Summer 2017 Volume 22 No

Summer 2017 Volume 22 No. 2

A Magazine about Acadia National Park and Surrounding Communities

Friends of Acadia Journal Summer 2017 a Purchase Your Park Pass! Whether driving, walking, bicycling, or riding the Island Explorer through the park, we all must pay the entrance fee. Eighty percent of all fees paid in Acadia stay in Acadia, to be used for projects that directly benefit park visitors and resources.

The Acadia National Park $25 weekly pass and $50 annual pass are available at the following locations:

Open Seasonally: Bar Harbor Village Green Blackwoods, Seawall, and Schoodic Woods campgrounds Annual park passes are also available at certain Hulls Cove Visitor Center Acadia-area town offices and local businesses; Jordan Pond and Cadillac Mountain Gift Shops contact the park at 207-288-3338 to find Sand Beach Entrance Station additional pass sales locations. Thompson Island Information Center

Open Year-Round: Acadia National Park Headquarters (Eagle Lake Road)

Park passes are now available online. Visit www.yourpassnow.com President’s Message

Helping Acadia to Adapt and Endure

o many of us, Acadia and other na- year-round positions at Acadia. The Second tional parks serve as a reassuring Century Campaign has allowed all of these Tconstant in our lives that are other- efforts to advance despite the uncertainty of wise full of change. I often hear from park a new administration in Washington and employees that “being part of something the hurdles of the federal hiring freeze. permanent” is the most rewarding part of FOA itself must adapt as we grapple with their job. Likewise, donors to Friends of transitions within the organization. This Acadia are inspired in part by the knowl- Journal pays tribute to two dear friends edge that their contribution adds to a leg- no longer with us—David Rockefeller acy of lasting public benefit. Families re- and Aimee Beal Church—and includes turn here year after year and feel rooted in reflections from Ed Samek who is passing places or traditions that are handed down the leadership of the organization to his from generation to generation. Having my successor Anne Green following six stellar feet firmly planted on one of Acadia’s gran- years as our committed and hard-working ite summits never fails to ground me when board chairman. We are thrilled that Ed will my mind or emotions or email in-box are continue to serve as an FOA board member, over-loaded. FOA as his hard work, quest for excellence, and As our planet and our society face change his understanding and even enthusiasm for at an unprecedented pace, however, is the for our organization to step up like never change, embody the qualities that will allow permanence we have long admired in our before. In the following pages, you will find FOA and Acadia to continue to be leaders parks more important than ever, or is it an more stories about the stresses and changes and forces for good in our community and illusion? facing the park—some long-standing and our world. Friends of Acadia is working closely with some more recent and rapid. Aimee, David, and Ed have each had a our partners in the National Park Service on Global forces such as climate change, profound impact on this organization that a number of projects that support our belief population growth, and advancing began with their deep personal connections that preservation and protection of Acadia’s technology are affecting our parks well to Acadia, but that grew exponentially as resources remains the constant, critical beyond the control of park managers, they joined forces with others, exchanging core of our mission—but we also recognize prompting the NPS Director to issue a new ideas and gaining, and inspiring, new the need to consider new approaches and directive last fall, “Resource Stewardship in perspectives. Think of the history that adaptive management if we are to succeed the 21st Century,” that calls for adaptation, David Rockefeller shared with this park in achieving this mission today and in the partnership, and innovation to anticipate during the last century! And yet among future. multiple possible future scenarios and to his most amazing qualities was his curiosity Two articles that appeared in our Spring deal with “continuous change that we do and willingness to try new things, even at Journal earlier this year provided updates not fully understand.” age 101. on work under our Wild Acadia and In facing these challenges, Friends of All of us at Friends of Acadia draw Acadia Experience initiatives; I have been Acadia provides resources, ideas, and inspiration for our work from both the extremely gratified that these pieces have the ability to respond more quickly than honored past of our park as well as the generated more questions, feedback, and otherwise might be possible at a government future potential that is possible, given your discussion from our readers than any other agency like the Park Service. We have involvement and support. in my time here at FOA. Even more than the helped convene climate change scenario comments from our readers, your generous planning workshops, funded pilot projects response to our Second Century Campaign on Cadillac Mountain, undertaken visitor and our spring membership drive clearly use modeling at some of Acadia’s busiest indicate that our friends and neighbors are locations, advocated for new options to well-attuned to the profound challenges purchase park passes on-line, provided new —David R. MacDonald facing Acadia from our warming climate technology to help enhance park programs, and our growing visitation, and the need and added capacity through seasonal and

Friends of Acadia Journal Summer 2017 1 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Anne Green, Chair Bill Eacho, Treasurer Hank Schmelzer, Vice Chair Cookie Horner, Secretary Mark Amstutz Linda Jensen Summer 2017 Emily Beck Jan Karst Volume 22 No. 2 Brownie Carson Jack Kelley Gail Clark Story Litchfield Hannah Sistare Clark Meredith Moriarty Andrew Davis Lili Pew Dave Edson Jack Russell John Fassak Edward L. Samek Elsie Flemings Nonie Sullivan Jill Goldthwait Christiaan van Heerden C. Boyden Gray Bill Zoellick

HONORARY TRUSTEES Eleanor Ames Phoebe Milliken Robert and Anne Bass George J. and Heather Curtis and Patricia Blake Mitchell Sylvia Blake Joseph Murphy Frederic A. Bourke Jr. Janneke Neilson Tristram and Ruth Colket Nancy Nimick Gail Cook Jack Perkins Shelby and Gale Davis Nancy Pyne f e at u r e s Dianna Emory Nathaniel P. Reed Frances Fitzgerald Ann R. Roberts 8 Twenty Years of Stewardship on Acadia’s Summits and Ridges Sheldon Goldthwait David Rockefeller* A talented summer team adds to the care and understanding of Acadia Neva Goodwin Jeannine Ross By Marla O’Byrne Paul and Eileen Growald Howard Solomon Paul Haertel Erwin Soule Lee Judd Diana Davis Spencer 10 Place and Direction: A Short History of the Bates Cairns Debby Lash Julia Merck Utsch More than a pile of stones, these cairns are a distinctively Acadian way to guide and protect Linda Lewis Dick Wolf By Moira O’Neill Liz Martinez * Deceased 12 Rising Seas at Acadia: Implications and Strategies for a Changing Landscape EMERITUS TRUSTEES Scientists and conservationists respond to rising seas and erosion to protect vulnerable lands W. Kent Olson Charles R. Tyson Jr. By Catherine Schmitt

FRIENDS OF ACADIA STAFF 14 Fire and Fog Mary Boëchat Diana R. McDowell Contrasting influences that nurture what is unique in Acadia Development Officer Director of Finance & Administration By Tom Wessels Sharon Broom Development Officer Carol Potter Finance & Development Stephanie Clement Assistant p e r s p e c t i v e s Conservation Director Mike Staggs Lisa Horsch Clark 1 President’s Message Helping Acadia to Adapt and Endure Office Manager Director of Development & 3 Superintendent’s View Parkitecture in Acadia Donor Relations Paige Steele Conservation Projects 5 In Memory David Rockefeller: A Remembrance Sarah Curts Manager Accounting & 6 Special Person Nancy Howland: An Extraordinary Volunteer Administrative Associate Julia Walker Thomas Communications Associate 7 Trailblazer A Walk with Hank Chary Shawn Keeley Senior Development Officer 18 In Tribute Remembering Our Friend Aimee David R. MacDonald 30 Advocacy Corner Budget Far from Meeting Park Needs President & CEO 31 Chair’s Letter Reflections . . . 32 Why I’m a Friend of Acadia Acadia: Inspiration for Artists, Exhilaration for the People PRST STD U.S. POSTAGE d e pa rt m e n t s PAID LEWISTON, MAINE 4 Where in Acadia? PERMIT #82 21 Updates 28 Recommended Reading

2 Summer 2017 Friends of Acadia Journal Superintendent’s View

Parkitecture in Acadia

n its earliest days Acadia was shaped shoulders, or modify a bridge could cumu- by the sensitive, thoughtful design pri- latively destroy their historic character. We Iorities of George Dorr, Charles W. Eliot, also look at our own practices carefully, re- and John D. Rockefeller Jr., who led its es- viewing signs along the Park Loop Road, for tablishment. Acadia’s roads, carriage roads, example, in a struggle to tastefully provide and trails were all designed to lie lightly enough information for visitors while not on the land, to blend into the landscape, overwhelming the vistas. and to emphasize the use of natural, locally In addition to the park’s historic trails, sourced materials. The park’s early vision- carriage roads, and motor roads Acadia fea- aries wanted these roads and trails not just tures several iconic buildings beloved by to allow people to access the scenery but to visitors. This summer Friends of Acadia is inspire a sense of wonder and reverence by raising much needed funds for the park’s maximizing the natural environment’s im- historic buildings. Funds from the auction pact on visitors. Mr. Rockefeller hired re- will help repair the historic lighthouse on nowned landscape architect Fredrick Law Baker Island and fund interior and exterior NPS/Kristi Rugg Olmsted Jr. to design roads to emphasize renovations at the beautiful Jordan Pond the most striking views. Trails were not in- and Brown Mountain Gatehouses. The years tended to be the shortest distance between Today, Acadia’s transportation system, have taken a toll on these historic buildings two points but to meander, to visitors’ de- including the motor road system, carriage that are as much a part of Acadia as the glaci- light. Early designers wanted to ensure any roads, and our historic trails, are listed on ated valley, rocky coastline, and vast forests. structures blended with their surroundings the National Register of Historic Places as We are so appreciative of having a partner so that they would literally become part of nationally significant historic resources. The like FOA to help get this work done, which the landscape. National Park Service mission requires us to may not happen otherwise—thank you for There is a local story that JDR Jr., who was care for these resources, to leave them un- your support! personally involved in designing and laying impaired for future generations—providing This summer as you enjoy walking along out Acadia’s carriage roads, was out one day the same level of stewardship as Acadia’s a carriage road, summiting a mountaintop, inspecting the work of the stone masons lakes, forests, and vistas. When we reha- or having a picnic along Ocean Drive, I building the beautiful carriage road bridges. bilitate the carriage roads, for example, we hope you’ll take the time to see the park’s Despite using only simple hand tools the take great care to use materials similar to historic roads, carriage roads, and trails with stone masons had become quite skilled at those used originally. When stone bridges a renewed sense of appreciation. their work, and on this particular day Mr. are re-pointed, we use masonry materials Rockefeller found that the work was be- that would be appropriate to the era of their coming too perfect. He asked the masons original construction. Acadia’s trail crew re- to make sure that their cut lines remained a views historic photos to try and make sure bit rough to deliberately ensure the bridges trails fit their historic context. would reinforce a rustic appearance. We also avoid adding new developments —Kevin Schneider The work at Acadia, along with other con- —called “non-contributing features”—that temporary designs at other national parks detract from the look and character of his- —including iconic lodges like the Many toric structures. This is why many of Aca- Glacier, Old Faithful Inn, El Tovar, and Ah- dia’s roads don’t meet modern standards wahnee—is today known as “parkitecture.” for width, or include shoulders. It is why This rustic style of design is recognized as the curves on the roads, designed for slow an important and unique contribution to moving 1930s-era vehicles, include tight American architecture and landscape archi- turns and why some of the bridges have tecture, and is symbolic of America’s nation- relatively low height restrictions. To widen al parks. these roads, change their alignment, add

Friends of Acadia Journal Summer 2017 3 Where in Acadia?

