belgrade lakes, maine february 2014

Gracious Living Is Their Goal: Pine Islanders Take Pine Island with Them to Classrooms Far and Wide

It is always a bit jarring to move in- Our Goal, for the Pine Island dining doors to a classroom after a summer hall. Montague’s motto spread quickly at Pine Island, but over the years many beyond the dining hall to other areas Pine Islanders have made the logical of camp life and then off the island and transition from counselor to teacher, out into the world beyond Great Pond. and nearly every one of them cites his The motto was enshrined permanent- or her early training as a counselor at ly on a sign presented to Montague at Pine Island with preparing them well a gala event at the Explorers’ Club in for the rigors of the classroom. Three of New York a few years ago where dozens the only five directors Pine Island has of alumni and parents gathered to cel- had since it was founded in 1902 have ebrate his many contributions to Pine been teachers. Jun Swan taught at the Island Camp. These days one can even Collegiate School in New York City for celebrate the goal of Gracious Living nearly twenty years and then taught at with a gracious living bumper sticker. the Kingswood School and the Junior Pine Island’s current director Ben School before becoming the assistant Swan taught at the Episcopal High headmaster at the then brand new Ren- School in Alexandria, Virginia for five brook School in West Hartford, Con- years and then taught in Maine public necticut. Jun landed his first two teach- schools for a year before departing the ing jobs with Pine Islander headmasters classroom to become Pine Island’s first Wilson Parkhill and Nelson Farquhar. year-round director. Ben’s training at Montague Ball was also a teacher and Pine Island under director Montague assistant headmaster for each of the Ball gave him great appreciation for just Matt Clarke and his science students. twenty years he was Pine Island’s direc- how valuable the principles of Gracious tor. Monte taught at the Shattuck School Living are to the Pine Island community in Faribault, Minnesota and then went that is built each summer. Respect, good Longtime assistant director to Mon- high school in southern France. While to work with former Pine Island as- manners, thinking about others, doing tague Ball, Tim Nagler, taught at the she was there she found Alex Toole in sistant director Chip Handy, who was any task you are given to the best of your Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connect- town on his semester abroad and then headmaster at the Lawrence Country ability, taking responsibility for your icut, and Tim Holbrook, who was assis- found that Tasha Yektaki’s Bowdoin Day School in Lawrence, Long Island. own actions, and the belief that every- tant director in the 1960s, was a teacher rugby team was playing a game at the Next Monte went to Christ Church one has something to offer are the core and head of school for many years. Rex very school where she was teaching. Episcopal School in Greenville, South of any successful community and are Bates, Tom Macfie, and Ken Howe, also Then she and Alex went to a concert and Carolina and finished his career at Fay- principles that have never gone out of assistant directors under Montague, all found Whitehead Lightkeeper Abby etteville Academy in Fayetteville, North style for any good teacher or school ad- taught school, and Ken is still at it at Wills in attendance! Carolina. While serving as director of ministrator and especially for the many the Fessenden School in West Newton, Andrea Hollnagel has taken on the in- Pine Island, Montague established the who have been trained at Pine Island Massachusetts, where he is head of resi- terim librarian position at the Berkshire oft-repeated motto, Gracious Living Is over the years. dential life. The words Gracious Living School in Sheffield, Massachusetts, but Is Our Goal have been enshrined in the will retire again at the end of this year, dining hall there for more than twenty having been involved in secondary edu- years. Ned Bishop has been a coach and cation for over forty years. Andrea has teacher at Connecticut College in New held positions in schools in Minnesota, London, Connecticut for 30 years. Matt Texas, Pennsylvania, Greece, and Spain. Clarke teaches 8th grade physical science She has been a librarian, media special- at Wellesley Middle School in Wellesley, ist, teacher, dean of students, head of Massachusetts, and his wife Gina Yarm- school, and high school principal! After el teaches 3rd grade in the Somerville a year in South Korea teaching English public schools, specializing in English with her sister Amanda, Cecily Pulver as a Second Language students. Lindsay is now in Shanghai, China teaching Clarke has been teaching at the Wayn- English. Robert Brent is currently the flete School in Portland, Maine for sev- assistant director of after-school activi- eral years. Lindsay is currently teaching ties for low-income students in Chicago. 7th grade history (Cultural Geography), Harry Swan has accepted the Whitney 11th grade US History, and 7th grade Fisher Professorship in Kababalogy at French at Waynflete. She is also an advi- the Yale University School of Kababal- sor in the 7th grade, with nine students ogy, endowed by a gift from Charles and for whom she serves as advocate and the Martin Hale. Start date is uncertain. central hub for communication about Both Andrew and brother Jonathan their academic and social well-being at Irvine are teaching at the Harker School school. Ben Mini is also at Waynflete, in San Jose, California. Jesslyn Mullet where he teaches history and is an up- is teaching middle school in the public per-school advisor. Eve Whitehouse is school system in Brattleboro, Vermont. in her first year at the Millbrook School She says teaching sailing at Pine Island in Millbrook, New York, where she is was valuable preparation for her ca- teaching upper-level French (mostly AP reer path. Jesslyn has brought gracious and literature courses), coaching field living, working to a high standard, the Anne Stires with one of her students at the Juniper Hill School, hockey and lacrosse, and serving as a idea of being a responsible member of a which she founded. dorm parent. She taught last year at a community, and the humor and music 1 Andrew Irvine with his science students at the Harker School. Lindsay Clarke with her students at the Waynflete School.

The sign over the door in Will Webb’s Portland, ME classroom. Cecily Pulver in her classroom in Shanghai. of campfire to both her classroom and person behind me.” “It took more than a the person behind them.” Will’s current to new heights. Perhaps the US Con- a summer job as one of the directors of month but the result was 23 nine-year- Manner of the Month reads, “When gress will be next… Village, a five-day-per-week program olds holding the door for their peers someone holds the door for me, I say, for children in which they “homestead” and adults,” Will reported recently. “East ‘Thank you.’ ” and “build” a village from scratch. End is a very busy school. Students have Anyone who knows Montague Ball Campfire is frequently listed as their fa- a ton of energy and seem to want to run will immediately know that he will be vorite part of the week. John Nagler is everywhere. But before they run, they very pleased to hear of Will’s having tak- in his second year teaching history and make sure they hold the door open for en gracious living to his classroom and serving as a dean at the Pacific Ridge school outside of San Diego, California. Sarah Mason is in her first year teaching kindergarten on Vinalhaven Island off the Maine coast. Joe Kovaz is teaching chemistry and physics at the A.C. Flora High School in Columbia, South Caro- lina. Anne Stires is in her third year as head of the Juniper Hill School in Alna, Maine. She founded the school and it won the Maine Environmental Educa- tion School of the Year in 2013. Juniper Hill is fully enrolled in pre-K through 3rd grade. Will Webb may be the first teacher to bring the Gracious Living motto direct- ly to his classroom. When Will moved into his own 4th grade classroom this past fall at the East End Community School in Portland, Maine, one of his first acts was to establish Gracious Liv- ing Is Our Goal as the class motto and to put up a sign made from a PIC bumper sticker over the door. Will then went a step further and established the Man- ner of the Month. The first Manner of the Month was expressed in a sign that read, “I can hold the door open for the Will Webb and his students. 2 EBay Yields Antique Pine Needles

Only a few things that were lost in and 1922. This fall Ben Swan received eventually secured all 22 copies. They the Needle was often published, in print, the Great Fire of ’95 were impossible an email from Anthony Robeson, father are now safely in Brunswick and will during the summer. The camp season to replace. One such loss was a bound of former camper Moss Robeson, alert- eventually make their way to the Pine was ten weeks long in those days. collection of Pine Needles that had been ing him to a particularly Pine Island-rel- Island Collection, the extensive Pine Is- published in the early days of the camp. evant EBay auction underway. Ben and land archives that are housed in the Spe- Thanks to the vigilance of a Pine Island Emily went to the EBay site and there cial Collections section of the library at parent, we recovered 22 copies of the they were, and people were bidding on the University of Maine, Orono. Below From The Pine Needles published during Pine Needle published between 1918 them! Emily took over the bidding and are a few excerpts and covers. Note that the summers of 1919 and 1920.

3 Blues Win War Game, Score Winning Points in Waning Seconds after Two Days of Play by Harry Swan

As the 2013 Pine Island summer en- air-raid siren, the Blues gathered in an tered its final week, the island basked in enormous full-army ring, chanting with the warm, relaxing rays of late summer increasing speed and intensity. Then sun. But beneath this peaceful veneer, a Head Umpire Sandy Crane blew the familiar tension was brewing. The fog whistle, signaling the start of the 101st of war was spreading through the camp War Game. once again, and it felt like the stakes The first day of play was a tense battle were, if possible, even higher than they of wits, with the armies cautiously cir- had been the year before for the centen- cling each other like prizefighters and nial War Game. Last summer, the two matching each other nearly punch for armies were, in terms of the battlefield punch. Both armies ran effective, tightly experience of their officers, more evenly controlled attack systems, accumulat- matched than they had been in years. ing numerous and nearly equal scoring The Blue Army that General Rip Swan points. At the end of the day, the score and Executive Officers Sumner Ford was 96-90 in favor of the Blues. Both and Jack Faherty led into battle was generals had trained their soldiers well; no less zealous or committed than the so well in fact, that only five challenge Oliver awaits orders. Blues of years past, but they lacked the points were scored during the entire edge that superior staff experience had day of play, all by the Blues, giving them given the Blues for so long. Meanwhile, their small but crucial lead at the half. General Ben Schachner and Executive On the second day of play, the camp- Officers David Kemp and Eliot Reich site was awakened early by a sound that commanded the most experienced Gray was to become the defining feature of Army in nearly a decade. And in a spir- the day: the low drone of torrential rain ited Declaration of War on August 4, in the trees. The decision was made to both armies made it clear that they had shorten the play periods by a half hour, no intention of losing. It was a game and the armies assembled once again in in which every play would matter, and town, their raingear already slick with nothing could be left to chance. water. The second day’s fighting was After a hard day of practice, the just as disciplined as the first, although armies gathered in the Center of Town the adverse conditions and the very early on the first day of play. Watches tight score prompted more improvisa- were synchronized, equipment was dis- tion on both sides. As is typical of the tributed, and last-minute plans were experience of anyone trying to watch a made. While the Grays jumped and War Game, I witnessed only one play on yelled to the ear-piercing whine of the the second day, which resulted in five Blue General Rip Swan congratulates his party after scoring.

