The Island Trail T h e N e w s l e tt e r o f t h e M a i n e I s l a n d T r a i l A s s o c i at i o n w i nt e r 2 0 1 4
Creating a Bigger Ripple B y L e e B u m st e d
We had already completed this profile of Dorcas Miller, a long-time MITA friend and volunteer, when we learned that she was to be honored by the Maine Wilderness Guides Organization. She recently received their Conservation Award for her distinguished career of writing and teaching about the natural world. Congratulations, Dorcas!
Dorcas Miller says she writes books because they don’t exist and she wants to use them herself. She takes the old adage, “write what you know,” one step further—she writes about what she would like to know. Her book topics include guides to natural history, backcountry cooking, and outdoor recreation. Of Dorcas’s books, the one best known to Maine paddlers is her wonderfully detailed Kayaking the Maine Coast: A Paddler’s Guide to Day Trips from Kittery to Cobscook. In it, she offers information on launch sites, islands and mainland spots to visit, safety considerations, and wildlife in a format that encourages readers to build their own trip plans. continued page 19
In This Issue Brothers on a Boat .............................. 2 Questions for Mark Fasold ...............4 Dirty Jobs .................................................8
Jack Phillips (center) with his father and brother Sam on George Head in the 1980s.
Wild Island Summers: A Phillips Family Tradition B y Ja c k P h i l l i p s , d e v e lo pm e n t d i r e c to r
My grandfather loved the Maine coast. He grew up in Boston and lived most of his adult life in Woods Hole, MA, on Cape Cod. But in his later years he bought a Concordia Yawl and cruised the waters of coastal Maine every summer. Merchant’s Row, the archipelago of small islands between Stonington and Isle au Haut, was his favorite destination. As he grew older, and his six children began to have kids of their own, he sought undeveloped property for his brood, and their families, to gather for camping trips. He envisioned a seasonal commune of siblings, spouses, and small children enjoying the splendors of Maine in its natural form, which he would proudly observe from his sailboat, anchored comfortably several hundred yards offshore. In the late 1970s, he found the place he was looking for: George Head Island, a pristine property a mile off of Stonington with a 1,000-foot sandbar prominently exposed at low tide and grassy fields perfect for camping, right in the heart of his beloved Merchant’s Row. The owner, Emily Muir, had apparently wanted to sell the island since her husband, William, who sculpted the beautiful bronze quarryman statue that sits on Stonington Harbor, died several years earlier. continued page 7
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Brothers on a Boat B y D o u g W e l c h , E x e c u t i v e D i r e c to r
M I TA B OA R D O F T R U ST E E S Stephen Birmingham, Cape Elizabeth, ME Kelly Boden, Portland, ME Dan Carr, Dayton, ME Nicole Connelly, Falmouth, ME Kathy Eickenberg, Liberty, ME Mark Fasold, Yarmouth, ME Tom Franklin, Portland, ME Odette Galli, Falmouth, ME Lindsay Hancock, Gray, ME Alicia Heyburn, Brunswick, ME Rodger Herrigel, Phippsburg, ME Liz Incze, Cumberland Foreside, ME Cindy Knowles, Cumberland Center, ME Melissa Paly, Kittery, ME Lucas St. Clair, Portland, ME Jeremy Wintersteen, Portland, ME
STA F F
Doug Welch • dwelch@mita.org Executive Director
Greg Field • gfield@mita.org Director of Finance & Operations
Margaret Gerber • mgerber@mita.org Membership & Development Associate
As you might imagine, after eight years at the helm of MITA, I have thoroughly explored all the different regions of the Trail. But aside from a handful of weekend-long trips, I had never made an extended excursion along the Coast. In addition, I have typically been in a skiff or a kayak, and never in a large cruising boat on these shores.
Maria Jenness • mjenness@mita.org Stewardship Manager Kevin Lomangino • kevin@mita.org Newsletter Editor
Brian Marcaurelle • brian@mita.org Program Director Jack Phillips • jphillips@mita.org Development Director
Erin Quigley • equigley@mita.org Membership Manager
Pro-bono newsletter design services by Jillfrances Gray : www.jfg.com JFG Graphic Design|Creative Direction
The Maine Island Trail is a 375-mile long waterway extending from the New Hampshire border on the west to Cobscook Bay on the east. Along the route, state-owned and private islands are available to members or the public for overnight stopovers where one can picnic or camp in a wilderness setting. The Maine Island Trail Association (MITA) is a nonprofit conservation organization, whose goal is to establish a model of thoughtful use and volunteer stewardship for the Maine islands that will assure their conservation in a natural state while providing an exceptional recreational asset that is maintained and cared for by the people who use it. This goal is achieved by encouraging a philosophy of low-impact use and environmental awareness among MITA’s members and island visitors.
M A I N E I S L A N D T R A I L A S S O C I AT I O N 58 Fore Street, 30-3 Portland, ME 04101 (207) 761-8225 • info@mita.org
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It is well after Columbus Day and I am still stubbornly wearing shorts. I am in conscious denial that the summer of 2014 has ended, despite the fact that I pulled my boat out of the water earlier this week and that the last MITA cleanup is now completed. But this was truly an extraordinary summer for me, and I do not want it to end. It was not just the wonderful weather—the lack of extreme temperatures or appreciable storms—that made it so special. More than anything, it was a cruising adventure that I took with my brother in late July that made 2014 so notable.
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My brother Greg and I are the boaters in our respective families, with him having given me both my first and second boats (a kayak and a Boston Whaler, respectively)! We had talked about going on an extended cruise in Maine for some time. With the lucky gift of a sabbatical from his job in Silicon Valley over the summer, Greg finally had the opportunity to make our plans a reality, and I was more than ready to join him. We made preliminary arrangements over the winter and leased a Duffy 37 out of Bucks Harbor for the second half of July. As a big boater on San Francisco Bay, and a sailor ever since middle school, Greg’s role as captain was never questioned. I therefore had the fun job of navigator. So I spent last winter poring over the MITA Guide, the Taft Guide, and a variety of other cruising and coastal history references. I also
furthered my growing hobby of exploring various navigational software and online resources. These included INavX, Active Captain, and, of course, the new MITA app! (See page 3 for details.) At any given moment on the trip, I probably had three different apps open on my phone and was constantly managing my battery level. (And we never put the paper charts away either.) The big picture is that after lashing two kayaks to the flying bridge, we left Bucks Harbor on July 14 and gradually made our way as far east as Halifax Island. Then we headed back west and down as far as Seguin. For the return to Bucks Harbor on July 29, we took the inland passage, so that none of the route ever felt repetitive; it felt more like a loop than a two-way linear trip. With just two days of inclement weather, the trip itself was a dream, which was not particularly surprising. More surprising was the great pleasure my brother and I took from focusing one day at a time on the simple questions of the day: Where were we going that day? How would we avoid rocks on the way? Where would we moor when we got there? And what would we eat? Concentrating exclusively on these simple objectives served as an incredible respite from our normal, crazy lives. Moreover, the fact that we worked through these challenges together,
Greg and Doug Welch midway through their journey. Photo Credit: DavidMcLain.com
from dawn until dusk, made for a special bond that we had not experienced since childhood, if ever. Symbolic of this homecoming of sorts was our rediscovery of our childhood rental cottage on John’s Bay. We had gone there for many years as children, but as adults we had no idea of its actual location. After 40 years, our parents were not much help, and I had all but given up on ever finding it. But as Greg and I passed through the region, we decided that we had to try again. Between the two of us, we recalled enough details to put together a mental picture of what we would be looking for on the shoreline. The key detail that my brother remembered was that there had been an old fish pen near the property. While I had searched in the past in and around Pemaquid and Damariscotta, I had never made it up the East Branch of the John’s River. And within very little time upon reaching that Bay, we spotted the telltale fish pen that marked the location of our old rental cottage! As we expected, the tiny two-room structure that once hung out over the rocks—and the high tide—was no longer there. But happily, our expectation that we’d find a garish “McMansion” in its place proved to be wrong. Instead, another modest home had been built on the old cottage lot. So all in all, while the scale was distorted the way childhood memories so often are, the place was relatively the same as we remembered from the 1970s. It was truly an extraordinary homecoming. Another unexpected joy were the people that we encountered along our journey. We visited with friends old and new, MITA members and partners, and—in one astonishing chance encounter—a cruising neighbor who turned out to be someone we had met 25 years ago on Vinalhaven!
Introducing the MITA Smartphone App! B y Da m i e n L a l ly. M e m b e r s h i p M a n a g e r
At the close of the 2013 season, fresh off the heels of MITA’s 25th anniversary celebration, members of MITA’s Board and staff looked ahead to the next quarter-century and asked: How can we make MITA better? We didn’t just want to bob in the wake of a passing anniversary frenzy: MITA’s 26th year should mean progress for members!
By the end of September, nearly 2,000 unique users had downloaded the app; among them, they had opened and used its features well over 14,000 times. Even some hard-core paper Guide loyalists admitted their fondness for the newfangled app (though we’ll still be sending them hard copies next spring, as usual!).
The most significant leap forward in this direction was the July release of MITA’s first-ever smartphone app. Built through a collaboration with Mainebased software developer Chimani, the app presents Maine’s gorgeous coast for virtual exploration on-the-fly. Two of its main features derive from MITA’s traditional paper Guide, now dynamically rendered for smartphone use: the interactive Trail chart and siteby-site information pages. However, it also boasts a bevy of new features, such as regional tide charts, a member blog portal, a customized “MyTrail” folder for storing your Trail favorites, a frequently updated Events section with RSVP email links, and more.
