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.

OBIFD Annual Auction and Yard Sale Set For August 9 & 10

July 16, 2014

The 21st annual Orr's and Bailey Islands Fire Department auction and yard sale will be held on August 9 and 10 on Orr's Island.

The weekend will feature a giant yard sale, silent auction and food on Saturday and Sunday and a live auction of antiques, art, collectibles and other items on Sunday. It will be held at the Orr’s Island Fire Station, 1600 Harpswell Islands Road, Route 24.

The auction and sale has become a treasured community event, typically attracting large crowds, and is considered one of the highlights of the summer on the islands.

“This has become an island institution,” said OBIFD Fire Chief Ed Blain, one of the auction organizers. “We look forward to seeing familiar faces who have supported us for the past two decades as well as people coming for the first time.“

The yard sale will run from 8 a.m. to at least 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The live auction will begin  Sunday at 10 a.m., with preview and registration beginning at 9 a.m. A silent auction of donated goods and services will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. to noon on Sunday. 

Items sold at the event are donated by area residents throughout the year. The most unique and valuable pieces are typically sold at the auction, though many surprises and treasures can be found in the yard sale, which is held on the grounds around the fire station and inside the adjacent historic Orr's Island Schoolhouse. 

“There is truly something to be found for everyone, if not just seeing the delight on the faces of winning bidders or discoveries in the yard sale or among the schoolhouse collectibles,” Blain said.

Among the items expected to be up for sale this year are a large, carved wooden dolphin which dates back to the 1920s and has been displayed in both Maine and Florida. It was donated to the auction by a Cundy's Harbor resident.

Blain said other items include a number of high-end antique pieces, including lamps, desks, bureaus and dining room furniture, along with other unique collectibles. 

As usual, there will be several boats for sale, including multiple skiffs, a 14-foot boat with a motor and trailer, canoes, kayaks, and at least one paddle board. More boats are also expected to come in before the auction.

“Another flotilla looks to be available for sure,” Blain said.

Anyone looking for a new bicycle will also find many choices this year.

“We have more bikes than ever, including some high-end reproductions, street bikes, off-road bikes and bikes sized for every member of the family,” Blain said. 

The auction will also feature many surprise and unique items, including locally baked pies which are typically sold for hundreds of dollars to support the fire department scholarship fund and other needs.

Concrete gargoyle up for auction.

Blain will once again serve as chief auctioneer, assisted this year by OBIFD board member Malcolm McFarland, an experienced antiques dealer.

The yard sale held in the adjacent schoolhouse, on the lawn and in two big tents out back will offer a wide range of household goods, bric-a-brac, holiday decorations, small antiques and toys. 

The silent auction will feature gift certificates donated by area businesses, including restaurants, motels,  local fishermen and shops, offering meals, automotive and marine supplies and services, jewelry, art and clothing, home and garden supplies and services, personal care and health supplies and services, recreation opportunities and many more.

Breakfast, lunch and snacks will be offered for sale on both days. The breakfast menu includes made-to-order sandwiches and bakery items, while lunch features grilled hot and sweet sausages, hamburgers, veggie burgers, hot dogs, grilled cheese sandwiches, nachos with cheese, soft pretzels, other snacks, beverages and deserts.

Proceeds from the event benefit the Orr's & Bailey Islands Fire Department, which provides fire and rescue services on 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. All money raised goes to support the fire and rescue operations and for training to better serve the community.

Donations are still needed for the auction and yard sale.  Items may be dropped off at the Orr's Island fire station from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays through August 2, or call Blain at 833-5199 to arrange for another time or schedule a pickup of donations by fire department volunteers

For more information about the fire department or volunteering, visit www.obifd.org 

Art Auction Raises Funds for Orr's Island Schoolhouse

July 15, 2014

A lot of community spirit and thousands of dollars were raised at this year’s annual art auction to benefit the historic Orr’s Island Schoolhouse.

Dozens of works of art, ranging from paintings and photographs to carvings and jewelry, were sold at the annual event. About 75 people attended and provided spirited bidding on items donated by local artists for the fund-raiser, held July 5 at the schoolhouse on Harpswell Islands Road, Route 24

Bidders check out the artwork prior to the auction.

