Daily Archives: July 25, 2021

For Sale/Rent

An island getaway? In Maine? You've got options, thanks to these beautiful summer homes in Vacation Land.

While its nice for Boston to be back to its usual bustling self, sometimes its even better to just get away from throngs of people, especially as humidity and temperatures increase. Luckily, were in New England, which is chock-full of isolated, nature-filled escapes. Theres lake houses and beach side homes aplenty, but honestly, you can dream even biggermaybe an island residence?

If you truly want privacy and luxury this summer, try taking a drive up north to Maine, which boasts more than just great seafood. You can enjoy the best of Vacation Land and its rocky coastline from one of its many islands, which offer seclusion and natural beauty. Consider one of these homes for your own private island escape, without having to escape to the Caribbean.

Photo by Joseph Sortwell

1552 North Haven Road, Vinalhaven, MEPrice: $4,500,000Size: 6,550 square feetBedrooms: 8Bathrooms: 9

This waterfront propertys location on Fox Islands isnt even the most impressive thing about it. The modern estates main house alone will wow you, with its sweeping great room, while a guest house, gym, and barn provide space for the whole family to spread out. Waterfront is also a bit of an understatement when it comes to this 17-acre piece of property. Buy this and get over 500 feet of island shoreline to yourself, along with the lush grounds, which feature gardens, trees, a tennis court, and in-ground trampoline.

For more information, contact Terry and Joseph Sortwell, Landvest Realty, landvest.com.

Photo by Peter G. Morneau

1 Hope Island, Chebeague Island, MEPrice: $10,500,00Size: 11,658 Sq Ft.Bedrooms: 3Bathrooms: 3 full, 3 partial

Why limit yourself to a home when you could buy an entire island? Hope Island is an 86-acre piece of land located in the heart of Casco Bay, just a short 20-minute boat ride from Portland. While you may be tempted to head to the mainland for shopping and restaurants, many of your needs can be met right here on this island, which features a tavern, a chapel, a boathouse, equestrian and storage barns, guest homes, and other ancillary buildings that can be used as youd like. A dock allows for a place for your boat so you can easily get to shore. And of course, theres the Mediterranean-style main residence, which boasts a gym, courtyard, and ocean views from every room.

For more information, contact Jasmin Moulton, Legacy Property | Sothebys International Realty, legacysir.com.

Photo by Joseph Sortwell

153 Tip Toe Mountain Road, Vinalhaven, MEPrice: $1,475,000Size: 2,400 square feetBedrooms: 5Bathrooms: 3

The name of this home alone is enough to make you swoon. Tip Toe Mountain Cottage can be found on Vinalhaven, a town on the larger of the two Fox Islands in Penobscot Bay, at the end of a road on the lands edge. The waterfront home comes with over 1,700 feet of sand and pebble beach facing the bay and a deep-water dock for boating. Stroll up from the beach through the flowering gardens, stonework, and trees on the 21-acre lot to get to the main house, perched up above the water to offer elevated views. Inside, it offers wood-paneled walls, exposed-beam ceilings, and large windows to offer rustic flair to its contemporary design.

For more information, contact Joseph and Terry Sortwell, Landvest, landvest.com.

Photo by Lynn Dube, Wave 5 Productions

367 Island Avenue, Portland, MEPrice: $1,195,000Size: 1,773 square feetBedrooms: 4Bathrooms: 2

If youve been to Portland and havent been to Peaks Island, youre missing out. Luckily, this home in Casco Bay will catch you up on what exactly youve been missing. This charming cottage on a grassy knoll is a short walk from the ferry and the beach and close to the islands many attractions (including the quirky Umbrella Cover Museum). And of course, the house itself is nothing short of perfect. Youll get plenty of living space, two bedrooms, and views of the Portland skyline that you can enjoy from your spacious porch, large stone patio, or water-facing decks.

For more information, contact Sue Lessard, Town and Shore Real Estate, townandshore.com.

Photo by Joseph Sortwell

Lot 28 Bremen Long Island, Breman Long Island, MEPrice: $725,000Size: 1,680 square feetBedrooms: 3Bathrooms: 1

You dont have to go big to enjoy island life. This shingled Cape-style home makes a great seasonal home with its three-bedrooms and bright, airy living room that leads out to a covered porch. A fire pit, elevated picnic platform, gardens, walking paths, and a dock offer endless ways to spend summer days and nights along the 200 feet of shoreline youll inherit with this property. The owners here will also get a barn and a writers studio on the waters edge, perfect for someone who wants a quiet place to get away and work on their novel.