Where in Acadia? Summer doesn’t get much better than when hiking historic trails in Acadia, especially as Summer 2017 they open out to expansive views. Oc- Volume 22 No. 2 casional large boulders along the trails A Magazine about Acadia National Park ground us in the near landscape and and Surrounding Communities add perspective to the distant views opening before us. This trail illustrates Friends of Acadia preserves, protects, and the artistry of Acadia’s pathmakers of promotes stewardship of the outstanding the last century and today. natural beauty, ecological vitality, and distinctive cultural resources of If you think you can identify the Acadia National Park and surrounding historic trail pictured here (and, if communities for the inspiration you wish, the mountain on which it and enjoyment of current and resides) email us at editor@friend- future generations. sofacadia.org and include a personal story or memory about your answer. The Journal is published three times a year. Submissions and letters are welcome. See We’ll print our favorite response in http://friendsofacadia.org/news-publications/ the next issue of the Journal and send friends-of-acadia-journal/submissions/ a Friends of Acadia cap to the writer. Opinions expressed are the authors’. FOA/Julia Walker-Thomas

EDITORS Spring 2017 Where in Acadia? Aimee Beal Church The ‘floating’ island … is Greenings Island. The moun- Marla O’Byrne tain on the left is Norumbega (Brown); the fog in the DESIGN foreground hides Somes Sound; the photograph is tak- Mahan Design en from St. Sauveur (Dog). PHOTOGRAPHER AT LARGE Since age 7, I have always had a strange ambiva- Tom Blagden lence to St. Sauveur. It bothered me that the name was changed from Dog to St. Sauveur. Why change a most PRINTING Penmor Lithographers appropriate name (the mountain looked like a sleep-

FOA/Aimee Beal Church ing dog from the Sargent Drive side—still does)? I later PUBLISHER learned that the name St. Sauveur came from the 1613 French Jesuit mission that was alleg- David R. MacDonald edly located on Fernald point at the mouth of the Sound. A second reason had to do with an old family tradition. My mother’s family (Scott) had a tradition that when a child turned 7, he or she would become the monarch of Flying Mountain. On each child’s seventh birthday (or as close to the birthday as possible), the new seven year old would climb Flying with his/her family and the current reigning Monarch of Flying Mountain. There would be a short ceremony at the summit at which power would be transferred. At age seven, I took my newly anointed royal powers seriously. I remember asking my mother if we could climb Dog so that I could look down and survey my Flying Moun- tain domain. We duly climbed Dog. I was utterly frustrated because when we reached the wooded summit, I could not see Flying. As I recall, as you climb from the old Robinson Mossy Slopes on Beech Mtn. Valley Trail in Acadia. Road Man O’ War parking lot you do not get a single view of Flying. I have always held that Cover photo by Tom Blagden against Dog/St. Sauveur. — Rick Wheeler, Bryn Mawr, PA and Mount Desert, ME

Editor’s Note (Aimee Beal Church): Interestingly, a number of people correctly identified Greening’s Island, but nobody identified the mountain from which the photo was taken This Journal is printed on paper made with 100% recycled fiber and 60% post-consumer waste, processed (cliffs of Beech Mountain). That fog sure does disguise a landscape! The mountain slope chlorine free, and manufactured in the USA with 100% rising to the left is St. Sauveur, site of Mr. Wheeler’s hike up to look over his new domain as Green-e certified renewable energy. Printed with soy- the Monarch of Flying Mtn. based ink.

4 Summer 2017 Friends of Acadia Journal In Memory

David Rockefeller—A Remembrance

or twenty-five years, I had the priv- His spirit is everywhere here at Acadia, ilege of working with David Rock- particularly on the carriage roads that his Fefeller on all manner of conserva- father constructed nearly a century ago, tion issues in my role as president here at and which David worked so tirelessly in Friends of Acadia and before that in my recent years through Friends of Acadia to time on the staff at Maine Coast Heritage restore and maintain for public enjoyment. Trust. He inspired many of us with his The great care and personal touch that he generosity and kindness, and Acadia has put into outreach to potential donors in not felt the same without him since his the community, as well as leadership with- passing at 101 this past March. in the National Park Service and the U.S. My fondest memories of David are of Congress, was absolutely essential to FOA’s outings together on the park’s trails and first major success with the carriage roads carriage roads or on his boat exploring the campaign in the early 1990s. Maine coast; but I got the sense that he was A quarter of a century later, he stepped always happiest to see me in New York, forward with the very first gift to FOA’s as if I brought into his Manhattan office a Second Century Campaign and graciously whiff of spruce and salt air or the possibil- agreed to serve as one of our Honorary ity of lunch at anchor in an island harbor. Campaign Co-Chairs, along with Senator He loved Maine dearly, and I was the fortu- George Mitchell. He was attending FOA nate beneficiary by association. meetings and gatherings as part of the We first met in the pouring rain in Seal park’s centennial celebration in 2016 right Harbor in 1991. He and his wife Peggy up until the last few months of his life. All hosted semi-annual garden parties (the in- of us at Friends of Acadia are grateful for vitation always read “come rain or shine”), David’s many contributions that have fun- and on that evening the two of them were damentally shaped this organization and sharing an umbrella and a cocktail in their this park. rubber boots and yellow slickers as they While there have been few figures who greeted their guests. Peggy introduced me loomed larger on the global stage of finance as the newest member of the land protec- and philanthropy over the past half-centu- FOA tion staff at MCHT, where she served on David Rockefeller in Seal Harbor. ry, I often got the feeling that David’s time the board, and David asked me if I would here in Maine helped keep everything in join him the next day for a walk to discuss always be an opportunity for people in the perspective for him. He genuinely made conservation options for his acreage in Seal village to stay, or for their children to settle others feel like we had plenty in common Harbor. here if they wish,” he said, leaning on his with him as we bonded in our appreciation A cold front blew through that night, walking stick and squinting out at the daz- of the beauty and traditions of the Maine and brought one of those Maine morn- zling horizon. “It’s really rather wonderful coast that were our shared inheritance. ings when everything was clear and bright, here, don’t you think?” That was the magic of this great man; and with the granite shore scrubbed clean by He was a conservationist, yes, but a prac- that continues to be the gift of Acadia. � the rain, every pointed fir in sharp focus, tical one. His first thoughts were often of and the waves on the sea sparkling like a friends and neighbors and employees who — David MacDonald thousand diamonds. As we climbed Day loved this island as much as he did. Along Mountain, David spoke about the choices with the thousands of acres and dozens of and responsibilities that came with owning wild islands that David and Peggy helped most of the land in the community. Peggy conserve over the years, he also leaves a was advocating for permanent protection legacy of countless thoughtful acts and per- A version of this piece appeared originally in from development for much of it, but Da- sonal favors large and small that he did for the April edition of Maine Magazine. vid was not so sure. “I hope that there will many of us here in Maine.

Friends of Acadia Journal Summer 2017 5 Special Person

Nancy Howland: An Extraordinary Volunteer

ancy Howland has a rare and wonderful quality in a volunteer: Nshe loves filing. A retired director of the Jesup Memorial Library, Nancy is very much at home with a stack of documents that need to be organized, alphabetized, and filed with care. In January 2013 she took on the responsibility of organizing and maintaining all of Friends of Acadia’s donor files. Since then, with the number of annual contributions to FOA increasing by 40 percent, her job has grown substantially. During the spring and fall fun- draising campaigns, she sometimes files as many as 75 gift documents a day. Nancy retired from the Jesup in 2009 after 20 years as executive director. She has become a model of a dedicated, tireless community volunteer who helps to keep multiple organizations running. Currently, there are nine nonprofits on Mount Desert Island where she volunteers on a regular basis. Nancy serves on boards and commit- tees, helps with events, and works in the Bar Harbor Food Pantry and its thrift shop, Serendipity. She comments that FOA is her favorite. “I appreciate and admire Friends of Acadia and all of the ways they assist Acadia Na- tional Park and the National Park Service,” she says. “I have a lot of respect for the people who work here.” Most important, Nancy says, she always FOA/Julia Walker-Thomas feels welcome and appreciated at FOA. Nancy Howland at Duck Brook Bridge. Nancy was born in New London, CT and grew up there. Her marriage to Coast Guard job and ultimately the post of executive di- Nancy’s daughter, Susan, lives in Port An- officer David Howland launched a lifetime rector. geles, WA, next door to Olympic National of frequent moves all over the country that Nancy is widely known as an avid walker, Park. Her son, Jonathan, lives on Cape Cod. later included their two children, Susan one who never drives a car if she can help Her family also includes four grandchildren and Jonathan. “We lived in 14 towns in it. Living on the West Street Extension, she and two great-grandchildren. Whenever 24 years,” Nancy says. In 1974 the family walks to all of the organizations where she they visit Nancy puts her volunteer sched- was transferred from Washington, D.C. to volunteers unless the weather is frigid or ule on hold, but any other time you will Maine, and never left. Nancy comments the sidewalks are icy. She stops by Han- find her hard at work, serving Friends of that wherever they lived, she volunteered in naford for groceries to carry in her back- Acadia and the other organizations who are school libraries. When she and Dave moved pack on her way home. Nancy says her fa- fortunate to have her on their team. � to Bar Harbor, she began working one day vorite places for leisurely walking are Duck a week at the Jesup Memorial Library—a Brook Road and the carriage road around — Sharon Broom cataloging position that led to a full-time Witch Hole.

6 Summer 2017 Friends of Acadia Journal Trailblazer

A Walk with Hank Chary By Shawn Keeley

ince FOA’s founding 31 years ago, As Hank and I wound our way up the membership has increased steadily carriage road toward the summit of Day Sas more and more people have real- Mountain, we discussed FOA’s partner- ized that joining FOA is a great way to give ship priorities including transportation, back to Acadia and help fund conservation natural resource management, youth en- projects in the park and surrounding com- gagement, and maintenance of trails and munities. While many members make an carriage roads. It was clear that all of these annual contribution, a growing number are needs resonate with Hank but above all choosing to enroll as Trailblazers or join the he values FOA’s role in protecting Aca- George B. Dorr Society. Trailblazers make dia’s ecosystems and our work to maintain automatic monthly donations via credit card and improve the trail and carriage road Chris Vullo or their checking account, which provides systems. To him, protecting ecosystems is Hank on the Precipice Trail. steady funding to FOA. George B. Dorr So- fundamental to the park’s mission and the ciety members make future provisions for trails and carriage roads are what allow us 5 Reasons to Become a Friends of Acadia through their estate plan- to experience these magnificent natural Trailblazer ning (naming FOA as a beneficiary in their areas. 1. Your membership is always current (no will or retirement plan, for example), help- When I asked Hank why he and his wife, renewals needed) and you can change ing to ensure future funding for FOA. I re- Judie, are Trailblazers, he said, “because it your gift or opt out of the program at cently had the chance to take a walk up Day is the easiest way for us to contribute to any time. Mountain with Hank Chary, who is both a FOA and we find that it allows us to give 2. It’s easy on your budget, so you can Trailblazer and a member of the George B. more. It is much easier to give a little each give at a higher level without feeling the Dorr Society. month than to write a large check once a pinch. Hank’s lifelong love of Acadia National year.” When asked why they are George 3. Your dollars go farther by helping FOA Park is a story that probably resonates B. Dorr Society members, Hank said, “It’s avoid mailing costs. with many FOA members. His parents one more way we can support FOA and 4. You help FOA conserve natural resourc- first brought him to MDI as a toddler back the park, and unlike being a Trailblazer es like trees for paper and fuel for deliv- when the fire of 1947 was a fresh scar on it’s not going to cost us anything. It might ering membership renewals. the landscape. His family fell in love with ‘cost’ our children something but they, like 5. Best of all, you have the satisfaction of Acadia and began returning each sum- us, love and care for Acadia.” knowing that you are helping to pre- mer—like migrating robins or humpback As we enjoyed the gradual descent serve and protect Acadia all year long! whales—and eventually put down roots down Day Mountain, my thoughts turned in a 1920s summer cottage in Hulls Cove. to early “friends” of Acadia like Mr. Eliot, For information about Trailblazer member- Hank’s first memories of the park are of Mr. Dorr, and Mr. Rockefeller and it oc- ship, please contact Sharon Broom at 207- riding in the sidecar of his father’s motor curred to me that Hank exemplifies the 288-3340 or [email protected]. scooter along Ocean Drive when it was a generous spirit on which Acadia was built two-way road, picnicking at Long Pond, and is sustained by today. As a Trailblazer, The George B. Dorr Society and swimming at Lakewood. As he got he supports FOA’s current needs and as a The George B. Dorr Society was established older, ranger-led naturalist walks became member of the George B. Dorr Society he in 2005 to recognize members and friends his informal B.S. in natural history. One is ensuring that FOA will have resources who have made provisions for Friends of summer he was on an outing to Great to help maintain and protect the park long Acadia in their estate plans, regardless of Head with a ranger who had become a into the future. A true friend of Acadia value. Such provisions may be made in good friend. The ranger was a biologist by now, and in the future. As stewards of this the form of bequests, trusts, annuities, life training and when he found out Hank was awe-inspiring, timeless, and magnificent insurance, or other means. Each year, the majoring in geology, he asked him to lead place, we couldn’t ask for anything more. George B. Dorr Society members gather for the geology portion of the hike; quite an Thank you, Hank! � a special appreciation event. For more in- honor for a college kid. formation about the society, please contact Lisa Horsch Clark at 207-288-3340. Friends of Acadia Journal Summer 2017 7 Twenty Years of Stewardship on Acadia’s Summits and Ridges

