(Credit: Courtesy Fort William Henry, 2023)
(Credit: Courtesy Ft. William Henry, 2023)
LGLC reaches $300,000 fundraising goal
From a press release: LGLC Supporters Come Through for the Future of Lake George. The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) is pleased to report that for the second time they have exceeded the $300,000 Challenge for the Future of Lake George presented by Manning and Virginia Rowan Smith.
This fantastic feat was reached thanks to 35 individuals who pledged to provide support to the LGLC in their estate planning. As a result, the Smiths have donated $300,000 to the Virginia Rowan Smith Endowment Fund, which provides annual support for important land conservation projects in the watershed.
The Challenge was presented to encourage those who support the protection of Lake George to join LGLC’s Land and Water Society through a pledge of planned giving. The LGLC’s legacy giving program has grown to 154 members.
The Land and Water Society celebrates those who include the LGLC in their estate planning. It can be through a simple bequest, by naming the LGLC as a beneficiary in a life insurance policy or retirement fund, or one of many other options available. The gift can be large or small, and its benefits will continue long after one’s lifetime.
Showing the true versatility of estate planning, two of the pledges received for this Challenge were in the form of land to be held for permanent conservation.
“We are incredibly honored that each Land and Water Society member believes in our mission deeply enough to include us in their estate planning,” said LGLC Executive Director Michael Horn. “Many thanks to Ginny and Manning providing this matching challenge. Through their foresight and encouragement, they have significantly bolstered the LGLC’s long-term success.”
Virginia Rowan Smith is a member of the LGLC’s Advisory Board, a director emeritus, and a champion of the LGLC’s legacy giving program. The Smiths presented their first challenge in 2020, which ultimately exceeded their offer and resulted in a total of $406,000 in matching funds for the 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.
[See our earlier coverage of the LGLC here.]
Fort William Henry’s Tankard Taverne Debuts Indoor and Outdoor Menu and Fire Pits Overlooking Lake George
From a press release: After a day of skiing, snowmobiling, or winter hiking, how about a warm meal and a cocktail by a fire?
The Tankard Taverne at Fort William Henry has debuted a new winter menu featuring comfort food specialties that can be savored by a fire inside the tavern or outside beside fire pits with a commanding view of Lake George.
Executive Chef Dan Palmer’s menu includes thin-crust pizza, grilled ribeye steak, halibut, grilled shrimp tacos and more. For starters, the Tankard Taverne features a charcuterie board, jumbo chicken wings, and fried portobello mushrooms. The menu includes gluten-free and vegetarian options.
“We want to offer our hotel guests and members of our year-round Lake George community a
warm and comfortable place to relax with great food, a nice fire and the best view of Lake George,” said Palmer.
Chef Palmer received his culinary training at Newbury College and worked in a variety of North Country kitchens before joining Fort William Henry to lead its food service team eight years ago. He says one of the highlights of his career was a stint as a chef in Scotland, an experience that still informs his approach to cooking.
In addition to traditional indoor seating, the Tankard Taverne will serve food and drink outdoors to guests enjoying new fire pits overlooking the lake.
An hour at the fire pits is included with every Tankard Taverne reservation during January. The fire pits are furnished with smokeless Solo stoves to reduce smoke and create more even heat.
[Fort William Henry recently completed renovations to the Tankard Tarverne. FoothillsBusinessDaily.com has covered the resort here.]