Point Sur Lightstation and Point Pinos Lighthouse Volunteer Opportunity: Training to lead tours, operate the visitors' center, or help maintain historic buildings begins with an introductory meeting on Sunday, February 19 at 1:30 PM at State Parks Headquarters, 2211 Garden Road (near airport), Monterey. The first Training Class is scheduled for Tuesday, February 28th at 7:00 PM, also at 2211 Garden Road. Information on volunteering is available on the Web at www.pointsur.org by clicking on the Volunteer Training link or (831) 624-7570.

The Heritage Society Volunteers continue their work at restoring our wonderful Point Pinos Lighthouse.  In the past year, windows have been restored, repaired and replaced, a new fence replicating the original has been completed, new flooring has been installed in the front entry, drains and gutters have been repaired, work to stop the lantern room from leaking continues and has almost been completed, a new partial foundation has been constructed, work on the new DVD continues, historic archiving has begun, a new website is being developed, plans have been completed for the two historically correct outbuildings and await scheduling by the Architectural Review Board, work has commenced to restore the historic “oil house”, and a new/old restored back entry floor has been installed and is currently being refinished.  These are but a few of the projects, some ongoing, plus the many that are scheduled for this coming year.

All of this work, with few exceptions, has been accomplished by volunteers and the generous support and work of KR Construction, Marks Plumbing and Heating, Travaille Brothers Construction, Jon Stuefloten Restoration Painting, and many others.  All contributors will be recognized in a permanent plaque to be placed on site sometime in the not too distant future.

Equally important is the generosity of support groups.  Noteworthy contributions of $4,500 by the Heritage Society, $2,000 by the local chapter of the Questers, over $2,000 by the Lighthouse Art Quilter Group, visitor donations, gift shop sales, various generous individual donations, and a recent most welcome grant by the Monterey Peninsula Foundation (sponsors of the AT&T) for $20,000.

Reprinted with permission from Pacific Grove Hometown Bulletin, January 18, 2012.