Native son, Ed Wheaton, returned to Swan's Island around the 4th of July to promote his book of old island post cards that he has collected over the years. The paperback book features the old post cards with the same view photographed in the present day, with a little bit of history thrown in. "Swan's Island-Past and Present" is a valuable addition to the libraries of those interested in Swan's Island and will be for sale at the Library and Museum as well as other locations on the island. July, 1989

        The lecture series season began on July 11th with a slide show put together by me from my father's slides of Swan's Island. The slides were accompanied by commentary on what it is like to live on the island all year round.
        On July 22, Peter Petraitis from the University of Pennsylvania will lead a group of intrepid explorers to the littoral zone on what is known as the ''Back Shore". Petraitis is a marine biologist who specialty is periwinkles.
        The Lecture Series will continue on July 25th with Bud Lyie sharing his fascination with medieval lore in "Arthur: Once Soldier; Future King".
        On August 1, John Bryan from the University of South Carolina will present ''Designs for Democracy by America's First Architect-Robert Mills".
        On August 7th, the Mt. Desert Musicians will perform classical music for Lecture Series patrons. Their performance will be presented at the Methodist Church.
        On August 15th, Diane Kopec, Director of the Abbe Museum, will speak on ''Maine Archaeology and Native American Prehistory".
        On August 22, Lynn Herndon is scheduled for "Reading from Maine".
        The last lecture in the series will be Judy Monroe and Shirley Hussey. "What Goes Into a Book or How to Get Published".
        Most lectures will be presented at the Library at 7:30 and donations will be gratefully accepted. July, 1989

Swan's Island Library Walk A Thon

        The Swan's Island library started the summer season with a three hour Walk-a-Thon on July 2. 24 walkers walked the Minturn Loop 154 times for a total of 123.2 miles. Pat LeMoine outdid everyone by walking 21 loops or almost 17 miles. Don Carlson was next with 15 loops (12.8 miles), Maili Bailey was third with 13 (10.4) and Jill Philbrook finished 4th with 11 loops or 8.8 miles.
        Other walkers were Andy Danny Humphrey, Bruni Kunzel, Selene Meeks, Jackie Wheaton, lver W. and The Womp Lofving, Betty Carlson, Elsie Gilllespie, Betsy Cole, Theo and Melissa Knebel, Jimmy, Paul, Langan, Jenny and Jim Courtney, Donna Shinsman, Mary Mohler and Liz Day.
        The library thanks the walkers and the sponsors who donated over $700 to the library's general fund. July 1989

Plant Superintendent Retires from the Electric Coop.

        William Turner, Plant Superintendent for 22 years, has retired from the Swans Island Electric Cooperative. Turner, one of Swan's Island's natural talents, has been on call virtually twenty-fours a day for more than 8,030 days. The nasty job of climbing icy poles at midnight and hunting down all manner of glitch has now been passed on to Gerald "Punkin" LeMoine.
        Turner was given a watch at the Annual meeting of the Electric Coop in July as well as a thunderous ovation by the one hundred-plus members present. It will be strange not see William behind the wheel of that big old yellow truck! Congratulations Mr. Turner!
        Punkin and Suzanne LeMoine have moved two doors down into Punkin's mother's house on the Minturn Loop. The LeMoines have been working very hard for weeks to ready the house for their family of four. Suzanne has wallpapered and painted and Punkin installed kitchen works in the house where he grew up. Dotty LeMoine now lives in the Atlantic Apartments after living for many years off island while being very ill. Last year she underwent a successful kidney transplant and is happily living on the island once again. Suzanne has been work-at several jobs, (mowing housekeeping, washing dishes at the Olde Salt's Restaurant), while Punkin has continued his work at Swan's Island Electric Coop.
        The LeMoines sold their trailer to an Atlantic couple who will move it to their land at Stockbridge Hill. The trailer site in Minturn will be leased to Dan Barnes.  August, 1989

