FROM OBC NEWSLETTER:

After spending years and millions of dollars restoring the Currituck, North Carolina Lighthouse, the Outer Banks (OBC) applied for ownership of the lighthouse under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act ....

In an attempt to circumvent the law a local Congressman tried to introduce legislation to have a Congressional Transfer of the lighthouse to the local county government. The American Lighthouse Foundation found out about this one paragraph buried deep into other legislation. It was because of our massive emailing to thousands of people and the media that this was stopped.

Both the County and the OBC applied for ownership of the Currituck Lighthouse.

In the application process the OBC scored 97 out of 100 points
In the application process the county scored 33 out of 100 points

As allowed by Congress, the county appealed the process.

The retired judge overseeing the process has done nothing except to state that he wants to resolve the process by having OBC and the county re-apply as joint owners of the lighthouse.

If OBC had thought it would come to this, they would have applied for joint ownership with the state of North Carolina, which would have made a much better partner.

Basically, what is now happening is that the bill Congress passed is being sidestepped by a government official.

ALF has always supported the ownership of the Currituck Lighthouse by the non profit Outer Banks Conservationists, the only qualified group.
We were supported in that effort by every lighthouse group in the United States.

The only way to stop the law from being circumvented again is by calling today - now before 5PM est to Craig Manson the Assistant Secretary of Fish and Wildlife, at 202-208-5347 who will make the final decision. Tell him that you support the efforts of the Outer Banks Conservationists to own the lighthouse, and any other decision on his part would be a direct contradiction of the intent of Congress under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act.

Tim Harrison
President
American Lighthouse Foundation

That's right Ross - we have 9 days left to call and let our feelings about the Currituck Beach Lighthouse be known to Assistant Secretary Craig Manson of the Department of the Interior! We should all let him know that the Outer Banks Conservationists are the only ones who deserve to be awarded ownership of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, as they were the ones who restored and preserved this historic lightstation when there wasn't anyone else interested in caring for it!

You can reach Asst. Secretary Manson by phone at: 202-208-5347 or Email at: Craig_Manson@ios.doi.gov

Or you can try Kym Hall, who apparently is taking his messages at: Kym_Hall@nps.gov

The Outer Banks Conservationists Need Our Help Now! All Americans who are interested in preserving our Maritime Heritage and Saving Our Historic Lighthouses for future generations to enjoy should do everything they can to ensure that the ownership of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse is transferred to the Outer Banks Conservationists and no one else!

To transfer ownership of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse to anyone other than the OBC would make a mockery out of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000!

Respectfully,
Paul F. Conlin
Acting Secretary,
American Lighthouse Foundation