York Town News
From Boon Island to the Nubble and the Beach...
Two local residents prepare to swim the distance to make a difference
By Jennifer L. Saunders
York residents Jeffrey Patten and Wendy Moulton Starkey are preparing for rigorous swims across the open ocean from Boon Island to the shore to benefit York Hospital's Caring for All program and the American Lighthouse Foundation's preservation efforts.
Courtesy photos
They are local lifeguard and renowned athlete Jeffrey Patten and local attorney Wendy Moulton Starkey.
Patten's effort to traverse the approximately 6.5 miles between Boon Island and the Nubble Lighthouse is called the "Light 2 Light Fundraising Swim" and will benefit York Hospital's "Caring for All" program, which provides medical treatment options for uninsured and low-income families and individuals.
Patten will enter the water at Boon Island at 10:30 a.m. and is expected to arrive at the Cape Neddick Light Station anywhere from four-and-a-half to seven hours later, depending on Saturday's weather conditions.
While Patten is swimming, a gathering is planned at Sohier Park for Saturday afternoon to celebrate his arrival. Family entertainment, food, raffles and a live radio broadcast from 98.7 The Bay are all planned for the event at Sohier Park after the swim. There will even be a contest, and one lucky winner could take home $500 for guessing the time it takes Patten to finish his swim.
This will not be the first time Patten has undertaken this rigorous challenge, which he devised with his friend Rusty Goodwin.
"We came up with the idea and have done it several times, the last being in 1997," Patten said in an announcement of this week's event. "This will be my fourth time. … I wanted to do something for my community, but in my own way."
Patten contacted York Hospital and suggested the Light 2 Light as a way to raise both funds for and awareness of Caring for All.
There are also opportunities for major sponsors to be part of the Light 2 Light event, with a wealth of special thank-you gifts including tickets to the exclusive swim dinner event, a cruise to both lighthouses and an exclusive tour of the Nubble and its grounds, which are not open to the public.
For more information or to become a sponsor of the Light 2 Light event, contact York Hospital at 351-2228 or by e-mail at cr@yorkhospital.com.
Starkey, meanwhile, is training to swim her own challenging route from Boon Island in support of the American Lighthouse Foundation.
American Lighthouse Foundation President Tim Harrison applauded Starkey's plan to draw attention to the importance of lighthouse preservation.
"Boon Island may be Maine's tallest lighthouse, but even a towering sentinel like the rugged 1855 seacoast guardian needs plenty of support from community friends to help its caretakers - the nonprofit American Lighthouse Foundation (ALF) - save it for future generations," the ALF noted in an announcement of this weekend's event. "Lifelong York resident Wendy Moulton Starkey is determined to be such a friend, but rather than 'hitting the road' to raise this all-important message within both the local community and throughout the state, this courageous woman is taking to the water."
Starkey, who is an attorney with the local firm Erwin, Ott, Clark, Orso and Campbell, is planning to snorkel from Boon Island to York Beach in an effort to raise money to help the ALF continue to care for 23 lighthouses throughout New England.
Of those lighthouses, 11 are in Maine - including the 133-foot Boon Island tower.
"It is so exciting and encouraging to see someone put their passion into action," said Sylvia Paneris, vice president of the American Lighthouse Foundation, when Starkey's swim was announced last week. "Many people say they want to be involved in a cause, but it is only a passing fancy. Wendy has taken her love of lighthouses to the ultimate level by volunteering for this snorkel to raise funds and to help educate the community about the need for support in preserving our lighthouse heritage."
Harrison said he hopes Starkey's swim will inspire others to support the ALF while having some fun as well.
For example, one of Starkey's friends made the first sponsorship donation, securing an official post for Starkey in the fictional Republic of Boon Island as "Chief of Fashion Police." The creation of the Republic of Boon Island is another ALF fundraiser, which began in 2003 and allows donors to receive "citizenship" as they help to protect the tiny island and its tower for future generations.
To sponsor Starkey and support the ongoing preservation efforts, call the American Lighthouse Foundation at 646-0245 or visit http://lighthousefoundation.org/index.html.