        The Mt. Desert Island Musicians, otherwise known as Susannah Jones of Bernard, Ruth Grierson of Bass Harbor and Mary K. Wake-man of South Addison, played to a good house on August 7th for the benefit of the Library Lecture Series. The audience enjoyed an hour of classical trios for violin, viola and cello.
        John Bryan, of the University of South Carolina where he is professor of Art History, spoke on Robert Mills in his lecture entitled, "Designs for Democracy by American's First Architect". Bryan showed slides in his presentation and Lynn Herndon later purchased his handsome book on the subject for the Library.
        Diane Kopec, director of the Abbe Museum on Mt. Desert, made a fine presentation on Maine archaeology and Native American prehistory on August 15th. Many who were in attendance had to stand in the hallway to participate in the informative and entertaining evening. The Director of the Library (me) made a I point of noting once again, the I need for an addition to the facilities and urged all I make generous donations...some did. August, 1989

Swans Island News and Notes

        Swan's Island's small ferry, the "William S. Sillsby", came on line on September 18, running on a revised summer schedule until October 28. The first two morning ferries will be 6:45, (to accommodate the high school children), and 8:15. The selectmen tell us that the new ferry is in the works an it should be in service in a couple (if years. Engineer Steve Harriman has been going over blueprints of the new vessel and has made suggestions that have been incorporated into the working prints. Hopefully, we will have better luck than Islesboro.-.built then again, there are a lot off cooks in the kitchen.
        September rings the school year in again and the first days of school are full of exciting changes for the fresh scholars. New sneakers squeak on the clean hallway floors and it will be a few weeks before everyone settles in for the routine grind. The eighth grade graduates of spring are now off' to high school on Mt. Desert. Josh, Chris, David, Luke and Rachel and their mothers nervously waited for the ferry on September 7. They were to go to their new school for orientation where Peg Bailey, who is the Adult Education Coordinator at MDI and a summer resident on Swan's Island, helped ease their introduction by showing them around to their home rooms and offering any help that they might need during the school year. Bailey was pleased with the Swan's Island freshman and we all wish them the best!! Bids for the building of the new school in Atlantic have been submitted to four off island contractors. These will be reviewed by the School Board, the Superintendent's office and state officials sometime this month. It is hoped that work will begin later this fall.
        Mariculture Products Ltd. gave an open house on September 17 at the Odd Fellow's Hall to thank islanders for their support. The steak and chicken dinner was well attended.
        Selectman, Dexter Lee, has begun a new job with Mariculture Products Ltd.
        The secret that September is the best time on Swan's Island seems to have leaked to several summer residents. There are several lingerers enjoying the quiet that islanders have cherished after the bang! of summers. Some are planning to stay into December when things really quiet down...
        "Ocean Notions", Priscilla Lunt's gift shop near Swan's Island village will be open through November, "Depending on the weather." Lunt sells island crafts as well as Maine books and other Maine products.
        Dr. George Scott has donated a TV/VCR unit to the Swan's Island Educational Society in memory of Norman S. Bailey who died in February. The library will be offering the use of the machine to island groups and would like to hear from anyone who has a great idea for keeping it running.   September, 1989

        Bids for the new school to be built on Swan's Island were opened at the office of the Superintendent on Mt. Desert in late September. The winning bid has not been announced until the Superintendent meets with the architects. Kenny LeMoine, Jr., Chairman of the School Board, said that, "It doesn't look good for starting this year."
        Jackie Wheaton's Adult Education Program is proceeding with many interesting offerings that include computer basics taught by Tom Wogan and spelling by Wheaton. Peg Bailey, founder of the Program on the island in 1976, notes there have been more than 25 people to have obtained their GED's.
        Principal Kim Colbeth reported to the School Board that all students were screened for possible speech \ training and nine were found that could use help. A teacher has been advertised for, but there have been no responses to date.
        The School Board voted to make the school bus available to outside groups. The island Recreation Committee plans to take foliage trips this fall. The school bus will also take the student body to Acadia National Park where the children will go on a hay ride on the carriage trails and learn about the history of the park.
        The school children took a trip last week on the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad Co. They went from Belfast to Waldo and back. The kids packed lunches, visited a museum and had a wonderful day on the mainland! October, 1989

