Unique Birdhouses Highlight Art Auction to Benefit Old Orr’s Island Schoolhouse

By Dan Dostie

June 18, 2015

A variety of birdhouses custom decorated by area artists will be among many unique items up for bid July 11 at the fifth annual An Evening of Art auction to benefit the historic old Orr’s Island Schoolhouse.

Blank birdhouse models were distributed to interested artists, including area residents and seasonal visitors, to transform in any creative way. In past years, the event included decorated lunchboxes and lobster buoys, which proved to be quite popular and the object of spirited bidding.

Dozens of other items, including paintings, prints, photographs, jewelry and more will also be auctioned off at the event, to be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 11 at the schoolhouse, located at 1594 Harpswell Island Road, Route 24, Orr’s Island. Preview will begin at 6 p.m.

Light hors d'oeuvres, desserts, soda and wine will be served.
Artists participating this year include Doug Bane, Steve Black, Tom Brudzinski, Gloria Doughty, Dan Dostie, Patricia Fuchs, Robert Gibson, Margaret Leonard, Karen Loftus, Tim McCreight, Brad McFadden, Abigail Sibley, John Wright, Sam Wright, and more.

Tim McCreight

Artwork on sale will include many original pieces, as well as other items donated from private collections.

An important part of Harpswell history, the old schoolhouse was originally a two-room school for island children. Located next to the Orr's and Bailey Islands Fire Department main station, the renovated building is used for a variety of community, public and private events.

The schoolhouse is self-supporting, depending on income from event rentals, fundraisers and donations to maintain the building and grounds and updating the aging structure.
For more information, please contact Brad McFadden at 833-6940 or Tim McCreight at 761-8217, or email artauction@orrsislandschoolhouse.com.

OBIFD Hosts Community Meeting on Wildfire Dangers

June 10, 2015

The Orr's and Bailey Islands Fire Department is hosting a community meeting on Monday to educate residents about wildfire dangers and how to protect homes and property during the high-risk summer months.

The meeting will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, June 15, at the old Orr's Island Schoolhouse, located next to the Orr's Island fire station, 1600 Harpswell Islands Road, Route 24. People of all ages are welcome to attend. Refreshments will be served.

According to the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) Firewise Communities Program, the summer of 2015 is likely to present extremely dry and windy conditions, increasing the risk of wildfire activity. Preparation by property owners can help prevent fires from starting or spreading.

The meeting will offer advice on how to protect land and buildings from the potential of spreading fires.

Some of the advice includes:

• Clear leaves and other debris from gutters, eaves, porches and decks
• Keep lawns hydrated and maintained. Dry grass and shrubs are fuel for wildfire. If it is brown, cut it down to reduce fire intensity.
• Remove dead vegetation within 30 to 100 feet of a structure.
• Remove fuel within 3 to 5 feet of a home's foundation and outbuildings.
• Wildfires can spread to tree tops. If there are large trees, prune them so the lowest branches are 6 to 10 feet high.
• Don't let debris and lawn cuttings linger. Dispose of these items quickly to reduce fuel for fire.
• When planting, choose slow-growing, carefully placed shrubs and trees so the area can be more easily maintained.

To help keep fires from starting on open land, tips include:

• Obey outdoor burning bans. Don't burn trash or debris when conditions are dry or windy. Unsafe burning of leaves, brush, household trash and other debris is a main cause of wildfires.
• If camping or hunting, check local restrictions on campfires. Use an approved gas stove as an alternative for heating and cooking. If charcoal grills are permitted, use them only over fireproof surfaces such as asphalt or bare mineral soil.
• Dispose of smoking materials properly. Don't throw them out a window.
• Avoid parking and idling in dry grass. Catalytic converters can get hot enough to ignite the grass.
• Keep water available when using welding equipment or cutting torches around grass and brush. A five-gallon bucket of water with a tote sack in it could prove valuable if sparks or hot pieces of metal catch nearby grass on fire.
• Avoid setting hot chainsaws or other gas-powered equipment in dry grass, which could ignite after coming into contact with hot mufflers.

More tips and information is available from the Firewise Communities Program at www.firewise.org.

OBIFD is an all-volunteer department which provides fire and medical rescue services for Orr's and Bailey Islands and portions of Great Island south of Stevens Corner Road on Route 24, including Long Point, and Mountain Road east of the Ewing Narrows bridge.

More information about the department is available at www.obifd.org.

Harpswell's other fire and rescue departments are the Cundy's Harbor Volunteer Fire Department, which serves all of Great Island from the Brunswick line to Stevens Corner Road on Route 24, and the Harpswell Neck Fire and Rescue, which serves all areas off of Route 123, including

Mountain Road west of the Ewing Narrows bridge.

More information about the three departments, including how to join as a volunteer, is available at www.harpswellfireandrescue.org.

OBIFD Open on Saturdays to Accept Donations for Annual Auction and Yard Sale

June 1, 2015

The Orr's & Bailey Islands Fire Department is looking for donations for its annual auction and yard sale to be held August 8 and 9 at the fire station on Orr's Island.

