We are pleased to announce that Tom and Christine Cardaci, The Lighthouse Hunters, will be participating in the Maryland Lighthouse Challenge for their third year. They will be set up at the Turkey Point Lighthouse both Saturday and Sunday. This enthusiastic and energetic duo prides themselves on having visited 1,111 lighthouses in the U.S. and Canada as of this writing, although that number will probably increase by the time the Challenge rolls around. They will be selling and autographing copies of Lighthouses and Lightships of America--The Hunters Guide and will also be showcasing an assortment of lighthouse photos they have taken during their extensive travels.

For more information, visit www.TheLighthouseHunters.com.

Photographer Extraordinaire Harry Fahl will be at the Concord Point location both days displaying and selling an assortment of his beautiful lighthouse photographs. Mr. Fahl will also be donating a framed photograph that we will be raffling off during the Challenge. Proceeds will go towards funding this year’s event. Mr. Fahl was so gracious and helpful to us during last year’s Challenge he was named: 2007 Maryland Lighthouse Challenge MVP. This will be Harry’s second year with us.

Cathy Taylor, founder of the nonprofit Historical Place Preservation has plans to restore the Craighill Channel Lower Range Front Light station. Cathy will be at Point Lookout, all day Saturday and Sunday until 3:00 p.m., selling and autographing copies of a new lighthouse book she has authored, which officially went on sale April 2008 entitled: Maryland Lighthouses in the Images of America Series. The book is loaded with black & white photos of Maryland’s past & present lighthouses from the Coast Guard Historian's Office and by the author. This will be Cathy’s first year with us and we are thrilled to welcome her aboard!

For more information, visit http://www.craighillrange.org/.

The St. Clement's Island Museum has announced that Pete Imirie, author of “Touch the Wind” - The Downey Chronicles will be conducting a book signing at Blackistone Lighthouse during this year's Maryland Lighthouse Challenge. Time TBA. This book recounts Imirie's years of growing up in St. Mary’s County and experiences on St. Clement’s Island. A portion of the proceeds of the book sale will go to the Blackistone Lighthouse Foundation.

Pete Imirie, retired commercial boat Captain, family boater safety instructor, creator of children's boat-building programs, former coach, and recipient of numerous awards continues to write and teach boater safety in Maryland.

You can read more about this book at: http://www.bbotw.com/product.aspx?ISBN=0-7414-4675-8.

We have other special guests on tap, including special appearances by some keeper’s kin, a regional artist and perhaps the Executive Director of our parent organization, the United States Lighthouse Society, but we are presently awaiting confirmation from them. We will update the website regularly. Be sure to check back often leading up to the event for any late-breaking details, or you can request updates at challenge@cheslights.org, or by phone at (410) 437-0741 and ask for Karen.

We hope that you will all stop by and visit with our special Challenge guests. They are a great group of individuals who share our passion for lighthouses in a very big way! Be sure to support their efforts and thank them all for their participation in our 6^th annual Maryland Lighthouse Challenge Celebration!

Check this website often for any additions to this listing as they may occur.