The artwork included a series of old-style wooden lobster buoys which were distributed by auction organizers to area artists, who transformed them into unique pieces of art.

“The creativity shown by our local artists with the buoys was amazing,” said Venise Minkowsky, who organized the auction. “We are very fortunate to have so many talented people in our community who are willing to donate their time and abilities to help us preserve such an important part of our local history.”

A buoy carved by Brad McFadden of Orr’s Island proved to be the most valuable item sold at the auction. The buoy, transformed into a realistic-looking lobster, sold for $1,000 following some enthusiastic bidding. It was the second year in a row a work by McFadden generated the most money at the event.

Other top bids included $525 for “Seal,” an oil painting by Doug Bane; $300 for “Puffin Watch,” a silkscreen by T. Tryson; $280 for a carved Sanderling bird by McFadden; $200 for “Fog Lifting, Newfoundland,” a watercolor by Margaret Leonard; $130 for “Purple Buoys,” a watercolor by Jan Roberson; and $120 for “Girl with Goldfish Balloon,” a digital print by Jeff McCreight.

Top sellers among the lobster buoys included $280 for “Lobster with Own Butter” by Tom Brudzinski; $210 for “Lobster Roll” by Maureen Anthoine-Orlandini; $205 for “Pineapple” by Jeff McCreight; and $200 for “Painting of Lowell Cove” by Patricia Fuchs.

Brad McFadden's lobster buoy.

All winning bids totaled nearly $7,000, which yielded more than $5,500 for the schoolhouse after expenses and commissions paid to some of the artists. The money is used for maintenance and improvements to the building, such as new air conditioning which kept everyone cool and comfortable for the auction on a warm summer evening.

Participating artists in this year’s event included Margaret Leonard, Kimball Page, Jan Roberson, Sharon Bond, KDB, Doug Bane, Jeff McCreight, Tim McCreight, Barbara Wiltshire, Patricia Fuchs, Bill Tomsa, Scott Minkowsky and Tom Brudzinski.

The lobster buoys were provided by Doug Bane, Steve Black, Tom Brudzinski, Patricia Fuchs, Emily Leonard Trenholm, Brad McFadden, Maureen Anthoine-Orlandini, Jeff McCreight, Tim McCreight, and Patrick Regan.

Auctioneer Ed Blain, left, and Tim McCreight drum up bids.

In addition, local lobstermen Dave Johnson, Al Johnson, and Bob Wilson provided buoys painted with their own colors, which sold for more than $100 each.

Ed Blain, chief of the Orr's and Bailey Islands Fire Department, once again served as auctioneer at the event.An important part of Harpswell history, the building was originally a two-room school for island children. Now used for a variety of community, public and private events, the schoolhouse is self-supporting, depending on income from event rentals, fund raisers and donations to maintain the building and grounds. It is managed by the adjacent Orr’s and Bailey Islands Fire Department.

For more information about the schoolhouse, or to inquire about rentals, please contact Venise Minkowsky at 833-7386 or visit orrsislandschoolhouse.com.

OBIFD Seeks Donations for Annual Auction and Yard Sale

June 17, 2014

The Orr's & Bailey Islands Fire Department is looking for donations for its annual auction and yard sale to be held August 9 and 10 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 833-5199 to arrange for free pickup of larger pieces or multiple items. The fire department asks that no donations be left unattended at the station.

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, 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, plastic storage containers and cups. Books 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 at least 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 9, 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 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 fire Chief Ed Blain at 833-5199.

Artists Prepare Lobster Buoys for 'An Evening of Art'

June 16, 2014

These four lobster buoys specially decorated by local artists will be among a series up for sale at thefourth annual An Evening of Art on Saturday, July 5, at the historic Orr’s Island Schoolhouse on Route 24.

The iconic buoys were distributed to area artists to transform into unique pieces to be sold at the benefit for the old schoolhouse building. 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 July 5 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.

The former two-room schoolhouse, now managed by the adjacent Orr's and Bailey Islands Fire Department, 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.

For more information, please contact Venise Minkowsky at 833-7386 or Tim McCreight at 761-8217, visit orrsislandschoolhouse.com or email artauction@orrsislandschoolhouse.com.

