mipoa heading

Fall 2015 Newsletter

IN THIS ISSUE
Important Phone Numbers
Welcome New Neighhors
Beyond the Gatehouse
How I Came to Mason's Island: Patty Copp
Volunteer Profile: Hugh McGee
Kidspot
Wine & Dine
MI Beaches and Trails
Once Upon a Time
The Sailor's Sheet
Artist in Residence
Mason's Island Images
Events of Interest

Letter From Bob Martin, President, MIPOA
 
Dear Neighbors,
 
The summer season is clearly behind us. After a grand summer of sunny days and lovely seas, punctuated by a Blood Red Moon, fall has arrived. October rain, cooler temperatures, and threats from hurricane Joaquin have chased many boats from the water as the island transitions to another season.
 
This month, a portion of Black Duck and Ice Pond will be paved. The larger paving project has been postponed until 2016.  
 
Many thanks to the new team who have produced this fine issue of the MIPOA newsletter. I also encourage you to follow and post to the masonsisland Instagram account. Beginning now through December 31, any photo that is submitted by a resident on the Instagram account will be automatically entered into the photo competition for the best photos taken on Mason's Island. Winners will be posted in the next issue of the MIPOA Newsletter.
 
For easy reference, we are including in this newsletter selected important phone numbers.
 
Bob Martin
President, MIPOA

 
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
 
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY  
House Fires:  CALL 911
Health Emergencies:  CALL 911
Suspicious Activity:  CALL 911
Masons Island Road and Drainage Issues:   
If you have a problem with our roads or drainage systems, please contact the members of the Road Committee: Rufus Allyn, Ethan Tower, and Bob Martin. Rufus is under contract with MIPOA/MIFD to manage our road activities and budget. Bob represents MIPOA on the Road Committee. Ethan is the MIFD Director responsible for roads. Our contact information is:
Rufus Allyn     cell    (860) 235-3465    email: [email protected] 
Ethan Tower home (860) 572-8843   email: [email protected] 
Bob Martin    home (860) 572-3997     email: [email protected]
Snow Removal:   
If you have a problem with snow removal from the MI roads, please contact Rufus Allyn. Please do not try to give instructions to the Allied driver.
Power Outage: Call 1-800-286-2000
Note: In the event of widespread power-outage problems in southeastern Connecticut, the more individual phone calls that Eversource receives from Mason's Island residents, the higher priority we will receive for restoration.
 
Welcome New Neighbors 
 
welcome chairs

Chris and Martha Ficke at 11 Nauyaug Point Road
 
Beyond The Gatehouse
 
Today's China
by Linda Delaney
 
Chairman Mao's face. It is everywhere in China today. The China that endured Mao's disastrous policies as one of its most brutal rulers. My husband Paul and I were particularly struck by Mao's omnipresence during a recent trip to China for a visit with my son and his wife, who are living in Shanghai. We combined our visit with a tour: Beijing, Xian, Chongqing, river boat cruise on the Yangtze through Qutang & Wu Gorges, Three Gorges Dam, Jinzhou, Wuhan, and ending in Shanghai. I had taught Asian civilizations (history, geography, religion, culture of China, India, Japan) to sixth graders fifteen years ago, but what I found most interesting during our trip was China today! For those planning a visit to China, I recommend the book "The Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth, and Faith in the New China," Evan Osnos, 2014. The text boldfaced below comes from that book.
 
In the 18th century, imperial China controlled one-third of the world's worth ... but in the 19th and 20th centuries, China was crippled by invasion, civil war and political upheaval.
 
During our travels, we were repeatedly struck by the contradiction between China's Communist/one party rule and its economy, which has been free market since Deng Xiaoping (leader 1978-92) visited the United States in 1979 and witnessed the success of our capitalist economy. On his return to China, he opened the country to foreign investment, the global market, and limited private competition. In the age of ambition, life sped up. Under socialism, there had rarely been any reason to rush. "English Fever" took hold. Yet even today few seem to have mastered the language. In our Xian hotel, I asked the concierge directions to the nearest pharmacy and was told, "Just a 10 hour walk that way."
 
In 1949, the average life expectancy was 36, and the literacy rate was 20 percent. By 2011, life expectancy was 75, and the literacy rate was above 90 percent.
 
We expected heavy air pollution, especially in Beijing; yet it didn't seem especially harsh. In winter, however, when coal is burned for heating, it is much worse. The government is attempting to curb air pollution by encouraging the use of natural gas. Also, a system is in place to limit the number of cars travelling into major cities; the last number on your license plate indicates the day of the week you are NOT allowed to drive your car into the city.
 
Traffic in all cities is heavy and chaotic; traffic lights are considered "suggestions." One uses extreme caution when walking the crowded sidewalks - bicycles, motor scooters (and an occasional car) often come roaring past. The constant shoving by the Chinese people isn't considered rude; it's just "their way."   And the people appear welcoming and friendly. Our guide (who gave us name tags with his cell phone number to be worn everywhere) instructed that if we got lost, we should tap a Chinese person on the shoulder and ask him to call his number. People in our group had to do that several times.
 
