Residents of the Cranberry Isles are often asked, “What is it like out there in the winter?” (This is a weather-related question, not to be confused with the activity-related question: “What do you do out there all winter?”)

Compared to the mainland, we generally get less snow, more wind and fewer days with below zero temperatures. So far, only two storms stand out in a winter that has been unusually mild. The most recent storm occurred on Feb. 12, with strong northeast winds and very little visibility. The Sunday boat was canceled, causing several residents to extend their weekends away. Twelve inches of snow fell on the islands providing a break for those who have been waiting for something new to do outside. The VanDusen/Ramsey family especially enjoyed the storm. At their home in Olympia, Washington, they never see snow in their own yard and they were beginning to think they would not see it here, either. Their enthusiasm for the heavy snowfall was refreshing.

The other big storm, on Wednesday, Jan. 18, was quite dramatic with rough seas and driving rain. The Beal and Bunker ferry canceled its passenger runs for the day, making only one trip at 11 a.m. to deliver and pick up the mail. On Islesford, when Erin Gray wanted some exercise, she decided it would be safer to stay inside than venture out into the high winds. But as she stretched in her living room, she heard a loud crash, felt the house shake and then heard the sound of breaking glass. Just six feet away, part of a large maple tree had crashed through the porch roof, ripping off gutters and knocking out power in two more houses nearby!

Inter island news is frequently discussed on a morning mailboat ride, so with Wednesday’s canceled boats, Islesford residents did not learn until Thursday about a Tuesday evening fire at the parsonage on Great Cranberry. Cedric Barrett was returning from his job at the Cranberry Island Boat Yard when he saw flames in the kitchen of the house he was renting. He immediately alerted his neighbor, Malcolm Donald, who summoned members of the Great Cranberry Island Fire Department. The fire was extinguished quickly and efficiently, and no one was injured.

Unfortunately, when there are injuries, we have no doctors living on our islands; but we do have residents who are willing to train as First Responders for a medical emergency. Margaret Blank organized the 60-hour course, which was taught this year by Joe Wellman, a firefighter and paramedic from Bangor. For seven days in February, Nate Keegan, Edgar Blank, Hallie Marbet, Chris Hathaway, Steve Palmer, Wanda Porter, Allan McCormick, Gretchen VanDusen, Sally Rowan, Phil and Karin Whitney, Malcolm Donald and John French met at the Neighborhood House on Islesford for instruction. Several community members who did not take the course, showed their support by providing lunches and dinners for the dedicated group of students. Before First Responders and EMTs, people had to look elsewhere for help with first aid.

With large summer populations, there are often vacationing doctors and paramedics who are willing to assist in an island emergency. Dr. John Brooks tended to countless wounds over the years during his Islesford retreats. Many people have stories of being stitched up by him or by his son, Dr. David Brooks. When her children were young, in the 1950s, Ann Fernald would either call for advice from Dr. Wilbur in Southwest Harbor, or go next door to see Cara Spurling. Cara was a nurse who worked in Connecticut, Florida, and Bar Harbor before marrying Ted Spurling and moving to Islesford in 1949. She was called upon to bandage many cuts and scrapes, administer shots and advise people to get to the hospital when they needed more serious medical attention. Ann recalled the help she received from Uncle Elmer Spurling when her children were small and she did not have a driver’s license or own a car. If one of the children needed to see a doctor, Elmer would take them over in his boat, the VAGABOND, drive them uptown to the doctor’s office, wait, then reverse the trip to get them back to the island; all for a $3 charge.

In the winter of 1981, there was a day with high winds and 25 below zero temperatures. Mac Fernald had severe kidney problems and Mae Conlon had fallen and broken her hip. It was too dangerous to transport them by boat until the next day, and it was one of the few times when people could not get to the hospital right away. What is it like out here in the winter? We have the dedication and security of trained medical volunteers, committed to helping us get to an ambulance on the mainland if we need to; but we tend to be a bit more cautious because there are just some days when no one wants to be out on a boat.

Islesford
Feb. 14, 2006