Above-and-Beyond Volunteers Return to Weald Bethel

Above-and-Beyond Volunteers Return to Weald Bethel

Mr. & Mrs. Lee Watrous (Photo by Scott Shaw)

CHERRYFIELD, ME — Earlier this year, Lee Watrous and his volunteers almost single-highhandedly completed the final phase wing of the new Weald Bethel Community Center.

Mission Downeast Campus Facilities and Housing Rehabilitation Manager Scott Shaw worked closely with Mr. Watrous. So, Scott Shaw was surprised a few days ago when Mr. Watrous and his wife visited the Community Center unannounced and not “full of drywall and sawdust,” Scott said.

Here’s the rest of Scott’s message and photo

“Lee Watrous and his wife Gail came to visit and stayed at a local airBnB over the weekend. They also attended a Cherryfield Academy concert and went hiking.

“I told Lee I didn’t recognize him. He wasn’t full of drywall and sawdust! He cleaned up pretty good! I told him I wanted to post a good photo of them on Facebook while he was clean!”

Wind, Rain, High Seas – Wednesday Spinners Greet Isle au Haut

Wind, Rain, High Seas – Wednesday Spinners Greet Isle au Haut

NORTHEAST HARBOR, ME — I met Gail Grandgent last year on Islesford and Great Cranberry. She is a Wednesday Spinner. Gail remembered a trip the Spinners took to IaH aboard Sunbeam IV in the 1980’s. She asked if we could work together to re-create the Sunbeam V trip. That’s what we did.

As I understand it, the Spinners have been meeting weekly, for over forty years, to share their craft, learn from one another, and spend a day together doing something they love. They meet every Wednesday during the Fall, Winter and Spring. In Summer they need the extra day to shear their flocks, card and dye the fleece and spin the wool for their own use or to sell.

The group proved to be hearty, enduring a rough ride to-and-from Isle au Haut (IaH). Once there, the Spinners quickly set-up their wheels in the main hall of IaH’s Town Hall.

Islanders were welcome throughout the day to watch, learn, or sit and spin/knit with the group. The immediate camaraderie and companionship between the Spinners and the islanders was lovely. You would have never guessed they were meeting for the first time. It was like watching old friends come together.

Sunbeam V steward Jillian brought lunch to the Town Hall; a feast of roasted butternut squash soup, scalloped potatoes, salad, and warm bread. Lisa Turner, a wonderful island baker and knitter made peanut butter cookies and chocolate cake for dessert.

Even with the rain, wind, and high seas, it was a perfect day.

Story and photos: Douglas Cornman, Maine Seacoast Mission Island Outreach Director

Mission’s EdGE Staff Hosts Downeast Table of Plenty

Mission’s EdGE Staff Hosts Downeast Table of Plenty

CHERRYFIELD, ME — Our EdGE program crew pitched in Sunday, October 21, hosting the Downeast Table of Plenty inside the Weald Bethel Community Center.

Wendy Harrington, Director of Service Programs, said, “The staff cooked and served a delicious feast.”

At the Downeast Table of Plenty, all are welcome to come together and share a satisfying, home-cooked meal every Sunday afternoon.

Learn more about DETOP  and EdGE

Call Out for Island Readers 2019 ‘All Islands Edition’ Submissions

Call Out for Island Readers 2019 ‘All Islands Edition’ Submissions

www.mdislander.com
Cranberry Isles: Prepping for winter
October 16, 2018 by Sally Rowan & Eileen Richards on Community Announcements

There is a call out for submissions for the Island Readers: 2019 “All Islands Edition.” Accepted are poetry, prose, stories, photography, drawings and images of other artwork from each of Maine’s unbridged outer islands supporting year-round communities. Submit at: islandreader.com.

The deadline is Dec. 31. The Island Reader is published by the Maine Seacoast Mission.

Full story

Dead River Company Hosts Downeast Table of Plenty Community Supper

Dead River Company Hosts Downeast Table of Plenty Community Supper

Dead River Company’s Ellsworth and Cherryfield office employees at DETOP

CHERRYFIELD, ME — Our belated thank you to Dead River Company’s Ellsworth and Cherryfield office employees for hosting a Downeast Table of Plenty community supper on Sept. 24.

The Table of Plenty takes place in the Weald Bethel Community Center on the Downeast Campus every Sunday from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. About 75 to 100 people attend each week.

Learn more

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