Items may be dropped off at the fire station at 1600 Harpswell Islands Road, Route 24, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays leading up to the big weekend. Donors can also call 833-5405 to arrange for free pickup of larger pieces or multiple items.

The fire department asks that no donations be left unattended at the station under any circumstances.

Over the years, the department has found that many items are difficult to sell or even give away and asks people not to donate microwave ovens, vacuums, dehumidifiers, electric stovetops, computer equipment, ski gear, golf clubs, couches or other stuffed furniture, mattresses and box springs, exercise equipment, aquariums, building materials, bath fixtures, appliances, lighting fixtures, metal bed frames, baby equipment, particleboard furniture, and plastic storage containers and cups.

Books are also not accepted, but can be donated to the Orr's Island Library for its August sale.

Items accepted for donation will be up for sale at either the yard sale held throughout the weekend or at the live auction on Sunday, August 10.

The yard sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 8, and again Sunday morning on the grounds of the fire station and inside the adjacent old Orr's Island Schoolhouse on Harpswell Islands Road, Route 24.

The live auction of some of the finer and fun items will begin at 10 a.m. on Sunday, with preview starting at 9 a.m. A wide variety of antique and fine furniture, historical artifacts, artwork and many other items will be up for bid as usual, with lots of interesting surprises along the way.

A silent auction of a variety of goods, services and experiences donated by area businesses will be open on both days. Breakfast, lunch and snacks will be offered for sale.

All proceeds from the event help fund the nonprofit volunteer department, which provides fire and rescue services for Orr's and Bailey Islands and portions of Great Island east of the Mountain Road bridge and south of Stevens Corner Road on Route 24. 

For more information, visit www.obifd.org or call 833-5405.

Artists Sought For Old Orr's Island Schoolhouse Art Auction

April 25, 2015

Artists are being sought to participate in the fifth annual An Evening of Art to benefit old Orr's Island Schoolhouse.

The auction of unique and high-quality art and crafts will be held on Saturday, July 11, at the schoolhouse, located on Harpswell Islands Road, Route 24, in Orr's Island.

Art for sale at last year's auction.

Artists who work in any type of medium – including paintings, prints, drawings, photographs, jewelry, woodwork, textiles, ceramics, furniture, ironwork, glass and more – are invited to contribute their original creations. Local art collectors are asked to consider donating items from their collections to benefit the schoolhouse.

Participating artists can set a minimum bid for their work and opt to keep a portion of the selling price.

As a special feature this year, artists are being sought to bring their creative talents to several different styles of small birdhouses, which will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Past auctions featured lobster buoys and lunchboxes decorated in a wide variety of themes to create unique pieces of art which were enthusiastically sought by bidders.

Interested artists are asked to contact organizers as soon as possible to receive a birdhouse.

All artwork for the event will be needed by late June.

An important part of Harpswell history, the old schoolhouse was originally a two-room school for island children. Located next to the Orr's and Bailey Islands Fire Department main station, the renovated building is used for a variety of community, public and private events. The schoolhouse is self-supporting, depending on income from event rentals, fundraisers and donations to maintain the building and grounds and updating the aging structure.

More than $7,000 was raised for the schoolhouse in each of the past two years.

This year’s auction will be held on Saturday, July 11, from 7 to 9 p.m. with preview beginning at 6 p.m.  Light hors d'oeuvres, desserts, soda and wine will be served.

For more information, please contact Brad McFadden at 833-6940 or Tim McCreight at 761-8217, or email artauction@orrsislandschoolhouse.com.

More information on the schoolhouse is available at www.orrsislandschoolhouse.com.

Walter Johnson Becomes Chief of Orr’s and Bailey Islands Fire Department

February 23, 2015

Chief Walter Johnson

A veteran volunteer with deep roots in the community has been named the new chief of the Orr’s and Bailey Islands Fire Department.

Walter Johnson was promoted to the post by the OBIFD Board of Directors. He replaced Ed Blain, who resigned the position after two years because of personal business commitments. 

“I have some big shoes to fill, but hopefully I can live up to everybody’s expectations,” said Johnson, a 19-year department veteran. “I enjoy helping the community. I’ve always done it.”

Johnson’s family goes back about a dozen generations in the islands on his father’s side and several on his mother’s side. He grew up on Orr's Island and was in the last class which graduated from the old Orr’s Island Schoolhouse, which is now owned by the fire department.

Johnson, 63 in March, still lives on Orr’s Island. His wife, Sally Brooks, a beloved local school teacher, passed away last year.

Johnson’s interest in the department began when he was a child. In those days, a siren would sound to alert the volunteers and Johnson and his boyhood pals would often chase the fire trucks on their bicycles and watch the firefighters work.

As an adult, his work in commercial construction took Johnson out of town for many years, but once he settled down after three decades on the road, he joined the department. He has since served 14 years as a captain and became assistant chief two years ago, when Blain replaced longtime Chief Bill Beazley, who retired after many years on the job.

