Fact Finder, vol. 2, No. 26, July 21, 2012

THE PORT HENRY FACT FINDER

Reporting the News and Needs of Port Henry and Vicinity

vol. 2, issue #26 July 21, 2012
This issue has been made possible by the generous support of the following:

North Cheever Yacht Club, Louise & Skip Belden, Cathy & Tim Sprague's Country Gardens

VILLAGE BOARD NOTES

June's Board meeting was held, as usual, on the second Monday of the month. The reports from Chip Perry and John Tromblee were comforting. All is working as it should, drinking water is fine so we don't have to draw water from a well; our wastes are being treated so they can re-enter the ecosystem without harming it and we don't have to lime the outhouse. A washout was repaired; 190' of sidewalk was replaced at the top of Prospect Street; a sewer plug was opened by jet cleaning; the mandated sump pump survey is half done; materials for repairing the College/Grove street intersection have been ordered and work may be able to begin August 1st.

Fire Chief Hughes' report always makes one realize the gratitude each villager should feel for our Fire Department. These are volunteers! Not even considering that each time they respond to a call they could be risking their lives, just the hours each spends in maintaining their skills and learning new skills is pretty humbling. In June there was an OSHA conducted CPR/First Aid Refresher Training. In July OSHA will have a Boater Safety/Water Rescue training. They participated in Camp Dudley and Ticonderoga July 4th parades. The dive team will continue to provide underwater cleanup of the beach. Besides these responsibilities there are repairs to be seen to (such as the South Siren's repair) and weekly maintenance of equipment; meetings concerning emergency plans; annual required inspections of businesses; and grants to be submitted to help offset tax payer costs for Fire Department necessities. Fire Chief Hughes would like to publicly recognize and thank Mountain Lakes Services for being so organized with their own emergency plan for each of their nine facilities. They hand him their booklet showing each building's layout, its number of occupants and an identified gathering place in case of an emergency. He has only to take this written information and check it against the onsite realities; this is a real time saver.

Code Inspector Bill Ball spoke up about the campground's electrical set up having not been inspected, as yet, by a licensed electrical inspector. He became rather heated in his comments as he, as code inspector, is responsible if anything should happen electrically and there has been no inspection. The contractor is ultimately responsible for its being done, but the Board has the responsibility of seeing that he does it. As of this writing, it is satisfactorily being taken care of. Also, it was mentioned that the beach sand was "pebbly" since rains have washed some of the top fine sand down exposing less fine gravel. Heated as Bill's comments were they were said in a polite manner and were listened to in the same way, proving that annoyances may be brought forth in a public forum and discussed with a better chance of a solution being found than if nothing had been said or if it were said rudely.

Another reminder: The Board is still seeking volunteers to serve as members of a Zoning Commission. Zoning is not a dirty word; it, like everything else - and everyone, has a positive side and a questionable side. Port Henry is trying to progress into a regained prosperity, zoning may be a drawing point for new businesses (of course it may not) but every avenue of possibility has to be researched and this Commission (working autonomously within its limited mandate) would be doing just that - researching and presenting its findings to the village so the village may consider facts and make an informed yea-or-nay decision. If you can and are interested in doing this needed service, please send a letter of interest to: The Village of Port Henry

Re: Zoning commission Membership

4303 Main Street

Port Henry, NY 12974

LIBRARY NOTES
The Library is offing something fun for the K-4th crowd, Dream Big Read, crafts and reading on Thursday July 29th from 6 -7 pm.

August 2nd 6 -7 pm the Library will host All 'bout Animals with live animals, this is an all ages thing.

NOTES from the EDGe

The following email was sent July 12th from Tim Garrison. It caused me to consider several ideas which I have considered before, but from a slightly different angle. This is very positive, so let's take it a step further and use it as a platform for debate, not argument, debate - trying to win points but without rancor. To affect this, my thoughts, prompted by his points, will be italicized and inserted immediately into the article. But - before I begin my debate and added suggestions, I just have to say, Tim, I just wish I had half your energy and stamina and thank you for being the Tim you are.

Hello all

Here is the $64,000 question. Considering inflation, how about, here is the $1,000,000 question? However, jesting aside, nothing gets done without goals and plans and each of us should give serious thought to these questions and try to supply some answers. Where would you like to see the town 5 years, 10 years and 20 years from now? What will it take to get us where we need to be?

What needs to happen at the village govt level? What needs to happen at the town govt level? A word of caution. Keep in mind that village and town governments are under many legal and time constraints and much they would like to accomplish is either not possible or takes forever to cross all the "Ts" and dot all the "Is" needed to finish a project.

I do NOT think we can continue down the same path we are on and have been on for the last 30 years. I think we need to change the way we operate and reinvent what we are doing. Much of the path and direction of that path has been mapped for us, dictated to us by the amazing speed with which technological and economical changes have occurred in these last 30 years. Yes, we must "operate and reinvent" but without self blame. I would like everyone to take one GIANT step backwards and look at the town of Moriah (or any other town for that matter). Towns have limited resources and money. Most local leaders have done the best they could with the resources that they have had, which in turn has held the line on taxes for the most part and towns have slowly watched the services their towns have provided become reduced. We are more fortunate than other towns as we have our town campground that provides a level of funding for the town but we need to invest money back into the campground to maintain and protect our investment.

Another area of interest that has been brought to my attention is to think about going from three elected assessors to one appointed assessor. I will bring this to the attention of the town board and we will discuss the pros and cons of doing this. If enough support is generated and it is warranted, we will bring this to the voter as a referendum. Whether three or one, the real problem with being an assessor is that you are a human and no matter how many rules and laws you follow to the letter of, subjective decisions are made and therein lies the rub. Here is an idea that should be brought to the State. Each area should be sent an assessor with few if any ties to the area being assessed, our assessor or assessors would go to an area unfamiliar to them, not to live there just do a stint of work and go elsewhere or to his home which will have been assessed by a total stranger.