By Marla O’Byrne

ummits and anniversaries both inspire reflection on the long view. So Son this 20th anniversary of the Ridge Runner program, it seems a good time to look at the program over time, and where it’s heading. In 1997 then FOA President Ken Olson took a leaf from his Appalachian Mountain Club days and, with the generous support of a donor who recognized the pos- sibilities, created and endowed the Ridge Runner program. Four talented young people spent 10 weeks in Acadia hiking and meeting visitors, prepared with water, maps, and good advice on how to enjoy the park, gently. From that first year, FOA and the park recognized the potential of this team of ambassadors, particularly if guided well. Charlie Jacobi, Acadia’s resource and visi- FOA tor use specialist recalls, “When Ken asked Charlie Jacobi and Jeff Dobbs (center) on Cadillac South Ridge with the 2007 ridge runners (left to right): me what I would do with this team if FOA Alexa Pezzano, Sandra Klausmeyer, Elaine Lauriat, Catie Carter, and Melissa Gates. gave them to me, I figured they would be a natural fit to maintain cairns and teach agreed. “LNT seems so basic, but because “We had a picture of Bubble Rock from Leave No Trace (LNT) principles in the Acadia is so accessible a lot of people who the 50s with lichen growing on it. Today park.” And the Ridge Runner Program was visit don’t have much experience in the it’s just bare because of 60 years of hands off and running. outdoors.” Some hikers on the trails knew touching it. It’s a clearly visible impact.” Over the past 20 years more than 65 what to expect and were prepared. Others In addition to teaching LNT, a staple of ridge runners have traveled thousands of were not. the ridge runners’ work has been main- miles in Acadia to maintain hundreds of Alex remembers going out with Char- taining trail cairns. The first year or two cairns and miles of trails, helped thou- lie Jacobi, to build cairns and give Jacobi they removed misplaced conical cairns sands of visitors, picked up trash, and a chance to observe his interactions with and rebuilt others. Jacobi wanted the widely shared how we can all be conser- visitors. “After a few meetings he was ec- cairns to guide visitors well, but saw that vationists just by how we enjoy and move static,” said Alex. “Charlie said that simply the conical cairns were magnets for over- across the landscape. shooting the breeze and plugging in little building, rebuilding, and moving—all of Alex DeLucia, a ridge runner in 2000, nuggets of LNT is exactly what he want- which open up the landscape to erosion. thought this job would be a great oppor- ed.” Nothing more natural than talking In the early 2000s the park was wrapping tunity to hike all summer for work. “Yeah, about how to enjoy the park. up its work with the Olmsted Center, doc- it was great to hike every trail in the park Vassar Pierce, a ridge runner in 2006 umenting the history of the park’s trails. that summer,” he says, “but what caught and 2008, recalls showing kids and their One of the outcomes was a better under- me off guard was the diversity of people parents the impact humans can have on standing of the history of Bates cairns in I encountered, and the significant spec- their landscape, using Bubble Rock as an Acadia, and working with the park’s trail trum of experience among those visitors.” example. “Once a week or so I’d go up to crew Jacobi set the ridge runners to re- Cecily Swinburne, a 2009 ridge runner, South Bubble and teach LNT,” he said. building conical cairns into the distinc-

8 Summer 2017 Friends of Acadia Journal tive, light-on-the-ground Bates cairns that not only mark a spot on the trail, but provide guidance for the direction forward. (You can learn more about the history and purpose of Bates cairns in the following article, “Place and Direction: A Short His- tory of the Bates Cairn.”) When talking with several former ridge runners this summer it became clear that the benefits of the program accrue not only to the park and its visitors but to the ridge runners as well. Yes, they got to hike in Acadia. For work. But they also had a mentor in Charlie Jacobi who made LNT fun and purposeful, and who opened doors to so many more areas of expertise and knowledge at work in the park. Alexa Pezzano, a 2007 ridge runner, found her career working with national parks. Alexa remembers Charlie sched- uling time for them to work with park NPS/Charlie Jacobi professionals, “Charlie did a good job of Pat Mahoney and Catie Carter move brush on Little Moose Island at Schoodic. getting us out with interpreters and scientists,” said Pezzano. “We worked with Jill Weber, who taught us about alpine vegetation, and I appreciated every experience and educational opportunity Charlie provided. It’s why I’m still at the park.” Pat Mahoney, a 2006 ridge runner, saw how “the conservation/preservation mission of the National Park Service is in- fused into the way the staff operates.” He notes, “I always appreciated how people took conservation seriously, took the historic use of the park seriously, and took that into their daily work, which has in- formed my work.” The diverse experiences and educational opportunities create a talented crew moving through the park every summer. Each year the ridge runners help Jacobi collect data—through visitor counts or short, targeted interviews, for example— but it has not been a major part of their NPS/Charlie Jacobi Vassar Pierce talking about LNT on South Bubble. work. Four years ago, a summit stewards program was added. A team of four was different, and includes some traffic man- runners demonstrate that ethic—Cecily recruited and trained to collect more data, agement, perhaps a bit more interpreta- told me, “I still go back and clean up Bates and to provide a bit more management tion of the human and natural history on cairns when I see them built up. It gets on the summit of Cadillac Mtn. The ridge the summit.” ingrained in you.” If Jacobi’s vision is ful- runner and summit steward roles are simi- Recently the two teams were combined filled, stewardship will become ingrained lar. “A summit steward hiking up Cadillac under the one name, summit stewards. It’s in millions of people visiting Acadia. � is a ridge runner,” says Jacobi. They do a not so much a change in duty as a shift in bit of trail maintenance, and talk with visi- perspective. “They are all stewards,” says MARLA O’BYRNE is a former president tors about LNT. “When up on the summit Jacobi, “and we are trying to teach all visi- and CEO of Friends of Acadia. of Cadillac,” he says, “the role is somewhat tors to be stewards, too.” The former ridge

Friends of Acadia Journal Summer 2017 9 Place and Direction: A Short History of the Bates Cairn By Moira O’Neill

ome things you never forget. Like the Unlike more common conicalcairns that way the cold, wet fog advanced upon orient hikers to trails, Bates’ design also Sus from the Featherbed, stealing the orients to direction (the space between the sunny morning from Cadillac South Ridge. base stones and the top “pointer” stones We, a small band of fresh ridge runners, aligning with the path). welcomed the cooling effect as we toiled at When you see a Bates cairn looming out a first lesson in building Bates cairns. of the sea fog, you know you have found The black flies flew ahead of the breeze, the trail and you know where the trail drawn to someone’s homemade concoc- goes. The directional aspect minimizes tion meant to repel them. But we kept a the number of cairns required. The simple steady pace with Pete Colman, seasoned design of four stones minimizes erosion trail crew and on that day our professor caused by harvesting for use. Bates cairns of stone. are lower, less impactful on the view. Pete was small, nimble. The rocks were This is both an environmentally pleas- Goliath to his stature. Still, as he chatted ing and protective design. The preserva- amiably and directed gently, he lifted and tion of the Bates cairns themselves has coaxed dense granite into place with the been at times a battle, but that is starting effortless touch of an artist. to change. The Bass Harbor Lighthouse, the rolling When the trail system in Acadia Na- pink granite, the water spray at Thunder tional Park fell into disrepair for several Hole – these are the iconic images of Aca- decades, the cairns did too. Most remain- dia National Park. But the most uniquely Volunteer researchers collecting cairn data on Gor- ing Bates cairns probably morphed into ham Mountain: Moira O’Neill, PhD (l.) and Mary Acadian, and until recently the astound- Tedesco Schneck, PhD. conical cairns with well-meaning visitor ingly least marketed symbol of the park, is assistance. the Bates cairn. Visitors no doubt built others in an ef- Maybe it hasn’t been recognized for the was intent upon minimizing the appear- fort to guide hikers, and park trail crew symbol it is because you’ve really got to ance of impact. In its 20th Annual Report built and rebuilt some when they had the hike into the park and up the ridge trails of 1909, the Bar Harbor Village Improve- time. The Bates-style cairns became scarce. to find one. By rough estimate, only about ment Association (BHVIA) described his Because of constant tampering and lack one-third of all park visitors hike the trails work as “so carefully done as to leave no of staff, by the 1980s Trails Foreman Gary each year. The Bates cairns have marked sense of Nature’s having been rudely inter- Stellpflug had given up on all but the trails and directed hikers for longer than fered with.” worst problems with cairn maintenance. Acadia has existed. This unobtrusive approach is nowhere In the late 1990s, the first Friends of The unusual cairns were the brain- better reflected than in the pathbuilder’s Acadia ridge runners built and attempted child of Waldron Bates, a Harvard man unique cairn design. Simplicity is evident to maintain the conical cairns that had and Boston lawyer. His is not a legacy in his instructions for their construction sprouted over the past 30-40 years. But of law though. Rather it is one of gifted recorded in the 1906 BHVIA Annual Re- they too were soon frustrated by the num- landscape architect and engineer. Among port: ber of rocks required and frequent tam- Bar Harbor’s finest pathbuilders, Bates is Build the cairns as shown in the accom- pering. known for his work that may be some of panying pictures: two large stones with an Around the same time, the Olmsted the most spectacular for beauty and com- opening between in line with the direction Center for Landscape Preservation was plexity. Perhaps his true legacy is a least- of the path, across these one flat stone, and researching the history of Acadia’s trails. intrusive esthetic. on top of this one long stone in line with the The role of Bates cairns as an important A century before the advent of outdoor direction of the path. Use large stones and character-defining feature for the trail sys- ethics and Leave No Trace initiatives, Bates set them firmly in place. tem was rediscovered.

10 Summer 2017 Friends of Acadia Journal In 2001 Natural Resource Specialist Charlie Jacobi (ridge runner supervisor) and Stellpflug put the ridge runners to work reviving the Bates cairns as an ex- periment. The Bates cairns were easier to build and maintain. They required fewer rocks to build and thus minimized the impact on the natural environment. The effort restored a unique element of cultural au- thenticity to the landscape of Acadia’s hiking trails. “Building Bates cairns,” Jacobi notes, “creates an ideal opportunity to promote hiker safety while educating visitors about park history and preservation of park resources through Leave No Trace ethics, and specifically the importance of the Leave What You Find principle, for Bates cairns and more.” The history of the FOA ridge runners is intimately tied to that of the Bates cairns. In some ways the cairns are monuments to the ridge runners’ blood, sweat, and Moira O’Neill on Gorham Mountain Trail. sometimes even tears spent crafting granite into trail markers. Several of the Bates cairns are even named for ridge runners ingly, if a hiker receives information about One hundred years after their design (e.g. Larissa-Lee-Do-Dah). the meaning of the cairns and is given the by a lawyer from Boston, it is fitting that Cairns on the Gorham Mountain Trail skills to read them, then the hiker’s at- two Bates cairns appeared on the official were named to ease data collection and titude for respecting and preserving the Acadia National Park Centennial logo to keep researchers oriented as they recorded cairns will follow (as opposed to just tell- lead the park and its friends along the path the efficacy of varying messages on signs ing hikers, “don’t touch”). To that end, through the 21st Century, with the pointer introduced to stop tampering. All the test- FOA ridge runners routinely teach how to stone pointing the way to the future and ed messages worked to some extent, with read the structures. preservation of Acadia. none more effective than another. It is still To spread the message further, I devel- The Anatomy of a Bates Cairn T-shirt has a challenge to find the right message while oped a T-shirt, “Anatomy of a Bates Cairn,” been stored away in the Friends of Acadia minimizing the intrusion of signage. What that features a diagrammatic explanation time capsule, ensuring that 100 years from may help, we discovered, is to address the of the cairn’s purpose. The shirts are stra- now we will know how to build and read fact that many people do not know the tegically for sale in park-related shops for these cairns. Waldron Bates’ legacy leads full directional meaning of the Bates cairn, prime educational exposure. us forever onward. and to help them understand that adding Looking for a way to distribute T-shirts, The next time the fog rolls in on your to, moving, or removing stones from the I found Breaux Higgins of Town Hill. He hike, look for a Bates cairn. It will tell you cairns obliterates their message. developed an Eagle Scout project that that you are on a trail in Acadia National The summer I ran ridges I developed included designing life-sized faux Bates Park, going in the right direction. Then an educational program for children that cairns out of light portable material so he leave it as you found it for the next hiker.� taught the meaning of cairns through could take them on the road to teach folks hands-on construction of miniature ver- about their meaning and to promote their MOIRA O’NEILL lives in Surry, and was a sions, a great rainy day activity. Upon hear- proper use. ridge runner in the summer of 2013 (“best ing the explanation that a cairn’s message Breaux taught hundreds of people and job in the world”). Since then she has been refers both to place and direction, parents even managed to get them to sign a pledge a dedicated volunteer with Waldron’s War- invariably slapped themselves on the head not to tamper with Bates cairns. We now riors, a small band of year-round Bates saying, “I never realized that!” use his faux cairns to teach thousands of cairn caretakers, and a Centennial Partner. My program was based on learning the- park visitors and school children in the ory that takes a three-pronged approach: area. Data is inconclusive, but with so much knowledge, skills, and attitude. Accord- effort we hope the tampering will diminish.

