I am sad to report that Anne Harriman, 79, died on Sunday Jan. 22, 2012 at Morristown Memorial Hospital in Morristown, NJ. Anne and her family have spent over 30 years enjoying Huletts Landing in Indian Bay on Lake George.
She was born in the Hells Kitchen section of New York City, and lived in Oakland, NJ before moving to Sparta in 1968. She was a homemaker and also worked as a secretary for North Glenn Construction of Mt. Lakes and for Clay Adams in Parsippany, NJ.
She is survived by her husband of 58 years William “Bill” Harriman, as well as her four children and their spouses, Charles and Nanci of Peapack, NJ, Cynthia Harriman and Edward Prendeville of Morris Township, Anne and Douglas Berry of Rockaway, and Barbara Harriman – Pauls and Patrick Pauls of Denville, NJ. She is also survived by her ten grandchildren Jonathan Harriman, Benjamin Harriman, Charles Harriman, Emma Harriman, Alexandra Almour, Annemarie Berry, Madison Berry, Maximillian Berry, Sean Pauls and William Pauls, as well as her Mother Anna Czarnecki of Randolph, NJ.
Donations are being accepted to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital P. O. Box 3704 Memphis, TN 38173-0704
The Fort Ticonderoga Association, a private non-profit organization, recorded increased donations in 2011. The Fort Ticonderoga Fund, the annual giving program, raised $600,327 in 2011, a 12% increase from 2010. The number of donors also increased in 2011 by 14%. Established in 2011, the Fort Ticonderoga Fund marked the first time the organization had a structured annual giving program that supported its general operations. The 2011 Fort Ticonderoga Fund was co-chaired by Sandy Morhouse of Ticonderoga, NY and Kitty Pell of Boston, MA.
Peter Paine, Fort Ticonderoga Association President, said the establishment of the Fort Ticonderoga Fund was a significant new strategy for the organization which depends heavily on the generosity of its donors. “Trustee giving led the way, both in a total commitment which increased 15% in 2011, and by making pledges early in the drive, permitting us to announce a “nucleus fund” over $300,000 at the Fort’s Midsummer Gala in July.”
The Fort Ticonderoga Fund included The “Fort-ifier” program which enlisted and deployed a committee of 21 local volunteers and Fort advocates. This group made an important impact on the success of the campaign. “Fort-ifier” Committee Co-Chair Anne McDonald of Ticonderoga said “This group made an important impact on the success of the campaign. Volunteers personally contacted over 100 prospects in the community and secured 87 commitments totaling $32,745.”
Fort Ticonderoga’s key operating results for 2011 show a successful year. The results were achieved in the midst of expected challenges including a severe winter, significant flooding in the Lake Champlain region in the spring, and a hurricane in the late summer which devastated the entire region. In spite of these challenges and a national downward visitation trend at historic sites, visitation to Fort Ticonderoga remained flat for 2011 at 70,378 visitors.
Beth Hill, Fort Ticonderoga Executive Director, said “While there were significant challenges to overcome in 2011, I am very pleased by Fort Ticonderoga’s results as they show that Fort Ticonderoga’s compelling mission is resonating with our supporters. In addition, site-specific and unique interpretive programs, the new internationally acclaimed Art of War exhibit, and a strong marketing strategic plan which highlighted the new America’s Fort brand, repositioned Fort Ticonderoga as a national must-see destination.”
“We are especially grateful to the staff and the greater Ticonderoga community who contributed to Fort Ticonderoga last year,” said Sandy Morhouse, Vice President of the Fort Ticonderoga Association and Fort Ticonderoga Fund Co-Chair. “Our donors responded generously in 2011 and increased their giving at a time when there is intensified competition for charitable dollars and the condition of the economy has challenged our supporters.”
Lindsey Jacobellis from nearby Stratton, Vermont tore the ACL in her left knee during practice for the Winter X Games in Aspen and was not able to compete in the Snowboarder X event where she was favored.
Jacobellis is a seven-time Winter X Games gold medalist and the silver medalist from the 2006 Olympics who is a perennial favorite in the women’s snowboarder X competition.
I’ve attempted to interview her in the past but scheduling has never allowed it.
She talks about what happened here.
Snowboarder X is a race down the mountain with all the snowboarders on the coarse at once. It has become one of my favorite X Games events over the last few years.
Here is a summary of the women’s final run (without Jacobellis).
Kelly Clark, a three-time Olympian from nearby West Dover Vermont, last night won the X Games SuperPipe event. She posted both of the night’s highest scores (90.00 and 93.66) to defend her Snowboard SuperPipe gold medal.
Hannah Teter also from nearby Belmont, Vermont took the bronze!
English turn-off barrel pistol by London Gun Maker John Easterby, 1724-1731. From the Grafton H. and Barbara W. Cook Collection, Fort Ticonderoga Museum.
