by maineseacoast | Sep 22, 2016 | Downeast Campus, News
CHERRYFIELD – Bonnie Johnson asked Mission Downeast Campus Director Wendy Harrington if Bonnie could use the EdGE building in Cherryfield as a meeting place for Bonnie’s growing, informal support group. Wendy Harrington said yes. That was around year 2010, and Bonnie Johnson’s idea is one of our Downeast Campus’s signature events: The Downeast Table of Plenty, or DETOP, for short.
With Bonnie Johnson’s permission, here is Bonnie’s reflection on DETOP written on Tuesday, September 13, 2016, two days after the DETOP supper on Sunday, September 11, 2016. The photos, also from the September 11th DETOP are Bonnie’s too.
Hi everyone,
What a festive atmosphere. The Downeast Table of Plenty (DETOP) was hopping last Sunday. The Women’s Health Resource Library (WHRL) in Milbridge, ME, a group new to DETOP, hosted the great supper. How thankful we are for the fantastic job they did. Each smiling, culinary creator brought sizable dishes to please EVERY palette. Every DETOP diner was greeted with a yummy serving of healthy fare for their bodies, and a huge dose of kindness for nurturing their souls.
Permit me a small, personal reflection on lovely thoughts from a friend. Last Sunday I was struck with the paradoxical fashion in which human beings choose to “be with” one another. We remember in our hearts the tragedy of September 11th, 2001. We mourn the enormous loss of life, and the complete breakdown of respect, dignity, and love for all people. This will always remain an indelible hurt on our hearts.
At the same time, we see the enormous capacity for human compassion, and the “lifting up of another,” in something as small as a community gathering in a common meal. I can hear in my head and heart- our local adage: “DETOP is our Table of Bread.” It is, indeed a table of bread open for everyone, in every place and space of their life.
This is true at ALL places where basic necessities of life are shared- from food, to information, to pooled resources of time, and energy, and ultimately, Hope.
Each of us is given a daily choice as to what message we want to send in our actions. Last Sunday, as in every DETOP supper, I see everyone choosing the road of mutual dignity and respect. We have a beautiful community here in Downeast Maine, and link our hands with the rest of the world choosing the same.
Thank you again to our new hosting group- the Women’s Health Resource Library! They Rock! And another special thank goes to our stellar musicians – Brian Stewart and Curtis Russet. They brought such great entertainment, that so many enjoyed.
Thank you to everyone who make these Sunday’s happen, and to every diner who has ever graced our doors. Would a meal such as DETOP exist on a very regular, unending basis, with even one of the these pieces missing from the puzzle?
From Pat, Jillian, Steve, Aaron, Nicki, Adam, Mark, who “pickup,” “set up, and “clean up” practically EVERY Sunday…
To Linda, our brave and successful coordinator and organizer personified…
To Wendy, and, Charlie, and the Seacoast Mission for space and administration…
To Jillian and Steve, Priscilla, Linda and Steve, Wendy and Bunny, Marty, Alice, Nancy and Adrian, the Cherryfield Congregational Church, St. Michaels Church and Claire Babcock, “Freaks and Geeks,” Jenny and Kent, The Mason’s, and…
ALL GROUPS and INDIVIDUALS who schedule themselves in the Never Ending rotation of meals…
To Joan, Betty, Linda, Sharon, Diane, and others who put diningware on the table, and help make coffee…
To each person/group offering a dish of food on any given occasion…
To every single person who lifts a chair, or table, or who helps put out the boxes of produce, and…
To the Bayside Market who offers it all…
To the weekly musicians: from Steve, Curtis, George, Tom and Beth, Sepp and Shelia, Brian and Cole Creek, Randy, Michael, Shelia and the list goes on…
To the folks that move over to make space for another diner at their table…
To the folks who play with the children, and dogs, and those who hold babies so others can eat…
To the unbelievable summer work groups that come from away to help with housing repair and offer other help to the supper as well, and…
To EVERY SINGLE DINER WHO HAS EVER GRACED OUR DOORS.
All these components come together like magnets attracted to one another. They all form a huge and amazing portrait.
I know I have most unintentionally left names out. While you may not see your name listed, please know it is etched in our hearts, touched by the sheer magic of your willingness to help.