Friends of Acadia Journal Summer 2017 11 Rising Seas at Acadia: Implications and Strategies for a Changing Landscape By Catherine Schmitt

Part I—Migration cadia’s salt marshes are drawing increased scrutiny from land con- Aservation organizations and park staff. While eastern Maine lacks the large, extensive marshes characteristic of southern Maine, small individual pockets and fring- es of marsh are more numerous here, and Acadia has the major tidal marsh systems of Northeast Creek and Bass Harbor. But the future of even these areas is in question. Marshes exist in the narrow space between low and high tides; they have developed over hundreds of years of slowly rising sea levels. With the rate of sea level rise accelerating, salt marshes could disappear within decades. Why care? Marshes are as productive as agricultural cropland, supporting the coastal food web of fish, shellfish, birds, and other animals. Marshes act like a filter, helping to

clean coastal waters. They absorb the energy C. Schmitt/Maine Sea Grant Northeast Creek. of storm surges and floods, protecting property. With their grasses shimmering silvery at topography, elevation, soil type. “Northeast we look at is existing salt marsh vegetation, green in the breeze and their buzz of life and Creek and Bass Harbor Marsh are two really plants and their seeds that are surviving and bird song, marshes offer sensory texture and significant estuaries,” said Mytar. “We’ve been doing well, and helping to trap soil to build delight to the human mind and soul. involved, in partnership with Acadia, in quite the marsh over time. Hopefully that process So people are trying to find ways to pre- a bit of conservation work in both marshes. will continue, even as sea levels rise,” said vent marsh loss. One option is to make sure At Bass Harbor Marsh, most of the current Gabrielson. they have room to “migrate” or spread inland and future marsh areas are conserved, and “We are keenly watching the shifts in salt as the high tide rises higher. Maine Coast so right now we’ve been focusing more on marshes—gathering data on how they are Heritage Trust, the National Park Service, the marsh and adjacent uplands at Northeast moving, forecasting plausible future sce- and other partners have identified where Creek and Jones Marsh, a smaller but impor- narios, and working with scientists and land protection can help provide for marsh tant marsh near the head of the island.” other stakeholders to discuss our goals and migration. Using mapping software and field recon- test management responses, such as helping Northeast Creek is mostly tidal freshwater naissance, they look for low, gradual slopes, plant species move upland,” said Rebecca marsh, but in the future it will be saltier. As and undeveloped buffers adjacent to existing Cole-Will, Acadia National Park chief of re- rising sea levels raise the tide, the salt marsh salt marsh. source management. “Most of our resource plants creep up into coastal forests and bogs Areas within only a couple of vertical managers were trained to prevent change as the seaward edge of the marsh sloughs off inches of the highest annual tide, where to the extent possible—managing change is into the water. Conservation specialists with cranberries and bog laurel now grows, they new for most of us, but necessary. We are Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Misha Mytar and expect vegetation to shift. taking a deliberate and thoughtful approach Jeremy Gabrielson, pay attention to areas “We don’t know what the rate of sea-lev- as we learn. that can accommodate this shift. They look el rise is going to be, but one of the things

12 Summer 2017 Friends of Acadia Journal Part II—Disappearance The glaciers that created Maine left behind a varied coastal landscape. Salt marsh filled in the low-lying areas adjacent to the sea. In other parts of the coast, ice scraped the bedrock to bare stone and cliff. Elsewhere, gla- cial meltwater deposited piles of gravel, sand, and clay that became beaches and soft bluffs. These features, exposed to waves and cur- rents, have been gradually eroding ever since. When a big storm comes, like a late winter nor’easter or a fall hurricane, surging waters can swallow whole sections of coast. Now, warming temperatures have acceler- ated the rate of sea-level rise, boosting storms to new levels of damage. Flooding reaches Joe Kelley farther inland. Storm waves grow taller, An eroding bluff on St. Croix Island. stronger, hungrier. Climate change is slow, until it isn’t. Storms have a way of turning the a case of gradual weathering that has been oc- nique to assess shell middens, complex coast- creeping into the catastrophic, the subtle be- curring for hundreds of years, now worsened al archaeological sites that document thou- comes obvious. by higher sea levels and stronger storms. sands of years of Native American history. For the most part, the National Park Ser- Listed as an international historic site, the “These sites contain evidence of ancestral Wa- vice does not intervene in these processes, only such designation in the National Park banaki occupation, use of marine resources, but there are exceptions. For example, at System, St. Croix represents the early attempt and changes in material culture that provide Thompson Island, which the ocean has been by France to colonize the region known as one line of evidence about their history,” said eroding for the last 20 years, the Park Ser- “Acadia” in 1604. Today, the island is man- Cole-Will. Most middens are at the very edge vice has moved some fire pits inland but aged as a cultural landscape, with significant of shore; many have already disappeared. otherwise allowed picnic sites and trees to historic resources related to the colony. De- By calibrating the process on excavated be washed away. “In this case, retreat seems tailed maps by French cartographer Samuel portions of middens, the Kelleys and gradu- to be the most reasonable alternative,” said de Champlain from 1604, and another by ate student Jacque Miller have been able to Cole-Will. Response is different where hu- Canadian historian William Francis Ganong ground-truth the depth, layers, and extent of man safety is threatened. After large storms, in the 1800s, show how the outline of the middens. Now they are using the method to roads like those on the Schoodic Peninsula island has changed over the centuries. The map out other sites, in the hopes of devel- need to be cleared of rocks and debris. The Park Service is conducting research and sur- oping a way to quickly assess areas without roads are preventing shifts in the cobble vey work to document erosion in order to as- having to do an expensive, time consuming coastline that would happen were they not sess the vulnerability of the island. In 2016, archaeological dig. The Park Service protects there. The Park Service is starting to think to begin a planning process for management, and manages coastal sites within its boundar- about the long-term future of these roads and they assembled a team of experts—natural ies, and consults closely with Wabanaki tribal other vulnerable coastal infrastructure. and cultural resource managers, interpreters, historic preservation officers. The Kelleys’ re- Culturally important sites are another ex- and consulting scientists, including Alice and search may contribute to understanding the ception. The southern end of St. Croix Island, Joseph Kelley from the Climate Change Insti- impacts of coastal erosion on archaeological a tall bluff made of soft sediment, is eroding, tute and School of Earth and Climate Scienc- sites. es at the University of Maine. They followed Temperature will continue to warm; sea up with a ground-penetrating radar survey, a levels will rise. Those charged with steward- non-invasive method that sends an electrical ship of public land and waters want to pre- signal down into the earth. The signal is reserve what they can of our shared human and flected back to varying degrees depending on natural history, so that not all is lost to the the subsurface material and structure. Irregu- sea. � larities could indicate the remains of floors or walls, soil disturbance, and other signs of CATHERINE SCHMITT is communica- human activity. They are still analyzing the tions director for Maine Sea Grant and au- data, assembling and interpreting hundreds thor of Historic Acadia National Park. of two-dimensional sample slices into a comprehensive picture. Portions of this story aired on WERU-FM Com- NPS St. Croix Island. The Kelleys are using the same radar tech- munity Radio earlier this year.

Friends of Acadia Journal Summer 2017 13 Fire and Fog By Tom Wessels

hen the Laurentide Ice Sheet made Wits farthest advance 18,000 years ago, it created a terminal moraine that is seen today as Long Island, Martha’s Vine- yard, and Nantucket. Stretching east from this terminal moraine is the Georges Bank, which, in spots, rises to just thirteen feet below sea level. Although Georges Bank lies well over a hundred miles south of Acadia, it has a major influence on the island. Be- cause the bank rises so high off the ocean floor, it acts as a barrier to the Gulf Stream and deflects it into the Atlantic well south of the Maine coast. This allows the cold Labrador Current to flow into the Gulf of Maine, creating ocean water temperatures that, even during the warmest time of year, only make it into the fifties. Along with this cold water come lots of nutrients, making the Gulf of Maine a very productive place for abundant sea life. This cold water also generates heavy ocean fogs.

Fog that forms when warm, moist air Wessels All photos by Tom flows over a cold surface, like the wa- Advection fog rising over the Beehive and Gorham Mountain. ters that surround Mount Desert Island, is called advection fog. On summer days, fly of my tent, but when I got up to go to takes about one thousand droplets of fog to when the wind comes from the southwest the bathhouse and stepped onto the road, I equal one raindrop, fog carries as much as and brings warm air masses from interior felt no rain at all—even though I could hear a thousand times more dissolved nutrients New England over the cold ocean water, it coming down all around me! I quickly than rain. Because granite weathers into the moisture in those air masses condenses realized that it wasn’t raining at all. The nutrient-deprived soils, Acadian fogs add to form fog banks, which, when they come trees in the campground, acting like huge greatly to the nutrients in the soil. This in- in contact with Mount Desert Island, can dehumidifiers, captured the fog as it slowly crease in moisture and nutrients from fog cover the entire island, rising right up over drifted through their needles, forming wa- is why the vegetation is so lush on Acadia’s summits like Sargent or Cadillac. ter droplets that fell like rain. Fog in Aca- granite domes when compared to others in Advection fog in Acadia plays a big role; dia can add many inches of precipitation North America, such as those found in Yo- it not only increases the amount of precipi- accumulation each year as it is captured in semite, which has very limited plant cover- tation through fog drip, but it also—and vegetation, as I witnessed with the trees in age. It is also the reason for the incredible this is possibly even more important—dra- Blackwoods, and then falls to the ground. array of lichens that grace both the granite matically increases the amount of nutrients It also boosts the amount of nutrients avail- bedrock as well as the trees that grow on available to plants. Fog drip is something I able to plants. Mount Desert Island. first became acquainted with while camp- Each raindrop and each droplet of fog I love foggy days in Acadia, when the li- ing in the Blackwoods Campground many forms by condensing on a particle of dust, chens are in their glory. Seeing pale-green, years ago. I woke one night to hear what I which can contain nutrients such as cal- old man’s beard lichen slowly swaying in thought was a gentle rain tapping on the cium, potassium, or phosphorus. Since it the breeze on spruce boughs along the

14 Summer 2017 Friends of Acadia Journal coast or bold, emerald-green, leafy lungwort growing on the trunks of maples or ash is inspiring. Lungwort is often used as an indicator of old-growth forests in the interior of New England. On Mount Desert Island, it is frequently found on red maples only fifty years of age—the reason, fog. Fog can also encourage plants to grow in sites where they usually would not be found. While hiking across a forested talus slope of granite on the Jordan Cliffs Trail, I was surprised to come upon a population of doll’s eye baneberry. This is a species that is an indicator of nutrient-enriched sites, and Acadian granite is certainly not that. Farther along, I encountered red-osier dog- wood, which is also an indicator of nutrient-enriched, moist soils. Here, rather than growing in a shrubby swamp, it was growing on a ledge of granite! Unusual plant oc- currences like these are not uncommon on Mount Desert Island. Wind is another factor that sculpts this Old man’s beard lichen. island, although not as dramatically as fire and fog. Ice-blasting winter winds their trunks, which makes them look like a nor’easter winds. At lower elevations, winds from high-pressure gales out of the north- waving flag on its pole. On the western side can cause blowdowns in the forest. Three west and nor’easters with winds out of the of Acadia’s ridges, spruce are often flagged; kinds of storms are responsible for this. northeast can exclude vegetation on the their limbs stretch to the southeast because Thunderstorm microbursts produce stand- northern slopes of Acadian summits, leav- ice-blasting, high-pressure winds have leveling winds that come out of the west. ing only black-on-black lichen and three- killed the branches on their northwestern Nor’easters will drop trees to the southwest, toothed cinquefoil tucked into crevices. sides. On the eastern-facing ridges, the and the infrequent hurricanes bring winds It also sculpts trees, causing them to be flagged limbs point to the southwest, be- that come from the east. It is difficult to flagged—having limbs on only one side of cause their trunks protect them from harsh separate blowdowns from nor’easters and ones from hurricanes—unless the winds are from the southeast, which indicates a hurricane. If you come across a number of downed trees all lying in the same direction with noticeable upturned roots, it is the result of a blow down. Just note the direction the wind came from to figure out the kind of storm that did the damage. A good place to see evidence of a nor’easter is along the lower section of the Cadillac Mountain South Ridge Trail. Start- ing on Route 3, the first mile of the trail gently rises through coniferous forest, which abruptly opens onto exposed granite. When you reach the exposed granite, you step across the southern boundary of the 1947 fire on Cadillac that removed a forest that would have been there during World War II. A look to your right just after you leave the forest but before you reach the upper end of the Eagles Crag Loop Lungwort lichen on an unusual substrate — granite. Trail will reveal a number of very old pitch