“Walter has been a member of the department for over 15 years. He is well trained and versed in the operations of the department,” said Blain, who recommended Johnson for the job. “His prior roles in the rescue and fire service, truck captain and assistant chief make him well qualified for the job. The fact that he was born on the islands and is well known in the community is an added benefit.”

Blain, who became chief in early 2013, said he recently had to return to his former position as chief executive officer of a health care company in Massachusetts, which requires frequent travel out of state for days at a time. As a result, Blain said he had no choice but to give up the chief’s position.

Blain, 57, said he and his wife, Laurie, both department volunteers and trained emergency medical technicians, also plan on moving from Bailey Island, ending their long service to OBIFD.

“My 10 years with the department have provided some of the best experiences of my life,” Blain said.

Mike Helfgott, president of the OBIFD Board of Directors, said Blain had done a remarkable job as chief and brought many updates and improvements to the department.

“He assumed the position of chief just at the time when his talents were needed to help our department confront the many challenges we, and emergency services in general, are facing,” Helfgott said. “Under his leadership we made immense gains in recruiting new responders, updating our many procedures, training our members, and bringing us and keeping us current in the increasingly important area of compliance.  Along the way, Ed -- working with the town's other chiefs -- helped champion our collective effort to make all of us interoperable, thereby improving the service to the people of Harpswell. 

“Besides all of that, he is a great friend whose wise counsel I'll miss," Helfgott said.

But he said the department is good hands with the new chief.

“I'm a firm believer that the right candidate comes along just when their particular skills are needed,” Helfgott said. “Just as we needed Ed Blain's talents to help us effect an awful lot of change, Walter is just the right person to help us consolidate the many changes we've made and bring a new level of stability to the department. 

“More than that, I know that Walter is committed to working as a team to help us continue to successfully confront the many headwinds we continue to face.  I share his goals of what lies ahead for the department in the next and coming years: recruitment, training, compliance and fiscal stability,” Helfgott said.

Former chiefs Bill Beazley, left, and Ed Blain,
center, with new OBIFD Chief Walter Johnson

For his part, Johnson said he plans no immediate changes and will continue to place an emphasis on recruiting new volunteers, training, compliance with ever-increasing state and federal regulations and closer cooperation with the town’s other two fire departments.

“Ed’s been an excellent chief. He left the department in good shape,” Johnson said. “We now have to continue that great job.”

Johnson has reappointed Cindy Watson of Bailey Island as captain in charge of the rescue unit. Steve Galhardo and Dan Perry will remain as fire captains and Watson and firefighter/rescue driver Jim Whittaker will be in charge of training. Lt. Steve Minkowsky will remain as compliance officer. Johnson said the assistant chief position will remain vacant for now.

In addition to naming Johnson as chief, the OBIFD Board of Directors also welcomed several new members following its annual reorganization in late January.

Joining the board for three-year terms are first-time members Bob Garver, Deane Kennedy and Mary Morgan, and former board member and rescue volunteer Brad McFadden. 

They replace Maureen Anthoine-Orlandini, Ed Levine and Venise Minkowsky, who have all served the maximum of six consecutive years on the board, and Betsy Leland, who left because of increased business commitments.

In addition to those new members, Whittaker was appointed to fill the remaining two years of Johnson’s term as a responding board member. As chief, Johnson is automatically a board member.

The OBIFD board also saw changes in most of its officers. Helfgott was re-elected president of the board, while Catherine Birkinbine  of Orr’s Island is vice president, Greg Leonard of Bailey Island is treasurer and Tim McCreight of Great Island is the new secretary.

OBIFD is an all-volunteer department which provides fire and medical rescue services for Orr's and Bailey Islands and portions of Great Island south of Stevens Corner Road on Route 24, including Long Point, and Mountain Road east of the Ewing Narrows bridge.

For more information on OBIFD or joining the volunteer crew, visit www.obifd.org or the town-wide recruitment and information site at www.harpswellfireandrescue.org.
 

More CPR Classes Planned For Harpswell Residents

February 23, 2015

More sessions in an ongoing series of community cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) classes are planned over the next several weeks at the old Orr's Island Schoolhouse.

The HeartSaver class designed to teach CPR and defibrillator use for adults, children and infants will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Monday, March 23. This is the shorter version of a two-part course which will be offered in the spring that includes both CPR and first aid training. The program will lead to American Heart Association CPR certification.

The more basic Family and Friends CPR class, which provides practical hands-on training for people of any age who do not need official certification, will be offered on Monday, April 13, from 6 to 8 p.m.

The full HeartSaver program, which includes both CPR and first aid training, will be offered May 11 and May 18.

All the sessions will be held at the old Orr's Island Schoolhouse, located next to the Orr's and Bailey Islands Fire Department on Harpswell Islands Road, Route 24, Orr's Island.

Advance registration is required. To register, e-mail cpr@obifd.org or call Jim Whittaker at 207-833-3013.

Optional contributions of $20 for the HeartSaver program and $5 for the Family and Friends class will be accepted to cover the cost of course materials.

