St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge and Lighthouse (FL) Reopen

The St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge — and the lighthouse in the refuge — in Florida reopened this week following the federal government shutdown. While the shutdown was in progress, members of the Friends of St. Marks Wildlife Refuge and other groups held clean ups and answered visitor questions.

The newly renovated keeper’s house is opened to the public on the first Friday and Saturday of each month and for special events. The tower is not open for climbing. For more information, contact the refuge at 850-925-6121.

Click here for more on this story.

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Brilliant Minds Work on Weekends at the National Lighthouse Museum (NY)

Your children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews 2-12 years old are invited to join the National Lighthouse Museum on Staten Island, New York, for this course that meets for four Saturdays. The goals are to learn about lighthouses — their purposes, architecture, history, and stories of their keepers through art. You may register for one or more sessions. Individual sessions are $20 each per student or all four sessions for $75 per student.

If you need additional information, please contact the Museum directly at 718-390-0040.

 

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Moonrise over Nubble Lighthouse (Maine)

Not a big news story here, just a fantastic photo of the rising full moon (well, a day after full) behind the famous Cape Neddick “Nubble” Lighthouse in York, Maine, by Manish Mamtani. Click here to check it out!

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Eric H. Davis 1961-2019

The lighthouse community lost a great friend with the passing of Eric Davis of Owls Head, Maine, on January 24, 2019. Eric, who lost a long and courageous battle with cancer, was chairperson of the Friends of Rockland Harbor Lights from 2010 to 2016, and he was president of the American Lighthouse Foundation from 2012 to 2016.

Bob Trapani Jr., executive director of the American Lighthouse Foundation, said, “His wonderful contributions to ALF were many, and his friendship was even more stellar. . . . The lights along the shore are burning a little dimmer in the wake of this sad news.”

Eric was a life-long musician and his biggest passion was traditional jazz music. He played upright bass for many years in several jazz groups, including the Eric Davis Jazz Trio. Shortly before he died, Eric created and endowed the Eric Davis Jazz Fund, as his legacy to promote and support traditional jazz music performance and education in Midcoast Maine. Per his request, a primary beneficiary will be the Midcoast Music Academy in Rockland.

Eric’s varied life experience included years as an IT professional, as an optician, and as a licensed massage therapist. As accurately stated in his obituary, “During his time with the American Lighthouse Foundation he became known and respected for listening to all sides of issues with his particular brand of objectivity, and then leading the discussion respectfully towards an effective consensus and resolution.”

Eric will be greatly missed. A celebration of his life will be held in the Knox Ballroom at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine, Saturday, Feb. 16, from 1 to 4 p.m.

You can read more about Eric Davis here.

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U.S. Lighthouse Society News is produced by the U.S. Lighthouse Society to support lighthouse preservation, history, education and research. You can receive these posts via email if you click on the “SUBSCRIBE” button in the right-hand column. Please support this electronic newsletter by joining the U.S. Lighthouse Society if you are not already a member.

If you have items of interest to the lighthouse community and its supporters, please email them to Jeremy at nelights@gmail.com.