The city's economy rests on diverse manufacturing (stoves, pencils, food products [apples], textiles, metal products, plastics) and tourism, the latter based on nearby Shenandoah National Park, George Washington National Forest, Sherando Lake Recreation Area, and Grand Caverns. Inc. town, 1797; city, 1948.
The watershed surrounding Lake George expands through 3590 square miles, lying within Ocala National Forest and Lake George State Forest, that protect an ecosystem dominated by pine and scrub more than 380000 acre and 21000 acre in size, respectively.
Flatwoods forests dominate the Lake George watershed, with slash pines (Pinus elliottii), saw palmetto (Serenoa repens), and over 100 species of groundcover or herbal plants that grow in poor, sandy soil.
A federal proposal to drill for oil and gas under the Finger Lakes, part of the state's only national forest preserve, has met with unusual silence from Gov. George E. Pataki.
Other sports teams include the London Silver Dolphins Swim Team, the Forest City Volleyball Club, London Cricket Club, the London St. George's Rugby Club, the London Aquatics Club, the London Rhythmic Gymnastics Club, London City Soccer Club and Forest City London.
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Gov. George E. Pataki both issued statements praising the board's vote, as did James P. Stuckey, the Forest City official in charge of the project, who said it offered "very real benefits for Brooklyn," like jobs and housing.
But John Disney, the council's economic development director, said he had worked with Mr. George on other projects before, including one to generate carbon credits by replacing alder forests on the islands with conifers.
George E. Pataki and Eliot Spitzer.
