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Chebeague Island Council Calendar

#1 | January 2026

About the Cover

Chebeague Island Council Calendar January 2026 Issue #1

Wishing Peace and Happy New Year to all. About the Calendar

The Calendar is published monthly by the Chebeague Island Council. It is available on-line at Chebeague Island News (www.chebeague.org) or www. chebeagueislandcalendar.com and delivered to every active mail box on the island. The Calendar welcomes submissions from its readers, including letters and thank you notes, but it cannot publish anything that is political in nature, libelous, or obscene. All submissions should include the author’s name and contact information. Without exception, the deadline for submissions is noon on the 20 th day of the month preceding publication. Submissions and ad copy may be mailed (247 South Road), left at the Council office (on 247 South Road) or emailed (chebeagueislandcouncil@gmail.com) and sent as attachments (.doc; no pdfs) or included in the body of the text. Images and photographs should be sent in a .jpg, .jpeg, or .rtf format. Please do not use the old email address at as this is an inactive account. As a courtesy and space permitting, island nonprofits are given up to a free half page each month to publish their news. Any such submissions exceeding a half page will be charged at the usual rate. All submissions become the property of the Chebeague Island Council, which reserves the right to edit them for length and clarity. Submissions that are not time sensitive may be held until there is enough space to publish them. Additional information about submissions is available at www.chebeagueislandcalendar.com. Advertising rates are as follows: full page, $80, ½ page, $40; ¼ page, $20; 4-line classified, $10; 6 to 8 line classified, $15. Each submission should include the intended publication date, size wanted, and the number of months the ad should run. All ads must be paid for at the time of submission.

Contents Chebeague Island Library

4 5 5 6

Island Commons

Notes From the Council

Chebeague Community Church

CTC News

7, 8, 9

Finding Chebeague 10 Chebeague Island Historical Society 11 The Recompense Fund 12 Chebeague Island Recreation Center 13 Selectboartd News 14 January Calendar 15 Publisher Chebeague Island Council Board Members Lola Armstrong, Christine Auffant, Deb Hall, Denise Hamilton, Tricia Haines, Sarah Hopkins, Diane Pigula, Ann Thaxter & Deb Weis Contact Us Email: chebeagueislandcouncil@gmail.com

The deadline for submissions for the February issue is noon on January 20.

Coffee Hour Wednesdays 9am at the Hall. Join us for coffee and pastry and catch up on all the Island news!

Phone: 207-846-4988 Mail: 247 South Road

Chebeague Island, ME 04017

Graphic Design Sharkey Graphic Solutions www.sharkeygraphicsolutions.com Printing Cyber Copy www.cybercopyme.com

JANUARY 2026 CHEBEAGUE ISLAND COUNCIL CALENDAR

The Wellness Center Norah Alper RN will be at the Wellness Center on Wednesday, January 14 th & 28 th from 9-11:30am for Blood draws, Blood pressure checks, Wellness checks, PT/INR testing, Tick checks, and Health Information.

Coveside Physical Therapy, LLC BY YOUR SIDE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY! Phone: (508) 735-7507 Fax: (207) 846-1696 covesidephysicaltherapyllc@gmail.com https://covesidephysicaltherapy-llc.com/

Elizabeth Doughty, PT, DPT, GCS, CDP is a physical therapist who provides in-home physical therapy services right to your home.Whether you have just received a total joint replacement, concerned about falls and want to improve your balance, or having increased pain in a specific joint or muscle and wish to become a stronger, Elizabeth is able to assist by coming right to your home. By evaluating and working together, a specific plan of care will be established to meet your individual goals. She received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Ithaca College and is Board Certified Geriatric Specialist and is a Certified Dementia Practitioner. Most insurances accepted, including Medicare. Please feel free to inquire using the email or phone number above. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions! Fuel & Medication Assistance

SOUP ON! Come every Wednesday and join your friends and neighbors for soup, biscuits, dessert, conversation, laughter, and an island news update! 12-Noon at the Hall

Please call Lola Armstrong at 420-0608 if you need help with fuel or medication assistance. All requests are confidential.

JANUARY 2026 CHEBEAGUE ISLAND COUNCIL CALENDAR

Chebeague Island Library

Have you updated your directory listing? Scan the QR code below or email us at gulldirect@chebeaguelibrary.orgto give us your most up to date information for the 2026 Directory

January 1 - Closed for New Years Day January 3 - Poetry for the People 3pm January 7 - Teen Time January 8 - Book Club at 7pm - “The Let Them Theory” by Mel Robbins

January 18 - Closed for MLK Jr Day Story Time - Saturdays at 10:30am

JANUARY 2026 CHEBEAGUE ISLAND COUNCIL CALENDAR

Island Commons

132 Littlefield Road Chebeague Island, Maine 04017 www.islandcommons.com

Administrator, Amy Rich 207-846-5610 amy.rich@islandcommons.com

Notes from the Council

Happy New Year! Everything we need to meet those New Years’ resolutions can be found here on Chebeague Island. Need to move more? Go to the Recreation Center. Want to read more? Go to the Library. If you want to spend more time with friends and neighbors, there will be a Community Potluck dinner on Saturday, January 10, 2026. We have it all!

