That week on Star Island
To the editor:
The summer following my junior year in high school, I went to Star Island, in the Isles of Shoals, for a week-long workshop on teaching young children. The Unitarian Universalist Association owned the island, and the Houlton church sponsored me as a Sunday School teacher.
In Bangor the Unitarian minister and his wife welcomed me for overnight and took me to the island the next day. So many memories are still with me: the rough water, the rocks, the island breeze, the big cottage or lodge, my roommate from New Hampshire, and the dining room where a certain bad habit might be greeted with a chant, using the transgressor’s name with “strong and able, get your elbows off the table,”
When Portuguese fishermen landed down at the dock one day, one of them rinsed a pail of snails and offered us a taste, but no one accepted. That evening the fishermen joined us for a candlelight walk up a little hill to the chapel for a brief service. The feeling of the whole experience meant more than the words, which they did not understand.
Camaraderie came to the circle around the evening campfire with funny stories and joyful songs (no hymns), marred by only one, “Going Home,” based on the Largo of Dvorak’s Ninth Symphony. Homesickness hit me with a feeling of helplessness and longing, and just three notes would forever evoke a sadness — fleeting, but still …
My roommate and I were in the same morning class, where each student observed a particular young child, took notes, and wrote a report. Mine was written from the standpoint of my child, as if I were he, and our teacher, apparently surprised, shared my observations with our class.
That week on Star Island came back to me as I listened to a film review on NPR of “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” and excerpts from a documentary on the life of Roald Dahl, author of the book. A writer of novels and short stories, he became far better known for his 17 children’s books, including “James and the Giant Peach”, “Matilda” and the “Polar Express.”
Could I have written children’s books? Doubtful. One, maybe? Perhaps a story about Antic Ant, a leader in Antghanistan being rescued by creatures from far away. He says, “Go away. We really don’t want you here!”
Okay, maybe if I had started when I was 17, on an island …
Byrna Porter Weir
Rochester, N.Y.
Congressman Michaud’s standing strong
To the editor:
I am writing to commend U.S. Representative Michael Michaud (D – Maine) for standing strong in support of pre-born children by voting in favor of Congressman Bart Stupak’s pro-life amendment to the House health care bill. The Stupak amendment is designed to protect innocent lives by preventing the federal funding of abortion.
It is critical that the pending health care bill keep in place the longstanding federal policy that prevents most federal dollars from paying for elective abortions. That policy delivers what most Americans want — no tax dollars for abortions. The only way to accomplish this is to include Congressman Stupak’s language in the final version of the bill.
I would like to encourage you, Mr. Michaud, to stay committed to the Stupak amendment, by voting against any version of the health care bill that does not include it.
Nancy C. Nichols,
M.Ed., LCPC
Presque Isle Food pantry donations returned to sender
To the editor:
It has been brought to my attention Saturday that for some reason unknown to us the Oakfield Post Office has been returning monetary donations to the senders that were intended for the Nature’s Bounty Food Pantry.
The whole thing is unbelievable to us and very shocking. Mail has gone through address to me at 299 Thompson Settlement Road as well as mail for the food pantry. We are now giving this address out: Nature’s Bounty Food Pantry, P.O. Box 102, Smyrna Mills, ME 04780.
I am wondering how many others were returned? I can’t believe this happened. One of the returned envelopes had letters written on it in red saying we longer existed.
Debbie Gray
Oakfield
