News & Opinion About Huletts Landing, N.Y.
The Lake George Association has the chance to win a BoatUS Foundation grant that will allow them to develop more resources to keep Lake George clean, but they need your help and VOTE.
It is a popular vote contest, and they are now losing to a project at Lake Hopatcong in New Jersey!
Please vote for the LGA’s project at http://bit.ly/Vote4LGA.
Voting ends at 11:59 EST on March 24, 2015.
Vote up to once per day.
Christopher LaGuardia has been named to the Board of Directors of the Lake George Land Conservancy.
The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) is pleased to welcome Kattskill Bay resident Christopher LaGuardia as the newest member of its Board of Directors.
Originally from Guilderland, NY, LaGuardia now resides in Sag Harbor, NY, where he is president of LaGuardia Design Landscape Architecture P.C. LaGuardia holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia’s School of Environmental Design and is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
His connection to Lake George started in his childhood with frequent family camping and scouting trips. His parents purchased the annex to the Trout Pavilion Hotel in Kattskill Bay in 1979. In 2003, LaGuardia and his wife, Jane, purchased a home in Kattskill Bay with their two children, Charlotte and Elliot.
“The lake is a special place to me; it’s been my refuge and hideout during a busy professional career and provided my family with countless memories to last a lifetime,” said LaGuardia. “I now feel it’s time to give something back to the lake and so it is an honor and privilege to join the LGLC board of directors and I look forward to helping promote its goals and ideals.”
“We’re excited to have Chris on the board,” said LGLC Executive Director Jamie Brown. “In addition to benefiting from his professional expertise, we’re pleased to have more representation from the lake’s southern basin. I look forward working with him directly and getting him engaged in upcoming projects.”
LaGuardia Design Landscape Architecture’s work is focused on a sustainable approach to high-end land development and provides services related to the land planning, site planning, restoration of natural areas, and project management.
Runoff entering the Charles R. Wood environmental park on the south side of West Brook Road in Lake George.
You may have seen a story in The Post-Star newspaper this morning (http://bit.ly/1ClYkoU) that construction of some of the infrastructure at the Charles R. Wood Park in the Village of Lake George has been slowed because of the cold winter weather.
The Charles R. Wood Park is being constructed on the former Gaslight Village property. It is the northern section of the West Brook property that was purchased by a consortium of non-profits (including the Lake George Association) and local governments in order to solve some long-term storm-water and pollution problems for Lake George.
While work has slowed on the north side, the state-of-the-art environmental park that was designed and constructed on the south side of West Brook Road is up and working, treating storm-water runoff from Route 9 and surrounding properties.
The park was built to treat millions of gallons of storm-water (by removing nutrients and sediment before the water gets to the Lake) and protect Lake George water. As the snow melts, it is ready to handle the runoff as winter melts into spring.
All ice fishing shanties must be removed from ice on water bodies by March 15, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) reminded ice anglers today.
Shanties that fall partially through the ice may be difficult to remove and also create hazards for snowmobiles and other motorized vehicles on the ice. Shanties that remain after the ice has melted away (ice out) also present navigation hazards for boats.
State regulations that require ice shanties to be removed are based on the average date when good ice still exists on waters, not on the actual thickness of ice. Shanties must be removed by March 15 even if the ice on a water body is still thick
Shanty owners who don’t remove their shanties can be ticketed and would face a maximum possible fine of $100.
Continuing its dual mission of performing projects that protect Lake George water and of engaging the public in discussions about lake-friendly living, the Lake George Association has been awarded two grants from the Lake Champlain Basin Program.
The first grant, for $7,500, will help underwrite the costs of the LGA’s Floating Classroom, which takes students onto Lake George in the LGA’s custom vessel to teach them what distinguishes Lake George from other lakes in the state and provides them with a real-world learning experience on environmental topics.
“We are so thankful to the Lake Champlain Basin Program for awarding us this grant,” said Kristen Rohne, Director of Education for the Lake George Association. “We rely heavily on grants and donations to keep the Floating Classroom operating so we can create a new class of Lake stewards each year.”
Each weekday during the spring and fall, Rohne and LGA Educator Jill Trunko fill the Floating Classroom with groups of eager students for a two-hour program where students identify animals that live in the Lake, measure the clarity of the water, and deepen their understanding of how to keep the Lake healthy. Since 2008, more than 9,000 students have participated.
The custom vessel that the LGA uses for the Floating Classroom – the Rosalia Anna Ashby – was built to our educational specifications thanks to Bruce Ashby, an LGA board member whose generous financial support helped to fund the purchase.
The second grant, for $13,430, is a pollution prevention grant for stormwater mitigation projects on the west side of the Lake in the Town of Lake George.
Working together with homeowners in the Lake View Estates area, professionals from the Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District performed a watershed assessment to determine what potential projects could be performed to cut back on the amount of stormwater that is draining into the Lake. The current flow of stormwater is forming a delta on the shore, and also is potentially carrying other pollutants into the Lake.
