Hereford Lighthouse Friends Chair Counters Mayor

To The Editor: 
Having read North Wildwood Mayor Patrick Rosenello’s statements in the Nov. 28 Herald, I have to offer my comments on his future plans for the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse.
It is very upsetting to me that he wants to unravel 22 years of improvements and progress to return to an arrangement similar to the early years of the lighthouse’s resurrection.
With no disparities to those involved at that time, they did the best they could with the little resources and scarce information about the history of the building or its former residents.
It was originally set up as a tourist information center with the various rooms used to display a collection of mostly unrelated North Wildwood pictures and memorabilia.
Many years of research enlightened us about the information we needed, not only to restore the missing architectural elements of the building but also of the use of each room. Deeper and much more research revealed the names and details of the keepers and their family members who lived there.
All of this historical information had to be showcased and properly interpreted throughout the building.  But as yet, our plan is far from being complete.
Our long-term goal is to present the lighthouse as a “living history museum.”  We feel that this is the most correct way to showcase this gem of a lighthouse in a way that presents, first hand, the lives, and duties of the keepers.
In order to accomplish this, the gift shop would have to be relocated to re-create the 1874 kitchen: many of the Coast Guard, Life Saving Service displays would also have to be moved.
This brings us to the last part of the plan: To acquire the 1939 U.S. Coast Guard Life Boat Station Complex and convert those structures to a maritime history museum.  
All of that being stated, there is hardly room in the lighthouse now to display the lighthouse history let alone anything else. The mayor’s proposed plan of also including North Wildwood history and including tourism offices would truly destroy the integrity and intent of the lighthouse.
Regarding the management of the site, although the mayor tries to give the impression that the Friends are a group of people, new to involvement with the lighthouse, in fact, some of the founding members were there from the very beginning.
The late Phyllis Catanoso, our past president, is the person credited with originally saving the Lighthouse.
The mayor’s statement that there are already employees on the payroll who could take over the lighthouse responsibilities at no extra cost to the taxpayers is very misleading.
The current staff is made up of seasonal employees whose salaries are paid by the Friends. During the off-season, the lighthouse is staffed by volunteers.
Regarding the grounds and gardens surrounding the lighthouse, these are maintained by me and a group of volunteers. These extensive, specialized gardens require care seven days per week for much of the year, unlike most of the other city landscaped areas. These gardens require a substantial budget each year to replant, feed and maintain, all paid for by the Friends. 
In addition, the weekly grass cutting is done without charge by a company owned by one of our trustees. They also provide us with snow removal.
Furthermore, two years ago a local paint contractor who is a Friend of the Lighthouse, painted the entire exterior of the building at no charge.
Regarding the false accusations and misleading statements issued by the mayor go to our website www.herefordlighthouse.org for my rebuttal.