(L to R) ALF Treasurer Alan Ells, ALF 1st Vice-President Nick Korstad, Hugh Mcginley, Aileen Semonsen, Donna Wood Michaud, Joe Dowling, FLRL chairperson Cynthia Rowden, Terry Rowden and ALF President Jeremy D’Entremont.
Joe Dowling, Donna Wood Michaud, Aileen Semonsen and Hugh Mcginley are FLRL’s 2023 ALF Len Hadley Volunteer Award recipients.
(Photo by Dominic Trapani)
Joe Dowling, Donna Wood Michaud, Aileen Semonsen and Hugh Mcginley – aka “The Machiasport Warriors” of ALF’s Friends of Little River Lighthouse, were honored with Len Hadley Volunteer Awards during the American Lighthouse Foundation’s annual Gala, which was held at the Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport, Maine, on November 5, 2023.
Little River Lighthouse is an island paradise, but such solitude and beauty does not keep “shining” without care—and lots of it. In fact, if not for dedicated volunteers, the island and light station could not charm their way right into people’s hearts like it does.
Donna Wood Michaud and Joe Dowling.
(FLRL photo)
Caretaker Terry Rowden surely leads the way, but even a keeper needs a helping hand. Here is where the Machiasport Warriors—as they are affectionately known, stand out like a bright light in 2023!
Joe Dowling, Donna Wood Michaud, Aileen Semonsen and Hugh Mcginley teamed up on a number of occasions at Little River Light this year to make a big difference. For starters, this intrepid group carried out a thorough spring-cleaning of the interior of the keeper’s house ahead of the 2023 overnight stay season.
Guests from all over the world spend the night at Little River Light, so making a great first impression is important. Having the keeper’s house “inspection ready” at the start of the season is the first step towards ensuring a memorable experience. Joe, Donna, Aileen and Hugh also tackled bed replacements in the three rooms upstairs and repainted the Woods View Room.
Aileen Semonsen and Hugh Mcginley.
(FLRL photo)
However, their work was not confined to the interior of the keeper’s house. The Machiasport Warriors also scraped and stained the decking at Little River and cut overgrown brush along the grounds of the island. The modern lighthouse “keeper” assumes many roles and contributes to “keeping a good light” in many ways. This passionate group is a fine testament to these notions.
We are pleased to honor Joe Dowling, Donna Wood Michaud, Aileen Semonsen and Hugh Mcginley—the Machiasport Warriors, with 2023 Len Hadley Volunteer Awards!
Little River Lighthouse, Cutler, Maine (Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
