Good news: The Maine Lighthouse Museum has a new extension agreement with the Coast Guard and the City of Rockland for the artifacts on loan to the waterfront museum.

There will be a full inventory of the artifacts in the springtime, after which the museum hopes to sign a more long-term agreement that would continue the loan of the lenses and other items gathered by the late Ken Black. The agreements are a major and critically needed step for the museum, which houses the largest publicly-displayed collection of lenses and lamps in the United States. While the museum itself owns many artifacts, the loaned items are a significant part of its displays.

The museum still has financial needs, though. Tax-deductible donations can be made to the Maine Lighthouse Museum, P.O. Box 1116, Rockland ME 04841. You can also donate online at the museum’s web site.