Gray officer David Greene. The Green Army on the night of the Declaration

Matt talks with Jeff Orton in the Center of Town. Veteran Gray officers Simon Abranowicz and Max McKendry.

4 Tommy, veteran Gray. Will scouting for the Blues.

Assistant directors Forrest Brown and Harry Swan talking with Medic Mary Har- Matt in the Center of Town. rington outside their trailer at the Norridgewock campsite. crucial Blue challenge points on an at- the game Blue General Rip Swan put on had won. The exhausted, soaked armies and wiped away some tears of their own. tempted mixed step by a Gray party. The an outward show of confidence among fell silent, everyone’s heart in his throat, Then the armies came together, as they Grays accumulated an impressive score his men in the soggy Center of Town, and Head Umpire Crane announced the always do, to shout the traditional and in the third quarter of play and bagged but privately he said, “I don’t think we score: Blues 157, Grays 155. emotional rendition of Pine Island’s nine challenge points at the beginning can do it.” Hope surged as Blue officer Both Blue General Rip Swan and “Akka Lakka.” The Blues had emerged of the fourth, suddenly giving them a Jack Faherty sprinted into the Center of Gray General Ben Schachner stood mo- victorious for the eighth time in ten slight advantage for the first time in the Town having scored his party of nine, tionless for a moment as the score sank years, but the 2013 War Game is best game. But as the fourth quarter drew but still nobody was certain where either in, and then the Blue Army erupted in described by another traditional phrase, to a close and the rain continued to army stood. When the final whistle blew cheers, and a few tears, and the Grays, usually reserved for stalemated camp- fall, the ultimate outcome was anyone’s and the armies gathered in the drizzle who had come so close to turning the fire games: “Evenly matched!” guess. With just fifteen minutes left in to hear the score, no one could say who tide, hugged and consoled one another

Unpopular Top Bunks Coming Down to Earth

While sleeping on the top bunk can top bunk now rests a good three feet off of a regular cot to leave enough space in them, including a 2013 resident of Tent be fun, it can also be a pain in the neck the ground. This allows one to store two the tent for good housekeeping. PIES 7, pronounced the idea sound. “They both for the boy who sleeps aloft and footlockers under the former top bunk actually set up the bunks on the Tent laughed at me at the University,” said for the boy who sleeps beneath him. turned awesome high bed or to put the 7 platform during the September boat one PIES engineer, “but who’s laughing It is such a pain in the neck apparently foot of the former top bunk over the foot maintenance weekend and all who saw now?” that returning campers have been go- ing to great lengths to get to camp early enough on opening day to be sure to get a non-bunk bed. Parents have found themselves castigated by the very boys they are leaving for six weeks because they stopped for coffee or didn’t leave early enough to get the proper place in the line to get on the KWS to head for the island. Well, everyone can RELAX!! The Pine Island Engineering Society (PIES) has come up with a great solution to the problem and testing has already taken place. The solution was simple, once PIES got a Sawzall involved… PIES en- gineers sawed the two end pieces of a bunk bed off just above the level of the A drawing of one version of the new cot setup by Rip Swan. mattress on the bottom bunk. This left two beds instead of one, and the former 5 On-Island Haircuts Make a Comeback

Haircuts and a Pine Island summer their freak flags fly. At some point dur- go way back. Historians have been un- ing the 1970s director Montague Ball re- able to discover how counselors and placed the on-island one-day clipathons campers got their hair cut in the earli- with the infamous Shaggy Dog Snip est days of the camp, but they must have Trips. Many campers and counselors been coifed at some point during the can remember the finger of fate find- season because it was ten weeks long. ing them in the dining hall, meaning We know that as early as the 1950s, that they would soon be on their way to when the camp season was eight weeks Oakland to “Butcher Bob” for a shear- Tom Siebert getting a haircut on the Dust Court in 1964. John Day and long, barbers from Waterville or Oak- ing. Gradually longer hair fell out of Nibs Parton await their turn. The next boy in line does not seem happy land would come out to the island once fashion and Snip Trips were abandoned. about his upcoming coif. a summer, set up chairs on the Dust Today hairstyles among counselors Court, and cut everyone’s hair, wheth- and campers tends to run the gamut er or not they needed or wanted to be from the buzz cut to luxuriant locks, clipped. For many years the barbers and recently some boys have asked to used hand-operated shears, and appar- have their hair cut a few weeks into the ently the process was both painful and six-week camp season. Fortunately for somewhat inexact. Director Ben Swan them Michelle Miller, wife of local Pine remembers haircuts on the Dust Court Island alumnus Rhoads Miller, spent by local barbers using electric clippers many years as a hairstylist and has been powered by a generator. generous enough to pull out her equip- In the late 1960s and 1970s long hair ment and give haircuts now and then to became fashionable and the great hair those in urgent need. Needless to say, battle began and lasted for many years. Michelle’s magic touch and skill provide Tears were shed by both campers and a welcome departure from the some- counselors as haircuts were forced upon what medieval methods of days gone by. Michelle Miller provides a professional touch Both Michelle and Toby seem them when they would rather have let for Buckley by the Pump House after dinner. pleased with his coif.

Spectacular Sacred Animal Gifts of Two More Monte Sent by King Kababa Ball Bazumarangs Brings Frequent Sailing Races Back Head Kababalogist Eliot Reich and again rewarded Pine Islanders with the K.I.T.* Adam Schachner provided ex- gift of a sacred animal. Jacques the Da- pert and learned guidance this summer rin’ Great Pond Heron, one of the most Generous donations by two friends what promises to be an annual season- to the campers and staff of Pine Island, beautiful animals ever, arrived in an of Pine Island made the construction of long series of races during activities, helping them interpret the many birch elaborate ceremony attended by nearly two more Monte Ball Bazumarang sail- after dinner, and as part of the Welder bark signs King Kababa sent to the camp a dozen henchmen on the last night of boats last winter possible, thus bringing Superior-Far Leaguer games on Sunday community in the course of the season. the camp season. the Bazumarang fleet to four. MGB II afternoons. Racing, first practiced by pi- Belief was strong and the King once * Kababalogist-in-Training and Artimisia joined U.S.S. Rankin and rates and naval vessels with life or death U.S.S. Springfield on Great Pond last consequences to the loser, has long been June. The Bazumarangs were designed the best way for sailors to learn how to by David Stimson to be easily handled sail a boat efficiently and safely, and the by sailors with intermediate sailing benefits to the Pine Island sailing pro- skills and to bridge the gap between be- gram have already become evident. The ing a novice passenger in one of the two PIYC is already planning a full slate of Sloan 12 ½ catboats and handling one of races for the 2014 season and is having our two high-performance JY-15s. The all four Bazumarangs made ship-shape Bazumarangs have been a great success in the off season. Our thanks especially and have allowed more boys to take the to Barry Lindquist and family for their helm of a sailboat safely in a variety of enthusiastic and generous participation weather conditions. in this successful project, which has With four identical boats, Pine Is- made Pine Island’s fleet complete and land now has its own one-design racing hard to beat. class, and last season saw the start of

Jacques, the Darin’ Great Pond Heron. The four Bazumarangs racing in light winds on Great Pond.

