Forests can help mitigate the impact of climate change on humans, by protecting against hotter, drier conditions in simple ways, like providing shade. Healthy forests will also continue to help provide clean drinking water by preventing the erosion of sediment into waterways. “We don’t know how climate change is going to impact everything,” Hohl says. “And we don’t know what the pace of that change is going to be. But we know it’s happening. By protecting these areas, we’re giving our forests a chance to exist in the future.”

Here are a few of our favorite MCHT forest preserves.

SOUTHERN MAINE
Woodward Point, Brunswick

This 87.5-acre preserve includes a 1.5-mile network of trails that lead across open fields and through forest to the water’s edge.

DOWNEAST
Bog Brook Cove, Cutler and Trescott

Bog Brook Cove has gravel and cobble beaches, spruce-fir forests, breathtaking views of the Bold Coast, and 5.5 miles of trails, including a universally accessible trail.

MIDCOAST
Witherle Woods, Castine

Witherle Woods offers pleasant views of Penobscot Bay, via more than 6.5 miles of trails that gradually wind through the changing forests of this coastal preserve.

MOUNT DESERT ISLAND
Babson Creek, Somesville

This 36-acre preserve features meadows and a salt marsh lined by a predominantly spruce-fir forest.

Download a free take-along forest guide chock-full of information about the plants and animals found in Maine’s coastal forests!

Propane burns hot, and can heat water and dry clothes in less time than electricity can. Additionally, the equipment that burns propane is highly efficient. “It produces much less greenhouse gas and particulates than other options, like oil, kerosene, and wood,” says Chad Caron, director of sales at Dead River Company. While propane’s efficiency can lead to cost savings, its sourcing allows for stable pricing. The majority of propane used in the United States comes from domestic oil and gas processing. These conditions allow Dead River Company to lock in residential customers at a set price per gallon for multiple years. The stability and cost savings are reasons that the number of northern New England homes using propane as a primary heat source has grown considerably over the last few years, Caron says. Incentives for builders outfitting new homes with propane appliances and industry rebates for homeowners making the switch have also helped drive industry growth.

Caron believes the potential for creating functional outdoor living spaces that can be enjoyed in multiple seasons is another compelling reason to consider propane. “It can heat your pool and hot tub, power your outdoor kitchen and firepit, and let you enjoy ambiance and warmth on your patio with heaters,” he says. Customers who prefer not to have large storage tanks visible alongside their homes can have them buried in the ground and topped with camouflaged covers. And because propane never degrades, it’ll be there when you need it, whether it be to warm your home, your food, or your outdoor gathering.

To find out if propane is a good match for your home, schedule a consultation.

“Dirt therapy,” as Mack calls it, is part of treatment that day patients ages six to 18 receive at the Bangor mental-health hospital, helping them combat anxiety, depression, mood dysregulation, issues stemming from bullying, and more. Acadia Hospital’s programming also includes adventure-based therapy in the form of a ropes course and outdoor games. “I love our clinical team,” Mack says. “But not much beats sunshine and fresh air.”

In addition to growing herbs and vegetables, Mack and his patients plant nectar and pollen sources to attract pollinators and have sensory gardens designed to stimulate the five senses and encourage mindfulness. “We have hens and chicks succulents because they’re rigid and prickly. We have golden stonecrop because it’s ground cover, and it’s very soft. We have lamb’s ear because it’s a nice fidget — and the bees love it,” Mack says. 

At the edge of the garden is a winding strip of painted rocks that staff and clinicians call the River of Hope, which patients ceremoniously cross when they are ready to leave the hospital. The ropes course is right next to the garden too — not by accident. “When a kid has an emotional high from the ropes course and they want a chance to healthfully bring their engine back down, they can step right into the garden and either work or just mindfully explore it,” Mack says. “Each balances the other out very nicely.”

