The Sunbeam is a welcome sight in any harbor, but during the winter months, these visits become even more important. On Matinicus, often considered the most remote of Maine’s islands due to its geographic distance from the mainland, the population can swell into the hundreds in the summer, but the winters are especially isolating, with around 15 people living on the island year-round.
Your gift to the Maine Seacoast Mission makes you part of all we do.
Phil Davies moved with his wife and son to the island five years ago. He shares that logistically living on the island in winter is not much different than in the summer. The island has a monthly ferry year-round; but most islanders use the daily plane from Owl’s Head. The plane brings groceries and mail to the island and is the transportation most residents rely on. However, when the winds get too high or the snow threatens the island, the plane often has to cancel as well.
Many islanders spend the winter working on tasks they could not do during the summer months, with less people on the island it is often easier getting loud or hard work done. Phil spends most afternoons cutting down trees and doing deferred maintenance on the island’s power grid. And while, these winters can be busy workwise, with so few people on the island, Phil shares that the winters can be hard on islanders’ mental health.
Sunbeam Director Douglas Cornman says, “In many ways our work feels more profound in winter because their sense of isolation increases. Islanders often go for longer periods without visiting one another, so feelings of loneliness, depression, or anxiety of a greater chance of creeping in.” To combat this, Douglas and Sunbeam Nurse Taylor Wood, make it a point to visit people in their homes during the winter and the length of those visits are longer. He adds, “We like to get our eyes on as many people as possible. If we cannot physically visit them, we talk to a family member or neighbor to ascertain how they are doing.”
This feeling of isolation particularly acute on Matinicus, which is 20 miles off the Maine coast, and does not have a protected harbor. Due to how the wharf and docks are configured, the Sunbeam must circumnavigate an extremely narrow passage to get to where Captain Mike Johnson and Storey King, the boat’s engineer, can safely tie her up. This makes it difficult for the Sunbeam to come in bad weather, so islanders are relieved when they see the boat. Phil says, “there is nothing better than going down to the harbor on our bikes and seeing the Sunbeam.” Adding “there is no way to undervalue the chats” that residents have with Sunbeam crew.
The Sunbeam and her crew can mean a lot to most islanders. Even if residents are in a rush or have a lot to do, many still stop by to grab a cookie, enjoy a meal, or have a cup of coffee. “Our winter visits are what makes the Sunbeam crew feel like extended family or members of the community, and not just a non-profit doing its job,” Douglas says.
The crew works hard to make sure they can visit as many islands as possible, in any way they can. During the winter, the Sunbeam plans to go to Isle au Haut, Matinicus, Great Cranberry Island, and Frenchboro every other week, and Sunbeam program staff also use island transportation to get to Islesford, Monhegan, Chebeague, and Cliff Island regularly.
To learn more about the Sunbeam, click here and to learn more about the Mission’s Island Outreach programs, click here.