Faulkner’s Island Open House will be held September 12 & 13.

As of  9/9/09, all ferry trips are fully booked, with a full standby list as well.
If you have made a reservation and are unable to come, please contact Marie Pohlman (203-421-3123 or email her at mpohlman4534@sbcglobal.net) so we can accommodate the people on the standby list.

The General Public Open House this year is the weekend of September 12th and 13th.   The US Fish & Wildlife Service will be providing free transportation out to the island. The ferry will depart each day from the Guilford Town Marina at 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 12:30 and 1:30.  They can accommodate 18 passengers each trip. For safety reasons, children must be 8 years or older. Visitors will have approximately 1 hour on the island. Please call Marie at 203-421-3123 or email her at mpohlman4534@sbcglobal.net for a ferry reservation. Those with reservations need to be at the Town Marina at least 15 minutes prior to their departure time or a standby passenger may be given the seat.
Private vessels are also welcome. The island will be open to visitors from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. September 12th & 13th. Upon arriving at Faulkner’s Island, all dinghies, kayaks, canoes, and inflatable’s should beach their crafts on the shore just north of the boat basin on the west side of the island.  We do not have a water taxi so mariners on larger vessels need to carry a small craft with them if they plan on visiting the island.
All events related to this Open House are weather related. As this is a joint venture of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the US Coast Guard, and the Faulkner’s Light Brigade, your safety is our primary concern.  Both the US Coast Guard and the US Fish & Wildlife Service will determine the day of the event if the island will be open to the public. 
We will keep an updated message at (203) 453-8400 each morning of the Open House.  As a result of the rapidly changing conditions on Long Island Sound, we do appreciate your understanding of weather related delays and cancellations.  

This has been updated on:  Thursday,September 10 , 2009

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

 Click Here to see the August 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.