Buildings are going up everywhere; many, however, appear unoccupied. We were told that the national bird of China is the "crane" (as in building crane). The sight of high-rise after high-rise in the major cities is depressing. En route by bus to the zoo in Chongqing, we passed building after building for miles and miles. We learned that grandparents often stand in line for their children just so they can get a place on a bus to the city - which can be up to a two hour commute each way! Yet real estate prices are soaring ... between 2003 and 2011, home prices in Beijing, Shanghai and other big cities rose by 800%.
 
China's one child policy, implemented in the late '70s to curb rapid population growth, was eased in 2013. (When sonogram technology spread in China in the '80s, couples aborted fetuses in order to wait for a boy. As a result, China has 24 million men who will be of marrying age by 2020, but unable to find a spouse.) We noted that there were few strollers; parents often carried their (very spoiled) children - easy to do when there's only one!
 
We learned that the Central Publicity Department has control over ALL media and propaganda. No mention of the 1989 Tiananmen protests appears in Chinese textbooks, and the Internet poses an obvious threat to government rule. Following the 2008 earthquakes that killed thousands in western China (including victims of a collapsed school), the government declined to count or name the students who had died.
 
With one party rule, corruption is rampant. Forty-six percent of parents said that strong "social connections" or fees were the only way to get their children a good education. My son had an unpleasant experience after signing a lease for an office in Shanghai. A man showed up at his office, demanding $15,000 - claiming that he had shown him the space first and therefore should collect his fee. It was a false claim, of course, but the man persisted, even standing with a bullhorn outside the office telling people not to do business at my son's office. Calling the police was futile. The resolution? My son had to pay off only $3,000, not $15,000!
 
In Beijing, we visited one of the few remaining "hutong" neighborhoods (alleys formed by lines of traditional courtyard residences). We were welcomed into one by an elderly woman. Told we could pose ANY question - just nothing to do with politics - one in our group asked, "What's your religion?" The woman replied, "Mao." The continued reverence of Mao is astonishing considering that his "Great Leap Forward" produced the worst catastrophe in China's history - the famine of 1958 to 1962. Forty-five million Chinese starved to death. Mao's image is everywhere, and one senses that the Chinese cannot risk denigrating him in any way.
 
Dining in China? Get used to the Lazy Susan! That grew old pretty quickly, and we learned early on that if we finished a dish, more would be brought. Also, NO tipping! Not in a taxi, at a restaurant - anywhere. And there's a Starbucks, unsurprisingly, on almost every corner. We also were told early on that when shopping, always bargain - expect to get 20/30 % off ticket price.
 
River cruising has always been a favorite mode of travel for us. The Yangtze, however, was a disappointment in that it is brownish/yellow and bordered mostly by heavy industry. The scenery was quite dramatic near the gorges, but the flooding of much of the countryside during the construction of the Three Gorges Dam resulted in the hillsides being not quite as striking as they once were.
 
Shanghai is a beautiful city. My son lives in a lovely "lane house" in the French Concession, where the streets are lined with plane trees brought over from France a century and a half ago. It's common to see large black luxury cars tucked into these lanes - they cannot possibly turn around, so must back out into the main thoroughfares. The city is often referred to as the "Paris of China." There are wonderful neighborhoods, restaurants, and malls with high-end stores, with no shoppers in them!
 
Since our return to the States, China has been in the news daily. Its economy is in turmoil, corruption is rampant, shoddy construction and the disastrous consequences are evident, and those who challenge the Communist party risk their freedom. While its history and culture are interesting, China today is quite a puzzle!
 

 

Beyond the Gate House
Bucket List
Mason's Islanders suggest a trip for your bucket list...
 
Tommy H. Thomason: I recommend the National Geographic expedition to the Galapagos Islands. The trip of a lifetime, but only if you're capable of a fair bit of hiking and happy to get your feet wet from time to time going to and from the beach.
 A blue-footed booby showing the usual amount of fear and consternation at being photographed from three feet away...

Tory & Rob Christian: One of our trips of a lifetime was to Kenya.  We went with our two grown children, but could easily have done it with tweens or teens.  We hope some day to do it again with our grandchildren.  We used Linda Friedman of Custom Safaris, whom we got through Wendy Perrin's Wow List of travel experts from around the world.
 
 
Paula Tomasi: My bucket list suggestion is Antarctica. My daughter Elizabeth and I went with Quark Expeditions on a small adventure ship with about 100 travelers. We went off the ship on zodiacs two or three times a day. It was cold and exciting, the trip of a lifetime. Let me know if you need more information. 
 
