24 April 2007 Resolution 2007-408 adopted for transfer of Plum Island Lighthouse to the Town of Southold.
27 August 2006 Even though the Little Gull Light Station is no longer manned, and has been fully automated by the Coast Guard, it is still fulfilling its mission of saving lives. When approaching Little Gull Island this a.m. on a trial run for landing on Little Gull in preparation for the public event in recognition of its 200th anniversary, the radio came alive regarding two individuals stranded on the island. See the complete story.
27 June 2006 East End Lighthouses hosted a lighthouse cruise for 44 members of the Island Trees Library on the Peconic Star II. Cruise included a buffet by Aquabogue Mini Mart and Pelligrini Wines, with lighthouse and maritime history narration by Merlon Wiggin.
9 June 2006 Merlon Wiggin made a Power Point presentation on the Lighthouse of Southold Town to the 4th grade at the Oysterponds school.
3 June 2006 11th Annual Offshore Lighthouse Cruise. 330 participants embarked on Cross Sounds ferry to New London despite the early fog and a late-day shower.
26 May 2006 The fifth annual 4th grade lighthouse contest was held at the Greenport School following a presentation by Merlon Wiggin on the history of local lighthouses. The two first-place winners were Lauren Smith and Moses Gonzalez, who along with their parents received a complementary trip on East End Lighthouses' June 3rd cruise. Contest judges were Barbara Clapps and Merlon Wiggin.
20 December 2005 East End Lighthouses installs Memorial Wreath on Orient Point Lighthouse. See Memorial Wreath 2005.
8 December 2005 Annual Lighthouse Recognition Day, 6 pm to 8 pm at Peconic Landing. Wine and a buffet were served.
29 April 2005 East End Lighthouses and the East End Seaport Museum signed an agreement entitled "Stipulation of Settlement," and mutually agreed to work together for the maintenance of Long Beach Bar "Bug" Light as an Aid To Navigation.  See Long Beach Bar.
26 March 2005 It has been brought to our attention, from the USCG, that the episode of Ghost Hunters that featured the Race Rock Lighthouse, with a photo selected from this web site, was viewed by 20 million people.
15 December 2004 The Photo Gallery has been updated with photos of the past year's events. Also, check out the new aerial photos of some of the lighthouses on each of the lighthouses web pages.
30 October 2004 A Sci-fi Channel production of "Ghost Hunters" features one of Southold Town's picturesque lighthouses. The lighthouse is Race Rock and the show was broadcast on NBC at 9PM on Saturday, October 30, 2004.
27 October 2004 Thanks for telling me about your fabulous website during our recent telephone conversation about the L.I. Historical Journal review. Your website is truly outstanding. The historical data, maps and photos are all superb.

With every best wish for the continued success of your splendid efforts to preserve and publicize a very important part of our nation's heritage.