For more information, contact Joseph and Terry Sortwell, Landvest, landvest.com.

See the rest here:

Five Homes on Maine Islands You Don't Want to Miss Out On - Boston magazine

[Sun Gazette Newspapersprovides content to, but otherwise is unaffiliated with, InsideNoVa or Rappahannock Media LLC.]

Dr. Susan Agolini, an assistant professor of biology at Marymount University, recently led more than 20 community scientists from across Northern Virginia to understand where residents are most at risk during extreme heat waves.

The effort was part of a larger, community-led campaign organized by the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges. On July 15, Marymount joined 12 other higher-education institutions in recording air temperatures and humidity of communities throughout Virginia.

The Heat Watch project is a way to measure the heat that exists in a community and is really looking for heat islands urban areas that are significantly hotter than other surrounding areas, Agolini said. Marymount is very interested in interfacing with and supporting the Arlington community, and this is really a perfect project for a community partnership.

Using specially designed thermal sensors, Marymount faculty, staff, students and volunteers from EcoAction Arlington and the Virginia Department of Forestry set out to detect heat conditions throughout Arlington during three times of day: 6 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

I think its really important to volunteer where you can, said Maureen Dour, a learning specialist at Marymount and Heat Watch volunteer. To be part of this study, it was not hard and it was really interesting.

Data collected will be analyzed by project partner CAPA Strategies to create a high-resolution heat map that will better inform increasing risk and exposure to extreme heat. Previous Heat Watch campaigns in Richmond, Norfolk and Roanoke revealed temperature differences as significant as 16 degrees Fahrenheit between the coolest and hottest places.

People who live in the areas of heat islands typically already have a higher risk for different diseases we want to find out if theyre also experiencing additional burdens due to the heat in these areas, Agolini said.

The heat-mapping program was created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and has given rise to more than 10 heat-island-mapping campaigns across the country this summer.

Its great to see volunteers from across Virginia taking action to address extreme heat thats affecting their families and neighbors, said Hunter Jones of NOAA.

Participants in the effort, in addition to Marymount, come from the public Virginia State University and private colleges including Bridgewater College, Emory & Henry College, Hampden-Sydney College, Hollins University, Randolph College, Roanoke College, Shenandoah University, Sweet Briar College, University of Lynchburg, the University of Richmond and Virginia Wesleyan University. They traversed Abingdon, Arlington, Farmville, Harrisonburg, Lynchburg, Petersburg, Richmond, Salem, Virginia Beach and Winchester as part of the effort.

Community-science initiatives like this heat-mapping campaign have contributed immensely to our understanding of how environmental stressors are not felt equally across communities here in the commonwealth, said Science Museum of Virginia chief scientist Dr. Jeremy Hoffman.

See more here:

Marymount team helps in statewide effort to address 'heat islands' - Inside NoVA

The health crisis of the past year and a half has impacted every aspect of our lives. But perhaps nothing was as affected as an industry quite like cruising. From widely reported outbreaks early in the pandemic to a global halt of sailing to tough new rules required from the CDC to sail again, the industry has seen a long road in order to get back to cruising.

The good news is that if you are vaccinated and you are sailing on a fully-vaccinated cruise where at least 95% of passengers have the shot then the experience is largely the same, at least right now. You can enjoy dinner, play in the casino, hang out by the pool, or watch an evening show in the theater, just like before the pause in sailing.

Even so, there are still a number of things that you shouldnt do now that cruises have returned even if you have the shot. After sailing on one of the first cruises to return, here are our suggestions for things not to do as you get ready to get back on the ship.

When it comes to sailing without the shot, many people wont have a choice. Cruise lines are largely requiring the vaccine for most passengers on most cruises. The one exception is from Florida. There, a law says that businesses cant require proof of a vaccine from customers. As a result, unvaccinated passengers are allowed to sail.

Even so, its not a good idea to sail if you havent received the vaccine. Not only does it increase the risk of cruising at this time, but it can also hurt your enjoyment of the cruise.

