Fall on Appledore - Photo by Sara Morris 

Greetings to the Shoals Community:

 

In the short time since our last newsletter, we hosted a tribute to the life and legacy of Dr. John M. (Jack) Kingsbury, held a volunteer weekend that was both productive and engaging, cleaned and closed most of our buildings, said good-bye to our seasonal staff, and moved off the island. The term emotional roller coaster has never been more apropos.  I can’t imagine a better end to my first summer as the Kingsbury Executive Director of the Shoals Marine Lab, other than if it didn’t have to end.

 

During the week before Labor Day, we welcomed Louise Kingsbury to the island in preparation for our tribute to her life’s partner and our founding director, Jack.  We had worked together to invite a small group of people to the island in advance of the tribute to place Jack’s ashes in the ocean near Appledore during a sunset cruise aboard the R/V John M. Kingsbury (or the R/V Namesake as he called it). As the sun was setting, Jack’s ashes were lowered to the ocean on a bed of marine algae and topped with a wreath of bullbrier and a spray of flowers from Celia’s garden (see photos below.)  On Friday, August 30, we welcomed members of our community in person and through zoom to join the Lab in honoring Jack.  Joanna Smith, his daughter, had prepared a slideshow of his early life.  Bob Meadows, Art Borror, Jackie Webb, Jan Factor, Patty McGill, Jim Morin, Willy Bemis, Jennifer Seavey, and I reflected on Jack’s contributions to individuals, to the development of the Lab, and to the educational and scientific mission we continue to embrace.  The recording of our tribute is now available here. 

 

From the beginning of the construction of the lab, volunteers have been an integral part of the Lab’s success.  Our fall volunteer weekend hosted alumni, former staff, faculty, friends of the Lab, and friends and family of the staff to help prepare the Lab and the island for the fall and winter.  The energy from the group was palpable.  A myriad of chores was completed quickly, and we tracked the many accomplishments by quickly striking through the items on our to-do list on the white board.  The energy and laughter in the Commons from so many people with different paths and connections to Shoals was invigorating.  During the spring volunteer weekend, we had honored Al Hansen with the golden gull award for 50-years of work at the Lab.  This fall volunteer weekend included honoring Bob Meadows with a golden shovel award and honoring Tom Johnson with a golden backhoe award for more than 50 years of service to the Lab.  The dedication of members of the Shoals community is inspiring and a testament to something truly special created on Appledore.

 

After our volunteers left, the staff worked together on several big close-up projects.  One of the most impressive was completely dismantling the kitchen to clean it thoroughly. I had heard about this activity, but experiencing it was something else.  After a long, busy season, the team put on music and scrubbed everything from the vents, grates, and shelves to the counters, walls, and floors. Anything that could be taken apart was taken apart and deep cleaned.  The process took almost three whole days of intense work, and the sight of so much of the kitchen dismantled on the back deck and the walk-in completely empty, shelves and all, was striking.  I have always been amazed by the staff that the Lab attracts and the teamwork and camaraderie that it inspires.  Seeing it first hand this summer has been even more moving.  On our last night on the island, we celebrated the birthday of one of the bird banders with fellowship, laughter, and good food.  As we enjoyed the sun setting from the K-House deck, we saw a humpack whale feeding.  What a great way to end the Shoals Marine Lab’s 2024 season.

 

We have migrated off the island and the float is out of the water for the season, which means planning for 2025 is well underway. We are hoping to host a big reunion next summer.  The Alumni and Friends Association will be helping to plan an end of season celebration for our 60th season and an opportunity for alums to return to Appledore.  Over the next few months, we will be collecting information from our community about traditions on, stories about, and memorabilia from Shoals over our first 60 years.  I hope many of you will contribute your memories to this effort.

 

Thank you to all who have welcomed me and made my first summer in this role so special.  How lucky am I to be preparing for another whole summer at Shoals!

 

 

 

Working on an island in Maine requires care in how we prepare for the "off season."  A huge task is cleaning the kitchen from top to bottom, and everyone helps move things out, take things apart, deep clean the kitchen facilities and everything in it, and carefully store it for the winter.  Boats are hauled out of the water for storage, motors are winterized, and everything is stored in places that will protect them from winter storms.  It was a lot of work, but, with a crew still smiling, the process went smoothly.  Shoals is extremely lucky to have such a dedicated and hard-working staff!

(Photos By Sara Morris)

 

 

 

If you have questions now, please reach out to Jackie Webb, 

our AFA Interim Chair, at jacqueline_webb@uri.edu

Each summer, SML collaborates with the NH Audubon for an excursion that never disappoints! This year, calm seas and beautiful weather set the stage for finding over 80 species with the help of group leaders Pam Hunt and Becky Suomala. Over 200 Snowy Egrets and a handful of Glossy Ibis flew by K-House during the evening social hour - it was spectacular. Keep on birding and see you next year!

 

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