bws #178 09/10

Ocean County Sites Participate in Lighthouse Challenge of NJ

OCEAN COUNTY -- Oct. 16 and 17 Barnegat Lighthouse and Tuckers Island Lighthouse will be participating in the Lighthouse Challenge of New Jersey, when hundreds of individuals with be driving along the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean, the Delaware River and the Delaware Bay to see all 12 of the state's diverse, land-based lighthouses in one weekend.

The challenge also includes the Tatham Life Saving Station and two museums, the Barnegat Light Museum which is home to the original 1,000 plate Fresnel lens that once topped the town's beacon and the Cape May County Museum.

While it is possible to visit all the sites in one frantic day, lighthouse managers recommend taking the more leisurely two-day option which will allow time to visit museums, interpretative centers, gift shops and to participate in affiliated activities which frequently involve authors, artists and other events focused on lighthouses at the sites. Tuckers Island Lighthouse also is participating in the night climbs being offered as a option at some sites.

Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari said that youngsters visiting Ocean County's lighthouses will receive a free coloring page that includes copies of the state license plates on which they appear. Barnegat Lighthouse is used on the shore protection license plates and Tuckers Island is used on the baymen's heritage plates.

"Since climbing the lighthouses is not necessary to participate in the challenge, this is a great intergenerational activity and one which is appropriate for all age groups," Freeholder Vicari said. Challengers purchase a souvenir flyer for $1 which is then stamped at each site visited. To learn more about the challenge, visit www.lighthousechallengenj.org.

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