GUN SAFETY RALLY, MAINE PRESERVATION HEADING TO MDI, COME TALK TO THEM!, REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS, CONTRA DANCE AND MORE
MAY 24, 2024
Here’s our quick round-up of some press releases and short news items for the week.
COA Summer Institute Focuses on Democracy
Credit: The Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States via COA
BAR HARBOR—The 2024 College of the Atlantic Summer Institute: Questions of Democracy will examine democracy in the United States during what many consider to be one of the most consequential years of our times. Speakers will explore questions of authoritarianism, artistic freedom, and sociopolitical change during a total of 10 sessions over five days, July 29–August 2. Registration opens June 1 at coa.edu/si.
Speakers include retired Supreme Court justice Stephen Breyer, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, and Joe Scarborough of the MSNBC TV show Morning Joe, among other elected officials and well-known journalists, poets, authors, attorneys, and organization leaders. Guests will address collaboration amongst politicians, media and misinformation, voter equity and rights, transformative change through philanthropy, the US constitution, the civic role of poetry, and other pertinent and current topics. Attendance is free but registration is required.
“For seven years, the Summer Institute has brought the MDI community together with leaders, thinkers, and doers from around the world to examine some of the society’s most pressing challenges. This year, we dive into questions of democracy during an incredibly important time for our country and the world. Our hope is to stimulate thoughtful dialog, offer new perspectives and learning, and improve our collective understanding and practice of democracy,” says COA Dean of Institutional Advancement Shawn Keeley. “We see summer as a time when the college can give back to our community so we keep these events free and open to the public.”
The institute kicks off Monday evening, July 29, with “Making Amends: The Future Past and Future of American Constitutionalism,” featuring journalist and historian Jill Lepore and Reverend Cornell William Brooks, the director of the Social Justice Collaborate at Harvard Kennedy School. Morning and evening sessions continue through Friday, August 2. Scarborough speaks with William C. Eacho on “Challenges to Democracy: Media, Misinformation, and the Rise of Authoritarianism” on Wednesday morning. Some other speakers include Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, former ambassador to the UK Phil Lader, and American poet Richard Blanco.
Closing out the institute on Friday evening, “Restoring Collaboration and Goodwill in the House of Representatives,” is paneled by US Representatives Jamie Raskin (D-MD 8th District) and Chellie Pingree (D-ME 1st District), with interlocutor Frances Stead Sellers, journalist and associate director of the Washington Post.
The Summer Institute is College of the Atlantic’s week-long ideas festival that welcomes experts from around the world to share their perspectives on the most pressing issues of our time. The Summer Institute is supported by the generosity of COA Champlain Society members.
YWCA MDI to Hold Rally on Statewide Gun-Safety Action Day
BAR HARBOR—The YWCA MDI will hold a rally for common-sense gun safety at 1 P.M. Saturday, June 1, on the Bar Harbor Village Green. The rally coincides with a day of action organized by the Maine Gun Safety Coalition Foundation in partnership with law enforcement agencies across the state.
Frances Stockman, a seventh grader at Connors Emerson School who helped organize a walkout to address gun violence, will speak at the rally. She will share her experience of school as “… a place where there wasn’t guaranteed safety, a place where at any moment, everything in my life could change,” as she wrote in a letter to state legislators.
Lynn Ellis of the Maine Gun Safety Coalition Foundation will also speak. The MGSC Foundation works to protect Maine communities through gun-safety education and advocacy. The foundation is teaming with law enforcement agencies across the state for a safety-lock distribution and gun give-back event on June 1st.
Between 10 A.M. and 2 P.M., community members may pick up safety locks and drop off unwanted guns and ammunition at the Bar Harbor Police Station or the Mount Desert Police Station in Northeast Harbor.
The YWCA’s Advocacy Committee helps increase awareness and engagement around issues that affect our local community.
YWCA Executive Director Jackie Davidson said, “We’re working with the MGSC Foundation and the Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Police Department to raise our collective voices about the need to protect our children and each other against gun violence. This issue goes to the heart of what it means to strengthen our communities.”
YWCA Mount Desert Island is in its 120th year of empowering women, helping families, and strengthening communities on MDI and beyond. YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. Visit this link to learn more about the YWCA’s work in our local communities.
MAINE PRESERVATION HEADING TO MDI, COME TALK TO THEM!
MOUNT DESERT ISLAND—Maine Preservation staff is hitting the road for its next residency, which is May 28 through May 31 and they will be on Mount Desert ISland
Reach out to reserve a session with Maine Preservation’s team, talk hands-on preservation or map out a plan for community-building and fundraising with Maine Preservation experts who look forward to learning about community projects and meeting preservation-minded friends on MDI.