While the assessment unveiled dozens of potential projects, staff from the LGA and from the Soil and Water District have determined that a number of smaller projects will be performed – creating a new floodplain in one area, adding more vegetation to existing swales, installing dry wells – in order to mitigate stormwater flow and allow time for the sediment now being carried in the water to drop out.
“This whole process shows how the LGA works together with homeowners and other environmental professionals to protect Lake George and emphasize lake-friendly living,” said Randy Rath, LGA Project Manager.
Construction on the projects being funded by the Lake Champlain Basin Program grant in the Lake View Estates area will begin in the spring.
Members of the Lake George Association staff attended a presentation by Lake George Park Commission officials on Wednesday where Commission staff presented to the public a proposal it had drafted discussing the Commission’s jurisdiction over various components of docks and wharfs.
As part of the Lake George Association’s educational mission, they wanted to make sure members and friends were aware of the Commission’s proposed changes.
The Commission says that it wants to codify into policy years of Park Commission decisions that officials say have been based on current regulatory definitions and longstanding practice.
For instance, the Commission’s draft policy notes that permits are generally not required on accessories and incidental structures associated with docks and wharfs like diving boards, slides (that don’t pass the 16-foot height limit), temporary timbers used between docks in the off-season, as well as boat whips and cleats.
There is a list included in the Commission’s draft policy of 16 examples of additions where permits are not required. You can find it on the Commission’s website at http://www.lgpc.state.ny.us
On the other hand, the Commission’s proposed policy notes that permits are required to change or add ramps, new square footage on docks, independent tie-off points in the Lake, sundecks and permanent frame structures (with or without canvas), and rails and fences, among other projects.
There are 12 examples of projects where permits are required that are listed in the draft policy. Those are included in the Commission’s document on the commission’s website at http://www.lgpc.state.ny.us
The Commission’s draft policy notes that structures or items not listed in the document are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
You can find the Commission’s draft Policy and Procedure Memorandum on the Commission’s website at http://www.lgpc.state.ny.us
If after reviewing the proposed changes you would like to comment, the Commission is taking comments through the Commission’s email account until March 1. You can send comments to info@lgpc.state.ny.us
Taken from the Glens Fall Star: February 13, 1912.
Wins First Money in Ice Race at Lake
Large numbers of lovers of horse racing assembled at the head of Lake George yesterday to witness the matinee races held over the kite-shaped course under the auspices of the Lake George Driving Association. The association officers are arranging for a three-day meeting to take place the last three days of this month. A number of excellent purses are to be offered and considerable interest is already being taken in the events.
The events yesterday consisted of two named races for purses of $50 each and a town race, with a prize of ten bushels of oats for first place and five for second. Four heats were necessary to decide the named races and five to decide the town race.
James Dougrey’s “Putnam Jack” of Glens Falls took first money in the first event of the afternoon, securing first place in the first, second and fourth heats and finishing second in the third, in which James Wilson’s “John O” nosed Putnam Jack out at the wire. The fastest time for the event was 2:23 1-2 made in the second heat.
Salmon eggs have new homes in the Lake George watershed! This is the 4th year that the Lake George Association will be assisting classes with the Salmon in the Classroom, a program created by Trout Unlimited.
Students at Ticonderoga Middle School, Whitehall High School, and Lake George Elementary will raise salmon from eggs to fingerlings while learning about fish life cycles, water quality, aquatic ecosystems, biodiversity, conservation, and sustainability.
The Lake George Park Commission has released the Final Report for the 2014 Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program (Boat Inspection Program). Click the image to read the entire report.
The Lake is frozen but that doesn’t stop the Lake George Association from teaching about it. It’s the perfect time of year to bring Lake George to the classroom.
In January, 5th graders from Queensbury learned about invasive species, 3rd graders at Lake George learned about fish adaptations to tie into their buoyancy unit, and 3rd graders at Malta Ave Elementary School learned about watersheds during the LGA’s “Water We Use” program.
Congratulations to the staff of the Lake George Association for bringing this important instruction to the classroom.
This generous fundraiser is hosted by the Lake George High School Alumni Association and the Lake George Central School District. Much appreciation goes to Rachael for this opportunity that allows the Alumni to award scholarships to students, student groups and to fund individual Lake George Central School District Projects.
