5470-R2_CIC_February2018_Calendar_Web

One Man’s Island by Bob Libby

The Latin word “februum” means purification. February, the second month of the calendar, starts with Candlemas, the feast of presentation at the temple. Coincidentally, it marks the halfway point of winter. This year February is the darkest month with no full moon, but the days are longer and every day the sun disappears farther north along the bay. Gradually, the sunsets we look forward to viewing from the porch start to occur over Cousins Island and creep to the north side of Wyman’s smokestack. Six weeks from now we might be putting the first peas in the garden, watching the first flowers poke stems above the soil, and raking up twigs and needles blown from trees by howling winds. This is the core of winter, but the longer days encourage us and now we feel as though we can make it through. As we have observed before, transportation tests the mettle of island dwellers in the winter. The blizzard and freeze of 2018 reminds us of how dependent we are on the regular ferry service to and from Cousins Island and the mainland. Once again we found ourselves almost captured by ice on the surface between the Stone Wharf and Pogey Shores. All the new crews and pilots had their first experience with floating sheets of ice nearly locking the Islander in its grasp. We were reminded of that week a few Firefighter Footnotes The town is once again issuing burn permits, and they are still available for free through Ralph or Kim Munroe and Lisa Israel or online for a cost of $7 ($2 of which goes to the town) at www.maineburnpermit.com . As quite often happens this time of year, we are experiencing extremely high fire danger days. Please be aware and follow the rules before starting any fires. All fires must be attended at all times and require a burn permit. Ralph Munroe Cell 712-3827 Ralph and Kim Munroe Home 846-4654 Lisa Israel 274-0716 IMPORTANT RESOURCE NUMBERS AA 24-hour Hotline.... 774 4335/800-737-6237 Al Anon/Alateen to help family/ friends of alcoholics... 284-1844/800-498-1844 NA Hotline... 800-974-0062 24-Hour Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Hotline.... 888-568-1112 Statewide Sexual Assault Crisis Hotline... 800-871-7741 Family Crisis Services... 800-537-6066

Classified Ads Top Shelf Cleaning and Services: Cleaning, moving cars to and from the Stone Pier or Chandlers Wharf, snowplowing and snowblowing, and winter house watching—daily, weekly, or monthly—lawn mowing, and light tractor work. For more information, call Cindy at 207-846-1055 Seasonal Rental at 13 Island View Rd: Fully equipped summer homewith3bedrooms,2 full baths,andprivate right of way to the water; $900 per week plus a $300 security deposit. Contact Richard Bowen at rhbowen3@gmail.com or 207-831-6148. February is the transition month for all the sports fans on the island. As we faced the deadline for this essay, the Patriots were hoping for another trip to the Super Bowl. It seems almost an annual ritual for New England’s team, and this year’s AFC championship opponent is one of only three teams that have never been to the big game. At the other end of February, the Red Sox begin the long season down in Fort Meyers and so many of our Chebeague neighbors will send us photos from spring training. The garden catalogs are in mailboxes covered in icicles. In so many ways February provides glimpses of the light at the end of the tunnel: while we shovel or chip, we can smile because we are confident spring will come again. years ago when we watched Lindy, Leon, and Donny go back and forth all night keeping a channel open. Last month we observed the remarkable tribute of full boats and buses carrying friends and relatives to and from Chebeague for Barbara Hamilton’s service. And, of course, we must applaud the dedicated volunteers who provide emergency transportation to all who live here in icy winter. Mainland friends are always amazed when we report that emergency service on the island is as fast and efficient as any rural place in Maine.

Notices

Ladies Aid: Please join us for crafty projects and camaraderie from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. each Thursday. Catholic Communion Service: A regular Catholic Communion Service will be held every Saturday at 4:00 p.m. at the church. Sew Good: Sew Good will meet February 28 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Parish House. For more information, please call Lola Armstrong (846-4737) or Karen Corson (846-0938).

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FEBRUARY 2018 CHEBEAGUE ISLAND COUNCIL CALENDAR