Events
October 24, 2013
The 2013 Raffle Drawing has been extended to November 16, 2013! Buy tickets now and take a chance on owning a painting by Paul George, a 2 night personal retreat on Star for 2 in 2014, a cruise with Facilities Superintendent Jack Farrell aboard his sailboard Aloft in 2014, or a Star Island gift bag of surprises!
The drawing will take place at Starry Night on November 16, 2013 in the Discover Portsmouth Center.
On the Island
October 23, 2013
Between April and October of 2013, Star Island benefited from over 10,000 hours of volunteer work. Working on projects as varied as painting walls, mending furniture, and serving dinner, volunteers are an integral part to Star Island’s community atmosphere.
Volunteer help on Star Island occurs in so many ways. Here are some examples from this past season:
Volunteers participated in nearly every department including our maintenance crew, front desk, conference services, truck, and snack bar.
Some efforts on the island are entirely volunteer based. For example, an annual paint crew repainted the interior of Cottage E this past spring, as well as the lobby walls. During the last days of September, another paint team scraped and repainted the basement bathroom floors. In total, these paint crews volunteered for 852 hours. We shared an earlier story about a volunteer team renovating the Art Barn.
So much of what happens on Star Island is thanks to volunteer efforts. While our 10,000+ hours of volunteer work is impressive, our affiliated organizations also rely on volunteers. Summer conferences and programs are organized by volunteer committees, and the Isles of Shoals Association, UU and Star Island UCC are volunteer led.
To learn more about how vital volunteering is for Star Island, check out our fall newsletter. This issue, including an essay by Rev. Dave Scheuneman, focused on various ways of giving to the island .
Events
October 22, 2013
Starry Night starts at 5:30 PM on November 16 at the Discover Portsmouth Center. Join us for this evening of crafts, discussion, entertainment and food. Purchase your tickets in advance.
Starry Night’s craft exhibit includes jewelry created by Paulette Semprini:
The jewelry designs of Paulette d. Semprini reflect the diversity and inspirations of coastal living. She has created a contemporary collection of pieces that are classic, fun and uninhibited. The elegance and shades in each stone are inspired by the sea, sand and jetties that cover the shorelines and harbors of the east coast. Its look and design free every woman to be bold and daring in a simple way. Pieces need not match, while providing a pop of color and style, discerning women find most satisfying. “I have spent my life sailing from Long Island to Maine. Surrounded by the water every day since my childhood has provided a compelling appreciation for nature’s ability to influence our life style and attitudes.” – Paulette
Events
October 18, 2013
Starry Night starts at 5:30 PM on November 16 at the Discover Portsmouth Center. Join us for this evening of crafts, discussion, entertainment and food. Purchase your tickets in advance.
Starry Night’s craft exhibit includes wooden bowls created by Joe Watts III:
My name is Joe Watts and I’m a wood turner in Grantham, NH. I’ve been turning random-edge burl bowls for 12 years. I gather my own burls and I built my own lathe. I have shown my work in 4 different galleries and my work was recently featured at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center – Main Rotunda. E-mail joewatts533@comcast.net for more information or pricing – Please mention “Burl” in your e-mail subject line. Thank-you!
Events
October 18, 2013
Starry Night starts at 5:30 PM on November 16 at the Discover Portsmouth Center. Join us for this evening of crafts, discussion, entertainment and food. Purchase your tickets in advance.
Starry Night’s craft exhibit includes glass beads created by Sarah O’Connor:
I am a glass worker and jack of all trades who often works with my partner (a professional blacksmith) to create everything from exact historical reproductions to modern whimsy. We live on a homestead in northern Vermont with a variety of horses, chickens, and goats. All our crafts are produced by hand, often with non-electric traditional tools.
Events
October 18, 2013
Starry Night starts at 5:30 PM on November 16 at the Discover Portsmouth Center. Join us for this evening of crafts, discussion, entertainment and food. Purchase your tickets in advance.
