News Archives - Maine Seacoast Mission

New Radar for Sunbeam V

Posted on September 16, 2017 by Scott Fish

NORTHEAST HARBOR, Me — This is a photo of the Sunbeam V bridge. Our complement of electronic navigation equipment includes the following:

1) A chart plotter which presents a digitized copy of a marine chart into which our GPS location is inputted and plotted.

2) A depth sounder which shows the depth of the water beneath our keel and gives a general contour of bottom characteristics.

3) A primary radar (radar#1) which is a large commercial grade radar that presents surrounding “targets” on a large screen allowing for safe navigation in low visibility conditions such as fog and/or darkness.

4) A second smaller radar (radar#2) which is partially for redundancy and as a short range unit to keep track of “targets” that are difficult to discern on the larger radar.

Radar #2 is the piece of equipment that I am replacing.

It is over 10 years old. Radar technology has improved tremendously. Do you own a flat panel t.v.? Think of how much LCD screen technology has imrpoved.

The resolution of the older radar screen is marginal and can cause distortion of smaller targets such as boats and bouys. A newer unit is much more crisp, with a zoom feature allowing the user to focus on a particular area of interest.

The other big improvement is advancement of what we call “hybrid” units that combine a chart plotter with a radar. This gives the user a feature called overlay that can project the radar image on top of the navigational chart. This can clear up a lot of doubt about radar targets without measuring the distance and range manually to determine if a target is say, a boat or a navigational aid.

Another plus of the new unit is Automatic Identification System (AIS) technology. AIS is essentially the marine equivalent of an airplane transponder which broadcasts ship information for other captains to use. The Sunbeam V’s position will be presented on a screen of other similarly equipped ships, and their information will be presented on our new unit.

Michael Johnson
Captain, Sunbeam V

Sunbeam V in Dry Dock Through Mid-October

Posted on September 16, 2017 by Scott Fish

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STONINGTON, Me — The Mission’s 74-foot steel-hulled Sunbeam V is hauled in annually to keep ahead of its structural integrity and cosmetics. Think of it as the boat’s annual physical. While in dry dock last year the Sunbeam V had a new bow thruster installed, giving the boat better sideways motion when approach certain harbors and docks.

Generally the dry docked Sunbeam V has its paint — top and bottom — renewed. Any rust developed anywhere since last year is sanded and painted. The overhaul work is done or supervised by Captain Michael Johnson and Engineer Storey King.

Island Health director Sharon Daley, and Island Outreach director Douglas Cornman continue their island community work, traveling on other boats, ferries, and planes.

Small Animal Clinic Team Earns Fourth Consecutive EdGE Tennis Tournament Win

Posted on September 12, 2017September 12, 2017 by Scott Fish

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BAR HARBOR, ME – A team assembled by the Small Animal Clinic in Ellsworth, captained by Dr. Alan Toothaker, won the 13th Annual Maine Seacoast Mission Open Tennis Tournament on Saturday, September 9, at the Northeast Harbor Tennis Club.

The tournament proceeds benefit the Mission’s EdGE (Ed Greaves Education) youth development program. The Mission’s EdGE runs after-school, in-school, and summer programs in Washington/Hancock Counties to give kids tools and resources to succeed in school and in life.

Final figures are not yet available, but preliminary estimates indicate the tournament corporate and individual sponsorship giving will surpass last year.

In the tournament semi-finals the Small Animal Clinic won over the Harbor Seals. And R.H. Foster’s team beat the EdGE team.

In the finals, R.H. Foster lost to Small Animal Clinic.

This was Small Animal Clinic’s fourth straight Mission Open Tennis Tournament win.

Birch Bay Retirement Village Group Meets Sunbeam V Crew

Posted on September 6, 2017 by Scott Fish

NORTHEAST HARBOR, ME — The Sunbeam and crew took a group from Birch Bay Retirement Village on a cruise along Somes Sound this afternoon. Though it wasn’t the sunniest of days, our guests still had a wonderful time on the water, feasting on Jillian’s goodies. You can see that Captain Mike had a good time too, photo bombing the group’s “end-of-the-cruise” photo.