6 Gracious Living at 6,288 Feet—An Historic Trip Report by Montague G. Ball, Jr.

Although never a camper on the call, it was just noon when we finished At that point a miracle occurred. wrong, there wasn’t a sound! A gor- scale of a Kasper, a Nagler, or a Swan, a quick lunch and began the climb to The fog cleared for a moment, and dead geous, absolutely still day—a great start I remember taking some great trips at Tuckerman Ravine. And that is when ahead of us stood the Mount Washing- to the week ahead in which we walked Pine Island—including Mount Bigelow things began to fall apart... ton Summit House. Built of granite and from Mount Washington to Crawford with Jack Lord, Old Speck with Peter To begin with, the temperature opened in 1915, this hotel had for half a Notch in perfect weather, not a drop of Houck and Bill Rummel, and several dropped steadily. On a bright, sunny century survived the highest winds (231 rain. war canoe cruises down the Kennebec August morning the temperature at the m.p.h) and lowest temperatures (minus And Tim Holbrook? Returning to with Ken Howe, Al Hipp, Tommy Sat- parking lot had been a comfortable 78 59) ever recorded in North America. camp, I got exactly what I expected— terfield, and Cammie Arrington. But degrees. Two hours later, at the foot of It beckoned; we nearly fell through the Tim, at the top of his voice: “Ball, what’s my most memorable excursion was the Tuckerman’s, Dave Carman’s pocket door. Sitting on benches at the far end this I hear? You lead a Pine Island trip 1965 Senior Whites, which was my in- thermometer registered 55. Secondly, of the lobby, no one had the strength to the top of Mount Washington—and troduction to the Presidential Range of Jeff Kilbreth (who had suffered from car to speak, much less move. But as heat check in to a hotel!” And then, with a New Hampshire’s White Mountains. sickness en route) was again feeling ill. surged around us, I knew that I was big laugh,” I like a man who lands on his That summer I was technically in the Note his less-than-perky expression at going to find a way to stay—at which feet.” Well, that was a generous perspec- Navy, having completed a two-year tour far right. Thirdly, out of the tree line I point, my vision focused squarely on the tive to offer a counselor who had been as a deck officer on a cargo ship home- began to grasp the extent to which I had front desk manager. When I was able to woefully unprepared and ill equipped ported in Norfolk, Virginia. Vietnam badly underestimated the size of Mount get my legs under me, I staggered over (except for his checkbook). As director was heating up; the armed forces were Washington. It is enormous! And to reception and inquired whether any for twenty years I sent many trips to the trying desperately to hold on to their fourthly, after taking the group picture, rooms were available. His answer: “Are White Mountains, and I made sure all Reservists. In my case, the Navy of- I took time to read the sign on which you kidding? Look at the weather! No- were better prepared than mine was. fered a wide choice of billets if I would John Timken was leaning. It warned: body in his right mind comes up here Even so, it was great fun—including the agree to extend my commitment two “Stop! The weather ahead can be the in this stuff. Sure, lots of rooms. How crawl out of Tuckerman’s (if only in ret- more years. I signed—but on the con- worst in North America. Many have died many do you need?” rospect). And gracious living at 6,288 dition that I be granted a two-month on this mountain—even in the summer. I whimpered, “Will you take a feet? Absolutely a goal achieved! leave of absence before reporting to my Turn back now if weather is inclement.” check?” I didn’t care what it would cost. new duty station. Those two months Well, no one was in favor of turning “Sure,” he replied. Then he noticed Montague G. Ball was a counselor were mid-June to mid-August, during back—and, besides, the weather wasn’t Dave Carman and the five boys and for many years and Director from 1978- which time I was assigned without pay inclement—yet. But in another hour fog added, “But here’s a better deal. For 1989. to the Naval Reserve Training Center in rolled in; the wind rose; temperature half the price, I can put you guys in our Augusta—where occasionally I had to dropped another ten degrees. I forget bunk room. Uppers and lowers, but you make an appearance. how long it took us to climb Tucker- still get sheets, blankets, towels, and hot What I had engineered, of course, man’s, but it seemed forever. Worse, we showers. You’ll have the place to your- was Another Great Summer at PIC— couldn’t see but a few feet ahead of us, selves; nobody else has made a reserva- most of which I spent flopping around met nobody coming down the moun- tion. Dinner and breakfast included.” in a sailboat and taking life very easy. tain who could give us bearings, and Following the longest hot showers in However, as the summer began to wind by this time Dave Carman was carrying Summit House history, we gorged on down, an agent of change intruded on Jeff’s pack as well as his own. Although an enormous hamburger steak dinner, my comfortable lifestyle. He was the the trail was well marked, I was scared checked the weather station (37 degrees, director, Tim Holbrook—a fire-eating to death that we would get lost—and I 78 m.p.h. winds), then called home workaholic who never had enough to was exhausted as darkness began to set (collect) from the highest pay phone in do, and usually did it all himself. We in. Darkness? At five o’clock on an Au- eastern North America. By nine o’clock followed in his train—in awe. Anyway, gust afternoon? Not possible, I thought. we were all fast asleep—snug, warm, as the previous director, Chip Handy, Meanwhile, we were passing crosses— and dry, but the wind howling outside. had expanded Pine Island’s canoeing marking exactly where people had died So, we awoke in the morning with the program into the Allagash, Tim was in the ascent. And then it started to strangest feeling—that something was determined that our hiking trips would drizzle... extend to New Hampshire’s White Mountains. To my astonishment, he an- nounced that I would lead Pine Island’s first ascent of Mount Washington—with the very able assistance of David Car- man, who had done a lot of climbing in the Presidentials. Signed up for the trip were (left to right in the photo) Howard Ferguson, Coley Hoyt, John Timken, John Goodhue, and Jeff Kilbreth. “You’re perfect for the job, Ball,” Tim assured. “And, besides, you need some exercise.” Me, perfect? As to exercise, I had no idea what lay around the cor- ner... Ever the efficiency expert, Tim took charge of the logistics. And aware of my disinclination to move fast in the morning, he shifted our trip to the First Cabin the night before departure. “No breakfast for you, Ball—unless you get on the road! And then you can choose: McDonald’s or Dunkin’ Donuts.” Both options were rare treats and eagerly an- ticipated, all part of Tim’s plan to get us an early start. But Route 2 to Pinkham Notch was slow going, and even with From left to right: Howard Ferguson, Coly Hoyt, John Timkin, John Goodhue, Jeff Kilbreth, and Dave Carmen on their way up breakfast on the fly, it took us much Mt. Washington. longer than anticipated to reach New Hampshire’s White Mountains. As I re- 7 How To Shoot A Chocolate Rabbit: A Profile of Whit Fisher

their living room and watch all the go- long friendships with science geeks, you were interviewed by the Princeton ings-on in the nest on a large television. poets, and jocks. “It was a lot like Pine Review in those days, they asked you to While Whit has always been a natural- Island in many ways,” said Whit, “I was prepare to teach the interviewers some- ist and a lover of the outdoors, the move valued for who I was and found that my thing. Whit arrived with a large leather to Connecticut from the West Village somewhat weird sense of humor was valise. The interviewers were alarmed in New York City marked the first time appreciated instead of dismissed with a when Whit pulled out a blowtorch and in his life Whit’s home was not on the roll of the eyes.” lit it. He proceeded to instruct them on island of Manhattan. Whit and Dennis Whit recalls that becoming a coun- how to build a simple device out of a made the move, somewhat reluctantly, selor at Pine Island changed his life im- curtain rod, a plastic bead and a red-hot about five years ago when several fac- measurably for the better during the piece of steel wire that would propel a tors in their lives coalesced. Dennis’s rocky time he was having toward the dart into the target, a chocolate rabbit. parents, who live nearby in Rhode Is- end of his days at Brown. Whit’s first The lesson was entitled, “How to get land, were aging and needed care; Den- year as a counselor was in 1984 and it rid of Easter pests.” He got the job and nis was ready to retire from a successful was a good one, but it was his second later one of Whit’s student’s was accused career with the Pella Corporation; they summer on the staff that Whit calls, “… of cheating because his scores went up were both yearning for a bit of the coun- just a fantastic summer. As was later so much from one SAT test to the next. try life; and the state of New York had true at Yale, I found a bunch of smart, Whit was called to the witness stand in knocked down another bid to legalize thoughtful, funny, people with an in- the trial (He did not bring along a blow- same-sex marriage. Connecticut offered credibly wide range of interests and torch) and his student was 100% exon- the opportunity, and Whit and Dennis, experiences, and the thing we all had erated. Dr. Whit Fisher practicing his woodcraft who met in 1990, had been ready to tie in common was that we were eager to Because Whit had a notion that he skills at his home in Connecticut. the knot for a long time. They were mar- make the Pine Island season a worth- might some day go to medical school, ried in 2010. The move has worked out while, solid experience for the camp- throughout the 1990s he took night Dear Mom and Dad, well. They are able to keep tabs on Den- ers. And I could make them laugh!” courses at Hunter College to fill in his Things are terrible here. I just found out nis’s parents, Dennis teaches maritime Working at Pine Island Whit discovered pre-med gaps. In 1999 Whit was admit- none of the kids in my tent like me. I can’t history at nearby Mystic Seaport, Whit what many counselors have discovered ted to the Georgetown University Medi- stand it any longer. works as an Emergency Room physi- for the first time – they had a lot to of- cal School. He became an MD in 2003 Goodbye cian locally, and they have been close to fer and they were ready to accept the with the intention of becoming an ER Whit’s parents in New York as well. In heavy responsibility of caring for young doctor and did a four-year residency at Five years and eight weeks after this 2001 Whit was asked by a lesbian cou- people on the island, out on the water, both Bellevue Hospital and the some- letter landed in a mailbox at the New ple he knew and liked to be the biologi- and out on trips. Whit’s many successes what less chaotic NYU Tish Hospital. York City home of first-year camper cal father of a child. Whit agreed and that summer made him a leader among Anyone who has had dinner with Whit Whit Fisher (he didn’t even sign it!), Madeline was born in 2001. Whit and the staff and afforded him a measure in the past several years might think Director Emeritus Jun Swan read it at Dennis are very much in touch with the of self-confidence he had never felt be- that his primary motivation for want- the awards ceremony the afternoon of family and Whit describes his relation- fore. Whit returned for two more sum- ing to be an ER doctor was to assemble the Farewell Picnic as a prelude to pre- ship with Madeline as a cross between mers, 1986 and 1989, to lead trips, teach an enormous collection of stories cer- senting the Loyalty Award, Pine Island’s a very amicably divorced dad and an woodcraft and rowing, work as Kababa- tain to send your appetite scurrying for most venerated award, to Whit. Whit’s overinvolved uncle. When Madeline logist, and entertain everyone endlessly the exits, but he insists that there were mother had sent the letter to director was young and her parents explained with outrageous and hilarious campfire other perfectly good reasons for choos- Monte Ball five summers before with to her that Whit was her biological fa- skits and songs and barely appropriate ing this specialty. He felt he was “… not a note attached saying something to ther but not her dad, she said, “Oh, like Saturday Night Shows like I Love Louise. exactly Marcus Welby” and he wanted the effect of, “Could you do something Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker!” She But as is still true today, Whit’s often- to have as little as possible to do with about this?” Monte of course intervened understood immediately, making Whit outrageous humor and ghoulish stories insurance companies, he liked the idea and helped Whit adapt, but he also real- quite proud. disguised his deep commitment to the of being either on or off duty, and liked ized that the letter was too good to throw Whit started his academic life at a care and education of young people. the unpredictable nature of the emer- away and promply pinned it to his wall. preschool at the Cathedral of St. John Whit possesses an astonishing ability to gency room and the variety of work it That Whit’s first letter home was the Divine and gleefully recalls playing connect with young people, and for that presented to him every day. Whit’s first something of a dramatic shocker would basketball in a “gym” in the crypts be- matter old and middle-aged people as job after his residency was at a bankrupt be no surprise to anyone who has been neath the church. “Sometimes the ball well, in a matter of seconds. No doubt Catholic hospital in the Bronx. “It was a treated to one of Whit’s stories, but would roll down a dim hallway con- this is ability to connect instantly makes great first job because the place was in that Whit was unhappy at Pine Island taining crypts with the remains of long- him a highly valued asset in any ER. complete financial ruin and it was like would be to them, and perhaps even to dead parishioners, and it was pretty Whit graduated from Yale in 1989 the Wild West, a trial by fire. Someone Whit, the most surprising thing about creepy if you were the one who had to with a degree in psychobiology. His first would come in having been shot in the it. Whit went on to work as a much be- retrieve it.” (Perhaps this early life ex- job out of college was teaching 4th and face, blood all over the place, and people loved counselor at Pine Island for four perience sheds some light on Whit’s fa- 5th grade and high school science at the would be looking at me saying, ‘You do summers and to serve on Pine Island’s mously ghoulish sense of humor.) Whit ultra-elite Spence School in Manhattan. it!’” Whit says he learned a great deal Board of Directors for over ten years. then attended the Collegiate School He was hired when two science teach- there and then moved on to the more Although Whit has not been on the from fifth grade through high school ers were fired late in the summer. “The stable St. Luke’s Hospital on the West PIC staff for many years, he visits Pine and enrolled at Brown University in the very first class I had to teach was on the Side. He still works at St. Luke’s from Island almost every summer and his ar- fall of 1984. Whit’s experience at Brown menstrual cycle,” Whit recalls. “After time to time, but his main job title is As- rival is always eagerly anticipated, even was not smooth sailing. He found the living through that I knew I could sur- sociate Professor of Emergency Medi- by those who have never met him. Will school’s population split between the vive anything.” After a year at Spence, cine at Brown University, and Whit he bring another rubber severed limb extremes of a jock culture and a culture Whit took off on a six-month journey works at two teaching hospitals, Rhode for the Saturday Night Show costume of hyper-liberalism that he said “talked through Southeast Asia, visiting Nepal, Island Hospital and Miriam Hospital, locker with him? What grisly tales of incessantly of inclusiveness but was al- India, Thailand, Indonesia, and Japan. where he both treats patients in the ER life in the ER will he treat us to? Within most Victorian in its perpetual state of Over the next several years Whit held and supervises and teach residents who minutes of his arrival, Whit is inevitably indignation and disapproval.” Whit left a variety of jobs in what he calls “dot are currently training in Emergency surrounded by campers and staff alike, Brown halfway through his sophomore bomb” companies in New York. One Medicine. and it is never long before everyone is year and transferred to Yale, entering was run by a Maoist who hired Whit to We are very hopeful that when a lit- laughing. Yale in January of the following year. oversee technology and science websites tle less of his time is spoken for, Whit We contacted Dr. Whit Fisher at his Whit said Yale attracted him because of but reassigned him to overseeing their will return to the Pine Island board of beautiful home in Pawcatuck, Con- its arcane traditions, creepy secret so- most profitable websites, the x-rated directors with his particular brand of necticut that he shares with his husband cieties, generally more cynical student ones, because none of the more experi- wisdom, which involves a near anarchic Dennis Gagne, three cats, and a snake body, and most importantly the pres- enced members of the company would irreverence that just barely conceals an named Scooter. Their back yard sweeps ence of so many unlikely friendships do it. Another job Whit held during that endlessly generous and warm heart and down to the Wequetecock estuary and that linked people with clearly divergent eight-year period was tutoring students a deep devotion to Pine Island. In the includes an osprey’s nest atop a pole that interests. Whit loved Yale and thrived for the Princeton Review in order to help meantime, we are all eagerly anticipat- is rigged with a camera. One can sit in academically and socially, forging life- them improve their SAT scores. When ing Whit’s next visit. 8 Riflery and Archery Ranges Move to New Venues, Improvements Made to Both

