Your opinion counts

Dear Editor,

Have you expressed your opinions regarding economic development in our community? Don’t miss out.

The local Chamber of Commerce and Lake Pleasant Sacandaga Association recently e-mailed the Community Business Survey. So far, we have heard from a number of local members of the business community.

However, we need all your input. Your comments are a great concern to the community effort going on.

If you haven’t taken it, you can take the survey at slphamletplan.com/ or at www.surveymonkey.com/s/-38M2QQY.

If you would rather fill out a hard copy, stop by the chamber office, obtain a copy, fill out and return to the chamber.

Your responses are voluntary and will be confidential. Responses will not be identified by individual. All responses will be compiled and analyzed as a group.

Bob Camoin

Lake Pleasant

The fun will go on

Dear Cris,

There seems to be some concern about the activities following our Fourth of July parade July 7.

Our traditional midway rides provided by Stock’s Amusements reluctantly cannot provide this service this year. We have contracted with J.M. Amusements who will offer a variety of games for young and older children.

A “dunking booth” will give the opportunity to “dunk” our esteemed supervisor of Lake Pleasant. Also planned is a climbing wall (for adults and children) as well as various bouncy rides.

Music will be provided both before and after the parade. The Mohawk Valley Frasiers bagpipers will perform prior to the parade at The Four Corners. Following the parade, the Galloway Pipes and Drums will perform as well as our own A Pretty Good Band.

We may even see some fife and drum corps marching around the gazebo. All culminates with the fireworks provided by the Village of Speculator.

A fun-filled evening is planned. It is not too late to participate in the parade or make a donation to help defray our expenses. Applications for participation are available at the Chamber or by calling 548-4521.

Donations can be made to the “4th of July Parade Committee” and mailed to the Village at POB 396, Speculator NY 12164

We hope everyone enjoys and supports this annual community event.

Karen McComb for the

4th of July Parade Committee

Speculator

Hams helped race

Dear Cris,

A new course record was not the only precedent set at the Black Fly Challenge this year.

The Black Fly Challenge course description page includes the following “Important Safety Note: The Moose River Plains have no radio communications or cell service. Riders are responsible for their own safety and are expected to watch out for one-another. Ambulances and police are stationed on-call at both ends of the race, in Inlet and Indian Lake.”

However, for the first time, this year there actually was communications along the entire course, provided by amateur radio.

Volunteer ham radio operators from Lake Pleasant, Inlet, Old Forge and Long Lake were stationed along the course, with a net control station at a high location to coordinate and maintain communications end-to-end. Instead of 25 or more miles in the Moose River Plains with no communications, this year it was at most a few miles between radio checkpoints.

Hams provided situational awareness to the event organizers by reporting on general progress of the race; but more importantly, reduced the distance anyone would have to travel before being able to report a problem. Two injuries were quickly reported by amateur radio, greatly improving the response time of ambulances to the locations.

Amateur radio is not only a great hobby, it is a very powerful communications resource, especially for emergency preparedness. There is no other radio service available to the general public that provides similar capabilities.

Other citizens’ radio services such as FRS, GMRS, CB - and even cell phones - do not come close.

For more information about amateur radio in Hamilton County see the Speculator Amateur Radio Club website at www.sparcham.org.

Pete Newell

Glenfield and Lake Pleasant

Outstanding efforts

Dear Editor,

The Adirondack Mountain Bike Association, producer of the Black Fly Challenge, would like to express great appreciation for the outstanding efforts to repair and improve the roads in the Moose River Recreation Area.

The work to repair washouts in the Cellar Brook area clearly went above and beyond remediation to create a smooth, stable and substantial road that should be the envy of any town with gravel roads.

Numerous racers, volunteers and visitors commented that these are the best road conditions that have ever existed in ‘The Plains.’

The towns of Indian Lake and Inlet, along with Hamilton County and the DEC, should be proud of their cooperative efforts to manage and improve the Moose River Recreation Area, which is so vital to our economy.

Thanks to all of you and keep up the great work.

Dave Scranton, race director

Black Fly Challenge

Inlet

Volunteers outstanding

Dear Editor,

On Father’s Day I fell at our camp, necessitating a call for the ambulance.

Within minutes the first responders arrived followed by the ambulance. Every member of the crew was professional and friendly, making me know I was in good hands.

I want to express my appreciation to the responders and congratulate Speculator and Lake Pleasant for their outstanding resident volunteers who serve all who are in need.

Betsy Taylor

Lake Pleasant

So much appreciated

Dear Editor,

Thanks again to your readers for generous donations to Schoharie County. Nancy, Kim and I took a carload of bedding, building supplies and cafeteria needs (Loaves and Fishes feeds 60 or more volunteers daily) down to Cobleskill and Schoharie.

The Cobleskill Donation Center is still open and accepting all types of gifts. Just about anything you can think of which is used in the home is needed in Schoharie County.

Much help is still needed and our help is so much appreciated.

Barbara VanSlyke

Wells

To our readers:

Hamilton County Express welcomes contributions to its Viewpoints pages. Letters should be no longer than 350 words, legible, address matters of current interest and be signed by the writer. Anonymous letters are not printed.

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