Breathe in… Breathe out… Breathe in… Breathe out. If you are reading this while in the throes of a hectic island August, you might be thinking, “Yes, stay calm. Remember to breathe. Soon this pace of all good things will get slower and slower.”

With Maine in the middle of a drought by early August, municipalities vulnerable to water shortages were keeping an eye on their water supplies.

Islanders face more daunting eldercare problems than most. Those who have lived for 75 or 80 years in these small, close-knit and geographically isolated communities rightly resist moving to a mainland institution, where visits from family and friends are prohibitive due to ferry schedules and weather.

Town Manager Andrew Dorr said John Bubier, a retired municipal manager who lives in Yarmouth, will work for the town for 20 to 25 hours per week. He is expected to be on-island one day a week, more often when the work requires.

When Kristen Kelley got offered a housesitting job on Islesboro, she thought she’d have a brief island adventure with her two daughters, whom she was homeschooling in Hawaii at the time. They’d enjoy the Atlantic Ocean, experience the seasons and have a refreshing five-month vacation.

“I love the family and community atmosphere, which embraced my kids from pretty much the moment of our arrival.”

—Kristen Kelley

Folks with a handful of write-in votes have been nudged into office.

Out of my sight on the west side of the island, truly heroic efforts by dozens of area firemen, the Coast Guard and state forest rangers had achieved what had seemed impossible.

It's quiet, just me, a server and the innkeeper, until the night staff appears to start their extensive dinner prep.