Special Announcement: Cat and Thomas Mountains are now part of the Adirondack Forest Preserve


DEC Commissioner Joe Martens announces New York’s purchase of the 1,882-acre Cat and Thomas Mountains from the Lake George Land Conservancy. (Sarah Hoffman Photo.)

During a press conference held this morning at the top of Prospect Mountain in Lake George, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens announced the State’s purchase of the 1,882-acre Cat and Thomas Mountains from the Lake George Land Conservancy.

The preserve has also grown by 862 acres, by merging with adjacent State lands (including some recently purchased from The Nature Conservancy), to a total of 2,744 acres.

The Lake George Land Conservancy will remain the stewards of the Cat and Thomas trails through DEC’s Trail Cooperative Agreement program.

All of the money from the sale of Cat and Thomas will be applied towards paying down debt from the Last Great Shoreline, purchased in 2009 for $4 million. Fund-raising efforts continue, however, since once this payment is made, LGLC will still owe $300,000 on the land. The Last Great Shoreline in Putnam, with the Gull Bay Preserve to its south, is the heart of what will become the lake’s first managed wildlife refuge. To be part of this effort, please contact LGLC’s Executive Director Nancy Williams at 518-644-9673 or email nwilliams@lglc.org.

Read the DEC Press Release here.

Ice and Wind Means Dock Damage


The recent combination of floating ice chunks and southeast wind has caused many docks that face south to be damaged.

Over the last few days, as the ice has melted, there have been a few windy days. The blowing wind has pushed six-inch thick chunks up against the shoreline and docks in their path. This has resulted in damage to many docks facing south. Here is a picture, taken this afternoon, of what the ice and wind can do.

Ice Report

The ice is still on the portion of the lake between the Narrows and Bluff Head, but it has darkened and is starting to break up – a little wind today – tomorrow is supposed to be warmer so my guess is that it will be out by April 10th but it could go a few days either way.

Daylight Saving Time

Daylight Saving Time officially begins in the United States at 2:00 AM on Sunday, March 10th.

I’ve been a bit under the weather this week so it feels good to hit this mark, because spring is getting close.

Wednesday Weather Update

Things have been incredibly slow lately, so here’s what’s happening with the weather today. There wasn’t much accumulation of snow last night and there’s been mostly rain and sleet today.

It’s one of those nasty wet winter days, that hopefully signals that the weather is getting warmer.

Stec Talks Lake George with DEC Commissioner


Assemblyman Dan Stec, questions DEC Commissioner, Joseph Martens, at Monday’s budget hearing in Albany.

Assemblyman Dan Stec, the Ranking Member of the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee took part in a hearing on Monday with Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joseph Martens. Stec, a strong supporter of promoting and protecting our lakes, relished the opportunity to discuss the issues affecting vital resources such as Lake George.

“Lake George is crucial to my district, not only as a tourist attraction and source of revenue, but as a treasured part of our community’s history,” said Stec. “Ensuring that we protect this body of water and others like it is essential to the continued promotion of outdoor recreation and economic development in our region.

“I would like to thank Commissioner Martens for taking the time to discuss topics like invasive species and waterway protection. With his input, we can better figure out strategies to ensure our lakes and bodies of water remain the jewels of our community they are today.”

Video of the discussion with Commissioner Martens can be seen below:

httpv://youtu.be/fBwNFRS3JYw

Now For Some History: Febuary 4, 1973

“Winter is with us; raw, cold, mild, all the time, snow all around us, lake frozen with a big crack in the ice right through the middle from Rogers Rock to Bolton Landing. It broke open with a big boom heard all around us; Whitehall, Fair Haven, even Glens Falls. About every day a storm, rain, freezing and everything, or more snow. We just try to get by till spring.”

Excerpted from a letter written to Pat Brotman
from Huletts resident, Irene Phillips.
February 4, 1973
(40 years ago.)

Land Conservancy Appoints Five to Board of Directors


Dr. John Buhac, Charles M. Cumming, Debbie Hoffman, (left to right, top row) JD DeSantis, and Daniel J. Ryterband (left to right, bottom row).

The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) is pleased to announce the appointment of five new members to its board of directors: Dr. John Buhac, Charles M. Cumming, JD DeSantis, Debbie Hoffman, and Daniel J. Ryterband.

“The very heart of volunteerism is giving time, energy and expertise to the mission of an organization,” said LGLC Executive Director Nancy Williams. “Our Directors demonstrate their commitment to the lake by joining LGLC which gives us the benefit of their experience and passion for the lake.”

