On July 4, the weather was warm and muggy with enough of a breeze to keep things comfortable for over 300 people who attended the Islesford Neighborhood House Association (INHA) picnic in the town field. Summer seems to start at the 4th of July picnic, as people see each other for the first time since last year, exchange news (whether happy or sad) and share the gratification of being back on the island. This annual fund raising event, conceived by Maggie Ritteman and Jane O’Donnell in the mid 1970s, is always a success because INHA trustees work their tails off to make it happen, assisted by some very loyal volunteers.

At her home on Great Cranberry Island, Ruth Westphal hosted her 16th annual 4th of July picnic. Most of the island turned out to eat, socialize, and reflect on the meaning of Independence Day as Jim Gertmenian read the Declaration of Independence. Art Forester read “Cranberry Benediction,” which he wrote 20 years ago, and Richard Cox and Geoff Wadsworth played “The Navy Hymn,” and “America” on the sax and trumpet. At the end of the picnic, everyone gathered in front of Ruth’s porch for a group photo that was sent to Malcolm Donald and David Stainton, patients at Eastern Maine Medical Center.

The Islesford Boatworks, a new boat building school for island children, started their first classes on July 6. The program originated with the Ravenhill siblings; Geoffrey, Brendan, and Amanda, who saw a need to reintroduce the tradition of boat building to the Islesford community. Though she is only 23 years old, Amanda Ravenhill is not new to making things happen on Islesford. Three years ago, upon hearing plans to discontinue the Islesford Church fair, Amanda decided to create the first Islesford Fair, to benefit not just the church but several of the nonprofit groups on the island. She soon had a partner in Cheryl Sholl, and the fair has been great success.

Our communities are fortunate to have people who will take the reins and organize events. We do not lack for people who are willing to help out, but when someone asks, “What can I do?” who gives the answers? The people who make things happen on the islands are the ones with vision, energy, time, dedication and an ability to delegate jobs; they deserve to be applauded.

Whether you are in the audience or on the stage, the “Wits and Nitwits” show is one of the summer’s high points. The tradition began with Margaret Gifford in the early 1950s, when she organized island youths to put on theatrical productions. Mary Morse took over that role as a teenager in the 1960s and `70s and Kathleen Lake wrote and directed “Wits and Nitwits” programs in the 1980s. Among others who have been instrumental in assuring the continuation of the performances have been Charlie Gifford, Chris Hathaway and Joan Valdina.

Milton and Rosamond Lord organized summer square dances and contradances in the 1950s. More recently, Dick Atlee has been the driving force behind the Maypole Dance, which has been held in the town field for the last 14 years. I recall Paul Fisher, Jack Merrill and Twinkie Smith and others who organized weekly sailboat races on the steps of the Islesford Museum before there was ever a Little Cranberry Yacht Club. When Lee Ham got ready to sell his fishing dock in the 1970s, it was David Thomas and Bruce Fernald who got the ball rolling to establish the Cranberry Isles Fishermen’s Co-op. Stefanie Alley and Bruce Fernald pushed for the vote to build a teacher’s apartment above the Islesford School, at a special town meeting in the early 1980s. More recent examples of well-led ideas have been the establishment of the Cranberry Isles Realty Trust for affordable housing, and the return of the inter-island softball games. Courtney Chaplin and Norman Sanborn have each overseen major upgrades to the Islesford and

Cranberry fire departments. Margaret Blank has been instrumental in getting people to train as First Responders and Emergency Medical Technicians. Though there are others I haven’t remembered to mention, these folks all set a great example of leadership in a variety of community programs.

Are there things you would like to see happen on your island? Why not take the challenge to organize it yourself? It can seem a little daunting, but there are more than enough people who will give you advice (!), and plenty who are willing to help, if you know how to ask. I speak from the experience of co-chairing a campaign with my Northeast Harbor friend, Martha Bucklin, which raised $1.2 million to build an eight-lane track, four tennis courts, a handicapped accessible press box and 1,000-seat bleachers at MDI High School. We started with absolutely no idea of how to do it, followed by countless hours of hard work and organization, but five years after completion I am still rewarded every time a student from the Cranberry Isles competes at the MDI sports complex. Those opportunities are consistent because both islands are known for fostering excellent runners.

Not everyone has the kind of time it takes to head up a project, and that is okay. However, the next time you find yourself wanting to help with an island activity, you can be a huge help to the organizer by offering to do something specific: “Can I wipe down and put away these chairs?” “Can I address some fund-raising letters?” “Can I bake something for the event?” These questions are great because they show some thought and only require a “yes” or “no” response. However, the most frequently asked question of the person in charge is, “What can I do to help?” Think about it. Wouldn’t it be helpful if we all asked this question of ourselves, first?

Islesford
July 16, 2006