Following is a copy of a press release sent out to newspapers today for Boon Island Lighthouse. I thought you would all enjoy seeing it.

Tim



No doughnut wars at tiny island nation


As the giants in the doughnut business scramble for franchise locations, the most unique advertising gimmicks and new flavors of doughnuts, there won't be any doughnut wars in the Republic of Boon Island; the island nation located six miles off the coast of Maine and New Hampshire.



In declaring Congdon's Doughnuts of Wells, Maine, as the official doughnut of the Republic of Boon Island, the island's Regent, Tim Harrison said, “This is a great day for the Republic of Boon Island. Our residents, when and if we ever get any, will not be subject to the mass media advertising and doughnut wars that are taking place on the mainland. There will be only one brand of doughnut allowed on the island and that will be Congdon's Doughnuts!



Congdon's owner Gary Leech said he has also agreed with the non elected officials of the Republic to deliver, free of charge, fresh doughnuts to the island's residents every day, seven days a week, when and if the island should actually ever get any inhabitants.



Harrison, the self proclaimed Regent Lord Master of the tiny island republic said that Congdon's will also be given the prime choice of locations to build a doughnut shop on the island, saying, “Perhaps next door to the new casino we are thinking of building on the island. That would be what we call prime real estate for a doughnut shop. After all, gamblers need coffee and doughnuts to stay awake at the slot machines and we want the gamblers to be happy when they visit the island.”



When Harrison asked how the officials of the Republic decided on Congdon's as the official doughnut shop, he said, “That's simple. We are a corrupt government. We accept bribes. Gary Leech of Congdon's Doughnuts was the first doughnut shop to come forward with the cash to purchase that right.”



When asked how they intended to get the doughnuts out to the island every day, Harrison was quick to answer, “The Isles of Shoals Steamship Company out of Portsmouth. They own the rights as the official steamship company of the republic. In fact their owner, Robin Whitaker was the first official citizen.”



Now this may all seem a little bizarre to anyone not familiar with what is going on at Boon Island, the home to the tallest lighthouse off the Maine and New Hampshire coast. It's all part of a fund raising campaign by the Wells, based nonprofit American Lighthouse Foundation to raise money to restore the lighthouse, a campaign that started back in April and has a long way to go before it raises enough money to start restoration.



Harrison, who is perfectly serious about all this, although its all being done in fun, says it's a unique way to raise money to save one of Maine's lighthouses, which is what his volunteer group is trying to do. He goes on to say that what most of the tourists see are the lighthouses that are in pristine condition, the tourist attraction lighthouses. “However, many of our lighthouses are in danger of being lost forever, and we must act now to save them”, said Harrison.



Leech, said he hopes that his actions, by purchasing the rights as Congdon's to be the official doughnut of the Republic, will encourage other business to step forward to purchase rights for their business and help save Boon Island Lighthouse and others like it.



Harrison said, “Everything is for sale, for the right price. We still need lots of other types of businesses such as car dealer, restaurant, repair shop, gas station, hardware store, accountant, bank, framing shop, gift shop, video store, camera shop, as well as such items as the official coffee, bread, soda, cookie, milk, water, snack, shoe; you name it, we need it! Plus, the business gets a wonderful certificate to hang up in their place of business to show the world that they are the official "whatever' of an entire nation – and they know that they've helped save the lighthouse. But, you must be a citizen before you can consider becoming an official business of the republic, and citizenship, which comes with an official certificate and passport, is only $25.00.”



To learn more about the Republic of Boon Island go to www.LighthouseFoundation.org and click on Republic of Boon Island or call them at 207-646-0245. And the next time you visit Boon Island Lighthouse, stop by for a Congdon's doughnut.