Marilyn W.
3 February 2004 Homeland Security advised that they were reviewing the possibility of relighting Plum Island Lighthouse as part of the 50-year celebration of the establishment of the Plum Island Animal Disease Center. Event may include recognition and coordination with our 5 June 2004 Offshore Lighthouse Cruise.
January 2004 In response to US Coast Guard directive that Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotillas consider "adopting a lighthouse" so as to assist active duty Coast Guard in some of their present duties, Flotilla 18-08 has made an initial recommendation to Division 18 for adoption of Horton Point and Long Beach Bar Lighthouses.
23 December 2003 Memorial Wreath donated by Santa's Christmas Tree Farm, placed on the Orient Point Lighthouse by Merlon Wiggin and Peter Douglass of Douglass Marine
10 December 2003 Merlon Wiggin worked with the Superintendent of Greenport School to Organize and put on a 4th Grade Lighthouse contest similar to the one in Spring 2003.
11-13 November 2003 Merle Wiggin attended the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Seminar in St. Augustine. Present were representatives of the Coast Guard, GSA, National Park Service and other officials knowledgeable on the transfer of lighthouses to local entities, something we will be faced with, maybe as soon as next year. A report is being prepared.
18 October 2003 Annual meeting and election of officers held at Claudios. By-laws changed to provide for staggered three-year terms of the Board and to permit the exploration of a possible lighthouse museum. For the complete annual report, please contact us for a copy.
18 September 2003 Because of Hurricane Isabel, the Maine Lighthouse trip and Cruise had to be cancelled. It has been re-scheduled for June 25-27 2004. Because of the limited number, early reservations are suggested.
23 August 2003 The second Lighthouse and History Cruise on the Peconic Star II. Because of their popularity, consideration is being given to having three of them next year.
19 July 2003 Lighthouse and History Cruise on the Peconic Star II. Another sold-out event. No one gets closer to the lighthouses than Capt. Dave. As always the close-to-shore views of Gardner's Island were spectacular.
2 July, 2003 East End Lighthouses launch their redesigned web site. The new site features improved navigation, more maps, more photos and easier access to information on becoming a member of the organization. The designer of the site is our current webmaster and son of our president Dr. Merlon Wiggin, Michael of MAS design.
23 May, 2003 44 members of Greenport Schools fourth grade participate in an Art & Essay contest about the lighthouses of Southold Town. Essays and Photos
4 March, 2003 The History of the Lighthouses of Southold Town Power Point Presentation was given to approximately 50 members of the Greenport's School Fourth Grade class along with their teachers, principal and superintendent.
See following letter of appreciation.
23 February, 2003 The History of the Lighthouses of Southold Town Power Point Presentation was given to members of the Cedar Swamp Historical Society, Oyster Bay, LI, NY.
28 January, 2003 This letter was received from the Southold Town Chief of Police supporting the relighting of the Plum Island Lighthouse.
13 December, 2002 Merle Wiggin, with the assistance of the Coast Guard, has written a Power Point presentation (computerized slide show) of the Lighthouses of Southold Town. This very informative, historic presentation is scheduled to be given to local school groups. If you are part of a community group and would like to have this presentation, please call 631-477-4121 for available dates.
10 December, 2002

East End Lighthouses places a wreath on the Orient Point Lighthouse in memory of all of the area's former lighthouse keepers, including the Coast Guard. The wreath is also in special remembrance of those who lost their lives in the construction of the area's lighthouses.

East End Lighthouses received special approval and encouragement to install this Memorial Wreath by the Commander, Coast Guard Group, Long Island Sound. The wreath was donated by Shamrock Christmas Tree Farm of Mattituck; marine transportation was provided by Douglass Marine; with fastening materials provided by Costello Marine and Colin Ratsey. Wreath was installed by Board Members Rich Saetta and Merlon Wiggin, along with Peter Douglass.
4 December, 2002 East End Lighthouses contributes to having Abbie Burgess's loom placed in the Museum of Lighthouse History. Abbie Burgess is probably the best known heroine of lighthouses. She is credited with saving her invalid mother and three sisters during a violent storm in January 1856. The 17-year-old Abbie also kept Matinicus Rock Light burning for a month when her father was marooned ashore during the storm that swept away the keeper's house. Abbie moved her mother and sisters into the lighthouse and thereby saved the whole family from certain death.
3 December, 2002

The publisher of Lighthouse Digest, the only monthly lighthouse publication, has made a special arrangement with East End Lighthouses that for every subscription that we sell, $10.00 will be donated to East End Lighthouses. Yearly subscriptions are $28.00 and can be made by printing the attached form and mailing to:

Lighthouse Digest
P. O. Box 1690
Wells, ME 04090-9959

Please tell all of your friends.
28 November, 2002 East End Lighthouses, Inc. became a member of Long Island Visitors and Convention Bureau. As they are linking our site with theirs, this will greatly expand our exposure to our lighthouse efforts.
6 November, 2002 Merlon Wiggin, President of East End Lighthouses, recently became Coast Guard qualified as a Watchstander (Lighthouse Keeper) of Boston Light. Boston Light, located on Little Brewster Island, is the oldest light station in the nation (1716) and is currently the only light station still staffed by the U.S. Coast Guard. To date he is the first and only one to become professionally qualified from Long Island. This means that he can, and already has, been substituted for an active duty Coast Guardsman.
6 October , 2002 On October 2nd the Southold Town Board passed two resolutions of special importance to East End Lighthouses. The first, 628, provided support to the relighting of the Plum Island Lighthouse in response to the safety concerns of the local vessel operators. The second, 629, asked support for East End Lighthouses toward the acquisition of Little Gull and Race Rock Lighthouses when they are assessed by the Coast Guard. Please read these important resolutions carefully and provide your input. The acquiring of these offshore lighthouses will result in a unique and challenging series of responsibilities that we have never faced before. Your support is a must.
6 September, 2002 Our president, Dr. Merlon E. Wiggin, has received his USCG orders to function as Assistant Lighthouse Keeper at Boston Harbor Light, the only manned lighthouse in the United States. He will be performing this duty during the last week of September 2002.
5 September, 2002 Effective today, East End Lighthouses is now officially a Chapter of the
American Lighthouse Foundation.
14 August, 2002

