DessertFest featuring Gary Sredzienski

Saturday April 24, 2010, 6:30 p.m.
Kittery Lions Club, 117 State Road (Route 1), Kittery, Maine
$10 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under

Join the Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse for a fun evening of tasty treats for the stomach and the ears. Enjoy a smorgasbord of delicious cakes, pies, cookies, brownies and other delights from local restaurants and bakeries.

While you're satisfying your sweet tooth, you'll be entertained by the musical stylings of accordionist extraordinaire Gary Sredzienski. Gary demonstrates the diversity of the accordion with a wide variety of styles encompassing several continents. He's been a cultural ambassador for New Hampshire and has performed at venues such as the Smithsonian, Kennedy Center, and the American and National folk festivals.

There will also be a special performance by the Seacoast Men of Harmony, a popular barbershop-type chorus.

Click here to buy advance tickets!

Photo of the Day: Block Island Southeast Lighthouse, Rhode Island

After a long absence, here's a new Photo of the Day. I took this shot of Rhode Island's Block Island South Lighthouse back in 1996, just three years after the lighthouse had been moved back from the edge of the eroding Mohegan Bluffs. I believe the lookout point where I was standing when I took the photo is now closed due to erosion.

Repointing Work Makes a ‘Striking’ Appearance at Pemaquid Point

You can read the latest report on the ongoing restoration of Maine's Pemaquid Point Lighthouse here:

http://lighthousefoundation.org/alf_lights/pemaquidpoint/ppl_rest_20100406.htm

In spite of uncooperative weather, the restoration is moving forward beautifully. Kudos to the Friends of Pemaquid Point Lighthouse and J.B. Leslie Masonry Company!

New Website for New London Ledge Lighthouse Foundation

The New London Ledge Lighthouse Foundation, a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation, is caring for one of the most beautiful and fascinating lighthouses in New England. Check out their great new website!

Included are photos from their recent centennial gala, and items for purchase including a wonderful DVD documentary, "Ledge Light," by Todd Gipstein.

Restoration Continues at Pemaquid Point Light Despite Stormy Weather

The Phase II Restoration of Maine's Pemaquid Point Lighthouse is underway. This is an $83,000 project being funded and managed by the nonprofit American Lighthouse Foundation and ALF chapter, Friends of Pemaquid Point Lighthouse.

Click here to read all about it!

Presentation on March 9 in Kittery, Maine

I'll be the guest speaker at 7:00 p.m. this Tuesday, March 9, at the meeting of the Kittery Historical and Naval Society at the Lions' Club building on State Road (Route 1) in Kittery, Maine. My Powerpoint presentation will feature historical photos and background on five area lighthouses; Cape Neddick ("Nubble"), Boon Island, Whaleback, White Island, and Portsmouth Harbor. I'll also discuss present day preservation efforts.

Call (207) 439-3080 for more info. I hope to see you there!

Rockland Breakwater at Dusk during 2/25/10 Storm

We've been through a very stormy week in New England -- heavy snow inland and several inches of rain along the coast, along with tropical storm-force winds. I wasn't able to get any photos during the storm, unfortunately. I'm sure there was spectacular surf at many lighthouse locations along the coast.

At the height of the wind and rain on Thursday evening, I gave a lighthouse presentation at South Portland (Maine) City Hall. On the way there in my minivan, I drove through some major flooding and lost my power steering. I made it to city hall and gave my presentation, and I was then towed all the way back to Portsmouth, NH. It was an adventure I'd rather not repeat, but I made it home safe and sound.

The following text and photos come from Bob Trapani, executive director of the American Lighthouse Foundation:

I decided to go back over to Rockland Breakwater this evening to see if I could improve on my storm photos from this morning.

This time I took my tripod with me, which offered more stability for focusing in the face of a good wind, but the benefit of the tripod was offset a tad by the fact that the winds had grown much stronger than in the morning. They were blowing at sustained gale force this evening, which made keeping both myself and the tripod balanced / still a mixed bag :)

I only wish there had been about one more hour of daylight to work with since the tide was on the flood, but with high tide not until 8:00 pm this evening, there wasn't quite enough in volumes of water being driven against the breakwater to create the more dramatic wave explosions.

As it was, the wind-swept spray of the waves was a cool thing to see, wispy and far-reaching as it broke against the wall and carried through the air well over the breakwater....sometimes obscuring the flashing beacon of the lighthouse from land.