You can schedule a residency visit by emailing info@mainepreservation.org.
Join a friendly meet and greet at the Bar Harbor Historical Society at 127 West St. on May 30, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Drop in to chat with Maine Preservation staff about local preservation successes and challenges. Complimentary snacks and beverages will be served. Onsite and on-street parking will be available. Register for the meet and greet at https://tinyurl.com/2s38x3yt.
CONTRA DANCE THIS SATURDAY!
BAR HARBOR—The monthly contra dance at Jesup Memorial Library will be on Saturday, May 25, from 7-10 p.m., at 34 Mt. Desert Street in downtown Bar Harbor.
Big Moose band features caller Chris Ricciotti. This is a fun dance that has been part of Downeast Maine and Bar Harbor’s local tradition for over twenty years.
The Abbe Museum Presents the Dawnland Festival of Arts and Ideas
BAR HARBOR—The Abbe Museum is excited to announce the premiere of its Dawnland Festival of Arts and Ideas on July 12-14, 2024, at the College of the Atlantic (COA).
This multi-day event will feature a Native arts market, public performances, and panel conversations on some of the biggest questions of our time, including Weaving a Sustainable Environment, Savoring Native Food Wisdom, Recognizing Sovereignty as a Stepping Stone to an Enduring Democracy, and Arts Transforming Our Futures.
“Native arts and cultures cannot be separated from Native ways of knowing. The Dawnland Festival of Arts & Ideas continues to celebrate the Native creative economy on Wabanaki homelands while lifting up Indigenous thought leadership vital to the conversation on a healthy planet and society for us all.”
Betsy Richards (Cherokee),
Executive Director & Senior Partner
with Wabanaki Nations
***
ARTISTS/VENDORS
More than 50 leading Native American artists from across the U.S. and Canada will share artwork ranging from ash baskets, beadwork, textiles, painting, fashion, and pottery representing the breadth and excellence of Indigenous art.
ARTISTS PROFILES are here.
PANELISTS
Panel conversations will address some of the biggest questions of our time, including:
- Weaving a Sustainable Environment
- Savoring Native Food Wisdom
- Recognizing Sovereignty as a Stepping Stone to an Enduring Democracy
- Arts Transforming Our Futures.
Panelists include scientist and author Dr. Suzanne Greenlaw (Maliseet); attorney Corey Hinton (Passamaquoddy); curator and Forge Project Executive Director Candice Hopkins (Carcross/Tagish First Nations); attorney and Brown University visiting professor Honor Keeler (Cherokee Nation); filmmaker, photographer and educator Jared Lank (Mi’kmaq); author, radio host, and former legislator Donna Loring (Penobscot); author and attorney Sherri Mitchell (Penobscot); James Beard Award-winning chef Sherry Pocknett (Wampanoag); anthropologist and scholar Dr. Darren Ranco (Penobscot); James Beard Award-nominated Chef Joe Robbins (Penobscot); Executive Director of Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness Lisa Sockbasin (Passamaquoddy); artist and arts and culture leader Frances Soctomah (Passamaquoddy).
PANELISTS PROFILES are here.
PERFORMERS
Performances will take place throughout the weekend, including a concerts by musician Firefly the Hybrid (Penobscot) and Jennifer Kreisberg (Tuscarora). The Festival will feature concerts by award-winning musicians Firefly the Hybrid (Penobscot) and Jennifer Kreisberg (Tuscarora) as well as performances by Penobscot Nation drum group Burnurwubskek Singers; Eastern Woodlands flutist Hawk Henries (Nipmuc); storyteller/artist Geo Neptune (Passamaquoddy), singer/songwriter JJ Otero (Navajo/Hopi); and storyteller/artist Jennifer Pictou (Mi’kmaq).
PERFORMERS PROFILES are here.
The Dawnland Festival of Arts & Ideas is FREE and open to the public.
This event is supported in part by grants from the Maine Office of Tourism and the Henry Luce Foundation along with a partnership with College of the Atlantic.
For the latest Festival information, please visit: DAWNLANDFESTIVAL.ORG
BAR HARBOR PARKING SEASON
BAR HARBOR—Via the Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Police Departments, “Parking season is here, which comes with a lot of questions.
“Please check out the Town of Bar Harbor website about parking information here: https://www.barharbormaine.gov/400/Parking-Information There is a parking map available, which notes where the current RV parking is, along with no parking, permit parking, and paid parking zones.
“Parking can be reached at 207-288-1777, where you can leave a voicemail if nobody is available.
“If you get a ticket, information for disputing or paying for the ticket is listed on the back bottom of the ticket. PD dispatch has limited information for questions about parking but is available for concerns and complaints.”
