Challenge Exceeded! Plus - Barred Owls | Introducing New Board Members

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LGLC News for February 2021

Sunrise from the Pinnacle, snow covered mountaintop

Sunrise at The Pinnacle, by William Adamczak, @wadamczakphoto

Completed! Challenge for the Future of Lake George

In 2020, Manning and Virginia Rowan Smith presented a generous challenge to encourage those who support the protection of Lake George to join LGLC’s Land and Water Society. The Land and Water Society is the LGLC’s legacy society, celebrating those who include the LGLC in their estate planning.

The Smiths pledged to donate $5,000 to the LGLC for every new legacy pledge received, regardless of method. Those who included a specific dollar amount above $5,000 with their pledge would be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to a total Challenge match of $300,000.

Not only did we meet the full challenge but we exceeded it, thanks to 42 new members who have committed to protecting Lake George for generations to come. In response, the Smiths chose to increase their match to the final total of $406,000!

The Smiths’ donation has been added to LGLC’s Virginia Rowan Smith Endowment Fund, income from which provides annual support for important land acquisition projects in the watershed that protect the water quality of Lake George.

Thank you to the Smiths and all of our new members for making such a significant impact on protecting the land that protects the lake!

More About the Land & Water Society

This Barred Owl was photographed by Marta Quilliam in Bolton while working on the Round the Lake Challenge.

Safe Haven for Barred Owls

Sightings of Barred Owls in Bolton Landing and Hague, and all around Lake George, have been frequent these past weeks, which is of no surprise since we're in the midst of their busiest time of year - breeding season. These large owls are so common in this region, it's easy to take their presence, and recognizable "who cooks for you" call for granted.

According to Cornell's Lab of Ornithology, the Barred Owl prefers to live in large, uninterrupted blocks of mature forest, possibly because old woodlands support a higher diversity of prey and are more likely to have large, dead trees with cavities suitable for nesting. It's an important reminder that when we protect land to protect the lake, especially land with large, healthy forests, we're also protecting critical habitat for wildlife like Barred Owls and other native creatures that call this watershed home.

More About Barred Owls

Photos of three new LGLC directors, Arenholz, Bruening, and Metzger

LGLC Welcomes Three New Board Members

Just this month, the LGLC Board of Directors has grown by three, with the addition of Sheryl Arenholz, Katie Bruening, and Amanda Metzger. Collectively, they bring decades of experience in education, science and communications, all of which are welcome skills that will enhance the LGLC's mission-driven programs.

2021 Events!

Details and registration links are available on our Events and Programs page.

Walk on Water to Dome Island, Saturday, February 20 - sorry, this event is full
Take Action Against HWA - online presentation, Thursday, February 25
Your opportunity to learn about this pest and how you can be part of our area's effort to protect our hemlocks!
Hike-A-Thon Early-Bird Registration Opens March 1
See the HAT website for details on this year's procedures, sites, and opportunities to be part of this annual blockbuster event, either virtually or in-person!

Save the Dates: (tentative, subject to change)