Fun Time Had by All at OBIFD Open House

June 10, 2014

Hands-on fun was the order of the day at this year’s annual open house at the Orr’s and Bailey Islands Fire Department.

Visitors got a chance to operate and feel the power of a live fire hose, check out rescue tools as they tore into a wrecked car and climb aboard fire trucks and other emergency vehicles at the open house, held on June 7 at the Orr’s Island fire station.

“This annual event gives us a chance to show the community what we do and how we do it, and expose people to the benefits of helping their neighbors by volunteering for a variety of roles in the fire and rescue department,” said OBIFD Chief Ed Blain.

“It was a fun time for us and our visitors.”

Many of the department’s volunteers were on hand to demonstrate the use of fire hoses, rescue tools and fire extinguishers. Firefighters showed off the rescue tools by tearing apart a junked car as they would in an actual rescue, removing the doors and then cutting off the roof to reach occupants inside.

Children and adults got a chance to see the tools up close and even feel the power of the cutting jaws.

Many people also got the opportunity to operate a powerful fire hose hooked up to one of the department’s engines which blasted water as it would while fighting an actual fire.

The open house also included a visit from the Brunswick Fire Department fire safety trailer, in which visitors got to experience what it would be like in a smoke-filled home and how to get out safely, and a presentation by Chief Blain on safety tips when filling up at a gas station. There were also gifts for children and free refreshments for everyone.

“We enjoy putting on this event every year and appreciate the support we receive,” said Mike Helfgott, president of the OBIFD Board of Directors. “Our volunteers are proud of what they do for the community and love to show off their skills to our neighbors and friends.”

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.

Harpswell Fire Departments Seek Volunteers for Many Roles

May 21, 2014

Harpswell's three fire and rescue departments are making a new plea for residents to take on a variety of roles to help keep the long tradition of volunteer emergency response alive in town.

The three departments have always relied on volunteers to provide both medical rescue and firefighting services, but a declining number of responders has put that system in jeopardy. Last year, the town began providing full-time paramedic service but still relies on volunteer responders to drive ambulances, transport patients and perform other emergency and support duties.

“We desperately need volunteers to help broaden our response capabilities,” said Ed Blain, chief of the Orr’s and Bailey Islands Fire Department. 

In the past, recruitment of volunteers focused on higher-skilled roles such as firefighters and emergency medical technicians, which require specialized ongoing training and more demanding time commitments.

In an effort to reach out to more people, the departments are now broadening that appeal to include volunteers to take on supporting roles, many of which require little training and less time, yet still perform vital functions.

Blain cited emergency medical response as one area with several volunteer opportunities at various skill levels.

“Every EMS call requires two drivers to respond with an EMT -- one to drive the ambulance and one for the paramedic response vehicle,” Blain said.  “The paramedic vehicle is a Chevy Tahoe that pretty much anybody can drive with some instruction on operating the lights and siren.”

Volunteers can also help support the fire service.

“Support staff working in roles like traffic control or moving supplies allow more highly trained volunteers to utilize their skills as interior firefighters,” Blain said.

In addition to less training – which is provided for free -- the departments also offer volunteers the flexibility to help out when their own schedules allow.

“Volunteers can be assigned a schedule or simply sign on to a call when they are available,” Blain said.

Other roles require no emergency response at all, but can provide important help, such as Community Event Volunteers, who assist the departments with special events, such as open houses or fundraisers.

The volunteers are needed for all three of the town departments -- Harpswell Neck Fire and Rescue, Cundy's Harbor Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue, and the Orr's and Bailey Islands Fire Department, which serves Orr's, Bailey and part of Great Island south of the Nazarene Church on Route 24.

The three departments will soon mail a flyer to local addresses advertising the need for volunteers and highlighting the many options available. 

Some of the roles outlined in the flyer include:

• Support staff members to provide emergency and non-emergency duties, such as traffic control, managing refreshments at fires and helping to get equipment ready for service after a call.
  
• Driver/Operators specially trained and certified to operate emergency vehicles, including the ambulances, fire engines, water tankers, squad trucks and smaller utility vehicles.
  