Important Announcement

In August of 2002 the American Lighthouse Foundation voted for East End Lighthouses to become a Chapter in their Foundation with all rights and purposes including a joint membership. All interested lighthouse people are invited to join and thereby provide support to our efforts. For your convenience a membership form is enclosed on this site. Please follow this link to our Membership Page for detailed information.
22 July, 2002

Block Island trip Continental Breakfast

We apologize for the promised continental breakfast aboard the Block Island boat not being available. As this was a fundraiser for the Plum Island Lighthouse, many of you indicated you would donate the allotted $5.00 for this to the event; for this, we especially thank you. For those who would like the $5.00 refunded as promised, please e-mail us accordingly and we will send it to you. Thanks again for joining us on our first Block Island Lighthouse trip. Should we do it again?
30 June, 2002 Seventy-one guests are on board for our Block Island Cruise. For details and photos, click here
22 and 23 June, 2002 First annual Bass and Bluefish Tournament takes place. For details and photos, click here
6 June, 2002

The following is one of the many e-mail's we have received concerning the
2002 Offshore Lighthouse Cruise.

Hello,

I was fortunate to participate in last weekend's Lighthouse Tour. I just wanted to say what a marvelous day it was -- the weather was gorgeous, Merle Wiggin's commentary was superb, and the food was excellent. Oh, and the lighthouses were pretty nice, too! It was wonderful to spend a day on the water ogling the beautiful lighthouses. I got some great shots for my album and met some lovely fellow lighthouse enthusiasts. I can't think of a better way to spend a day!

My sincere congratulations on a job well done!

Vivian Piper
1 June, 2002 Three hundred seventy lighthouse lovers from as far away as Texas sailed on Cross Sound's "North Star" to nine East End lighthouse locations on Saturday, June 1st.
5 May, 2002 Inquiry received regarding our June 1 Lighthouse Cruise. "Are you the class act lighthouse cruise with the five course lunch and Long Island wines or are you the one with the box lunch and a bottle of water?"

Answer: We are the class act.
16 April , 2002 The Sunday, June 30, 2002, Block Island Lighthouse Tour is now fully booked.
27 March, 2002 The June 1, 2002 Offshore Lighthouse Cruise is now fully booked. If you would like to be placed on a standby list please e-mail your name, mailing address and phone number to eastlite@optonline.net. In case of a postponement of the cruise by the ferry company because of weather, to the alternate date of June 8th, the standby list will be used to fill any vacancies that might occur.
23 March, 2002 June 1, 2002 lighthouse cruise tickets selling rapidly. As of today we are 80% booked. For info e-mail eastlite@optonline.net.
6 March, 2002 We have just learned that our web site has been voted to be one of the top 50 in the world. Way to go, Mike, keep up the good work. Our web site is also becoming increasingly popular. We are getting over a 1000 hits a day, nearly 30,000 in February alone. Please e-mail us your comments and suggestions.
4 March, 2002 We have been advised by Plum Island that because of the events of 9/11 they are having to curtail non-research related activities. This means that our tentatively planned barbecue at the Plum Island Lighthouse will have to be canceled for this year.
28 February, 2002 Do not get confused with today's notice by the East End Maritime Museum's that they are having a lighthouse cruise on June 2. Ours is June 1, and was set by our board last October. Our Offshore Lighthouse Cruise, on the Cross Sounds, North Star is the same one originally established by Merlon Wiggin in 1996 to benefit the area's lighthouses and has been a sellout every year since.
6 February, 2002 George Costello and Colin Ratsey are organizing Eastern Long Island Lighthouses first annual fishing tournament.
25 January, 2002 The February issue of Offshore magazine has an interesting article and pictures of the Seguin Island, Maine, Light. It is Maine's second oldest light, and the only 1st order lens in use north of Virginia. Their web site is www.seguinisland.org.
1 January, 2002 Former Southold Town Supervisor Jean Cochran joins the Board of Directors of East End Lighthouses.
11 August, 2001 Plum Island Lighthouse Restoration fund raising Barbecue takes place.
21 June, 2001 Mini Lighthouse and History Cruise sails in perfect weather.