December 13, 2005
Contact: Sue Baker
For Immediate Release
738-2000, ext. 6205
Pending Congressional approval, grant for Conimicut Lighthouse is second early holiday gift to residents
Mayor Scott Avedisian and Councilman Joseph Solomon announce that nearly $560,000 in federal funds has been earmarked for restoration of historic structure
WARWICK – Mayor Scott Avedisian and Councilman Joseph Solomon, chairman of the Conimicut Lighthouse Foundation, announced today that the state Department of Transportation (DOT) has approved a grant request of $559,900 to help restore the historic structure.
The funds come from the federal Transportation Enhancement Program and are administered by DOT. Though Congress must still enact the appropriation, both Avedisian and Solomon lauded the news as an important development.
“The fact that we have been approved for the full grant amount we requested shows that the federal and state governments are in support of the city’s and the lighthouse foundation’s cooperative efforts,” Avedisian. “This strong financial commitment will also hopefully help us to secure additional grants and other funding streams in the future.”
“This is exciting for us and for the many residents who want to see the lighthouse restored and preserved,” Solomon said. “I will be calling a meeting of the Conimicut Lighthouse Foundation after the first of the year so that we will be ready to move forward quickly when Congress approves the funding.”
Avedisian and Solomon also praised the work of city grant writer Meg Brugeman and Richard Crenca of the City’s Planning Department, whose work helped to secure the full grant amount.
In September 2004, the city took ownership of the historic Conimicut Lighthouse from the federal General Services Administration.
Avedisian established the Lighthouse Foundation earlier this year by executive order. The foundation’s charge is to oversee fundraising, restoration and operations of the historic lighthouse. Members of the board will serve for three-year terms. Brugeman and Crenca twill serve as the city’s liaisons to the foundation
Other foundation members are: Jim Lappert, director of education for Save the Bay; Ben Mondor, Warwick resident and owner of the Pawtucket Red Sox; Lauren Slocum, executive director of the Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce; state Senator Bill Walaska; John Howell, publisher of the Warwick Beacon; Diane McLaughlin, a resident of Ward Four and former member of the Warwick Land Trust; Barbara Caniglia, the mayor’s chief-of-staff, who led the restoration of the Beavertail Lighthouse in Jamestown; Carol Schraeder, a member of the Community Development Office who also participated in the Beavertail restoration; Kevin Prest, an architect; Joe Bouchard, a Warwick resident and an officer of the executive board of the Beavertail Foundation; and Ward Four resident John Paul.
The Conimicut Lighthouse sits offshore on a rocky ledge at the edge of Conimicut Point Park. Built in 1868 to help aid boats in the dangerous rocky waters between Rocky Point and Bristol. The Lighthouse continues to serve as an important navigational aid in Narragansett Bay.
In 1960, Conimicut Lighthouse was the last lighthouse in the country to be electrified. Today it continues its proud tradition, emitting a bright white light every 2.5 seconds, a visual delight for those viewing it from the park.
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