http://www.fort-ticonderoga.org/news/ghost-hunters.htm

Fort Ticonderoga will also be offering Ghost Tours during the months of July and August on most Friday and Saturday nights. This might be fun because they haven’t had night tours in years. Groups of 25 only @ $35 per person.

I am searching for a picture that I took long ago of Jean standing in front of the Post Office.

Our condolences go out to her family.

The Post Star has her obituary here.

The Lake George Association will offer a Nuisance Waterfowl Workshop on Wednesday, April 7 at 6:30pm at the Hague Community Center, and again on Thursday, April 8 at 6:30 at the LGA office in Lake George. A growing population of Canada geese on the lake is causing significant problems for property owners, with negative impacts for both people and the lake’s sensitive eco-system.

Staff from the USDA’s Wildlife Services department will make a presentation and demonstrate techniques, such as egg oiling, that can be used during nesting season to manage the area’s over-population of geese. The workshop is free, and will last approximately one-hour with questions and answers afterward. Reservations are not required.

Damage on Lake George from both Canada geese and double-crested cormorants has already been seen. The droppings from these birds add nutrients to the lake that can lead to increased algal growth and can contain harmful bacteria such as E. coli, making swimmers sick and contaminating the drinking water provided by the lake. The presence of geese is also related to swimmer’s itch.

“We would like to prevent the populations from growing out of control before they have irreversible effects on the lake’s water quality, plant life, and landscape,” said Emily DeBolt, the LGA’s Education Director. “The LGA receives calls and complaints about geese and cormorants all summer from members, so we decided to host these workshops to help address these concerns. We also continue to encourage property owners with large lakeshore lawns to create landscaping buffers, as these can be an effective deterrent.”

The Lake George Association sought grant funding earlier this month from the Champlain Basin Program to create a Waterfowl Nuisance Management and Monitoring Program for Lake George. Public input and education, along with monitoring, surveying, data analysis and the implementation of nest management, population reduction and harassment techniques would be included in the plan. The USDA Wildlife Services already conducts population management for both geese and cormorants on numerous other bodies of water statewide, and recognizes the need for this type of work on Lake George. Through the grant, the LGA will partner with experts from the New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation and the USDA Wildlife Services.

It looks dangerous and is, reportedly, incredibly expensive, but there is no denying the near-maximal awesome factor of the Jetlev Flyer. Power comes from a four-stroke engine in a small “boat” which drags in the water behind/below the flying harness, and to which it is tethered by a big yellow hose that supplies high-pressure water and prevents the operator from exceeding a safe altitude.

To see more videos go to: JetLev.com

The Boy Scouts of America celebrate their 100th anniversary this year, so to commemorate this event, the Postal Service has issued a new stamp. Please remember to purchase the new boy scout stamp and all your other stamps at the Huletts Landing Post Office.

States Pension Funds Not Enough

The Washington Post had an alarming story on how state governments have promised to deliver $1 trillion more in retirement benefits than they have in their pension funds.

2011 Saratoga Racing Season in Jeopardy

The Saratogian reports that if the NY City OTB closes, then the 2011 Saratoga racing season is in jeopardy.

Former Vermont Governor Celebrates Anniversary

The Burlington Free Press finds out what former Vermont Governor, Madeleine Kunin, is up to.

Ronald Reagan

“Lynne has joined us during our 125th anniversary year, and we couldn’t be more delighted,” said Walt Lender, Executive Director of the Lake George Association. “Lynne not only brings a strong background in communications and marketing to the LGA, but also a wealth of experience working for not-for-profit educational organizations. The LGA is proud of its leadership role in education, from the lake friendly outreach work we do for people planning projects on the lake, to our Floating Classroom and in-school programs. Lynne will play an instrumental role in all of our efforts.”

Ms. Rosenthal has lived in Lake George since 1999 with her husband and two sons. She is a flutist and vocalist with the Lake George Community Band and enjoys swimming, kayaking and camping on the lake in the summer, and hiking and cross-country skiing in the mountains surrounding the lake during other times of the year. “Just as the founders of the LGA said when they established the organization 125 years ago, I want to give something back to a lake which has given so much to me,” said Ms. Rosenthal. “I was amazed to learn the LGA is the oldest lake association in the United States. I am also impressed by the scope and number of projects the LGA has completed over the past year. While the amount of the work the LGA produces certainly will make my job challenging, the fact that so many of the organization’s projects produce concrete results, makes the job easier. I am eager to get the word out about the LGA’s many educational programs and lake saving projects.”

The Lake George Association (LGA), in conjunction with the Champlain Watershed Improvement Coalition of New York (CWICNY), is sponsoring a septic system training course on March 25, 2010 at the Fort William Henry in Lake George.

The one-day course, titled “Small Scale Wastewater System Design II – Alternative Systems” is designed for professionals in the wastewater field, including engineers, designers, health officials, inspectors and planners.

“We wanted to offer our local professionals an opportunity to receive some high quality training close to home” said Beth Gilles of CWICNY. Participants at the training can earn 7.5 PE or CEO credits, and will gain an understanding of wastewater regulations and guidance, site appraisal and evaluation, and treatment system design elements. The course will provide guidelines for making soil evaluations, site design examples and alternative onsite technologies. The course is being offered as part of the New York Onsite Wastewater Treatment Training Network (OTN) and will be taught by a certified OTN instructor.

“We felt it was very important to encourage as many people as possible to gain up-to-date knowledge and skills in this area since good wastewater design is essential to protecting water quality. Alternative systems are a great way to effectively manage wastewater on sites around Lake George that have tough physical constraints such as small lot sizes or shallow bedrock,” said Emily DeBolt, LGA’s Director of Education.

Cost including meals and printed materials is $40 for municipal employees and $80 for private industry employees; Pre-registration is required and space is limited. For more information or to register, contact Emily DeBolt at the Lake George Association at 518-668-3558 or Beth Gilles at the LCLGRPB at 518-668-5773.

In 1980, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was established in the Alaskan Interior, cutting off 19 million acres of prime boreal wilderness from the mitts of fur trappers, oil tycoons, and would-be lodge owners alike. Only six families of white settlers were grandfathered in and allowed to keep cabins in the refuge—of them, only one still stays there year-round living off the land. His name is Heimo Korth, and he is basically the Omega Man of America’s Final Frontier.

GUY COHELEACH
Black River Snow
oil on canvas

To read a review, check out Around the Rings.

Do you remember where you were when the U.S. Hockey team won gold in 1980? Watch tonight and it will bring back memories.

William Shakespeare