By Sue Clark on Jun 22, 2008 in News, Opinion | 4 Comments
First Order Lens Used As Fairgrounds Display
Humboldt County (California) Fairgrounds is apparently home to a First Order Fresnel Lens, manufactured in France, that has been leased to the city of Ferndale since it was removed from Cape Mendocino Lighthouse in 1950. Regular CG inspections have not found anything untoward about this situation, at least not until recently. According to a story in the Times Standard, a Coast Guard housing resident, assigned to maintain records on west coast lighthouses, did a double take when he saw the priceless prism perched above the fairgrounds entrance. He took pictures, and told the fairgrounds manager that he would be contacted in regards to “managing” the rare work of art.
By Sue Clark on Jun 21, 2008 in Featured, Opinion, Volunteer | 3 Comments
Group Short On Young Volunteers
Earlier this year, Lighthouse News featured a story about the Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse in Delaware, which has huge holes underneath its foundation and the breakwall it sits upon from the scouring action of waves. The Army Corps of Engineers conducted a side scan survey of the breakwall and discovered ten to twelve ton rocks displaced. But that’s not what this current article is about. A recent article at Delmarva.Com highlighted the fund raising efforts of the Delaware River & Bay Lighthouse Foundation to raise $12,000 by the end of the year for some of the repairs. But that’s not what this article is about either. What caught the eye of Lighthouse News in the Delmarva story was a quote by Foundation President Judith Roales.
By Sue Clark on Jun 19, 2008 in Opinion | 3 Comments
Heritage Kincardine Upset With “Improvements” ToTower
Kincardine Lighthouse, one of Ontario’s prettiest, has been getting some renovation work done to prevent water from leaking into the building. However, the solution by the town council was to cover the wood sided lighthouse with vinyl siding. This has understandably upset many residents of the town, including members of Heritage Kincardine, who appeared before the Council to protest the work and demand that historic details be left intact. The work was done before the lighthouse could be considered for historical designation.
By Sue Clark on Jun 8, 2008 in Featured, Opinion | 0 Comments
Stannard Rock Will Monitor Lake Superior Evaporation
In an effort to determine whether “global warming” is causing record low levels to be recorded in Lake Superior, hydrologists have installed equipment at Stannard Rock Lighthouse to measure evaporation. The scientists, from Environment Canada’s Water and Science Technology Branch, have installed a sonic anemometer which produces three-dimensional wind measurements, and an analyzer that gauges water vapor in the air at intervals lasting only tenths of a second. Sensors will keep track of air and water temperature, solar radiation, relative humidity and wind speed and direction. Eventually, plans are to place similar monitors in Lake Huron.
By Sue Clark on Jun 7, 2008 in News, Opinion | 0 Comments
Or Rather the Lantern Room
The latest issue of Lighthouse Digest contained a story about the discovery of a supposedly destroyed lighthouse in Cape Cod, MA, that was found doing duty as the Point Montara Lightstation south of San Francisco, CA. The story was published in the Cape Cod Times and caught the eye of the national and online news, including Yahoo, MSN, Fox, the Washington Post and the Associated Press. Unfortunately, the original story is not available in the Lighthouse Digest online edition, but you can read the full story here by Colleen MacNeney.
By Sue Clark on Apr 19, 2008 in News, Opinion | Comments Off
Own a Lighthouse For a Day
Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse, in an effort to garner funds for their restoration projects, has decided to offer corporate sponsorships to local businesses near South Portland, ME. Businesses such as auto dealers, banks, insurance companies and restaurants are being sent a package with details on how they can have a banner wrapped around the lighthouse for a Saturday, during the height of summer’s tourist season. These sponsorships will cost $1500 USD and will also include the right to post signs at the ticket booth and include their logo on printed materials for the open house. The company and its employees will get a private tour of the lighthouse and free tickets to the open house.