Christie & Victor Baird: Vic and I recommend the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico around mid-November to see the arrival of thousands of sandhill cranes, snow geese, and ducks, not to mention countless numbers of other species that winter in this location.  Just before sunset, enormous flocks converge in the wetlands to spend the night after feeding all day in the nearby fields. The sight is glorious. The sunlight reflecting on the birds makes them look like spiraling strands of pearls and gems streaming across the sky.  The birdcalls are deafening.  For birders it is a spectacular experience but also memorable, if not transformational, for non-birders as well.  We learned of this magical encounter with nature from the book Charles Kuralt's America, published in 1995, in which he describes his favorite place in America for each month of the year.
 
Lou Allyn: If I could go back to any place in the world it would be the Isle of Capri and the Blue
Grotto. 


How I Came To Mason's Island
by Patricia Briggs Copp
 
 Grateful thanks to Patty for providing her own story after all her past efforts to solicit those from others. Now it's time to submit yours...
 
A magical island and magical people result in magical memories.
 
I lived in Norwich, Connecticut, with my parents, Sallie Lee and L. Goffe Briggs, my sister Ann, and brother Peter.   My mother's sister, Patricia Brown Moore and her husband Leonard, summered on Stanton Lane (called The Farm) in Mystic and our families spent a great deal of time together. Hence, that was my introduction to Mason's Island.
 
My memories of MI begin during the Victory Garden years. The Moore family had a huge such garden in Upper Field. All manner of vegetables were planted there, requiring many hands and hours to keep it properly. When visiting my cousins Leonard B. Moore (Brownie), Sarah (now Hallberg), Margot (now Greener) and Dion (who presently lives on Stanton Lane), we were assigned weeding time before we were given permission to hop on our bikes and ride to MI for the rest of the day. Dion was too young to do much weeding, but I recall it was his and my brother Peter's job to "watch."
 
Looking back, it was a special time: moving along the rows of this and that in a squatting position, pulling weeds as fast as we could, talking, laughing, planning the fun ahead at MI. There was no sun block back then and I don't recall hats, either. When we had completed our assigned share, we took our lunches and sped off, making a stop usually at Kretzer's drug store for candy (not on our menu) or anything else forbidden and then rode pell mell to the yacht club.
 
If we had purchased ice cream at the store, we'd eat that first and then devour our PB&Js and tuna fish with MAYBE some potato chips, sitting on the dock, excited to take our hard-earned swim. Josie Cole (Hugh's sister) was always with us. We spent hours in the water, on the raft, diving off the dock posts in waterfall fashion, (no longer allowed for safety reasons) accompanied by shouts and screams and Tarzan calls. We held our noses as we went in feet first, making as large a splash as possible. It was endless fun!
 
On rainy days we were usually transported in Station Wagon Adorable, the Moores' ancient and well-used and much-loved vehicle. We'd spend the day eating, playing cards, reading, with a lot of giggling about nothing; sometimes the boys would appear and they would chase us and imitate us and be generally annoying ... and we loved it!
 
As we became teenagers, the most embarrassing thing in the whole world would be to see one of our "unmentionables" (something we wore beneath our shirts but NEVER called it by name) flying from the flagpole for all to see. It had to be retrieved at darkness or by some older friend who felt sorry for the owner - who absolutely could not BEAR to claim it in front of ANYONE! (So different from today).
 
Ringing the bell at the Novitiate was an "occasion," a huge deal, and probably considered a "rite of passage" in today's lingo.   Enders Island was inhabited by vested clergy who walked the causeway, hands behind backs, heads bowed in prayer; large crosses swung at their chests, sometimes gleaming in the sun. We were in awe. When one of us was brave enough, we'd scale the wrought iron fence that was at the halfway mark of the causeway (always after dark) and ring the bell with its long thick rope, which called them to Mass or to Vespers. Then the "ringer" and accomplices would hi-tail it to scale the fence that took us to safety - Mason's Island. (I feel my heart pounding as I write in memory, the delicious fear and excitement that we might get caught giving speed to our feet. The Brothers were used to our antics. We didn't do anything bad - the escapade was just forbidden fruit and simply had to be done. A great mark of (untold) pride for the ringer. Belated thanks to those understanding Brothers; they'd call out and chase us, but somehow never quite caught up with us - maybe a little "Do Unto Others."
 
Family nights at the yacht club were a must: a Montini Grinder - the paper was our placemat - and a cold drink, Coke or the like, and a large bag of potato chips. (I dare say the grownups had a little different menu, at least in the liquid department: something that rhymes with Montini was very 'au courant' back then and made differently now). Life was much more casual; there were much fewer people back in the '40s, so our parents could spot us easily (not always to our liking - very definitely to theirs). There was a marvelous camaraderie - we didn't realize how precious. We spent hours together in the clubhouse, which was far less elegant than it is today. We'd sit with feet up and play cards, talk, sing, laugh, play ping pong, giggle - and just "be." We didn't realize how lucky we were then, but as we grew up and apart (for awhile) our memory mirrors called many of us to "come home." It was my cousin Sarah Hallberg who sent my husband and me a post card one day saying, "It's time to move to Mason's Island." We responded. She was right. We came! Bless her!
 
The magic is still here - we call it "Paradise."