        Karen and Ben Redman have twins at home now! Joshua and Jessica were born on October 18 and weighed 5 Ibs. 15 oz. and 5 Ibs. 12 oz. respectively. Karen says that older siblings, Daniel and Sara are a big help. Ben is the Advent Christian Church's minister and the church is happy to have two more for the fold.
        Nancy and Bruce Colbeth just had a baby girl on November 26th. Andrea weighs 8 Ibs. 14.5 oz. She goes to live in Minturn with her three other siblings, Paul, Amber and Alison.
        November's earthquake in California shook up some island friends and family. My brother, Kimo Bailey, who lives in San Francisco, called moments after the quake and asked if I had heard about it. After telling him no, he said that he had to leave the building. We didn't hear from him until I AM. He was all right, as were his friends and our Aunt and . Kimo said he saw lots of damage. Since then he has had lots of work repairing cracks.
        Oddly, in the same week as California's quake, Swan's Island felt its own earth rumblings. A friend who lives at Island Retreat told me that his house shook so violently that he thought something must have blown up in the cellar. He ran down to find nothing and even listened for a jet to explain the occurrence. Many households felt the tremors, but fishermen out at sea felt nothing. Phone lines were disturbed for a few days after and my friend felt a few aftershocks as well. The local news showed video of a fracture in a field in Sedgewick that opened up as a result of the quake. Since most of the island is rock, we wouldn't do much sliding around...I hope!
        The Planning Board will authorize Hancock County Planning Commission to incorporate state changes in zoning into the Shoreland Zoning Ordinances and the Subdivision Ordinances of Swan's Island. After this has been done, a committee of the Planning Board will review the material for further revisions and will make recommendations.
        The "dump turkeys" have now moved into other territory. They have crossed the Carrying Place and are now as far as Norman Staple's place in Atlantic. They can be seen regularly along the main road. The nine birds are lucky to be so tall that they can be seen over the snow banks...but watch out!
        Church Christmas parties will be held all over the island and friends and neighbors look forward to the gatherings. The Methodist/Baptist Churches will have their Christmas play on December 17th at the Baptist Church in Atlantic. The Methodist Church held their Christmas party on Dec. 9. Helen Sanborn, Debbie Staples and Patsy Wagner provided a song and Malleye Smith, Opal Herrick, John Wheaton and lver Lofving read Christmas stories and verse. The United Methodist Women and The Ladies Aid provided an excellent supper for the 37 participants. Presents were also exchanged.
        Caroling will take place on Sunday the 17th which will be followed by an open house at the home of minister Tim Wagner and his wife Patsy who spend weeks cooking up their famous treats for the weary and cold singers. The Wagner open house is something many of us look forward to all year!  December, 1989

School News

        Ground was broken in early November for the: new school in Atlantic. Off-island workers are walking a path past the library and following survey markers through the woods to the school site. The job of moving vast amounts of earth has been made difficult because of weather, but bad weather is no surprise to construction workers. It has been said that the island supply of gravel will fall far short of what will be needed for the job. The prospect of getting "off-island'" gravel is grim. The foundations have been made and are now curing before work can begin again.
        The school Christmas party, sponsored by the Maine Seacoast Mission, will be held on December 16th. This is an island event not to be missed because every child, from new born to 8th grade, comes out and is given a present. The children will perform carols.  December, 1989