The classes are part of an effort by the town's three volunteer fire and rescue departments to make Harpswell a Maine HeartSafe Community, which includes widespread training in CPR and broad availability of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) at public locations throughout the community. The goal is improve the “Chain of Survival” for people suffering from cardiac or breathing problems by providing help before emergency crews can arrive to render assistance.

More information of about the program is available by calling or e-mailing Whittaker.

Harpswell's three fire and rescue departments include Cundy's Harbor Volunteer Fire Department, which serves all of Great Island from the Brunswick line to Stevens Corner Road on Route 24; Harpswell Neck Fire and Rescue, which serves all areas off of Route 123, including Mountain Road west of the Ewing Narrows bridge; and the Orr's and Bailey Islands Fire Department, which serves Orr's, Bailey and part of Great Island south of Stevens Corner road and east of the Ewing Narrows bridge.

Community CPR Class Set For February 9 at Orr's Island Schoolhouse

January 21, 2015

Harpswell residents of any age are urged to attend a community cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) class planned for Monday, February 9, at the old Orr's Island Schoolhouse.

The Family & Friends CPR Class is designed to teach people of any age basic life-saving skills. Topics covered include adult Hands-Only CPR, child CPR with breaths, use of an automatic defibrillator on adults and children, infant CPR and relief of choking in an adult, child or infant.

Taught by volunteers from the Orr's and Bailey Islands Fire Department, the American Heart Association program includes video instruction and hands-on practice using adult and child mannequins.

The class is recommended for any community member who would like to know CPR, but does not require an official certification card. It is open to people of all ages.

The program will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Monday, February 9, at the old Orr's Islands Schoolhouse, located next to the Orr's and Bailey Islands Fire Department on Harpswell Islands Road, Route 24, Orr's Island.

Advance registration is required. To register, e-mail cpr@obifd.org or call Jim Whittaker at 207-833-3013. A $5 optional contribution will be accepted to cover the cost of course materials.

The class is part of an effort by the town's three volunteer fire and rescue departments to make Harpswell a Maine HeartSafe Community, which includes widespread training in CPR and broad availability of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) at public locations throughout the community. The goal is improve the “Chain of Survival” for people suffering from cardiac or breathing problems by providing help before emergency crews can arrive to render assistance.

Other classes providing higher levels of training, leading to official certification for both community members and health care professionals, will be offered throughout the year.

More information of about the program is available at www.obifd.org or by calling or e-mailing Whittaker.

Harpswell's three fire and rescue departments include Cundy's Harbor Volunteer Fire Department, which serves all of Great Island from the Brunswick line to Stevens Corner Road on Route 24; Harpswell Neck Fire and Rescue, which serves all areas off of Route 123, including

Mountain Road west of the Ewing Narrows bridge; and the Orr's and Bailey Islands Fire Department, which serves Orr's, Bailey and part of Great Island south of Stevens Corner road and east of the Ewing Narrows bridge.

More information about the three departments, including how to join as a volunteer, is available at www.harpswellfireandrescue.org.

Fire Departments Aim to Make Harpswell ‘Heart Safe’

December 26, 2014

When someone is having a heart attack or other serious health problem, every second counts.

Most people know to call 911 for help when someone shows signs of heart or breathing difficulties, but patients have a greater chance of survival if someone can provide assistance before the first responders arrive.

In an effort to help save more lives, Harpswell's three fire and rescue departments are working toward making the town a Maine HeartSafe Community by providing training to as many people as possible and making life-saving equipment available in more public places.

According to the Maine Cardiovascular Health Council, "Early recognition of the signs and symptoms associated with sudden cardiac arrest, heart attack and stroke, immediate access to emergency services, and prompt medical treatment are all crucial to prevent future events, save lives and reduce medical costs and disability. Maine HeartSafe Communities designation promotes enhancements to each of these important links and recognizes a community's dedication to improving its 'Chain of Survival' through partnerships with the local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program."

To become a HeartSafe community, the local EMS service must offer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training to local residents, place at least one Automated External Defibrillator (AED) on emergency vehicles and in a public location, dispatch Advanced Life Support to all emergency medical calls and promote the "chain of survival" in the community.

Ed Blain, chief of the Orr's and Bailey Islands fire department, said the town's full-time paramedic service provides advanced life support services, and AED devices are available on most of the town's emergency vehicles. In addition, many of the department's volunteer Emergency Medical Technicians carry AEDs in their personal vehicles so they can provide quick care in their own neighborhoods, if needed.

In addition, volunteers from all three departments recently attended a training on team CPR, which involves high-quality, consistent CPR along with quick access to a defibrillator. Blain said the Portland Fire Department began using the technique a couple of years ago and saw its survival rate for cardiac arrest cases jump from less than 5 percent to more than 20 percent after the first year.

"We are implementing this team approach in the Harpswell departments and will do another training to strengthen our team members," Blain said. "What is equally beneficial is a well-trained community, and we will pursue that as well." 

The next steps, Blain said, are to provide community CPR training, encourage placement of AEDs throughout town and provide AEDs to more of the town's volunteer responders.