While it’s just one aspect of MITA’s vision for the future, the app opens up numerous possibilities for the evolution of our membership community. With that in mind, and as our 2015 term fast approaches, we’d like to hear your feedback on the 2014 version of the MITA app, and what you think the 2015 iteration should offer.
After months of testing, the app made its public debut as a free download on July 1, 2014, and was met with instant excitement from friends of the Trail.
To share your thoughts on the app’s performance and future development, please email your comments to membership@mita.org, write to our office in Portland, or give us a call at 207-761-8225. We also hope you’ll take a moment to review the app itself via its homepage on the iTunes App Store (for iPhone and iPad users) or on Google Play (for those with Android devices). This app will be developed with our members in mind, so please help us make it even better!
In the end, I rediscovered with my heart what I had known all along with my head: that the Maine Island Trail is as much about the people who love the islands as it is about the islands themselves. I won’t soon forget that. And I also can’t wait for my next adventure on the Maine Island Trail! M I TA .O R G
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“Stay the Course”
Mark Fasold thinks MITA is headed in the right direction Editor’s Note: Following a successful two-year term by outgoing Board Chair Liz Incze, Mark Fasold took the reins of leadership on October 1 of this year. As the Chief Financial Officer of L.L.Bean and long-time volunteer for a number of environmental, social service, and educational nonprofits, Mark brings decades of experience to MITA. We asked him about his background and what he sees as MITA’s top priorities in the years ahead.
How did you get involved with MITA?
In a broad sense, you could say I got involved 60 years ago. As a very young boy growing up on Long Island Sound, I had a small pram dinghy that my father and I built in the basement. He put an old Elto motor on it from the 1950s that probably had one-and-a-half horsepower, and it served as our tender when we went to different islands with friends. My Maine family has always been on the water in canoes, kayaks and motor boats for 40 years as well. My wife, Pattie, always tells me that I am most comfortable when I’m on something that’s floating.
What made you want to be on the Board of Directors?
I started getting more in tune with MITA when we moved from the Sebago Lake area to the coast 10 years ago. I had already been on my first cleanup, and started dreaming about being a Monitor Skipper in my retirement, when that unexpected embezzlement case came to light. It was interesting to me because I had experience with such cases. I asked fellow employee at L.L.Bean, Stafford Soule, who was on the Board at the time, if he’d like me to come in and talk with folks, and I ended up going to a special MITA meeting and sharing my experience. I told everyone to just be open about what happened with members and that honesty would carry the day. 4
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Since I’m a CPA myself, I also talked about how to put good controls in place going forward. It was a positive experience for me. Everyone seemed pretty down to earth and friendly. So I followed up with Doug [Welch] and offered to serve on the Board.
You’re CFO of a global retailer and Board Chair of this local nonprofit. Are there connections between those two worlds?
I’ve done volunteer work for nonprofits all my life, and when you work with the staff or members of a nonprofit Board, you learn a lot, because you’re interacting with people with perspectives that you don’t get all the time inside a corporation. For me, these interactions are motivating and I am a better executive inside the company because of the work I do outside.
MITA just completed a strategic plan that you had a hand in crafting. What should members know about it? The fabulous news is that when MITA reached out to its constituencies, particularly our members and volunteers, and asked what they thought we should do in the next few years, the overwhelming message was: Stay the Course! L.L.Bean does a lot of customer research and I can tell
you that the positive responses MITA received were amazing—you can’t buy the results MITA received. That’s not to say that respondents didn’t have suggestions for how MITA could do things better, e.g., more regional stewardship support and youth outreach are two areas that come to mind. But the overall impression is that MITA is having a large, positive impact on the islands, so the challenge for all MITA constituents is to figure out a way to keep doing the great work that all the volunteers and staff are already accomplishing.
Rumor has it you saw a great white shark just outside Casco Bay. Is that a fish tale?
I was west of Halfway Rock last June and noticed what looked like a lobster pot with some seaweed on it. As I got closer it was clear that it was a shark fin, so I pulled up next to it and took a picture. I sent the picture to two different shark aficionados, who independently confirmed that it was a great white.
Any idea how big it was?
By the time I got back to the dock, it was 100 feet long, at least!
Mark Fasold and his wife, Pattie, next to their 28-foot Albin, Celtic Knot.
Same Mission, Evolving Methods MITA Unveils a Five-Year Strategic Plan B y D o u g W e l c h , E x e c u t i v e d i r e c to r
By now, all MITA members for whom we have email addresses should have received the new strategic plan for 2015–2020. Developing the plan was a very exciting process for the Board of Trustees to undertake. Led by our incoming chairman, Mark Fasold (see opposing page), a committee formed to study our current situation and identify our priorities for the five years ahead. The short story is that members and partners told us very clearly that the mission of MITA remains as vital as ever. While the Board and staff will undertake several exciting new initiatives in the coming years, they all fit within the scope of the mission originally crafted by early members over 25 years ago. In short, after a thorough examination of our options, the Board concludes that MITA should “Stay the Course.” Importantly, this does not mean that we should remain static. There are many opportunities for us to pursue. Perhaps most exciting is that our stewardship efforts must expand in order for us to effectively maintain a meaningful presence along the entire coast. The Trail has expanded nearly seven-fold since it began, and our program staffing levels have not kept pace with this growth. Although volunteers have taken up most of the slack, we have reached the limit of our ability to coordinate these activities through one Portland-based staff member. As such, we will add a second stewardship manager in the months ahead. In addition, we recognize the need to engage younger people through formal partnerships with educational organizations. We must bring more young people to the islands, and make the islands an inspiring part of those young people’s lives and a valued asset for their generation. Another area of focus is our services to boaters of all kinds. Specifically, we
MITA’s new 5-year plan stresses the need to engage more young people, like these Camp Kieve campers, on Maine’s islands.
recognize a continued need to do more for members with larger boats. That is something I look forward to exploring in more detail in the months ahead. Similarly, the age-old question of how to evolve our communications media remains compelling. We live in an exciting age of wholesale media transformations that are truly revolutionary. This creates opportunities as well as challenges for MITA to remain relevant to all of our constituencies, including both our founding members and the young people whose attention we must attract. The new MITA app, released last July, was a major development in this regard. (If you are not one of the 2,000 people who have installed the app, we highly recommend you do so. And if you have used the app, we would ask for your app store reviews and observations as to how we can improve the next iteration for 2015.) Another clear area for growth is within the ranks of our volunteer Monitor Skippers. In all aspects of my life, I know of no group more inspiring than this crew, some of whom have been involved since MITA’s very beginning.
However, as longstanding skippers retire, we need talented, dedicated new skippers to step up and take their places. If you are someone with a hands-on interest in the islands, their upkeep, and helping the public to discover them, please call us— we have the ultimate job for you! In retrospect, the broad conclusion about the continued strength of our mission is very exciting. As members of our Granite Society (members for 20 years or more) will remember, MITA’s mission was controversial to some in the early days. The notion that recreational users of the islands could be responsible for their upkeep took some time to prove. But it is interesting to see that in the following years, land trusts and other island owners are increasingly embracing the notion that properly managed access is beneficial—that the long-term means of protecting a place is to demonstrate its value to large numbers of people by letting them visit and fall in love with it. The Board of Trustees and staff of the Maine Island Trail Association are inspired and invigorated anew by this plan, and we hope that you are too. M I TA .O R G
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Discovering the Maine Island Trail B y E r i n Q u i g l e y, M e m b e r s h i p M a n a g e r
I first set foot on the Maine Island Trail in 2012. It was a work trip to Little Chebeague Island, where we did our best to wreak havoc on a few select invasive plant species. I arrived in a volunteer capacity, as a project coordinator for a group called Take Action Portland, which connects young-ish folks in southern Maine with done-in-a-day service opportunities. From the moment I stepped onto that signature red skiff, slightly battered and with “Maine Island Trail” in big white letters down the side, I was hooked on the adventure and stewardship opportunities that MITA provides. The purpose of our visit to Little Chebeague was primarily to save its struggling trees from bittersweet. But we also spent much of the day building friendships with the Monitor Skippers who guided our work. After hours of clipping and snipping, we each adopted our own unique style of eradicating these pesky vines. Some of us attacked with gusto, some clipped delicately. I preferred to disappear inside a thicket, clipping here and there until at last,
with a final snap and a spirited tug, a whole section would come free at once. It was a good day, full of camaraderie and accomplishment.
Anniversary Adventures
The next year I worked as a consultant for MITA, helping to plan events around its 25th anniversary. It was a great way to combine my professional interests (promoting outdoor recreation as a catalyst for good stewardship; using long-distance trails to highlight conservation efforts) with a steady stream of new adventures. Depending on the day, I might have found myself flying (literally) off of huge swells in a skiff on the way home from a Jewell Island cleanup, working with Rising Tide Brewery to promote MITAle, or creating a party game called Casco Bay Twister (which is just as awesome as it sounds, and still exists if you’d like to play sometime!). With each experience, my appreciation for the work that MITA does to care for Trail islands and provide positive outdoor experiences for all continued to grow.