        Malleye Smith died on March 2 at a hospital on the mainland. She was 73. Malleye was born in Texas. As a teenager she came to the Island, which had been the birthplace of her father, Sam Kent. She married Buddy Smith and had three daughters. Malleye was a "hard shell" Methodist, Rebekah and Democrat (a rare bird on Swan's Island!). Her friends remember that she worked especially hard for the Rebekahs and served as Noble Grand and held other offices as well. She seived as secretary to the Methodist kChurch and contributed a short history of the church to the Museum. She was also a fine singer in the church. The Methodist choir sang In her honor at her funeral and will sadly miss her voice among theirs.
        Rudolf Hirsch, long time summer resident, died in a nursing home in Pennsylvania on February 25. Mr. Hirsch was a retired librarian scholar from the University of Pennsylvania. His expertise was on manuscripts and early printing. Rudi came to the island In the 60's after summering for many years on Gotts Island. He enjoyed many quiet summers of mushrooming, claming and berry picking on Swan's Island. His daughter Anne Schwoebell will bring his ashes for burial at Grindel Hill in August. There will be a memorial service at that time.
        Abbe Museum to Excavate a Midden on Swan's Island. Diane Kopec, Director of the Abbe Museum, is planning a field week on Swan's Island May 20-25 and Is looking for volunteers who might like to learn basic excavation techniques. The museum conserves stone age Indian artifacts. Swan's Island has revealed Indian artifacts 3,500 years old In the past...who knows what might yet be unearthed in the Indian shell heap. If you are interested, write the Abbe Museum at PO Box 286, Bar Harbor, ME 04609 or call for more information at 207-288-3519.
        Spelling BEEuty Eight grader Kathleen Dziezyk won first place in an area spelling bee a few weeks ago by spelling correctly "omnipotence". The competition was held for all of Mt. Desert Junior High winners. Jaime Joyce came In third in competition. Kathleen, Jaime and their teacher Helen Sanborn traveled to Bucksport on March 15th for the county bee: Kathleen missed on the word, "fallacy". How do you spell "rats!"
        At the request of Swan's Island summer residents. Rep. Patricia Stevens (D-Bangor) has introduced legislation, that would bring Maine controls on aquaculture up to Washington State standards for aquaculture in Puget Sound. Opponents of the legislation say the bill Is aimed at strangling the nascent Industry and those favoring stricter controls are Insensitive to the financial situation of year round residents. State laws can not control the potential for disease and toxic algae blooms, the result of overcrowded pens in shallow water. Rep. Stevens told the Marine Resources Committee. Washington State requires 30 feet of water under the pens, while the Maine minimum is ten feet.
        Marine biologists testified that current velocities inside the pens are as low as 35% of those outside the pens: this causes a buildup of unconsumed food and feces. 50 tons of fish produce feces equivalent to the raw sewage of 1500 people.
        The farm operators testified these more stringent controls are both unnecessary and unaffordable. Maine currents are stronger than those in Puget Sound. A note of irony has crept into the debate on the ecological consequences of fish farming. Apparently, there is a glut of Atlantic salmon on the market: prices are tumbling. Maine and Washington State fish farmers have petitioned the Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission to ask Norway to stop dumping its bumper crop of salmon on the U.S. market. Ocean Products, a Portland, Maine based aquaculture company, is restructuring its financial plan and seeking new stockholders.   March. 1990

Swan's Island Notes

        Paul Joy, pastor of the Church of God, announced that he and his family will be moving off the island at the end of January so that he can take a larger church in Unionville. Paul, his wife Ruth and their 7 children have lived on Swan's Island for six years. The family is excited about their move but they are also sad. The new pastor, Bruce Tucker, will take over the small (45) congregation in February. Mr. Tucker will bring his wife and two small girls to the island from Atlanta, Georgia. Ruth has been packing and regrets that winter is not a good time for a yard sale! Friends wish them all the best!
        The PIK (People Interested in Kids) group serves hot lunch to the island school children once a month. Volunteers put together the meal and serve the children in the cramped confines of the small kitchen and hallway of the Consolidated School. The foundations are rising at the new school site and there will be facilities for a "real" hot lunch program that will offer lunches every day. Teachers, children and parents look forward to the change.
        Workers around the island have been enjoying the thaw in temperature. Those who have to work out side, can now actually work for a few hours at a time before having to go in some place to get warm. Buzzy Keene at the Fishermen's Coop and Bob Atwell at work on Rudi Hirsch's house on City Point might even have to take off a layer or two, what with the thermometer reading 32 degrees!   January. 1990

Swan's Island News & Notes 

        Adult Education Director Jackle Wheaton is writing a proposal with Peg Bailey who is head of the Adult Education Program for this area, that may bring Interactive TV to the island. The TV program brings college level courses as well as enrichment courses to the far flung parts of the state via satellite dish. Since Swan's Island qualifies as far flung, Mrs. Wheaton and Mrs. Bailey feel that the island has a good chance to receive the service. The state's guidelines will have to be stretched to accommodate the physical limitations of facilities available, but the stretch will feel good.
        Gwen May's daughter Betsy Philbrook, who is attending the Glad Tidings Academy in Bangor, was named Queen of the Sweetheart Ball last week. Her escourt, Jason Sawyer, was named King. Yes, this is the same Betsy of blue jeans fame.
        Minna Geddes died in her sleep at her home in Brookfield, Connecticut. She was 94, (She would have been 95 in March.) Minna and her husband Virgil. who died last year, bought the old school-house In Atlantic and live here year round for many years. Minna was an artist among other things. She ran for political office in Connecticut, was a suffragette, secretary to Isadora Duncan in France, and world traveller. Minna and Virgil Geddes were unique and interesting company and they will be missed.
        Gwen May is working on an exhibit to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Maine State Ferry Service to Swan's Island. She has brought together photographs and documents that will be on display at the town meeting in March. Mrs. May is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Swan's Island Educational Society.   February, 1990