The Chebeague Island Council is here to help. We have Nurse Peggy coming out every other week for walk-ins and blood draws. Soup is held Wednesdays at noon in the Hall, and Fuel Assistance is available to neighbors. Before you know it, we’ll be planning for our annual Health Fair. Keep in touch and stay warm!

JANUARY 2026 CHEBEAGUE ISLAND COUNCIL CALENDAR

CHEBEAGUE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY - JANUARY SCHEDULE

Key: Key:

CREW ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE

January 2026

m CREW ASSISTANCE UNAVAILABLE 00 .. 22 78 01 83 00 .. 23 90 55 16 00 .. 33 34 33 38 00 .. 44 12 67 71 0 . 50 1. 50 4 00 .. 55 89 33 38 00 .. 66 12 88 15 00 .. 66 56 66 37 00 .. 67 90 78 93 13 63 63 63 73 00 .. 77 67 00 48 00 .. 88 01 22 15 00 .. 88 34 33 38 00 .. 88 89 55 48 0 . 9 04 .799317656 6 7

Morning trips

Afternoon Trips

Evening Trips

depart Cheb:

6:30 7:05 8:00 10:00 12:00 2:00 2:50 3:45 4:45 6:15 7:15 8:00 9:15 10:30 6:45 7:20 8:15 10:15 12:15 2:15 3:05 4:00 5:00 6:30 7:30 8:15 9:30 10:45

Date dep Cousins: 1 - 1 Thursday 1 - 2 Friday 1 - 3 Saturday 1 - 4 Sunday 1 - 5 Monday 1 - 6 Tuesday 1 - 7 Wednesday 1 - 8 Thursday 1 - 10 Saturday 1 - 11 Sunday 1 - 12 Monday 1 - 13 Tuesday 1 - 14 Wednesday 1 - 15 Thursday 1 - 16 Friday 1 - 17 Saturday 1 - 18 Sunday 1 - 19 Monday 1 - 20 Tuesday 1 - 21 Wednesday 1 - 22 Thursday 1 - 23 Friday 1 - 24 Saturday 1 - 25 Sunday 1 - 26 Monday 1 - 27 Tuesday 1 - 28 Wednesday 1 - 29 Thursday 1 - 30 Friday 1 - 31 Saturday 1 - 9 Friday

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JANUARY 2026 CHEBEAGUE ISLAND COUNCIL CALENDAR

CHEBEAGUE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY - FEBRUARY SCHEDULE

Key: Key:

CREW ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE

February 2026

m CREW ASSISTANCE UNAVAILABLE 00..22780183 00..23905516 00..33343338 00..44126771 0.501.504 00..55893338 00..66128815 00..66566637 00..679078931363636373 00..77670048 00..88012215 00..88343338 00..88895548 0.9407.9931765667

Morning trips

Afternoon Trips

Evening Trips

depart Cheb:

6:30 7:05 8:00 10:00 12:00 2:00 2:50 3:45 4:45 6:15 7:15 8:00 9:15 10:30 6:45 7:20 8:15 10:15 12:15 2:15 3:05 4:00 5:00 6:30 7:30 8:15 9:30 10:45

Date dep Cousins:

2 - 1 Sunday 2 - 2 Monday 2 - 3 Tuesday

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2 - 4 Wednesday 2 - 5 Thursday

2 - 6 Friday

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2 - 7 Saturday 2 - 8 Sunday 2 - 9 Monday 2 - 10 Tuesday 2 - 11 Wednesday 2 - 12 Thursday 2 - 13 Friday 2 - 14 Saturday 2 - 15 Sunday 2 - 16 Monday 2 - 17 Tuesday 2 - 18 Wednesday 2 - 19 Thursday 2 - 20 Friday 2 - 21 Saturday 2 - 22 Sunday 2 - 23 Monday 2 - 24 Tuesday 2 - 25 Wednesday 2 - 26 Thursday 2 - 27 Friday 2 - 28 Saturday 3 - 1 Sunday 3 - 2 Monday 3 - 3 Tuesday

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m m l *Renovations & New Construction *Restorative Quality Painting Quality Comes First! m m l

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Mark G. Heels Construction & Restoration

(207) 650-0462 mark@markheels.com www.markheels.com

*Renovations & New Construction *Restorative Quality Painting Quality Comes First!