A couple of weeks into the 2013 sea- Ace excavator artist Maurice Childs of son the riflery range was moved from Belgrade has graded the area and we its longtime home across the road from will put down a carpet of woodchips or the tennis courts into the new Earl M. bark mulch in the spring. There are two Smith, Jr. Range/Barn. Sharpshoot- enormous advantages to the new ar- ers and novices now shoot about two- chery range location. The range will be, thirds of the length of the barn out the for the most part, in the shade! Genera- The Whitehouse Riflery–Archery Shed. end of the building to target traps about tions of dedicated archery instructors fifteen feet outside the building. A mas- and campers have unpleasant memo- sive sand berm was created to serve as ries of long activity periods in July on a safe backstop. Further improvements the baking, shadeless clay by the side of The Long Walk Dragging A were made to the interior of the Range/ the road and of clouds of dust descend- Barn this fall. During the summer the ing upon them as various vehicles swept Small Building three double sliding doors will remain by. And, next year’s counselors will be open so that the range will have a roof thrilled to hear that the new archery but will be mostly open to the light and backstop will be made of backstop net- At this writing Great Pond is cov- Details are sketchy at this time—some breeze. Participants this summer pro- ting, so we will dispense with the un- ered with about eight inches of ice and have observed that the whole operation nounced the new range a great success. pleasant and frustrating job of pulling a wind-blown uneven blanket of new is pretty sketchy—but if by February the The former riflery range will become apart last year’s rotting and snake in- snow. Temperatures have dipped well conditions are right, Swan will gather a the location of the new archery range. fested hay bales and toiling to construct below zero for several nights running crew and head to Belgrade to attempt The fall maintenance crew removed the a new and effective backstop from new, and even a slight breeze makes exposed the operation. Swan indicates early in- old railroad tie backstop and cut a num- hay bales that always seemed to arrive at skin a target for frostbite. Director Ben terest from local contractor Dan Trem- ber of small trees beyond the backstop the last moment and to have been baled Swan is happy with the weather. “We’ll bly, who brings two important things to to create a clearing that extends about far too loosely. need at least a foot of ice, preferably two the team—he and his sons own a small forty yards out from the shed from We are looking forward to lots of or three feet, to feel secure heading out fleet of snowmobiles, and he is really which the riflery marksmen once shot. sharp shooting in 2014! across the lake dragging a small build- good at figuring stuff out on the fly. The ing,” he said recently. Always on the 8’x12’ building is already on skids, so it lookout for a winter adventure on the should not be difficult to pull over the lake, Swan has in the past engineered snow and ice. Pulling the building up ice cutting, winter picnics, and even the steep embankment from the surface an overnight in the library up in Honk of the ice may present more problems, Hall. His latest scheme is to move the but Swan is undaunted by the prospect former Riflery/Archery Shed, a gift to of a small building stuck on melting ice the camp from the Whitehouse fam- at the bottom of the hill next spring. “I ily, from the former archery range by live quite near the Peary McMillan Arc- the tennis courts on the mainland to tic Museum at Bowdoin College.” Swan the steep slope below the library on the said with a faint, fleeting smile, seeming island. The shed will become the new to feel this qualified him for operations home of the fly fishing program and will with an arctic flavor. house rods, reels, fly tying equipment, The “new” building has not yet been and other fly fishing paraphernalia, re- named, but perhaps one will come to moving it from the library where it has the team in the course of the operation. been making quite a mess since fly fish- Endurance, perhaps? ing was adopted several years ago as a full-fledged activity.

Looking down the new riflery range toward the targets. Looking back toward the former riflery firing platform from the end of the new archery range.

9 pine island camp 2013—another great summer

Tom on a sunny day on Great Pond. David Kemp. Conner Ozer wailing away on his sax at Club Honk.

Colin, Ethan and Liam at their Maine Woodsman The French connection: Ramin, Elie, and Cyrus. campsite in Norridgewock. Rip and the Tips: Nick Miller, Rip Swan, Satchel Toole, Cole Gibson, Ben Lorber, and Conner Ozer.

Head of Kayaking Carrie Turner and Head Cook Tucker returning from Senior Canoe. Matt on the Kopa porch with his uke. Krista Wiberg.

General swim with Maxx, Elliot, Tucker, George, and Daniel Lobb. Pulling a Pine Island Skiff out of the Kennebec River below Bath after a four- day rowing trip that started just below Waterville.

Bobby interrogates Ramin while Mateo and Oliver look A very satisfying 4th of July raft burning. Carson in the Boat House. on in “Treaure Island.” 10 The Far Leaguers with their 4th of July raft. Award winners Noah, Harry, Lorenzo, and Matt with director Ben Swan.

Alex Dhawan with his Goldsworthy Bemis sculpture. Benedict and Reid are themselves works of art. Jack and Matt.

Herman Zullow at the helm of a Bazumarang. Stephen and Reid in “Treasure Island,” a hit Saturday Night Ace scheduler Harry Swan at work in the Staff Office. Show.

Bobby with Ethan looking on. Skipper Deb Turner.

The Welder Superiors with their th4 of July raft.

