Sea Smoke at Rockland Breakwater, Maine

This amazing photo was taken in the bitter cold yesterday morning by Ann Trapani, associate director of the American Lighthouse Foundation in Rockland, Maine.

Click here to see more.

Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse with full moon

I was playing around with this photo on my iPod with an app called Camera+ (taptaptap.com) and came up with this.

Gary Sredzienski, Creekman and Accordion Warrior

Gary Sredzienski is a well-known musician in the Portsmouth, NH, area. He's also known as Creekman because of his passion for swimming in the local waterways. Gary swims all year, and he's done some long distance winter swims for charity. On February 26, 2011, he'll be doing a swim to benefit local lighthouses. See www.portsmouthharborlighthouse.org/events.php

This photo was taken outside at the top of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse in New Castle, NH.

Swim for the Lights - preview video

I shot some video yesterday at Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse and put together this little piece to promote the upcoming "Swim for the Lights" by Gary Sredzienski. I'll be posting more videos of Gary in the coming weeks as we get closer to the event on February 26.



For more info, go to www.portsmouthharborlighthouse.org

Boon Island Day event to be held in York on January 23, 2011

The public is invited to a special "Boon Island Day" event at Old York's Visitor Center at the Remick Barn, 3 Lindsay Road, in York, Maine, this coming Sunday, January 23, at 1:00 p.m. Five guest speakers will focus on the history of Boon Island, a remote, barren outpost about eight miles from the shores of York. The event is sponsored by Museums of Old York, with the assistance of the American Lighthouse Foundation (ALF).

Jeremy D'Entremont, author and president of ALF, will present an overview of the history of the island and its lighthouse, established in 1811. Bob Trapani, executive director of ALF, will speak about his first hand experience with the lighthouse, which is under ALF's care. Maine author/historian William O. Thomson will discuss the colorful human interest stories of Boon Island Lighthouse keepers and their families.

Stephen Erickson of Portsmouth will discuss his surprising conclusions reached in his book on the infamous 1710 Nottingham Galley shipwreck at Boon Island. Warren Riess, a nautical archaeologist associated with the University of Maine, will focus on the archaeology of the Nottingham Galley wreck site and the 1995 recovery of cannons from the ship.

The event is expected to last about three hours. Admission is $10, and light refreshments will be served. Call (207) 363-4974 for more information. The storm date will be January 30.

Swim for the Lights on February 26, 2010!

On Saturday, February 26, beginning in the early afternoon, Gary Sredzienski will swim the following route: Odiorne Point (Rye, NH) to Whaleback Lighthouse (Kittery, ME) to Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse (New Castle, NH) to the Kittery Town Dock at Kittery Point. The total distance is close to four miles, and the water temperature is expected to be about 35 degrees. Gary has been swimming all his life and has done long distance winter swims for charities including Seacoast Hospice, Share Our Strength, and the Krempels Brain Injury Foundation.

Gary is also a well-known musician who began his professional career as an accordion player at the age of 9. He performs 1960s surf rock, traditional ethnic, and original accordion compositions with the Portsmouth-based group, the Serfs. Gary also hosts a radio show, "Polka Party," weekly on WUNH-FM in Durham.

Following the swim on February 26, at 5:00 p.m., Gary and his band, the Serfs, will play at a celebration party upstairs at Captain and Patty's restaurant, 90 Pepperrell Road (Route 103) in Kittery Point.

The purpose of this event is to raise awareness and funds for the preservation of lighthouses. The funds raised will be split evenly between the American Lighthouse Foundation (ALF), and the foundation's local chapter, Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses (FPHL). ALF, a nonprofit organization based in Rockland, Maine, cares for 23 historic lighthouses in the Northeast. FPHL cares for Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse in New Castle, NH, and Whaleback Lighthouse in Kittery, Maine.

To donate or to purchase tickets for the post-swim party, visit www.portsmouthharborlighthouse.org. I'll be at the party -- I hope to see you there!


Click here to see a map of the swim.

Click here to read more about Gary.