After my contract with MITA ended, I continued to stay involved with the Trail. I became co-owner of a brand new kayak company, Portland Paddle, and a registered Maine Guide (which, as it turns out, means visiting Fort Gorges with kayak-loads of people just about every single day for the entire summer). I can proudly say that I’ve told hundreds of tourists and locals alike that Fort Gorges is on the Maine Island Trail, and explained what MITA does for the Maine coast. Pretty cool! Another Portland Paddle adventure found us climbing the World War II-era “U-boat spottin’ towers” on Jewell Island in the middle of the night (headlamp required). We learned the hard way that the raccoons on the island are freakishly smart—they know how to take a hatch cover off a kayak to get to the food inside!
Appreciating MITA’s Role
Throughout the season, folks would often ask us for help planning their coastal excursions, and we’d invariably point them toward MITA. I began to realize what an institution the organization is—and that without its work, mindful recreation along the Maine coast wouldn’t exist as we know it. As MITA’s new Membership Manager, I can’t wait to meet all of you and hear your own Trail stories. I also can’t wait to work with you on creative and exciting ways to spread the word about MITA’s good work. I’m grateful for the opportunity to support the organization that takes care of these wild places, so that many generations of sailors, power boaters, and paddlers will be able to have their own adventures. Please say hello and keep in touch!
Erin lives in Portland, where she enjoys eating, drinking, playing outside, and
watching the Machigonne II go back and Erin Quigley joined the MITA staff as Membership Manager in November. 6
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forth across Casco Bay.
the experience we had come to enjoy so much and violate the true meaning of being on the island.
Jack Phillips with wife Jane, daughter Elsie (age 2), and son Chick (age 1) on George Head in the summer of 2014. continued from page 1: Wild Island Summers
An accomplished artist herself and Stonington resident for four decades at that point (she was also a founding member of the Island Institute), Mrs. Muir appreciated my grandfather’s vision for the island as a family gathering place that would remain pristine and undeveloped, and she accepted his offer.
Early Days on the Island
The family camping experience got off to an inauspicious start: Elvis Presley died during the first trip, which was comprised of just my grandfather, his daughter, and son-in-law. The first family camping trip with children was several years later: my mother and father hauled me and my brother up from Washington, DC, where we lived at the time; I was 5 or 6, my brother just a toddler. We all slept together in a “four-man” tent. We went again the next summer and experienced our worst storm in 30-plus years on the island. We waited it out all night, wideawake and scared, in the close confines of our diminutive shelter. It sounded like we were going to be washed away by waves at any moment. We loved our time there, and so it began: every summer thereafter, we would go to George Head Island in August for a
week of camping. Several of my mom’s siblings followed suit, and soon there was a hearty gang of us, adults and kids, enjoying each other’s company in a world removed. I remember those years with incredible fondness: building and tending camp fires; circumnavigating the 30-acre island on foot or by canoe, searching for a glimpse of the very large goats my grandfather had brought to the island to help keep the field open and free of spruce seedlings; walking the sand bar at dusk and looking back toward the Camden Hills for a transcendent sunset; exploring Merchant’s Row in my dad’s 15’ Boston Whaler (McGlathery, Wreck, and Steves were our favorite islands) occasionally dropping a line to catch mackerel; wading into the water at low tide to pick mussels for dinner; occasional trips to Stonington for candy and the Boston Globe sports page; and once-a-summer dinners up the hill at the Fisherman’s Friend. When we were a little older, every year we would make the trip to Isle au Haut for a hike up Duck Harbor Mountain and back along Western Head, my favorite hike to this day.
My brothers and I are now grown and out in the world doing different things, but we still all try to convene with my parents at George Head every summer, often with extended family and friends. Some things have changed: the mussels are harder to come by, and the mackerel even harder. Taking a dip off the end of the sand bar has become somewhat more tolerable as a result of warming waters. Improved equipment and cell phones have made camping life far more comfortable. But the essential ingredients are still in place: tranquility, beauty, and wildness. These past two years, my daughter and son have joined the group. They’re both still in diapers and love the novelty of living out of a tent, building fires, and playing on the sandbar while spending time with their uncles and grandparents. I can sense them absorbing the sights, sounds, and smells of George Head, internalizing the meaning and experience of being there, just as I did. For me, understanding that wild island living will soon seem normal to them is pure delight.
A Vision Realized
My grandfather’s, and Mrs. Muir’s, vision has been achieved in abundance. Sadly, he never was truly able to experience it the way he envisioned, the way it ultimately became. He died suddenly in 1987, when fewer than half of his 28 grandchildren had been born. And those first modest family trips had started just a couple of years prior. But I’m sure he would be overjoyed to capture a glimpse of a typical George Head scene he helped create: three generations experiencing simple living and profound beauty, together, on a wild Maine island. And I’m so grateful for that.
A Commitment to Wildness
Over the years, the family spoke of building a small structure, nothing more than a lean-to, to provide shelter from storms. Even that, we seemed to decide again and again, would change
Jack Phillips recently joined the MITA staff as Development Director. He lives in Portland. M I TA .O R G
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Dirty Jobs: Maine Coast Edition
Volunteers were out in force this season doing some of the dirtiest jobs on the coast: cleaning trash from shorelines, battling invasive plants, restoring rotted camp structures, and clearing trees blown down across campsites. The following is a quick rundown of some of the larger organized projects that volunteers helped make happen. Many thanks to everyone who contributed to another successful season of stewardship!
Cow Island Throw-Down
In June, MITA teamed up with Maine Coast Heritage Trust and Rippleffect to host a volunteer work day with Take Action Portland on Cow Island in Casco Bay. The biggest feat of the day was demolishing and burning an old wrecked boat that has been washed up on the shoreline for years. Crews also tackled invasive bittersweet along the public trails. To top it all off, there was a celebratory BBQ, games, and a raffle!
Improvements to Caretaker Quarters
2014 saw major improvements to living quarters for MITA’s island caretakers. Thanks to the leadership of Monitor Skipper Bill Mozak and Caretaker Vinny Marotta, as well as the support of Yarmouth Boat Yard and a committed crew of volunteers, including Skippers Bob MacEwen and John Connelly, the leaky roof of the cabin on Little Jewell was replaced in a single epic day of hard labor. Additionally, volunteers helped establish a campsite and tent platform for Little Chebeague’s new full-time resident caretaker, Christina Hassett. Photo credit: Tom Carr
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Seguin Island Work Day
Catching a 6:30 a.m. ferry, a crew of a dozen hardy volunteers and MITA staff spent the morning clearing brush from around the island tramway up to the lighthouse on Seguin Island. After lunch, they were treated to a tour of the historic lighthouse and the chance to further explore the island. They wrapped up the day by hunkering down in the lighthouse keeper’s quarters to watch a thunderstorm roll by. This work day will likely become an annual event, so keep your eyes on the MITA calendar (or the Events button on the MITA app) to get involved next season! Photo credit: Tom Carr
Island Cleanups and Buoy Returns
Through ongoing cooperation with the Maine Marine Patrol and local harbormasters, MITA has continued the buoy return initiative on our spring and fall cleanups. In addition to almost 450 bags of debris removed from island shorelines during the cleanup, volunteers removed 600 salvageable lobster buoys that were returned to local harbormasters so fishermen could claim and reuse them. It’s a great program that benefits not only the islands but the fishermen as well!
