Institute vice president Peter Ralston (left) and community services director Chris Wolff (right) celebrate the opening of the Island Institute’s new Portland office at 305 Commercial Street. With them is Barbara Hoppin of Peaks Island, who attended the opening party on Sept. 28 along with an enthusiastic crowd of Institute members and staff, Casco Bay island residents, legislators and other friends. The new office will provide a Portland base for the Casco Bay island fellows, as well as satellite space for the Institute’s finance and publications departments.