CHERRYFIELD, ME — An EdGE student at D.W. Merritt Elementary School in Addison, ME. EdGE Assistant Director Isaac Marnik was asked, “What’s the back story to this photo? Why is this kid dressed in oversized clothes holding a chocolate bar?”
Isaac said, “It is a fun game called multiplication doubles. Students go around the circle rolling two dice and doing the multiplication problem on the dice. When someone gets doubles, they try putting on all the clothes and then open the chocolate bar before another student rolls doubles. When another student does roll doubles, the first student has to get the clothes off quickly, so the new student can try and get the candy bar open.”
A beautiful, snowy morning on Frenchman Bay seems like the right moment to reflect a little on my first days as President of the Maine Seacoast Mission.
My first days have been gloriously filled with stories: how, in 1917, the Sunbeam I first brought dental services to Maine’s coastal island communities, how a young scholarship recipient found her voice with help from the EdGE program, how both lives and homes are transformed through the Housing Rehabilitation program, and how, for a century, the Mission has served as safe harbor for all. Stories of great good work, stories of fearless service, and stories of commitment to the Mission values. The Mission’s long legacy has been the ever-present backdrop for my first week of service.
Mine has been a week of powerful firsts. My first full tour of the grand Colket Center. My first meetings and meals with the welcoming Mission staff. My first extended time with the Rev. Scott Planting — what obvious love he has for you all and what big shoes to fill. And I look forward to so many more firsts to come: voyages, school visits, community meals, and so many more.
Of all the firsts to come, I am most excited to meet all of you and to hear all of your stories about what the Mission has meant to you and your families through the years.
I’ve only been on the job for a few days and already I am grateful for the Mission — grateful for the welcome I am receiving, for the Mission’s work, for the excellent staff and board of directors, for stories shared, and for stories yet to come.
Mostly I am grateful my own meandering story has led me here.
I am grateful to all of you for the opportunity to steward the Mission’s legacy. Together, I trust we can respond to the challenges of the present, anticipate a bright future, and always — by our actions and in our words — honor the rich past of the Maine Seacoast Mission.
Everyone wants to know my first order of business. That’s easy: learn as much as I possibly can from the collective wisdom of a century of powerful service. Starting now.
NORTHEAST HARBOR, ME — By the time you read this, a set of mid-life refurbishment specifications will have been sent to five Maine shipyards. I am pleased by the strong interest shipyards have shown in the project, as well as the quality of the yards considering the proposal. They are Billings Diesel and Marine, Stonington; Front Street Shipyard, Belfast; Portland Yacht Services; Rockland Marine Corporation; and Washburn and Doughty, East Boothbay.
By late March we should have a good idea of where the Sunbeam will head for its refit.
The temporary boat to replace the Sunbeam during the refit
Sunbeam Engineer Storey King has done a fabulous job researching, locating, and inspecting several possible boats to fill in during the Sunbeam’s absence. He located a 34-foot wooden Downeast Cruiser in Portland that has the capability to serve this role. She was recently surveyed by Rick Savage who was pleased with the boat’s condition, and the engine passed a rigorous “base pressure test” by Southworth Milton Caterpillar. In the next couple of weeks, this temporary boat will be trucked to Billings Diesel and Marine for routine maintenance and modifications to the interior. I am very excited by this addition to our fleet. She is a classic, handsome, and understated vessel with hints of lines from Sunbeam 3.
Every Friday morning, 9:30 – 11:30, our Downeast Campus Weald Bethel Community Center, Cherryfield, ME opens its doors for anyone to enjoy coffee, goodies, and a chance to visit neighbors.
L-R: Nursing Instructor Peggy Akers, Sharon Daley, Cheryl Crowley from Cliff Island, and Amy Tienery from Long island.
BAR HARBOR, ME — On Thursday February 7th Maine Seacoast Mission Island Health Director Sharon Daley, RN joined two other island leaders in speaking to nursing students at University of Southern Maine College of Nursing’s Casco Bay Fishing and Island Partnership. Fourteen nursing students will partner with the Casco Bay islands during their nursing school studies. For many nursing students this was their introduction to Maine islands.
Island Health Director Daley spoke to the students at the invitation of Nurse Practitioner Peggy Akers. Ms. Akers teaches the Partnership course, and is a member of Sharon Daley’s Island Elder Care Conference, a group of health care workers focused on finding ways for island residents to age in place, among family and friends.
Maine Seacoast Mission hosts an Annual Elder Care Conference where members gather in person. Between Conferences, group members stay connected with the internet and phone.
USM’s Casco Bay Fishing and Island Partnership course is taught by Nurse Practitioner Peggy Akers who also participates in Director Sharon Daley’s Island Elder Care group.
As explained in USM’s College of Nursing course description, “The Casco Bay Fishing and Community Partnership is primarily focused on those individuals and families who make their living in the commercial fishing industry, and those living on the remote islands in Casco Bay.”
Island Health Director Sharon Daley shared with the nursing students information about island life, the Sunbeam, telemedicine, and answered questions about the sustainability of island life, health care, emergencies, schools, telemedicine and daily life on islands. Peggy Akers, NP of the USM School of nursing said it is especially important for the students to learn about the collaboration of mainland providers and Maine Seacoast Mission in providing health services to Islanders.