Invasive Plant Management Efforts
MITA made great strides on invasive plant management efforts on a number of islands this season. The emphasis was on sites where the infestations are still at the early detection stage and we have high hopes of eradication. Among the many individuals and groups who (quite literally) dug right in were students from Unity College’s Nova program. Photo credit: Tom Carr
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Donors Making a Difference The Maine Island Trail Association would like to thank the many individuals, businesses, and foundations that supported our operations in the fiscal year that ended September 30, 2014. Those whose contributions totaled $100 or more are listed below. Importantly, this does NOT include gifts to the Wild Islands Campaign, which will be published separately. We have endeavored to make this list as accurate as possible and apologize for any errors or omissions. We would ask that you let us know of any concerns via email to jphillips@mita.org. The Maine Island Trail Association recognizes the extraordinary generosity of our Trailblazers, individuals whose annual operating gifts reached $1,000 or more for the fiscal year ending 9/30/201. Anonymous Donna & Greg Barmore Roger Berle Stephen & Paula Birmingham Peter & Sofia Blanchard Erno & Victoria Bonebakker Carl & Pat Bredenberg Willard W Brown Jr Mrs Edmund B Cabot Scott Camlin & Beth Uptegrove Daniel & Pamela Carr George Cogan & Fannie Allen Madeleine G. Corson Mr. Rory & Dr. Charlotte Cowan Mazie Livingston Cox Sara Crisp & Gregg Lipton J Martin Devine
Richard M Engel & Barbara Chilmonczyk Sylvia Erhart Mo Ewing Mark & Patricia Fasold Scotty Folger J Thomas Franklin & Anna Ginn James B. Gagnon, M.D. & Margaret Hausman Odette Galli Mr. & Mrs. Herbert H Gowen II Harriette & Peter Griffin Morris Hancock & Linda Peyton Rodger & Jillian Herrigel Timothy T Hilton Elizabeth & Lewis Incze Mark Isaacson & Karen Herold
Jonathan & Cindy Knowles William & Gail Legge Gregory W Welch & Ann Lewnes George R Lucas Mark Mason & Trish O’Donnell Cornelius & Suzanne McGinn Kevin R & Sheila McManus Elizabeth Meyer & Michael McCaffrey George & Elizabeth Murnaghan J. Richard Murphy James Owen Halford Park & Annie DeFeo Michael Perry & Christine Wolfe Elise Pettus Sara Pierce Robert & Marietta Ramsdell
U. Charles & Kathy Remmel Raymond & Diane Rymph Sims-Maes Foundation Daniel Smith & Kristen Roos Yemaya & Lucas St. Clair William P Stewart Steven J. Szarawarski Joan P Tilney Diane T & Ian R Walker Doug Welch & Caitlin Gutheil Jeremy R Wintersteen David Witherbee & Michelle Bociek Dr. Gary Lee York Wallace Young
$25,000+
Laura Blutstein & Charles Duncan Cameron & Patricia Bright Mary M. & Thomas D. Cabot, Jr. W Morgan & Sonia Churchman Andrew Dregallo Elizabeth Ehrenfeld Matthew Faulkner & Alice Grant Suzanne Fox & Moritz Hansen Mr & Mrs Benjamin Fuller John Hagan Lindsay & Bill Hancock Mr. & Mrs. Edmund L. Harvey, Jr Kathryn Henry & Rob Center Joseph Higdon & Ellen Sudow Norm Hildreth John Hunt Johnson-Wortham Family Kamasouptra David Kantor Paul & Cindy Laprise Jon & Charlotte Lawton Ron Leeking & Donna Roggenthien Wayland F. Linscott John MacKinnon Malcolm W & Emily D MacNaught Mary Maran Heather M McCargo & Brian McNiff William McCue Harold & Deborah Moorefield North Shore Paddlers Network Suzi Osher Beth & William B Owens Richard J Perry & Elaine Carlson Christine & Doug Preston Mr & Mrs Jay R. Rhoads, Jr Jean-Andre & Vicki Rougeot Catherine Rymph & Family Andrew Soloway
Ann & Thayer Stewart Warren Valdmanis & Family John & Julia Ver Ploeg Patrick & Nancy Waddell Michael & Rachel Warren Jim & Meg Wilson
Forster Family Foundation Wendy & Stephen Gaal H. Landis Gabel & Dominique Gabel Mark & Betsy Gabrielson Susan George & Miles Epstein Richard & Cate Gilbane William Ginn & June LaCombe Robert & Sarah Gould Peter Graham Stephen S Gray James & Mary Gribbell Thomas R Guare Cyrus Hagge Mr & Mrs Gordon S Hargraves, Jr Bruce Hart Melissa Hewey Henry & Alicia Heyburn Jr. Dr & Mrs George Higgins Peter Hochschild John Huth & Karen Agnew Chuck Irose Mr & Mrs Edward C. Johnson, IV Wade & Nancy Judge Joan & John Kelly Pat Kelly Owen Kiley Kenneth & Joy Kleeman Eric & Susan Klem Karen & James Lee Dennis C & Jayne T Leiner Karen Leland Linda & Jeff Lennox Werner E Maas & Suzanne Hutchinson Caroline Marston Dana & Alison Martin Jose Mas & Deirdre Strachan Benjamin McCormack
Arcadia Charitable Trust Elmina B. Sewall Foundation Maine Bureau of Parks & Lands
$10,000 - $24,999
Davis Conservation Foundation L.L. Bean Inc Maine Community Foundation Quimby Family Foundation Rising Tide Brewing Company Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation
$2,500 - $9,999
Casco Bay Island Development Association Charles L Read Foundation LandVest, Inc RBC Wealth Management Sand Dollar Foundation
$1,000 - $2,499
Acadia National Park Anonymous Becton Family Foundation East Brown Cow Management, Inc IDEXX Kittery Trading Post Linebarger Janin Family Foundation Sabre Yachts Sellers Publishing, Inc The William Bingham Foundation Verrill Dana LLP WoodenBoat Publications, Inc.
$500-$999
Aetna Foundation, Inc Mr. & Mrs. O Kelley Anderson Joel Antolini & Meeghan McLain Peter & Vicki Bartholow 10
M I TA .O R G
$250-$499
David & Holly Ambler Mr. & Mrs. James M Anderson Christopher C Angell John E & Mary S Beard Richard Birns & Madeleine Sann David A & Maureen E Bluett Gregory Bowes & Alice Albright Andrew Breece Bill Bulkeley Jesse Cameron James Fraser Carpenter & Toshiko Mori Catherine Chute Susanne & Benjamin Clark Katherine & Thomas Clements Les & Joyce Coleman Nicole & John Connelly M.B. & Mary M. Converse Richard W. Couch, Jr Peter H Creighton William Crouch & Family Christopher DeCardy & Tracy Morris Michael P & Jan Douglass Thomas R & Margaret Downing Emsbo-Mattingly Family Joseph Faber & Family Wesley Fairfield Rol & Averil Fessenden David & Heidi Fitz Jeffrey R & Sarah B Flause
Thomas McGovern David & Anne McLain Todd Mellin David Michaelis & Family J. Philip Miller & Courtnay Malcolm William Moore & Ann MacLauchlin F Corlies Morgan II Daniel A. Morgenstern & Moriah Moser Theresa Morrison Craig Mudge & Family Katie Murphy & Peter Lindsay Eric & Linda Murphy Sigrid Noack Richard P Noonan, MD Geoffroy Noonan Mr & Mrs Walter Norton Ian S Ogilvie Bob Olney & Catherine Richards Bob & Susan Peck Charles C. Pinkerton & Deborah Lamson Joanna Pi-Sunyer & Michael Ballo Sam Plimpton & Wendy Shattuck Timothy & Joan Porta Christopher Porter Alison & Todd Prawer Proprietors of Union Wharf Nathan Raab William K Raabe Antonio & Ann Marie Ramos Jay Reighley Mr & Mrs David Reis Lars & Alayna Richardson Mr & Mrs Martin G. Rosansky Wickes Rossiter & Leila Schueler Gary & Leslie Rudolph Bonnie Rukin Ben & Nancy Russell James & Susan Russo Joe & Elizabeth Seamans Stephen F Sears Marguerite Shaffer Marcia & Larry Sharp Joan Smith Valerie Stone Steven Stone Sunrise Guide The New York Community Trust The Triton Foundation Jeffrey Troiano Bert Troughton H. St. John Ttee Robert Tully Sonia Turek Rob Vannoy Thomas E Vaughan Jay & Candy Walton Bill Weir Stephen M. Weld, Jr. Howie & Sue Wemyss William Wertz & Deborah Panitch Blake Whitman William J Wiegmann John Winthrop & Mary Lee Fowler Erwin & Christian Zimmermann John & Sheila Zittel
$100-$249
David S & Diane M Abe Xan Abess Robert E & Cynthia Abrams Robert G & Linda Adams Dr. & Mrs. Frank Adshead
Advanced Vein Center and Cosmetic Enhancement Center of New England Russ Aicher & Dorian Lynn Hidy Dave Alexander E Davies Allan Stephen Allen Zack Anchors Dr. Robert P Andrews Karen E Andrews Andy’s Pub Inc Robert Arledge & Nananda Col Mr. & Mrs. C. D. Armstrong Hendrick Arnold Frederick & Jennifer Aronson Roseann & Stephen Augat Stephen & Marcia August Thomas & Patricia Axelsen Robert & Linda Ayotte JoAnne & Ross Babcock William Baetz Sanford Walt Bailey Alan Baldwin Michael & Joanne Bander Jim & Ellen Banks S Brian Banner Robert Barkalow Henry & Doris Barlow Donald Bartlett Jr Morgan Baxter & Family Adam Bean Kevin Beane Drs Jane & Roderic Beaulieu Henry P Becton Jr John Benning & Family John Benoit Timothy Bergeron & Susan Lee Ted Berry Franklin S Beveridge Llewellyn B Bigelow MD James A & Betty Bird James & Sarah Birkett Gary Blake C Mark Blatchley & Family William & Susan Blethen Sidney & Martha Block Scott F Bloom Dennis J Bobilya The Bonney Family Henry H. Booth Walter Bopp Jonathan Bourne Richard Bower & Family Steven D Bradley Julia & James Brady Claude & Leslie Brancart David M Braslau & Yain Y Lu James & Linda Breece Josephine P Briggs & Family Carolyn J Britt & Michael Schaaf Barney Brown & Lisa Parker John K. Brown Sean Brown Dr. Bobbie Brown Allen Browne & Family Bob & Kathy Brustlin William B. Buchanan, Jr. Alexander K Buck Jr John & Susan Buck Leonard Buck Paul Buckley Emily P Bugbee Carrine Burns & Pete Bouman
