planned work locations, including construction drawings showing in detail the approved Segments, are available on the Project website at: https://chpexpress.com/overviewof-public-documents/environmental-management-construction-plan/. The full Commission docket for the Project can be accessed via the Commission’s website at:
http://documents.dps.ny.gov/public/MatterManagement/CaseMaster.aspx?MatterCaseNo=10-T0139.

Paper copies of the EM&CP for Segments 1 and 2 will be available for viewing at the following local document repositories: Black Watch Memorial Library, 99 Montcalm St., Ticonderoga, NY 12883; Whitehall Free Library, 12 Williams Street, Whitehall, NY 12887; Dresden Town Hall, 1 Lillians Way, Clemons, NY 12819; and Putnam Town Hall, 14 Putnam Center Rd, Putnam Station, NY 12861.

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Sign on Whitehall Transfer Station


A sign appeared on the gate of the Whitehall transfer station this week indicating that it was “Closed Until Further Notice.”

The Whitehall transfer station is privately operated and is not run by either the town or county. The sign says “Closed Until Further Notice.” No further explanation at this time.

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School Board Election & Budget Vote: May 17th

Voting for five open seats on the Whitehall school board, adoption of the annual school budget and a school bus purchase resolution will take place on Monday, May 17th between 12:00 noon and 8:00 pm at the Large Group Instruction Room of the Junior-Senior high school building on Buckley Road in Whitehall.

Voters will also be asked to approve the purchase of a sixty-five person school bus, not to exceed the cost of $127,040.

A public hearing will be held on Monday, May 9th at 6:00 pm for the presentation of the budget.

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Senator Stec: End of School Mask Mandate Long Overdue

State Senator Dan Stec (R,C-Queensbury) today issued the following statement concerning Governor Kathy Hochul’s announcement that she’s finally lifting the mask mandate on schools, effective Wednesday, March 2:

“For too long, our officials have been making COVID-related decisions based on political science, instead of the actual science. Repeated studies have shown that long-term mask wearing has had a detrimental impact on our students, stunting their educational, emotional and social development and making it that much harder for them to overcome the pandemic.

“It’s for those reasons that I’ve repeatedly joined our local school districts in urging the governor and state Department of Health to provide clear guidance and an off-ramp to the end of the mask mandate. I’m glad that Governor Hochul finally listened to our voices and ended it. This is a big win for our educators and our children, who can finally get back to normal after the chaos and disruption of the past two years.

“This mandate was yet another example of the Executive overreach that has marred our state’s ability to address the pandemic and chart the best path forward. Instead of unilateral decisions that need to be rescinded after widespread public outcry, the Legislature must assert itself as an equal partner in government.”

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Governor to Lift Mask Mandate for Schools This Week

Mask mandates in public schools across New York will be lifted this Wednesday, March 2nd, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Sunday.

Governor Hochul said local governments would be empowered to set their own school mask requirements in accordance with new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released on Friday that reclassified much of the state as “low risk” for COVID infection.

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NY State Senator Stec Co-Sponsored Bill Supporting Injured Firefighters Signed Into Law

Chief James Brook Jr. Act honors fallen local hero, assists fellow heroes

Legislation co-sponsored by Senator Dan Stec (R,C,I-Queensbury) that adds vascular rupture to the list of injuries covered under the Volunteer Firefighters’ Benefit Law was officially signed by Gov. Hochul today.

Called the Chief James Brook Jr. Act (S4562), it honors a fallen local hero. Chief James Brooks Jr. was a second assistant fire chief for the Whitehall Volunteer Fire Company, who served his community for over 27 years. On May 2, 2020, he suffered an aortic rupture while responding to a structural fire in the Town of Dresden, Washington County, and succumbed on September 17, 2020 due to complications from that injury.

After the New York State Workers Compensation Board determined that Brooks’ injury did not qualify for insurance coverage, Senator Stec swiftly took action and supported this bi-partisan legislation to ensure that injured heroes like the late Chief Brooks receive the medical coverage they need and deserve.

“Volunteer firefighters risk their health and lives to help our communities and they deserve the utmost respect and support,” Stec said. “When Chief Brooks was tragically hurt in the line of duty, the insurance fund for volunteer firefighters should have covered his injuries.

“The Chief James Brook Jr. Act ensures his heroism and service are never forgotten, and it ensure that volunteer firefighters who suffer a similar injury receive the benefits and medical coverage they deserve,” he added. “I’d like to thank Gov. Hochul for signing this essential bill into law and my colleagues for passing this bi-partisan measure supporting our volunteer firefighters.”

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Whitehall Town-Wide Garage Sale: Labor Day Weekend

Labor day weekend, Saturday, September 4th, and Sunday, September 5th, the Whitehall Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual Whitehall town-wide garage/yard sale. The event is free and many people will have garage sales that day throughout the town. Drive around, browse and maybe ever buy!

