FMC BioPolymer Demonstrates its Community Commitment at Rockland
Breakwater Lighthouse
By Bob Trapani, Jr.
Bygone lighthouse keepers and modern day keepers of the
light share one common bond that transcends time and technology – a
commitment to maintaining a vigilant watch over a beloved light like
Rockland Breakwater.
The 1902 lighthouse, located on the south end of the
7/8-mile long Rockland Breakwater, is an irreplaceable treasure that
requires a constant
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Rockland-based FMC BioPolymer employees
volunteer their time and talents at Rockland Breakwater Light on 9/16/10
community team
effort to ensure the sentinel remains looking its best and able to welcome
thousands of visitors each year.
On September 16, 2010, volunteers from FMC BioPolymer in Rockland, Maine,
spent a full day lending a much-needed helping hand at Rockland Breakwater
Lighthouse during the company’s annual community service day.
The volunteer work at the lighthouse was part of a larger FMC community
service effort that encourages its employees to make a real difference in
the local community through a variety of volunteer service opportunities.
Helping at Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse isn’t a first-time effort for FMC
volunteers. The company’s volunteers have epitomized the notion of
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
FMC volunteers (L to R) Ben Whitney,
Jason Jones, David Tetreault, Scott Farley, Bruce Tolman, Gerry Pushaw,
Neal Reed, David Rogers, Jim Stone and Mike McNeil
dedication to
a project for well over a decade now, returning to the site each year to
apply their many talents and energy to vital maintenance projects.
FMC worked with the Friends of Rockland Breakwater
Lighthouse, a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation on planning
and facilitating this year’s volunteer community service day,
which included
repainting projects in the lantern, engine room and on the exterior of the
lightkeeper’s dwelling.
The Friends of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse annually perform yeoman’s work
by opening the historic site to the public on weekends and holidays from
Memorial Day through Columbus Day each year, as well as raising monies to
help fund professional restoration projects.
Carrying out demanding volunteer efforts stretch the Friends of Rockland
Breakwater Lighthouse thin at times and make it difficult for them to
address some of the needed maintenance projects at the site, which makes the
efforts of FMC BioPolymer that much more vital in the ongoing care of the
lighthouse.
Rockland
Breakwater Lighthouse has come a long way restoration-wise since 1999 and
possesses a bright future thanks in part to community team efforts such as
those led by FMC BioPolymer, whose commitment to volunteer service ideals is
both an inspiration and invaluable help to the Friends of Rockland
Breakwater Lighthouse.
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
David Rogers and Jim Stone (on ladder)
work on spot priming the exterior of the keeper's house
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Ben Whitney works on repainting the
exterior of the keeper's house
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Bruce Tolman (foreground) and Gerry
Pushaw work on repainting the exterior of the keeper's house
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
David Rogers works on repainting the
exterior of the keeper's house
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Gerry Pushaw (foreground) and Neal Reed
work on repainting the exterior of the keeper's house
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Scott Farley works on repainting the
interior of the lantern
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
David Tetreault works on
repainting the interior of
the lantern
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
(L to R) David Tetreault and Scott Farley
work on repainting the interior of the lantern