Paul Burns & Family Susan & Josh Burns Ted Butler Anne & Charles Butterfield Rob & Emlen Cabot Daniel & Christine Cahalane Camp O-AT-KA Mary E Campbell & Deborah A Chase Chip & Molly Campbell Deborah Campbell Peter Carleton & Family Thomas Carr & Family Michael J Carrano Emily & Gregg Carville Dr. & Mrs. Bruce R Cassidy Ry Cavanaugh & Jennifer Kimball Leland Chang Robert & Laura Chapman Peter B & Karen A Chapman Aquila Chase Corinne & Charles Chasse Mr. & Mrs. Morris Cheston Jr. Eric & Frances J. Chetwynd Jr John Chiungos & Family Cloe Chunn & David Thanhauser Thomas M Claflin II Jennifer Clancy Joshua & Portia Clark Caren M Clark John Clark Roxanne & Kevin Coady Coastal Kayaking Tours Cheryl Coffin & Ralph Topham Daniel & Catherine Coit Theodore Coladarci Virginia & Ken Colburn Eben & Tara Colby David Cole & Kimberly Foster Anne Flagler Collins MD W Douglas & Harper Lee Collins Dennis Collins Gianne Conard Henry Conklin & Carol Pierson James Connell Carol & Paul Connor Peter & Susan Connorton Constellation Energy Andrew Cook & Jacqueline Ellis Mrs. Charlotte Cook Stephen Cook & Family Linzee Coolidge Michael & Rachel Cooney Thomas Cornell & Emily Sityar David Coulter & Susan Weeks, The Ayco Company Douglas Cowan John Cowperthwaite, Jr & Davilynn Cowperthwaite Timothy Crane John D. Crawford Hilary Creighton Carol Cross & Family Holly J & Stephen F Culver Patricia Cummings Sarah E Cushman & Robert Levin David Dalena Jim Daley & Family Joan & Robert Daly Joan & Jim Darby Mark & Virginia David Darwin & Jacqueline Davidson Monique V. & Mark I. Davies Joe & Jane Davin
Whitney Davis Alexander Davis Mr & Mrs Endicott P Davison Beth & Tom Day Charles & Harriet Day Ciro & Amy de la Vega James & Elizabeth Deane Douglas J. DeAngelis Nick DeFriez William J. Deignan & Molly Ruffle Paul Demers Jesse Deupree Bernard & John Devine Rob Dickey Andrew & Barbara Dickinson Paul DiDonato Greg Doane Charles & Marylee Dodge Mr. & Mrs. Joseph C. Donnelly Katie Donovan Jeffery Dow & Family Walter L & Doris Downey Dragonworks, Inc Patricia Dubois Stephen F. Dubord Jennifer Duchon Henry & Margie Dudley Michael & Patricia Duffy Brian Dumez Richard J Dumler W Thomas Dunn, Jr, MD & Susan Dunn Matthew Dyckman Oakley Dyer Janet & Tom Dykstra Robert W Eaton & Wendy Batson Mr & Mrs Larry Eaton Frederick Ebinger & Family Angela G Eccles & Joseph Mokry Jonathan Eden Jon H Edwards & Nancy J Fox Robert & Blythe Edwards Nancy Egan & J. Otey Smith Paul Egbert & Jean Towns David Eifler Peter Ellison & Family Dan & Ginny Emerson Benjamin & Dianna Emory Donald Endrizzi Steven Baer & Rosa Ergas Johan & Patricia Erikson Devon Evans Preston Everdell & Family Gregory Fanaras Charles & Charlotte Faulkner Allen & Sally Fernald Michael Fernandez Greg & Ginny Field Joan R. & L. Kenneth Fink, Jr. Stephen & Frances Fink Thomas Finlay & Family Nancy Fishwick & Family Ann Flannery & Patty Olds Peter Flaxman & Family James Flowerdew Mr & Mrs Charles M Foote, Jr Scott Ford & Family Mr & Mrs John D Freeman, Jr Kalev Freeman Cindy & Mark Freese Steven Fried Richard Fried & Family Ed Friedman M I TA .O R G
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Amy Fulton & John Laterra Spencer Fulweiler & Family Carl & Alicia Furman Steven Gabis Santiago Galaz & Family George & Dawn Gans Peter P MCN Gates Alan C Gault, Jr GE Foundation Martin Gellert Jon M Gibney David E. & Kathleen Gideon Thomas T & Margaret Gilbert James & Donna Gilbert Thomas & Jody Gill Mickey Gillmor & Henry Kahn Daniel Gillmor Lisa & Thomas Gilson Eric Girardi & Family Jane & Bob Gleason Jack R. Glover Mark Goff & Anne Powelson Henry Goldberg & Kim Hetherington Lyn Goldsmith John & Jeanne Goodman Jeffrey Gordon & Donna Jean Ahigian Leon & Lisa Gorman Nancy Grant & Michael Boyson Anne Gray Samuel P M Gray Edwin Green & Sue McLeod Ron Greenberg & Family Joel P. Greene & Ann T Lisi Richard Greene & Family Stuart Greenspon Arthur W Gregg & Family Rich & Sarah Gregory Brent Groce & Family Richard & Susan Grondin John Andrew Grundberg & Family Gary Gustafson Amy Gustavson Robert & Karen Gutheil Mr & Mrs Joseph Guttentag Sandra & Arthur Hall Ed Hallett Samuel M Hamill, Jr Larry Hamm Kristopher Hammer & Family Dr Karen Hancock Denzel Hankinson Albert Hansen John Hansman & Laura Werwick Betty J Harris Anne Harrison Howard & Mandana Harrison Robert & Elizabeth Hart Fred Hartman John Hartmann Robert Harvey Paul & Kathleen Hassett Whitney & Elizabeth Hatch Matthew Hawes Robert L Hazard Atwell B & Elizabeth Hedly Erling Heistad Clint Hendler & Family Michael & Deborah Hervey John & Kathleen Hickey Alan T Hill Charlotte Hill David & Lois Hinman Peter Hinsch & Donna Grant 12
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Thomas Hitchins & Shelly Shapiro Hoffman Family Foundation Clifford Hoglund Richard Hokin Gerhard Holleck Donald & Lee Holmes Betsey Holtzmann Michael Horn Horny Toad Activewear Mark & Peggy Horton Henry & Sharon Hosley Marion & Mark Howard Sue Hriciga John Hubbard & Family Patrick & Carole Hughes Jim Huntington Kenneth & Meredith Hutchins Scott & Dina Hutchinson John Hutchison Stephen & Amy Hutnak Dr Nathaniel Hyde & Polly Arnoff Isle of Springs Association Tom & Corinne Jackson Anne & Dick Jackson Herbert & Kathleen Janick Caroline Janover Judith Jellinek Lynn Jenness & Donald Hendrich Anthony & Hilary Jessen Theodore Johanson & Patricia Lundholm Eric Johnson & Margaret Cox Dr. Irving & Alwyn Johnson Mark Jones William M Jones Ken Jones Kathy & Brian Kaczor Robert & Patricia Kane Charles Kane Jr & Anne Eldridge Barbara Karchmer Paul Knight & Kimberly Keaney Jay Kearney James W & Priscilla Keene Maurice J Kelleher & Family Margaret & John Kelley Kevin & Kris Kenlan Ron Kennedy Keith Kennedy Gil Kerlin Geoff Kerr R Ross & Dale Ketchum David & Jane Kidder Cynthia Kiedaisch James & Elizabeth Kilbreth Kimo Grant Kingman Liana & Don Kingsbury Charles Kinney & Pamela Myers-Kinney Hans Koehl & Christina Haiss-Koehl Denis & Donna Kokernak Bob Koopman & Mary Lisa Madell Richard Kraut & Shelly Grant Roger Kriesak & Family Kroka Expeditions Suzanne Kuendig Denis Lachman Andy Lackoff Lorrie Landsberg William E Laverty Edward & Gail Lawson John & Susan Lehmus Richard Leigh
Richard Lenz & Jean Tibbetts Dana & Georgiana Leonard Lynne Lewis Catherine & Mac Lewis Jon Lichter Lincoln Canoe & Kayak Jon Linn Jean Lipkin Eric D & Marcie Lister David A. & Judith Lloyd Jeffrey & Beth Longcope Keith & Kathleen Longson Anthony J Lopreato & Family Richard D & Elizabeth Lord Darrell & Oivind Lorentzen Charles Lowell & Family John & Susan Loyd Charles Lucas & Deborah DeWitt Walter Luczkow John A. Lumbard Michael Lyle John & Donna Mabus William MacArthur & Family Owen MacCausland & Family Richard MacKinnon Maine Coast Sea Vegetables Inc Maine Island Kayak Co Maine Nephrology Associates, P.A. Maine Orthopedic Center, P.A. Maine Sport Outfitters Stephen Major Peter Maloney Robert Manchik James & Abigail Manny Thomas & Denise Marcaurelle Frank Marinace Harris & Felicia Markhoff Reed & Priscilla Markley Laurence Marner & Elisabeth Post-Marner Anne & John Marshall Paul Martino Thomas Mason & Emily Vickers Francis X Masse Edward Matlack David & Joan Maxwell Paul & Lyn Mayewski Mary K. McCabe & Sam W. Joffe Matt McComiskey June McCormack Alyssa McCulloch William McCullom David L. McDonald & Florence Varleta Nion McEvoy & Family Richard, Susan & Sarah McGinley Shawn & Kerri McGlew M Scott McGovern & Peggy Brown Ann McGurk Tom & Jane McKinney Jeffrey McKinnon Elisabeth McLane Stephen & Diana McLaughlin Douglas McLellan Ruth McNamara Dennis E & Lorraine Mechem John Menard Larry Miller & Judith Day Nevin Miller Carol & Preston Miller, Jr Tanya Millett & Family Brian Milliken Jeffrey & Susan Moeller Victor Montivirdi
