>> Click to enlarge << The light from the new lens at Cape Cod’s Sandy ... Photo by: Wayne Van Buren

Thanks largely in part to a generous donation by a local businessman, the optic of Cape Cod’s Sandy Neck Lighthouse has been upgraded. When the Sandy Neck Lighthouse Restoration Committee of the Cape Cod Chapter of ALF installed a lantern room on the headless lighthouse two and a half years ago, the light from the lens could only be seen for three miles out to sea. So, it was decided that a more powerful lens was needed.

>> Click to enlarge << Vivi Lopes standing next to the new lens for the ...

The new optic, paid for and donated by Vivi Lopes, owner of the L & M Glass Company in Hyannis, Massachusetts and costing nearly $4,000.00, can be seen for an amazing 10 to 12 miles out to sea.

>> Click to enlarge << The volunteers who helped install the lens at ... Photo by: Wayne Van Buren

While it is the volunteers who have made a difference at Sandy Neck Lighthouse, it could not have been possible with the financial assistance of someone like Vivi Lopes who is making a difference in helping to keep lighthouse history alive for future generations. Not only did he donate the money for the new lens, he also helped to install it.

This story appeared in the July 2010 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.

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