MaineBusiness.com

The public is invited and encouraged to participate in the 2nd annual “Lights Across the Border” International Lighthouse Challenge that will be held on Saturday September 12.
The day long event is a joint effort by three different lighthouse groups to have people view and visit five “Downeast” lighthouses that include, Head Harbour Lighthouse and Muholland Lighthouse, both on Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada, and Lubec Channel Lighthouse and West Quoddy Lighthouse, both in Lubec, and the Little River Lighthouse in Cutler, Maine.

The “Challenge” event is sponsored by the Friends of Head Harbour Lighthouse, West Quoddy Head Light Keeper’s Association and Friends of Little River Lighthouse and is cosponsored by the Machias Savings Bank, and Lighthouse Digest Magazine, a Maine based national lighthouse history and news publication.

The event is a self guided tour in which participants receive a map with the area’s lighthouses, which is stamped at each lighthouse after it is visited. A Certificate of Completion is awarded after all five lighthouses have been visited. The event starts in the morning at Head Harbour Lighthouse on Campobello Island in New Brunswick, and finishes in the afternoon with boat trips, weather permitting, to Little River Lighthouse in Cutler. Weather permitting; the towers at West Quoddy, Head Harbour and Little River lighthouses will all be open for climbing.

The cost for the day long event is only $15 per person and pre-registration is suggested.
The event will have special T-shirts, hats, and other souvenir items that will only be available for sale on the day of the event that will feature the logo of the “Lights Across the Border" International Lighthouse Challenge. Passports or Passport Cards are required to cross to and from the United States and to or from Campobello Island, Canada.

The event booklet which includes a history of the lighthouses and maps are available at the lighthouses and by mail. The registration fee of $15.00 per person is encouraged before the event. Early registrants will receive a free tote bag with the logo of the “Lights Across the Border.” More information can be obtained by calling Kathleen Finnegan at 207-259-3638 or Debra Bridges at 207-733-2180.

Tim Harrison of the Friends of Little River Lighthouse said, “Last year’s event drew over 500 people to the area, many who had never been here before and we hope more show up this year. But this event is also for the locals. It’s a great way to visit our lighthouses and meet other people who also enjoy visiting them and learning about their history.”

Harrison also pointed out that as well as drawing public attention to the historic lighthouses, they expect it will bring tourist revenue into the area. Working in partnership with the lighthouse groups to help with promote the event and assist people in finding accommodations are the Machias Bay Area Chamber of Commerce at www.machiaschamber.org and the Cobscook Bay Area Chamber of Commerce at www.cobscookbay.com.

Registrations for the event can be made on-line at www.LittleRiverLight.org or by mailing $15.00 per person to: “Lights Across The Border,” Lighthouse Challenge, P.O. Box 671, East Machias, ME 04630, USA.