Shane Avenius, a student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in upstate New York, has long been interested in lighthouses and 3D printing. This summer he interned at Formlabs, one of the world’s largest 3D printer manufacturers. After visiting Highland Lighthouse on Cape Cod and seeing a fourth-order lens in the museum there, he got the Idea… Continue reading Light Hearted Live #11: Shane Avenius and his amazing Fresnel lenses
Lake Sunapee covers more than 4,000 acres in west-central New Hampshire, adjacent to Mount Sunapee State Park. The lake contains 11 islands and three lighthouses, which were built in the late 1800s during the steamboat era on the lake. A number of large resort hotels and private estates lined the lake’s shores in that era.… Continue reading Light Hearted 351 – Midge Eliassen and the Lighthouses of Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire
This episode features edited audio from our “Light Hearted Live” episode of August 19. Our guest, Anastasia Makarova, is from Russia and now lives in Slovenia. She is a lighthouse tour guide, club founder, writer, lecturer, and magazine editor – among other things! She’s also a singer, songwriter, and guitarist who has recorded four albums.… Continue reading Light Hearted Live #10 (audio edition) – Pharologist Anastasia Makarova
This is an edited version of an interview that was first heard in May 2021. The guest is Kirby Eldridge, a former Coast Guard lighthouse keeper. Kirby was one of the two last keepers of Boon Island Light Station, which is about seven miles off the coast of southern Maine. Kirby and the other keeper… Continue reading Light Hearted Lite #41 – Kirby Eldridge, keeper at Boon Island, Maine
Boston Light Station in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, holds an honored place among America’s lighthouses. It was established in 1716 as the first light station on the continent. It’s also one of a small number of lighthouses to achieve designation as a National Historic Landmark. This past week, it was announced that the light station will… Continue reading Light Hearted ep 350: Boston Light special
Jazmina Barrera, a native of Mexico City, is an award-winning author. Her book On Lighthouses is equal parts personal memoir, literary history, and observations on lighthouses. The book was published in Spanish in 2017 and translated into English in 2020. “Barrera’s obsession is contagious. Her graceful sentences ensnare tidbits of history and tantalizing glimpses of… Continue reading Light Hearted Live! #8 – Author Jazmina Barrera (audio edition)
Walter Sedovic has dedicated his career to sustainable preservation. With more than two dozen lighthouse projects in his portfolio, Walter is one of the foremost authorities on the analysis, preservation, and stewardship of our nation’s heritage lighthouses, their technology, and the significant environmental concerns related to their locations. This is the audio from a livestream… Continue reading Light Hearted Live #7 – Historic preservation architect Walter Sedovic (audio edition)
In this episode, we’re shining a light on The Bar Fairies, a remarkable nonprofit proving that hope, kindness, and gratitude can inspire meaningful change, no matter the circumstances. Their mission is to celebrate those who make the responsible choice not to drive impaired. After experiencing unimaginable loss, Beth McBride and Carli Seymour chose purpose. Through… Continue reading Be the Light episode 5: The Bar Fairies – From Loss to Purpose
Millard Urquhart. a native of Jonesport, Maine, was born in 1899. After a couple of years working as a Coast Guard surfman at a local lifeboat station, Urquhart became the second assistant keeper at Ram Island Ledge Light in Cape Elizabeth in 1926. In the following year he moved to Seguin Island as a second… Continue reading Light Hearted ep 349 – Bertha Caler, granddaughter of Maine keeper Millard Urquhart
This is an edited interview first heard in May 2021, and the subject is Montauk Lighthouse on Long Island, New York. Located at the eastern tip of Long Island, Montauk is the oldest (1797) lighthouse in New York and the fourth oldest active lighthouse in the country. When the light station was automated and de-staffed… Continue reading Light Hearted Lite #40 – Mia Certic and Henry Osmers, Montauk, NY
