WHY DO SOME HATE THE LIGHT HOUSE?

"Beautiful again," said Charlene Nigh at the March 25 Fort Erie Council Meeting referring to the restoration of the near century old Point Abino Light Station. And she is right. Fort Erie is home to one of the jewels of Great Lakes light stations yet it doesn't get much respect from a small but mouthy sub-group of political pundits.

People like Leslie North who says that only 250 people visited the light house in the summer of 2012 when in fact it was 850, according to records kept by PALPS (Point Abino Lighthouse Preservation Society) which has spearheaded the campaign to restore and save the National Historic Site. People like Peter Koutroulakis from the Old Bank Bistro who posted the totally erroneous assertion that PALPS was going to request $1 million to restore the lens at the light station. The Fresnel Lens at the light station, is considered the premier lens and is very rare. It is in perfect working order, although decommissioned.  The Fresnel Lens is worth over $1 million.  How bad is it when the hatred spills over into outright lies and distortions?

Pretty bad when the lies are being used to discredit the four councillors who voted to spend $400,000. to match a grant from the federal government to restore the light station.  The above picture was taken this past fall. To the many who consider the Point Abino Light House a great asset to the community, this is a welcome sight.

The detractors rave on about "access" as if that is the reason it should have been left to disintegrate. The Point Abino Light House has always been behind a gate, as far back as most can remember. Even before it was decommissioned, one would be stopped by a gatekeeper and asked who one was visiting before entry was allowed.  This is also true in many areas where light houses are placed. Some light houses can only be reached by water. It's because they are placed near hazardous areas in order to warn sailors of danger. Duh.
As to the Point Abino access agreement: the latest was negotiated by former mayor Wayne Redekop after the Rich Family (American supporters of Doug Martin and others) managed to acquire a strip of land at the entrance to the point and installed a guard house and gate, thus making Point Abino a truly gated community, much like the Crystal Beach Tennis and Yacht Club on the grounds of the former amusement park. It is a tricky situation as the homeowners on the point represent very high tax rates, while most only live in their homes at the point for a few months in the summer. They want to retain their privacy, but they must share the point with the now National Historic Site.  So, an agreement was worked out that costs the town $4000. per year for controlled access. Trolley tours, walking and biking rights are included in the agreement. As word of the restoration becomes more known, there is hope that even more than 850 people per year will enjoy the sight.

Mrs. Nigh came to council to request that the town look into the possibility of allowing people to climb the interior stairs in the light house in order to view the fabled Fresnel Lens. Her group had researched how other light houses deal with allowing people to the top; PALPS is willing to sit down with staff to talk over the options. In her presentation, she broke down the results of an exit poll conducted after each trolley tour and there was a decided desire by lighthouse aficionados to get to the top to see the lens and the view.

But the lighthouse haters were right there, ready to jump on the request and ready to bring up the Kinsmen Pool as much more important than the lighthouse.  "Apples to oranges," as Rick Shular would say. Except that he didn't say it with regard to the lighthouse vs. the Kinsman Pool. That's because he voted against the funding of the lighthouse restoration, along with Stephen Passero and Doug Martin.  See a pattern here?

Yes, lighthouse aficionados even have magazines devoted to their love of all things to do with lighthouses. Lighthouse Digest is but one.  I'm not aware that there is a magazine devoted to forty-five-year-old rundown public swimming pools, but I could be wrong.

The situation is that the historic lighthouse is a one-off. No town in the area has one that is as unique and beautifully placed as Fort Erie. The Point Abino Lighthouse has been the subject of numerous paintings, photographs, stories, and even a movie. It may not be the single biggest tourism draw, but it is a vital part of local and maritime history.

And to the haters who have to hate everything that four councillors do or say: you make yourselves look just as foolish and venal as the mayor, Passero and Shular. (BTW, Mr. Shular. I write that you use big words, but I also write that you misuse them horribly. "Gyrations?"  Do you know what that really means? "Predicate?" Nothing more embarrassing that someone who is trying to use "fifty cent words" when they have no idea what they truly mean. As to your trips down Memory Lane? Spare us, please, unless it's germane to the issue. Look that up.)