Volunteers on Mason's Island:  Hugh McGee 

This is a continuation of our articles highlighting volunteers from Mason's Island.   We are fortunate to have a very active community of volunteers for the yacht club, library, seaport, aquarium, nature center, historical society, art center, garden clubs, food pantries, and
many more.

We know Hugh McGee as a retired attorney, former MIYC Commodore, and cyclist. Yet, you may not know that for the past three years, he wakes up each weekday and travels in icy, snowy, rainy, or rare perfect weather to a place where he has another large family in town!
 
Hugh has become a part of the Deans Mill Elementary School family as a volunteer. Each morning he greets the students with a smile and a welcome as the buses arrive. He is an extra hand in the morning and keeps a vigilant eye on things at the school during the busy morning rush.
 
He always has a "joke of the day" to share with the students. The effect on the kids, while difficult to measure, is noticed and appreciated by the faculty and staff. He is part of the family now. According to Principal Jennifer McCurdy, "Hugh is a wonderful addition to our school community. So many students start their day with a smile thanks to Hugh's joke of the day. Hugh started as a volunteer but has become much more than a volunteer - he is considered part of our school community. We are thankful for his dedication and efforts in helping to keep the morning arrival period safe."
 
MIPOA member and school superintendent Van Riley said, "Hugh came to me with an idea right after Newtown occurred. He wanted to do something and he thought that volunteers at the school might provide a layer of additional security and another set of eyes. His granddaughter Annelise was a student at Deans Mill Elementary School at the time. Now, he is a regular presence and is appreciated by staff, teachers, administration, and the students."
 
Mary Riley sat down with a reluctant Hugh McGee to ask him about some of the highlights of his work at Deans Mill Elementary School.
 
What do you do at Deans Mill School?
 
I just direct traffic at the school parking lots for about a half hour period each morning while the buses are arriving and unloading, and parents are dropping off students. Each day there are fifteen or sixteen buses and anywhere from twenty to fifty parents dropping off children. It's a busy time, so it helps to have someone out in front.
 
Why do you do this?
 
I have enjoyed getting to know the students and staff of the school. It probably benefits me more than it benefits the school; it allows me to be a little part of a special community with which I would otherwise have no contact.
 
What prompted you to do this? You created this job.
 
After Newtown I asked Van if there was some way volunteers could help with school security. Of course, I'm not a policeman, so I knew any involvement by someone like me would be quite limited. Van introduced me to the Deans Mill principal and assistant principal at the time, Doug Hamel and Allison Hine, and they gave me the parking lot job. At that time, the job was being done by a regular staff member, so when I'm there, that person can do more of the real educational work of the school. I just make sure the traffic flows the way it is supposed to. Originally, I thought I would be there one or two days a week and other people would volunteer to take the other days, but I found that no one else has that particular time period free, and as I got into it I found I enjoyed being there each day. I try to fit into the morning routine of the school.
 
I have gotten to know parents, staff, and students. The entire staff is energetic, friendly, upbeat, and very good at what they do. They are all very focused on the educational process. They have a cheerful, positive approach and they do a wonderful job with the students. It has been a pleasure for me to observe this.
 
Have you ever seen anything that was troubling that you had to report?
 
Nothing of any significant concern. What I have seen is true professionalism and a desire to provide a quality program. I also see lots of other volunteers, particularly the members of the PTO, who spend a great deal of time helping out in the classrooms and with after-school enrichment programs. They are there on a regular basis and they are very important to the school.
 
All of the school staff - administrators, faculty, nurses, custodians, and bus drivers - is very dedicated to the students. They all work together smoothly keep to keep track of the comings and goings of over four hundred children and the almost daily changes in their afternoon going-home plans. I think the students at DMS are in excellent hands.
 
How long will you be doing this?
 
I would like to continue as long as the school thinks I'm useful. Annelise has moved to the middle school this year, but now I have a grandson in kindergarten and in two more years another granddaughter will be there. It's a nice way to catch a glimpse of them.
 
How did you start with the "joke of the day"? How do you research your jokes?
 
The bus Annelise rode, which also makes the Mason's Island pickup, is usually the first to arrive at the school. There is a wait of a few minutes before the students can get off the bus to go to their classrooms, and before I have to be in my place at the parking lot entrance. Annelise has a cousin who lives in New York who loves jokes, and occasionally he would call to tell me one, and then ask me to pass it on to her. I would write the joke on a slip of paper and hold it up to her bus window to read. She and her seatmates seemed to enjoy this, so I decided to give the jokes to the bus driver, and also to the other buses that arrived early, and to the students who are there before school for childcare and breakfast.
 
I found that I had to expand my sources. Evan and Emory Anderson gave me a great book of jokes, and the school staff gave me another great book. Now some of the students are also telling me jokes. It has been a lot of fun for me and very interesting all the way around.
 
If you could go back and become a school principal, would you?
 
I think I would prefer an easier job, like professional baseball player. But I don't think that is likely.
 
It's no joke. Hugh McGee has another family. It's the Deans Mill Elementary School students and staff team.                        