Fort Ticonderoga’s new winter series of programs continues on Sunday, February 12, at 2 pm, with “The Roar of Musketry and Cracking of Rifles: An Introduction to Weapons of the 18th Century” presented by Curator of Collections Chris Fox. The cost is $10 per person and will be collected at the door; free for members of the Friends of Fort Ticonderoga.
Spend time with Fort Ticonderoga’s Curator of Collections Chris Fox examining a variety of 18th-century muskets, pistols, and swords used by the French, British and American armies during the French & Indian War and American Revolution. In this unique session, participants will have the opportunity to handle these rare objects and gain an appreciation of their beauty and practical functionality that can only be realized by the physical handling of these weapons.
The program takes place in the Deborah Clarke Mars Education Center at Fort Ticonderoga. Doors open at 1:30 pm for the program.
Governor Cuomo noted in his State of the State address that everyone in the education system in Albany from bus drivers to school board members has a lobbyist – everyone that is except for the ones who need it the most, our students.
“Our schools are not an employment program,” Governor Coumo has stated in the past, according to the New York Times.
This explains why more time has been spent in Albany worrying about the “business of education” — contracts, salaries, and benefits — than worrying about the children. This must be changed and our priorities need to be reversed.
That’s why Governor Cuomo has now declared that he will become the lobbyist for the students. And his goal will be to make major changes in our state’s education system, including shifting the focus in Albany to improving student performance and school accountability.
An important part of this reform is adopting a real teacher evaluation system. In 2010, New York was awarded a $700 million grant from the federal government that required teacher evaluations. But the state has failed to produce the system, and the schools are now at risk of losing this Federal aid.
The process is now bogged down in a lawsuit between the education unions and the State Education Department. To break the logjam, the Governor has announced that the State Education Department and the unions have 30 days to agree on a new effective teacher evaluation system. If they don’t, the Governor will propose an evaluation system in his 30 day budget amendments. Schools will be given one year to implement the system or risk forfeiting increases in education aid.
On Sunday the Washington Post praised Governor Cuomo saying he should be applauded because, “he has now set his sights on shaking up an educational bureaucracy that is better at spending money than serving children.”
I am sad to report that the former long-serving Pastor of the Chapel of the Assumption in Huletts Landing and Our Lady of Angels Church in Whitehall passed away recently.
Father Esmond spent a good portion of his adult life in Whitehall and Huletts Landing and was loved by the people in the communities that he served. I have many fond memories of Father Esmond, including him in his Navy uniform! He will certainly be missed.
“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.”
If you don’t quite understand what all the fuss is about over SOPA and PIPA, this video concisely states why many sites on the Internet went black yesterday in protest.
Watch the entire thing. (If you really love freedom but can’t watch the entire thing, watch the last 3 minutes.)
Fort Ticonderoga. Photo credit Richard Timberlake.
The Lake Placid CVB/Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (LPCVB/ROOST) has awarded Fort Ticonderoga the 2011 Tourism Marketing Award. The award was presented January 12 in Lake Placid at a gathering of tourism industry peers and elected officials.
The Tourism Marketing Award is given to a group or individual who has produced or launched an innovative tourism marketing product or initiative. Fort Ticonderoga was named the 2011 winner for its America’s Fort branding and expanded audience targeting through the creation of family activities, special events, re-enactments and the internationally acclaimed Art of War exhibit.
The award was presented by Justin Smith, Chair of the LPCVB/ROOST board of directors. “As part of its strategic marketing plan in 2011, Fort Ticonderoga launched an initiative and rebranding effort that associated the Fort with its significant history and the experience visitors will have there today,” said Smith during the presentation. “Aptly identified now as America’s Fort, the historic site has also extensively broadened its programmatic offerings to result in a premiere tourism experience.”
Beth Hill, Fort Ticonderoga’s Executive Director, said “Fort Ticonderoga is honored to receive the recognition for its newly developed America’s Fort brand and related programs.” Hill said, “The America’s Fort brand is intended to represent the site’s extraordinary story and to build increased visibility for one of North America’s most beautiful and defining historic sites.”
Fort Ticonderoga’s 2011 marketing strategic plan, led by Albany marketing firm Brawn Media, incorporated the America’s Fort brand in all of its messaging including TV and radio commercials, online advertising, news releases, and all marketing collateral.
In 2012 Fort Ticonderoga will unveil its new weapons exhibit Bullets & Blades: The Weapons of America’s Colonial Wars and Revolution, numerous new programs, and major special events. Visitors will be immersed in the Fort’s tumultuous events of 1775 through daily programs including the Fort’s new historic trades initiative which will include shoemaking and military tailoring. Visit www.fortticonderoga.org for event and program details. Fort Ticonderoga offers special programs and events throughout the year and opens for the daily visitation for the summer season on May 18, 2012.