• Auxiliary Firefighters trained to suppress fires that do not require the use of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) but can include operating fire department vehicles and specialty tools such as the “Jaws of Life”.
  
• Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) work closely with the town’s paramedic to provide emergency treatment and patient transportation.
  
• Firefighters qualified to wear SCBA to work in burning buildings suppressing fire and saving occupants, in addition to responding to other emergencies, including vehicle crashes and environmental hazards.
  
• Junior Firefighters younger than 18 years of age who can assist on calls that don’t place them in immediate harm’s way.

In addition to the mailing, the three departments are also developing a web site, www.harpswellfireandrescue.org, to list all of the opportunities, training and event schedules and other information for prospective volunteers.

Anyone interested in more information is asked to contact Blain, who is handling inquiries on behalf of all the departments. He can be reached at 833-5199 or ed.blain@obifd.org via email.

Information will also be available at the OBIFD annual open house, scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 7, at the Orr’s Island fire station on Route 24. The event will include demonstrations of various firefighting and rescue techniques and the opportunity to meet other responding volunteers and get information on the various roles available.

Blain urged Harpswell residents with any interest in the fire or rescue service to consider volunteering.

“Volunteering with the EMS and fire departments is a great way of helping your neighbors and serving the community,” he said. “You get to meet the wonderful folks living in town and offer a helping hand.”

Lobster Buoys to Highlight 'An Evening of Art' for Orr's Island Schoolhouse

May 21, 2014

Iconic symbols of the community’s lobster tradition will take center stage at this year’s art auction to benefit the old Orr’s Island Schoolhouse.

A series of lobster buoys, specially decorated by area artists, will be unveiled for sale at the fourth annual An Evening of Art on Saturday, July 5, at the historic school building on Route 24 on Orr’s Island.

“We call it ‘An Evening of Art’ because it's a time for friends, community members and visitors to come to the schoolhouse to see the wonderful work made by local artists,” said Venise Minkowsky, organizer of the event.

“Last year we introduced a new feature, giving a dozen artists a small lunchbox, very fitting for a schoolhouse, to be decorated in any way the artist wanted,” Minkowsky said. “It was a huge success and we're doing it again this year, this time using lobster buoys."

The traditional buoys have been distributed to 10 artists to decorate in any way they choose. The artists participating in the project are Natalie Andreach, Maureen Anthoine-Orlandini, Tom Brudzinski, Lisa Burke, Patricia Fuchs, Emily Trenholm Leonard, Tim McCreight, Jeff McCreight, Brad McFadden and Patrick Regan

Works from those artists and many others will also be up for auction at the event. The offerings will include high-quality paintings, prints, photographs, jewelry and many other unique items. In past years, items have sold for as little as $20 to more than $1,000.

Last year’s event raised more than $7,000 to help fund operations and repairs to the schoolhouse, an important part of Harpswell history which was originally a two-room school for generations of island children. Now managed by the adjacent Orr's and Bailey Islands Fire Department, 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.

An Evening of Art will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on July 5 at the old schoolhouse, located at 1594 Harpswell Island Road, Route 24. Preview will begin at 6 p.m. Light hors d'oeuvres, desserts, soda and wine will be served.

For more information, please contact Venise Minkowsky at 833-7386 or Tim McCreight at 761-8217, visit orrsislandschoolhouse.com or email artauction@orrsislandschoolhouse.com.

Artists Sought For Annual Orr's Island Schoolhouse Art Auction

April 21, 2014

Area artists are again being invited to participate in An Evening of Art to benefit the old Orr's Island Schoolhouse.

The fourth annual auction of high-quality art and crafts will be held on Saturday, July 5, at the schoolhouse, located on Harpswell Islands Road, Route 24, in Orr's Island.

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

Artists participating in the auction can set a minimum bid for their work and opt to keep a portion, or commission, of the selling price.

Last year’s event featured lunch boxes decorated with a variety of designs which were quite popular with buyers. This year, the organizers will invite a dozen artists to take and decorate blank, iconic lobster buoys with themes of their choosing.

All artwork for the event will be needed by June 25.

“We call it ‘An Evening of Art’ because we see it as a social event,” said Venise Minkowsky, chair of the Schoolhouse Committee of the Orr’s and Bailey Islands Fire Department, which manages the building.