Peace,

Douglas Cornman
Director of Island Outreach
Maine Seacoast Mission – Sunbeam V

Sunbeam V Schedule: Island Telemedicine Visits Sept 12-14

Posted on September 5, 2017 by Scott Fish

Please check the Sunbeam Island Services Schedule Calendar for any schedule changes due to weather conditions or other considerations.

The Sunbeam V is scheduled to visit Frenchboro, Matinicus, and Isle au Haut.

Questions about Island Health Services and Telemedicine? Please contact Director of Island Health Services Sharon Daley, RN.

For other inquiries about the Sunbeam, contact Director of Island Outreach Douglas Cornman.

Volunteers Honored by Washington Cty Extension Assoc at EdGE Center, Sept 19

Posted on August 31, 2017 by Scott Fish

Bangor Daily News
COMMUNITY

Volunteers to be honored by Washington County Extension Association
By Tara Wood
Posted Aug. 29, 2017, at 11:27 a.m.

Cherryfield, Maine – The Washington County Extension Association will hold its annual meeting on Tuesday, September 19, at the EdGE Center, Maine Seacoast Mission, Weald Bethel Lane, Cherryfield. The evening begins at 4:30 p.m. with tours of the Master Gardener Volunteer gardens, followed by a potluck supper at 5 p.m. ; the program and awards ceremony begin at 6 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

Attendees are asked to consider bringing a dish to share. For more information or to request a disability accommodation, contact the Extension office, 207.255.3345 or 800.287.1542 (toll-free in Maine).

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The Importance of Maine Island Aging in Place Elder Homes

Posted on August 26, 2017 by Scott Fish

BAR HARBOR, ME — Mission Director of Island Health Sharon Daley hosts an annual elder care conference in support of the elder care work taking place on 14 different islands. Three of the larger islands have small aging in place elder homes. Soon there will be an elder home on a fourth island.

These homes allow elders to remain on the islands they love, continuing to be and important part of their communities.

Meanwhile, the small islands learn ways to support their elders and caregivers.

These films from the Maine islands of North Haven and Islesboro show the importantance of these aging in place elder homes to island residents, their families, and the community.

Aging On An Island – Voices from North Haven, Maine

Boardman Cottage

Lighthouse ‘Friends’ from Isle au Haut, Swan’s Island Become Friends

Posted on August 23, 2017 by Scott Fish

islandinstitute.org
Lighthouse ‘Friends’ from Isle au Haut, Swan’s Island become friends
RESTORATION CHALLENGES BUOYED BY SHARED INFORMATION ON VISITS

BY TOM GROENING
POSTED AUGUST 22, 2017

The friendships were fostered by the outreach work of the Sunbeam, the Maine Seacoast Mission boat that provides services to remote islands.

Last summer, members of the Friends of Isle au Haut Lighthouse traveled to Swan’s Island, courtesy of the Sunbeam, and last month, it was the Swan’s Island lighthouse group that traveled to Isle au Haut.

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Telehealth Offers a Vital Resource to Maine’s Island Residents

Posted on August 23, 2017August 23, 2017 by Scott Fish

Telehealth Offers a Vital Resource to Maine’s Island Residents
A telemedicine platform and bi-monthly visits from the Sunbeam give the isolated residents of several Downeast Maine islands a lot more than just telehealth.
By Eric Wicklund

August 22, 2017 – The success of telehealth has always been closely tied to the idea of bringing healthcare to those who have problems with access.

To the 700 or so residents of several islands off Maine’s Downeast region, that success is tied to a video link with an onshore clinic and the 75-foot, steel-hulled vessel that makes twice-monthly runs up and down the coast.

It’s all part of a “big jigsaw puzzle” for healthcare, says Sharon Daley, RN, a Missouri native who launched the nonprofit Maine Seacoast Mission’s telehealth program some 17 years ago and now directs the multi-faceted program out of Bar Harbor.

“Going off island is extremely expensive,” she says. “So we have to make do with what we have.”

Daley’s network begins of the Sunbeam. Equipped with a telemedicine lab that includes virtual visit technology, it sails out of Bar Harbor twice a month, each three-day journey tracing a route that might take it to Matinicus – at 21 miles out, it’s the most distant island, and only accessible at high tide, and home to about 75 full-timers – Isle au Haut and/or Frenchboro and a few others islands are visited with less frequency). Appointments are scheduled with island residents in need of medical service, and time is left for walk-ins as well. All of these services are free.

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