 
 

 
KidSpot

Who's at the bus

stop on the first day of school?
  
 
My View of The Island
by Bennett Oakes, age 11
 
Living on Mason's Island is like heaven on earth, ever since we moved here three years ago. Every time we see a sunset or we're out on a boat ride, our mom would tell us time and time again how lucky we are to live here. In the winter, we get to sip on our hot cocoa to warm up after an intense snowball fight. Mason's Island in the wintertime is a wonderland! White covers the entire island, making the forest look beautiful and picturesque. In the fall, the Oakes kids love to jump into the leaves! The island in autumn is a canvas of leaves ranging from vivid crimson to pale gold. Lastly, in the spring and summer, after school lets out, we hop in our boats and go sailing! The Mason's Island Yacht Club is a great place to relax and let off some steam, especially for parents. You can go for a swim off the dock, go sailing with your friends, get some exercise on the tennis courts, catch some crabs (and release them of course!) and all sorts of stuff! So if you're in need of a relaxing getaway that is absolutely amazing all year long, Mason's Island is the place for you!

 
Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center
 
109 Pequotsepos Rd.
Mystic, 06355
October 26, 2013
5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Seasonal/Holiday Delight
Especially For Kids
Take a spooky self-guided tour along the Nature Center trails where you may meet nymphs and fairies, wild animals, and other frightful and delightful creatures. Participants can also enjoy treats and cider, spooky crafts for children, games, and up-close visits with the Nature Center's residents. Bring a flashlight. Children must be accompanied by an adult. No strollers please. Ages 4+ 
Admission. $10/youth (17 and under); $7/adult

(860) 536-1216
 
 

   Spooky Nature Trail
 
 
Jillian Oakes, MIPOA's New Wine & Dine Editor
 
Fall is such a fun time for wine as we shift from the summer time cooking/lighter grilled fare and wine pairings of ros�s, sauvignon blancs, pinot grigios, pinot noirs to heartier meals that we New Englanders love! Fall dining and cooking calls for richer, full-bodied wines.
 
My favorite fall red is by Chateau St. Michelle cabernet sauvignon ($16); it is a full- bodied red and lives up to the expectations as the "King of Red Wines," which cabernets are known for.  For whites, I love Simi Chardonnay and Louis Latour Grande Ardeche Chardonnay for a less oaky experience. 
 
Here is one of my favorite appetizers. Enjoy!

Mushrooms Stuffed with Brie
 
PREP TIME:
15 Minutes
DIFFICULTY:
Easy
COOK TIME:
15 Minutes
SERVINGS:
8 Servings
 
1 package white button mushrooms, washed and stems removed
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped
4 whole (to 5) green onions, sliced (up to middle of dark green part)
splash of white wine (optional)
1 slice (wedge) sf Brie cheese
 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
 
Melt butter in large saucepan. Add mushroom caps and toss to coat in butter. Sprinkle lightly with salt and cook for 1 minute. Remove mushrooms from pan and place upside down in a baking dish.
 
In the same saucepan (without cleaning it) throw in garlic, parsley, and green onions. Sprinkle very lightly with salt and splash in wine, if using. Stir around until wine evaporates, about 1 minute. Remove from heat.
 
Cut rind off of Brie wedge, and then cut pieces of Brie to fit each mushroom cap. Place inside, lightly pressing to anchor each piece of Brie.
 
Top mushrooms with parsley/garlic mixture.
 
Place in the oven for 15 minutes, or until Brie is melted.
 
Note: mushrooms are best when they've been allowed to cool slightly. Delicious!

 
Tomato and Feta Appetizer from Mary Riley 

 
As the season transitions into fall, we've found that our tastes are moving on. We're craving warm breads and fresh veggies. This scrumptious tomato, feta, and thyme pastry recipe is exactly what we need to fill our bellies and hearts.
 
1 sheet frozen puff pastry (half of a 17-ounce package), thawed
All-purpose flour, for dusting
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
5 medium tomatoes sliced
3 sprigs of thyme
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Egg wash: 1 egg, 1 tbsp of water, beaten
 
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Unfold the defrosted puff pastry onto a floured piece of parchment paper and roll out into a 9-by-11-inch rectangle.
3. Score 1/2 inch in from the edge, all the way around, using a paring knife. Slide the pastry (on the parchment) onto a baking sheet. Poke the middle area all over with a fork.
4. Sprinkle crumbled feta in the middle area and arrange sliced tomatoes.
5. Drizzle with olive oil, thyme, kosher salt, & pepper.
Tip: Brush the 1/2 inch edge with an egg wash (1 egg + 1 tbsp water, beaten) to make the edges a lovely golden brown.
6. Bake until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely.
 
Swedish Apple Crisp
Glori Law
 
This recipe is so simple and basic, but is one of my favorites because it is fast and versatile.  I have made it hundreds of times.   It can be made for breakfast, a snack, or as a last minute dessert for unexpected guests.  I serve it warm with vanilla ice cream drizzled with Oak Leaf Dairy Goat's Milk Carmel (from Lebanon, CT)  as a dessert.  Always a hit!
 
