What's New

It's So Hard to Say Goodbye

Our beloved Porgram Director began her career at Herring Gut Learning Center as Tansy Wagner, over four years ago. With a BS in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Maine at Orono, she gained the necessary fisheries experience as a technician and hatchery manager at the Heritage Salmon Deblois Atlantic Salmon Hatchery to make her a wonderful addition to the then staff of one at Herring Gut. She has since participated in the successful growth of the center, through the building of the new facility, the addition of two new staff members, various interns, school teachers, and many, many students. The innovative and unique summer and outreach programs we now offer were developed and implemented by Tansy.

Although she has taught many of Herring Gut's programs, she has been the primary educator for the oyster hatchery program with the St. George Alt. Ed. students for all of her four years. As most of the students return two, and sometimes three years in a row, she has an opportunity to truly get to know them, not just as a teacher, but often as a friend. Her devotion to the oyster project, and to the students and school teachers who have worked side by side with her, will be greatly missed by all.

Tansy has also seen many changes in her personal life while working at HGLC. She became Tansy Myster after marrying earlier this year, and will soon be in for a BIG change when she touches another child's life; her baby that is due this month! Tansy has chosen to leave Herring Gut to focus on her new little project and although it is very hard to say goodbye, we wish her and her new family, all the very best. Many thanks to Tansy , from all of us that you have touched with your generousity, spirit and guidance.

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Although it's winter in Port Clyde, there is a lot of green around Herring Gut Learning Center, with basil plants flourishing in the aquaponics greenhouse. High school juniors and seniors from the Rockland Opportunities program are hoping this means they'll have alot of another type of green, the money variety, coming in soon as well. In addition to their responsibilities for the monitoring, care and maintenance of the aquaponics system, students are expanding the small business they began last year, selling basil to local restaurants. They are busy researching potential markets and the possibility of growing additional herbs, such as cilantro, to increase their product line

The students are fully responsible for the management of the business, including payment of all related expenses such as heat and utilities, food for the fish, seeds, water quality chemicals, and growing media. Each student is chosen by their peers for a position wihtin the company that includes: President, Treasurer, Fish and Plant Managers and Marketing Coordinators. Every position has required job responsibilities that need to be performed each class day. Business decisions are made as a group during regular meetings facilitated by the President. Although the income from last year's sales will be carried forward, in order to cover all of their expences and make a small profit, the students must come up with a solid production and sales plan to efficiently utilize the greenhouse's capacity to harvest approximately 100 plants by the end of the school year. The challenge is on! Given a year of practical experience, and the confidence to succeed that this program insprires, we are planning on many mid-coast Maine diners enjoying meals made with Herring Gut-grown herbs very soon.

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On January 4th, Mary Medvar joined the HGLC staff as our intern. For the next eight months, Mary will be planning and implementing many school outreach and summer programs, as well as helping to maintain the hatcheries and greenhouse systems. Originally from Dover, New Jersey, Mary will graduate with a BS in Marine Sciences at the University of Maine in May. She is excited about the opportunity an internship at Herring Gut will provide her for her future career in environmental education. Her extensive experience as a summer camp counselor and enthusiasm for teaching marine science will make her popular among the younger HGLC students participating in her creative programs.

We are also pleased to have a new trustee on the Herring Gut Board, Bill Reinhardt of Tenants Harbor. Vice President of Operations for George C. Hall & Sons in Rockland, Bill also serves on the MSAD 50 Board of Directors as Chair of the Finance Committee. We welcome his support of Herring Gut's alternative education programs and are grateful he will be sharing his enthusiasm and expertise as we move forward in 2006.

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We rely on private contributions and grants to fund the majority of costs for our aquacuture programs, as small school districts often do not have the resources to do so. Please become a new member, or renew your membership, so we may continue to provide innovative educational programs in our community. Memberships are just $5.00 for students and start at $15 for individuals. Gift memberships at all levels are also available.

Please contact Maryanne Vanasse, for more information or make checks payable to HERRING GUT LEARNING CENTER and send to
PO Box 286
Port Clyde, ME 04855
207-372-8677.

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