BUSINESS SIGNAGE INFORMATION
WHO ARE YOU TALKING TO ONLINE?
If you missed the previous sessions, here are the links:
Session One: Raising Healthy Kids in a Digital World Click here for a link to this session’s recording
Session Two: Dealing with Digital Drama Click here for a link to this session’s recording
2024 MDI Region Community Health Report Available
HANCOCK COUNTY—Healthy Acadia, Mount Desert Island Hospital and Health Centers and more than a dozen other local nonprofit organizations serving Hancock County’s Mount Desert Island (MDI) region collaborated over the past six months to scrutinize the community’s health strengths, challenges, and priorities. The findings were unveiled on May 1 in a comprehensive 40-page report titled, “2024 Community Health Needs Assessment and Action Plan” for the greater Mount Desert Island region. This area encompasses the municipalities of Bar Harbor, Cranberry Isles, Frenchboro, Lamoine, Mount Desert, Southwest Harbor, Swan’s Island, Tremont, and Trenton. A condensed two-page overview is also accessible online at https://healthyacadia.org/hpm-chaap.
The report incorporates findings from a survey completed by over 400 year-round and seasonal residents during the winter of 2023-24. These results underwent analysis and comparison with existing data from entities such as the US Census Bureau and the Maine CDC.
Among the findings:
- Access to safe and affordable housing was the most commonly voiced concern, despite the survey focusing on “health” issues.
- The cost of healthcare and prescription drugs was the second most cited concern.
- The survey revealed perceptions of long wait times and other barriers to accessing care, particularly for dental services and mental and behavioral health, including substance use.
The report recommends goals and strategies to address unmet needs. The framework encourages Mount Desert Island Hospital, Healthy Acadia, and other community members and organizations to work together and to build upon current assets.
“We welcome all individuals, organizations, businesses, and other entities to use this tool in ways that align best with their individual goals, needs, and resources” explained Shoshona Smith of Healthy Acadia. Over 40 community leaders contributed to this project by serving on our Steering Committee and six working groups. They provided valuable advice from the very beginning and each step along the way. We feel confident that this report represents a strong cross-section of experiences and expertise and hope it will be used for programmatic and strategic planning and for grant writing and fundraising, among other uses.”
Chrissi Maguire, President/CEO of MDI Hospital and Health Centers says of the report, “The Community Health Needs Assessment serves as our compass, guiding our efforts to address the evolving needs of those we serve. It is not just a report; it is a strategic roadmap that ensures we remain responsive and relevant to the health concerns of our community. In the coming years, this assessment will continue to be our vital tool, shaping our strategies and initiatives to ensure we meet the needs of our community with precision and compassion.”
An electronic version of the report is available at bit.ly/2024-MDI-Region-CHNA. For more information or to schedule a presentation about this report, or if you are interested in learning how to get involved in community health efforts, please email shoshona@healthyacadia.org or call 667-7171.
Nominations now being accepted for the 2024 Fly Rod Crosby Outdoor Lifetime Achievement Award
HANCOCK COUNTY—The Fly Rod Crosby Outdoor Lifetime Achievement Award is presented annually by Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to individual who is dedicated to the stewardship and wise use of Maine’s natural resources and who has been active in the Maine outdoors for a lifetime.
The Fly Rod Crosby Outdoor Lifetime Achievement Award honors not only the annual recipient, but also recognizes Cornelia “Fly Rod” Crosby, and her work in promoting and showcasing Maine’s outdoors.
Crosby is well known as Maine’s first registered guide, a program that she worked hard to establish, but she was also an outdoor mentor, and an ambassador for the state. For 15 years, she wrote an outdoors column in the local newspaper, the Phillips Phonograph, in which she detailed her outdoor adventures, passing on tips and tales that helped others enjoy the outdoors. She organized Maine sporting exhibits at national sportsman’s shows in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia, showcasing the wonders of Maine’s rich outdoor resources, and of course, she guided, sometimes introducing people to their first taste of the Maine outdoors, and for those more experienced, helped fine tune their skills.
Nomination Information
To be eligible, nominees must have hunted, trapped, and fished in Maine for a combined total of 40 years. For example, to meet that requirement an individual may have fished for 20 years, trapped for 10 years, and hunted for 10 years; or could have fished for 30 years and hunted for 10 years. Ideal candidates would also be active in mentoring, teaching, or instructing outdoor activities.
Nominations should include the nominees name, address, phone number, photograph and a few paragraphs about the individual, their experience in the Maine outdoors, and an explanation of why they are a deserving candidate. The nominators contact information should also be included.
