Received this message today from Craig Manson, regarding the ownership struggle for Currituck Light. Three cheers!!!

Today I have determined that the Outer Banks Conservationists, Inc., of
Manteo, North Carolina, should have ownership of the historic Currituck
Beach Lighthouse. My decision was made in accordance with the National
Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000 (NHLPA).


Under the NHLPA, the preservation of the lighthouse comes first. The
standard to be applied is the "best stewardship" standard; that is, on the
record, which applicant appears best able to provide for the preservation
of the lighthouse. No other consideration is relevant. That was the sole
basis for today's decision.


The NHLPA is alive and well. The National Park Service soon will be
announcing successful applicants for a number of other historic
lightstations.


As with all processes, we strive to learn and improve constantly in
the lighthouse program. I have directed the National Park Service to
immediately commence a public process to develop improved policies for
review of lighthouse applications, especially in cases where more than one
entity has applied. All points of view will be considered in the NPS
policy process and all who are interested in lighthouses or historic
preservation are encouraged to participate. Information will be made
available soon about this process.

Yeah...its "safe" for the time being. But something tells me that we'll need to keep a vigil on the folks from Currituck County. Now its the "Zoning Law Game" that they want to play. Who knows what'll come after that.

You might want to check out this nice story in the Richmond Times-Dispatch about the decision to uphold the transfer of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse to the Outer Banks Conservationists: Richmond Times-Dispatch

Best,
Paul Conlin
Acting Secretary,
American Lighthouse Foundation

I'm glad to hear the Outer Banks Conservationists have won their battle. It's been a long, hard road for them. I'm surprised the town of Currituck would even have tried taking the light house from the group that worked so hard to bring it back to it's original beauty. Now if we can just get all of the other lighthouses out of the hands of greedy government officials and into the hands of groups that would care for them, we wouldn't have any lighthouses on the endangered list.

Not all government entities and officials are the low life greedy scum as found in Currituck County. Many of these folks are truly appreciative of the trust given them when a lighthouse was put into their care. Many have gone to great extent to insure that the lights are kept up and kept open to everyone. While they are burdened by rules and procedures that a non-profit might not have to endure, these good managers find a way to get the job done. I have had the privilege to meet a number of these good folks, and fortunately have rarely run into those as self centered and full of themselves as the Currituck Crud. (IMNSHO, of course)

Dave

Let's just hope that no other group that has worked so diligently to lovingly restore and care for a lighthouse, ever has to be put through what the OBC Inc. has had to endure for over two years.

Judy

Just when you thought it was safe, the idiot strikes again . . . .

Please everyone, read that article that DaveH has linked to. It will make your blood boil and wonder just how many shots a loser gets at the winner.

Making up stuff and asking the USCG appears to work.

Now the threat that "OK, you guys won, but you won't be able to park on OUR property or use OUR bathrooms..."

Looks like we may need to schedle a "Park In" or a [rhymes with] "Sit In" to establish the public's rights to use public facilities.

Can we schedule Congressman Jones as a speaker for the next Reunion? A public vilification might give him the message he can't seem to get otherwise.

Congressman Walter Jones has been invited to attend the big 200th Celebration of Cape Hatteras Lighthouse on October 18th .. if he dares to show up, those of us there could certainly mount some kind of response! The OBLHS doesn't have a lot of the info online yet about the big weekend event, but here's a little:

Celebrate 200 years of Light at Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Buxton. Outer Banks Lighthouse Society/National Park Service host events for all ages beginning 10:00am - Authors, Music, Re-enactments, Puppets. No Charge to Lighthouse visitors this day.

I'll be down there for the entire week 11-19 October and ready to roil!

SandySea

Hi Sandy!

So glad you are going to be there for this wonderful historical event! I will see you there!

There are several members here, that I know will also be there...Shirin, Gary Martin, and Pharsolvr, a.k.a. Brent Westwood.

You will find a lot of information here under the forum of "Lighthouse Duty", and information about the OBLHS Raffle and the on-going sale of the "First Day" stamp cancellation envelopes(caches) under the forum "Lighthouse Preservation."

I hope anyone reading this will consider making the trip to the Outer Banks for "The Keeper's Weekend", Oct. 17th & 18th. The events are open to everyone...and we will be celebrating the 200th Birthday of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse!!

Look forward to seeing you in October, Sandy!

Judy Castleberry
castleberry1@comcast.net

The following is a portion of an e-mail sent out to members yesterday from Cheryl Roberts, President of The Outer Banks Lighthouse
Society...

The article referenced is of course, the one that appears in the Sentinel that Dave refers us to.

How do we stop the havoc this one congressman has managed to create?...and when this attempt fails, as all his previous atttempts, what torture will he put OBC,Inc. through next?

The citizens of Currituck County have not lost the lighthouse!
Currituck Beach Lighthouse has not moved from the piece of real estate it sits on.

The citizens of Currituck County have not lost this wonderful lighthouse, and the beautiful Victorian dwellings...thanks to the hard work and tender loving care for many years of the Outer Banks Conservationists.

If the good citizens of Currituck County had only the county government to depend on, the whole complex would have been destroyed 20 some years ago.

While we watch in disgust and worry, life goes on at the lighthouse, and the public is able to visit...to enjoy the beautiful grounds, and
the gift shop...and climb the tower for $6.00...all thanks to OBC,Inc!!

"KTF"...Judy