Monday, Nov. 4 – Wind NW and temp. 30 at noon. It is now deer hunting season on the Cranberry Isles. But this month is shotguns only. It is wise to wear plenty of orange if you wander into the woods. About 50 years ago deer from Mount Desert Island were swimming their way to the Cranberries, which soon after was closed to deer hunting. Acadia National Park owned land on Baker’s Island, and the Islesford Historical Museum on Little Cranberry, and since deer hunting was forbidden anyplace where there was park land the deer had a great time roaming anywhere they pleased. But without natural predators or deer hunting season to keep them under control they soon overran gardens and stripped foliage, and began to starve. A couple of years ago, after much controversy, the islands were once again opened to deer hunting. It is now a rare event to see a deer munching apples in the backyard to standing at the edge of your lawn on a misty dawn.
Some of the younger folk (and middle age too) still take a dip a month in the cold ocean. The sea temp. is 50 degrees F. now but will drop down more. There have been large flocks of gannets seen near Baker’s Island diving for fish. They are about the size of a small goose and are great swimmers. Years ago when we saw them, it was a sign that fair sized schools of herring were arriving.
Anna Fernald hosted a bridal shower recently for Ann Moran, now Mrs. Mike Young. Congratulations to the newlyweds, who live in Otis, but plan to visit Islesford frequently.
Bob Palmer, a former Islesford resident for many years, passed away today. His funeral will be on Nov. 7. While living here he was a carpenter and building contractor and also a Hancock County deputy sheriff. He lived in his old home in Aurora, Maine, after leaving here and worked in the Sheriff’s Department in Ellsworth. He was a good island citizen, while here. Cheerful, good natured and helpful.
Nov. 6 – another sad even for our town took place today. Maurice Philipps died at his home here at the age of 92. He was a selectman for several years and a great worker at our Congr. Church, serving as deacon, treasurer and sexton. We will all miss him. Sometimes he was known as “Mr. Fixit” for he was adept at many things and kept a lot of old cars and lawn mowers running. He was also good at plumbing, carpentry and electrical work. Always ready to help you on most everything.
There was a nice turnout of voters yesterday at our Neighborhood House. The school children had a mock election Oct. 29th at the school house and matched every candidate except one, with the real election. This was Chellie Pingree. But Senator Collins was voted back in.
Sunday, Nov. 17 – Snow and heavy easterly winds today. Power went off and people here are using their aux. Heaters if they have them, and most do. Quite a few wood stoves on the island. The boats stayed secure on their moorings but no ferry-mailboat today.
Nov. 18 – A strong gale force wind and heavy seas. Wind now is NW. My birthday today and I am all of 81. My cousin Dale Hadlock has a grandson, Jake White, whose birthday is today too – only he is 18, the reverse of my age. The ferry and mailboat is back on its runs today and power has returned once more. A few large spruce trees went down here and there in the storm. The swimming club is still in operation and some hardy souls still venture. Armistice Day weekend was mild, so Chris Wriggins joined the club at that time had he and his son, Adam, took a swim off the Sand Beach to qualify for the “Dip of the Month.”
New residents on Islesford, Sonja Moser and Bill McGuiness, have settled in at the CIRT house on our town land. They are both from New York City but seem to enjoy themselves here so far.
Hugh (Bud) Dwelley, our Islesford Historical Soc. President, who lives in Fairfax, Virginia, most of the year, has been busy lately recruiting volunteers to place 4,000 Maine Christmas wreaths on graves of war service veterans at Arlington Cemetery. This is the 10th year that Hugh has done this; the wreaths are donated by Morrill Worcester and trucked down from Harrington, Maine.
Nov. 26 – strong NW wind. Temp. 48 at noon. Cloudy, mostly, some sun. The “needle nurses” came to the island today and gave flu shots to all who wanted them. Chief nurse Marilyn Wheeler came to our house and gave Cara and me ours. We had been in Ellsworth for a time and came home yesterday. Scott Grierson came to the school yesterday to share his knowledge on birds of prey. The kids always look forward to Scott’s visits.
Nov. 28 – Thanksgiving. Temp. 18 at noontime, wind a brisk 25 knots NW. The ferry boat has a holiday schedule today. It had been posted in the boat earlier and also in the island stores. A few folks came over and some went off island to dine. Our daugher, Serena Lee, her husband, Heal, and their daughter, Hanni, arrived this morning for an overnight visit. They divided their time with us and Ted Jr. and family. After Thanksgiving dinner they all took an interesting walk along the island’s beaches and into the woods on the south shore, taking along our son’s big friendly dog, Gracie, sometimes referred to as “Coup de Gracie.” She is part husky and part German shepherd and resembles a wolf. She reminds me of stories I read as a child, of the far north and Canadian wilderness.