JANUARY 2026 CHEBEAGUE ISLAND COUNCIL CALENDAR

Finding Chebeague By Eric Norcross

People often imagine that living on an island is inherently idyllic—a postcard just waiting to be lived in. But islands are honest places. Anyone who has grown up on an island knows better. There are challenges woven into every errand, every storm forecast, and every ferry schedule change. For all the beauty and quiet, islands demand patience, flexibility, and a willingness to meet the tides on their terms. I grew up just across the sound, so I understood this long before we arrived on September 1st—our official move-in date for our relocation to Chebeague. Jan and Sophie, although familiar with most of the inhabited Casco Bay islands, hadn’t yet lived through a full season on one. Still, they were eager to try. What brought us wasn’t escapism, but the hope of building a life for our daughter, Sophie, that felt grounded, connected, and human in a way that seemed increasingly difficult to find in many mainland communities. Chebeague had lived at the edge of my imagination for years— familiar from a handful of school trips and from its recurring presence in some of my father’s most interesting memoirs—yet personally, I had never truly explored it. That changed in the summer of 2023, when my film 43 Degrees North went into pre production. The project gave me the chance not only to scout the island in depth, but to shoot scenes here as well. Through that project, I came to know the island—and many of its creative people. We returned often, first for holiday dinners, then for

Whalers concerts, and a remarkably sophisticated community theater production of South Pacific (one that rivals many off Broadway shows I’ve seen over the years). While all the islands draw exceptional artists across many disciplines, Chebeague, I discovered, is the only down-bay island with a deep performing arts soul. I felt drawn back again and again. To my delight, Jan and Sophie took to island life even faster than I did. Sophie had long considered Chebeague a part of her home, having grown up with the film and the many events we attended here over the years. Jan, however, grew up on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, and convincing her to move to Maine was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done—she had every reason to expect that island life might feel like a stretch. And yet, after her most recent trip to New York to visit family, all she wanted was to “return home” to Chebeague. (I admit I’m sitting here smiling as I type that.) What has struck me most since relocating is how full of life the island feels: the number of families here, the vitality of the school, and the ease with which essential resources—like the Kids’ Place—are woven into daily life. Chebeague has found a way to remain connected, resilient, and deeply supportive of those who call it home year-round. It’s an island that demonstrates what can happen when a place is treated not as a commodity, but as a community we actively steward together.

As we look ahead to the New Year, it’s the perfect time to get an updated real estate review of your home. The value of your property can fluctuate year to year with the market. If you’re curious about what your home is worth, reach out today for a confidential, no-obligation home valuation. Cheers to 2026!

The Leonard Thompson Federle Team Your Island + Mainland Specialists

Karen Thompson 207.329.6729

Jodi Federle 207.215.4006 office: US Rte 1, Falmouth

Jane Leonard 207.831.9951

email: ltf@portsidereg.com

JANUARY 2026 CHEBEAGUE ISLAND COUNCIL CALENDAR

You are invited to :

A New Year’s Community Potluck! Saturday, January 10 th , 5-7pm at the Hall (Co-hosted by CRC, Island Council & The Hall)

Come to the table and celebrate the New Year with family, friends and neighbors!

We are setting the table for you !

Please bring your favorite entree or side dish to share. (RSVP to gracegroothoff@gmail.com with what you are bringing so we can ensure a variety of food faire.:-)

Dessert & coffee provided. BYOB.

A fun feast of food friendship Hope to see you there & ! !!

School House seconds Will be accepting donations in June. Don’t forget to save your treasures. Any unsaleable (torn, stained) clothes or bedding can go to the transfer station’s apparel impact bin.

Health care coverage for Chebeague Island residents

It’s not too late! You can find free expertise to help you understand your options and how to apply for coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Open enrollment ends January 15, 2026. Getting help is easy: Contact Consumers for Affordable Healthcare, which is a Maine-sponsored organization that helps The Recompense Fund’s health insurance coverage initiative provides free advice to Chebeague Island residents and island nonprofits. CAHC is sponsored by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. Please send any questions to Michael McNulty, michaelmcnulty63@gmail.com or call at 978-877-7987. Mainers get health insurance coverage. Go to: www.mainecahc.org , or call 1-800-965-7476.