For instance, cruise lines require multiple tests before and during the cruise if you dont have the shot and charge hundreds of dollars for testing those who sail unvaccinated. There are also travel insurance requirements. And on some ships, many places like the casino and spa are off limits if sailing without the vaccine.

The bottom line is not only do you put yourself and others are risk on a cruise ship, but it will also cost you more and lead to a cruise thats not as much fun.

If youre a cruise passenger, then masking might be a little confusing. Youve heard about the danger of spread on ships but if on a fully vaccinated cruise, masks arent required at this time. They are needed if the ship doesnt meet that criteria, but can be off if outdoors or in spaces where access is limited to only vaccinated passengers.

Even so, many ports of call do require masks, even if you have the shot and you are outdoors, unless swimming or eating. So on the ship you can enjoy yourself without covering your face in many cases. On shore even if there is more space the masks go back on.

You dont want to make the mistake of going maskless in port. These are federal guidelines for other countries. So in addition to the general courtesy of following the rules in a foreign port, theres the potential to get in more serious trouble if you arent following the laws.

Is it likely that youll get in serious trouble if you dont wear a mask? Not if you put it on when asked. Even so, you dont want to run afoul of the laws of another country when on vacation.

One of the big points of emphasis as cruises return is on hygiene. Thats why when you sail youll see more hand sanitizer stations and more hand-washing stations. For instance, on a Carnival cruise we took, there were machines that you insert your hands into, and it spins around spraying soapy water to wash your hands automatically.

Even before the health crisis, keeping clean hands was important on a cruise ship. With people in close proximity its easy for viruses to spread. There are also a number of shared surfaces such as elevator buttons and handrails.

With the pandemic, the importance is greater than ever on keeping your hands clean before and after eating, using the restroom, and after touching shared surfaces.

What does your smartphone have to do with cruising? Oddly enough, a whole lot. And you definitely dont want to sail without it.

With cruising after the return, many things have gone digital. Now you access what was normally on printed paper via your phone. For instance, you head into the restaurant and instead of being handed a paper menu, you scan a QR code to pull up the menu. And instead of having the paper daily schedule delivered to your cabin each night, its all on the cruise line app.

Personally, were not fans of the change and expect many others arent either. Having to pull out your phone at the dinner table isnt fun. Yes, you can get paper copies of things if you dont have your phone. As well, not every cruise line may do things the same. Still, just be sure that you dont forget your phone in your cabin as you may need it around the ship.

If youre sailing unvaccinated, or you are traveling with someone that doesnt have the shot, then dont expect to be able to easily get off the ship.

So far it seems that private islands are treated as an extension of the ship as the cruise lines have control and can ensure vaccinations for the vast majority of people there. However, other ports of call will see requirements that people without the shot only can l go ashore on approved bubble tours.

Simply getting off the ship and heading into port isnt allowed. So if you were thinking that youd be able to simply walk into port, do some shopping, eat at a restaurant, etc., thats simply not the case unless you are vaccinated.

As weve said, theres some confusing rules regarding masking. On the ship? Its not required when the vessel is fully vaccinated. Off the ship? You have to have it on while in port, despite having more space.

Another thing to know is that masks are required in cruise terminals. So when you head to the ship on embarkation day or you get off the ship to head home, U.S. federal rules require that you have that mask on. It doesnt matter if you have had the shot or not. Everyone has to have the mask.

Its the same rule that requires masks in airports and airplanes thats seen throughout the country and it has to be followed.

As weve mentioned, sailing unvaccinated isnt ideal. But what about kids who arent eligible for the vaccine? In that case, they can often still sail, but the experience just wont quite be the same for them.

For instance, Carnival is sailing with the kids clubs closed for kids that are under 12 years old. And if they want to visit ports of call, then it will have to be on a bubble tour as simply going off the ship to explore is against the rules, unless its a private island. That limits the opportunities to get off the ship.

Kids can still enjoy the activities on the ship, but the experience is different enough that wed suggest holding off on longer cruises of a week until things are more normal. Trips of 4-5 days should be fine as thats enough time to enjoy the ship without getting bored.

One other thing to keep in mind is that if you are on a ship where the kids clubs are closed, it means mom and dad are going to have their kids with them all day, every day. So be prepared.

On ships where 95% or more of passengers have the vaccine, life onboard is surprisingly similar to what it was before the pause. In these cases, masks arent required, nor is social distancing. Other ships have distancing rules in place.