5 or 6 medium McIntosh apples    1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon                       1 cup flour
1 tablespoon sugar                            1 egg
1 stick melted butter                         pinch of salt
 
Peel and chop apples in large pieces. Place in greased glass pie plate.  Mix cinnamon with 1 tablespoon sugar and sprinkle over apples.  Mix remaining ingredients together. Spread over apples.  Bake at 350 degrees for  45 to 50 minutes until slightly browned.   Can be served at any temperature.
 
Pumpkin Cream Cookies
Glori Law
 
This is a simple, fast, delicious cookie recipe 

1 1/4 cups flour                                      3/4 cup pure canned pumpkin
2 teaspoons baking powder                1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt                                       1/4 cup butter at room temperature
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon                      3 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon ginger                             1 egg
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg                           1 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup craisins (optional)
 
Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg and set aside. Cream together brown sugar, butter, honey, egg, and vanilla. (This will curdle a bit, but that is okay).  Add dry ingredients alternately with the pumpkin to the creamed brown sugar mixture until blended.  Fold in the craisins. Drop by teaspoonful on a lightly greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 375 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes until brown, but not crisp. Cool thoroughly and frost with confectioners icing.  
 
Icing
 
1 cup confectioners sugar                    4 teaspoons milk
1 1/2 tablespoons softened butter     1/2 teaspoon vanilla
 
To make icing, combine confectioners sugar, butter, milk, and vanilla and mix well until smooth and spreadable.

 
  
Mason's Island Beaches and Trails
by Cathy Marco

 
Sunset Viewed from Little Beach by John H. Gregory

Mason's Island has some of the best places to walk and relax. You may have enjoyed some of the hideaway beaches owned by Mason's Island Company at the end of Skiff Lane and south of the yacht club, or the one just past 44 Nauyaug Point Road owned by MIPOA.   Depending on the tide, you may find tidal pools for exploring, rocks on which to sit and relax, or just enjoying the sand and water. Dogs should not use these areas from May 1 until Labor Day during the daytime hours (8 am-6 pm) so they don't interfere with the enjoyment by others.
The trails are another treasure on our island.   There are paths owned in the center of the island by Mason's Island Company and there is another nice path around the ice pond for quiet contemplative walking.  
All docks on Mason's Island are either owned by Mason's Island Company or are privately owned.   Many of the roads have direct access to the water; however, Mason's Island Company owns the riparian rights from the water's edge adjacent to the rights of way. One popular MIPOA right of way to the water is in the middle of Skiff Lane, on "Poggy Bay," where many of the members of MIPOA keep their kayaks.
For more information, please refer to page 9 of the handbook "GUIDELINES FOR MASON'S ISLAND PROPERTY OWNERS AND RENTERS - 2013."


Once Upon a Time
by John H. Gregory
 
My family moved to 4 Anchor Lane on Mason's Island in 1963, just before Christmas. I was nine, in fourth grade. My brother Jim had just turned eight. Young Jack was only six and had only just started school. Our older half-brother Tommy Thomason was off at college.
 
At that time, the school-bus stop for kids living on the island - there weren't many of us - was at the west end of the causeway at the intersection of Old North Road and Masons Island Road. It was about a mile from the house, a good 20 minutes walk. There weren't as many trees or houses then, so after you passed the gatehouse on the way there you could see Masons Island Road to the east of the causeway. Sometimes, you also saw the school bus coming, which meant - start running! Fortunately, it was downhill from that point.
 
The only good part about the bus stop's location was that we could stop in at Shaffers-it was already there-for candy even before school. The stop was subsequently moved over to Shaffers. It was a bit longer walk but a warmer place to wait in the winter. It wasn't relocated up the hill to this side of the gatehouse until I graduated from high school. Kids living in our old neighborhood now have it easy.
 

 
The Sailor's Sheet
Stories, Tips, and Favorite Sailing Destinations
 
In Love With Maine by Harry White
 
 
My 46-year infatuation with the Maine coast always steers eastward.  Not far from Canada are Liz's and my twin favorites, the stuff of winter daydreams: Roque Island and Mud Hole.  The Roque archipelago stands out with secluded gunk holes, bucolic Shorey Cove and a half-mile of perfect white sand crescent beach.  Just 5 miles to the west, pass over a 2-foot spot (safely at half flood tide) into Mud Hole with its steep sloped evergreen shores, eagles and little evidence of humans.  Row in and scramble up to a remarkable, 5-mile walk around wildflower and granite shores of Great Wass Island.  And, remember to watch out for frequent unexpected near zero visibility in dense fogs of mosquitoes.
 
 

 
Artist in Residence
Karin Forde Whittemore

 
Karin Forde Whittemore is an award-winning photographer, as we all know. Her recent photography on display in a show at the Mystic Arts Center (to be renamed the Mystic Museum of Art, effective January 2016) is phenomenal. This series illuminates what makes these artists tick, discovers what are the motivations that encourage them to keep creating, and helps explain how they see their work evolving in the future.
 