JANUARY 2026 CHEBEAGUE ISLAND COUNCIL CALENDAR

Selectboard News

The Budget The Selectboard is preparing the budget review process for the next fiscal year. We are very fortunate to have, for the second year in a row, the skills of the newly formed Finance Committee. It is made up of community members with expertise in business, accounting, budgets, and finance. They are Jay Corson, Chip Emory, Herb Maine and John Rent. In previous years, town departments submitted their budgets directly to the Selectboard for review. They now submit their budgets to the Finance Committee, who help guide their requests to stay within the constraints of a prudent budget. Once their work is complete, the Selectboard will review these budgets and determine their recommendations to be presented at the Town Meeting in June. Broadband Update It’s been about a year since Axiom finished the complicated task of installing the Town’s fiber network and flipped the switch that brought broadband internet service to Chebeague. After some years of volunteer committee work, grant writing, legal expertise, and a Town vote, we now have reliable internet service, at a fixed price guaranteed for five years. After five years, the Town can renegotiate its contract with Axiom, and if not to our liking, we are free to seek a different vendor. As the Town owns the fiber network, our agreement with Axiom requires Axiom to pay the bond payments on the debt. They’re also obligated to maintain the fiber wires around the island and provide good service at the pre-agreed upon costs. While everyone is free to chose from whom they purchase their broadband service, it is important to note that the Town invested in this network as a way to provide reliable and cost-effective service to Chebeague. Being an island, we are more prone to having fewer options available and thus more prone to higher prices from limited vendors.

tempting services. But it is important to note that our rates are guaranteed and the Town is committed to offering affordable service to the island. If some people go with another vendor, then it weakens our ability to provide the most cost effective service. This is one of those times when we need to row our own boat together! Sign Vandalism The Town is having to repeatedly replace stop signs and beach access signs due to the actions of probably a few individuals on the island. This is a great expense to the Town and also requires repeated use of scarce human resources on the island to replace them. Notably this is occurring at the Bennetts Cove and Chandlers Beach access areas. The Town asks for your help in helping to discourage this kind of expensive activity. The Town is trying to address issues of increased barging activity at Bennetts with parking and idling limits, and these signs are integral to that effort. Unpermitted fires are dangerous to the entire Island, yet there continues to be evidence of bonfires at Chandlers, including smoldering fires found in the morning following such alleged activity. Special Town Meeting On January 24, there will be a special Town Meeting to address a proposal for improvements to our bookkeeping methods that will help with budgeting of Town expenses. Budget Calendar for January January 14: Finance Committee Presentation, 6:00PM, Island Hall

January 21: First Draft of budget presented to Selectboard, Island Hall

January 24: Special Town Meeting, 0:00PM? Island Hall

As expected, some vendors are now offering

JANUARY 2026 CHEBEAGUE ISLAND COUNCIL CALENDAR

JANUARY 2026 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 5 6 7 8 12 13 14 15 16 9 3 Story Time 10:30 - Library Poetry for the People 3pm - Library Ladies Aid 11am Parish House Book Club 7pm - Library 17 10 Story Time 10:30 Library Community Potluck! 5-7pm at the Hall 1 2 Balance Class - CRC 11am YouTube Pilates - CRC 12 Noon New Years Day Coffee Hour 9am Hall Soup Lunch 12 noon Hall Teen Time - Library Mahjong - CRC 1:30pm Yoga - CRC 12-12:45pm Teen Center - CRC 7-9pm Yoga - CRC 12-12:45pm Crafternoon - CRC 1-3pm Teen Center - CRC 7-9pm If you would like your event listed on this Calendar please email the Council at Chebeagueislandcouncil@gmail.com by the 20 th of the month. 19 20 21 22 23 Ladies Aid 11am Parish House 24 Story Time 10:30 Library Jam-Along - CRC g 4-6pm Story Time 10:30 Library Yoga - CRC 12-12:45pm Coffee Hour 9am Hall Soup Lunch 12 noon Hall Mahjong - CRC 1:30pm Pickleball - CRC 5-7pm Pickleball - CRC 5-7pm Ecological Discussion @ Parish House 5:45pm Ladies Aid 11am Parish House Martin Luther King Jr Day Yoga - CRC 12-12:45pm Teen Center - CRC 7-9pm Coffee Hour 9am Hall Soup Lunch 12 noon Hall Teen Time - Library Mahjong - CRC 1:30pm Pickleball - CRC 5-7pm Balance Class - CRC 11am YouTube Pilates - CRC 12 Noon Yoga - CRC 12-12:45pm Balance Class - CRC 11am YouTube Pilates - CRC 12 Noon Yoga - CRC 12-12:45pm Yoga - CRC 12-12:45pm Crafternoon - CRC 1-3pm Teen Center - CRC 7-9pm Movie Night -CRC 7pm

29 30 31 26 27 25 28

Story Time 10:30 Library

Polar Plunge - Boat Yard 11am

Chili/chowder/Soup Challenge 12 Noon

Yoga - CRC 12-12:45pm

Teen Center - CRC 7-9pm

Ladies Aid 11am Parish House

Coffee Hour 9am Hall

Soup Lunch 12 noon Hall

Wellness Center 9-11:3-am w/ Nurse Peggy

Mahjong - CRC 1:30pm

Pickleball - CRC 5-7pm

Balance Class - CRC 11am YouTube Pilates - CRC 12 Noon

Yoga - CRC 12-12:45pm

CCC Worship 10am Pickleball 3-5pm

JANUARY 2026 CHEBEAGUE ISLAND COUNCIL CALENDAR

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