Anne Morehouse & Family Mrs. Manny Morgan & Chris Corbett David & Debra Morrill Sam Morris & Connie Jones Cyndi Morse & Carolyn Stevenson Egbert Most & Regina Badura Dr. Frank Moya Barry Mullan Burke & Denise Munger Michael Murnik & Lane Lucas John B. Murphy & Anne W Moulton John H. Murphy Janet Myers & Family Ellen & Duane Nadeau Paul A Nason National Park Sea Kayak Courtney Neff Gene Nelson & Sallie S. Findlay Leonard & Merle Nelson Harry & Elizabeth Nelson Martha Nelson & Family Richard & Ann Nemrow Chip Newell & Susan Morris Mason & Catharine Newick John Newlin & Patty Carton Craig & Kathryn Newton NH Printworks Barrett W. Nichols & Family Christine Nicholson John Norris III & Catherine Houlihan David O’Connell Lisa & Frederick Oettinger Old Quarry Ocean Adventures, Inc. Thomas F & Maureen Olson John Oram Oscar Pizza LLC R. Bart Osgood III & Holly M. Steele Jonathan Packman Arthur & Constance Page Lucius Palmer & Sloane Lederer Jeffrey B Palmer Melissa Paly John Parker James Parmentier & Elizabeth Fowler Tony Parr & Family Patagonia Eric Paul David S Payne & Annie Piatt Frederic Pease Susan Peck Marguerite Pelissier Paul F Perkins Bruce Peterson James Peva Asa E Phillips III & Family John Phillips Tyler Philpott Caroline Pierce Dr. & Mrs. Richard N. Pierson Leslie & Winslow S. Pillsbury Katie Pindell & Robert Sabolefski Stephen & Cynthia Pitcher Steve & Jane Plaisted Frank Plimpton Steve Plissey & Cathy Mandis Joseph A Plumbo William Pohle & Sarah Allen Malcolm F. Poole & Family Trudie Prior Michael Prokosch & Rebecca Pierce Patricia Provost Tom Quinby & Family Craig Raabe
Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge Martin Rachels Susan Ramsdell John & Pauline Rand Teresa Rankin Peter & Ellen Rawlings Abbie & Bart Read Ernest D Reamer & Family Daniel & Elizabeth Reardon Robert & Susan Reece Martha L. Reeve David Reinholt Patricia Rettaliata W. Edwin Reynolds III & Family Margaret Rhinelander Mr & Mrs William P Rice Emile Richard Martha Riehle & Janis Childs Sandy Ritchie Michael Roberts & Family Bruce & Virginia Roberts Paul Robie & Karen Young Peter H Robinson Mr Andrew C Rockefeller Vincent Rodino George V Rodriguez Thomas Roeber & Pat Phillips Douglas Rogers & Susan Eggenberger Mary Jane Rosenfield & Family W. David Rosenmiller W Allen & Selina Rossiter Juanita Roushdy Adair Ruff Kristen Rupert & John Foote George Liam & Constance Russell William & Karen Rutherford Patricia Ryan & David E Westphal Elizabeth & Philip Ryan Pamela & Michael Ryan Liz & Steve Ryan-Langan Paul & Julia Sampson Arthur & Rebecca Sanborn Nancy & Malcolm Sandberg Chuck & Cathy Sanders Charles & Renate Sands, Jr Donald P Sarles & Carolyn Bryant Piero Sarti Steve Saudek William & Sandra Savage Tyson Sawyer & Emilie Phillips Michael Schaad Gillian Schair & Seth Rigoletti Brian & Susan Schanning Peter Schwab Carter Scott & Family James Love & Emily Scott John & Josie Scully Seaspray Kayaking Rentals & Tours David & Valerie Seaton Seattle Sports Tom & Alexa Seip Rob Sellin & Natalie West Edmund Semeneshen Kenneth D & Linda P Senne Robert Sessums & Susan Inches James M. & Sophie Sevey James & Lynn Shaffer Howard Sharp & Family Bill & Eileen Shaughnessy Martin & Ellen Shell David Shepler John & Judy Sherman Winthrop A. Short Richard Short
Lynne Shulman Jonathan & Suzanne Sibley Richard Sides Roger Simmons Ann Simmons & Family James & Karen Simpson Dr & Mrs C B Sledge Richard Sly Hilary Smith & Family Richard W Smith Matthew Smith Malcolm M Smith John C & Jean P Smith Fran Snedeker Regina Snyder & Brevard Garrison Patricia D & Arnold Snyder, Jr Jeff Solof Ann Sonnenfeld & Family Warren Soulard & Family George Soules & Family Leon & Ruth Souweine Mr & Mrs Edmund B. Spaeth, Jr. Frank W. Sparks, III Steve, Ian & Megan Spencer & Libbey Siegars John K. Spencer Robert Spielvogel & Karen Brobst Rose Splint Jud Staller & Family Daniel Starer Jed & Janet Starner Phil Stearns Robert D & Roberta M Steele Steinke & Caruso Dental Care Mason & Linda Stephenson Richard & Kathleen Stevens Andy & Sue Stoessel William J & Norinne C Stoloski Keith E Stone & Steven Watts Peter Stoops Ryan Storey & Family Frederic & Lucille Stott Gust & Jan Stringos Kristen G & Robert A Strong Allan & Sarah Strouss Susan Talbot R Gordon & Carole Talley Jeff Tarr, Sr. Prudence Taylor Textron The Theodores Family Foundation Steve Thomas & Evy Blum Lee M Thompson Scott Thomson & Family Megan Thorn & Ned Smith James Tibensky Sheryl & Daniel Tishman Chris & Sarah Tomalty David Tosches Alexandria Totten Allan & Kathleen Toubman John W. & Connie Towne Ann Trambert Jill & John Trask Philip Trowbridge & Laura Bonk Kim & Jeff True Ron Trumper Mark Tux Turkel & Amy Sinclair Oscar & Diana Turner Leslie F. Tuttle Hans & Rosemary Underdahl United Way of California Capital Region Peter Van Alstine Claire & William Van Deinse
Seth Van Liew Ellen & Barkley Van Vranken Zoe & John Veasey Charles & Susan Vecchi Roderick & Lori Vogel Ted von Gerichten Phil & Susan von Hemert Alfred A Voskian Jr Peter & Kathryn Wagner John & Lee Walker Scott & Chris Wallace George & Alice Wallis Richard Warner Matt Wasgatt Waste Management Mary & George Wawro Morrison Webb & Family Jeff & Gerri Weiss Jan & Susan Wejchert Stephen & Elizabeth Welch Carolyn Welch Charles Welch Jane Cassidy Wellehan & David Ruff Brian Wells & Cathy Thomas Ben & Pam Wellumson Mark B Werner Randall & Sharon Wetzel Robert Wexler & Gayle Slattery Allan White William & Pamela White Elbert White Richard Hero & Jane Whitney Charles D. Whittier II Betsy Williams S Page & Gail H Williamson James Richard Wilson & Celia A. Murray John F Winchester Katherine Pharibe Wise Nicholas & Louisa C Witte Craig & Maris Wofsy William & Christianne Wohlforth Cynthia Wojcicki Dick Wollmar Daniel & Linda Wood Charles & Susan Woodman Tom & Debrah Yale Jessica Yates Robert & Judith Yorke Cal & Mary Anne Young Harold Youngren & Family Mark Zahniser & Constance Bauer William & Nancy Zeitler Daniel Zilkha
Boat Donors
Thomas Craven Christopher Hutchins Gail Kezer Jonathan Levitt Dave & Margaret Tew Gale & Charles Willauer
Memorial and Honoraria
In memory of Matt Abercrombie in memory of Thomas Axelsen in memory of Burt Baldwin in memory of Doug Leland in memory of Terrence McGurk in memory of James Rasmus in memory of Judy Rutter in memory of George Rymph in honor of Hildreth wedding
Gifts in-Kind
Adventurous Joe Coffee Angela Adams ATX Acupuncture Bill Baker Edith & Bennett Band Belted Cow Company Suzanne Blackburn Richard Brzozowski Cadillac Mountain Sports Dan Carr Casco Bay Catamaran Adventures John & Nicole Connelly Susan Cooney Nan Cumming Mark & Patricia Fasold Garbage to Garden GrandyOats Greener Postures Yoga Studio Hamilton Marine Hennessy Hammock Lindsay Hancock Nate Hanson Kay Henry Jillian & Rodger Herrigel Home & Away Gallery Henry Isaacs Lynn Jenness & Don Hendrich Tony & Hilary Jessen Mark Kiefner Jon & Charlotte Lawton Bill Legge LL Bean Maine Glass Art Brian & Melissa Marcaurelle Michael McLellan, Loonfeather Photography New Meadows Marina Inc. Ocean Navigator Old Quarry Ocean Adventures Patagonia Bob Patten Rick Paulus Robby Pawle Peloton Labs Portland Paddle Professional Mariner Debra Ridlon Rising Tide Brewing Company Saltwater Grille SeaCliff Kayakers Seattle Sports Daniel Smith & Kristen Roos Lucas St. Clair Chris Tadema-Wielandt The Apprenticeshop The Standard Baking Company Tidal Transit Kayak Waste Management WCLZ 98.9 Doug Welch Jeremy Wintersteen Gary York
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Message in a Sea of Bottles B y V i n n y M a r ot ta , C a s c o B ay C a r e ta k e r
When I started the caretaking season in early May on Jewell Island, I expected to see some washed up and windblown trash on the shores. We hauled bag after bag of it—and buoy after buoy, too— until it was all cleaned up. But that was far from the end of it. As more boats started appearing on the water with warming spring temperatures, I began to find more and more flotsam on Jewell’s freshly cleaned shoreline: bleach jugs, diesel fuel additives, a bag of old thermos and coffee mugs, and bottles of a mysterious yellow liquid that turned out not to be Mountain Dew... People would notice the volume of trash and say things like, “It must be the moon tide” or “Maybe it’s all this wind.” I say enough with blaming Mother Nature. Let’s put the blame squarely where it belongs: with ourselves. Properly getting rid of the trash we produce is everyone’s responsibility. Allowing trash to blow overboard is not okay, and intentionally throwing it overboard is entirely unacceptable. From recreational boaters and fishermen to ferry riders and cruise ship passengers, we all share the responsibility of keeping garbage out of the sea.
