Downeast ME Tiny House Project Progressing – Sponsors, Materials Welcome

Downeast ME Tiny House Project Progressing – Sponsors, Materials Welcome

Downeast Maine Tiny House Project foundation.

Downeast Maine Tiny House Project Blog
January 29, 2020 – by Sue Unger

CHERRYFIELD, ME — We’re hard at work on our Downeast Maine Tiny House Project. Maine Seacoast Mission’s Scott Shaw is busy keeping the job-site clean and clear of snow. The veteran receiving this tiny house is also working hard to keep the site clear.

Assabet students are diligently working on the house in Massachusetts.

We are still looking for more sponsors. If you’re interested in teaming up with a great group of partners, please contact Scott Shaw or Bobbi Ann Harris. We welcome materials or funds. This house is possible thanks to the overwhelming generosity of our sponsors, and the donated time from many of our contractors.

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Island Middle to High School Transition Program – High Seas, Resilient Kids

Island Middle to High School Transition Program – High Seas, Resilient Kids

BAR HARBOR, ME — It is an example of how the Mission watches and listens to our communities and responds creatively. That’s how Maine Seacoast Mission President John Zavodny described the Mission’s island Middle to High School Transition Program. Led by Mission Island Outreach Director and Chaplain Douglas Cornman, the annual Transition Program retreat helps students living on unbridged Maine islands prepare for their transition to mainland high schools.

“Every summer, a group of resilient young teens scattered across eight unbridged islands off Maine’s coast are faced with the reality that..they are about to trade the island life they know for a life utterly foreign to them. Nearly all these island students will be boarding on the mainland during high school…with relatives or family friends,” said President Zavodny.

Director Douglas Cornman agrees. “Transitioning into the first year of high school can be intimidating and stressful. The Transition Program retreat offers a place where students can ask questions and have discussions about the transition. A lot of preparation and attention goes into making sure the students attending this three-day, two-night event, feel the safety and comfort needed to open up and engage in the process,” said Cornman.

Island students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade can take part in the retreat. One way Douglas keeps things fresh is by changing retreat venues each year from Camden, to Belfast, to Bar Harbor.

This year, January 17-19, St. Saviour’s Episcopal Church‘s Parish Hall, Bar Harbor, was home base for the Transition Program retreat. Eight students from six islands, along with their parents or chaperone, took part. Douglas was joined by Mission’s Director of Student Pathways Christina Griffith in co-leading the retreat. According to Douglas, Christina used her expertise mostly working with the parents on their thoughts, concerns, and excitement.

Douglas also had help working with the students from Mission EdGE Outreach Coordinator Matthew Cole, Executive Director Nicole Cardano of Theater Today based in Seal Cove, and assorted staff and students from public and private high schools.

This year’s Transition Program retreat helped students and their parents with problem solving, skill building, communication and social skills development, and alleviating anxiety during social interaction. There was also plenty of time for meet-and-greet, game playing, and swimming.

Director Cornman said Sunday’s scheduled retreat activities were “very condensed” because an impending storm sent students boating back early to their home islands. Beforehand, Douglas had each student write a letter to themselves. He will hold onto the letters for a year before mailing them back to the students. This exercise gives the students a chance to reflect on how their thoughts and feelings regarding high school change from one year to the next.

“Yes, we had snow, winds, high seas, had boat cancellations, resilient island kids, parents, and chaperones. And, yes, we had a fantastic fun-filled weekend,” said Douglas.

‘Sunbeam V’ Updater – A Testament to the Boat’s Quality of Construction

‘Sunbeam V’ Updater – A Testament to the Boat’s Quality of Construction

BELFAST, ME — Front Street Shipyard, where the Sunbeam V is having its routine major refit, today posted these two photos of a welder attaching a metal plate underneath the Sunbeam.

Sunbeam V Captain Mike Johnson explains why. He said, “The plate is replacing an area of the hull under the bilge pumps that suffered corrosion from the constant drip of salt water from the pumps. For a 25 year old boat to only need this small amount of plate replacement is a testament to both the quality of construction and high degree of ongoing maintenance.”

‘Sunbeam V’ Update – Pilothouse Nearing Completion

‘Sunbeam V’ Update – Pilothouse Nearing Completion

BELFAST, ME — Earlier this month, on a video-conference with Mission Administrators, Program Directors, Program Managers, and others, Sunbeam V Captain Mike Johnson said he is pleased with the way in which the Sunbeam pilothouse — his office on the water — is coming together.

The first photo of the pilothouse during the Sunbeam refit showed everything removed: computers, windows, seats, counters leaving dark areas of surface rust to be sanded and painted.

Mike says these current pilothouse photos don’t do justice to the “nearing completion” feeling he has when standing in the pilothouse. That feeling will be better conveyed in photos when with just the wood and window trim in place.

We look forward to those next photos.

‘Moonbeam’ Safe Undercover, Undergoing Maintenance

‘Moonbeam’ Safe Undercover, Undergoing Maintenance

BAR HARBOR, ME — May 23, 2019 the Mission christened their new boat Moonbeam, an interim wood boat to be used while the Sunbeam V was out of the water having its routine major refit.

Sunbeam Captain Mike Johnson is overseeing the Sunbeam refit. Sunbeam Engineer Storey King, a licensed boat captain, switched hats and served as Moonbeam Captain.

Now, Moonbeam is also out of the water for the winter months. Storey King is getting the boat ready for next season.

Here is Storey’s Moonbeam update with photos:

Moonbeam was hauled out of the water just before the new year. She is safe and sound undercover and undergoing typical maintenance for a wood boat.

Upon inspection, Moonbeam has a few issues to deal with, but nothing unexpected. There is a significant cavitation (pitting) on the propeller surface. We know the cause and it will be corrected.

Also a leaking rudder stuffing box has been removed, and will be repaired.

Sand and paint, and Moonbeam will be ready for spring.

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