Simon gets ready for rowing. Will and Philippe ready to head out on the lake in Maxx and a load of wood he split at Maine rowing class. Woodsman. 11 Fall Maintenance Work Sloan Critchfield Completes Needle Point Memorial Boat Renovations and New Tent Maintenance Workshop Platforms Draws Large Crowd In September In the never-ending quest to keep up 14’x14’ tent platform where a 12’x12’ with the effects of time and weather on platform stood before. This expansion Pine Island’s buildings (it is 9º and snow- enabled us to remove Tent 21 perma- Thirty-two Pine Island alumni, par- the good work done over the past seven ing as I write), the camp again hired lo- nently as a first step in restoring the ents and friends gathered at Pine Island years has left us without enough boat cal contractor Dan Trembly to take on extension of the West Range path. Dan over the weekend of September 14 for work to keep everyone busy, so for the the next few items on our list. This fall also did extensive work on the building the annual Boat Maintenance Work- past two Sloan Weekends we have put Dan, with assistance from First Cabin known as Needle Point. Since John Bun- shop to sand, paint, varnish, repair, lug, some of the younger folk to work with dwellers Harry Swan, Steph Hudon, and ker and Ben Swan built Needle Point in and generally care for Pine Island’s large other island maintenance. This year Jamie Azdair, did some major work on 1994, it has been a hybrid cabin/tent, fleet of boats and to honor the memory they enjoyed demolishing an old tent three structures down on the far north with canvas covering the gable ends and of sorely missed Pine Island camper and platform, and their work saved Pine Is- end of the island and on three tent plat- the upper part of the walls beneath the counselor Sloan Critchfield. Boat build- land time and money in advancing the forms. eves. This was a fine arrangement but er and former counselor Abe Stimson fall maintenance work. We look forward The crew demolished the tent plat- after many years it was agreed that we was again the man in charge and arrived to picking one or two non-boat projects forms of Tents 7, 13, and 16, the last could do better. early Friday to prepare for the arrival to complete each September in addition of those built hurriedly in July of 1995 Dan put siding and big windows of the many willing, if not always ex- to working on the Pine Island fleet. to replace platforms burned in the fire. where the canvas covered the gables, put pert workers that evening and the next It’s a win-win for sure—you get to Dan rebuilt the platforms using the ma- siding and small windows beneath the morning. Krista Wiberg and Sandy Hol- spend a couple of nights on Pine Island terials and design pioneered by Rhoads eaves, built two fine doors, removed the land prepared fabulous food for every- during one of the most beautiful months Miller and Richard Beck several years “shelf from hell” that occupied way too one throughout the weekend, outdoing of the year in Maine, hang out with great ago, giving us platforms that are both much space in the middle of the cabin, even past efforts with a lantern-lit feast people, eat lots of great food, honor the durable and beautiful. The crew also de- and built in six beds of the type grac- in the Dining Hall Saturday night. Spe- memory of a great Pine Islander, and ac- molished the Tent 21 platform, original- ing Northampton and the Third Cabin. cial thanks to Bob Kriscunas for making complish important work for the camp. ly built several years ago as a temporary The space will be much more comfort- the trek again all the way from Dallas, The 2014 Sloan Critchfield Memorial dwelling below the library in Honk Hall. able and efficiently used, but perhaps Texas to lend a hand and to honor Sloan. Boat Maintenance Workshop will take Tent 21 will not be rebuilt. its residents will miss the chaos that al- The work this year, as usual, included place September 12-14. If you would Dan then went to work on the three ways ensued when the occasional heavy much sanding and painting and some like to sign up, you can send an email to structures down on Needle Point that north wind or thunderstorm swept the boat repairs. The result once again is that Pine Island’s communications director house the dozen or so young women northern tip of the island. Maybe not! we will open camp next June with a fleet Sarah Hunter at [email protected]. who work on the Pine Island staff each Other projects were completed dur- that looks showroom shiny and new. We Don’t miss it! summer. The “Condo” is traditionally ing the fall, including a fresh coat of have found that the cumulative effect of the home of our head cook. It is the tiny paint on the floors of the North and building that forms an “L” to the Shop South Perches, some interior painting and on whose south wall is painted the and varnishing, the clearing of the new tail of the dragon. Dan jacked up the archery range, and a good deal of debris Condo, moved it south a few feet, put removal from the various demolition on a new roof re-shingled the walls, and construction projects. With a bit of installed new windows, built a new spring cleanup the island should be ship door and installed a new floor. Moving shape for the 2014 season. the Condo made room for a full-sized

Matt Miller and Teddy Hincks at work repainting moorings.

“The Condo” completely refurbished.

New built-in bunk beds in Needle Point.

Lowell Libby, David Critchfield, and Bob Kriscunas taking another break.

12 Earl M. Smith, Jr. Range/Barn Completed—Immediately Realizes Promise to Be Useful, Versatile, and Beautiful

Pine Island’s newest building, the big beautiful barn built in the fall of 2012 and the spring of 2013, means different things to different Pine Islanders. To the riflery instructors it is a range that can be used rain or shine. To those putting Pine Island to bed for the winter it is a safe and weatherproof home for boats, trailers, and equipment that was either stored indoors at a high cost or simply left out in the weather for the winter. To director Ben Swan it is both of these things but also a dream come true—a temporary, spacious place for camp- ers’ luggage brought to the mainland on the always stressful packing day. In days gone by, already a distant if trau- matic memory, some poor souls would be charged with erecting three old wall tents on the archery range the day be- fore packing day in what always seemed to be either sweltering heat or pouring rain. Now luggage can be easily depos- ited, organized, and retrieved by parents on the last day of camp from the well- The Earl M. Smith, Jr. Range/Barn. lit airy barn instead of from dank, dark, often muddy tent. Seeing the barn’s spa- cious interior for the first time, former assistant director Ned Bishop immedi- ately said, “We need a couple of hoops in here—rainy day activities!” Perhaps peach baskets would be more appropri- ate given the fact that Dr. Swan’s original co-director, Raymond Kaighn, is cred- ited with helping to invent the game of basketball with James Naismith in 1891. And the Smith Range/Barn’s uses will go beyond the building itself. LTIP director Rip Swan quickly saw a way to make the Freight Shed down by the mainland dock a more organized and useful building by storing much of its contents up at the barn. Fly fishing counselors are eagerly anticipating the adaptive reuse of the Riflery-Archery Shed, made available by the barn’s con- struction, as the Fly Fishing Shed, which in turn will allow Emily Swan to cele- brate the removal of all the fly fishing equipment from the camp library! Trusses being lowered into place in May 2013. While the 30’x60’ wooden structure undoubtedly will be used in many dif- ferent ways, it is clearly already a build- ing that has Pine Island counselors and directors wondering how they ever did without it. Many thanks to Earl Smith, Jr. and Tim Nagler, whose generous contributions made all these dreams come true!

Boats and equipment stored in the Smith Range/Barn.

13 Throughout the entire adventure I where to find water, and gauge with con- thought about Pine Island and realized fidence my location. Without these skills, that if I had not had both the psychologi- which I had gone on to teach to campers cal conditioning I learned on PIC hiking as a woodcraft instructor, I could easily trips and the skills I learned from wood- have become dehydrated and lost among craft instructors like Rob Moor, I would the dizzying peaks and wandered in the have turned around at my first obstacle. Greek wilderness that is inhabited by At PIC I learned that each step, no mat- bear and wild pigs, and my adventure ter how uncomfortable, will take you to might not have ended as well as it did, better views, the eventual comfort of ly- with me feasting on local food and watch- ing in your sleeping bag in a tent, and the ing the sunset from a beautiful mountain great joy of high altitudes. Rob Moor and refuge. other woodcraft instructors taught me Akka Lakka! to read topographical lines, determine Zander

Letter From Expedition Camp 2013

It has become something of a tradi- rock jutting out into Round Pond. The tion to receive a letter from the co-lead- rest was much needed. Half the portage ers of Expedition Camp, Pine Island’s was on an open dirt road with no shade six-week program for fifteen-year-old and plenty of horse flies and mosquitos. boys, sent back with the driver who The day before that we began our pad- meets them a week into the Allagash dle, battling a strong headwind in Black Zander Abranowicz among the mountains of Greece. Wilderness canoe trip to resupply them. Pond up to the mouth of Caucomogo- Below are excerpts from this year’s letter moc Stream and ended the day walking, from Expedition Camp directors Ben hauling, and pushing the boats up the Schachner and Sumner Ford. The 2013 Horserace in waist-high water. Our sec- Letter From Greece Expedition Campers included Alex ond day on the water was a twenty-five Audi, Noah Brodsky, Byron Gaspard, mile push to Canvas Dam, which includ- by Zander Abranowicz Justin Gaspard, Gray Hill, and Tommy ed a healthy headwind on Chesuncook Mottur. The 2014 Expedition Camp Lake and on the Penobscot Corridor. The program has already reached its ten- boys have maintained an unwavering Zander Abranowicz was a camper at for awhile and coming upon a distinctly camper capacity! determination through the trip though, Pine Island from 2004-2007 and a coun- creepy group of burned out campsites, I and spirits are high. They’ve assumed selor in 2011. decided to backtrack, took another look July 6, 2013 their daily roles and responsibilities with at my map, and began to hunt for the Dear Ben, gusto and they’ve become more cohesive September 21, 2013, Ithaca, NY right trail. I rejected the first possibility Five days into our trip we’ve covered as a group already. We have enjoyed our because it shot straight up and was a riv- about forty miles by canoe and on foot. daily debriefs, and the boys are open to Dear Ben, erbed mess of loose rocks, moss, and dan- Yesterday, hefting the canoes onto our suggestions and seem eager to learn, and I hope all is well in Maine. I wish I gerous footings with no apparent blazes. shoulders, we portaged the roughly three- amongst them all runs a strain of ex- could have come up, but I was a long way Shortly thereafter I discovered that this mile dirt road and grass trail from our citement and curiosity about what lies from Great Pond this summer, traveling was in fact the trail and began one of the Round Pond North campsite to the put- around the next bend in the river and around Greece on a Cornell fellowship most intense and terrifying hikes of my in on Allagash Lake. Jay, the park ranger what each new day will bring... doing research on the domestic crisis. I life. I was on all fours with my heavy pack at the put-in, who bears a striking resem- …Hope all is well back on the island. met incredible people, witnessed a coun- teetering on my back, scrambling up this blance to Gimley from Lord of the Rings We all miss PIC and the island life, but try on the verge of major change, and was mess, cursing myself and the trail and us- without the double-sided war axe and we’re steadily fall into into a comfort- able to put to use some of my academic ing tree stumps and saplings to pull my- battle helmet, asked us in passing how the able routine on the rivers and lakes of the education and the skills and mindset I self up. It was the steepest trail I’d ever grays and blues were doing; turns out he north Maine woods…See you in a week developed at Pine Island as a camper and hiked and there was no sign of markings had read the Down East article and he and a half! counselor. One experience I had while of any kind, other hikers, or any indica- mentioned that his wife had a long list of traveling along the border of Albania and tion at all that this even was a trail. questions for us about the War Game... Akka Lakka! Ben and Sumner Greece stands out. This went on for two hours and at …We spent the rest of yesterday af- To reach Papigno, a particularly beau- one point I had to go back down quite ternoon and evening lounging on a large p.s. Almost forgot—we saw nearly a tiful remote town in the mountainous a ways to retrieve my water bottle that section of sun-baked glacially scarred dozen moose on the stream yesterday! region along the Greek-Albanian border had dropped out of my pack and bounced where I had a contact and a bed, I had to down the trail. I hugged the side of a take a bus from the other side of Greece cliff to my right, hoping the trail would to a town called Konitsa and then hike a cross the riverbed as the map suggested full day through the mountains. I arrived it would. I told myself that if by 1:30 in Konitsa to find that any store where I didn’t see any markings, I would go I might have been able to buy a map or back down so I wouldn’t become lost in compass had closed “as a result of the cri- these mountains, where I was certain no sis.” Looking at the immense mountains one would come looking for me. Then that surrounded the town, I started to suddenly I found myself at the top of a panic a bit. Luckily I met a Greek hiker ridge and there was the first trail mark- who explained the route as best he could ing, a red arrow spray-painted on a rock. and generously gave me his map, add- I actually laughed out loud in relief and ing ominously, “The trail is the most dif- moved on with renewed confidence. The ficult in Greece.” Unfazed, I enjoyed my trail continued to be difficult and steep, dinner with him and the next day confi- but eventually I came out onto a plateau dently crossed an ancient bridge over the where everything opened up with moun- Aoos River and followed a dirt road that tains on all sides and green plains ahead took me past bubbling brooks and skit- of me. I could make out some distant col- tish goats to a monastery where I filled orful specks, humans who would eventu- 2013 Expedition Campers and Leaders: Sumner Ford, Alex, Tommy, Ben Schachner, my water bottles at a spring and took my ally direct me to my destination, which I Byron, Justin, Gray, and Noah. first wrong turn of the day. After walking reached that evening. 14 Campers Write

