FAULKNER’S LIGHT BRIGADE MOVES SPRING 2010 LECTURE SERIES TO THE GUILFORD FREE LIBRARY

The Board of Directors of Faulkner’s Light Brigade is pleased to announce that the 2010 Spring Lecture Series will be presented in collaboration with the Guilford Free Library.  Gail Jewiss, Board member and program chairperson of the Faulkner’s Light Brigade states that this is an exciting change for the Brigade and is bound to be a win-win for both organizations. 

This series brings back favorites Joel Helander, founder of the Light Brigade and town historian, who will repeat the first lecture program presented by the Board on Mar. 27, 1995 and the Ancient Mariners who will undoubtedly sing their ballad written about our beloved Faulkner’s.  We are thrilled to add two new speakers to this line up, Rick Potvin, refuge manager of the Stewart B, McKinney Wildlife refuge, and Mark Lender whose column “Salt Marsh Diary” appeared for nine years in CT  news publications.  He now reads from the Diary on NPR.

“A Colony on the Edge, the Struggle to Save Connecticut’s only Roseate Tern Colony”  Rick Potvin
 7:00 PM Tuesday January 19, 2010
Rick Potvin is the Connecticut Refuge Manager for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, He oversees all of the activities on several islands on the Connecticut shoreline to include Faulkner Island. Falkner Island is 3.5 miles off the shore of Guilford, CT and was once the third largest roseate tern nesting colony of the Northeast. However, beginning in 1970s, the number of roseate terns nesting at Falkner Island began to decline. The US Fish & Wildlife Service have taken a number of steps to protect the birds. During the most recent nesting seasons the refuge has increased its fledgling rate. The struggle to save this endangered species will be discussed.

“Ancient Mariners in Concert”
  7:00 PM Tuesday February 16, 2010

The Ancient Mariners, Connecticut, Fife & Drum Corps, were founded July 4, 1959 by Roy Watrous, a Guilford native with a passion for the sea, who recognized the possibilities of forming a musical group with a nautical theme. With the ring of the fife & drum in his ear, and the haunting melodies of the chanties from the days of the square rigger, his vision of the Ancient Mariners became a reality. Their portrayal of the common sailor of 1812, brings to life a vivid display of the colonial seaman through an enthusiastic rendition of a musical good time. Built around the wood fife and the rope tension drum, the Mariners play and sing a variety of traditional music. From up tempo hornpipes and jigs to the work songs used aboard ship, the story of the ancient sailor is told.

“Life and Times of Captain Oliver N. Brooks on Faulkner’s Island Light Station” Joel Helander
  7:00 PM Tuesday March 16, 2010

                Joel Helander           Photo by Pam Johnson

In the 1980’s the state of Faulkner's Island lighthouse looked bleak. Joel Helander, a Guilford historian with a life-long affinity for Faulkner's Island, acquired an acute sense that the neglect was threatening the lighthouse revered by mainlanders and mariners. He realized that an action campaign was needed to halt the runaway erosion that was endangering this historic landmark. Believing that such a campaign must begin with awareness and appreciation, he published a definitive account of the island's history in a book in 1988. His presentation will focus on a fascinating light keeper and his family.
Oliver N. Brooks served as keeper of the light on Faulkner’s Island from 1851 to 1882. Over one hundred vessels were wrecked in the vicinity of the island during his tenure, through no fault of the light or its keeper. In November 1858 Keeper Brooks rescued five people from the grounded schooner Moses F. Webb. He received a gold medal from the New York Life Saving Society for his heroism, and his salary was soon raised to $500 per year. The entire Brooks family played musical instruments, and visitors were sometimes treated to impromptu concerts. According to an 1888 newspaper article, the Brooks family "made a paradise out of that little island."

“Tern, Tern, Tern” Mark Lender
7:00 PM Tuesday April 27, 2010

Mark Seth Lender is a self-taught writer and nature photographer.  He is known in New England for his column, Salt Marsh Diary www.SaltMarshDiary.com. For nine years, Salt Marsh Diary was syndicated to 100,000 Connecticut households through the Journal Register Group, and continues to appear in print through the publications of various conservation organizations, notably the Connecticut Audubon Society. Currently, Mark Lender writes and reads his own segment for the Public Radio International program Living on Earth (www.LOE.org) with a reach of 80% of the NPR market. Birds & Bards ©, coupling his photographs and wildlife journals with the work of major American poets, was just brought out as a front page feature of the Poetry Society of America on their website (www.poetrysociety.org).
Mark will be discussing how terns communicate, as they have a very large repertoire. He will also speak about habitat loss for the terns. Mark will have many photos to show the audience for their enjoyment.