Swan's Island Notes

        The Abbe Museum began its field week on City Point May 20, as a crew of volunteers began excavating a shell midden on shoreland  owned by Kaniau Meyer and Bill Cheney. The first day's work revealed two small patterned shards as well as other artifacts. Diane Kopec, Director of Abbe Museum of Bar Harbor, and other archaeologists are working at the site. Next month we will carry a complete report.
        Paul Stockbridge, Jr. has been released from the hospital and is at home in Atlantic. Mr. Stockbridge survived a head trauma In early March while in Florida where he went to watch his daughter, Nicole, play softball for the University of Maine. Friends and family came together to raise funds so he could be flown home and also to help defray other expenses.
        On Mother's Day the Odd Fellows put on a lunch as a tribute to all mothers. They served lobster and turkey as well as a glorious array of cakes. The hall was filled with grateful children (nothing to plan!) and happy mothers ( no dishes to wash!). Though the day was a great success in spite of the rainy cold weather.  May, 1990

Swan's Island Notes

Library Lecture

The Swan's Island Library begins Its Lecture Series on July 13 with a slide and music presentation by lver W. Lofving entitled, "Nature and Tyranny in Central America." On July 20 Bud Lyle will present "America Discovers Vinland", an essay in support of Scandinavian discovery. Marvin Mirsky will present "The Bible as Literature: Some Introductory Notes" on July 27.
        On August 3, Lynn Herndon will give us, "Readings: Running the Gumat." Lynn will read from Maine authors as well as from others. "James Swan" will be Molly Beard's topic on August 10 and on August 17, Ruth Grierson will give us "Trinidad's Natural History." On the morning of August 23, Bob Kennedy will lead a "Bird Walk". Gary Hoyle of the Maine State Museum will present "Development of a Museum Wildlife Exhibit".
        The last presentation of the season will be on August 30 with Enrico Bonati with "The Formation of the Ocean Floor." Most lectures are on Friday nights this year and will begin at 7:30. Kennedy's Morning Bird Walk will be on a Thursday as will be Bonati's August 30 lecture. The Library is in great need of donations this year and asks for your support. June 1990

Swan's Island Notes

September Babies:
         George Stanley III and his wife Linnea had a son on September 21st. Nathanlel Wayne now resides with his parents at their home in Atlantic.
        Alexander was born to Camilla Lowing and her husband Frank Hersfeldt on September 23 in Blue Hill. Alex's mother and sister Amelia had just moved to Riyadh. Saudi Arabia to be with her Danish cheese salesman husband when the crisis in Kuwait erupted. At the urging of her family, Camilla returned to Swan's Island where she had been visiting her parents lver and Sally Lofving earlier this summer. She arrived with only a few weeks to go with her pregnancy. Her husband arrived from Riyadh on the 14th of September to await the birth. Alex was allowed to ripen by two weeks before being flown off, with his own passport, to Saudi Arabia, where his parents felt all would be well...the cheese business sure must be great!

        Phone note: Contel removed all those cylindrical gray things that have been on our houses and replaced them with square gray new things called network Interfaces. I have a feeling that my phone may be working somewhat better now...maybe that sugar pill does work.
        The Island Institute awarded $2050 In scholarship money to 12 students from seven island communities. The awards are based on financial need and academic achievement. Kirsten Bourgeault of Swan's Island received a $100 scholarship from the Island Institute. She is studying sculpture at the Rhode Island School of Design. October 1990

Swan's Island Notes

    Camilla Lofving and her two children were able to leave Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on January 24 when they crossed the desert by school bus for Mecca and Jidda. They arrived safely in Copenhagen where they were met by Sally Lofving, who will stay to help care for the children. Camilla's husband, Frank Hersfeldt, a Danish cheese salesman, remains in Saudi Arabia at his job. January/February, 1991