In programs like Acadia Hospital’s, the goal is to increase patients’ competence and confidence, to help them become more engaged learners and better decision makers. “There is a time and place for worksheets and paperwork,” Mack says. “But I’ve found through my years of experience here that I get to talk to more patients about stuff that’s really important when they are lost in thought about a game or an obstacle or a plant.” Program participants are also encouraged to bring produce home. “Food insecurity is major in Maine,” Mack says. “It’s a passion project for a lot of us here to provide good, healthy options to our patients and their families.”

Mack’s goal is to extend the program’s growing season with the installation of a greenhouse. “It will go from a fair-weather garden to a 12-months-a-year group space and ‘dirt therapy’ center for all of our patients,” he says. “We’ve known since the 1600s how much nature helps the human spirit. It’s a lucky hospital that gets to prove it happens.”

For more about Northern Light Acadia Hospital’s day-treatment program here. 268 Stillwater Ave., Bangor. 207-973-6100.

In 1949, Robert H. Reny (better known to all as “R.H.”), opened his first store in Damariscotta, Maine. The first winter was so slow that in order to keep the store open, R.H. had to go door-to-door around the area selling merchandise out of his old Hudson. That winter he made so many friends that in the spring his new friends came in to shop at the store and the business has been growing ever since! His philosophy was simple – make great buys of quality merchandise and pass these incredible values along at the lowest possible price to our customers! This philosophy has driven our successful business for over 70 years!

Today, Renys Employs Over 500 Employees and Has 17 Store Locations In Maine!

Renys is a third generation, family owned and operated business in the State of Maine. R.H’s oldest son, John, joined the company in 1957 at the age of 5 and his middle son, Robert D. (better known as “Bob”) Reny joined the company in 1959 at the age of 7. John’s oldest daughter, Faustine joined the company in 2009 and Bob’s middle son, Adam came on board in 2013!

Our Purpose:

To make every visit an adventure by creating a welcoming atmosphere and an enjoyable experience so that all visitors wish to return time and time again.

Our Vision:

To provide the best customer experience with the best value for quality merchandise for our customers. To treat our employees and communities with respect and fairness. To treat our vendors well and to pay them promptly.

Our Mission:

To provide opportunity to live and work in Maine, while creating an exceptional shopping experience in our stores.

It’s Been Said, “If Renys Doesn‘t Have It, I Don’t Need It!”

You’ll find everything from Carhartt, Columbia, Timberland and Smartwool to Chippewa, Bob’s Red Mill, Lego and some many more brand names that you know and love… plus great deals on other name brand clothing, gifts, toys, gourmet food, as well as close-out and off-price merchandise for all your household needs.

It‘s Worth The Trip To Check Out What We Have On Any Given Day Because You Never Know What You’ll Find At Our Stores!

Our buyers travel to New York, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Chicago or wherever else the pursuit of getting great buys takes us in our quest to have the best possible merchandise at the lowest possible prices. It is our goal to buy better merchandise to sell at low prices, rather than to get inexpensive merchandise to sell at inexpensive prices. We want our customers to like it when they buy it and we want them to love it 6 months later!

Enter for a chance to win a $100 Renys gift card and the school supplies below!

By entering, you agree to Down East‘s general contest guidelines.

Keep up to date with the latest Renys happenings on Facebook and Instagram!

Back then, when Highland Green first opened, the Woods only had 46 or so neighbors, living on two roads that wound through a 635-acre campus. Twenty years later, the community is home to 338 people from 34 different states, including four of the original pioneers. The co-op includes a community center, a pool, and a tennis and pickleball court, along with a neighboring golf course and nature preserve. There are 225 free-standing homes, with more in the works. Independent-living apartment-style residences as well as assisted living and memory-care homes are also currently in development. “As our pioneer residents look toward their next steps, Highland Green looks to the future as well,” says developer John Wasileski. “We have a steadfast commitment to provide our residents not only with a safe place for various stages of life, but a community that provides them fulfilling days rich with life’s pleasures.”

