For many island communities, caring for elderly citizens is difficult because of geographic isolation. The lack of facilities on-island means that elders find themselves separated from familiar surroundings and neighbors. Vinalhaven’s response was to build the Ivan Calderwood Homestead, an on-island adult family care home which opened in the fall of 2001 (WWF, Sept. 2002).
At Hog Island Audubon Camp, the unknown becomes known
The children gather around a large, blank map of Hog Island on the floor, excitedly awaiting the chance to draw in their recent discoveries. At the Family Camp, one of the Maine Audubon Society’s summer programs on Hog Island, Maine, the children and their parents have just returned from a full morning’s exploration of a
A sneak preview at Waterman’s
When does a president have nothing to say? On Saturday, August 9th, Nancy Hopkins-Davisson, president of Waterman’s Community Center, got choked up by the significance of the occasion as she looked out from the stage of the nearly completed building towards a sea of faces. Nearly 350 of them looked expectantly at her from the
The Fox Islands open one new school, dream of another
As the fog lifts over Penobscot Bay, two unique school building projects begin to come into focus. One edges toward completion as the other seeks to find its beginnings. Vinalhaven’s new K-12 school serving its 216 students is finally, almost, a reality. The old school, where the new parking lot and fields will be, has
Through their access project, Cranberry Isles build community
While much of the hardest work is yet to be done, the process of purchasing and developing a three-acre mainland lot is already paying dividends by uniting the different communities of the Cranberry Isles, and encouraging more communication between summer and year-round residents. This was the message speakers gave at a public information breakfast for
Artists find creative refuge on Swan’s Island
Fog. Many of Maine’s island communities spent much of the summer surrounded by it, immersed in it, generally overtaken by it. While most people can tolerate a little fog, almost nobody escapes unaffected by straight weeks of it. It’s no wonder, then, that Swan’s Island artists Ralph Hagopian and Iver Lofving have turned to fog
Vinalhaven’s future mapped in new comprehensive plan
The Vinalhaven Comprehensive Planning Committee unveiled the results of its 2002 community survey and sought input on the preliminary recommendations of its subcommittees at a public information meeting Aug. 12. The Committee, which has been gathering and analyzing information about Vinalhaven since the spring of 2001, is in the final stages of compiling a list
Lobster “shed” comes late, and everyone has a different explanation
“The lobsters are there,” declared a veteran downeast co-op manager. Divers had reported the obstinate creatures were just milling around on the ocean floor, as if they were confused. “The fishermen are the same way,” he said. “Everybody’s almost in slow motion. They’re just kind of dragging along. They hate to be doing anything. They
Portland Pipeline undertakes its own dredging project
In August, Portland Pipeline submitted an application to dredge the approach to Portland Harbor from inside Cushing Island to the Portland Pipeline pier. While the ramifications of this plan could be huge, David Cyr, President of Portland Pipeline said, “We feel we’ve been able to address all the concerns of the community.” Others agree. “Portland
Midcoast group proposes a community marine resource center
Three long-time supporters of Maine fishermen and Maine fish pitched their plans for a community marine resource center in Stonington at a gathering in North Haven. It was the first of several such meetings in fishing communities from Penobscot Bay to Blue Hill Bay and into the eastern Gulf of Maine. Robin Alden, Ted Ames