The DNR recently notified us of our successful grant application. We’re to receive $10,203 to be matched by $17,543 in volunteer labor.

The largest item is $3700 toward the vent ball and lantern room restoration. Smaller yet significant funding will help purchase a framing nailer and supply items for the Boathouse wood replacement project (the needed hemlock was purchased under a prior year grant); materials for Assistant Keeper’s window & door projects; paint & related supplies for multiple projects: additional grounds maintenance equipment; and an allowance for materials transport.

We are grateful for the ongoing support from the DNR and their Partnership Match Program.

Author and presenter Brendon Baillod stopped by our table at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Festival yesterday and shared information regarding his planned book about the shipwrecks around the Foxes and Beaver Island.

Photo shows Jackie & Tom McBride who volunteered at the FILA booth with Brendon Baillod (far right.) Photo credit Sandra White who also represented FILA at the event.

One of our “off season” activities is seeking out grants. As we get farther along in the restoration, many of the projects have greater resource requirements. We’re also trying to improve public access and interpretation — having teams available to give tours and provide signage when we’re not present.

Two grants have been submitted recently. One is our near-annual DNR Partnership grant that pays for most of our restoration materials, to be matched by volunteer hours. We’ve had good success with this grant in past years. We submitted an America250 grant this past week for interpretive signage: a set of signage to interpret the station that would reside in the lantern room of Grand Traverse Light and a second set of signage for each of the station’s buildings. This is a very competitive grant; the outcome is highly uncertain.

Transportation remains our largest expense; we contract a landing craft out of Leland. It eases the delivery of materials, gear & equipment but is considerably more expensive than our prior volunteer boat arrangement. Contracted labor is also challenging. While we have and continue to investigate grants, the difficulty finding contractors willing to work in the island environment and uncertainty of transportation timing adds complexity to both estimating and project delivery.

Please join us in welcoming Barb Falkenhagen to our Board.

Barb is a dedicated lighthouse volunteer with experience working on multiple offshore lights. She began volunteering with South Fox Island Light Station in 2023 was part of the lantern room restoration team. She also assists in restoring Frankfort’s North Breakwater Light.

Her academic experience includes attending Skive Gymnasium, a Folk School in Skive, Denmark, and Saginaw Valley State University. She and her husband own Don’s Welding, LLC in Saginaw.

Please join us November 9 from 1 – 3:30 at the Leland Library for our annual meeting. Public welcome.

Hear about our season and plans for the coming year. Learn about volunteer opportunities and meet some of our team members.