Either way, you shouldnt unnecessarily crowd people. In some cases, its inevitable that crowding will happen. If you need to take an elevator, then expect there to be others that youll share it with. But there are instances where crowding happens that it doesnt have to.

If you are in the line at the buffet, you dont need to be rubbing shoulders with the person next to you. The same goes being in the Guest Services line, or if youre at the pool with plenty of open chairs. Be cognizant of the space around you and realize that even if vaccinated, not everyone is comfortable being so close to others given everything thats happened in the past year-and-a-half.

Youve done exactly whats required. You got the shot and now youre ready to set sail. The last thing you want to do is forget to bring your vaccine card with you. Think of it as your passport or birth certificate you need it with you to sail.

If you dont have proof of vaccination, it could be that you arent let on the ship and could lose your fare as a penalty. At best, youll have to pay up for testing and travel insurance, which could cost you hundreds of dollars and lead to more restrictions on the cruise and in port.

What we suggest is attaching the card to your passport or birth certificate with paper clips so that you cant accidentally forget it at home when it comes time to head to the port.

If after everything weve mentioned you still want to sail without the shot, then in some cases thats allowed. For instance, Royal Caribbean does allow passengers without the shot to sail from Florida as laws in that state say a business cant require proof of the shot. (Although this is under legal challenge from Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.)

But in addition to testing fees and travel insurance requirements, Royal Caribbean sharply restricts where unvaccinated passengers can go on the ship. For instance, on Symphony of the Seas there are nearly 20 events and areas that are off-limits if you dont have the shot. This includes the casino, a number of shows, certain bars, and more.

What you dont want to do is try to skirt these rules. Cruise lines are serious about health and safety especially right as they return to sailing. In addition, federal regulations are behind the protocols, so cruise lines could get in trouble if the rules arent enforced.

See the article here:

10 "No-No's" of Cruising After the Pandemic - Cruzely.com

Who they are: Dale Inverarity, a 24-year-old software engineer, and Jessica Weaver, a 23-year-old nurse

What they bought: Hei Hei, a 53-foot Bruce Roberts steel-hull ketch sailboat, for $62,000

What its costing them: $5,672 for summer docking, $8,000 for winter docking, $1,478 a year for insurance, $100 a month in maintenance costs, $200 a month for diesel heating in winter, $400 a month for high-speed mobile internet, $500 for a yearly maintenance haul-out and $300 for a water-taxi season pass

As told to Jessica Lee

Dale: We met in August 2014 when we were both still in high school, at a train station in Cobourg. Jessica realized shed missed her stop as the train was departing and managed to convince the operator to back up onto the platform for her. We got to talking, and it turned out that we were both on our way to a youth business conference. Jessica lived in Chatham at the time and I lived in Thamesford. We started dating, and after high school, we both went to Western and lived together in London. Then, we moved to Toronto in 2016. I was looking for job opportunities and Jessica was going to nursing school.

In 2017, we moved to a 12th-floor condo near Queens Quay and Bathurst with a view of the waterfront. We were close to the National Yacht Club, and from our window, we spotted the ferries going to and from the Islands all the time.

In December 2019, we travelled to Belize for a vacation, and rented a 32-foot sailboat on Airbnb. There was no fridge, no air-conditioning and it was sweltering hot. To keep beers cold, we had to put them in plastic bags tied with rope and lower them into the ocean. But we loved the experience. We had a captain and the boat to ourselves, and we could take it wherever we wanted. It was very freeing; there were no doormen or neighbours, just birds and the ocean. In Belize, we dreamed up a five-year plan to buy a boat and travel the world.

During Covid, Jessica and I were working and schooling from home. All the benefits of living in Toronto werent available to us anymore. We were just sitting in the apartment day after day. So we figured it was a good time to move onto a boat. Our five-year plan morphed into a five-month plan. Jessica had a boating licence, but I got mine during the early months of the pandemic. We also did a two-week harbour permit course and four weeks of Zoom classes about marine radio.

