January 18, 2008

For Immediate Release

Contact: James Hood Contact: Peter Bauer Contact: Nancy Williams

Communications Coordinator Executive Director Executive Director

The Lake George Association The Fund for Lake George Lake George Land Conservancy

Phone: (518) 668-3558 Phone: (518) 668-9700 Phone: (518) 644-9673

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS PRAISE PROGRESS ON GASLIGHT VILLAGE PROJECT

Lake George, NY – The three leading environmental non-profit groups working to protect Lake George are praising the Warren County Board of Supervisors after the board passed a resolution on a $1.3 million bond as part of its commitment to buy the former Gaslight Village property from the Charles R. Wood Foundation. The “3-E’s” are calling the results of today’s county board meeting significant progress and cited the passing two milestones.

The Fund for Lake George, the Lake George Association (LGA) and the Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) are working with officials from Warren County and the Village and Town of Lake George to purchase the property and to use that land to capture and treat stormwater runoff coming from Route 9 in Lake George.

Walt Lender, executive director for the Lake George Association, explained the significance of today’s vote.

“Now that Warren County has passed its bond resolution, all of the financial pieces necessary for the closing have fallen into place,” he stated. “The boards for the Village and the Town of Lake George have already passed their resolutions, and the boards for the 3-E’s have already committed to their part. We are now ready to close on the property.”

Peter Bauer, executive director for the Fund for Lake George, noted that an equally important milestone was passed concerning the conservation easement.

“The three environmental organizations and the three local governments reached agreement on the conservation easement for the construction and use of the public park, festival area, and environmental restoration activities,” said Bauer. “Now, we are cleared to complete the purchase and begin organizing the restoration of this site.”

West Brook bisects the Gaslight Village property before entering into Lake George. Several studies have identified the West Brook watershed, which receives runoff from Route 9 and I-87, as the single biggest contributor of non-point source pollution in Lake George’s southern basin.

“This is an important moment for this unique project,” stated Nancy Williams, executive director for the Lake George Land Conservancy. “We heartily congratulate the Town and Village of Lake George, Chairman Monroe and the Warren County Board of Supervisors, and we look forward to moving this project to the next stage.”

The Wood Foundation and the parties have agreed on a price of $4.1 million for the 12-acre parcel. In addition to the $1.3 million committed by Warren County, the Village and the Town of Lake George have each committed $350,000 and the “3-E’s” have committed $2.1 million.

“We all knew that a tremendous amount of cooperation would be required if we were to be successful,” added Bauer. “It is a testament to the importance of this project that all of the parties are still working together with such good faith.”

####