Friends of Acadia Journal Summer 2017 15 liage that is decay-resistant. those not occurring on twigs—under its Over time, as the leaves and bark that can sprout new branches below needles of these plants drop any damaged portions. In this way, it is the to the ground, they build up only species of pine that can stump-sprout deep layers of duff. Duff is a like a red oak. layer of litter that covers the Farther south in the pitch pine’s range— soil and whose components places like the Pine Barrens of New Jersey are identifiable. I have dug —this species has serotinous cones. Sero into a bed of duff about a means “late,” and serotinous cones do not foot deep and could still eas- open when they mature after two years to ily identify pitch pine nee- release their seeds. Instead, they can hold dles and lowbush blueberry viable seeds up to a quarter of a century, leaves. and they will only open when temperatures By producing deep beds of around the cone rise to above 120 degrees duff, these plants are creat- F. This times the seed release to when there ing a source of fuel that pro- is a fire, which exposes bare soil that they motes intense fires. In fact, in need to successfully establish. So fire not the northeastern states, the only removes their competitors; it prepares only sites where lightning can a perfect germination site as well! spark wildfires are in deep With a ground fire, the temperature beds of duff, where it will around the cones may reach 150 degrees F, start as a subsurface, smolder- allowing the cones to open in a few hours, ing ground fire that eventual- well after the fire has moved on. If the fire ly works its way to the surface becomes a crown fire, the temperature A flagged red spruce. to become a true wildfire. The around a cone may rise to a few hundred pine with large coarse bark plates that are whole purpose of this strategy is to promote degrees. In this case, the cones will open in alive today only because the fire stopped fires that extinguish other plants that are a matter of minutes, releasing the seeds into just a few feet from where they stand. In stronger competitors than these berry and the blaze. Luckily, the seeds can withstand fact, this section of the trail follows the pine species, thus allowing the fire-adapted high temperatures for short periods of time. 1947 fire boundary. On the left, about a plants to thrive. But how can plants thrive This allows the updrafts generated by the hundred meters beyond the upper end of when exposed to intense fire? fire to carry the seeds up and away to land the Eagles Crag Loop Trail, is a large pitch The lowbush blueberry and black huck- in an area where, hopefully, the fire has alpine that was toppled to the southwest. The leberry have rhizomes—roots that can ready burned itself out. Since the frequency nor’easter that dropped that tree occurred clone new, aboveground plants—that can of fire on Mount Desert Island spans many after the 1947 fire that affected the site; if survive very high temperatures. In terms centuries, serotinous cones are not helpful it had happened before the fire, the tree of the blueberry, its rhizomes can tolerate to pitch pine here, like they are in the Pine would have been consumed in the blaze. a temperature of one thousand degrees The 1947 fire—a story we will come F for up to twenty seconds. Hot fires will back to, since it had such an unexpected outright kill other plants and destroy the outcome—was the most recent large-scale above-ground portion of the blueberry blaze to affect Mount Desert Island, which and huckleberry, yet their root systems has a long history with fires that have re- will survive, allowing these shrubs to not peatedly denuded its summits. Although only sprout back but also increase the area Samuel de Champlain probably didn’t of their holdings by spreading rhizomes. know it in 1604 when he first viewed this This is one reason that blueberry barrens in island, fire was the reason for him naming Maine are burned every few years—to re- it l’Isle des Monts Déserts—the Isle of Bare duce plant competitors and allow the blue- Mountains. berry to expand its coverage. Granite weathers into coarse, dry, nutri- In terms of fire adaptations, pitch pine is ent-poor soil, which is the preferred grow- the most developed. Not only does it pro- ing environment for plants like lowbush duce rot-resistant needles that allows it to blueberry, black huckleberry, pitch pine, build a fuel load, it also has very thick bark and jack pine—all thrive in areas where to protect itself from the heat of a fire. If fire plays a major role. These four species its trunk happens to be harmed by a hot are highly adapted to fire and produce fo- fire, the pitch pine has adventitious buds— Serotinous cones on a jack pine.

16 Summer 2017 Friends of Acadia Journal Jack pine (left) and pitch pine (right).

Barrens, where the fire frequency is about the limb joins the trunk will be serotinous. TOM WESSELS is an emeritus professor every twenty years. Mount Desert Island’s To age the cone, just count how many sets of ecology and the founding director of the pitch pines have only regular cones that of branches there are from the limb tip to master’s degree program in conservation open after two years of development. where the cone is located. When serotinous biology at Antioch University New Eng- However, serotinous cones can be found cones on a jack pine reach a decade in age, land. He is the author of Reading the For- in Acadia on jack pine. Jack pine is the true they will be a light-gray color and are dis- ested Landscape: A Natural History of New master of serotiny, producing more of these tinctly curved, holding viable seeds waiting England, Forest Forensics: A Field Guide to cones in relation to its biomass than any for a blaze to release them. Reading the Forested Landscape, The Myth of other pine in the world. In fact, along with Acadia is the only place in North America Progress: Toward a Sustainable Future, and rot-resistant needles, serotinous cones are where these two fire-adapted pines coexist, The Granite Landscape: A Natural History of the jack pine’s sole adaptation to fire. Un- with pitch pine reaching the northeastern America’s Mountain Domes, from Acadia to like the pitch pine, adult trees do not try to limit of its range and jack pine coming close Yosemite. protect themselves from fire by developing to its very southern boundary. The South thick, insulating bark. Instead, they are the Ridge Trail of Cadillac passes through the phoenix of trees— they allow themselves to largest mixed stand of these two pines, burn up in a blaze of glory and then rise which starts a few hundred meters south of again from the ashes as seedlings. To lo- the Featherbed. As you walk through this cate serotinous cones on a jack pine, find community, realize that you are within a This article is excerpted from Granite, Fire, a limb that has cones on it and, starting at very rare plant community — this associa- and Fog: the Natural and Cultural History the tip, count back three or more sets of tion of pines only happens in a handful of of Acadia, ch. 4. It is reprinted with the per- lateral branches. Any cones you find that spots in North America, and all of them are mission of the author, Tom Wessels, and the are closed from this point back to where in Acadia.� publisher, University Press of New England.

Friends of Acadia Journal Summer 2017 17 In Tribute

Remembering Our Friend Aimee By Julia Walker Thomas FOA/Julia Walker-Thomas Aimee, Jim, and Maia walking the path around the field behind their home in Blue Hill.

ur friend, colleague, mentor, and role- ementary School, which she attended. She grants and advertising campaigns. Omodel Aimee Beal Church passed spent much of her formative years playing Many of the photos that appear on our away peacefully on June 15, 2017 after a and exploring on MDI, before her studies, website and in our print materials were long and courageous journey with cancer. Peace Corps work, and early career in writ- taken by Aimee, who had a keen sense for Aimee was the communications director at ing and publishing took her to Pittsburgh, composition and light. Mornings before Friends of Acadia for over seven years and West Africa, and Farmington, Maine. work she could be found taking photos of elevated every aspect of our work, from In 2010, Aimee joined the staff of Friends something that caught her eye during her the Journal to the website, social media to of Acadia. As communications director, drive in from Blue Hill. Aimee especially the two centennial books she helped edit she created, designed, edited, took photo- loved to photograph Northeast Creek and and publish last year. She was beloved by graphs, and wrote essays for the Friends its dramatic changes throughout the sea- everyone within FOA and beyond for her of Acadia Journal and managed media re- sons. She was in the park on weekends, warmth, grace, talent, and eternal opti- lations and the website. Most recently she exploring hiking trails, cross-country ski- mism. edited Ron Epp’s book, Creating Acadia Na- ing, skating, and observing nature with her Having grown up in the Acadia region, tional Park, and played an integral role in daughter, Maia, husband, Jim, and other Aimee was truly connected to this place. the planning and development of the Aca- close friends and family—all the while with She spent her early years on her family’s dia National Park Centennial Celebration: camera in hand. farm in Blue Hill and at their Bar Harbor building and running the centennial web- If anyone embodied the spirit of Friends home next to the Connors-Emerson El- site, mentoring two interns, and managing of Acadia, it was Aimee. Her voice lent itself 1818 Summer 2017 Friends of Acadia Journal “Buildings, too, are children of Earth and Sun.” -Frank Lloyd Wright FOA/Julia Walker-Thomas Aimee on an aerial photography flight over Aca- dia, during which she took the iconic photo of Sand Beach, Great Head, and the Beehive that became the “image” of the Acadia Centennial. beautifully to our publications and online presence, and her breadth of knowledge of our area’s history both natural and human was remarkable. Any time that one of us on the FOA staff had trouble identifying a plant or animal, or figuring out the location of a photo from the park, Aimee was our ©2016 Julia Walker Thomas go-to. She knew and loved this place as if it were a part of her. Canon, a leading provider We often find ourselves asking, “What of consumer, business-to- would Aimee do?” when wondering how business and industrial to respond to a difficult question. Aimee digital imaging solutions, had extraordinary skills as a communica- www.nelsongoodwin.com is committed to giving tor. Those of us lucky enough to be within back to the communities earshot would often sit in wonder while lis- in which we live and work. tening to her handle differences of opinion Custom Homes Whether it’s supporting with respect, calmness, and strength. Cabinetry youth initiatives or helping For us, Aimee was more than just a tal- to sustain the environment, ented professional and important asset to renovations Canon is dedicated to creating FOA; she was a warm smile at the start of additions programs and products the day, a dry sense of humor with quick that aim to make a positive wit, calm amidst the chaos, and a beauti- difference for our planet. ful soprano that smoothed out our otherwise rocky renditions of “Happy Birthday Learn more at to You” at lunchtime birthday celebrations. usa.canon.com/environment Aimee balanced her health, family, and work with incredible grace despite difficult and frustrating circumstances. The inten- tionality in which she chose to live her life building ContraCtor was admirable and inspiring. Her many 207 276.5238 | Seal Harbor, Maine contributions to FOA, Acadia National ©2017 Canon U.S.A., Inc. All rights reserved. Park, our communities, and ourselves will Established 1986 Canon is a registered trademark of Canon Inc. always remain. We will miss her. � Friends of Acadia Journal Summer 2017 191919 Discover New Members

We are pleased to welcome our newest Henry R. Abel and Co. Linda Rose friends: Ellen Hernandez Caroline and Daniel Rose Kristin Herrick Mark Saleski Karen Acerno Cheryl Hinkson and Michael James Sandham Alice and John Ackerman Emery Nicole Sandretto Donald Ahern Stanley Jasinski Anne Schulberg Frank Amato Kahkonen Family Jay Segal Ambrosia Cooking School Carol Kahl Shard Coastal Lifestyle Shop Betsey Anderson Susan Klawans Richard Smith Karin and Richard Anderson Bert Knight Kenneth Smith Heather Archibald Sharon and Michelle Kong David Smith Megan Bailey Diane Kopta Dana and Gus Spaulding The Jackson Laboratory Ellen Banister Nadeau Karen and John Leh Mary and Willilam Spencer Amy Bechelli Liberty Mutual Give With Liberty Kim Spencer Visit our campus this summer Frederick Biebesheimer Campaign Liam Sullivan Lisa and Michael Bollacke Marie and Peter Lishnak William Sweet Robert Burns Jenifer Lloyd The Banaitis Family Barbara Buss Maine Sports Commisson Lisa Thornton James Buttitta Jagadish Manvi Adam Till Linda Caesar Erin Mayo Tuckerman Foundation Pamela and Brian Caine Jessica and Steven McGillicuddy Joan Valles Joseph Calhoun Elizabeth Mcgonagle Judy and Fritz Van der Grift Pamela Campbell Aaron Miles Cynthia Varney Susan and William Carmalt Jamie Milobar Carol and Stan Vincent Monique Casteel Jennifer Mines Beverly Volicer David Cheney Monarch School of New England Virginia Volk Janet Colson Dianna Moran Kevin Wall The Jackson Laboratory Michele Colvard Timothy Moritz Gerri Waloga (JAX), a nonprofit biomedical Community Foundation - S.L. Kathleen Morlock Daniel Walz Gimbel Foundation Fund Sandra Morris Michelle Wilson research institute, is proud Carol and Bobby Cummins Linda and Robert Morrison Hillarie Windish to call Bar Harbor home. Charlotte Cushman Philip Morse Georgina Winthrop Take a tour of the Laboratory Cutting Loose Erin Moskun John Wood Valeska Danielak Mount Desert Island Regional Worthy Goods this summer and learn Margaret Dawson School System AOS #91 Debra Wright first-hand how our scientists Damian DeFalco Seanan Murphy are leading the search Karen Delaney Paul Murphy NEW BUSINESS MEMBERS Jeremy Dougherty Lisa Nakamura Analemma Press to discover the causes, Dover Foundation Peter Nakamura Anne Woodman - The Shop treatments and cures for Gail Duval Laurie and Mark Nale ART on West Gallery National Garden Clubs some of humankind’s most Stephanie Ewen Atlantic Resource Company Sharyn Fleming Diane Neal Bar Harbor Jam Company devastating genetic diseases. Rebecca Flesh New England Nauticals The Birches B&B Elizabeth Fletcher Steve Nickerson Cellar Bistro Deborah Fortier Eric Olson Durum Tempus Hardwood Clocks One hour tours are held Larry Gelberg Eileen and Timothy Paskert Hemporium weekly on Wednesdays Raymond George Claire Paulson and Daniel Islesford Artists Gallery at 9AM from June through Richard Gibbs Thompson The Language Exchange Barbara Glasgow Taylor Pennels Leslie Mark Designs September. Reserve a Roy Goldberg Mary Ann Perlman Maine Garden Products spot in a tour today at Nina Goldman Lynda Petropulos Massage Bar Harbor www.jax.org/tours Irene Goldman Piccadilly Pendants Monteux Gallery Susan Graham and Jon Eagleson Karen Pitts Sewing by the Sea Adam Green Meg Porter Whole Foods Market Subscribe to our George Grohs Diane Poulin Holly Hanisian Joanne Powers March 1–May 31, 2017 free e-publications: Georgia Hansbury Loretta Rankin www.jax.org/subscribe

www.jax.org 600 Main Street •.Bar Harbor, ME 04609 FOA/AYTT

2020 Summer 2017 Friends of Acadia Journal Updates

Volunteers Hit the Roads On April 29, crew leaders led more than 325 volunteers to collect over 815 bags of trash on MDI and 150 bags of trash along Trenton and Ellsworth roads. The Maine DOT estimated that volunteers collected a total 4 tons of trash. Cleanup teams included groups from the Acadia Fire Football Club, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, Bar Harbor Congregational Church, Bar Harbor Rotary Club, Bar Harbor Savings and Loan, Cadil- lac Mountain Sports, Climate to Thrive, Cub & Girl Scouts, Home Depot, Jackson Labo- ratory, Knowles Company, MDI National

