For Immediate Release, October 6, 2010

The Vermont Land Trust and Windmill Hill Pinnacle Association announced today that the community fundraising goal of $140,000 was reached to permanently conserve the former Sleepy Valley Farm and adjoining Lake Trust property in the towns of Athens and Grafton.

Over the summer, the local campaign raised the final amount needed from donors in Athens, Grafton, and neighboring towns, including a generous grant of $15,000 from the Windham Foundation. In June, two major state grants totaling $597,000 were awarded by the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board to support these projects.

Last week, Joan Lake and her son, Tracy Lake, both trustees of the Lake Trust transferred the family property to the Windmill Hill Pinnacle Association.

This 203-acre property possesses unusual geologic features, a historic soapstone quarry, mature forestland, recreational trails and a stream with a thriving native brook trout population. The land is entirely in Grafton except for 7.5 acres located in Athens. The property was assembled and carefully managed for more than 50 years by Joan's late husband, Norman Lake.

"The closing made a dream come true," said Elizabeth Mills of Westminster, a long-time member of the Windmill Hill Pinnacle Association.

In late November, the Vermont Land Trust expects to transfer the adjoining farm to David Hassan and Emily Amanna who specialize in garlic production and cheeses from both sheep and cows' milk. They grow and sell other vegetables and meat at their new farmstand and at local farmers' markets.

Conserving both properties will provide the final link for a recreational trail that crosses the valley from the Pinnacle ridgeline and connects with the old roads and trails on the 800-acre Grafton Improvement Association forest.