Fire Island Lighthouse: New Year's ritual

Joanne and Anthony Albanese and their 21/2-year-old son were the first ones through the door when the Fire Island Lighthouse opened Sunday morning.

"Every year on New Year's Day we take a walk here," Anthony explained.

Sunday they had plenty of company. The unseasonably warm day, with clear skies, bright sun and no wind, attracted more than 1,600 visitors.

For the Albaneses and many others, parking at Robert Moses State Park and walking to the lighthouse is an annual ritual. Others came for the first time. No one showed any sign of a hangover.

"We're one of the few places that's open on New Year's Day," said Dave Griese, administrator of the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society, which operates the site. Plus there was free hot chocolate.

An added incentive to visit this year is the new building that opened in July to showcase the 10-foot-tall, 1858 first-order Fresnel lens that had been at the top of tower before it was removed in 1933.

For the Albaneses of West Islip, whose first date eight years ago was climbing the 192 steps of the tower, this visit was also special. It was first time their son, Anthony, was old enough to come. Not surprisingly, young Anthony pointed to photographs of the tower and insisted, "I want to go up there."

But when the staff pointed out that he was about a half foot shy of the 42-inch requirement for climbing the spiral staircase, he wasn't happy. He was only mollified when volunteer Gay Zizes told him, "I'm going to give you a special present because you can't go up": a certificate for a free tower climb when he meets the height requirement.

There was no height issue for 310 other visitors, including regulars Jane Gumpel of New York City, and her twin, Kathy Pezzoli of Bay Shore. "It's a beautiful day and we want to get some exercise, and this is my favorite walk in all the world," Gumpel said.

Pezzoli had never climbed the tower before because she suffers from vertigo. But after reaching the top, she said, "It was fun."

She even went out on the balcony after volunteer Linda Clemens advised her to "keep your back against the wall."

"Not bad for 60-year-olds," Gumpel quipped as they headed down the stairs.