Second Annual Writing Contest Presentations and Awards
7:00 PM Tuesday June 1, 2010

The Guilford Free Library is located at 67 Park Street, Guilford CT 06437 203-453-8282

For more information on the Library, please visit their web site at: The Guilford Free Library

“THE ISLANDER”
FLB NEWS AND VIEWS
November 2009 Is out!

 Click Here to see the November 2009 issue of "The Islander".

We hope to do all of our communications with the membership electronically in the near future. Please send your email address to Bill Bussmann, FLB Membership Chairman, at wbussmann290@aol.com

Please email us with your comments and ideas for future issues :  faulknerslightbrigade@gmail.com

QUIZ: WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT FAULKNER'S ISLAND?

(ANSWERS BELOW)

1. What type of terns nest on Faulkner's Island?

2. When they fledge, where do they winter?

3. Can you name at least 3 other birds that can be seen on or around Faulkner's.

4. What bird did the island receive its name from?

5. What's the largest mammal that can be seen on Faulkner's during the winter?

6. How many sides to the lighthouse?

7. How tall above the water is the light?

8. What is the source of power to operate the light?

9. Can you name the types of fuel that was used before the light was electrified?

10. What year was the lighthouse constructed?

11. Who was president at that time?

12. What year was the light keepers' house destroyed?

13. Since the island runs north to south, when looking north, what significant land structure
can be seen? Hint, it borders Durham.

14. What is the name of the large island almost south of Faulkner's?

15. If there's a light on the island, why is there a "navaid" (buoy) in the water just north of the
island?

16. What the name of the official publication of the Faulkner's Light Brigade?

17. How large is Faulkner's island?

18. How far is Faulkner's island off Guilford's coastline?

19. What is the importance of the lighthouse and island today?

20. Why is Faulkner's lighthouse so vulnerable?

21. What is the lighthouse's light effective range?

22. The island was purchased from Medad Stone for how much?

23. What year was the light converted to solar power?

24. Is access to the island ever restricted? Why and when?

25. What is the foundation material of the lighthouse?

26. Can you name two books and their authors that tell the story of Faulkner's Island?

27. Is a nautical mile longer or shorter than a statute mile?

28. What type of vessel has the island been mistaken for when seen from a distance?

 QUIZ ANSWERS:

1) Common & Roseate. 2) Brazil. 3) Cormorants, osprey, gulls, egrets, herons, oystercatchers. 4) Peregrine falcon. 5) Harbor seal & gray seal. 6) Eight. 7) Ninety feet. 8) Solar. 9) Whale oil, lard oil, kerosene. 10) 1802. 11) Thomas Jefferson. 12) 1976. 13) Bluff head. 14) Long Island. 15) North reef indicator. 16) Octagon. 17) 3 acres. 18) 3.5 miles. 19) Navigational aid & wildlife refuge. 20) Wind & tide, northeast exposure. 21) 13 to 15 nautical miles. 22) $325. 23) 1986. 24) All year except during open houses. It's a wildlife refuge. 25) Fieldstone. 26) The Island Called Faulkner's by Joel Helander & The Lighthouses of Connecticut by Jeremy D'Entremont. 27) Longer, it is 1.15 statue mile. 28) Submarine.

Built in 1802, Faulkner's Island Lighthouse is Connecticut's second oldest lighthouse tower, and is the only active light station on an island in the state. Faulkner's Island is about three and one half miles offshore from Guilford, Connecticut. (The exact location is 41 12 43 N, 72 39 15 W. Click here for a Mapquest map of the location.)

Faulkner's Island Light has been waging a war with nature. Erosion has been eating away at the bluff the lighthouse stands on at a rate of at least six inches per year, so that the tower now stands about 35 feet from the brink. In 1991, to try to save the venerable structure, the nonprofit Faulkner's Light Brigade was founded as a commission of the Guilford Preservation Alliance. The Faulkner's Light Brigade now has about 1,000 members. The rescue of Faulkner's Island Light is well underway, but the Faulkner's Light Brigade still needs your support.

On this site you can see some articles from our newsletter, read about the history of the lighthouse, see a gallery of photos, or get information about joining the Faulkner's Light Brigade. You can also read our Mission Statement,

100% cotton t-shirts with distinctive Faulkner's Light Brigade logo printed on left chest available in ash or sand, sizes M, L, X., & XXL. Price is $16.00 each plus $4.50 per order for shipping

Polo shirt with embroided image of Faulkner's Lighthouse is available in navy or hunter green in sizes S, M, L, XL, & XXL. Price is $29.00 plus $4.50 per order for shipping. These shirts can be personalized with a name at time of ordering for an additional $5.00.

Please make check payable to "FLB" and forward to: Faulkner's Light Brigade, c/o Joseph Nugent, 423 Whitfield Street, Guilford, Ct. 06437. If you have questions, please call Joe at (203) 453-4034. Please leave name and contact number with question.