“It's a wonderful evening spent with friends, neighbors and visitors,” Minkowsky said. “It’s a great time for the community to get together in support of a very important historic building.”

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.

A large, spirited crowd attended last year’s event, which raised more than $7,000.

This year’s auction will be held on Saturday, July 5, 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 Venise Minkowsky at 833-7386, or Tim McCreight at 761-8217, or email artauction@orrsislandschoolhouse.com.

Husband and Wife EMTs Retiring from OBIFD After 20 Years

November 15, 2013

For the past several years, anyone calling for emergency medical assistance on Orr's, Bailey and parts of Great Island likely met Ed or Colette Sparks.

Regardless of the time or day, the weather, or the nature of the emergency, the Sparks were likely to answer the call for help. Over the years, they have treated hundreds of island residents and visitors, comforting them and their loved ones in times of distress and saving lives.

But the Sparks will make their last runs later this month when the long-time emergency medical technicians officially retire as active volunteers for the Orr's and Bailey Islands Fire Department, effective at the end of the year.

"We have a passion for helping others and have met some wonderful folks over the decades, and listened to many stories from the elders about life in simpler times," said Ed Sparks, who has served as Rescue Captain for the past several years. "We have met folks in the best of times and the worst times of their lives."

But Sparks said the time is right for the couple to move on and spend more time on their business and personal lives.

"There also are many changes underfoot. Some of these are at the federal level, the state level and at the local level," Ed Sparks said. "We, like many members of the community, are Boomers and this is a young persons' business."

Their departure will leave a huge void in the volunteer department, which serves Orr's, Bailey and the southern end of Great Island.

"Ed and Colette served the department tirelessly for 20 years. They helped hundreds of people responding to both fire and EMS calls during their tenure," said OBI Fire Chief Ed Blain. "Filling their shoes won't be easy."

The Sparks' retirement will leave OBIFD with just one qualified EMT, who is currently living out of town. More volunteers are expected to attend a town-wide EMT training class beginning in January and the town is moving toward providing 24-hour EMS through Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick, at least through March.

While more responders could help extend the volunteer rescue service, Ed Sparks said he thinks permanent paid EMS coverage is inevitable.

"This Department has been fortunate to have the support of residents and taxpayers for many years. However, the needs are changing and it may not be the service model we now know in the future," he said. "I would like to believe that there is hope for the volunteer system to continue providing local care to our citizens. However, the reality is without new blood this may not be possible."

He said the problem is not unique to Harpswell.

"There is a trend nationwide, and right here in Maine, to consolidate emergency medical services and make them regionalized. Some under local government, some under county wide services," Ed Sparks said. "I see Harpswell in the near future having a single paid service consolidated and tax-supported as many other local towns have been forced to do in recent years."

Those changes would be among many the Sparks have seen over their years of service.

"When I started, ambulance attendants could only provide basic bleeding control, splinting and, maybe, if you were a progressive service, oxygen. The ambulances were converted station wagons or hearses and many places ambulance service was provided by the local funeral home," Ed Sparks said.

"Today's ambulance services are advanced life support mobile emergency rooms. We have much of the same equipment and medications as are available at the hospital ERs," he said. "We are an extension of those ERs proving needed stabilization in the field, prior to transporting the patient to the hospital for further treatment."

Ed Sparks, 58, works full-time as a carpenter, while Colette, 57, is a registered nurse on the medical surgical floor at Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick. They also breed and raise Labrador retrievers.

Both were born in Springfield, Mass., married as teenagers, and moved frequently after Ed joined the Navy. They discovered the Brunswick area in 1976 when Ed was a Navy reservist and made their first visit to Bailey Island during the Blizzard of 1978. They began spending summer vacations on Bailey Island and moved there full time when they bought their home in 1994.

The Sparks had considerable emergency medical experience before arriving in town, including working on ambulance and rescue crews at stock car races throughout New England.

Soon after moving to Bailey Island, a close friend suffered a heart attack and Ed Sparks came to his aid, starting CPR before the OBI rescue crew arrived. After his friend was safely taken to the hospital, the responders began urging Sparks to become a department volunteer, calling or bringing cookies and desserts to their home almost daily until he said yes.