Boating-related trash ends up in our back yards and on our public islands, and it’s killing sensitive wildlife. Yes, it’s inevitable for a certain amount of fishing gear to get lost at sea and wash up. But I’ve seen too many dead ducks with bait bags around their necks to believe that it’s all because of wind and storms. In this day and age, I’m amazed that some people still cling to an “everything overboard” attitude. I’m not saying I have the solution. However, as someone who’s spent nine summers caretaking on Jewell, I think it’s important to report my experience. Marine debris is not going away, and if anything, it may be getting worse. Maybe it’s time for stricter enforcement on those who are trashing our waters. Maybe the fines for littering should be increased. Maybe we need to make it easier for folks on the water to get rid of their trash responsibly. I know I’m preaching to the choir here, but I think we all need to spread the word. The washed up trash problem, at least on Jewell, hasn’t improved over the past decade. It’s something that everyone who cares about Maine’s islands should be concerned about.
Hope Amid the Flotsam While there’s no sugarcoating Vinny’s stark message about the extent of our marine debris problem (see article left), there are signs that we as a society are moving the right direction on this issue. On the opposite page, Margaret Gerber profiles some Maine companies that are trying to turn marine trash into marketable products. MITA applauds these efforts to help keep trash off of our shorelines and out of our waste stream. Another hopeful development came in June when Portland city councilors passed a pair of ambitious anti-litter ordinances. To encourage consumers to bring their own reusable bags, one of the ordinances will require retailers to charge a nickel for each disposable bag they provide to shoppers. The second ordinance will ban the type of Stryofoam that’s commonly used in coffee cups and take-out food containers. Both ordinances go into effect on April 15, 2015, just in time for the boating season. The bag fee will apply at stores where food makes up at least 2 percent of gross sales. Portland joins a growing number of communities in Maine and across the nation that are adopting forward-thinking policies to prevent litter. Freeport has banned foam containers since the early 1990s, according to the Portland Press Herald, and state regulations prevent food service vendors from using polystyrene at state-owned facilities. Some 120 other communities across the country now prohibit retailers from using plastic bags or have imposed fees of 5 to 25 cents on them, according to the Surfrider Foundation.
The author doing his best to stay on top of Jewell’s marine debris problem. 14
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Marine Debris, in Stores Now! B y M a r g a r e t G e r b e r , M e m b e r s h i p a n d D e v e lo pm e n t A s s o c i at e
Marine debris is a constant and unwelcome fixture on the Maine coast. We see it all the time on cleanups, as you likely do whenever you explore the islands. MITA volunteers have been doing their utmost to remove and recycle shoreline marine debris for years. Now they’re getting help from entrepreneurial Mainers who are looking to build a market for debristhemed products. From rope mats, to trap baskets, to high-end designer eyewear, these exciting Maine-made products provide value from materials that often end up as beach trash. In the process, they are having a positive impact on the economic and environmental health of our state.
Float Rope, the Story Underneath Your Feet
One well known product was born in 2009, thanks to the adoption of new federal regulations banning so-called “float rope.” Float rope had been used by lobstermen for years to tether lobster buoys to traps. However, it easily became tangled, and had a habit of coming loose and drifting out to sea. Marine scientists discovered that alarming numbers of North Atlantic Right Whales were being drowned or injured by entanglement in float rope. This led to federal regulations requiring lobstermen to replace it with rope that sinks.
Decorative rope letters from Cape Porpoise Trading Company.
The Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation (GOMLF) quickly took action to prevent discarded rope from going to landfills. Through its Bottom Line Project, GOMLF set out to purchase one million pounds of float rope from active lobstermen over three years, and replace that rope with sinking rope. Due to overwhelming demand, the program lasted four years and over two million pounds of rope were collected to be recycled and reused. Enter Custom Cordage and the Maine Float Rope Company, two companies who led the charge in transforming old float rope into new products. In late 2008, before the federal regulation was passed, these two groups approached GOMLF with the idea to reuse float rope by making woven doormats and other rope products. Since then, nearly one million pounds of used lobster line have been woven into float rope products right here in Maine. Today, you can find numerous companies buying or trading used float rope to make door mats, baskets, dog toys, and other products. Cape Porpoise Trading Co. has even created a line of reused float rope decorations, garlands, letters, and numbers.
wooden traps have largely been replaced by PVC-coated stainless steel traps. Although mangled metal traps remain a familiar sight on Maine’s shoreline, reused traps are also becoming increasingly common in products such as baskets, chairs, and even eyewear. In Cape Elizabeth, part- time lobsterman Jim Huebner sells a bicycle basket made out of recycled stainless steel traps. Not far up the coast, Maine natives John Turner and Daniel Dougherty are creating working waterfront-inspired glasses through their company, Traps Eyewear. Their designs blend nontraditional materials such as Italian acetate with aged oak from traditional lobster traps.
Spreading Cheer, Not Trash
On the other end, literally, of float rope are lobster traps. The traditional wooden lath trap was invented in the early 1800s in Massachusetts. Over the years,
What makes all of these products so amazing? The ingenuity to tackle marine debris with creative solutions that produce a positive impact on the local economy. Maine Float Rope Company provides year round employment teaching people how to weave its doormats. Every pair of Traps Eyewear is handmade by East Coast Woodworking in Bath. So if you’re looking for Maine made products for your loved ones (or yourself!) this holiday season, think of the lobster trap that you hauled during a cleanup or that float rope that you cut loose from it. Both can be made productive again thanks to Maine’s emerging marine debris economy!
Traps eyeglasses blend Italian acetate with oak from wooden lobster traps.
The bicycle trap basket from Kettle Cove Enterprises.
Lobster Traps Get Second Life Out of Water
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Lubec Waterfront Welcomes Recreational Boaters B y K e v i n Lo m a n g i n o, E d i to r
With more and more users vying for space on its increasingly busy waterfront, the town of Lubec is embarking on an expansion that will create a little more breathing room for everyone. If all goes as planned, says Town Administrator John Sutherland, 2015 will see the installation of an 80-foot floating dock meant to accommodate increased summertime traffic. The facility will cater to a variety of different stakeholders, including recreational boaters, passenger vessels such as the Lubec-Eastport ferry, whale watch services, and charter boat companies.
New Transient Moorings
The new dock space should help alleviate congestion that has been occurring with growing frequency at the town landing. It will also encompass a new feature that will be of special interest to cruising MITA members: the addition of transient moorings. “I can recall a number of times last year when we had people asking the harbormaster for a transient mooring, and we didn’t have any,” Sutherland says. The waterfront upgrade will rectify this, he continues, “so that if somebody wants to come up here and visit us by boat, now we’ve got a place for them.” The project is being supported by grants from a variety of state agencies, including the Maine Coastal Program, the Small Harbor Improvement Project, the Boating Infrastructure Grant Program, and the Community Development Block Grant Program. Work began on the project this year but was delayed when crews encountered unexpected erosion problems. Sutherland is now targeting a completion date of Memorial Day 2015.
Economy on the Rise
It’s another piece of encouraging news for a town that has been trending in the right direction economically. Last year 16
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Downtown Lubec. Photo credit: Stonewall Ballard, Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stoney/3279470953
was the first time in recent memory that the town’s downtown shops were at full occupancy, according to Working Waterfront, and the introduction of successful new events like the Bay of Fundy International Marathon—which brought some 800 runners to the area for the first running in June 2013—are lending the area a new cachet. Old favorites like the lighthouse at West Quoddy Head have always been a reliable draw, but there now seems to be a growing awareness of the area’s many other positive attributes, including impressive coastal scenery, abundant wildlife-viewing opportunities, and authentic old-time charm. MITA has been an enthusiastic supporter of the area’s economic development plans, and we hope that the addition of new Trail sites in Cobscook Bay will provide another reason for people to visit.
Beyond Bar Harbor
“Cobscook has a feel that’s very different from other parts of the coast,“ says Program Director Brian Marcaurelle, “and I would absolutely encourage members to check out the news sites in that area. ”
Sutherland agrees that the region has plenty to offer visitors. In fact, he has a special message for the coastal cruisers who’ve traditionally viewed Mount Desert Island as their easternmost limit. “Keep going to Lubec,” he says. “It’s worth it!”
Cobscook Celebration Several dozen hardy souls came together for a fun weekend of camping at Cobscook Bay State Park in early September. Supported by the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation, the party marked the addition of six new island and coastal sites to this region of the Trail in 2014. There was much cornhole, conversation, and celebrating throughout the two-day event (even during the brief spell Saturday night when it rained), and everyone came away with a better appreciation of the fantastic boating opportunities in this wild section of the coast. See Carol Coronella’s write-up of the event on the following page, and put this area on your short list of Trail destinations for 2015—you won’t be disappointed!