Ticket Sale Date Saturday, March 14, 2015
Cost $ 25.00 (6 Ticket Limit)
Ticket Sale Time 9:00 am to NOON
Ticket Sale Location Lake George High School Lobby
381 Canada Street, Main Entrance
Rachael Ray Benefit Cooking Show Thursday, April 2, 2015
Doors Open for Book Sales 6:30 pm
Show Time 7:00 pm ‘til 10:30pm
Show Includes:
Pre Show: Food Pantry and Pet Food Donations in Exchange for Raffle Ticket Donation Recipients: Sacred Heart Church Pantry– Lake George, Hadley-Luzerne Food Pantries, Purrs & Paws- Lake George, SPCA– Queensbury
Book Sale $20.00 – $30.00
Recipe Handouts
Cooking Show Q & A
Book Signing and Photo Op with Rachael
“Recipe Tastings” prepared by Deric Buck & Crew, Bogey’s Pub & Grill
Desserts made by the Lake George Baking Company
The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) is pleased to welcome Jennifer Waterhouse Cooper as the newest member of its Board of Directors.
Ms. Cooper has a bachelor’s degree from Pace University and comes to LGLC with a strong financial background. She worked for her father, Lawrence Waterhouse, Jr., full time from 1988-2001 as a broker, manager, and lastly, executive marketing manager at the family business, Waterhouse Investor Services (later sold to TD Bank and then became known as TD Waterhouse, a subsidiary of TD Bank, and now currently known as TD Ameritrade; the company is still known as TD Waterhouse in Canada).
Her connection to Lake George runs deep; Ms. Cooper has spent every summer of her life on Lake George, and continues to summer at the lake at her family’s home in Bolton Landing.
“My family has a deep love and respect for Lake George,” said Ms. Cooper. “I am honored to be asked to become a board member for The Lake George Land Conservancy and I hope I can bring value to this endeavor.”
Ms. Cooper’s grandparents bought a home in the Rainbow Beach Association on Basin Bay in the 1950’s. In 1993, her father bought a home on Northwest Bay, where she enjoyed summers with her four siblings until 1999, when her father purchased their current family home in Bolton Landing.
“We spend a great amount of time on Lake George and it is a treasured place in our family,” said Ms. Cooper. “My children enjoy the lake and it is with great hope that the love of Lake George is being passed down to my children and their cousins.”
Ms. Cooper lives in Pleasantville, NY, with her husband, Perry, and two children.
The recent cold has seen the lake freeze.
With the webcams experiencing technical difficulties, I know people have been interested in seeing pictures of the lake.
Ice in occurred about a week ago (around 1/14/2015). There was about 6″ of clear black ice this past weekend, which was perfect for ice skaters. There were fisherman out on the lake and even one four wheeler.
All is pretty quiet with very low temperatures.
If venturing onto the ice, please be careful. Not all areas are exactly 6″. Please use caution.
(Click images to see full-scale. The top picture is a high resolution panoramic view which shows the lake in detail. )
Jamie Brown has been announced as the New Executive Director of the Lake George Land Conservancy.
The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) is announcing its new executive director, Jamie Brown. Brown officially began January 5, 2015, following the retirement of current Executive Director Nancy Williams.
“Nancy has built the Lake George Land Conservancy into a strong and solid land trust,” said Brown. “I am humbled, honored, and excited to be LGLC’s next Executive Director.”
Brown has worked in the land protection field for over 10 years, most recently as the director of land protection for Ducks Unlimited out of their headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee. Prior positions also include conservation director at the Frenchman Bay Conservancy in Hancock, Maine, and land preservation specialist at the Morris Land Conservancy in Boonton, New Jersey.
In addition to receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from Boston University and Master’s degree from the University of Maine, Brown has a law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law. As an attorney, Brown practiced law for five years in the areas of real estate, land use and municipal law.
This is a critical time for land conservation on Lake George, and Brown is joining LGLC at a peak of activity. As Williams prepares to leave LGLC, several major conservation projects are either just closing or in the process of coming to fruition. Brown will need to jump in with both feet, taking over land negotiations as well as major fundraising campaigns, and meeting many of LGLC’s key supporters and community members.
“I am really moved by the obvious dedication of LGLC’s donors to protecting the lake,” said Brown. “So many people have generously supported LGLC, in the form of providing the extra bit needed to move specific land protection projects forward as well as the annual support that allows LGLC to fulfill its mission. But what has really impressed me is their collective connection to the lake. I find these close ties to the lake and the community to be such an important part of our work, and I really look forward to visiting with donors and hearing their stories about time spent on and around Lake George. I also look forward to hearing their ideas for how we can continue to build on what they and LGLC have already accomplished.”
Brown is not a stranger to the Lake George region. Having grown up in rural northwestern New Jersey, he frequently visited the Adirondacks as a kid, and later would often stop to admire the lake on his way to his wife’s family farm in Addison, Vermont.
“I am thrilled to be returning not just to the Northeast, but to such an amazingly beautiful and familiar place. I am looking forward to seeing my young son, Isaac, and my wife, Laura, enjoying themselves out on the lake or hiking on one of LGLC’s wonderful preserves.”
Gatherings will be scheduled over the next few months for the public to meet Brown; the public is also welcome to visit any staff at the LGLC office at 4905 Lake Shore Dr. in Bolton Landing, during regular business hours, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.