Blain said the departments plan to reach out to find suitable locations for public placement of AEDs, simple-to-use devices which can be used by anyone to provide life-saving shocks to people in cardiac arrest. Good locations include public buildings, schools, stores and restaurants. Blain said each AED unit costs about $700 and the departments hope to find people willing to underwrite or sponsor purchases for various locations. Donors will be recognized with a plaque at the location where the unit is installed.

Anyone interested in donating toward that effort can email cpr@obifd.org or call blain at 207-833-5199.

CPR Instructors Janice Adams and Jim Whittaker

Meanwhile, beginning in January, the fire and rescue department will be offering a series of courses to provide various levels of training. The classes, designed and presented through videos from the American Heart Association, along with hands-on practice using mannequins and defibrillators, will range from basic CPR to more advanced life-support techniques.

"I think this is an important step for the community, especially since we're so far from the hospitals," said Jim Whittaker of Orr's Island, an OBIFD firefighter and driver who is helping to coordinate the training programs, along with Janice Adams, a retired nurse practitioner from Orr's Island.

“Everyone should know CPR,” Whittaker said. “It’s too simple not to know.”

The simplest and easiest program, called Family & Friends CPR, is a two-hour class designed to teach basic skills to people of all ages. Training is provided in basic CPR, AED use and choking relief for adults and children, but does not require testing or certification. Organizers hope to offer it to both adults and children, including school and scouting groups. The class will be offered free of charge.

"Anyone who completes it will know what to do if someone is having heart or breathing trouble," Whittaker said.

A second course, called HeartSaver, offers more in-depth training on CPR and AED use for adults as well as full CPR and first aid training to deal with children and infants. The four-hour program, which includes a skills test and leads to a two-year certification, is aimed at parents, grandparents, teachers, nannies, day care workers, babysitters, lifeguards and others who may be around children, although anyone is welcome to attend. A $20 fee will be charged for the class to cover the costs of books and other materials.

The third course, Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers, is aimed at doctors, nurses, EMTs, therapists and health care aides, as well as anyone who wants to learn more advanced life-saving skills, including CPR and rescue breathing. The four-hour program concludes with a written and skills test and provides certification in the techniques. This class also will have a $20 fee to cover costs.

The first program to be offered this year will be the HeartSaver class, which is scheduled for Monday, January 12, from 6 to 10 p.m. at the old Orr's Island Schoolhouse, located next to the Orr's Island fire station on Harpswell Islands Road, Route 24. Registration is required and may be done by sending an email to cpr@obifd.org with contact information. Anyone interested is invited to take the class, although size is limited.

Other classes at the different skill levels will be offered in the coming months. The courses will be advertised in local media and posted on the web at www.obifd.org and www.harpswellfireandrescue.org.

To facilitate future programs, the department is also looking for more people to help teach the courses, which requires training offered at Midcoast Hospital in Brunswick. Anyone interested can contact Whittaker at cpr@obifd.org for more information.

Harpswell's three fire and rescue departments include Cundy's Harbor Volunteer Fire Department, which serves all of Great Island from the Brunswick line to Stevens Corner Road on Route 24; Harpswell Neck Fire and Rescue, which serves all areas off of Route 123, including Mountain Road west of the Ewing Narrows bridge; and the Orr's and Bailey Islands Fire Department, which serves Orr's, Bailey and part of Great Island south of Stevens Corner road and east of the Ewing Narrows bridge.

More information about the three departments, including how to join as a volunteer, is available at www.harpswellfireandrescue.org.

Sisters Named Rescue Captains for Harpswell Islands Fire Departments

October 15, 2014

The Cundy's Harbor and Orr's and Bailey Islands emergency medical squads each have a new captain -- and they should have little difficulty maintaining the close ties and cooperation between the two departments.

After all, they are sisters and members of a family with a long and deep history of service to the fire and rescue departments.

Sheila Lucas has been named Rescue Captain of the Cundy's Harbor Volunteer Fire Department, while Cindy Watson is the new Rescue Captain of the Orr's and Bailey Islands Fire Department.

Rescue Captains Cindy Watson, left, and Sheila
Lucas, center, along with their  Harpswell Neck
counterpart,  Gail Hart. OBIFD photo.

The two departments, which are closely integrated and often assist each other, provide fire rescue service to all of the eastern side of Harpswell, including Great, Orr's, Bailey and numerous offshore Islands.

Lucas, 58, has been an emergency medical technician with the Cundy's Harbor department for 20 years. A house painter with two grown children and grandchildren, Lucas first joined the department after seeing the rescue squad in action close-up.

"My children are the reason I got involved with the fire department," she said. "In the early 90s, on Thanksgiving Day, they were involved in a serious car accident. I watched the personnel from CHFD and OBI work on my kids. They didn't hesitate to take time from their families to treat mine. I figured the best way I could say 'thank you' was to pay it forward."

Soon after, a neighbor knocked on her door, asked if she would be interested in joining the department and taking an EMT training course being held on Orr's Island.

"I signed up, took the class and have not ever regretted it," Lucas said. "It is very rewarding to be able to help our neighbors in need."