Nominations must be submitted between January 1 and July 1 of the calendar year and can be sent by email to Emily MacCabe at Emily.MacCabe@maine.gov or by mail to 353 Water St, SHS 41, Augusta, Maine 04333.
Download nomination form (PDF) or submit a nomination online
The recipient(s) of this year’s Fly Rod Crosby Lifetime Outdoor Achievement Award will be selected by a committee of individuals from the Department and will be recognized at the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine Annual Banquet this September.
WHO IS COMING TO ARTWAVES?
TOWN HILL—The following artists will be visiting ArtWaves soon.
Claire Loon Baldwin
Claire is an illustrator, designer, and storyteller inspired by the surreal beauty of nature. For years she worked in national parks as an environmental educator and interpretive ranger. Now she strives to inspire environmental action through art. She recently illustrated Live Free, Eat Well, a cookbook by Adam Glick, through DK Publishing. Join us on June 19 for an Artist Talk with Claire and Paint Your Own Lupine on June 21!
Nimbus Dance
ArtWaves will host the Acadia Dance Festival Intensive and rehearsals and creative work of Nimbus Dance during the week of July 22, in preparation for performances at the Criterion Theatre, July 26-27. The Summer Intensive is designed for high-school and college-aged dancers looking to expand their training, explore their artistry, and gain experience in a professional-level dance setting. Faculty are experts in the field who have carefully crafted curricula to help young dancers grow technically, artistically, and professionally. Students learn original choreography with company dancers from Nimbus Dance and perform on Friday, July 26th at the 1932 Criterion Theater as part of the Acadia Dance Festival.
Rainey Rodriguez
Rainey Rodriguez is a celebrated artist hailing from the vibrant city of San Antonio, Texas. With an illustrious career spanning 27 years, Rainey has exhibited widely. Rainey is a recipient of the Primer Paso Fellowship and was awarded Instructor of the Year and Most Creative Artist, both by the Southwest School of Art. In 2014 she established House Paint Art School where students of all levels learn to paint in oils and pastels. Rainey is also an instructor at UTSA Southwest. Rainey will be teaching Painting with Pastels on July 27 and 28 as well as Pastels with Mixed Media. on August 3 and 4.
Susan Keller
Susan Keller is a masterful ceramic artist and studio potter with an impressive creative career spanning 25 years. Based in the vibrant city of San Antonio, Texas, Susan’s distinctive pieces are celebrated for their unique blend of functionality, artistry, and bold design. A graduate of Texas State University, Susan holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in ceramics. Armed with her formal education and boundless creativity, Susan embarked on her career as a studio potter, setting up her thriving practice in the heart of San Antonio. Susan is teaching Hand Building with Clay on July 27 and July 31 as well as Ceramic Tile Making and Surface Design on July 28 and July 31.
Anna Low
Anna Low joins us in August. Anna is a Maine-based bookbinder, book artist, and the one-woman creator behind Purplebean Bindery. When reflecting on the art and artistry of creating books, Anna said “It’s a special joy to think that my blank books inspire people to be creative, to record and celebrate their lives, to commit memories and stories to paper”. Anna’s work has been exhibited throughout New England and is held in several library special collections. Join us for Rustic Leather Sketchbooks on August 8 and Gel Plate Printing into Pop-Up Accordion Cards on August 7.
Kat McClelland
Kat McClelland was born here in Bar Harbor, grew up in Pennsylvania and now lives in Western Massachusetts. She is a graduate of The Maryland Institute College of Art where she majored in ceramics but took classes in a wide range of disciplines. She is married to a fabulous woodworker and is the mother of two amazing girls. She is an art teacher for a small high school in CT and also teaches felting workshops in a variety of settings. She spends her studio time working hard to develop a body of work in felting, her medium of choice for the last eight years.
Join us for an Artist Talk with Kat and a Felted Patches workshop.
RECENT REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS
BAR HARBOR
Richard G. LeDuc and Carrie A. LeDuc, Wantage, N.J., to Katie Busick and Christopher Busick, Littleton, Mass., land.
MOUNT DESERT
Robert E. Foster, Mount Desert to William Richard Patry and Don Grant Meyer, Chicago, Ill., joint tenants, land together with buildings and improvements.
The Northeast Harbor Fleet, Northeast Harbor to Northeast Harbor Sailing School, Northeast Harbor, forty-two and one-tenth interest, land.
SOUTHWEST HARBOR
Eric S. Benson, Southwest Harbor to Stephanie Degrasse, Greenbush and Sonja Benson, Bethel, tenants in common, land together with buildings.
TREMONT
Mary L. Russell and James P. Russell, Sacramento, Calif., to Ian Campbell, Southwest Harbor, land together with any buildings and improvements.
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