Honor Society, Trenton Community Group, FOA/Julia Walker-Thomas True Nature Zen Sangha, U.S. Coast Guard, Girl Scout Troop #760 cleaning up along Route 3 in Otter Creek as part of the Earth Day Roadside Cleanup. and many more individuals and families. In health of the Great Meadow. vide a second transmission line and reliable Southwest Harbor, 14 bags of trash were re- The students’ work was stellar and a great electricity to downtown Bar Harbor. They moved from a wetland with nesting geese. example of a Wild Acadia partnership. Their also constructed a new power substation de- reports have provided preliminary design signed to look like a traditional carriage barn UMaine in Acadia recommendations and cost estimates that on Prospect Lane. Last fall Wild Acadia Coordinator Brian will help the park and Friends of Acadia pre- Over the next two years contractors for Henkel pitched several problems to stu- pare on-the-ground solutions to some of the MDOT will reconstruct approximately 4.8 dents at the University of Maine’s Civil and park’s pressing natural resource issues. One miles of Route 3, from Ireson Hill to the Environmental Engineering Department. He can’t ask more from a partnership program. new stoplight installed at the intersection of must have been particularly engaging that Route 3 with Eagle Lake Road in Bar Har- day because five groups of seniors selected Route 3 Reconstruction Begins bor. This summer the contractors are focus- projects in Acadia as the focus of their re- This spring the Maine Department of Trans- ing on the northern end of the project, and search for their capstone engineering course. portation (MDOT), Emera Maine, and con- outbound traffic from Bar Harbor is being Three of the groups looked at the Abbe tractors began work on a multi-year project re-routed onto the Crooked Road. For 2018, Dam at the mouth of Duck Brook. One ana- to improve Route 3, one of the major routes as the contractors move closer to downtown lyzed dam removal—how to do it and the to Acadia National Park. Over the last year, Bar Harbor outbound traffic will be re-rout- implications for fish passage and streamflow Emera has been replacing utility poles along ed via the Park Loop Road to Hulls Cove. afterwards. Another group made recom- the road as part of their initiative to pro- The Island Explorer campground route mendations for replacing the culvert under Route 3, and a third group examined par- tial dam removal and/or options for restor- ing fish passage through fish ladders, rock ramps, or alternate stream channels. Two additional groups took on projects in the Cromwell Brook watershed. One studied ways to reduce flooding at Sieur de Monts and to restore a wetland at the location of the former septic mound, all within the context of preserving the historic and cultural integrity of Sieur de Monts. The second group examined the culvert under the Park Loop Road that drains the Great Meadow. The group had to balance sizing the culvert MDOT to prepare for more intense rainfall events, Conceptual illustration of new sidewalk and shoulders on Rte. 3 in Hulls Cove. while also retaining water necessary for the Friends of Acadia Journal Summer 2017 212121 has been split into two routes to facilitate Landscape d esign quicker passage through and beyond the s t o n e w a l l s & t e r r a c e s construction zone. l i g h t i n g , s p a s & p o o l s Prior to initiating the project MDOT s h o r e l i n e r e s t o r a t i o n worked with a citizens’ advisory committee p l a n t i n g D e s i g n comprised of residents, tourism providers, the park, Friends of Acadia, and others. The group recommended that MDOT redesign the road with 11-foot travel lanes and 4- or 5-foot paved shoulders for bicyclists. A between hill and dale multi-use path for pedestrians and cyclists will also be added from the major hotels on The natural beauty at our doorstep is one of the reasons we choose to Route 3 to West Street. While visitors and call Maine home. At Bar Harbor residents will be inconvenienced for several Bank & Trust we’re committed to years, the road improvements should make supporting the people who make up the communities we serve, the corridor safer and more enjoyable over no matter what path they travel. the long term.

Outdoor Classrooms Downeast && MMiDiD--coast MMaine This spring FOA accepted the first appli- tel:: 207 664 0091 cations for funding to connect classrooms www..burDickassociates..coM www.bhbt.com • 888-853-7100 to the outdoors from Trenton Elementary School and Piscataquis Community El- ementary and Secondary School in Guil- Bank locally, ford, Maine. At Trenton, teachers partnered bank responsibly. with Healthy Acadia to design their outdoor As a local bank, we re-invest deposits space. The school had already made many right back into the community. connections throughout the grade levels to Acadia and to outdoor education, but need- Proudly serving Mount Desert Island since 1883 ed funding to assemble the connections in www.bhsla.com the best way. The biggest hurdle was fund- 103 Main Street, Bar Harbor Luncheon ~ Afternoon Tea ~ Dinner 207-288-3685 ing “big ticket” items such as a heater, gar- Member FDIC Reservations 207-276-3344 www.asticou.com den bed expansion, and materials for the outdoor classroom. Trenton applied for the outdoor classroom grant so their kids can benefit from growing up in a community that not only fosters education of the mind but of the whole body. “Something happens when students are working in the gardens. We are proud to support Talk flows more easily. Engagement shoots Friends of Acadia up (pun intended) and students shine,” said Fresh Maine lobster and seafood on the pier, or shipped to your home year round. Cynthia Lambert, middle school science/ Boaters welcome! Tie up and refuel while you eat. math teacher. At Piscataquis, teachers part- 182 Clark Point Rd, Southwest Harbor Open 11:00am - 9:00pm | bealslobster.com nered with the Appalachian Mountain Club and enlisted the Moosehead Trails volunteer group to create an accessible outdoor classroom and trail connecting the two school campuses. To assist them with the project, the school received $5,000 from FOA’s Out- door Classroom Grant and a Recreational Trails Grant from the State, which they successfully matched by raising an additional $6,000. By connecting the campuses, grades K-12 are able to use the space to learn about coplonassociates.com science, math, art, English, and more. Lead 207.288.4122 | Bar Harbor, Maine

22 Summer 2017 Friends of Acadia Journal FOA Programs Providing Models for National and International Programs Last year’s Acadia Centennial Quest saw more than 270 teams participate on the ground, and more than 20,000 participate through the Chimani Acadia National Park app. Many teams commented on how much they enjoyed the centennial edition of Aca- dia Quest, which took them to new locations, brought Acadia’s history alive, and en- hanced their visit through digital maps and park information. The digital version has received international attention as a model for digital interpretation in nature and other national parks, like Glacier, are looking into creating their own digital quest. Internation- ally, the digital Acadia Quest was presented FOA/Julia Walker-Thomas FOA staff and volunteers worked with Trenton students on their new Outdoor Classroom trails on NTD. by webinar to the national park managers and Environmental Protection Agency of project teacher Grace McGeehan says, “Our are also making our plan come true,” said Sweden in February. The digital program greatest hope for this project is that students the students. also won Honorable Mention for Innova- will receive a concrete, hands-on approach National Trails Day of course is not the tive Product of the Year at the Public Lands to their learning while connecting on a range only time you can volunteer. Check out vol- Alliance annual awards ceremony this win- of study topics engaged through the envi- unteer opportunities with FOA on Acadia’s ter. We look forward to sharing the digital ronment.” trails and carriage roads at www.friendso- Acadia Quest model with more parks and facadia.org. public lands agencies as an innovative way National Trails Day to engage visitors, particularly young visitors On a sunny Saturday in June, 40 students and their families. and volunteers celebrated National Trails Day at the Trenton Elementary School’s Bringing Back the Seaside Path brand new outdoor classroom, which en- ables learning about Acadia National Park in the outdoors. With assistance from FOA, students designed the new classroom space and trails. Several students shared their enthusiasm and appreciation for this exciting endeavor. They noted, “Looking into how we could improve the [school] trails, we got interested in developing an outdoor learning area. This is what we learned: Outdoor Based Education, also known as OBE, lowers vio- lence and decreased bullying as well as im- proves social skills. This would help make our school a safer place to be and to learn. OBE also shows improvement in student moods and makes for happier students.” As part of the NTD event students also directed work projects on the school trails, with help from Acadia’s stewardship staff and volunteers. The day’s project accomplishments included installation of a bog walk, a new drainage area with culverts, and FOA/Julia Walker-Thomas hardy weeding of the student vegetable gar- Acadia Youth Conservation Corps working on the rehabilitation of the century-old Seaside Path. When dens. “The volunteers who are helping today completed, the path will lead from Jordan Pond House to the Seal Harbor Beach.

Friends of Acadia Journal Summer 2017 2323 The Acadia Youth Technology Team— “High-tech Teens at Acadia”—presented at the regional Maine Land Conservation Con- ference in April. Session participants learned the history of AYTT and the great body of work produced by the team. AYTT alumnus Matt Lambert did a fantastic job presenting with FOA’s Paige Steele. Matt will be returning for a third season of AYTT. He is a gradu- ate of MDI High School and studies electrical engineering at the University of Maine at Orono. The presentation is posted on FOA’s Facebook page.

Stewardship In May, the Stewardship Volunteer Program

staff—FOA stewardship coordinators and FOA ANP volunteer coordinator—attended the FOA Stewardship Volunteer Program staff Dana Petersen and Jeff Tucker with ANP Volunteer Coordinator International Trails Symposium in Dayton, Dianna McKeage at the International Trails Symposium. Ohio. The team presented Acadia’s stew- systems, and community assessors funding firm RSG to prepare an integrated traffic and ardship program model to a packed room. large projects through health grants. My as- parking model for Ocean Drive. The consul- Participants all the way from Lebanon are pirations for the future of the stewardship tants will use existing data—number of ve- interested in using the Acadia model to start program have been enriched through this hicles passing through the entrance station, a stewardship program. Dana Petersen sum- experience.” As a result of its presentation transaction time at the entrance station, and marized his experience: “The International at the Symposium, FOA staff will present for information about visitor routes and behav- Trails Symposium offered me a startlingly the National Park Foundation’s webinar se- iors along Ocean Drive—to predict condi- comprehensive overview of all things trail ries this July. tions such as numbers of vehicles at the building, with the breadth of offerings more Sand Beach parking lot, the number of ve- than I expected. I learned from professors Ocean Drive Modeling Work hicles parking in the right lane, the number studying the science of trail sustainability, In consultation with Acadia National Park, of people at any time at the Thunder Hole planners linking communities through trail Friends of Acadia has hired the consulting observation platform, and queuing time at Acadian Nature Tours/Bill Townsend Tours/Bill Acadian Nature Visitors at Thunder Hole on a summer day.

24 Summer 2017 Friends of Acadia Journal IN GRATITUDE In-Kind Donors A.B. & J.R. Hodgkins BerryDunn Camp Beech Cliff Dawnland Hannaford Supermarket Machias Savings Bank Maine Department of Transportation LOGO Marden’s Joe Pagan Genie and Will Thorndike Town of Mount Desert Volunteer Crew Leaders Jean and Don Bell J.C. Camelio Bruce Denny-Brown ■ CLASSIC Joey and Mike Engling T�� N�� L�� S�� Randy Ewins Representing unique properties Bob Hartley Mike Hays for buyers and sellers Doug Heden Story Litchﬁ eld | Kristi Jacoby Jack Hirschenhofer Cookie Horner classic styles, comfortable living… [email protected] Jim Linnane 207-276-3840 Barb Nealon 4A Tracy Road, Northeast Harbor, ME Cliff Olson David Opdyke window Donna Reis panes I Betsy Roberts STACKED LOGO HOME & GARDEN SINGLE LINE LOGO Bob Sanderson www.windowpanesmdi.com Roger Thompson 207 288 9550 n 166 Main Street, Bar Harbor Emeritus Crew Leaders Jenn Brandt 119 MAIN STREET  BAR HARBOR, MAINE Bucky Brooks Steve Johnson Don Lenahan Keith Martin Julia Schloss Carol and Don Sessions Howard Solomon Mel Timmons Fine Art | Studio Furniture INITIALS OVERLAY Marilyn and Al Wiberley HOW YOU SHOP CAN CHANGE THE WORLD. National Trails Day Sponsors 1112 Main Street | Somesville, Maine WWW.FAIRTRADEWINDS.NET Bar Harbor Bank & Trust www.galleryatsomessound.com | 207.244.1165 Bar Harbor Hotel - Bluenose Inn ICON SOCIAL LOGO LOGO SEAL Burdick & Associates Landscape Design Dawnland Fiore Artisan Olive Oils & Vinegars First National Bank R A D E T W R I Galyn’s I N A D John Williams Boat Company F S Knowles Company Lynam Agencies Machias Savings Bank

Mount Desert Island Hospital 8 E 0 S T . 2 0

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A history of caring. A community of healing. A legacy of giving.

