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New
England
Lighthouse
Lovers
- NELL |
The Flying Santa arrived by helicopter and
was greeted by the Mayor before being mobbed by kids who received ILC coloring
books and balsam airplanes to fly. Rumor has it that Santa was also seen hugging
Penny Patch-Bartnicki. Rumor also has it that NELL member Seamond Roberts will
be flying as Elf with Santa on his rounds this December, a ride she is anxious
about but can't wait to go. :)
 Three NELL "couples" await the arrival of the Flying Santa at Clark's Point Light in Fort Taber. John and Noreen Waters (left) Shirley and Ron Drummer (separate benches) and Bob Taylor with Frank Carbone. |
 The Flying Santa pilots the helicopter to a soft landing. |
 Mayor Kalisz Jr. (wearing a NELL trip button) welcomes Santa. |
 (Photo by Penny & Chuck Bartnicki) |
The buttons Ron Foster made for this trip depicting the Lightship
Memorial and Nantucket moored nearby from a photo taken at the original
dedication ceremony. were presented to the Mayor, Art Motta, and ALF officers Tim Harrison, Kathy Finnegan, Bill Collette and Jim Walker. The Mayor and Art tried to have the fort opened for NELL to better view the light from its courtyard, but the man who showed up with all the keys in town couldn't find the right one and was willing to cut the lock off before we insisted it was not necessary.
We all enjoyed a bountiful picnic lunch from Subway in the Park
and then were supposed to split up with roughly half going to the US Coast
Guard Band Concert at the Zeiterion Theater in town, and the others treking-out to Palmer Island Lighthouse at low tide. Well, our good friend Art Motta was so appreciative of NELL's preservation efforts that he decided to take us out and open the light for us to climb. Everyone was so pleased that we got access, that nearly everyone planning to go to the Coast Guard Band concert trekked out to the island instead. Thanks to Arlene Pregman, Bob Wolfson And Gary and Jean Zunda for representing NELL at the concert which played a variety of music to a full house and was very well received with a rousing standing ovation.
 Palmer Island Light in New Bedford Harbor |
 Bob and Nina Wolfson contemplate the long trek out along the hurricane barrier ending in a split decision. Bob enjoyed the USCG Band Concert |
 Bob and Ellen Granoth wave as Bob Taylor and Reg and Maureen Kitching check out the Palmer Island Lighthouse |
 Members line up to climb the tower |
 Art Minor and Carolyn Carbone are ready to go while the others appear tired after reaching the island. |
 Tom Pregman checks out the modern optics. |