Saturday, Nov. 30 – wind SW today at 12 knots and temp. 48 at noon (a warm one). We heard the sad news that Ada Rice died yesterday. She was born and lived most of her life on Great Cranberry. (Born in 1910) She was the daughter of Elisha and Annie (Spurling) Bunker. Ada was liked by all. She was the oldest of the four Bunker sisters, who include Leona McAllister of Ellsworth and Polly Bunker and Charlene Allen of Great Cranberry. Ada’s husband, Charlie Rice, predeceased her. She loved horses and had taken many riding lessons at Bar Harbor in her younger days. She and Charlie owned and kept two pet horses for a long time. She and her sister Leona for several years owned and operated a popular restaurant at Great Cranberry near the town dock. Their sister Polly had a fine gift shop near there at this time.
There was an open house and holiday sale at Barbie Fernald’s home on Lobster Blvd. Today. Barbie and Sue Hill were there with fine items on hand, some from Sue’s Dock Gift Shop and some of Barbie’s jewelery. Joan Valdina’s book “The Princess Who Dared” is out in print. Joan has spent much time on this book. It is well worth worth reading. A story of a little princess, Celeste, who had every luxury while growing up but was told she could not have the man she wanted for husband.
Tuesday, Dec. 3 – Temp. 18, wind NW 12 knots. Snow starting during wee hours. Cory Alley was out with the town snow plow early. After many meetings and discussions and rumors that the deal was off, finally the Town of Cranberry Isles had purchased about three acres of land on the Manset shore in the town of SW Harbor. The closing papers were signed today. The Town of Cranberry Isles has formed a land management commission to study and develop plans for turning the area into parking and docking facilities with as little congestion as possible. Joy Sprague has been our postmaster for 25 years, since Dec. 3, 1977. She was a clerk for two years before that for Natalie Beal. Congratulations, Joy, you have done a good job.
Dec. 7 – wind SW at 15 knots and temp. 38 at noon. Pearl Harbor tragedy 61 years ago. Ted Jr. has only 45 traps in the water now and will get those up soon. Many of the lobstermen are doing this as times have changed and it’s better and more comforting to get them all in for the winter. Price per lb. Now is $3.25. Most all of the small pleasure craft and runabouts are up on dry land and snug under a covering. Some are in their owners’ yards and others are hauled up on Liefs’ land under the restaurant dock. Courtney Chaplin is working on various jobs and projects, as if Paul Fernald. Lots of it now indoors. Harvey Bunker and crew are busy on Peter Rudolph’s new home on the sand beach road. The island is in low gear now but will pick up come spring.
Dec. 12, Thursday. Temp. 30, wind NE 15 knots. Big, wet snowflakes falling this morning. Ashley Bryan is at the Mott Haven Carnegie Library in the Bronx, N.Y., where he grew up. There will be a celebration for the installation of two five-foot by six-foot paintings done by Ashley and commissioned by the N.Y. Public Library’s children’s reading room, which is named for Ashley. He will be at Port in a Storm bookstore in Somesville, Maine, signing copies of his new book, “Beautiful Black Bird,” Dec. 15 at 4 p.m.
Dec. 19 – Temp. 40 at noon, wind SW, full “Long Nights Moon” tonight. A fair morning. A Christmas play was put on by the school children tonight at out Neighborhood House. The title: “Island Sun.” This Caribbean Christmas story was first performed at Great Cranberry as a matinee, the previous Tuesday. Sea water temp. recently a cool 41 F.
Dec. 21, Saturday. Wind SW and temp. 45 at noon and the first day of winter. A winter solstice picnic planned for tonight at the Sand Beach. We heard later that it was called off. Only one couple showed up (Ricky and Stefanie Alley). Many thought it too windy. Finally we heard that Dave and Cindy Thomas hosted the party – indoors.
Dec. 22. Temp. 38, wind SW 12 knots. Church today at 10 a.m., a Christmas service and good attendance. Rev. Doug Hare and his wife, Ruth, brought their family and some friends with them and more voices were added to the fine choir. The Rev. and Ruth hve a combination gas and electric auto, a Toyota, and it is dual engined. Doug says it is fun to drive and has a great cruising range.
Dec. 25, Christmas Day. Weather started out OK. Temp. 25 and wind east. We had a get-together Christmas morning with Ted Jr., Jeri and their three daughters, Marya, Christy and Heather. Lots of Christmas lights shine at night. Jim and Sallye Parrish lit their tower with bright lights near its top and also along the side with a lighted Christmas tree at street level.
Saturday, Dec. 28 – temp. 30, wind NE 8 knots. A cloudy day, mostly. Karl Wedge of Great Cranberry Island died today at the Mount Desert Island Hospital. He had been sick a long time. He was a U.S. Army veteran and a lobsterman for 60 years. He was one of the original members also of our Cranberry Isles Fishermen’s Co-op. He had been a road commissioner and a member of the Cranberry Isles Fire Dept., and a member too of the Tremont Masonic Lodge, where he recently received his 50-year pin. Karl and his wife, Clara (Pervear) Wedge had been married for 54 years. Karl was well known and liked by all. Another good lobsterman and citizen gone from our ranks.
Dec. 31. Wind south at 10 knots, temp. at noon 32. The last day of circa 2002. A quiet day. The oil man recently was around with his truck to get us all filled up, as a major storm is said to be on its way. Good luck and best wishes to all in the coming new year.