William Sweet William 10 Wayman Lane • Bar Harbor, ME 207.288.5081 • www.mdihospital.org

Friends of Acadia Journal Summer 2017 25 IN MEMORIAM The Unexpected Art, We gratefully acknowledge gifts received in memory of:

Craft, Book & Gift Annie W. Allen Armando’s Garden Gallery on Acadia’s Shirley Ayers Schoodic Peninsula John Banister Ruth Beard Jeanette Beaton William Evarts Benjamin George Bickford Richard H. Bowen Danielle Calhoun-Lopen Dow L. Case Carleton M. Cornell David and Kitzi Crofoot Tom and Tim Davis Arlon and Muriel Day George B. Dorr Amphitheater Bridge Wilfred E. Eaton Catherine Enners Featuring Rosemary’s Cathy Fioravanti Hand Hooked Richard M. Foster Dr. Henry C. Frick II Rugs Gerald D. Fritz 611 Corea Road Richard J. Frost Harvey S. Gerry Corea, Maine Evelyn Gibbs 207-963-7269 Ryan Richard Gibbs www.chapterwocorea.com Kevin Goss Steven Graves LSR_FriendsAcadia_2.25x1.9_022117.qxp_LayoutCharles 1 A. Grobe, Jr. Mary Hooks Rolande Ann Johndro Real Estate Sales & Vacation Rentals Joynce Kahkonen Since 1898 Fay Kruener Edward and Dorothy LaBonté Douglas Leland Lulu Edward Mandell Jr. Amos and Myrtle Martin Insurance for MDI Mic, the sweetest pup of all Families and Businesses William Mills View all of our listings at Since 1932 John L. Morse Maggie Mae Muffin www.KnowlesCo.com William Howard Neufeglise 339 Main Street, Southwest Harbor Beatrice Newman 1 Summit Road, Northeast Harbor | 207-276-3322 Lester J. Nimsker LSRIns.com | (207)244-7246 Stephen Nippert Dr. Kenneth Scott Nord Patricia Norris Robert T. Oliphant Elizabeth E. Owens Mary C. Philbrick Daniel Pierce Thunder Hole Donald Potter Cadillac Mountain Peter Poulin Roger Ptak Landscape Jordan Pond House Catherine and Laurence Quigley Services Linda and Frank Ramseyer AWNLAND Judy Richman Installation & Garden Maintenance D Paxton Roberts Serving Hancock County Regina Sautner Chris Savignano mdigrows.com | 207.664.0091 Patricia and David Scull Nancy Silverman Craig Smith Arlanne MacDonald Snodgrass Johanna Steiner Gloria Taylor Wilfred A. Thomas W.M. von Hagen Sandy Walter George and Isabelle Weisser Peter Welles J.J. Wieckowski Thomas and Carolyn Witt Dr. Lauren Zeitels the Kimball Shop & Boutique March 1–May 31, 2017 Main Street Northeast Harbor kimballshop.com 26 Summer 2017 Friends of Acadia Journal the entrance station. This information will Hanging Staircase inform the park’s transportation planning initiative and help the National Park Service A Classic Bar Harbor Hotel predict how different transportation alter- natives (for example, metered entrance or parking reservations) might affect crowd- ing, safety, and the visitor experience along Enjoy our on-site Eden Spa, Ocean Drive. RSG completed a similar in- Looking Glass Restaurant & Great Room Piano Lounge. tegrated model for Cadillac Mountain in 2016, and is contracted for the Ocean Drive 90 Eden Street | (207) 288-3348 www.barharborhotel.com project through the end of 2017.

Acadia Centennial Online www.acadiacentennial2016.org The Acadia centennial website will remain online throughout 2017. The site served a vital function in 2016 by sharing information about organizations, businesses, and individuals who signed up as Acadia Cen- tennial Partners, as well as listing events and programs of the year-long celebration.

Information on the site remains relevant. FOA/Julia Walker-Thomas Visitors can read condensed descriptions Acadia National Park Trail Crew Sarah Baldyga and Gavin Willow stand on the just completed Offering fresh and high quality and timelines for Acadia’s geologic and hu- Hanging Staircase that they built on the Beech Cliff Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegars man history, find a fact sheet about the park, Trail. The staircase took 140 person hours to build, Come in and taste for yourself! view historical photographs of the park using multiple highlines (lines strung between two 8 Rodick Place • Bar Harbor, ME 503 Main Street • Rockland, ME and its founders, and plan their vacations points) to move large granite rocks for the steps. 88 Main Street • Freeport, ME through links to the park and local cham- Sarah was recently interviewed as part of Acadia 90 Maine Street • Brunswick, ME Quest: Pathmakers edition. Her interview, along bers of commerce. Many vendors are still At the Vault • Lewiston, ME with others from the ANP trail crew, are part of Aca- At Tiller & Rye • Brewer, ME offering Acadia centennial products at their dia Quest: Pathmakers Edition, focusing on Acadia’s OPEN YEAR ROUND stores, so visitors can also browse the mer- historic trails and the people who make them great. www.FIOREoliveoils.com WE SHIP! chandise section of the website and contact View the interviews on our Vimeo page: Vimeo.com/ www.facebook.com /FIOREoliveoils Maine’s 2013 Woman-Owned the product supplier if interested. Check it FriendsofAcadia. Business of the Year out, and stay involved as Acadia begins its next century. Residence program. “Acadia Pathmakers” will highlight the people of the park and Acadia Quest 2017 their amazing work. This year’s activities Acadia Quest is celebrating its 10th year this will be chosen by the featured park staff. For Amigos del Parque. summer. The Quest’s 2017 theme is “Acadia example, Heather Cooney will send teams since 1994 Pathmakers,” featuring wonderful portraits to Conners Nubble summit via Eagle Lake X of Acadia’s trails staff. The images were taken carriage road on bike, “because it is easy, Y by The Nature Conservancy’s Dan Grenier you get to bike and hike, and the view is Z restaurant while he participated in Acadia’s Artist-in- amazing!” serving food of the mexican interior end of Bennett Lane Manset reservations 244-5221 Ways You Can Give

Every gift, however large or small, helps further Friends of Acadia’s mission to preserve and protect Acadia National Park. Please consider these options for providing essential financial support to FOA. • Gift of cash or marketable securities • Gift of retirement assets • Gift of property • Gift through a bequest in your will For more information about how you can help support Friends of Acadia, contact Lisa Horsch Clark at 207-288-3340 or [email protected], or visit www.friendsofacadia.org.

Friends of Acadia Journal Summer 2017 27 In reading this anthology you will hear Recommended Reading from journalists, academics, editors, adven- ture seekers, naturalists, and recent college graduates, all with a different story to tell. The essays are brilliantly organized by the themes of resilience, conservation, and creative solutions, but in the end they all work together to provide the reader with viewpoints that embody an entire generation—a seemingly impossible feat. Regardless of where you come from or whether you like the dirt, these essays will call on you to think about your own interactions with nature. Whether it was transcendent or miserable, it was probably a memory that stuck, and within it lays an in- escapable love of place. Ten Days in Acadia: A Kids’ Hiking Guide to I, too, came of age at the end of nature, Mount Desert Island and reading these essays only further cor- By Hope Rowan, Art by Jada Fitch. roborated every flash of anger, moment of Islandport Press, 2017. Paperback, 98 despair, nostalgia for simplicity, and longing pages for answers that I have ever had. These may seem like hopeless sentiments, yet hope is Ten Days in Acadia invites you to come along exactly what you find in this work. Climate on hikes with 12-year-old Hattie. She may change has never been an easy subject, or a be a make-believe girl, but what Hattie talks hopeful one. But somehow, hearing from an about seeing and doing can be discovered Coming of Age at the End of Nature entire generation about what they feel, see, and experienced by any real kid. Through Edited by Julie Dunlap & Susan A. Cohen, and aspire to be gives every one of us the as- Hattie’s stories about her days in the park, written by various authors. Trinity Univer- surance that times are changing. Change has young visitors learn about hiking the trails, sity Press, 2016. Paperback, 216 pages never been so necessary and so appealing as discovering and observing plants and ani- it is today. Change is the hope we need, and mals, and swimming in lakes. This hiking If you’ve ever felt a connection to the natural in Coming of Age at the End of Nature we can guide includes full-color trail maps by the world around you, been overwhelmed by see that change has finally begun. It turns out author and mapmaker, Hope Rowan, and time that seems to be running out, or feared we have a great deal to learn from our peers; beautiful color illustrations of what can for the lives of your grandchildren on a dy- all we have to do is listen. be found in the park by Maine artist Jada ing planet, you may find the catharsis you French. need in Coming of Age at the End of Nature. KIERSTEN UTEGG is a copywriter at Written from a kid’s point of view, Ten Days This diverse collection of essays from the Y&R in Memphis, TN. She graduated from in Acadia began with the author’s long expe- young generation depicts how growing up Boston University in 2016 with a degree in rience teaching kids about making maps. “I in an environmental crisis can shape a life. Communications and then set out to pursue noticed my students were thrilled by their Through twenty-two eloquent voices, we her project, Chasing58, which explores the newly acquired navigation skills,” Rowan hear the pleas, the frustrations, the encour- national parks through the people who love said. So she set out to write this guide from agements, and the calls to action of those who and protect them. One year, one broken rib, a kid’s perspective—with fun and interest- are left to clean up the mess that our past has and 28 parks later, Ms. Utegg is just begin- ing details that also give them the tools to be left untended. This is not just a book, this is ning her advocacy for causes that benefit navigators. “They can pick out a hike for the a much needed reality check from the very our earth, and its people. day,” she says, “inform their parents what to people we now rely on to save our planet. expect on the trail, and be empowered by Perhaps the greatest appeal of Coming of the knowledge they’ve gained.” Age at the End of Nature is its modest origins Ten Days in Acadia includes hiking tips, that relate to every reader. Within these pages rainy-day ideas, blank pages for notes and are not the highfalutin musings of extrem- illustrations, and other resources to help ists, experts, or celebrated authors, though young hikers and their families be prepared the writing is beautifully wise and indisput- to enjoy and remember their days in Acadia. ably significant. Here we find the voices of the people we pass on the street—our fellow MARLA O’BYRNE compatriots—who know, simply from experience, that it is time to fight for our world.

28 Summer 2017 Friends of Acadia Journal IN NOMINE OlisTrolley.com We gratefully acknowledge gifts received in honor of: Warm Your Acadia Centennial Task Force Earl Brechlin Ride Jane Bushwaller Home and Hearth Aimee Beal Church* the Trolley! Judy Eggleston Peg Emple Jennifer Fenn Friends of Acadia Staff x Randy Goldberg Ruth Goldman Katie Harris and Keith Tharp Paul Q. Hernandez Bob, Lisa, and Grace Clark Eastern Maine’s largest Islesford Historical Museum Sharon and Michelle Kong selection of wood, Gas and Pellet John L. Morse stoves and Fireplaces The Paskert Family Pippin A Fun Way to See David Rockefeller* Sarah B. Rorer Acadia National Park! Dee Solomon* Acadia’s Only Trolley Tour! Mike Staggs Barbara Stanley Neal Jane Ingraham Thomas 1 West Street Kevin Wall Bar Harbor Ellsworth- 403 high st., 667-4122 The Wedding Anniversary of Barbara Weber and BrEwEr- 603 wilson st., 989-0077 Laurence Turka 207 - 288 - 9899 Authorized www.mainestoves.com * Deceased Concessionaire

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Friends of Acadia Journal Summer 2017 29 Advocacy Corner

