Admit It – You Always Wanted To Be A Fireman

Just this week, we received this appeal from the Huletts Landing Volunteer Fire Company. The fire company needs your assistance in meeting their fundraising goals. Please help support this worthwhile cause. Almost all the local fire companies are struggling to find volunteer firefighters because so many people have left the area to find jobs and the high property taxes are killing the local economy. Please consider coming out to the firehouse the next time you’re in Huletts and joining the fire company. You’ll even get a card designating you as a fire fighter if you join. Send your donation to:

Treasurer
Huletts Landing Volunteer Fire Company
P.O. Box 59
Huletts Landing, NY 12841

It’s a Snap

While winter is getting close, one of our reoccurring topics will be spottings of local wildlife. This picture was submitted by Ed Briody of a snapping turtle he came across this past summer. It may have been looking for a place to lay eggs and yes it did snap at him (but only when provoked).

Snapper

Washington County Budget Criticized by Post Star

This from the Post Star on Washington County’s 2009 Proposed Budget:

“You know when it snows, and they say on the radio that only “essential employees” must report to work? How about counties start their budgeting with the premise that only essential government employees, services and functions be preserved? Washington County must have some fat in the budget. So what do they decide to hack? The night sheriff’s patrol. Other than forcing cutting back on some car purchases and park hours, what else did Washington County do of any significance to save taxpayers money? Oh wait. They did come up with a hiring freeze they hope will save taxpayers $100,000 next year. But in a $117.3 million budget, that’s less than 1/10th of 1 percent. One hundred out of 900 county employees quit or retire each year. Are they all “essential?” How about a plan not to replace any employee who leaves? For that matter, why does Washington County need 900 employees in the first place?”

Read the whole editorial here.