Lighthouse News

Two lighthouses in Maine are the last two this year to be offered to non-profits and municipalities for one dollar under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act (NHLPA) of 2000. The Ram Island Ledge Lighthouse in Casco Bay, Portland (Not to be confused with Ram Island in Boothbay Harbor) and Baker Island Lighthouse near Islesford are up for grabs. They join Saybrook Breakwater (CT), East Charity Shoal, Buffalo Harbor, Latimer Reef (all in NY), Straitsmouth (MA), St. Joseph Pierhead and Inner Lights, Muskegon S. Pierhead, Muskegon S. Breakwater (all in MI), and Kenosha N. Pierhead (WI).

Thousands Attend Start of Festivities

Thousands of people helped kick off Barnegat Lighthouse’s 150th birthday celebration this past weekend, which will culminate with the relighting of the icon on January 1, 2009, exactly 150 years after its first lighting. The New Jersey light has been dark since it was decommissioned in 1944, but thanks to a dedicated group of volunteers, a new $15,000 Vega VRB-25 from New Zealand is enroute to grace the tower once again. Although it’s not the original First Order Fresnel, which is safely tucked away at the Barnegat Light Historical Museum, the light will shine just as strong.

General Disclaimer

All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. Lighthouse News makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.

In another instance of senseless lighthouse vandalism, this one taking place in Chapala, Jelisco, Mexico (near Guadalajara), at least this one had a happy ending for the lighthouse. Not so happy for the perpetrators, though. They were arrested and will possibly be charged with damaging federal property. Police caught the trio attempting to rip off the lighthouse optic early Tuesday, September 30.

After a night of apparent drinking, the suspects, Cristian Estrada Casillas, age 17, Jose Manuel Hernandez Galvan, 23, and Roberto Rodriguez Sanchez, 40, all of Tapatio, were caught by the police in the act of dismantling the lighthouse optic. A fourth person avoided arrest and charges, because he had passed out in the car while his buddies left the car and jumped the closed gate at the north end of the pier.

Hello Stumbleupon Visitors. I believe this post was erroneously labeled with the tag for Cancer. I believe the post that you might like to see is this one: Lighthouse Fun Run For Breast Cancer. Thanks for checking it out.

Colchester County Agrees To Fund Move

After a hard summer of fundraising which only brought in $5,000, the president of the Five Islands Lighthouse Preservation Society, Gloria Lewis, made an appeal for funding to the Colchester County (Nova Scotia) Council Committee. And they agreed to fund the move if no other monetary sources can be found. The land surrounding the lighthouse, the private Sand Point Beach Campground has been sold, and the access to the light is at risk.

International Chimney Offers Free Assistance

A long inactive and deteriorating lighthouse in Buffalo, NY, will be saved from going to the GSA auction block by the timely submission of Letters of Interest from two local groups. The Buffalo Lighthouse Association and another non-profit group, the Maritime Activity Interyouth Network (MAIN), that runs the Seven Seas Sailing School, will be competing for the lighthouse. At least competing in a governmental sense, since both groups plan to partner with each other no matter which one the NPS chooses as the new owner.

Carl Levin, Debbie Stabenow introduce legislation to help preserve lighthouses

WASHINGTON - Senators Carl Levin (D-MI) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today introduced legislation to create a competitive grant program that will help to pay for the preservation and rehabilitation of historic lighthouses in Michigan and across the country.

The grants will help nonprofit organizations, which serve as caretakers for the historic landmarks, to maintain the beauty of the lighthouses and keep them accessible to the public.

Nevada Attorney Michael L. Gabriel is High Bidder

In a bidding contest that heated up in the last few days before closing, prominent Nevada attorney and lighthouse lover Michael Lynn Gabriel will pay $55,000 for the historic Borden Flats Lighthouse, near Fall River, Mass. Although the cost was much lower than the two recent auctions, the light appears to be in better shape. And it has the benefit of being much closer to land.

News Release

The People Have Spoken: Three Lighthouses in the Limelight

Louisiana, Michigan and North Carolina lighthouses move onto the final consideration stage

Klamath Falls, Ore. September 18, 2008 —

• Half a million public votes in the JELD-WEN Reliable Lighthouse Restoration Initiative have narrowed 12 lighthouse finalists to three (located in Louisiana, Michigan and North Carolina).
• Winner to receive window and door makeover.
• Three finalists now undergoing thorough evaluation to select final winner by November.
  Photos, videos and interviews with all three finalists are available, more info. accessible via below links

Claims Fresnel Too Much To Maintain

And yet another Fresnel lens is in danger of being removed from a lighthouse where it has served daily since 1927. Mukilteo Lighthouse in Washington state is potentially the latest victim of an attempt to replace thelens, shown at left, with a more “modern” optic. The Fourth Order Fresnel lens is the tower is the only one in use in the state, and although there is nothing wrong with it, the Coast Guard claims that because it’s getting harder to maintain, it wants to remove it and place it in a museum.