Adult Basketball Tournament
        The group of men and women have been gathering on Saturday nights in a series of six games. Each paid one dollar to off set the expense for electricity at the new school gym and the organizer, Don Carlson. made sure the place was in order before leaving each night. The four teams competed vigorously to claim a spot in the play offs.
        A consolation game was played between Skins (Joshua Joyce, Danny Johnson. Chris Carlson. Wayne LeMoine) and the Shirts, (Ben Redman, Bob Treadwell, Bruce Tucker, Steve Wheaton and Karen Redman). The players ranged in age from 15 to 40 something. They were high school students, ministers, the wife of a minister, fishermen and fathers and sons.
        The court at the new school in Atlantic is smaller than a regulation high school court, but the players considered the games serious work and went at it with a will. Members of the audience shouted encouragement from the sidelines and Joshua Joyce had the good fortune to have his young sisters Emmie and Jaime there who burst out with an organized cheer each time their brother made a basket. In the end though, Joshua was on the losing side with his team scoring 55 points to the Shirts' 82.
        The next game proved to be every bit as exciting as watching Magic Johnson play for big money. With two men from the previous game acting now as referees, the new teams of Shirts and Skins played hard and fast. White Shirts were Bruce Colbeth, Kevin Staples, Tom Riedell and Don Carlson. Dark Shirts were David LeMoine, Waring Typler. Dwight Colbeth and Jim Wheaton. At half-time, the score was 47 White Shirts and 39 Dark Shirts.
        Jim Wheaton proved to be fast and aggressive on the court and Dwight Colbeth made an incredible 54 points. (Colbeth had made between 40 and 60 points in each game of the series.) However the winning team was their opposition who consistently scored and came back for more. The final score was White Shirts 77, Dark Shirts 71. The crowd of relatives and friends had cheered everyone and all looked forward to the next series. March, 1991

News & Notes

        Some of us are already used to the ferry rates that rose from $8.75 to $10.75 in February for a round trip auto passage. Come summer, the $15.00 fare might not be so easy to take. I have long regarded ferry fares as a tax: a pleasure tax mostly. But I am not in the position to take pleasure from paying a goodly amount for coming and going from my home to the real world abroad. So I am learning to look at the rates from another perspective. I recently went to New York City...
        Speaking of rate increases, the Swan's Island Electric Coop has instituted rates that raise the monthly service charge for residential customers from $12.00 to $13.50 a month. Per kilowatt hour charges in July, August and September will be $.15272 and during the remaining months the rate will be $.14189. The new rates went into effect for electricity used on December 15, 1990. Manager Dave Honey noted in his newsletter that this was the first increase in five and one half years.
        The Island economy has been slow because the price of lobster in the fall and winter have been very low. Some lobstermen soil their catches for less than half o what they got last year and some fishermen are carrying thousand; of pounds in the hopes that things have got to get better. News that the economy in this country in general isn't good, is bad news for our little community. Will people continue to eat lobster when things look bad? In the meantime, bills have to be paid and people work when and when they can, waiting for spring.
        Swan's Islanders demonstrated for and against the war with Iraq. Concerned citizens showed up at a rally in Ellsworth carrying signs and flags. Both island groups supported the troops but one group protested against the war. After a march through downtown Ellsworth during which men who came out of a bar on Water Street harassed them. Swan's Islanders listened to speeches from both sides after which, everyone went home peacefully. The presence of yellow ribbons on island has not been as prevalent as off island, but a few coats and cars are still flying the yellow. Now that the war is over, the focus is on local issues once again. March, 1991