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Fr. Torres – Announcement of Transfer


The Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Albany, Edward B. Scharfenberger, D.D. (left), stands with Fr. Rendell Torres, Pastor of the Chapel of the Assumption (right) in a previous visit to Huletts Landing in 2014.

Fr. Rendell Torres, the Catholic priest who served at the Chapel of the Assumption in Huletts Landing and Our Lady of Hope in Whitehall for the past eight years announced this week that he has been transferred to a new parish. Below is his letter to parishioners.

June 12, 2021
+ The Immaculate Heart of Mary

Dear parishioners and visitors,

The Holy Spirit brought me to our parishes in 2013, and at the end of this month the Holy Spirit is moving me to another parish, St. Joseph the Worker in West Winfield and Richfield Springs. Their pastor died suddenly this past December, so they lost their spiritual father. My own father died a couple of months later, so it seems fitting that God is joining us together.

On the weekend of July 3-4, please welcome Father Zachariah Chichester, your new resident priest. Ordained in 2018, he will technically be the parochial vicar (or “associate pastor”), while the canonical (“official”) pastor will be Father Busch, who lives in Queensbury at Our Lady of the Annunciation. Father Chichester will live at the priest’s rectory at Our Lady of Hope in Whitehall and minister to your sacramental needs; additionally, he is also assigned to serve St. Mary’s in Granville (where retired priest Fr. Powhida has been the sacramental minister), although the three parishes in Whitehall, Fort Ann, and Granville remain distinct and are not being merged.

I am grateful to God and to you for the eight years that I have been blessed to serve as your parish priest. Please forgive me for my shortcomings, and pray for me to do God’s will always. I will also continue to pray for you.


Peace in Jesus
through Mary,
Fr. Rendell R. Torres

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State Senator Stec: Injured Firefighters Legislation Passes Legislature

The State Senate today gave final legislative approval of legislation that would add ‘vascular rupture’ to the list of injuries covered under New York State’s Volunteer Firefighters’ Benefit Law.

The legislation, introduced this session by Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner and cosponsored by Senator Dan Stec, honors Whitehall Volunteer Fire Company Chief James Brooks. Brooks died in September 2020 due to complications from an injury he suffered while responding to a fire in May earlier that year.

“Assistant Chief James Brooks died as a result of a line of duty injury,” said Stec. “He was doing what he loved, serving his community. The insurance fund that would help with medical expenses unfortunately did not cover his care, which totaled more than $1 million dollars.”

On May 2, 2020, Brooks suffered an aortic rupture while responding to a structural fire in the Town of Dresden, Washington County. The 27-year veteran of the Whitehall Volunteer Fire Company died on September 17, 2020, from health complications due his injury. The New York State Workers Compensation Board determined that Brooks’ injury does not qualify for insurance coverage.

The legislation (S4562a/A6767a) creates a presumption of coverage under the Volunteer Firefighters’ Benefit Law for vascular ruptures suffered in the line of duty. It would assure coverage for this type of injury in the same way that heart attacks, for example, are covered.

The legislation passed the Assembly on Thursday, June 3.

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School Board Election & Budget Vote: May 18th

Voting for three seats on the school board, adoption of the annual school budget and a school bus purchase resolution will take place on Tuesday, May 18th between 12:00 noon and 8:00 pm at the Large Group Instruction Room of the Junior-Senior high school building on Buckley Road in Whitehall.

Petitions nominating candidates for the office of member of the Board of Education can be filed with the Clerk of the District, between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, no later than April 19, 2021. Each of the seats open are for 3-year terms: commencing July 1, 2021 and expiring on June 30, 2024.

The budget for the 2021-2022 school year has not been finalized at this time but the public hearing for the presentation of the budget is scheduled for May 10, 2021 at 6:00 pm in the Large Group Instruction Room of the Junior-Senior high school building on Buckley Road in Whitehall.

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Whitehall School Sets Tentative Date for In-Person Schooling to Resume

The Whitehall School system posted this undated letter from Jr./Sr. High Principal, Ethan Burgess, on February 19th. In it, Mr. Burgess goes on to explain when additional students might be able to resume in-person learning at the school.

“It’s been a long time coming but we can begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Today I am excited to share that we have been in ongoing discussions with our contractors and tentatively believe we will have the ability to return our 7th and 8th grade cohorts around March 1st. The plan is to bring back all Middle School students at this time.

Not far behind, we will also have the opportunity to fill the hallways with our 9th -12th grades as well. I am hoping for a March 15th date for these students.

Please understand that these dates are somewhat tentative, but we are nearing the timeframe in which we should have access to our facilities for faculty, staff, and students. …”

The entire letter can be read here.