Our thanks to Michael Robertson for decided to come to Pine Island, I con- onto my soggy skin. It happened again It became increasingly difficult to con- making his way up to PIC mid-summer sidered it a leap of faith. I knew that it and again. My shorts clung to me so trol my deadened legs. Then out of the from New York City to spearhead the was either going to be spectacular or tightly I couldn’t tell where shorts ended fog came a beautiful amazing sight: the production of the on-line Summer Pine mediocre. My risk has paid off, and I and skin began. I followed the group to lunch hut! The sight of our destination Needle. Below are some samples of the am having one of the best times of my a little break in the grueling ascent and propelled us on, and soon we had ar- writing campers did with Michael’s en- life. When I go home and tell my New we got a water break. I shivered and my rived. couragement. York City friends of my summer hik- joints groaned as we started up again. We were hit with a wave of warmth ing mountains, learning to kayak and The world seemed perfectly still as we as we floundered through the door. The sail, and making so many new friends, I trudged on. The endless stairwell grew giant pack on my shoulders had worn Sailing think they might have trouble thinking steeper still and we chugged more of our my legs to jelly. I felt the first tingling of a comeback. Pine Island gives kids precious water. I thought back to when of pain in the ankle I had rolled on the by Will Pomerantz, age 13 the fun that they want and also some- I was a younger child and how I would rocks. Our counselors began to pass out thing that they don’t always realize. Pine never have been able to complete this packets of Starkist tuna and tortillas, Living in New York City does not give Island makes kids better people in the grueling summit, on and on the rocks which we all devoured immediately. I me the opportunity to sail as much as I long run. Pine Island has made me a kept coming and coming. It seemed as thought it was the best thing I had ever would like. The only time I got to sail better person! though the mountain was laughing at eaten. My friend Jacob told me, “Every- at home was when I was nine and did a our little sweaty bodies. Then the trees thing tastes good on hiking trips.” sailing camp for a couple of weeks. That began to thin and to shrink. Soon the After I was done and had refilled my was the first time I had sailed by myself. Walking the Storm trees were only about eleven feet high, water bottle, we flopped out the door I was scared on the water. The next year and then all of a sudden the tree line into the rain. I went to Pine Island. Given my expe- by Ben Chester, age 13 broke and I stared up at the summit. Our group had finished Mt. Madison rience at home, I was scared of signing Mount Madison’s summit looks as and we now set our sights on Mt. Ad- up for sailing and it was not until this “Wake up!” Cody’s loud booming though someone has dropped a large ams. The ridgeline hike took our wea- year that I started signing up for sailing. voice echoed as he rocked our tent, pile of rocks on top and made them into ry group all the way to the summit of As it turns out, it is my favorite activity “c’mon get up.” I groaned as I slowly sat 4 separate hill-like peaks. Our group Adams, which all in all was a very easy and last summer I became much more up. My back was aching from yester- walked over to the base of the first hill hike. As we came back to the “Scottish confident on the water. I am looking day’s hike and sleeping on my rock-hard and dropped our packs for a gorp break. Hills,” I heard a rumble of thunder. forward to sailing a lot next summer. trail pad. I rubbed sleep from my eyes. If you ever go for a long hike with a 25 Rain fell in buckets and our main As I pulled myself from my sleeping bag or 30-pound pack then you will under- focus was to get off that ridge fast! I grabbed my shorts and shirt and threw stand the feeling I felt for the first time. We weren’t far from the trees, and we Outside the Box them on, yanked up my wool socks and My entire body felt like it was hovering made for them at a pace I didn’t think tied up my boots, then I pushed myself inches from the ground, like a sudden my body could handle, but finally, after by Henry Sikora, age 12 into the misting world just outside our magical bolt shot down from the sky and what seemed like hours we saw it—our tent. I ate a hasty bagel breakfast with made me grow two inches; it was awe- cabin! Shouts of celebration came up Most kids go to camp to learn about the group and closed my hip strap with some. It was a short break but it was just from our party, “Yay!” and “Woohoo!” water skiing, tubing, and other types of a click as we started our long march to enough to cut the edge of my hunger. as we tumbled through the door. activities that include the use of modern the summit. At one point I was sure we had reached Later that night, as I lay down on my technology. Pine Island campers receive The path quickly started to climb up- the top, however another grueling pile mattress (a rare luxury for campers), I something more. We learn about how ward as we marched; the smooth trail I of stone towered over us yet again. At thought over our day. Despite the hard- life used to be by doing more with less. had hiked yesterday had disappeared. long last we reached it and the feeling I ship and the difficulty, my mind had When my friends from home tell me In its place was a staircase of stone. A got when I was on top is indescribable. already made a decision deep down. I about their experiences from camp, tell- thick fog had rolled in and blocked our It was as if I were Zeus sitting atop my was going to be taking a lot more hiking ing them that I spent six weeks living in view of the valley behind us. The large throne in Olympus staring down at all trips this year! a tent with no electricity or running wa- rocks that jutted out from the path were the puny mortals below. ter probably won’t sound like much fun. slick from last night’s rainstorm. Pine My feeling of awesomeness was short I think the reason people don’t think it branches reached their long arms out lived, because we soon began to hike sounds fun is that it’s different. When I and wiped hundreds of freezing droplets down the steepest slope I had seen yet.

Rafted up and sailing down an Allagash Wilderness lake. On the Allagash River in the early morning.

15 Needle News Briefs

Pine Islander, Actor, Christian mer working at the renowned William- Schneider Remembers His Lines stown Theater Festival as an acting ap- prentice and was cast as a spy named Christian Schneider, a senior at Wes- Mack in Hapgood by Tom Stoppard, leyan University who is from Bruns- Christian’s first show with equity actors, wick, Maine, used to wow campers and one of which was Kate Burton from staff alike at campfire with a feat we are Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal. Christian unlikely to see repeated any time soon. plans to head to New York, Los Angeles, Christian could, without hesitating, re- or London to take the next step. Break a cite entire scenes, including dialogue leg and Akka Lakka, Christian! from all the characters, from any one of a dozen feature films. And if time al- Visit the Revamped lowed, he could, and did, recite entire Pine Island Website! movies. Needless to say this came in pretty handy on those occasions when Many hours of work by board mem- the van was a couple of hours late for a ber John Pollard, director of communi- trip pickup or the tennis class was stuck cations Sarah Hunter, and webmaster in the Freight Shed during a rainstorm. John Bald have given the Pine Island Rob and Charlie Boutwell all smiles at Fenway Park after the Red Sox win the World Watching Christian do all the parts in Camp website, www.pineisland.org, a Series. the famous “She’s a witch!” scene from fresh new look and a structure that is Monty Python and the Holy Grail, hop- easier to use and full of information, ping about on the sandy stage on what photos, and opportunities for Pine Is- might otherwise have been a slow night, land alumni to stay in touch with Pine was a thing of beauty. So it goes with- Island through Facebook and the Pine out saying that, while Christian has en- Island Blog. We hope that you will visit countered many challenges in the early the site often to stay abreast of goings- stages of what the Newshound is certain on at Pine Island Camp, and we espe- will be a long and successful acting ca- cially hope you will send new families reer and will certainly encounter many with camp-age boys to the site. We think more, remembering his lines will not be they will find the Pine Island experience one of them. In fact, Christian usually irresistible. knows all his lines and everyone else’s! Christian will graduate from Wesleyan Pine Island Red Sox Fans Rewarded this spring with a double major in His- tory and Theater. He has acted through- It is hardly news to say that the Bos- out his college career and spent the first ton Red Sox had a banner year, staging a semester of his junior year in London thrilling worst to first turnaround in the Robby, Sara, and Xander Schwartz at Fenway Park anticipating the Red Sox victory in at an acting conservatory and played 2013 season. An unscientific poll indi- Game 6 of the ALCS. the role of Posthumous in Shakespeare’s cates that the number of Pine Islanders Cymbeline, which was directed by a rooting for the Red Sox is about matched member of the Royal Shakespeare Com- by those rooting for the Yankees, and pany. He said the London experience there is a smattering of Pine Islanders cemented his desire to continue acting. loyal to other baseball teams across the At Wesleyan Christian most recently country. At least two PIC families were played the Lord of the Underworld in on hand to witness the Red Sox spec- Eurydice, and Bobby Sands, the IRA tacular ups and downs during the ALCS hunger striker, in an original play called and World Series home games in Fen- Fire and Bone. Christian spent last sum- way Park. What a ride!

