By Sue Clark on Oct 25, 2007 in News | Comments Off 
Print This Post
At least one familiar bidder is participating in the online government auction for Point No Point Lighthouse near Dameron, MD. OldSalt2 started the bidding, and has placed two bids so far. However, a new player has the current top bid of $25,000. How far will this go? Only time will tell, as there is currently no closing date set yet. The last MD offshore lighthouse went for $200,000, while Lubec Channel Light in Maine went for a paltry $46,000. With the amount of work needed to restore these offshore lights, Gary Zaremba, successful bidder for Lubec, got the best deal.
By Sue Clark on Oct 20, 2007 in Lighthouse Keeper Jobs | Comments Off Print This Post
Under a proposal put forth by the Vachon (Washington) Park District Commissioner Bill Ameling and the President of the Keepers of Point Robinson Lighthouse, Capt. Joe Wubbold, the resident caretaker will be moved from his rent free home in the former lightkeeper’s residence to a new place (yet to be built) in the park’s upper parking area. Reason? To earn more money in rental fees, which in theory would pay for the new caretaker residence.
By Sue Clark on Oct 19, 2007 in News | Comments Off Print This Post
It appears the Canadian government has the right idea on transferring ownership of their lighthouses. According to a story in the Shoreline Beacon, the federal government, though the Fisheries and Oceans Canada, responsible for Chantry Island Lighthouse, the Back Range Lighthouse, both active aids to navigation and McNabb Point Lighthouse (deactivated), all in Southampton, ON, no longer wants to maintain the lights and is giving them to the municipality.
By Sue Clark on Oct 17, 2007 in Opinion | Comments Off Print This Post
That’s the opinion being given by the Vice President of the Tamil Nadu Fishermen’s Association, Rajendira Nattar, about the new 100 foot tall lighthouse planned for Poompuhar in Nagapattinam district, India. The Union Ministry of Shipping has sanctioned the construction of the new beacon, to join with the three sunctional lighthouses in the district. The new light would be constructed under the direct supervision of the Chennai Lighthouse (CC photo pictured at left by Velachery Balu) authorities after soil testing is done to find the best location for the new lighthouse. The new light would benefit 10,000 fishermen, according to a story in The Hindu online.
By Sue Clark on Oct 15, 2007 in Other | Comments Off Print This Post
Part of the reason the government is giving away (or selling) lighthouses at a record pace is because the maintenance is too much. When a lighthouse goes to a non-profit or municipality, the Coast Guard washes its hands of the building, but generally retains the use of the facility as an Aid to Navigation (AToN) and requires access to maintain the actual light. But the Coast Guard is stretched thin due to new responsibilities with Homeland Security and more, so what better way to ease the maintenance and costs than by going green?
By Sue Clark on Oct 15, 2007 in News | Comments Off Print This Post
Most kids do not look forward to a trip to the dentist, but kids in Port Arthur, Texas, actually cry when they have to go home. That’s because their dentist, George Scott, DDS has turned his office, the Dental Dock, into a nautical fantasy, complete with a lighthouse at the entrance to the clinic. The clinic, designed by Beaumont architect Dohn LaBiche, features a fifty foot lighthouse at the entrance. It is so unusual, it has been featured on the cover of the September/October issue of Design Cost Data Magazine, a builder’s trade publication based in Florida.
At least one familiar bidder is participating in the online government auction for Point No Point Lighthouse near Dameron, MD. OldSalt2 started the bidding, and has placed two bids so far. However, a new player has the current top bid of $25,000. How far will this go? Only time will tell, as there is currently no closing date set yet. The last MD offshore lighthouse went for $200,000, while Lubec Channel Light in Maine went for a paltry $46,000. With the amount of work needed to restore these offshore lights, Gary Zaremba, successful bidder for Lubec, got the best deal.