Watson, 43, has been a firefighter since 1997 and became an EMT with OBIFD in 2008, when she moved back to the islands after spending time in Vermont working as a sheriff's department dispatcher. A Bailey Island resident who recently married, Watson has a daughter, two step-daughters, two sons-in-law and two granddaughters.

An active volunteer who responds to many rescue calls, Watson said she enjoys helping people and "seeing the appreciation on the faces of the ones you helped and those closest to them."

"When people are experiencing times of trial, they want someone on their side," Watson said. "They want someone there to tell them that they are not alone in this world and that there are people out there who care and will help them to the best of their ability."

OBIFD Chief Ed Blain said that approach is a key reason why he named Watson to the position.

"What strikes me most about her is her genuine compassion for patients," Blain said. "She strives to provide quality care. Her easy-going style and calming affect with patients makes her a great EMT." 

Blain said she also has shown the skills necessary to be a great leader for the rescue squad, which is actively recruiting and training a new generation of volunteer EMTs.

"She possesses a strong commitment to improve her skills with continuing education. This makes her a very competent provider who also likes to help her fellow EMTs improve their skills by sharing her knowledge," Blain said. "I have been impressed with her ideas to improve the team approach for EMS and fire and the manner she has reached out to support our new EMTs."

Cundy's Harbor Chief Benjamin Wallace Jr. had similar praise for Lucas.

"She has tremendous amount of experience and talent. She's hardworking and dedicated," Wallace said. "In addition she's really been there for me in the past year and has been an integral part of our department for years, and continues to be the most active member of the roster."

"Without her and the many other folks that keep us in a constant state of readiness, and respond to our community's call each day, our volunteer system can't work," he said.

In addition to their new leadership roles, Lucas and Watson are following a long family tradition of volunteer fire and rescue service.

"Our family 's involvement goes back to my grandfather and maybe even beyond that," Watson said.

Their mother, Ruth Perry, has been involved with OBIFD for decades, serving in the former auxiliary and still volunteering at department events, including the popular annual auction and yard sale. Their brother, Bob Perry, has been an OBIFD volunteer for more than 40 years, serving as a firefighter, captain and assistant chief. His son, Dan Perry, is now a captain in the department, and Lucas' daughter-in-law, Carrie, recently joined CHVFD as a new EMT.

Both sisters said they were especially inspired by the commitment of their brother.

"I always envied the passion he had for the department. I now know what that passion is like," Lucas said. 

"He has been my idol all through my life," Watson said. "There isn't anything I can't do, because I know he can do it too and I can learn from him."

Watson also said she has been inspired by her older sister as well.

"I don't think she knows this, but she was my inspiration when I was taking my EMT course. I knew that if I had any questions or needed help with anything, I would be able to call on her and get the assistance I needed in order to make me a better EMT," Watson said.

"Sheila is a wonderful EMT, a treasured sister and an even better person. I have very proud of her, and I am proud to call her my sister."

Lucas has similar praise for her younger sister.

"I am very proud of Cindy. I look forward to working with her," she said.

The sisters said their training and professional cooperation is more important to their jobs than being sisters, but the close relationship can help.

"I don't think it will make a difference on a professional level. Our members have worked together before to coordinate trainings, etc., and it wasn't family members doing it then," Watson said. "On a personal note, it makes it easier to contact the other department officials with questions, ideas or what-have-you. There's no need to exchange phone numbers."

Both also said their top goals in their new positions are to maintain high standards of service and continue to attract new members to keep the volunteer service viable in town.

"If you're thinking about volunteering but aren't sure you will make a difference, or think you don't have time, think again," Watson said. "Everything you do, no matter how minor it might seem to you, makes a huge difference to someone else."

Lucas had a similar message.

"I wish more people had the opportunity to do this," she said. "I understand the difficulty of joining when families have small children.  Who are they supposed to leave their children with at a moment's notice when the pager goes off? Being willing to watch your neighbor's children so they can respond would be a great way to volunteer and support the departments."

Harpswell's three fire and rescue departments include CHVFD, which serves all of Great Island from the Brunswick line to Stevens Corner Road on Route 24; Harpswell Neck Fire and Rescue, which serves all areas off of Route 123, including Mountain Road west of the Ewing Narrows bridge; and OBIFD, which serves Orr's, Bailey and part of Great Island south of Stevens Corner road and east of the Ewing Narrows bridge.

More information on joining any of the three departments and the various roles available can be found at their joint recruitment web site at  www.harpswellfireandrescue.org.

OBIFD Personnel Appear in TV News Report

October 6, 2014

Members of the Orrs and Bailey Islands Fire Department recently appeared on television as part of a news segment on driver training and volunteer recruitment for Harpswell's fire and rescue crews.

Chief Ed Blain is interviewed by Jared Pelletier

Fire Chief Ed Blain and two new trainees were interviewed by a reporter from WGME, Channel 13, of Portland, who attended the townwide driver training session on Saturday, Oct. 4.

The second portion of a two-part training program, the session involved hands-on lessons in driving the ambulances, fire engines, tanker trucks and other vehicles used by the Harpswell fire departments. New and veteran members of all three departments attended the training.