Christian Schneider as Posthumous in Cymbeline in London. The War Yacht with her nylon skin removed is ready for repairs.

16 In Memoriam

entered the bar and found a few terrified Stephen Gardner patrons in one corner and the handy- man sitting by himself at a table. Dave It is with great sadness that we report enthusiastically greeted him and sat the death of Pine Island parent and for- down, to the awe of all others present. mer board member Stephen Gardner From that moment on, Dave could walk on July 17, 2013. Steve was 59. Steve through Oakland with complete confi- and Dorothy Gardner’s sons Chris and dence. With many warm memories of Brendan both attended Pine Island as Pine Island, Dave never forgot his sum- campers and then worked at PIC. Steve mers there. His family continued his was extremely generous to Pine Island Pine Island legacy, with his sons Whit Camp with his time and his wisdom, and Doug and grandson Steven attend- and his and Dorothy’s exceptionally ing for many years. Dave is survived by generous financial support of Pine Is- his wife Carolyn, who lives in New York land Camp and its fledgling Whitehead City. Akka Lakka, Dave. Light Station project at a critical time was instrumental in preparing that facil- ity for its opening season in 2009. Steve Peter Van Dyke Berg Pine Islander Hans Sprecher (left) and his co-drivers on the Transfagarasan High- graduated from Princeton University in way in Romania. 1975, majoring in geophysics. He taught Peter Van Dyke Berg, of Walpole, science at the Fenn School in Concord, New Hampshire and New Canaan, War Yacht Receives TLC From she was moored in the Cove for several Massachusetts from 1975-1979 and Connecticut died December 16, 2013 Stimson Marine summers before we realized that having then entered Harvard Business School. in New Canaan with his family at his a wet bilge was tough on her many lash- Steve entered the computer industry side. He was 89. Peter was married to Time flies. Pine Island’s War Yacht is ings; and she was not always stored in a in 1983, working for Burroughs Com- Theodora “Teddy” Gibson Berg, mother fifteen years old this year. She is a 28- manner that took into account her light pany in Detroit. His entrepreneurial of Pine Islander Tad Gibson and grand- foot long skin-on-frame “canoe” used construction. She was a first of her kind spirit and thirst for innovation guided mother of Nick, Cole, and Cade Gibson. by Pine Islanders on their forays into boat when she was built, and over the him through a multitude of ventures His grandsons Peter Berg and Jamie big water, including the Kennebec Riv- years we have learned a good deal. This in the industry, including positions at McMillan also attended Pine Island. Pe- er and Flagstaff Lake. When designer winter the War Yacht is back with Stim- Bull HN, Data General and Peregrine ter grew up in Orange, NJ and gradu- and builder David Stimson was asked son Marine, who will give her a new Systems, where he became the CEO. ated from the Lawrenceville School in if he would build Pine Island a war ca- nylon/hypalon skin, a new keel, over a Steve moved to Belfast, Maine where he 1942. After high school he attended noe (Old Town had said “no thanks”), hundred new lashings, and new thwarts worked with and enjoyed being with his Yale University where he was a member he said the problem with canoes is that and supports. The result will be a some- family, including his daughter-in-law of the class of ‘45W. He was on active they want to be either right-side up or what stiffer boat with less of a tendency Katarzyna, his granddaughter Gabriela, military duty from 1943 to 1946. He re- upside down, and the transition from to hog and to work her lashings loose. and his beloved golden retriever Remy. ceived his mechanical engineering de- the former to the latter tends to happen We will also store her out of the water Steve was a generous, cheerful, indefati- gree from Yale in 1948 and his J.D. from in the blink of an eye. So David went on during the summer and store her on her gable man who loved all that Pine Island Yale in 1952. He joined the law firm to design a canoe-like boat that is actu- specially built trailer during the winter Camp stood for and was always eager to of Cadwalader, Wickersham and Taft ally more along the lines of a St. Law- with support wherever she needs it. help in any way he could. Akka Lakka, in New York in 1957 and became that rence Skiff rowboat. The result was an Steve. firm’s youngest partner in 1961. In 1974, extremely seaworthy boat with a capac- Are We There Yet? Pine Islander he left Cadwalader to start his own firm, ity of ten paddlers that can be paddled, Drives from Dover To Mongolia Landmark Management, Inc., where he rowed, or sailed using its square sail. She David Fisher worked until his death. Peter was a great has been an ideal craft for any trip on Writes former counselor Hans Spre- friend to Pine Island Camp, and he and big water, especially with little boys, and cher of his journey, “The Fiat Panda, David Fisher died peacefully in his Teddy provided a hot meal and a warm with her removable floorboards she is happily sporting PIC decals, made it home on Wednesday, September 25, bed for director Ben Swan on his re- just light enough for eight campers and to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in one piece. 2013 under hospice care from a rap- cruiting travels for nearly twenty years two counselors to lift in and out of the You can just make out ‘Gracious Living’ idly progressive neurologic illness. He and introduced him to both Bleinheim’s water. on the side of the attached photo, taken was 83. Dave discovered Pine Island spicy ginger ale and Ting, the grapefruit The War Yacht has taken a beating on the Transfagarasan Highway in Ro- through his sister, who worked at the libation made in Antigua, where Peter over her life. She was left rubbing for mania. It was a good six-week drive and Collegiate School with Jun Swan. As the spent many happy days at his beautiful hours on a rock while moored at Oak my most exciting trip since the Allagash camp’s skipper for two summers start- home there. For much of his life Peter Island one night and had to be patched; senior canoe trip of 2008.” ing in 1950, Dave executed all of a mod- was a 100%er in his backyard swim- ern skipper’s obligations, with the add- ming pool as much of the year as there ed burden of transporting enormous was water in it, and one could always slabs of ice from the head of the camp recognize the 100%er’s spring in his step road several times a week. He was both and gleam in his eye. Akka Lakka, Peter. pleased and disdainful when the camp first bought propane gas-powered re- frigerators. Dave was fond of eccentric stories of blind luck and futile passions, and he often told the tale of taking a ca- noe out from camp on a night off. He randomly selected a light on the shore- line as a destination, and when he fi- nally arrived he found two lonely young women playing Monopoly. A friendship quickly turned to a romance with one, which finally ended with Dave trying to knock the door off her house with the camp truck several weeks later. He also spoke warmly of his friendship with a local handyman who worked for the camp, who had (with his brother) forc- ibly evicted everyone from a bar one Dave Fisher aboard a schooner c. 1950. night in Oakland. A week later, Dave

17 THE KEEPER’S LOG A Successful Season of Growth, Learning and Re-Creation at Pine Island Camp’s Whitehead Light Station

