Welcome to New Chamber Member - A Climate to Thrive

Please join us in welcoming our newest Chamber Member - A Climate to Thrive!

A Climate to Thrive seeks to achieve energy independence for Mount Desert Island by 2030. Decentralized, local, renewable energy solutions will reduce pollution, create new businesses, generate year-round jobs that pay a living wage, and bring the community together around the shared goal of preserving our environment.

 A Climate to Thrive is bringing all four MDI towns together and making the island an epicenter of citizen engagement, environmental sustainability, and economic vitality. ACTT is making MDI a model in these respects, showing other communities across Maine, New England, and nationally that these actions simultaneously enhance economic well-being and quality of life. 

A Climate to Thrive is a 501(c)(3)nonprofit organization. Learn more at their web site: https://www.aclimatetothrive.org/ or at their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AClimatetoThrive/

MDI Hospital Names New Emergency Department Medical Director

David Sugerman, MD has joined Mount Desert Island Hospital as the new medical director of the hospital’s emergency department. Dr. Sugerman assumes the role from former medical director Nathan Donaldson, DO, MHA, FACEP, who will continue to serve as an emergency department staff member.

Before assuming his new role, Dr. Sugerman spent three previous summers in MDI Hospital’s emergency department as an attending physician. As a board-certified physician specializing in emergency medicine, Dr. Sugerman has served as an emergency physician and medical director in several emergent care settings in the state of Ohio. He has also been a clinical faculty member at University Hospital Ahuja Medical Center and South Point Hospital, Cleveland Clinic System. “In the emergency department,” Dr. Sugerman says, “I strive to listen diligently, and connect with patients so that I can stabilize any life-threatening situation, or treat an acute illness or injury effectively and with compassion.”

Dr. Sugerman graduated from Bowdoin College in 1982 and received his MD from Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, LA in 1987. He interned at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, UT, and completed his emergency medicine residency at Long Island Jewish Hospital in New York. In 1994-95 he was a Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellow at The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital in Salt Lake City. Over the years, Dr. Sugerman has held several positions relative to his sports medicine training, including Event Physician for the United States National Figure Skating Championships (1998), Team Physician for the United States Freestyle Ski Team (1994-98) and Race Physician for America’s Opening World Cup Ski Races (1994-95).

When asked what drew him to MDI Hospital, Dr. Sugerman explains, “I was intrigued by the unique combination of a very high quality of care, and teaching opportunities through the MDI Hospital-Penn Medicine Collaborative program, in a rural and picturesque setting.”

Outside of the office, Dr. Sugerman enjoys hiking, biking, sailing, and skiing.

Welcome to New Chamber Members, Acadia Ebike Rentals and Quietside Electric!

Acadia EBike Rentals is a local family-owned business that strives to show visitors around Acadia National Park. Our Mission is to create unforgettable memories that you will cherish. On an electric bicycle, you will be able to explore more of the island beauty than walking or on a regular pedal bike. Learn more about them at: https://acadiaebikerentals.com/ and stop in to say hi when you get a chance!

Quietside Electric is also owned by Ross Horne, and offers Commercial and Residential wiring, Heat Pump installations, Standby Generator systems. Check out his Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/Quietside-Electric-108716840786512/

Certificate Training Program Offered for Local Teenagers

Despite making the difficult choice to suspend Summer Camp programs this year, Camp Beech Cliff, with the generous support of Healthy Acadia, is offering a free one-week virtual certificate training program for high school-aged teenagers in Hancock and Washington counties. Focused on youth leadership and development, the program will also address safety precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re aware that there will be a significant gap in childcare options this summer, and we wanted to find a way to help bridge that gap, while also providing a service to our local High school students.”  Camp Director, Matt Cornish stated.  “We hope to help them work directly with local families to meet the need that will be very apparent this summer, as well as prepare them for future employment opportunities.”

The program, Filling Your Leadership Toolbox, will be offered the week of June 29 – July 3, 2020, and consist of three hours of training per day, either in the morning or afternoon.  Training will cover topics including creating activities outdoors, behavior management and conflict resolution, resilience in the face of challenging situations, and more. At the end of the week, participants will walk away with a certificate of course completion, as well as a $100 stipend for their time and dedication to the work.  Sara McConnell of Healthy Acadia said, “We love [this] new, creative way of reaching youth during these times.”

Interested young people between the ages of 13 and 18 should contact Matt Cornish, matt@campbeechcliff.org, for more information, or register at campbeechcliff.org.                       

Enrollment is limited, so register by June 24, 2020.