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Previous Depot Dispatch Trivia Question Winner
Some called me a pirate, but I preferred to be known as a privateer. U.S. presidents condemned as well as exonerated me. I was king of my own empire and a hero in a war. I saved a city and a movie was even made about me. My self-made kingdom was on this body of water that later housed a lighthouse by the same name. What is the name of the lighthouse? The answer is the Barataria Bay Lighthouse where pirate Jean Lafitte made his home on Barataria Bay, just west of Mississippi Bay, Louisiana. Lafitte and his band of pirates helped Andrew Jackson defeat the British in the Battle of New Orleans. Unfortunately, the lighthouse no longer stands.
Congratulations to Donna Hagen of Nokesville, Virginia whose name was randomly picked from among the correct answers submitted. She has been mailed a wonderful prize from Lighthouse Depot. Look for a new Lighthouse Trivia Question further down in this Depot Dispatch.
Lightkeeper Wanted
This could be your chance to live your dream. A Connecticut lighthouse is looking for an individual to serve as a full-time, live-in light keeper for Norwalk Seaport Association's nationally known historic Sheffield Island Lighthouse. Duties include the supervision of lighthouse staff, assisting with special events, greet visitors and give tours of the Lighthouse. Write or send resume to Norwalk Seaport Association, 132 Water Street, South Norwalk, CT 06854 in care of Lighthouse Committee.
Tickets Go On Sale for Door County Lighthouse Walk
Tickets for the 13th Annual Door County Lighthouse Walk will go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, March 1, 2006. The event, held the third full weekend in May, will take place May 20- 21 this year with highlights including the ability to tour the inside of the Sherwood Point Lighthouse as well as the ability to climb the tower at Cana Island.
"Over the past two years, nearly 2,000 lighthouse aficionados have climbed to the top of Cana Island, which is a rare opportunity for both locals and tourists alike" said Brian Kelsey, Executive Director of the Door County Maritime Museum. "We are thrilled that the United States Coast Guard has once again allowed us to open the tower to the public during Lighthouse Walk weekend, thus giving even more individuals the opportunity to climb to the top of Door County. I am certain we will have many repeats coming to Cana to climb her once more."
Seguin Island Lighthouse Looking for Summer Caretakers
Maine’s Seguin Island Lighthouse is looking for summer caretakers at the lighthouse to serve May 26 to Sept. 5. Caretakers are required to work every day, except Wednesdays, to greet visitors to the 64-acre island and give guided tours. Caretakers need to be in good physical condition to manage the hike from the landing area to the top of the island to the lighthouse. For more information visit the Seguin Island web site at www.seguinisland.org or email keeper@seguinisland.org.
Cruise to Boon Island Lighthouse
The American Lighthouse Foundation is offering a cruise on April 1, to honor the anniversary of the Republic of Boon Island and to view its historic lighthouse, the tallest on the Maine coast. Following the cruise there will be an evening dinner with a presentation by Stephen Frank on his memories of growing up at Maine’s Portland Head Light where his father was the keeper. There will also be lots of raffle prizes and items for sale for lighthouse preservation. For more info or to order tickets go to www.LighthouseFoundation.org or call 207-646-0245.
Ultimate Lighthouse Tours for 2006
Lighthouse Depot has announced a new series of Ultimate Lighthouse tours for 2006 as well as two new lighthouse cruises. The tours include:
The Outer Banks of North Carolina - May 17, 2006 - May 23, 2006
Michigan - Sep 05, 2006 - Sep 14, 2006
Southern Maine Sampler - Sep 14, 2006 - Sep 19, 2006
Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island - Aug 10, 2006 - Aug 20, 2006
Ultimate Maine - Sep 08, 2006 - Sep 17, 2006
Ultimate Maine II - Sep 30, 2006 - Oct 08, 2006
The two new lighthouse cruises are:
Coast of Maine - Aug 19, 2006 - Aug 26, 2006
Rhode Island/Cape Cod Islands - Aug 04, 2006 - Aug 09, 2006
Go to www.lighthousetours.com to find out more!
MLM Moves into Phase II
The new Maine Lighthouse Museum is in the process of expanding and moving into its final quarters at its new Rockland Maine waterfront building. The Grand Opening Celebration will be held on June 17, followed by an American Lighthouse Foundation Evening Dinner Special Event to honor those who made the museum expansion possible. Dinner reservations tickets will be available in about 2 weeks on the ALF web site at www.LighthouseFoundation.org. However, for more information or to reserve tickets now call 207-646-0245. Tickets for the fundraiser dinner are $35.00 each with choice of baked chicken or roast beef. Proceeds from the profit of the fundraiser will be equally split between Friends of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse, American Lighthouse Foundation and the Maine Lighthouse Museum.
