We are grateful for the outstanding accomplishments by our first President Hugh Bucher, ably assisted by his wife Ann and the tireless volunteers who made the Beavertail Lighthouse Museum a source of pride to all Jamestowners and BLMA members.

I will do my utmost to ensure that the BLMA continues to exhibit historically accurate memorabilia and artifacts consistent with the Beavertail Lighthouse Museum standards.

The 1995 season officially ended Columbus Day, October 19th. It has been estimated that over 12,000 visitors passed through the Museum. In addition to various individuals and families, there were groups of school children, Elderhostellers, former Jamestown residents and others from as far away as Alaska and New Zealand.

The annual BLMA raffle is underway featuring many outstanding prizes including paintings and prints by Jamestown artists plus colorful tee shirts, sweat shirts, the Beavertail Lighthouse Christmas Ornament and many other attractive prizes. The drawing will be held at the Annual Open House on Saturday, December 9, from 1:00-3:00 PM.

Raffle tickets are on sale Saturdays 10:00 AM- 2:00 PM in front of McQuades Market in addition to Baker's Pharmacy. They cost $1.00 each or 6 in a book for $5.00.

The raffle is our only major effort to raise funds which are necessary to maintain the displays of the museum. We urge all our members to help support this important event.

Lastly but by no means least, I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to all the volunteers who donated their time welcoming visitors to the Museum.

                                      Tony Faria

Conanicut Island (Jamestown) while surrounded by wonderful shorelines lacked continuing organized instruction about intertidal organisms. The Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association provided a venue for Pat Venable to conduct such hands-on studies at "new moon" and "full moon" low tides this past summer. The twelve sessions offered were well attended by all ages, so well that sometimes persons were turned away.

The Annual Christmas Open House will be held at the museum on Saturday, December 9th from 1:00 - 3:00 PM. Members and friends are invited to come and share in the Holiday spirit. Hot cider, coffee and sweets will be served.

Anyone wishing to help out with the Open House please call Linda Warner, 423 - 1278.

As of October 31, 1995 we have 134 members. We could not have the programs and exhibits without the MANY dedicated volunteers who help year after year. If you would like to be active on a committee or have suggestions for improvements please call any Board Member. If you would like to join the Membership Committee, call Nancy Logan (423 - 3572). If you would like to help with an Oral History project on Video (interview with a former lighthouse occupant), let us know. If you can co-chair the Museum Volunteer scheduling for next summer - WE NEED YOU. Please call Tony Faria. Bill McCraw, who worked tirelessly this summer with the volunteers will welcome you with open arms.

If you have forgotten to renew your membership, this is the last newsletter you will receive. If you want to know if you have paid through June 1996, check your mailing label. If 96 or 97 appears above your name you have paid.

The museum has LOTS of fascinating information about lighthouse history in Rhode Island, Beavertail, and restoration work with lighthouses in Narragansett Bay. We are currently writing a set of questions for use by school groups that come to the museum. This will give more direction to their visits and provide them with interesting facts and stories.

One result of the wonderful Tidal Pool Excursions led by Pat Venable this past summer is a collection of shells and other sea life souvenirs which were found at the beach. Responding to the need to identify these items, a booklet, Marine Life of Narragansett Bay: A Guide for Beachcombers has been compiled by Pat Venable and Nancy Logan. This sourcebook will be with the shells in the museum, temporarily. Looking into the future, we hope they will be in the old Fog Horn building as part of a Naturalist program there. If you are interested in working on this project please notify Tony Faria and he will direct you to the committee.