The Woods are still globetrotting — their most recent trip brought them north of the Arctic Circle, where animal sightings included polar bears, reindeer, and humpback whales — but today, the couple has also grown to appreciate the sense of community they come home to. “Our girls didn’t grow up here in Maine,” Peter says. “So we didn’t have the sense of connection you get from raising your kids someplace. But this concept of a co-op seemed like an opportunity to be a part of a neighborhood.” The couple even helped establish a travel club to share their adventures with other travelers — and armchair travelers.

Peter and Ellen also appreciate the sidewalks and street lights — amenities not often found in wooded Maine communities — especially as dog owners who want to feel comfortable heading out for a walk, even on dark winter evenings. “The sidewalks and the lights allow you to meet people all the time,” Ellen says. “It’s been that way from the day we moved in, and it’s still one of the best things.”

One of the first couples they met was their neighbors across the street, Sally and Jim Von Benken, also among the pioneer residents, natives of Sudbury, Massachusetts, who have since become close friends. The Von Benkens had a condo in Portland and, one weekend in Maine, attended a production at Brunswick’s Maine State Music Theatre, where they saw an ad for Highland Green in the program. “We knew we wanted to live in Maine on a forever basis, but we couldn’t live in that condo forever,” Sally says. “It was a third-floor walk-up with no garage. So we said, let’s go look there. And we bought the property.”

Beyond being able to design a house that suited their needs, Sally and Jim were also attracted to the location. “It’s 30 minutes from the ocean and 30 minutes from the city, one in each direction,” Sally says. “That’s perfect for us. We can get to Portland, and we can get to Reid State Park. And we also loved the property because it’s on the river, and the trails were already being discussed. It was just perfect.”

Along with the Woods, the Von Benkens also found a community unlike what they had at their previous Maine property. “We are all of approximately the same age, perhaps with some similar backgrounds, and we were immediately all friends,” Sally says. “And it’s more than just playing bridge together. When somebody needs some help, we do it. We don’t even think about it.”

In an effort to give residents additional peace of mind, Highland Green is now launching independent-living apartments with conveniences like underground parking, elevators, one-story living spaces, and access to amenities ranging from dining and transportation, to housekeeping and nursing. While they hope the new build will draw immediate residents, they also see it as attractive to potential homeowners — and existing residents like the pioneers — who may like the idea of having a place to downsize, without leaving the premises. To the Woods, it makes sense.

“We’re 74 and 75, but that doesn’t mean that we won’t start looking to this next phase in our early 80s,” Ellen says. “I don’t want to stay in the house and regret that I’m housebound. If you move into independent living, there are activities, drivers, and food. You can be more social than if you remain in your house.”

“The innovative housing options within the Highland Green community provide a seamless way for our residents to continue to live their lives vibrantly while immersed in unequaled majesty . . . a truly ideal retirement choice, Wasileski says.

“Some people say, I’m going to die in this house,” Peter says. “I say, it’s easy to die in your house. Living in your house as you get older is a lot tougher. Socialization is a critical part of growing as we age. And moving to a place like the independent-living community makes it a lot easier for people as they get older to have that socialization. It’s a real plus.”

To learn more about available homes and new development at Highland Green, visit highlandgreenlifestyle.com. 7 Evergreen Circle, Topsham. 866-854-1200.

Today, Flavin and Fernald live together on Little Cranberry, part of a year-round population of 71 (“We just counted the other day,” Fernald says). Nearly all of their neighbors are somehow involved in the lobstering community, which spans generations, from licensed fishermen as young as 10 right on up to veteran haulers in their 80s. Flavin and Fernald love the work, demanding as it is. “You live your whole life around fishing,” Flavin says. “It dominates your schedule.” But it’s also seasonal and can be capricious, which is why each of them have projects in the works to help diversify their income, with a little help from Island Institute, a community development nonprofit based in Rockland.