Lighthouse Digest Expanded Issue
The March issue of Lighthouse Digest magazine will be an expanded issue with many great stories, including life at Guantanamo Bay Lighthouse in Cuba, restoration projects at Yaquina Head Light, Pomham Rocks Lighthouse, Cape Canaveral Lighthouse, and Southport Lighthouse. Other stories include a rescue at Libby Island Lighthouse, lighthouse antiques and artifacts, Women of the Light, Kids on the Beam, and much more, including the story about Lighthouse Depot acquiring Harbour Lights. If you are not yet a subscriber, now would be the perfect time to order a subscription for yourself or a gift subscription for a friend or relative, library or school, at: www.LighthouseDigest.com
Get Well Wishes for Mr. Hal
Hal Biering, who has traveled from Alabama to Maine every summer for the past several years to work on the restoration of the remote Little River Lighthouse has suffered a major heart attack. "Mr. Hal", as he is known, had several operations last week including quadruple bypass. Hal, 78, and his wife Betty, worked on the island every day all summer long saving the endangered lighthouse, which is one of the 22 lighthouses under the auspices of the American Lighthouse Foundation. At the end of the last season he left to help rebuild homes in the hurricane-devastated areas and had planned to return to Maine this summer. Even if you don’t know him, Get Well Cards from the lighthouse community would be a nice gesture. They can be sent to Hal Biering, 19870 Quail Circle, Fairhope, AL 36532.
This Issue’s Trivia Question
"Damn the torpedoes-Full speed ahead!" This was the famous order that was given in a battle that destroyed what lighthouse? Send your answer, along with your name and address to Dee@LHDigest.com. We will randomly select one name from among the winning answers for a prize from Lighthouse Depot.
New Book on Two Harbors Lighthouse
We promoted this book in our last issue but thought it was worth mentioning again. Not only is the book an excellent account and story of the this lighthouse, but the proceeds benefit the lighthouse. Dale Congdon has completed three years of research to publish a book about the Two Harbors Lighthouse in Minnesota. The book, "The Light on Agate Bay," is available for $14.95 plus $3.00 shipping from the Lake County Historical Society, P.O. Box 128, Two Harbors, MN 55616. If you live in Minnesota you will need to add 7% sales tax. All proceeds will benefit the lighthouse.
U. S. Lighthouse Service Flag Now Available
Lighthouse Depot is now offering a replica of the United States Lighthouse Service flag. This historic flag was flown on vessels of the United States Lighthouse Service and at selected lighthouses in the United States. The flag would be a wonderful addition to your home or boat flagpole. It would also look great flying at every lighthouse, maritime museum, yacht club or Coast Guard Station. They can be ordered from Lighthouse Depot as Item #15057 for only $18.95.
Hooper Strait Lighthouse is Welcome to Overnighters
This summer, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is opening the doors of its Hooper Strait Lighthouse to the general public who would like to spend a weekend night much like the keepers of a century ago.
Built in 1879, the lighthouse that now graces the Museum's Navy Point campus once lit the way past Hooper Strait, some 39 miles south of St. Michaels. Known as a screwpile, cottage-style lighthouse, Hooper Strait resembles a small home that was built on special iron pilings that were literally screwed into the Bay's soft bottom. Slated for demolition in 1966, the Museum purchased the building and moved it to its present site. Too large to be moved in one piece, it was horizontally cut in two just below the eaves and was slowly transported on two separate barges up the Bay. The lighthouse was restored and opened to the public in 1967. It is one of only three such lighthouses still in existence on the Chesapeake.
Past overnighters do not seem to mind the absence of such modern amenities as running water and inside bathrooms or the fact that they must bring their own sleeping pads and bags. "Spending a night in a lighthouse is an experience people never forget," says Mary Ann Ray, the Museum's head lighthouse keeper. Children participating in the overnight program must be at least seven years old and it is required that there be at least one chaperone for every two children. Families may be joined by other families or individuals.
Dates currently available for this program are Friday, June 30; Friday, July 14; Saturday, July 15; Saturday, August 5 and Saturday, September 2. The program begins at 6 p.m. and ends the following morning at 7:30 a.m. The cost of the overnight program is $41 for non-members. The fee covers program activities, a picnic dinner, and two days' admission to the entire Museum. For more details and to register, go to www.cbmm.org/lighthouseovernight.html. Interested participants can also contact Education Coordinator Rachel Rébert at 410-745-2916, ext.133 or via email at rrebert@cbmm.org.
Tell Others About Us
Do you know other people with an interest in lighthouses that may not be signed up for the Depot Dispatch lighthouse e-news? If so, be sure to tell them about us. They can sign up by visiting our web site www.LighthouseDepot.com.
Shop 24 Hours
Don’t forget, you can shop with Lighthouse Depot 24 hours a day. It’s important to remind all of our loyal customers that we also carry a wide variety of lighthouse items on our web site that are not shown in our catalog. So feel free to browse through the site at any time at www.LighthouseDepot.com. If you’re looking for something and can’t find it, please call us toll free at 1-800-758-1444 and one of our customer service reps will do their best to help you locate a lighthouse product that we carry.
Clearance Items
Be sure to visit our Clearance Central at www.lighthousedepot.com/clearance.cfm often, where from time to time, you will find a selection of discontinued and close out items. 
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