When did you first discover you were an artist? Is there a specific person who believed in you?
 
I knew that I was an artist, or wanted to be, at a very young age.  I was always reaching for paints, crayons, or some type of tools to work with before school started.  My Grandmother Whittemore always encouraged me as a child and she even saved most of my drawings and paintings, which I came across after she died.
 
Who motivated you?
 
My family always felt that I had talent and they were encouraging, but when it came to college and majoring in a certain subject, this was challenging; my parents and grandparents, despite the fact that they were all art appreciators, did not believe that one could make a living as an artist.  So it was a difficult decision for me to go for a BA instead of a Fine Arts Degree.
 
Is there a specific time when you felt you had talent?
 
I can't really remember any specific event until I received my first camera for Christmas when I was 8; it was a Kodak Instamatic. I remember taking my first black and white photograph of our dog outside in the snow looking through the windows at our front door that Christmas morning.  Realizing that I could record events on film was life changing for me, even at that age, despite the fact that I had to wait to have the film processed.
 
What is the biggest challenge you face as an artist?
 
I think the most frustrating part of being an artist for me is working through the process of what my next project is going to be.  Once I have the thought in mind, which often comes to me in time and sometimes late at night, then am able to move forward.  Struggling with finding the answer to what comes next, whether for a school or workshop assignment or a submission, is always the most challenging and frustrating part for me.
 
What is your favorite medium for expression?
 
I am and always have been an art appreciator; my family on both sides raised me that way.  I love to draw and enjoy the art of sketching for future projects.  I enjoy playing around with many different arenas; however, when it comes to sculpture, I give up!
 
What inspires you?
 
Many subjects compel me. However I would have to say that life really is what moves me.  I am forever exploring the world around me - its texture, light, and movement.  Traveling has enabled me to explore our world in ways that I would have never dreamed possible.   Being in nature, traveling in sacred spaces, and submerging myself in cultures different from ours is what excites me.  For the last three years, a great deal of my photography work has been about finding the beauty within - whether it is a deteriorating mill, a faded wall, or a decaying building - I have been trying to find the beauty within and photograph it.  I think that I believe that there is beauty in everything.  It can often be overlooked or ignored or taken for granted. I have worked locally and internationally in trying to find beauty and raise awareness around beauty in places that have been neglected or are run down, seeing that as the opportunity to keep the subject in good shape has been challenging, whatever the reasons.  Life and how people live fascinate me.
 
How do you see your work changing in the future?
 
 I am not sure how the future will play out, but for now I am continuing to work with my Cuban images as well as other travels.   Oftentimes, the end goal is not clear for me.  However, just getting out there and photographing usually gets me on a path that I either feel compelled to follow or not.   I have found that just being patient and open usually helps me to find my way.
 
Lastly, I would like to add that one of the things that has and continues to motivate me is giving back.  I feel very blessed in my life in so many ways.  I am more than aware that there are more people, than less, who struggle in our world in ways that some of us cannot even imagine.  Finding a means of giving back in my projects, such as in my Cuba! Cuba! show, makes the work more meaningful to me.  So in relation to my future work, I would say that finding a way to contribute in some way will always be a priority.

The Clammer

The Illustrious Boy

 Sticks and Stones

The Mason's Island Image
by Michael Melford
 
We want your photos of Mason's Island!
 
The Mason's Island Instagram Account and how to begin. Hint: You do not have to be 10 years old to post images!
 
Our New Mason's Island Instagram Account
 
This is our way of sharing our photos with each other. Not only how beautiful our island is, but where we have been traveling, what we see, and if you like, friends and family.
 
This past summer found our residents at the four corners of the earth. Log in and see images from Cuba and Utah (Karin Whittemore), Alaska (Grace Milne), Africa (Bailey Briggs), Bali (Michael Melford) and anyone else who has traveled, or stayed at home. This is a private account, open to Mason's Island residents, friends, and family only.
 
Anyone who wants to view or post on our Instagram account has to request to view the images. Once admitted, you are in and can view and post as much as you like. Please no more than one per day to keep us all coming back day after day.
 
So here are the simple steps:
1 - Have a smart phone.
2 - Open your own Instagram account.
3 - At the bottom bar, click on the magnifying glass and search masonsisland (one word).
4 - Request to follow- As I am too often on the road, I may not get to it right away, but hopefully I will have help as administrator on this account.
5 - Once you are approved, you can then see all the images, and "like" some.
6 - If you would like to post images, here are two options:
  1. Send your images, and a caption, and credit by email attachment to [email protected] ;
  2. Log into the account yourself. To do this you have to log out of your own account (remember your own password, write it down) and log into masonsisland.
The password is "photos." Now this may change, as Instagram will shut us off if someone tries too many times with the wrong password. If that happens, I will email out a new password.
 