Fernald, who’s 25, is still a sternwoman on her dad’s lobsterboat, but she’s also in the process of starting a small scallop farm. Last year, she secured two Island Institute grants to help get it off the ground: a Compass Workforce Grant, part of an Institute program geared towards young adults launching new careers, and a Business Resilience Grant. Fernald used the money to buy startup gear: spat bags to collect larvae, anchors, floatation buoys, and more. “There’s a lot of up-front costs involved with starting an aquaculture farm, and it takes a long time to get a return on your investment,” she says. “These grant programs, for me, are essential to being able to get this farm up and running.” 

Flavin, meanwhile, has moved on to another lobsterboat, but he also moonlights as a scuba diver, doing mooring maintenance and inspections, removing ropes from boat propellers, and working with aquaculture farmers. He too was awarded a Compass Workforce Grant, which he used to buy a dry suit for winter diving, and he’s since applied for a Business Resilience Grant, hoping to put the money towards a boat. “That would basically allow me to have a fully functioning business,” he says.

In the last decade, Island Institute has invested some $600,000 in small businesses just like these. Grants and loans from the Institute have allowed a Swan’s Island resident to increase her family’s income by growing seaweed, helped expand a coffee-roaster business on Monhegan, provided capital to launch a kelp-based skincare line out of York, and more. For Island Institute, currently celebrating its 40th anniversary, it’s just one part of a broader commitment to community development in Maine’s coastal towns and 15 unbridged-island communities. 

From its founding in 1983, the Institute has celebrated and helped to sustain Maine island life in a variety of ways. One of the Institute’s earliest efforts was to help strengthen island schools by offering student scholarships for off-island learning, hosting gatherings for island teachers to help combat isolation, and providing professional development opportunities. In 2000, the organization launched its Island Fellows Program, placing recent higher-education graduates in positions serving community needs, from digitizing historical archives to working on climate-action committees. The Island Institute’s 2005 study found that Maine’s working waterfront makes up only 20 miles of more than 5,000 miles of coastline — and that number is in decline. In the decades since, preserving the working waterfront has remained a top priority for the organization, as evidenced most recently by its support of Maine Legislature Bill LD 574, which will allow land trusts to conserve working waterfront — preventing, for example, its conversion to condos.

The Institute also supports the creative economy through Archipelago, a Rockland store dedicated to Maine-made goods. It led the charge to connect islands and coastal communities to high-speed internet, and it birthed the Maine Island Trail, which now operates as its own nonprofit. All of these initiatives connect back to the organization’s top priorities of addressing climate issues, building resilient economies, and fostering strong leadership. “Maine’s island and coastal communities are facing unprecedented changes,” says Island Institute president Kim Hamilton. “Our biggest challenge is ensuring we are using our resources to support communities at the point of highest leverage.”

Flavin and Fernald don’t plan to quit lobstering anytime soon, despite the challenges that a warming Gulf of Maine and evolving federal regulations on gear and closures may pose for the industry. “We definitely have concerns, but Sam and I both think it’s important to keep a positive attitude,” Fernald says. Flavin agrees. “Fishermen are able to work together, especially under stress, to come up with really good solutions,” he says. “We’ve got some big challenges, but I think we are uniquely positioned to be able to tackle them — it’s the nature of the way we work and the way we live.” 

The extra financial security from their new businesses, both say, helps make it possible to keep on fishing, both in the off-season (the Emma Marie hauls out in the winter, while Flavin’s new boat fishes just twice a week) and during stretches of low prices, meager landings, or other disruptions. “In fishing, there’s an ebb and flow,” Flavin says. “It’s good to hedge our bets a little bit.”

Fernald’s family has fished off Little Cranberry since long before the founding of the Island Institute, but the organization hopes to be a resource for generations to come for hers and other island families looking to maintain their way of life. “We will continue to use our resources, talent, and relationships to support the work of island and coastal communities,” Hamilton says. “Our vision is deeply connected to their own vision for a sustainable, vibrant future.”