Dr. Buhac is a gastroenterologist who has been in private practice in the Albany area since 1998. He is a graduate of Cornell University and received his medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine. Dr. Buhac grew up in the Albany area and has been exploring the Adirondacks, New England and the Lake George area since childhood. The family purchased their camp in Gull Bay in 2009, and enjoy it year round. Winter is a favorite time, as the focus turns from the Lake centered activities of summer, to hikes and ski or snowshoe visits to the Gull Bay preserve. Dr. Buhac has two children and is married to Dr. Jean Buhac, a dermatologist practicing in Saratoga Springs, NY. They spend all their free time sailing, kayaking, hiking, skiing, and just reading by the lake or puttering in their log cabin.

Mr. Cumming received a B.A. degree in psychology from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from the University of Connecticut. He served as a Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1967. For the majority of his career, Mr. Cumming was a management consultant specializing in employee and executive compensation programs. He frequently consulted to Board of Directors of many large corporations and non-profits. He retired from consulting in 2001 and spends his time enjoying his home on Lake George and engaging in various volunteer activities.

Ms. Hoffman is the CFO of the Northway 8 Golf Shop and Driving Range in Clifton Park, which she opened in 1974 with her husband, Bill. Having first visited Lake George in 1968 on their first date, they continued to take every opportunity to cruise the lake and hoped that someday they would have a place on the lake. After Mr. Hoffman’s retirement in 2004, they realized their dream and bought a home on the historic Apperson Lane in Bolton Landing. Since purchasing the camp, Ms. Hoffman began volunteering in the area, serving as the president of the Lake George Community Garden Club from 2009-2011, and helping the Lake George Land Conservancy with mailings and event preparations. As a member of the Board she has also taken on an active role on the finance and development committees and on the events sub-committee.

Mr. DeSantis is a graduate of Dartmouth College with a major in environmental studies and he received his law degree from the New York University School of Law. He is currently a partner at Shearman & Sterling LLP where he specializes in representing investment banks and corporations in leveraged buyouts, issuances of high yield bonds and leveraged loan transactions. JD spent much of his childhood in Lake George, sailing in the summers and skiing in the winters. JD and his wife Leah continue to spend summers in Lake George and look forward to being able to introduce their children Felix, George and Roxy to all of the activities that make Lake George so special.

Mr. Ryterband is the president of Frederic W. Cook & Co., a consulting firm providing services to corporate Board Compensation Committees. He received his B.S. in environmental and business economics from Rutgers University, and is M.B.A. in finance and management from New York University’s Stern School of Business. He has 23 years of experiences as a consultant, including the last six serving as president of F.W. Cook. He and his wife, Dianne, have three children and own a vacation home in Diamond Point. Mr. Ryterband enjoys hiking and snowshoeing, all types of fishing, and all things Adirondack, and is an avid stamp collector and postal historian.

LGLC Sale Challenge

The Lake George Land Conservancy has been offered a challenge by a generous landowner: if the LGLC can find a buyer for one of their three subdivided house lots, the owner will agree to protect the remaining two from development with a conservation easement. That’s over 200 feet of protected shoreline and over 5 acres of land that will remain protected.

The LGLC is pleased to offer this incredible opportunity for a buyer to purchase one of the few remaining large shoreline properties on Lake George. Enjoy the stunning views of Anthonys Nose from your very private property! The buyer will purchase 8.08 +- acres of land and over 350 feet of shoreline on a beautiful private cove on Lake George. This property is located in Putnam, New York just southeast of the community of Glenburnie on Lake George. This nature lovers dream parcel is offered for $494,990.

Situated on the north side of Warrick Road the property is within walking distance of nearly 900 acres of preserved land including LGLC’s Anthonys Nose, the Last Great Shoreline, and Gull Bay Preserve. Over ninety-nine species of birds inhabit this land with Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons nesting on the cliffs of Record Hill.

Working with the buyer, a mutually agreed upon plan will be developed that permits one house site, ancillary uses (such as garage, driveway, dock) and viewshed clearing. The remaining land will be protected under a perpetual conservation easement. The easement will prohibit further subdivision but permit sustainable forestry. This beautiful forested parcel could supply plenty of wood for your fireplace. Three moorings and docks are permitted under the regulations of Lake George Park Commission; however, one mooring-right will be retained by the current land owners. The property has over 380 feet of road frontage on Warrick Road, a shared driveway, power available within the property and an approved septic area. The Town of Putnam maintains the graveled road and plows during the winter. There are recorded protective covenants and a driveway maintenance agreement. The tree and shrub canopy will be permitted to be kept open for unsurpassed views of the Lake and Anthonys Nose and Record Hill. The LGLC is not taking a commission for this sale.

For more information contact Nancy Williams at the LGLC.