I really want to make it so everyone can post on their own. I am part of the Nat Geo Instagram site, and all the Nat Geo photographers post their own images. Check out Nat Geo on Instagram for some amazing images.
 
If you have any questions, you can email me at [email protected].
If you need step-by-step hand holding while doing this, email me, and I'll call when I am in town.
 
Look for images this fall, on both our Instagram account, and Facebook page!
 
The Mason's Island Image
 

PHOTO TIPS FOR NOW AND ALWAYS
By Michael Melford
 
We all have some "image capturing" device, be it a digital SLR, a point and shoot, or a smart phone or tablet. So some simple tips for all the above, be you a beginner or an expert.
 
All these devices have the option to put a "grid" on the viewing LCD or inside the viewfinder. I find this grid very helpful in two ways. If I have a horizon line in a landscape, I can use one of the lines in the grid to insure that my horizon line doesn't tilt downhill either left or right. This is especially helpful if you are on a sailboat and the boat is healed over. Keep that line on your camera in line with the horizon. As I get older, I find my horizons tilting more and more to the left.
 
The other use of this grid is to help you in composition. You will see that the grid divides the view into thirds. All too often we place the subject right smack dab in the middle of our frame. Try moving your subject off to one side or the other and you will produce a more interesting image. Where the lines of the grid intersect is a good place to put your subject. We call this the "rule of thirds."
 
If you don't see this grid, you can probably turn it on in the menu of the camera, or in case of the iPhone, go to settings, and scroll down to Photos & Camera. It's in there, under Camera.
 
Here are two simple examples to get you started:
Adirondack Guide Boat: The one line of the grid helps to make sure the horizon line is, in fact, true. Then the intersection of the two lines puts the guide boat in the sweet spot of composition.
 
 
Salmon Kissing, Alaska: Again, the horizontal line helped me keep the horizon true, and rather than put the lady right in the middle, I put the important subject at the intersection of the grid lines. As it turned out, the truck is at the other intersection, and salmon in the lower left intersection also works. In reality, I didn't actually look at the grid when I took these images, but I certainly could have had the grid assist me. Use the grid until it all becomes second nature to you. And remember, rules are made to be broken.
 
 
While I'm talking about smart phones, here is my favorite app to enhance my images just a little to make them pop. It is called Camera Plus (+). The cost is minimal. I shoot with my iPhone camera, and then later import that image into Camera + and edit it a little. You can also straighten the horizon line (in case you didn't get it right with the grid) and crop it, also. Try it out, and if you get a "keeper," why not post it to our Mason's Island Instagram site (masonsisland).
 
The Mason's Island Image
Announcing the Fall/Winter
MIPOA Instagram Photo Contest
 
Categories for both Adult and Youth.

Photos captured on Mason's Island of people, pets, friends, "selfies," views and landscapes, architecture, etc.

Submission Rules: Post to the Mason's Island Instagram account by December 31, 2015
Judges: MIPOA Board Members, and island photographers Karin Forde Whittemore, Michael Melford, and Cindy Allyn
Winners will be announced in the MIPOA Spring Newsletter
Account Name: MASONSISLAND

 
Cindy Allyn - Sunset
  Local Events of Interest





Nautical Nightmares are Back! 
 
October 16-17, 23-24, and 30, 2015



Our popular Halloween production, Nautical Nightmares, is back this year and spookier than ever! The theatrical performance, "Tales of Terror: An Evening with Poe," invites you to join Mr. Poe as he progresses through four scenes around Mystic Seaport grounds in fear of, or perhaps to embrace, the evil that surrounds him. Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe, the performance incorporates themes and bits from the author's works to weave a tale of eeriness and horror.
Performance nights are October 16-17, 23-24, and 30. Tours begin nightly at 6 p.m. and leave every 15 minutes from the Museum's main entrance.
Reservations are highly encouraged for this popular event. Tickets are $25 for adults ($21 for members) and $20 for youth ages 12-17 ($16 for members). Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 860.572.5331.
Nautical Nightmares is recommended for children ages 12 and older. The performance takes place outdoors along both dirt and stone paths so please wear appropriate footwear.
Shows will operate rain or shine; however, they may be cancelled due to severe inclement weather. Refunds will be provided if a show is cancelled.

 
Also, on Halloween at the Seaport: Calling all kids! Join us for trick-or-treating - perfect for children under 10. Come dressed in costume and walk along the pumpkin path to the Village locations where spooks are hiding to pass out treats.
Trick-or-treating will begin at 4 p.m., but join us beginning at 3 p.m. for spooky Halloween stories, balloon twisting, and games on the Playscapes!
Trick-or-Treat bags, compliments of Citizens Bank, will be handed out while supplies last.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.

For more details, see: http://www.mysticseaport.org/event/trick-or-treat/

MIPOA Newsletter Staff


Linda Delaney               (860) 245-0441     [email protected] 

Michael Melford           (860) 303-8221     [email protected]

Mary Riley                     (860) 415-9808     [email protected]

Tommy Thomason       (203) 843-4036    [email protected]