To learn more and support Island Institute’s mission, visit islandinstitute.org

Courthouse Gallery Fine Art

6 Court Street
Ellsworth, ME 04605
207-667-6611

Step into Courthouse Gallery Fine Art in Ellsworth and discover an array of contemporary fine art and sculpture beautifully displayed in a historic setting. Owners Karin and Michael Wilkes founded the gallery in 2006 with a mission to present high-quality artworks through curated exhibitions. Their stable includes established artists, whose work can be found in major collections nationally, emerging artists, and selected estates.

In 2012, the Wilkeses began publishing fine-art books under the imprint Marshall Wilkes to celebrate and document the work of Maine-inspired artists. Through their concurring schedule of rotating solo and group exhibitions, art books, artist’s talks, special events, and guest speakers, the gallery has become a destination where artists, collectors, and friends can gather to continue the conversation about Maine’s role in American art.

Courthouse Gallery is located in Ellsworth’s historic courthouse and registry of deeds. These spacious, 1830s Greek Revival buildings, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, offer a unique place to view fine art. The Wilkeses beautifully renovated both buildings, restoring the original red-birch hardwood floors, plaster walls, and 14-foot-high tin ceilings to their former grandeur. A large-scale sculpture park occupies the sweeping lawn out front.

Down East Gallery

146 Boothbay Road
Edgecomb, ME 04556
207-318-3282

Down East Gallery celebrates the creative life in Maine. Set on a 35-acre farm, the gallery exhibits art in the setting of a home, with more than 250 paintings and sculptures in an antique farmhouse and post & beam barn. Visitors are encouraged to walk the gardens and vineyard, or simply enjoy the vista of the Italy-inspired hillside vineyard, with more than 400 vines from eight grape varietals.

Artist-owner Brad Betts has been painting for over 25 years and is a Signature Member of the American Society of Marine Artists. His paintings have appeared in solo and group shows throughout New England, including the Mystic Seaport Gallery’s acclaimed International Marine Art Exhibition for over 10 years. He received the Maritime Gallery Yachting Award and the Award of Excellence at these juried exhibitions. In addition to paintings, Brad curates an ever-changing selection of sculpture, marine folk and contemporary art by Maine’s finest artists.

Brad offers gallery and vineyard tours, sharing stories of the farm’s history, local springs, viticulture, wine making, and the gallery’s latest venture, coffee roasting.

Dunn Studios

Sandra Leinonen Dunn is a Maine artist represented by galleries throughout the state, as well as by the Cortile Gallery, in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Her works are part of collections throughout the U.S. and abroad. Her working studio is located in Chelsea, Maine, where she lives and teaches art.

Ms. Dunn paints the Maine landscape and seascape, and has recently worked on a series of Maine lobstermen. She is also well-known for her traditional still-life compositions. Her work is representational, capturing subject matter with lyrical brushwork and intuitively mixed colors. Depending on the subject matter and source of inspiration, her pieces can look “old masterly” or convey the spontaneous brushstrokes of an Impressionist painting.

Sandra Dunn’s paintings capture a moment in time; a moment that she hopes will bring the viewer a small bit of heartfelt joy. “The only constant in life is change,” and yet, in a painting, the moment can be captured and revisited. The brilliant yellow of a daffodil petal or the sunlight on the surface of an ultramarine horizon can be frozen in time to be enjoyed over and over again — like the treasured memory of a Maine vacation.

Sandra Leinonen Dunn is represented by the following galleries:

Gallery at Somes Sound

1112 Main Street
Mt. Desert, ME 04660
207-610-4622

Established in 2010, the Gallery at Somes Sound is a fine-art gallery located on Mount Desert Island, overlooking beautiful Somes Sound, in the historic village of Somesville. The gallery represents contemporary artists of national standing, showcasing their fine art and sculptured furniture.

