New London Maritime Society to Host Gala to Restore Lighthouse, 7/22

New London Maritime Society announces a major Gala Celebration-Community Fundraiser to take place Thursday, July 25, from 6 to 8 p.m. at New London's Port 'N Starboard restaurant, Ocean Beach Park. The New London Maritime Society maintains there are things worth saving, and New London's Harbor lighthouse -- the oldest and tallest on Long Island Sound -- is one of them. The celebration is part of a major fund-raising campaign: Be Part of Something BIG, an effort to restore & repaint New London Harbor Light. Tickets are a $35 donation. Please call 860-447-2501 to reserve your place; reservations must be made by July 22. 2013.

The event is an opportunity for the community to celebrate the lighthouse's appearance on a US Postal Service Forever stamp while supporting its preservation. The party features music by the Venlo Odom Trio, chowda' & hors d'oeuvres, and lighthouse cakes commissioned from area bakers. Special guests will provide some surprise entertainment.

NLMS's goal is to raise $150,000 from the public towards the total of near-$300,000 required for the estimated restoration task (tenting, scaffolding, scraping, re-pointing, painting). Already NLMS has secured more than $65,000 from sponsors and foundations.Fees from visitors to the lighthouse and from the Society's Lighthouse Saturday events also have contributed to the sum. The goal is to raise $150,000 by October, 2013, to match a State of Connecticut Historic Restoration Fund grant to reach an ultimate goal of $300,000. Sponsors to date include: Hefel Masonry LLC, Captain Scott's Lobster Dock,Ocean Beach Park, The Big House B&B, CTrides, New England Regional Council of Carpenters, Stone Masons Union, Dave Fallon, Fishers Island Ferry, the Cristofori Foundation, and the Eschenfelder Family.

Says NLMS director Susan Tamulevich, "Community support is overwhelming; people are offering what help they can, from chowder to overnight accommodations to performances. The generous in-kind contributions offered by area stone masons, carpenters and machinists promises to substantially reduce the overall out-of-pocket cost of this restoration."

Since 2010, the Maritime Society has been the steward for New London Harbor Light, holding the historic 1801 lighthouse in trust and making it accessible for present and future generations. An 2011 historic building assessment revealed problems with the lighthouse windows and cracks in its masonry structure. Lichen growing in the paint on the lighthouse exterior must be thoroughly removed before painting can begin. Any donation is helpful - please send to New London Maritime Society, Lighthouse Fund, 150 Bank St. New London, 06320.

Donations accrue a series of benefits:
- $35 gets you one ticket to the Chowda' & Lighthouse Cake Gala celebration at Port N' Starboard at Ocean Beach on Thursday evening, July 25, 6 to 8 p.m.
- $50 also gets you a large & lovely New London Harbor Light Print
- $75 also gets you a souvenir brick from the lighthouse wall destroyed by Superstorm Sandy.
- $150 also gives you one ticket to the whale tooth lottery (yes, that's right!)
- $300 also gets you dinner for two in the lighthouse.
- $1,000 also gets you two invitations to an elegant end-of-campaign dinner celebration.

Bring a friend to visit the Custom House; take a boat trip, hear a concert, and come to the Lighthouse Gala: Be part of something BIG.

New London Maritime Society's mission is to preserve and promote the maritime history of the City of New London, it's people, its port, the Thames River, and Long Island Sound; and to maintain and preserve three buildings that embody this maritime heritage: the New London Custom House, Race Rock Light, and New London Harbor Light--the oldest and tallest lighthouse on Long Island Sound, which the Society 'adopted' in 2010.

For more information, visit nlmaritimesociety.org.

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