As soon as marinas opened in May 2020, we rented a car and drove around to look at 20 boatspeople were panic-selling at the beginning of the pandemic. We were about to put an offer on a Corbin 39 with two bedrooms, but then we saw this other boat. It was 53 feet and much roomier inside. Plus, the previous owners had lived in the boat for 20 years, so it didnt need a lot of work to make it comfortable. We hired a boat surveyor who okayed the saiboat, got financed at a boutique lender that mainly works with boaters, and picked up the keys in July.

The boat has nice traditional lines and a pilothouse, which is an enclosed space to steer in stormy weather. Inside, there are two bedrooms and ample headspace. We were new to boating, and we didnt want to come into it naively. We spent an entire day with the previous owners going over every inch of the boat. We wanted to keep in touch with them, so they could help us out if any issues came up.

The boat was parked in Port Credit, and we moved in right away. We named our boat Hei Hei, which is the name of the rooster in Moana. In one scene, Hei Hei realizes hes on a boat, starts screaming and jumps overboard. Thats what most of our family thinks will happen to us. But at the end of the movie, the rooster survives. If he can survive, so can we.

A week after we moved in, Jessica had started working as a nurse and I was in a Zoom meeting, when all of a sudden, I heard a crushing metal sound. A 20-foot powerboat had T-boned us. I frantically checked for punctures on the boat and any damage to the stays. Thankfully only a little wooden end cap was nicked. After that incident, we bought bumpers to attach to our boat.

Living in a sailboat during winter in Toronto was okay but I dont want to try to do that again. We had the boat wrapped, but at night we would hear the ice rubbing up against the hull. And, it took some play to get the furnace working, but once it did, it was far too warm. Once, the furnace stopped working while I was out, so Jessica brought our dog, Apollo, and cat, Belle, into the bedroom and turned portable heaters on until I got home and fixed it.

When we first visited the city before moving here, we went to the Islands and thought, This would be a lovely place to live. That was before we learned about the years-long waiting list for a house. Then, in January 2021, we realized we could finally live on the Islands, so we moved over to the Toronto Island Marina.

Now, were pretty comfortable handling our boat, especially in a big body of water. Plus, it doesnt go very fast. Were still a little iffy about docking because we havent had a lot of practice, so we hired an instructor to help us.

Were extremely lucky to be able to spend our summer here. Its like living in a park. The only downside is that the last boat to the Islands is at 11:45 p.m. so we cant meet up with friends for late-night drinks, or else were stuck on the mainland. We also cant take the boat to the mainland because there arent many spots to dock, and we dont want to drive the boat after weve been drinking. Still, the benefits definitely outweigh the drawbacks. Apollo is so much happier here than he was in the condo unit.

For groceries, we go to a Farm Boy near our water-taxi dock on the mainland. We can fit three months worth of food on the boat. Theres also a Penguin pick-up spot near the dock, which is great for Amazon orders. Our parents have started coming around to the idea of us living on a boat too. We recently had them over for dinner. They appreciate that were in charge of the boat and dont have to answer to a landlord. Plus, theyre excited to come visit when were in warmer destinations.

We have pretty much everything we need on this boat. Theres water all around us, and we can make it safe to drink using desalination equipment and a UV filter. Its very liberating to have total control of our living situation and not have to depend on anyone else. Weve rented for our entire relationship, and its nice to be able to paint or change whatever we dont like on the boat.

Were hoping to begin our travels around the world soon, especially since Im able to work from home indefinitely. Weve bought dozens of chart books and navigation guides with field suppliers, docks, bridge heights, frequencies to call operators, anchorage locations, fuel prices and spots for haul-out.

In September, well head down through the Oswego Canal, Erie Canal, Hudson River, east coast of the United States to the Bahamas. Then, well do a full loop of the Caribbean and see where we end up. Were planning to visit Turks and Caicos, Puerto Rico, the British Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, Mexico and everywhere in between. In two years, we hope to do a North Atlantic crossing. Then, once were ready, well try to find a nice private island and settle down. Its always been a dream of mine to own an island one day.

Moving onto a boat has been one of the hardest things weve done, but it was also the best decision weve ever made. We were thrust into responsibility with a very steep learning curve. If the water doesnt work, if the plumbing doesnt work, you have to fix it. When something broke in the apartments we rented, we didnt know how long we would have to wait for that thing to be fixed. Sometimes I think about living in a house, and it just seems so boring. The freedom of living on a boat makes all the challenges worth it.

Read more here:

We bought a $62,000 sailboat and moved in - Toronto Life