Swan's Island News

         The office of the Selectmen sent out a note in the electric bills this month asking for contributions to this year's fire works. They are looking for some $4,000 for a display planned for July 6th. Contributions may be made to the town of Swan's Island and sent In care of the selectmen.
        Summer resident Roger Edge Clapp died on February 29, 1991 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was the husband of Linda Cabot Black. Clapp worked on superconductivity. There was a farewell service for him on April 7 in Cambridge at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Donations in his memory may be made to The United Negro College Fund or to a Memorial Scholarship Fund in his name at the Hawken School in gates Mills, Ohio.
       Mary Brackin died on February 22, 1991 in Pennsylvania. Mary and her husband John Brackin. Jr. were long time summer residents of Swan's Island. Mary's family asked that donations be sent to the Swan's Island Library in her memory. Mary was well liked in the communities she lived In winter and summer, and she will be missed.
        Elliot Nichols passed away on March II in Kent, Connecticut. "Nick" and his wife Sally (who predeceased him) came to the island more than ten years ago and bought Austin Sprague's house on Stanley Point. Nick and Sally worked In the arts, wrote and published books. Nick's three children. Elspeth, Peter and Suzanne survive him. Nick requested that donations be made to the Swan's Island Library In his memory. These may be sent to the library at Ferry Road, Swan's Island. Maine 04685.
        Swan's Island eight Town Ducks were killed during the week of March 11 by some unknown determined beast, in Atlantic. Louie Town Duck was among the dead who had passed an uneventful winter on the Dziezyk homestead where they had been taken to spend the winter. Various people had taken care of them in the past and this last winter season. Clair Dziezyk gladly took them when the pond froze over last year. Clair was horrified to find a few ducks had been killed and that no matter what her family did to reinforce the duck house, nothing worked and they all were killed in a few days
        Clair made a trip off island to secure a new family of ducks for Malleye's Pond next to the old school and hoped her chickens would remain unmolested back in Atlantic. "I am just heartbroken," said Clair. "After taking care of them all winter and having only a few more weeks until they could go back to the pond, they get killed!" She hopes that the new family of ducks will ease the loss to islanders who love to take stale bread and other goodies to the Town Ducks at Malleye's Pond. April, 1991

        Roman Cheney Cook was born to Kathy and Millard Cook on June 5. He weighed seven pounds two ounces and had a full head of dark hair. Seven days after his birth he attended his first school graduation where his brother Robbie and his sister Shelly advanced to the next grade.
        The first class to graduate from the new Swan's Island School celebrated commencement on June 12. Five eighth graders, all girls, were the focus of the ceremonies. Receiving diplomas were Desiree Grubbs, who gave the Salutatory Address, Jaime Joyce, Class Prophecy, Jill Philbrook, Class Gifts, Serena Staples, Valedictory and Angela Turner. Class Will. Their keynote speaker was Janice Staples who taught them when she first came to Swan's Island nine years ago. Mrs. Staples spoke about the special qualities of each of the girls and told funny stories about them. Staples also made the audience sad and nostalgic with her heartfelt tribute to the girls and to the community of Swan's Island. Fifty-two students in all advanced in their studies and afterwards some celebrated with a food fight outdoors. That got them in trouble, but all was forgotten on Friday when the school repaired to Fine Sand Beach for a day of picnicking and games. School is out until September when the children will be hard a work again for another season of scholarship.
        Lester Staples died on April 21, 1991. Staples was born on Swan's Island on December 10, 1908 and lived his life In Atlantic. He was a lobsterman and had a great sense of humor. A favorite story about him goes that he noticed that off islanders had luggage boxes on their roofs that looked familiar to him. Soon Lester was seen around the island with a MacDonald's Styrofoam hamburger container taped to the roof of his car so that he could be something like the summer people. He is survived by his wife Ruby Staples and three daughters, Eva Wheaton of Mintum, Janet Gilley of Southwest Harbor and Betty Ward of Warren, Maine.
        A Science Club has been founded by fourth grader Carrie Joyce of Minturn who asked University of Pennsylvania Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Peter Petraitis to teach interested children this summer. Their first class took them on a nature walk to the Goose Pond. The group at present numbers six, but the potential for growth is unlimited, except by Dr. Petraitis's energy that is!
        The Swan's Island Library will produce the Virgil Geddes play, "I Have Seen Myself Before", on July 5th at the Odd Fellow's Hall. The Library will be raising funds for the renovation of the Old Atlantic School that was given to them by Minna Geddes who passed away last year. The play is being directed by Eugene Jellison who is a retired drama and English teacher at Santa Monica High School in California. The actors in the curious play by Geddes are Betty Carlson and Robert Horton as the main players the Blums, Monica Cease, lver W. Lofving, Lottie Belle Keene and Dwayne Kent make up the dinner party. There is also a chicken involved, but you will have to attend the July 5th eight o'clock performance or stay tuned for my review in the July issue of Islesboro Island News. Admission is $5.00. Refreshments will be offered for sale during intermission. June, 1991