Tucked away on the “quiet side” of the island, this is a real treat for art enthusiasts and collectors alike. Over the years, the gallery has carefully selected its stable of accomplished artists, offering their work in diverse subject, style, and medium and enjoys working with clients who require assistance in choosing acquisitions for their home or business. Please visit our website to learn more about the Gallery at Somes Sound.

Gleason Fine Art, Inc.

31 Townsend Avenue
Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538
207-633-6849

In 1985, husband-and-wife team Dennis and Martha Gleason opened their first art gallery in a Boothbay Harbor space that was little more than the size of two closets. In 2008, their son Andrew joined the family business.

After three moves, the Gleasons found their dream space — an elegant gray-and-white farmhouse with sculpture gardens fronting Townsend Avenue. Today, it feels as though the gallery has always been in Boothbay Harbor.

Gleason Fine Art consistently ranks as one of Maine’s top art destinations. The gallery has been the winner two years in a row, 2020 and 2021, of Down East magazine’s Readers’ Choice Best Art Gallery in Maine award.

The gallery’s roster of contemporary painters and sculptors numbers more than two dozen of Maine’s most highly regarded artists, including Henry Isaacs, Andrea Peters, and Kevin Beers. The inventory of 19th- and 20th-century painters includes such notables as James Fitzgerald, Andrew Winter, and Stephen Etnier. Gleason Fine Art also offers art appraisal services and collection consulting.

From its inception, the Gleasons’ goal has been to offer the finest work by established artists inspired by the beauty of Maine. Equally important is the gallery’s atmosphere, where friendliness and approachability are as highly valued as professionalism.

Littlefield Gallery

145 Main Street
P.O. Box 601
Winter Harbor, ME 04693
207-963-6005

When Kelly and Jane Littlefield built their gallery in Winter Harbor 15 years ago, they were choosing a lifestyle as well as a location: the Schoodic Peninsula section of Acadia National Park, one of the most beautiful places on the East Coast. While it may seem like “you can’t get there from here,” Littlefield Gallery has become a destination point for art lovers from all over the country. It has twice been selected as Down East magazine’s Readers’ Choice Award: Best Gallery in Maine.

Representing several of Maine’s most distinguished sculptors and painters, including Joseph Haroutunian, Caren-Marie Michel, Roy Germon, Amy Pollien, Sarah Faragher, and Alec Richardson, the works transcend all passions — from Mary Prince’s and James Groleau’s paper collage to Scott Baltz’s James Linehan’s stylized landscapes. Sculpture is an integral part of the gallery, surrounded outdoors and in by pieces created by sculptors including Mark Herrington, Hugh Lassen, Don Best, Peter Dransfield, John Stass, and Dan Miller.

The gallery is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., from May 26 to October 10, and by appointment.

Maine Art Hill

14 Western Avenue
Kennebunk, ME 04043
207-967-2803

Maine Art Hill is a unique art destination. We are a premier gallery celebrating over 30 years in business. We welcome you to park and explore all seven galleries in three adjacent buildings.

From oils, acrylics, pastels, watercolors, encaustics, and photography to blown glass, mixed media, and metal sculpture, including the Wind Sculptures by Lyman Whitaker, we have something for every art lover. We offer an array of shows and events throughout the seasons.

The Willard Gallery

Willard Square
South Portland, ME 04106
@thewillardgallery

The Willard Gallery is a by-appointment gallery located in a garden cottage in South Portland’s Willard Square. Making the most of its small footprint, The Willard Gallery can create a tailored viewing experience by inviting collectors to share what works or styles they’re interested in seeing and then preparing the space accordingly for their appointment. Works from several Maine and New England–based artists are on view alongside those sourced from all parts of the U.S. and the United Kingdom.

Make an appointment to visit the gallery (on your way to Scratch Baking Co. or Portland Head Light) or subscribe to the gallery newsletter to receive an invitation to the summer garden parties.

