Former Colchester Reef Lighthouse relit using solar power

SHELBURNE — The Colchester Reef Lighthouse, which protected traffic on Lake Champlain from 1871 to 1933 and is now an exhibit at Shelburne Museum, shines its light once again.

Through the efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard station in Burlington and a local historian of Lake Champlain lighthouses, the light has been relit with blinking bulbs powered by solar-powered cells. It is the first time the light has shone since the lighthouse was decommissioned in 1933; the structure was moved to Shelburne Museum in 1952.

There are 11 historic lighthouses remaining on or near Lake Champlain. The Colchester Reef Lighthouse is the seventh to be relit since 2000 thanks largely to the efforts of lighthouse historian George Clifford of Plattsburgh, NY.

Coast Guard members installed the lighting system and will maintain it. The new bulbs are 55 watts, certainly very mild by lighthouse standards, and are mounted in the lighthouse’s Fresnel lens. The resulting blinking light is visible to passers-by on U.S. Route 7.

The Colchester Reef Lighthouse was designed in 1869 and began operating on Lake Champlain in 1871. It was home to 11 successive lighthouse keepers until being replaced by an automatic beacon in 1933. Whale oil first lit the lighthouse, then kerosene, and today solar power.

Vermont State Colleges trustees announce new programs

WATERBURY — The Vermont State Colleges Board of Trustees approved the use of legislative funding for two new initiatives to support Vermonters and the state’s economy.

At their annual retreat, the trustees of the Vermont State Colleges (VSC) announced the start of the Next Generation Scholarship Program and the VSC Workforce Development Project.

“We appreciate the support of the Vermont Legislature that will allow us to expand VSC opportunities in two key areas: to encourage more Vermonters to attend college in Vermont and to foster economic development through targeted workforce education and training,” said VSC chairman Gary W. Moore.

The Next Generation Scholarship Program will provide up to $1.6 million dollars of VSC scholarships to Vermonters over four years. Individual scholarships will be awarded for up to $2,500 per year. The state colleges anticipate funding up to 40 scholarships each at Castleton, Johnson, and Lyndon State Colleges and up to 70 scholarships each at Community College of Vermont (CCV) and Vermont Tech.

“We want to encourage Vermont students who might not otherwise attend college to use this opportunity to enroll in one of the Vermont State Colleges, and to encourage students, once enrolled, to persist through graduation,” Moore said.

As part of its Next Generation Initiative, the 2006 Vermont Legislature also appropriated $1 million to the VSC to support workforce development focused on the innovative and sustainable technologies sector. “Workforce development is critical to the long-term health of Vermont’s economy,” said VSC Chancellor Robert G. Clarke. “The VSC has been a leader in workforce education and training for years, and additional funding expands our reach to Vermont employers and employees.”

The colleges will deliver six projects statewide, targeting critical workforce needs in manufacturing, health care, construction, environmental stewardship, small business development, and workplace readiness. Projects range from the development of industry certificates to work with the health care industry to increase productivity.

The VSC system includes Castleton State College, CCV, Lyndon State College, Johnson State College, and Vermont Technical College. In the 2005-2006 academic year, 18,645 students attended the VSCs, 83 percent of whom are Vermonters. An additional 20,000 people took advantage of the VSC's extensive workforce development programs.

Posted September 22, 2006

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