The interviews were conducted at the Orr's Island fire station by WGME reporter Jared Pelletier.

The interviews were shown as part of a report which aired on the WGME evening news and again during the 11 p.m. news on October 4.

Blain discussed the training program and ongoing efforts to recruit more volunteers for the three departments. Also interviewed were new recruit Katie Hennessey, a prospective firefighter and emergency medical technician, and Ed Levine, an OBIFD board member and volunteer driver.

"It was a great opportunity to show how we keep up on our training as well as get the message out that we need more volunteers to continue to provide high quality fire and rescue service in town," Blain said.

Harpswell's three fire and rescue departments include Cundy's Harbor Volunteer Fire Department, which serves all of Great Island from the Brunswick line to Stevens Corner Road on Route 24; Harpswell Neck Fire and Rescue, which serves all areas off of Route 123, including Mountain Road west of the Ewing Narrows bridge; and the Orr's and Bailey Islands Fire Department, which serves Orr's, Bailey and part of Great Island south of Stevens Corner road and east of the Ewing Narrows bridge.

In addition to drivers, the departments are looking for volunteers to fill other high- and low-skill roles, such as emergency medical technicians, firefighters and fire support personnel. Volunteers are also sought to serve on the departments' independent board of directors and help out at community events, such as open houses and fundraisers.

More information is available online at www.harpswellfireandrescue.org or by calling Blain at 833-5199.

Harpswell Fire and Rescue Departments Offer Driver Training

September 15, 2014

Harpswell's three fire and rescue departments are inviting residents to attend upcoming training sessions to prepare to fill much-needed roles as volunteer emergency drivers.

The two-part program, scheduled for the last week of September, will train volunteers to drive an ambulance, paramedic car and other vehicles used in emergency response by the Cundy's Harbor, Harpswell Neck and Orr's and Bailey Islands fire departments.

The drivers are a key component to the town's fire and rescue services. When a medical rescue call comes in, a volunteer ambulance crew is dispatched from one of the three departments, along with a paid paramedic who services the entire town. On each call, volunteers are needed to operate both the ambulance and the paramedic's sports utility vehicle, which must follow the ambulance while the paramedic accompanies the patient to the hospital.

Volunteers can also be trained to drive tanker trucks, which shuttle water to fight fires, and other trucks, including fire engines and utility vehicles.

Trained volunteers are issued pagers to alert them to calls and hand-held radios to indicate their response and other communications. The drivers, when available, report to their local fire and rescue station and ride in the ambulance along with volunteer emergency medical technicians. After the hospital run, the drivers return to the station in the ambulance.

In addition to those duties, drivers can also assist the EMTs and paramedics with other tasks, including helping to lift and carry patients or retrieve items from the ambulance or paramedic car, especially in remote locations, such as the many trails and beaches along the town's coastline.

"Typically when we respond to a call on a trail, we have a patient who is badly injured and can't walk out. Carrying someone out on a long board is big team effort.  A twisted knee, loss of consciousness, bad cut, bleeding, dislocated shoulder or hip and broken bones are all typical things we have encountered on such calls," said Orr's and Bailey Islands Fire Chief Ed Blain.

"Being available to drive or help carry someone out of a spot like that is exactly the kind of low training skill set that can allow a lot of people a volunteer role that can really make a difference," Blain said.

Blain, who coordinates recruitment for the three departments, said the training includes a classroom session featuring videos and discussion regarding safe driving practices with an emergency vehicle. The classroom session alone will qualify a volunteer to drive the paramedic car on rescue calls. A separate hands-on training session will qualify drivers to operate the ambulance and other apparatus in emergency situations.

The two-hour classroom training will be offered twice: at 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 29, at the Orr's Island Fire Station, 1600 Harpswell Islands Road, Route 24, on Orr's Island; or at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 2, at the Harpswell Neck fire station, 1430 Harpswell Neck Road, Route 123.

The hands-on driving course will be held on Saturday, Oct. 4, at Mitchell Field on Route 123 in Harpswell Neck. Ambulance training will begin as early as 8 a.m. Tanker training will be held following the ambulance sessions. Training on other vehicles may be held later for each department, as needed.

Attendance at a classroom session is required to take the road class.

Volunteers must be at least 21 years old and hold a valid Maine drivers license not under suspension. Trainees should bring their license to the sessions.

The training is open to both current volunteers and interested newcomers. Trainees who are not current members can register by submitting an online application at www.harpswellfireandrescue.org.

Blain said the training program will allow volunteers to help serve their community in a meaningful way while learning skills they can use in their everyday lives.

"The information is pertinent to daily driving and is something most people will find interesting and informative," Blain said. "This training develops skills that will make people better drivers in their personal vehicles."

In addition to drivers, the departments are looking for volunteers to fill other high- and low-skill roles, such as emergency medical technicians, firefighters and fire support personnel. Volunteers are also sought to serve on the departments' independent board of directors and help out at community events, such as open houses and fundraisers.

More information is available online at www.harpswellfireandrescue.org or by calling Blain at 833-5199.