A Delightful Journey Down East B y C a r o l C o r o n e l l a , a s to l d to K e v i n Lo m a n g i n o
I joined MITA for the first time this spring thinking that I would spend the summer sailing the coast of Maine. As it often does, life got in the way and I ended up not taking the trip I had planned on. But when I saw that there was a member event in the Cobscook Bay area in September, my interest was definitely piqued. Having just retired, I had the time to make the journey even though it was a long way from my home in Vermont. And I figured, what better way to explore the area than with people who love the water? I broke up the long trip to Cobscook with stops in Freeport, Rockland, and Camden. I was welcomed by [MITA Stewardship Manager] Maria Jenness and her son Roy upon my arrival at Cobscook Bay Campground, and she recommended a nearby destination I could paddle to. I was able to launch right from the campground at high tide and spent a lovely afternoon out on the water. The following day was busy with lots of different activities on offer, and lots of great food as well. Of course I wanted to do everything. I ended up taking a tour of the area islands in a MITA boat, which was a great way to experience the region. It was a delightfully warm September day, and the islands were very remote and wild. I was grateful for the fact that MITA had paid attention to every detail. What a treat for me to be able to go camping without having to plan, cook, or clean up! It was also great fun for me to meet the MITA staff and see the faces behind the names. I was heartened to find them not only young and committed to the stewardship mission, but also possessing good organizational and communication skills. They showed respect for all present, and took the participants’ experience level into consideration. They had a plan (and at least one contingency plan) and easily dealt with the changes in weather and people.
I wrapped things up in Cobscook by participating in the MITA down east cleanup. Then I drove to the Deer Isle area for what would be my first “real” coastal paddle. I’d been paddling before, of course, but never with such a small boat on such big water! I left from Old Quarry Campground for Hells Half Acre under ideal conditions with no fog. I can navigate with a chart and compass, and it certainly wasn’t a difficult crossing. But I found that islands tend to blend together when you have dozens of them off in the distance. Finding the specific one you want to go to, especially when you’re bouncing up and down in the cockpit, becomes a whole different type of challenge! It felt like a real accomplishment to reach my destination. Probably the highlight of this down east adventure came after my arrival on Hells Half Acre. After walking the island and setting up camp, I lay down for an afternoon snooze. I was woken from my slumber by an ear-splitting racket coming from just offshore. I peered out of my tent to find the schooner
American Eagle dropping anchor in the cove, its anchor chain rattling noisily. I watched with some dismay as the crew and 26 passengers proceeded to come ashore in waves—invading my island! I shouldn’t have been worried. After instructing the crew to walk the island and pick up any trash they found, Caption John Foss invited me over to share in the 70 pounds of lobster they had brought ashore. I got the full treatment, with hors d’oeuvres, dessert, and plenty of great conversation. After dinner, they returned the lobster shells to the sea, packed up everything they brought to the island, and ferried their passengers back to the schooner before the full harvest moon rose. They left no trace at all of their visit, except for my fond memories of the encounter. It was a totally unexpected and delightful experience. Carol is still looking for the perfect sailboat to cruise the Maine coast. If you know
of a Cape Dory 25 for sale, please email carolcoronella@gmail.com.
The Schooner American Eagle. Photo credit: onebrowncookie, Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/chingum/644679444/. M I TA .O R G
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Rising Tide Named Business of the Year MITA congratulates Rising Tide Brewing Company on being named Small Business of the Year by the Portland Development Corporation and the city of Portland. Their commitment to quality and sustainability has been a huge part of the success of the Maine Island Trail Ale—the signature beer of summer on the coast of Maine and a source of financial support for island stewardship. In an interview with the Portland Press Herald to discuss the award, Rising Tide co-owner Heather Sanborn revealed that the company is continuing to expand its production capabilities to meet growing demand. “We have seven 30-barrel fermenters and this winter we’ll be adding our first 60-barrel fermenter that will allow us to continue to increase the amount of beer we make, particularly for our summer brew, Maine Island Trail Ale,” Sanborn said. “It’s canned in a lightweight, lightproof package. Perfect for a backpack or a kayak, and we partnered with the Maine Island Trail Association, which is a great organization and the beer is a fundraiser for them.”
It’s Fun to Clean with the M - I - T - A!
From left to right are Alicia Heyburn and Anna Curtis-Heald (the “M”), Maria Jenness (the “I”), John Lumbard (the “T”), and Greg Field and Wendy West (the “A”). They took a break from brush clearing on a Seguin Island work day to show their support for MITA. Send us pictures of your own crew in the “MITA pose” and we’ll feature them in upcoming issues of the newsletter or the MITA Facebook page! Photo credit: Tom Carr.
Wishes Granted:
Island Owner Helps MITA Gear Up for Stewardship MITA would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the owner of a Trail island who donated the full suite of tools included in the wish list in the last edition of The Island Trail. As this anonymous owner put it, “MITA does such great work helping me take care of my island, this seemed like a nice way to say thank you for all the stewardship help.” She (or he) added, “I hope other site owners will follow my lead!” The new gear kept our stewardship teams humming through the end of the field season. As with all things stewardship, however, more work remains and more equipment needs have been identified. Below is the current list of items that MITA is seeking to help maintain the Trail. Check your basements, barns, and garages for underutilized or extra gear or your favorite local store for good deals.
FOR THE BOATS
• US Coast Guard approved life jackets
• Chart cases (contact MITA for details) • Small fire extinguisher
FOR THE CARETAKERS
• 18V cordless impact drill
• Garden cart or wheelbarrow
• Recreational or sit-on-top kayak
Give the islands to the ones you love.
What better gift than 200 wild Maine island and coastal sites? Look no further than a gift of membership to the Maine Island Trail, America’s first water trail! All memberships come with a complimentary set of note cards featuring art by MITA members and the 2014 Guide as a placeholder until spring, when your recipient will be one of the first to receive the 2015 Guide! Add a MITA hat to any gift membership for only $20 (call 207-761-8225 to complete)!
www.mita.org/gift Be sure to check the priority shipping box Dec 16-Dec 20 to ensure holiday delivery!
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M I TA .O R G
continued from page 1: Ripple.
Local boaters may not be aware of her contribution as principal author to another excellent resource, the Maine Coastal Public Access Guide. The Maine Coastal Program, part of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, wanted to help residents and visitors locate and enjoy public rights of way to the shore. With Dorcas’s work on her kayaking guide, she was the ideal person to take their research and complete this publication. “It was fun and challenging to put together, and it’s a product I knew people would find useful,” she said. The three paperback volumes, published last year, cover an impressive number of sites. Over 700 locations are divvied up into the southern, midcoast, and downeast regions. Some sites offer hand-carried or trailered boat access, others great places to walk, picnic, observe wildlife, or simply take in views of the ocean. Each listing provides a brief description, graphics indicating amenities such as launch ramps and docks, driving directions, and latitude/longitude coordinates. The guide is well illustrated with maps and photos. The volumes are slim enough to slip into a small dry bag. The guides can help readers discover public access to delightful coastal spots hidden in their own neighborhoods. Of the ten listed for my community, I was previously unaware of three: a kayak launch, a pier, and a flight of stairs leading to a pocket beach with a stellar view of Portland Harbor. Just as Dorcas writes books because she wants information on those topics herself, she works on courses she would like to attend. She spent two years as director of Maine’s Becoming an Outdoors Woman program, in which women learn traditional outdoor activities such as fishing and hunting. Dorcas’s current passion is the Maine Master Naturalist Program. One day, she saw a woman wearing a fleece vest with an embroidered patch that
read “Texas Master Naturalist.” Her immediate thought was, “What is that and why don’t we have one for Maine?” She called up a few other teachers and naturalists and said, “Come over here, and let’s talk about starting a program.” Dorcas had been teaching natural history at the University of Maine at Augusta’s Senior College. While she enjoyed these classes, she said, “I wanted to have a bigger ripple. I wanted to teach individuals who are going to teach individuals.” The Maine Master Naturalist Program does exactly that. Since its inception five years ago, the program has produced 89 graduates. These students commit to 40 hours of volunteer work as naturalists in the first year after graduation. This might take the form of leading tours at local land trusts or nature centers, for instance, or teaching schoolchildren. It is hoped the naturalists will continue these activities. In addition, graduates from earlier years serve as mentors to current students.
“I wanted to have a bigger ripple. I wanted to teach
Dorcas Miller, pictured after a day of rock climbing. Photo credit: Ben Townsend
When asked if she has had a favorite project over her career to date, Dorcas declined to make a selection, saying whichever one she is working on at the time is her favorite. But she did say the Maine Master Naturalist Program “is a wonderful program. It’s a program I would have loved to have taken.” With Maine Master Naturalists volunteering in communities throughout the state, Dorcas is indeed creating a bigger ripple—more like a large wave.
individuals who are going to teach individuals.”
The three volumes of the Maine Coastal Public Access Guide are available for
The curriculum includes field work, seminars on natural history specific to the area, and instruction in how to teach others. Students learn how to follow keys to identify plants, insects, and animals. Those involved in designing, running and teaching the courses are all volunteers. Dorcas, whose position as president is nearly full-time, is unpaid as well. While most master naturalist programs are affiliated with either a state agency or an educational facility, Maine’s is independent. Dorcas and the other founders wanted the ability to create their own curriculum. Their nonprofit organization is funded by donations and the students’ $350 tuition fees.
purchase at www.mainecoastalprogram.org. Each volume is $8. For more information
about the Maine Master Naturalist Program, visit: www.mainemasternaturalist.org.
Make a Splash in The Island Trail We’re always looking for contributors with interesting stories and insights. If you’d like to write for The Island Trail, send an email with your article idea to kevin@mita.org. We’d be glad to talk it over with you!
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MAINE ISLAND TRAIL ASSOCIATION
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MITA’s Annual Fund Needs Your Support MITA depends on its members to ensure that the Maine Island Trail remains beautiful, pristine and accessible. Please donate to the MITA Annual Fund today!
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