Betty Little’s record of public service spans four decades. She held positions in the Town of Queensbury and on the Warren County Board of Supervisors before being elected to the New York State Assembly. From 2003-2020, Little represented the 45th District in the New York Senate.
Wednesday morning, State, County, Town and Village officials, along with representatives of several area conservation and economic development organizations, the public and press gathered on West Brook Road in the Town of Lake George to honor Senator Little by renaming the street Betty Little Boulevard. The divided road runs between State Route 9 and Beach road, passing through the Charles R. Wood Park. The hour-long ceremony included the unveiling of an on-site plaque recognizing Little’s service.
Village of Lake George Mayor Robert Blais proposed honoring the retiring state senator in this way last year and quickly gained the support of Village and Town officials. However, Blais explained, West Brook Road, which is in the Town of Lake George and marks the border between the Town and Village, is owned by Warren County. The name change required County approval.
“If you’ve ever been to Warren County,” says Blais, to illustrate the universal support for the project, “you’ll probably realize it has to go through 17 committees, four chairpeople, a County attorney, perhaps the treasurer, and then maybe the Sheriff tries to get in, but this didn’t take long. This only took about five minutes.”
The event opened with Lake George High School senior Lia Cardone singing the National Anthem and Father Joseph Busch of Sacred Heart Church giving the invocation. Lt. Governor Kathleen Hochul was the first to speak. Hochul characterized Little as a fiercely competitive powerhouse with the heart of a lioness. “(W)hen she wants something for her district, she made sure everybody in our State Capitol knew what it was, and she was going to get it. She was going to deliver for the people of the communities that she loved so much.”
Jamie Brown, Executive Director of the Lake George Land Conservancy, praised Little’s work in the State Senate saying her legacy of leadership, character and willingness to reach across the aisle will endure. “She’s enacted so many bills, some policies,” says Brown, “that generations to come are going to feel in a really great way.” Brown noted that Little brought funding to the Lake George area that will help protect the land and the lake.
“Betty’s career,” says Lake George Association President Jeffrey Killeen, “as I think we all know, has hit every note, literally pitch-perfect, in a harmony of accomplishment, character, and service.” Town of Lake George Councilperson Nancy Stannard presented Little with a Betty Little Blvd. street sign.
Also speaking at the event were Bruce Young, Lake George Park Commission Chair, James Siplon, President of the Warren County EDC, Mayor of Glens Falls Dan Hall, Rachel Seeber, Warren County Board of Supervisors Chair, Warren County Administrator Ryan Moore, State Assemblyman Matthew Simpson and Daniel Stec who now holds Little’s Senate seat.
Little expressed gratitude for the honor saying, “Thank you is such a small word compared to how I feel right now.” She thanked her family and people that worked with her and says she retired at the right time but does miss the people and the involvement. Little ended her remarks saying, “This is a day I’ll never forget.”
Mayor Blais closed the ceremony with a speech: “So, as we leave here today, we’re leaving a permanent tribute to our former Supervisor, our Assemblywoman, our Senator, and our friend… This boulevard affords us one of America’s most beautiful views as you travel down this road. It’s bordered by the Village of Lake George, the Town of Lake George; It’s owned by Warren County, and there sits one of the most beautiful beaches owned by the State of New York — each of those municipalities that Betty has participated in all of these years. There can be no better spot, there can be no better place, there can be no better woman. Leave today and come back forever on Betty’s Boulevard.”
Featured photo: Town of Lake George Councilwoman Nancy Stannard (right) presents retired state senator Betty Little (left) with a Betty Little Blvd. Street sign.