Peace Abundant
Bonnie Johnson
by maineseacoast | Sep 19, 2016 | News
In mid-August, while verifying spellings and titles for a Mission news release on the Sunbeam‘s Demonstration Cruise to Frenchboro island, I came upon this wonderful “Frenchboro Kingfishers” drawing. Who are the Frenchboro Kingfishers? Who designed that poster? Those questions started me on a brief, online journey, ending at one of the best blogs I’ve come across: Frenchboro School: Adventures in a One Room Schoolhouse.
What an excellent way for Frenchboro School to establish two-way communication with the world. Sad that this blog ended when the school teachers — Mr. & Mrs. Finn? — moved from Frenchboro. But what a great historic legacy. Very well done.
As for the origin of the Frenchboro Kingfishers? I’m including here a bit of the back story. Find out the rest of the story at Adventures in a One Room Schoolhouse.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2010
Mascot Voting
Does your school have a mascot? Of course it does. Every school has a mascot, right? Well, that’s what I thought, until I moved to Frenchboro.
This year we got organized. The kids came up with a large (very large) list of possible mascots. I especially liked Bradley’s, which was the Sharpened Pencils. We put up a sheet at the post office, asking for ideas. Then the kids took their favorites from both lists. After numerous write-in votes, we had pared the list down to five. Hurricanes, Sea Monsters, Kingfishers, Power Strike (no, it’s not a Power Ranger…it’s a lightning bolt), and Sharks.
The kids made up official ballots. They plastered the town with voting signs. They set up a voting station at the school. Then they called. Everyone. Like…multiple times. Let’s just say that we had more voter turnout than any town will have in the gubernatorial race this year. And, if you could talk, you could vote.
We are now officially the Frenchboro Kingfishers. It’s got a good ring to it. Maybe not as snazzy as the Sharpened Pencils, but, ya know…the adults got votes, too.
Continued Here
by maineseacoast | Sep 12, 2016 | News
September 12, 2016
For More Information
Contact: Scott K Fish sfish@seacoastmission.org
Small Animal Clinic of Ellsworth, Tournament Winners: (L-R) Phid Lawless, Theresa Green, Bridgett Babine, Alan Toothaker, Kelly Fitzpatrick, Alec Toothaker, Ben Beverly, Misha Mytar
BAR HARBOR – A team assembled by the Small Animal Clinic in Ellsworth, captained by Dr. Alan Toothaker, won the 12th Annual Maine Seacoast Mission Open Tennis Tournament on Saturday, September 10, at the Northeast Harbor Tennis Club.
The tournament benefits the Mission’s innovative EdGE (Ed Greaves Education) youth development program and attracted over 80 players and 50 guests. The Mission’s EdGE program runs after-school, in-school, and summer programs in Washington and Hancock Counties to give youth the tools and resources they need to succeed in school and life.
Mission President Scott Planting said after the Tournament, “Thank you to everyone for supporting this great EdGE program for Downeast kids. Several of the players I spoke with said this the best run tournament they participate in. They love the venue, the quality of tennis, and the hospitality.”
The day before the tournament, EdGE kids from Washington County received tennis lessons from guidance of Dan Granholm, Jaime Weir, and Ed Fogarty at the Bar Harbor Club. EdGE kids then took part in a cook-out and overnighter at Mission headquarters in Bar Harbor, and were on hand Saturday to watch the some fast paced tennis at the EdGE Benefit tournament.
EdGE kids from Washington County at Tennis Camp
The four teams advancing to the Tournament semi-finals were Small Animal Clinic of Ellsworth, Machias Business Group, Dead River Company, and MDI Hospital. The team sponsored by the Small Animal Clinic captured the championship in a final match with the Machias Business Group team. This was Small Animal Clinic’s third straight Mission Open Tennis Tournament win.
Bar Harbor Savings and Loan was Court Sponsor. Team Sponsors were Bar Harbor Bank and Trust, Big Red Tomatoes, Dead River Company, John Williams Boat Company, Machias Business Group (including Charles Dorr, D.D.S., Whitney’s Originals, Tom’s Mini-Mart), Machias Savings Bank, MDI Hospital, Small Animal Clinic, and Connie Greaves Bates.
The Mission also gave special thanks to Northeast Tennis Club for the use of their courts and facility, the Causeway Club and Ben Rowell, Director of Swim and Tennis, for tennis balls, The Docksider for coffee, bagels, and donuts, Hannaford Supermarket for food and beverages, Side Street Cafe for lunch, and Mount Desert Spring Water for water.
The EdGE provides in-school, after-school and summer programs for over 700 children in 17 Downeast Maine communities.
