by maineseacoast | Jan 24, 2020 | Island Outreach, John Zavodny, Maine Seacoast Mission, News, Uncategorized
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.
by maineseacoast | Jan 22, 2020 | Maine Seacoast Mission, News, Sunbeam
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.”
by maineseacoast | Jan 16, 2020 | Maine Seacoast Mission, News, Sunbeam
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‘Sunbeam V’ pilothouse August 2019. (Photo courtesy Front Street Shipyard)
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‘Sunbeam V’ pilothouse January 2020. (Photo courtesy Mike Johnson)
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‘Sunbeam V’ pilothouse January 2020. (Photo courtesy Mike Johnson)
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.
by maineseacoast | Jan 16, 2020 | Island Health, Island Outreach, Maine Seacoast Mission, News, Sunbeam, Uncategorized
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.
by maineseacoast | Jan 15, 2020 | Maine Seacoast Mission, News, Sunbeam, Uncategorized
Front Street Shipyard carpenters Kirk Ryder and Peter Lewis. (Photo courtesy Mike Johnson)
BELFAST, ME — Front Street Shipyard carpenters Kirk Ryder (left) and Peter Lewis (right) are responsible for much of the reconstruction of the Sunbeam V pilothouse.
Marine carpentry is challenging. Hardly anything is square or level. Multiple compound angles would baffle even the most handy of us. Not only are these carpenters skilled, but they are quick with a joke and personable on the job.
Source: Sunbeam V Captain Mike Johnson
by maineseacoast | Jan 13, 2020 | Island Health, Island Outreach, Maine Seacoast Mission, News
Matinicus Island. Photo by Sharon Daley, RN.
capenews.net
Merrill Raymond Webber
Jan 9, 2020
In Loving Memory Merrill Raymond Webber left on his hunting and fishing trip on November 24, 2019. He was born in Portland, Maine on June 13, 1955 to Kenneth and Barbara (Merrill) Webber. He grew up in Hatchville, Massachusetts on Cape Cod. After graduating Lawrence High School in Falmouth, Massachusetts, he went on to Wentworth Institute in Boston where he got his degree in Building Construction. He wanted to go lobstering on Matinicus after high school, but his grandmother said he had to have “something in his back pocket” in case lobstering didn’t work out. He worked summers while in school for Bob Hampton, whom he credits for teaching him to be a skilled carpenter.
Merrill moved to the island and started out as a sternman for Albert Bunker. He bought a small outboard and a few traps to haul on days he wasn’t with Albert. He later bought his great Uncle Vernon’s boat with a spray hood. In a couple years he was ready for a larger boat and found in Belfast, Albert’s old boat that he had first worked on. His last boat, the Laurie Lee, was a 35 ft Duffy.
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A service and celebration of his life will be held on Matinicus in the spring. Donations may be made to the Matinicus Congregational Church 311 Seal Harbor Road Spruce Head, ME 04859, the Maine Seacoast Mission 127 West St Bar Harbor, ME 04609 or the MW Island Medical Transport Fund in care of Penobscot Island Air PO Box 273 South Thomaston, ME 04858. Checks for this fund may be made out to PIA.
Full obituary