This year’s fest also has a glitzy new home in the just-opened Paul J. Schupf Art Center, which houses three state-of-the-art cinemas featuring 173 seats, a concession area with beer, wine, popcorn, and more, and the offices of MIFF’s organizers, the nonprofit Maine Film Center, which is a division of Waterville Creates. The new theaters, executive director Mike Perreault says, are more comfortable and more technologically equipped than at the organization’s former home, Railroad Square Cinema, with new laser projectors, improved surround sound, and brand-new theater seats. The Waterville Opera House, which hosts many of MIFF’s larger events, including award ceremonies and the annual Centerpiece Gala, is connected to Schupf Arts via the Bibby and Harold Alfond Sky Bridge. “It’s the kind of place where people will feel comfortable spending the entire day enjoying movies,” Perreault says. “Every festival has become such a momentous occasion— it’s really exciting that we’re going to be able to celebrate this one in our new location.” 

MIFF programming runs the gamut: in the course of a day, a film buff might catch a niche-y documentary, an under-the-radar foreign drama, a restored classic, a shoestring-budget short, or a buzzy indie packed with Hollywood talent. The programming team strives to pack the schedule with as many North American premieres as possible — “movies you wouldn’t be able to see anywhere else in the state,” Perreault says. MIFF’s awards include the juried Tourmaline Prize for Maine-made movies, introduced at last year’s MIFF, which featured 22 homegrown films. “MIFF’s Tourmaline Prizes celebrate the filmmakers who live and work in Maine, tell stories in and about our state, and encourage the future development of our most-promising talent with a cash award, a platform, and an opportunity to exhibit their film,” Perreault says.

The annual Achievement Award honoree is a much-anticipated announcement: notables who’ve turned up to accept in years past include Debra Winger, Glenn Close, Terrence Malick, Ed Harris (for whom the art center’s main box office is named), John Turturro, and Peter Fonda. This year’s recipient is Hungarian filmmaker Ildikó Enyedi, probably best known in the U.S. for On Body and Soul, which was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2018 Oscars and will be screened with the award presentation.

COVID threw the film festival circuit for a loop (MIFF’s 2020 screenings were held outside, at the Skowhegan Drive-In), but last year saw audiences returning in a big way, Perreault says, and with the big, beautiful new venue, he’s confident this year will continue that trend. “People are ready to come back to the movies,” he says. “It’s a different experience than streaming movies on the couch at home. MIFF is about building community. That’s what makes it essential.”

View this year’s screening schedule and purchase MIFF passes here. 

Why is it harder to insure island homes? 

Insurance companies weigh risks. On an island, if there’s a loss, it costs a lot more to rebuild than it would on the mainland. Also, not all islands have a fire department. And if they do have one that’s recognized as meeting the minimum requirements of the insurance industry, they don’t have any sort of mutual aid from neighboring fire departments, like they would on the mainland. Insurance companies rely on past claims data to calculate future rates, and for most insurers, there simply isn’t enough information on Maine island homes. 

So should island homeowners expect higher premiums?

Invariably. The average cost to settle a claim is going to be much higher than it would be on the mainland. Also, because there’s less competition in the marketplace for these policies, you can expect higher rates. 

What’s your role in educating insurance companies about island life? 

We try to identify insurers that see opportunities where other companies see problems. We’ve gone as far as to take representatives of insurance companies to visit some Maine islands so they can see the homes that are there and understand that, while on its surface, it can seem like a bad bet for an insurer to cover these homes, it’s really an opportunity. The nature of island communities is that there are multiple generations of people who know each other. We tell insurers that this is something that has good controls through a long history of neighbors helping neighbors. That can help avoid claims.

What advice do you give to homeowners to make them more attractive to insurance companies?

One thing you can consider is installing alarms in the home, including fire, burglar, and low-temperature alarms. These can be highly beneficial in terms of pricing and savings, and are required in many cases. Another thing is to make sure you have a plan for the winter. If the home won’t be occupied year-round, you need to drain the plumbing. That way, if the furnace were to fail or power were to go out, it’s not going to result in frozen plumbing and burst pipes. Finally, document everything you do to the home so that you have an understanding of how much insurance you would need to be made whole in the event of a loss.

