ABOARD THE SUNBEAM — “Despite the high southerly winds, sea height and fog, the Sunbeam and crew made it to Isle au Haut on Saturday, April 20th to celebrate Easter.
We had a lively and festive church service on the boat, with Hunt and Allison Smith of Steuben providing music on fiddle and accordion.
Douglas’ Easter message focused on how we can better love one another as God commands us to love through the Gospel, even though doing so is one of our greatest challenges.
Sunbeam Steward Jillian served a delicious dinner of chicken and dumplings and blueberry pie.
It was a delightful evening where all were lovingly fed – body, mind & soul.”
Douglas Cornman, Maine Seacoast Mission Island Outreach Director
Mission Island Health Director Sharon Daley, RN. (Photo courtesy Eva Murray)
Pen Bay Pilot
Without an Agenda: talking with the crew of the ‘Sunbeam’ – Part 2
By Eva Murray – Posted: Tuesday, April 2, 2019 – 1:45pm
I brought up how March on an island has classically been considered the hardest time, and asked, “Do you see a seasonal impact on people in terms of depression?”
Sharon’s reply was particularly interesting to me, and it defied the stereotype of the “long lonely winter.”
“I see August as also being hard for people on all the islands.” (Hearing these words from her made me smile, as I personally feel the stress of the intensely busy summer much more acutely than any stress from a low population, even though that issue gets little media attention in Maine). “The population on every island doubles (or more,) and everybody’s working really hard, and having so many people around always needing a lot of things can be really hard. By August, people are ready for it to be quieter.”
I could have hugged her. We hear a lot about the impacts on mood and mental health of isolation and long winters, but less about the sense of being overwhelmed, overworked, or “always on call” during a Maine coast summer.
BAR HARBOR, ME — Matinicus Island high-to-low tides vary about 10-feet. Here’s the Sunbeam resting on mud at low tide. When the Sunbeam arrives in Matinicus harbor one of the crew’s first moves is tying the boat to the dock. At low tide, this prevents the Sunbeam from tipping on its side.
Photos courtesy Island Outreach director Douglas Cornman and Ready by 21 Mentoring
NORTHEAST HARBOR, ME — Outreach director Douglas Cornman reminds us that May 15th, the Sunbeam carried a group of 25 young men and women and their adult mentors from the Deer Isle/Stonington area to Isle au Haut.
Each May, as one of Ready by 21 Mentoring “Real World Trips,” a sophomore class travels with the Sunbeam for a day of community service. Once the group is on Isle au Haut, they will work with rangers from Acadia National Park to clean debris from the island coastline.
Ready by 21 Mentoring is a Maine based program. According to its web site it “seeks ways to create safe, quality opportunities for youth beginning at age 14 thru 21 to develop multi-generational relationships that allow them the opportunity for growth, self expression and views of their highest potential.”
“The Sunbeam has collaborated with Ready by 21 Mentoring each of the four years I’ve served as outreach Director,” said Douglas Cornman, who is “pretty certain” the Ready by 21 Mentoring and Sunbeam partnership precedes him.
Maine Seacoast Mission Island Outreach Director Douglas Cornman working with students. / Photo by Tess Beam/Island Institute
Middle schoolers come together to prepare for high school off-island
Story and photos by Tess Beam/Island Institute
Transitioning into the first year of high school can be intimidating and stressful. By creating an open, safe place to discuss and ask questions about high school, we hope to better prepare and ensure that students don’t withdraw from the high school experience – no matter how new, different and challenging it may be.
