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Lighthouse closing in August for month

As the Port Boca Grande Lighthouse closes for the month of August for maintenance, the Barrier Island Parks Society has announced what their latest developments are as far as upcoming events and lighthouse news.

“Besides our normal deep cleaning and waxing of floors in August, we are in the process of creating exciting new exhibits and updating existing ones,” said Sharon McKenzie, the executive director of the museum and the Barrier Island Parks Society. “In the early fall we will be transferring our records to a new museum archival system, which we now have thanks to the Boca Grande Woman’s Club.”

The theme for the 2011 Green Gala has been announced, and will be “Viva Las Vegas,” and two new events – a sunset pig roast on November 27 and a “Cookout in Paradise” on April 16  – will also be held.

McKenzie said the museum’s storage facility on Lafitte St. should also be complete this fall, which will give more room to move when it comes to rotating exhibits from other lighthouses.

The gift shop will also re-open with new artists adding their wares to the shelves.

Lise Yust, Hil Dee Fisher and Mel Landon are three local artists that will be showcased.

“The new pottery by Hil Dee Fisher that we are carrying is amazing, we have new pieces by Mel Landon and we still have fabulous favorites like our beautiful shell jewelry, art by Patti Middleton and too many others to name,” McKenzie said.

McKenzie is also working with several agencies in an ongoing attempt to convince the Federal Bureau of Land Management, the Coast Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers to relinquish their claim on the Rear Range Light off Gulf Blvd. The change has already gone through the approval stage with the Coast Guard, but now has to clear the Department of Defense.

At a BIPS meeting in late 2007, President Bruce Stirling said that several concerned citizens had volunteered to help in repainting the range light, which has fallen into disrepair over the years. Stirling said they would first have to obtain permission for right-of-way to the range light before any repairs to peeling paint and rust could begin.

McKenzie said a grant request has been put together, but not filed, to clean up the base of the range light.