To the editor:
I greatly enjoy WWF, but the “current” (pun intended) article by Nancy Griffin (Nov. 2003, page 1) reminds me of something I keep noticing: there is virtually no coverage of goings-on at Isle au Haut! Why? I know it’s remote, and the year-round population is tiny ( /- 42 last winter, I think), but the subject of “Power [electric] to the People” would have been a natural – a great opportunity to get an IaH perspective. There used to be generators, then there arose a local on-island power company, and now there’s a cable from Deer Isle – no history that other islands don’t have, to be sure, but it just seems as if IaH goings-on aren’t of interest to WWF.
I’m partisan, as an IaH summer person (if of interest, see June 2003 WWF and my letter to you for thoughts on Rusty Warren). I know all about the desire for privacy out there, and perhaps your reporter tried and failed to get an Isle au Haut viewpoint. I certainly respect the desire for privacy, but there are people there who know all the history about getting sparks out to the island. Perhaps none of them would talk (???)…
Arthur E. Norton
Woodstock, VT
Summer Isle au Haut resident