34 Elm St., Camden, ME 04843. 800-439-4311.

MCHT is a nonprofit land-conservation organization protecting and caring for vital lands on the coast of Maine, including in the intertidal zone. Through the generosity of donors, MCHT has protected more than 179,000 acres and 335 islands, including more than 155 public preserves, since its founding in 1970.

Here are a few of our favorite MCHT tidepooling preserves!

BOG BROOK COVE, Cutler and Trescott

Bog Brook Cove features gravel and cobble beaches, breathtaking views of the Bold Coast, 5.5 miles of trails, including a universally accessible trail, and abundant wildlife viewing. Try the second beach to the south of the Moose Cove beach for your best chance at tidepooling.

There are two main parking areas. The south lot, in Cutler, has access to the Norse Pond Trail and Bog Brook Cove Beach. Use the north lot, in Trescott, to access the universally accessible trail, the beaches at Moose Cove, the Chimney Trail, and the Ridge Trail.

MALAGA ISLAND, Phippsburg

Malaga Island was once home to a mixed-race fishing community forcibly removed by the state in 1912. The island is now a public preserve and important Maine historic site. The rocky, rugged shoreline provides ample tidepooling, and visitors can enjoy learning more about the people who lived on the island before the state evicted them.

Malaga Island is located near the mouth of the New Meadows River in Phippsburg. The best landing area is on the white shell hash beach on the island’s north end. The nearest public boat launch is the Holbrook Street Landing, in Cundy’s Harbor.

WHALEBOAT ISLAND, Harpswell

The largest wild island in Casco Bay, Whaleboat’s scenic campsites, rocky shoreline, gravel beaches, and expansive meadow invite endless exploration. In addition to tidepooling, Whaleboat is great for camping, birding, and picnicking.

Whaleboat Island is located west of Harpswell Neck, in Casco Bay. The closest public boat ramp is the Mere Point launch, in Brunswick, just over 5 miles to the north-northeast. A private boat ramp at the Dolphin Marina, in Harpswell, is also available, roughly a mile to the southeast.

Download a free take-along tidepooling guide chock-full of information on where to go and what to look for when exploring tide pools in Maine!

The Sunbeam stops on six islands regularly, to provide not only health care, but also food and fellowship. Its crew includes Captain Mike Johnson and Engineer Storey King, who pilot and manage the boat; Steward Jillian, who serves meals; Douglas Cornman, Director of Island Services, who builds community and offers support through education and general outreach; and Babineaux, who provides routine health screenings aboard the vessel, facilitates telemedicine visits, and goes ashore to visit homebound islanders.

Last winter, the Mission began hosting a series of listening sessions these islands, as well as in Washington County, where the Mission’s down east campus is located. The questions were simple: what issues are you facing, what are your hopes, and how can the Mission continue to help during times of economic, environmental, and cultural change? “The overriding premise is that we want individuals and communities to have access to opportunities and resources, so they can have real agency in their own lives,” says Maine Seacoast Mission President John Zavodny. Beyond Babineaux’s work, the Mission operates a food pantry, serves free community meals, offers educational programming, and awards approximately 80 annual college scholarships. 

The role of the Sunbeam nurse has evolved over the years to mirror broader changes in health care. The position was first filled in 1920, after World War I, when the Red Cross began sending nurses to rural areas. In 2001, in response to a decline in on-island medical resources, the Mission launched the cutting-edge telehealth program on the Sunbeam, so residents could virtually attend doctor’s visits. When COVID allowed more flexibility for appointments and for people to connect from their own homes, the staff of the Sunbeam identified residents who might need a device or way to connect and provided iPads and hotspots. Through these changes and more, Maine Seacoast Mission, including the Sunbeam crew, as a caring, trusting, and reliable resource, has been a constant.