Starry Night’s craft exhibit includes colorful jewelry created by Diane Terragni:
Fun Fakes and Funky Findings is the brainchild of Diane Terragni. By combining unusual components that she carefully selects, the results are bold, bohemian and one-of-a-kind. Diane never considered herself an artist but always a craftswoman. Today, she demonstrates that the art of jewelry and scarf making is a subjective expression of one’s authenticity. It takes a powerful woman to wear these designs. One who is making a statement that she supports the arts and has the confidence to wear a bold piece. Diane also collaborates with and supports other local artists by using their original lampwork beads and sophisticated hand forged finds
Events
October 18, 2013
Starry Night starts at 5:30 PM on November 16 at the Discover Portsmouth Center. Join us for this evening of crafts, discussion, entertainment and food. Purchase your tickets in advance.
Starry Night’s craft exhibit includes wheat weavings and herbs created by Roberta Horsman:
Welcome to Roberta’s Herbs! The herbal products I create are for skin care, pain relief, and energy balancing. Plants used in product preparation are organically grown and sustainably harvested. In addition to the plants I grow, Middle Earth Farm in Amesbury, MA and Zack Woods Herb Farm in Hyde Park, VT are both good friends and growers as well. Please browse the site, shop online, and feel free to contact me at info@robertasherbs.com 978-384-8055 with any questions. I’ll be teaching wheat weaving at the upcoming Women’s Herbal Conference. Wheat Weaving is an ancient, cross-cultural tradition, dating back to Egyptian times. House Blessings were woven from the last sheaf of wheat harvested from the field to capture the spirit of the wheat.
On the Island
October 17, 2013
Star Island welcomes back the Institute on Religion in an Age of Science for summer 2014 during the week of Saturday, August 2 to Saturday, August 9. Karl E. Peters, co-chair of the 2014 IRAS program said, “IRAS looks forward to celebrating its 60th anniversary on Star, where it was founded.”
IRAS and Star Gathering II will share this week in 2014. Leaders from both groups are meeting throughout the year to diligently plan how best to maximize the experience for both groups including a combined youth program and even details like coordinating lunch time grace.
Star Gathering II Family Conference leaders Jenny and Warren Giering said, “Star Gathering 2 welcomes IRAS back to Star Island. We look forward to sharing the island spiritually, artistically, intellectually and socially.”
In its 60th year, IRAS turns to the theme of Science and Religion in a Globalizing World with the following confirmed speakers:
Conference Updates
October 17, 2013
If you are anything like us, you’re probably already looking forward to summer 2014. But when should you visit Star Island next summer? Here’s the answer: all the time. Okay, so maybe you have your traditional week or two for visiting and you’d like to know when those are? Easy. Here are the dates for our main season 7-day programs:
Star Arts – Saturday, June 14 to Saturday, June 21
Meditation 1 – Saturday, June 14 to Saturday, June 21
Natural History Conference – Saturday, June 21 to Saturday, June 28
Youth Empowerment & Spirituality – Saturday, June 21 to Saturday, Jun 28
All Star 1 Family Conference – Saturday, June 28 to Saturday, July 5
All Star 2 Family Conference – Saturday, July 5 to Saturday, July 12
Lifespan Religious Education – Saturday, July 12 to Saturday, July 19
International Affairs – Saturday, July 19 to Saturday, July 26
Star Gathering 1 Family & Youth Conferences – Saturday, July 26 to Saturday, August 2
Star Gathering 2 Family & Youth Conferences – Saturday, August 2 to Saturday, August 9
Institute on Religion in an Age of Science – Saturday, August 2 to Saturday, August 9
Life on a Star 1 Family Conference – Saturday, August 9 to Saturday, August 16
Life on a Star 2 Family Conference – Saturday, August 16 to Saturday, August 23
Check StarIsland.org out in early December for a more complete list of all summer 2014 programs and registration information.
On the Island
September 30, 2013
The Fourth Annual Gosport Regatta set sail on Saturday, September 28 with 36 boats racing within four divisions. Star Island played host to spectators, racers and overnight guests with live entertainment provided by the Funky Divas during the race day.
Overnighters were treated to a Jazz Brunch on Sunday morning with music by the Brown & White band.
The Gosport Regatta is held in partnership between Star Island and the Piscataqua Sailing Association with race day sponsor Eastern Bank.
The 2014 Gosport Regatta is scheduled for Saturday, September 20.
(10 boats)
Handicap: 186-309
(12 boats)
Handicap: 129-179
(7 boats)
Handicap: 126-192
(7 boats)
Handicap: 18-90
Portsmouth Yacht Club
Three fastest boats: Barefoot Children, Ubuntu, Veladare