Posts Categorized: Shoaler Voices

Art Challenge: Paint from a Picture

We asked and you answered! We’re excited to share the results of our ART CHALLENGE: Paint from a Picture. Special thanks to Chris Volpe and Anna Birch for inspiring this activity with their own art and to all the Shoalers who participated in their own ways. We hope you enjoy this gallery of unique and… Read more >

Star Island Calling by Rev. Wendy Bartel

This piece is an excerpt from It Is Time Now: Offerings from the Beloved Community Project, an educational resource produced in 2019 as part of Star Island’s Beloved Community Project. The Star Island Beloved Community Project is a journey SIC has begun as an organization to create a more inclusive and intentional community, to help spread… Read more >

Becoming a Shoaler

Becoming a Shoaler by Nelson Linscott The winter months after my first visit to Star Island were cold and dreary. Baxter was not feeling himself again, but who does feel well trudging through slush and snow dreaming of warmer months ahead? As storms raced through, I thought of Alex de Steiguer, the longtime Star Island… Read more >

A Shoaler in the Making: Part 6

A Shoaler in the Making, Part 6 by Nelson Linscott There are in our existence spots of time, That with distinct pre-eminence retain A renovating virtue, whence, depressed By false opinion and contentious thought, Or aught of heavier or more deadly weight, In trivial occupations, and the round Of ordinary intercourse, our minds Are nourished… Read more >

A Shoaler in the Making: Part 5

A Shoaler in the Making, Part 5 by Nelson Linscott Star Island Bodhicitta I went voluntarily sentby luck of the drawThough my World residesinside a temporary shellthat will crumble into dustThe island called to mea place I only dreamed ofI felt the spirit longbefore I set foot upon the rockthe beauty of the land cold Atlantic… Read more >

A Shoaler in the Making: Part 4

A Shoaler in the Making, Part 4 by Nelson Linscott “If you can look into the seeds of time, and say which grain will grow and which will not, speak then unto me.” William Shakespeare Across the dock to the gangplank, I pushed Baxter in his stroller toward the good ship Thomas Laighton. I now had… Read more >

A Shoaler in the Making: Part 3

A Shoaler in the Making, Part 3 by Nelson Linscott “Joy is of the will which labours, which overcomes obstacles, which knows triumph.”  William Butler Yeats It was April and I worked on my packing list. Making sure you have everything is essential when you are a beat up old guy and your best friend… Read more >

A Shoaler in the Making: Part 2

We’ve received an outpouring of responses to our most recent blog post by Nelson Linscott, and are pleased to share the second installment of the series, A Shoaler in the Making. We think you’ll appreciate reading about Nelson’s life and experience leading up to his first trip to Star as much as we did. His… Read more >

A Shoaler in the Making

We were overjoyed to host Kittery’s own Nelson Linscott as our 2018 Veterans Raffle winner last June. We are beyond grateful to have had the opportunity to share our special island with someone new, who has sacrificed so much for our country. From the moment Nelson set foot on Star, it was clear to us… Read more >

Winter Stewardship: Keeping Safe Our Spirit’s Home

A winter caretaker needs to have the temperament and endurance not only to manage the considerable environmental and personal challenges of living isolated for months in a remote place, but also needs to possess the particular technical chops that will ensure our dear island remains safely cared for. Though the various demands on winter caretakers… Read more >