Here is an idea for discussion purposes only and to look at with an open mind. Think as if you just got into the Town of Moriah from an outside land: You arrive in town and you are checking out what services are provided for you by your local tax dollar. You find that there is a highway crew charged with keeping the roads maintained, there is local govt. representation and for a little extra money you have water and sewer. Tim, this is where you are probably speaking only to town people, in that Port Henry's water and sewer is expensive because of paying off the fairly new water and sewer plants.

You look a little closer and discover that there is a Town police department with a staff of two. Your first thought is how effective can a staff of two be and you ask yourself is this a good expense of my tax dollars? Does the police department provide such a valuable service that it is a must have? Don't we already have police coverage from the county sheriffs department and the New York State Police? These are all valid questions that I would like everyone to answer. I spoke with a friend of mine in Westport and asked if they had ever felt a need of more police protection than afforded by the state police and he said "No, but then we have few young people on the streets." I think, each population has its own needs which may or may not require speedier response to certain situations than the Sheriff's Office or the State Police might be able to offer at any given time. Also, in certain situations the police being a part of the community helps particular situations.

Here is another idea for discussion-- what if the police department was closed and the money that has been budgeted for the police department was used to start a highway road maintenance fund which would assist in repairing our roads in the town? Repairs especially for our side streets and Grover Hills. We could also consider using some of those funds to recruit and obtain a town manager and planner-- this position would be responsible in the managing and planning of the town for the present and for the future (grant writing, waterfront development, main street, website, marketing, heritage, etc.). More than a manager or planner, I think the whole area needs a well paid real PR person. Sure, we have vacant store fronts and we need hostels for the increasing cyclist tourism, but a good PR person can turn those seeming disadvantages into opportunities just waiting to be snatched up.

I hope that all who read this are doing so with an open mind, as the intent of this letter is to get your mind thinking about more innovative ways and more productive ways to operate our town and to plan for our future.

The above ideas are just that--ideas! Feel free to get back to me with any and all of your ideas?

Thanks again to all who have and are helping to improve our quality of life. To those "nay sayers"-- please tell me your solution?

Tim Garrison

pH 7 COMMITTEE NOTES

The Park and Info Booth have been a source of activity for the past four Friday's, Saturday's and Sunday's from 10 am - 2 pm. Art In the Park's Paint a Flower Pot event was highly successful. The tourist trade has been a bit sparse but the Booth is fast becoming a place for villagers to stop, meet and chat. This past Saturday, several people took advantage of the shoes and new clothing put out for the taking. Keep tabs on the Booth and its happenings, you just never know what might be available or what topics will be discussed.

The Port Henry Farmers' Market has been in operation the past four Wednesday's from 9 am - 1 pm and is drawing in more and more customers for the fresh vegetables, fruits, flowers and baked goods; the Adirondack Weaver's marvelous baskets, and an assortment of interesting crafts. It is located in Boni's Bistro's parking lot which she has donated for the Market's use. We can not thank Boni enough for the use of this perfect spot.

CAMPGROUND NOTES

Campground news is very positive. Green algae is no longer a problem, but they keep a continuous check for it and have their warning signs at the ready just in case; so no signs - no algae.

The Fourth of July weekend the campground was only three or four sites shy of being full to capacity and, as the holiday fell mid-week, many campers remained the full week.

The Moriah Central's Youth Program on Thursday is in full swing, having begun July 12th and not ending until August 2nd. The students are bussed down for five hours of swimming and beach time fun.

Campground manager Laurie was so pleased to report that Port Henry residents are increasing their use of the

Beach and campground facilities, some having day-long picnics, eat-swim-eat-swim-swim-eat affairs.

The Port Henry Fire Department's Auxiliary held their Christmas in July fund raiser Sunday August 8th at the campground, featuring George Potter's Loose Connection band and Penelope the Clown. The Firemen cooked hot dogs and hamburgers. There was cotton candy, snow-cones, nachos and carnival type games and Laurie furnished the chicken for the 50/50 Chicken Plop event. The people who were there had a fine time, but the one thing that could have been better was the attendance. Many of the campers had had to leave Saturday or early Sunday. Next year the Auxiliary plans to have this event on either Friday or Saturday.

There is a barbeque cook-off planned for the campers in August and a chili cook-off in September, with judges and of course a big eat-off at the end.

The "pebbly" sand concern mentioned at the Board meeting is slowly being remedied by two young workers at the campground, as one of their tasks is picking up the larger pebbles out of the sand.

Laurie reported there is a family of at least six weasels "camping" on the little Mill Brook island across from the campground.

So suggests the Dalai Lama

Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Follow the three R's

Respect for self

Respect for others

Responsibility for all you actions

When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

Don't let a little dispute injure a great relationship.

Spend some time alone everyday.

Be gentle with the earth.

Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

Exit Laughing

Joe E. Lewis: "I went on a diet, swore off drinking and heavy eating, and in fourteen days I had lost exactly two weeks.

Calvin Trillin: "The remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served us nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found."

Milton Berle: "A committee is a group of people that keeps minutes and loses hours."

Henny Youngman: "I once wanted to become an atheist, but I gave up. They have to holidays."

Woody Allen: "I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve immortality through not dying."

A Special Thank You to Sage Baker for being Fact Finder's artist for the summer.

Look for the next issue of the Fact Finder on Saturday, August 4th at Adirondack Hair Associates, Macs, Moriah Pharmacy; also you may find copies to read at the Sherman Free Library.