The three fire and rescue departments include Cundy's Harbor Volunteer Fire Department, which serves all of Great Island from the Brunswick line to Stevens Corner Road on Route 24; Harpswell Neck Fire and Rescue, which serves all areas off of Route 123, including Mountain Road west of the Ewing Narrows bridge; and the Orr's and Bailey Islands Fire Department, which serves Orr's, Bailey and part of Great Island south of Stevens Corner road and east of the Ewing Narrows bridge.

OBIFD Hosts Another Successful Auction and Sale

August 20, 2014

Perfect weather, lots of bargains, generosity and community spirit all came together to make for another great weekend at the Orr’s and Bailey Islands Fire Department annual auction and yard sale.

Hundreds of people attended the two-day event, which features a community yard sale and silent auction on both days and a live auction of mostly donated treasures on Sunday, August 9.

More than $45,000 was raised at the 21^st annual event to support the non-profit fire and rescue department. It was the second-highest amount ever raised at the auction and sale, trailing only last year, when two valuable boats and a motorhome bolstered the total to record levels.

Buyers look for bargains at the yard sale.

“We were so pleased not just because we were successful in reaching our financial goals for the weekend, but that we hosted one more event that brings the folks from all over Harpswell together for a great time,” said Mike Helfgott, president of the OBIFD Board of Directors.

Over the years, the event has grown from a modest fundraising idea which raised about $350 in 1993 to a highly anticipated community event which has provided thousands of dollars to help equip and train members of the all-volunteer fire and rescue squads.

Crowds line up early for the Saturday yard sale.

“It was great fun watching people leave our yard with armloads of items, some of which they really needed, others that they merely wanted, and some that they had no need for at all,” Helfgott said. “Perhaps they'll bring some of them back next year to pass on to other neighbors.”

Among the items generating the most attention this year were a teak dining room set, which sold for $1,000; a large set of wicker outdoor furniture for $1,025; a life-sized carved wooden dolphin for $675; a concrete gargoyle for $550; a power boat for $775; and another small boat and trailer for $450.

Buyers found many bargains in the numerous pieces of vintage wooden furniture, including $310 for a 19^th-century recliner, $250 for an old bureau from a former Orr’s Island hotel, $175 for an oak table, $125 for a grandfather clock, $90 for a drop-leaf cherry table, and $250 for a set of 1950s kitchen chairs and table. Numerous other pieces of furniture and antiques sold for less than $100.

Prospective bidders preview auction items.

The auction included several special items sold to fund specific purposes. A hand-made local quilt, originally raffled several years ago to raise money for the department’s scholarship fund, was donated back and auctioned off for $550, again to benefit the scholarship. A blueberry pie, baked fresh especially for the auction, was sold for $1,000, continuing a tradition of four-figure bids for the first pie to benefit the scholarship fund each year. Two other pies sold for $200 and $110, and a bidder paid $200 for a pair of old roller skates which are signed by the winner each year and then returned for “sale” the next year.

Meanwhile, the two-day yard sale on the fire station grounds and in the adjacent old Orr’s Island Schoolhouse featured a wide variety of household items, sporting goods, rugs, furniture and more, with costs ranging from a few cents to a few dollars. Many terrific bargains were had because the large number of quality items at the auction meant more things were sold at the yard sale for less.

Auctioneer Malcolm McFarland gets bids.

Fire Chief Ed Blain, who served as an auctioneer, attributed much of the success to the generosity of donors who provided a wide array of quality items for sale and then opened their wallets to buy other treasures donated by their neighbors.

“I was very pleased with the record turnout and record-breaking numbers,” Blain said.  “Saturday's yard sale nearly doubled our numbers in past years and was indicative of the high quality and exceptional deals that were available.”

Blain said he heard from so many people that the yard sale and auction has become the top social event and one of the highlights of the year in the islands community.  Many people told of planning their visits so they would be sure to be in town for the event.

Buyers check out bargains at the Orr's Island Schoolhouse.

As the auction and sale has grown, it has involved more and more volunteers, who work year-round to make it a success.

“I want to thank our community volunteers who tirelessly helped to set up and run the event through the weekend,” Blain said. “They too often fade into the background of the event and don't get nearly the recognition they deserve. The department could not possibly do this without the help of all the volunteers.”

Those volunteers have already begun working on next year’s auction and sale, which is scheduled for August 8 and 9, 2015, including collecting donations, which are accepted year-round.

All money raised helps fund the operation of the all-volunteer department, which provides fire and rescue services for Orr's and Bailey Islands and portions of Great Island east of the Mountain Road bridge and south of Stevens Corner Road on Route 24.

Chief Ed Blain shows off the new patient monitor.

At the start of the auction, Blain provided a tangible example of where the money raised at the event goes and how it benefits the community.

Blain held up a new patient cardiac monitor recently purchased with $ 30,700 raised from donations, including last year’s auction. The advanced monitor, which will improve patient care by emergency medical technicians, gives OBIFD the same key piece equipment used by the town’s other rescue squads and paramedic service.

For more information about OBIFD or volunteering, visit the department's web site at www.obifd.org.