Budget Far from Meeting Park Needs

ou know the saying, “If you don’t like Gretchen Wilson and I recently joined Chad crews—make up about 10% of Acadia’s op- the weather in Maine, wait 15 min- Lord and others from the National Parks erating budget. A cut in the 8% range will Yutes and it will change”? With the Conservation Association (NPCA) on a visit be extremely difficult for Acadia to absorb. flurry of activity in Washington, advocacy to Capitol Hill to discuss infrastructure and Cuts to the Environmental Protection for national parks sometimes feels like that. backlog maintenance needs at Acadia and Agency (EPA) are especially dire. The Presi- Recently we’ve seen positive developments the importance of the park to the regional dent recommends cutting the EPA budget and setbacks, and Friends of Acadia contin- economy. by 31%. The Natural Resources Council of ues to work with the National Parks Second Another bill has been introduced by Rep. Maine reported that Maine’s Department of Century Action Coalition to monitor legisla- Mike Simpson, H.R. 2863, the Land and Environmental Protection received $11.4 tion and administrative actions. National Park Deferred Maintenance Act or million in funding from the EPA last year for On the positive side, two companion bills LAND Act, which proposes $450 million in redevelopment of brownfield sites, air and have been introduced to establish a dedi- mandatory funding for the Land and Water water quality programs, and lead paint and cated revenue stream for tackling deferred Conservation Fund (LWCF) and an equal radon programs. FOA joined a letter with maintenance projects. According to the amount to address deferred maintenance in other Maine organizations to support any Pew Charitable Trusts, the estimated de- U.S. public lands over the next six years. The efforts that the Maine Congressional delega- ferred maintenance backlog in all national bill draws attention to these issues and dedi- tion could take to reduce of these cuts. parks totals approximately $12 billion. Over cates funding to them; however, LWCF is On top of these budget cuts, the NPS 41,000 assets—such as trails, water systems, currently authorized at $900 million and is and other federal agencies have been asked buildings, roads, bridges, and tunnels—are the most critical funding source to help Aca- to reduce their workforce significantly. The included in this estimate. Acadia’s deferred dia purchase the remaining inholdings with- NPS has been requested to freeze all hires maintenance backlog is estimated to be $71 in its boundaries. FOA continues to support in the national and regional offices, as well million, with more than half attributed to full funding at $900 million, and permanent as submit hires at the GS-12 level and above paved and unpaved roads. Its maintenance reauthorization of the program. Three bills, for review by the Administration. The NPS’s division is working diligently with limited S. 896 (co-sponsored by Senators Collins and federal offices provide tremendous sup- resources to care for the park’s facilities, and King), H.R. 502 (co-sponsored by Rep- port for national park units in areas where but the sheer number of facilities they are resentative Pingree), and S. 569, would en- unique expertise may be needed. Acadia has responsible for is staggering: 128 miles of able permanent reauthorization. received assistance in transportation plan- paved and gravel roads, 44 bridges, 152 Disappointments from Washington in- ning, cultural resources management, and miles of trails, 162 vehicles and equipment, clude flat-funded and/or decreased ap- preparation of legal documents, such as pur- 6 boats, 175 buildings (including 33 rest- propriations for national parks. Congress chase and sale agreements for acquisition of rooms and 16 outhouses), 620 campsites, passed a spending package to keep the inholdings. and more. government running through September Compounding the bad news about the Senators Collins and King have co-spon- 30 but it only increased the National Park budget is that national parks are being asked sored S.751, the National Park Service Leg- Service (NPS) operating budget by 2% and to do more: provide a positive experience for acy Act, a bill that would establish a fund decreased LWCF by 35%. increasing numbers of visitors and protect from mineral revenues for high-priority The budget picture for parks in FY 2018 natural and cultural resources in the face deferred maintenance needs in the national looks grim. The President has proposed an of a rapidly changing global environment. parks. Eighty percent of the funds set aside overall 13% cut to the NPS, which NPCA Acadia’s visitor season now begins earlier would be used for historic structures, visi- reports as the largest cut to national parks in the spring and extends later into the fall. tor facilities, water and utility systems, and since World War II. Included in this recom- While visitation has been steadily increasing employee housing; twenty percent would mendation are an 8% cut to the operational (up 58% since 2006), Acadia’s budget, ad- be allocated to transportation projects. The budget, $30 million in cuts to deferred justed for inflation, is down approximately bill provides incentives for private match- maintenance, elimination of the National 8% from its peak in 2010, and total staffing ing contributions, as well. A companion Heritage Area program, and a 37% cut to during the peak season is down nearly 6%. bill, H.R. 2584, has been introduced in the the Historic Preservation Fund. The opera- FOA and others will continue to fight to re- House by Representative Will Hurd and co- tional cuts are the largest concern to FOA, verse this trend so that millions of visitors sponsored by Representatives Derek Kilmer, as Acadia’s entire seasonal staff—including can continue to enjoy our national parks.� David Reichert, and Colleen Hanabusa. Ells- seasonal visitor use assistants, law enforce- worth Area Chamber of Commerce Director ment rangers, interpreters, and maintenance —Stephanie Clement 30 Summer 2017 Friends of Acadia Journal Chairman’s Letter

Reflections . . .

or the past six years I have had the also prioritized the work needed to intro- pleasure of serving as chairman of duce more young people to national parks FFriends of Acadia. As I prepare to pass and give them the opportunity to play, learn, the board leadership of FOA to my succes- work, and serve here at Acadia. sor, Anne Green, I reflect with admiration The challenge to implementing the agreed on the vision of Friends of Acadia’s founders upon priorities, however, was the lack of and the meaningful accomplishments over money needed to move forward. Quite sim- FOA’s 31-year history. ply, with the bulk of FOA’s existing funds In 1986 a group of concerned MDI citi- already committed to previously initiated, zens and summer residents met to discuss successful programs Friends of Acadia did their growing concern about the condition not have enough money to go forward with of Acadia’s trails and diminishing federal its new strategic priorities. Thus was born funding. They formed Friends of Acadia the Second Century Capital Campaign, led FOA with a clear mission: to preserve and pro- by our honorary chairs, David Rockefeller and passionate volunteers who contributed tect the park to assure that it would remain and Senator George Mitchell. The fundrais- thousands of hours of their time—much of beautiful and relevant for future genera- ing effort was timed to coordinate with the this fueled, of course, by the generosity of tions. From that beginning the organization 100th anniversary of Acadia National Park. past and present donors! has grown and developed to its prominence FOA’s professional staff and a dedicated today as a powerful partner with Acadia Na- and energetic team of volunteers worked • Initiated and completed the $26.2 mil- tional Park and as one of the strongest and tirelessly to meet the campaign’s $25 million lion Second Century Campaign, nearly most respected friends groups in the nation. goal. And we did it! The goal was reached by tripling the amount of private support It is considered a model of what friends the target date of December 31, 2016, and raised by FOA in its previous capital groups can accomplish to enhance our na- when the campaign closed a few months campaign. tional park system and it has influenced ef- later we had raised more than $26.2 million • Granted $15.4 million to Acadia Na- forts at many other national parks. to help FOA meet its strategic programs to tional Park and its partners. Over the years Friends of Acadia has support Acadia National Park. Now we can • Doubled FOA’s invested assets from made many significant additions to the park move forward. Kudos to all! $18.4 million to $38.2 million, with that have benefited the MDI community as It has been a joy to serve as chairman of $10 million more yet to come from well as the park. These include: America’s Friends of Acadia. I have been privileged to campaign pledges. These are the funds first endowed trail maintenance program; work with a superb team who care so deeply required to support the current and en- endowed support for Acadia’s unique car- about the FOA mission and who will con- dowed needs of FOA’s strategic plan. riage roads; and leading the creation of the tinue to work to assure the present and fu- • Nearly doubled the number of donors fare-free Island Explorer propane fueled ture of our extraordinary park. My sincere to FOA’s Annual Fund. transportation system, designed to reduce thanks! • Doubled the number of members of the congestion and air pollution in the park and I am grateful for the accomplishments of George B. Dorr Society, those far-sight- surrounding towns. those who preceded me, on whose shoul- ed members who have included FOA in Shortly after I became board chair in 2011, ders I have stood. And I am grateful for the their estate plans. FOA began working with park managers to accomplishments that so many remarkable study the needs and principal threats to the and talented individuals joined together to There are many more significant numbers park. The objective was to identify the ways make happen. but you can see that Friends of Acadia is FOA could give the most valuable help to poised to become an even more important alleviate some of these challenges. Not sur- � � � voice and hand in pursuing our unending prisingly the greatest short-term threat is goals for Acadia National Park. the adverse impact on the visitor experience For those of you who, like me, appreci- May you have many happy days in from rapidly-growing visitation and vehicu- ate numbers, here are examples of what has Acadia! � lar congestion. Longer term there is deep been accomplished over the past six years concern about the possible impact of global through the skill and dedication of FOA’s climate change and its effects on the park’s staff, the hard work and commitment of the natural resources, beauty, and quality. We Board of Directors, and many hard working —Edward L. Samek, Chair 2011–2017 Friends of Acadia Journal Summer 2017 31 Why I’m a Friend of Acadia

Acadia National Park: Inspiration for Artists, Exhilaration for the People By Sherry and Ivan Rasmussen

SHERRY: The first sight of to Starry Nights . . . the gift of Acadia National Park is a life- stars in Acadia” was included in changing experience. I know the Centennial Time Capsule to it was for me. I first came to be opened in 2116, and I will the island in 1969 just after teach others how to make the finishing college and thought time capsule star this Septem- this must be one of the most ber to benefit the 2017 Acadia beautiful places in the world. Night Sky Festival. I knew right away I wanted to It is most meaningful for us live here. It had that kind of to share our island home with allure—that kind of pull—for people from all walks of life me, as it has for artists and who come to see Acadia. Af- craftspeople from around the ter all, we the people are both world who have been touched owners and stewards of the by Acadia and find inspiration land that is Acadia. We have to produce beautiful works been able to share through ART of art and craft. It’s hard not what Acadia has given to resi- to be inspired, surrounded by dents and visitors from around such magnificent scenery: the the world for over a hundred Rasmussen family sunrises and sunsets, quiet and Ivan and Sherry with friend Eric Fitzpatrick years. Our fondest hope is that cool trails, raging surf, peaceful this tradition will continue, and islands, leaves turning color, the clear night ART Walks, which bring artists and galleries that thousands of new artists will be inspired sky, the moon rising over the Porcupines, the together with the public each month during by this national treasure during the next 100 wildflowers and berries, the visiting summer the summer season. years. � birds, and perfect spots to camp, such as The Acacia Centennial in 2016 was im- Schoodic. I managed to make my dream a portant to us. Ivan did his official Centennial SHERRY and IVAN RASMUSSEN have reality, and in 1976 moved to Bar Harbor. Painting, “Summer Visitor,” choosing a scene been active in the island art community near the location where Frederic Edwin for over four decades and were among IVAN: I am both an artist and craftsman, one Church painted “Otter Creek, Mt. Desert” in the first Friends of Acadia business mem- of those who came to Maine in the early ’70s 1850. (Once owned by Amory and Elizabeth bers. Just a few years ago, they were jointly to build a life here. Art has always been an Thorndike, Bar Harbor residents and lovers honored with the Chamber of Commerce important part of Acadia National Park. My of Acadia, “Otter Creek” is now in the Mu- Acadia Arts Achievement Award, given to best-loved trail is the Homans Path, which seum of Fine Arts in Boston.) individuals who have contributed to the has been a favorite subject of my watercol- We recruited other artists, taught spe- cultural enrichment of the area. In 2015 ors. I also love to paint the views from the cial workshops, promoted a Centennial they were Grand Marshals for the July 4th top of Cadillac Mountain. Each day sparks ART Walk, and dedicated our own gallery parade themed “ART in America.” Ivan can imagination for art! ART Walks to Acadia. A percentage of Ivan’s be found painting at ART on West located watercolor “Summer Visitor” and the lim- at 78 West Street, Bar Harbor, and on loca- SHERRY and IVAN: We believe in promot- ited edition prints was donated to Friends tion from their VW camper. Sherry joyfully ing art, encouraging its creation, and bring- of Acadia. It was joyous to hold Centen- cuts, pastes, folds, and prints with friends ing it to the people. We enjoy holding art nial workshops with names like “In Love and visitors at the studio upstairs. Visit and craft workshops for visitors and resi- for 100 Years and Beyond” and “The Colors them at: www.facebook.com/Art.on.West. dents, and have been active in Bar Harbor’s of Acadia.” The folded star from “Sea Stars Gallery

32 Summer 2017 Friends of Acadia Journal Be a Friend of Acadia! Our 4,913 members from all over the world help to fund essential park projects and new initiatives, benefitting trail and carriage road maintenance, programs getting young people out into the park, land and resource conservation, and much more. Member benefits include a subscription to the Friends of Acadia Journal, published three times annually, plus the satisfaction of knowing that you’re a vital part of FOA’s work to protect Acadia for this generation and for all time. Help us to protect Acadia by joining Friends of Acadia. To renew your membership or become a new member, you can visit the friendly FOA membership table volunteers at the Jordan Pond House entrance this summer! Or use the envelope provided in this magazine, call the Friends of Acadia office at 207-288-3340 (1-800-625-0321), or visit our website at www.friendsofacadia.org. Geneva Chase Langley

MDI Viewshed. Friends of Acadia photo by Aimee Beal Church PRST STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID LEWISTON, MAINE PERMIT #82 43 Cottage Street, PO Box 45 Bar Harbor, ME 04609 m Blagden To m Blagden To Friends of Acadia preserves, protects, and promotes stewardship of the outstanding natural beauty, ecological vitality, m Blagden To and distinctive cultural resources of Acadia National Park and surrounding communities for the inspiration and enjoyment of current and future generations.

Friends of Acadia 43 Cottage Street PO Box 45 Bar Harbo r, Maine 04609 207-288-3340 800-625-0321 FOA/Acadia Youth Technology Team Technology FOA/Acadia Youth Sunrise over the Beehive.

Mission Friends of Acadia preserves, protects, and promotes stewardship of the outstanding natural beauty, ecological vitality, Friends of Acadia preserves, protects, and promotes stewardship of the outstanding natural beauty, ecological vitality, and distinctive cultural resources of Acadia National Park and surrounding communities for the inspiration and distinctive cultural resources of Acadia National Park and surrounding communities for the inspiration and enjoyment of current and future generations. and enjoyment of current and future generations.

Friends of Acadia 43 Cottage Street PO Box 45 Bar Harbo r, Maine 04609 207-288-3340 800-625-0321 FriendsFriends of Acadiaof Acadia | 43 43 Cottage Cottage Street Street | POPO BoxBox 45 45 Bar| Bar Harbo Harbor,r, M aineME 04609| 04609 207-288-3340 207-288-3340 800-625-0321| 800-625-0321