Colette Sparks joined a few months later, "so I could see him more often," she said.

While reluctant to discuss many specifics because of patient privacy requirement, the Sparks said they lots of memories from their years of service.

"There have been many memorable people we have met over the years," he said. "Listening to stories from a 100-year-old fisherman as we helped him during his last few years was an incredible thing. Many of our elderly are a fountain of historical knowledge that is being lost as they pass on."

The Sparks received thanks from many of their colleagues and neighbors when they were presented with the OBIFD Award for Extraordinary Service at the department's annual recognition dinner in November.

"Thank you Ed for your 20 years of being a firefighter, advanced E.M.T. and rescue captain," says the award presented to Ed Sparks by OBIFD President Michael Helfgott. "You have responded to any call for help whether it be picking up donated medical equipment or comforting a person in physical or emotional distress. You have worn many hats and it will be hard to replace you."

Colette Sparks' award thanked her for "20 years of service as a firefighter, advanced E.M.T., trainer of E.M.T.s and representative to the Maine Federation of Firefighters."

"Your dedication to the success of the fire/rescue departments has ensured the safety and well being and quality of life in our community," both award plaques state.

For their part, the Sparks said their true reward was the opportunity to help their neighbors and make the community a better place to live.

"It has been my great honor to serve the people of this community. I am grateful that I have been accepted it as a neighbor," Colette Sparks said.

Now, they said, it is time to relax a little and enjoy life.

"We are celebrating our 39th anniversary this year," Ed Sparks said. "And we are making plans for our first real vacation in over a decade."

Volunteers Sought for Harpswell EMT Training Course

November 15, 2013

Responding to a severe shortage of qualified first responders, Harpswell's three volunteer fire and rescue departments are joining forces to sponsor a training program they hope will add to the ranks of emergency medical technicians in town.

The three departments have traditionally relied on volunteers to provide both medical rescue and firefighting services, but a declining number of volunteers have put that system in jeopardy. The town already has paid emergency medical service, provided by a paramedic from Mid Coast Hospital, for 12 hours a day, and is expected to provide 24-hour coverage at least from January 1 through March, when town meeting will be asked to make the arrangement permanent.

But even with professional help, volunteers are still needed to provide first, immediate response to medical emergencies and transport patients to hospitals in the department ambulances.

While the volunteer ranks have been dwindling for some time, the problem has reached crisis levels with the pending retirement of Orr's and Bailey Islands Rescue Captain Ed Sparks and his wife, Colette. Their departure will leave the department with just one qualified EMT, and that volunteer currently lives out of town.

"We need to train EMTs to be able to continue providing coverage," said Ed Blain, chief of the Orr's and Bailey Islands Fire Department. "We have four people signed up and have a few others considering the class, but we need as many people as we can get from all parts of town."

The class will begin on January 21 and run for 12 weeks on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 to 9:30 or 10 p.m., along with a few Saturdays. Classes will be held at the Orr's Island fire station on Route 24 and all costs will be covered by the fire departments for approved applicants.

Upon completion of the class, successful graduates will be eligible for the state license exam. EMTs receive ongoing training, uniforms, equipment and, in some cases, stipends for their work.

The sponsoring departments include Harpswell Neck Fire and Rescue, Cundy's Harbor Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue, and the Orr's and Bailey Islands Fire Department, which serves Orr's, Bailey and part of Great Island south of the Nazarene Church on Route 24.

Anyone interested in signing up for the course, or getting more information, is asked to contact Blain, who is handling inquiries on behalf of all the departments. He can be reached at 833-5199 or ed.blain@obifd.org via email.

Blain urged Harpswell residents with any interest in the fire or rescue service to consider volunteering, regardless of whether they can commit to the EMT class.

"You don't have to be an EMT or firefighter to help, though that is the ultimate level of service," Blain said. "We desperately need drivers for the trucks, ambulance and even the paramedic car that has to be driven to the hospital on every call. Traffic control, helping with monthly maintenance or assisting with property maintenance are other ways to help out."

"This town has always relied on volunteers," he said. "We're hoping a new generation steps forward to continue the community tradition of neighbors helping neighbors."