The Whitehead Light Station, Pine at the Light Station last summer. This Volunteer Rent the Facility Island Camp’s stunningly beautiful was Daisy’s third trip to the Light Sta- eleven-acre facility on the northeast end tion and everyone enjoyed the peaceful The work is hard, but the food is The entire Whitehead Light Station is of Whitehead Island, was a busy place beauty of one of the most spectacular good and it always feels great to whip for rent by the week. It is an ideal loca- again during the 2013 season. The Light locations on the coast of Maine and Dai- the place into shape by mowing, raking, tion for a gathering of friends or a fam- Station, staffed again by the amazingly sy’s seemingly infinite energy, expertise, painting, cleaning, and doing whatever ily reunion. hardworking and resourceful Matt Wall and warmth. else needs to be done. and Gigi Lirot, received nearly 200 visi- For more information… tors for events that included a volunteer Open Houses Make a Donation week, two open houses, four courses, Please visit the website www.white- and two rentals. Matt and Gigi had WLS opened our doors to the gen- Gifts to support Pine Island’s efforts headlightstation.org to find out more help from various nieces and nephews eral public twice during the 2013 sea- at Whitehead Light Station last year about the offerings and availability for and other friends and volunteers. Both son: once in June for our own open reached the goal of $15,000, which was the 2014 WLS season. Matt and Gigi will be on hand again in house, and once in September as part of hugely helpful. All gifts are fully tax de- 2014 to serve as captain and chef, and to Maine’s Open Lighthouse Day. On June ductible, carefully used, and much ap- keep the place ship shape and running 16 we welcomed more than 70 guests to preciated! smoothly. Whitehead Light Station. They climbed the light tower, toured the Keeper’s Beer Takes A Holiday House and grounds, and enjoyed re- freshments and snacks. Several partici- Home and microbrew guru and Pine pants in the Volunteer Week, which ran Islander Charlie Papazian signed on as the previous week, stayed to help with instructor again for the fourth annual the Open House. Once again a happy Art and Science of Beer course at the result of the open house was that we Whitehead Light Station. It was again heard many stories from local families a great success. Five lucky participants that added to the rich history of WLS. sampled over 70 kinds of beer, accom- We look forward to offering another panied by great food and conversation. open house for the local area in June All participants cited spending time 2014. with Charlie Papazian as a highlight of On September 15th Whitehead par- their year. Charlie and his family have ticipated in the fourth annual Maine decided to take a break in 2014. We Open Lighthouse Day, which is a com- thank them for helping Pine Island get bined effort of the U.S. Coast Guard, the the Whitehead Light Station project off State of Maine, and the American Light- to a great start and we hope very much house Foundation. Hundreds of people they will return soon for another won- visited lighthouses along the Maine derful home-brewing extravaganza. coast in what is the largest event of its Daisy Martinez and her cooking students at Whitehead Light Station. kind in the nation. Whitehead had at Meditation Continues least 65 visitors, and we were happy to be part of the event. While we were unable to schedule a Mindfulness Meditation week this past Pine Island’s Whitehead Light Station season, we were happy to welcome Nan- Project Needs Your Support cy Hathaway to the Whitehead Lightsta- tion last summer as instructor for a long Spread the Word!! weekend of meditation. Six participants We invite you all to spread the word signed on and all of them pronounced about how special it is to stay and learn the experience a great success. For 2014, at Whitehead Light Station. Whether we are planning both a long weekend one participates in a weekend getaway with Nancy and a Mindfulness Medita- (which is never long enough), an adult tion week with past instructor Robert enrichment course, a volunteer oppor- Cox. tunity, or a week-long rental, any stay at Whitehead is an experience you will Knitting Retreat Reprise treasure. To learn more about ways you can enjoy Whitehead Light Station this Last season knitting instructor Mim season, visit whiteheadlightstation.org. Bird of Over the Rainbow Yarn in Rock- The 2013 WLS Volunteer Crew. land, Maine joined six knitters for a Take a Course four-day knitting retreat at the Light Answers to crossword puzzle on page 19 Station. Once again all participants Enrolling in one of the adult enrich- wrote to say that it was a peak knitting ment courses at Whitehead Light Sta- experience for them. We are planning to tion is one of the best ways to enjoy do it again, so be sure to get in touch if this remarkably beautiful and peace- you would like to sign on. ful place. Whether students have been sampling exotic craft beers, learning Chef Daisy Martinez Returns to cook, or practicing meditation, they have all agreed that doing so at White- Six devoted Daisy fans and cooks head has given them an opportunity to joined renowned author and chef Daisy relax and catch their breath by getting Martinez for a week of expert instruc- off the mainland, unplugging, and con- tion, excellent food, and lots of fun necting with other great people.

18 Needlenotes from Needlenews the Needlenosed Newshound

The Newshound is always glad to Will Morrison out there. Will is a safety go, OR and is rowing crew year round. hear from you and to hear what you officer on various oil rigs in the Gulf. Sara Lindquist, daughter of Barry and have been up to. You can always reach Krista Wiberg is working for the Gloria Lindquist, was engaged to be the Hound at [email protected]. Bose Corporation in Cambridge, Mas- married last summer on the Rink dock! He keeps a file so give him some news sachusetts. Joe Kovaz continues teach- Chris Gardner is co-founder of Velo for the next exciting edition of Needle- ing chemistry and physics at A.C. Flora Ink, a company based in Belfast, ME notes. High School in Columbia, South Caro- that designs and sells high-quality de- Chris and Whitney Brunet wel- lina. Caroline Moughon is a nurse at cals for your bike. Business is booming! comed their second future Pine Is- the University of Virginia Hospital. Max You can learn more at www.veloink.com. lander, Benjamin Johnson Brunet, on Huber is now taking post-grad courses Chris Newlin is living outside Madison, November 21, 2013. Eric Nagle and his at UVA that will prepare him to apply to WI and is a rep for a number of differ- wife Margaret welcomed their daughter medical school. Will Mason is heading ent lines of bikes and equipment at Rp Maya on April 26, 2013. Andrew Ir- for a PhD in Music Theory at Colum- Activesports. Rob Moor continues his vine and his wife Darcy Bliss welcomed bia. Becca Waldo is in graduate school successful career as a freelance journal- daughter Willow on July 15, 2012. at Smith College, enrolled in a relatively ist. Recently the story he wrote about They were married June 15, 2012. An- new graduate program Smith has devel- the War Game for Downeast Magazine drew teaches chemistry at the Harker oped. Becca is in the first year of a two- Willie Walsh and his sister Phoebe at garnered the International Regional School in San Jose, California. Brother year program working toward her MS in his graduation from the Massachusetts Magazine Association’s top award in Jonathan Irvine is working in the pre- Exercise and Sports Science. The focus Maritime Academy. the general feature category. Will Dana school at Harker. Jorgen Hollnagel was of the program is to produce expert and continues at the helm of Rolling Stone married to Michele Day in Salt Lake knowledgeable college coaches. After crosse teammate for String King ,www. Magazine. John Dowling is the CEO of City, Utah on Wednesday, October 23, she graduates, Becca hopes to find a way stringkinglacrosse.com, whose mission the Boast Apparel Company and lives 2013. Brother Dan Hollnagel is a legal to combine her interest in rowing and is, “to conveniently place the perfect in Brooklyn. Karl and Debbie Kasper assistant in Tucson, AZ and sees mom conservation. She says she has found pocket into the hands of every lacrosse have moved from Yarmouth, ME to Andrea and Jorgen frequently. Lindsay the confines and demands of graduate player.” Paul Malle has graduated from Bozeman, MT, where Karl continues Clarke was married to Shea Gunther in school a bit of a shock after her life as Bard College and is making his way in to work for Woodard and Curran. The Portland, Maine on July 27, 2013. Amy a naturalist up in the huts of the White the film industry and living in New York Kaspers are in the throes of renovating Beatie was married to Declan Galvin in Mountains and as a barista/ski bum in City. Brother Lucien is a junior at the an old home in the middle of town. Sons Belgrade Lakes, Maine on August 24, Tahoe. Page Dunbar is working as a Westminster School in Simsbury, Con- Niel and Ben are living and working in 2013. Amy is the executive director of nurse outside of Washington, DC. Jay necticut. Lake Tahoe, CA and daughter Kelley is the Colorado Water Trust in Denver, Steiner is a nurse in Florida. Kit Smith Will Clark was in Maine recently at Prescott College in Arizona. Bob Joly CO. is living in Los Angeles, CA and work- and had breakfast with Ben Swan. Will is a police officer in Mt. Pleasant, SC and Recent counselors and campers are ing with a former Bowdoin College la- is a junior in high school in Lake Oswe- a member of the SWAT team. scattered around the US and Canada at various colleges and universities: Charles-Elie Laly and Xafi Guyard are at McGill, and Antoine Desjonqueres at Concordia, in Montreal. Ned Press- man is at Hobart. Zander Abranowicz and Millie Pulver are at Cornell. Mad- die Pulver is at Clemson. Simon Abra- nowicz and Benson Worthington are at Syracuse. Alex and Nicky Toole are at Dickinson. Oliver Lowe is at Gettys- burg. Rip Swan is at Tufts. Katie Swan is at Elon and so is Taggart McLean. Cece Carey-Snow is at Bates, along with Cody Smith and Matt Neal. Tom- my Nagler is up the road at Colby and Charlie Krause and Tasha Yektayi are at Bowdoin. Christian Schneider is at Wesleyan. Emil Henry is at Connecti- cut College. Bret Newman, Catherine Heinrich, Kevin Prindle, and Jack Fa- herty are at St. Lawrence. Kevin Hub- bard is at U. Maine Farmington. Taylor Williamson is at Reed. Olivia Lobdell is at James Madison. Mary Harrington is at UVA Nursing School. Ben Lorber is at Bard. John Black is at RIT. Baxter Worthing is at Clark. Rachel Black is at Oberlin, along with Adam Schachner. Will Stemberg is at Harvard. Ben Schachner and Max McKendry are at UVM. David Greene is at William and Mary. David Kemp is at Bucknell and so is Henry Gabriel. JeffO rton is at Colorado State University. Jack Walsh is finishing his second year at Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea. He is majoring in foreign relations. His “year abroad,” at Koc University, Turkey, be- gins in February. After graduating from Mass. Maritime, Willie Walsh is a third mate on offshore oil rig supply ships in the Gulf of Mexico. He might run into 19 PINE ISLAND CAMP P. O. Box 242 Non Profit Org Brunswick, ME 04011 U. S. Postage PAID Address Service requested Permit #492 Portland, ME

“Topside” Boathouse Whitehead Light Station Apartment For Rent near For Rent Whitehead

Pine Island Camp is offering for rent a charming two-bedroom apartment with You can rent the entire Whitehead or a reunion of friends. For more photos a deck that hangs right out over the water. The late Rip Swan, a master builder Light Station! Seven bedrooms, each and information go to www.whitehead- from Vermont, Pine Islander, and brother of Jun Swan, built Topside as his with its own bathroom, all linens pro- lightstation.org. personal vacation project over a period of years in the 1960s. The apartment is vided, transportation provided by a Cost: $3900–$6900 depending on the small but complete, with a kitchen/dining/sitting area with a propane “wood- skipper who will live at the facility and season. stove,” a full bathroom, two bedrooms (one with twin beds, one with a queen), be available for trips ashore or excur- Contact us at 207-200-7957 or and a large deck. The building is perched on the edge of Emery’s Wharf, a gran- sions in the Light Station’s launch. This [email protected]. ite pier built to handle freight traffic for the old quarry that sits on the property. is an amazing place for a family reunion Pine Island’s new ramp and float are available for launching kayaks or for tying up other boats. Great birding on the flats at low tide. Activity by lobstermen next door is fun to watch. Available early June–end of September. Cost: $750 per week Contact: 207-200-7957 or [email protected].

The deck at Topside early morning

Plenty of room and plenty of view at the Whitehead Light Station

Living/Dining/Kitchen area looking Master bedroom at Topside Printed on recycled paper out on the deck at Topside