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  Newsletter

Spring 2005

President's Letter

Blair Colby continues to live in one of our houses on Great Cranberry and serves the island well, plowing and sanding the roads and doing various repair jobs for people, including construction and excavation work, and vehicle and furnace repairs.  Margaret Blank and her five children are living in the Islesford House.

Sonja Moser and Bill McGuiness, who lived in CIRT's Islesford House last year, bought Phyllis Colson's house in the summer and were recently married aboard the Double Trouble.  Congratulations Bill and Sonja!  We are thrilled that these wonderful people who came to the island as CIRT tenants are now homeowners committed to island living.

The Gaithers, who had been living in the "Rice House" on Great Cranberry, decided to move back to North Carolina this fall.  Ingrid and Richard were enthusiastic participants in community activities and served a critical function as managers of the Cranberry gas pump.  Their presence on the island is missed.  We are looking for new tenants to move into their house this spring.  See related article and box.

Please support our efforts to provide affordable housing opportunities on the Cranberry Isles.  We rely on your financial contributions in response to this mailing to cover our operating expenses.  We welcome your ideas about how we can best serve our island communities, and we are often looking for new board members.  Leads to grants and foundation support are appreciated.  We are always interested in acquiring land or houses to further our mission.  Your donations of money and real estate, as well as the value forgone when property is sold to us at a bargain price, are tax deductible.

Thanks for your continuing support.

Chris Wriggins
President

Good bye from Ingrid and Richard Gaither

by Ingrid Gaither

With two summers and almost two winters under our belt, we enjoyed and appreciated island living.  Since we were used to winter in North Carolina, our first winter on Great Cranberry was incredible.  We loved seeing so much snow, especially while hunkered down inside a cozy, warm house.  And the ferry rides!  Often it was like a roller coaster, except we felt much safer on the boat.  Blair Colby kept us well stocked in wood, Annie Alley and Renna Colby were great company in the store, and Phil and Karin Whitney hosted fun game nights.  It takes coming through an entire winter to really appreciate summer.  We were fortunate to find plenty of work last summer and meet a lot more summer residents.  The late boat offered by the Cranberry Cove ferry made having dinner and a movie off-island a reality.  Fall was probably the best time of year.  Everything slowed down a little but the days remained mild and the colors were spectacular.  Between the weather and our wonderful neighbors, we were sad to leave!

Guitar Concert Supports CIRT

by Peter Buchsbaum

On the busy evening of August 14th, the nationally renowned guitar duo, Michael Newman and Laura Oltman, appeared at an evening benefit concert for CIRT at the Church on Great Cranberry Island.  Michael and Laura have performed in Carnegie Hall, cut a number of well regarded CD's and have had their work reviewed in the Washington Post and New York Times.  During the concert, they performed a variety of fascinating guitar pieces that the audience greatly enjoyed.  The event showcased the art of the guitar at its finest!

The evening raised over $500 for CIRT.  Best of all, the concert spotlighted CIRT's efforts in the Town of Cranberry Isles.  Michael and Laura enjoyed their time here -- they were enthusiastic shoppers at the White Elephant Sale earlier in the day.

House for Rent on Great Cranberry

A two-bedroom house on Great Cranberry Island is available for year-round living.  Rent is $400/month plus utilities.

HUD income eligibility standards apply.  We provide equal housing opportunities.  For more information, contact Barbara Stainton, 207-244-7316 (day) or 207-244- 4067 (evening.)

The work of the Cranberry Isles Realty Trust is important to me.  Please accept my donation of $_______ to help provide year-round housing on the Cranberry Isles.

Name ______________________________________________

Address ___________________________________________

Telephone _________________________________________

E-Mail ____________________________________________

Contributions are tax-deductible.  Please mail this form and your check to:
Cranberry Isles Realty Trust, PO Box 129, Cranberry Isles, ME 04625

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