In these stories you will discover people who came across the ocean from Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Germans and French were there too. As well as the Poles and Finns and Russians. These were the first people to grub out the tree stumps and pick the rocks to clear the fields and plant the crops that grew so poorly in the sandy soil.

Within these grand sweeps of history people came, lived and died in Isle. These are their stories, written so the young strangers who reside in present day towns like Isle will know of the giants that had gone before them.

In Models in Our Midst, Joyce Shultz shares her personal stories as an educator, psychotherapist, parent, and grandparent. She describes the impact others have had on her-how they have molded the way she thinks and reacts to her environment. The process is ongoing. She continues to be influenced by her younger grandchildren, who live in the moment, and her older friends, who adjust to and cope with the issues of aging while remaining vital and involved, continuing to grow in spirit.

In Models in Our Midst, Joyce Shultz shares her personal stories as an educator, psychotherapist, parent, and grandparent. She describes the impact others have had on her-how they have molded the way she thinks and reacts to her environment. The process is ongoing. She continues to be influenced by her younger grandchildren, who live in the moment, and her older friends, who adjust to and cope with the issues of aging while remaining vital and involved, continuing to grow in spirit.

Experience with Sgt. Elbo Janes and Cpl. T.V. Bennett the explosion of an atomic bomb at Desert Rock, Nevada. Sail with them to Vieques Island, Puerto Rico on Navy ships. Meet John, the Merchant of Vieques, who came to Radio Hill on horseback bringing orange pop, bread, or a woman in a red dress. Watch as Banshee fighter planes off the Carrier USS Midway, strafe, shell and spread fiery Napalm on the Eastern end of Vieques. Take an inside look at the fun, the fights and the loves of these Marines on liberty in New York, San Juan and Havana. Laugh at some of their escapades as they try to live up to their own motto: "Hell, we're Marines: We can do anything we want to do!" Share in their growth as individuals and the building of life-long friendships.

My chosen name is Balticbard. I am an artist, writer, and poet. This is my book of poems: Heartsongs.

From a very young age, I lived within myself; in a magical world of my own making. I filled my magic world with stories of Edgar Allen Poe, 19th century romantic poetry, Greek myth, horror movies, Arthurian legends, bible stories, sitcoms from the sixties, pre-Raphealite painting, surrealism, Jesus Christ, music from the sixties, and old stories, and legends from the old country that my mother, and grandmother told me as I was growing up. In time I encountered the greatest blessing that my wondrous God has given me; the pagans. It was the pagan source that helped me unlock the door to my world of magic, which I had thought lost to me. I finally found my inner source, and my words of magic came forth in my poetry. So finally I say thanks to my God, and to all my pagan friends for my inspiration.

-Balticbard

Dear Ines, Dear Janet is a unique correspondence between two women-one British and one American-from totally different backgrounds who became friends and wrote to each other over a period of 50 years.

Janet Bookman was born to an immigrant Jewish family from Eastern Europe. Her father spoke mainly Yiddish, and her mother had little formal education. Janet grew up in the Bronx borough of New York City, found her way to Washington, married a news man and raised two children.

Her friend, Ines Burrows, came from the British upper class, descended from founders of The Times of London, and married a career diplomat who became Ambassador to Turkey and NATO, and represented Britain in the Persian Gulf. He was knighted for his work by the Queen.

The two women met in Washington soon after World War II, became close friends, and wrote to each other over half a century until Ines died in 1997. Naturally they wrote about family problems (each raised teenagers in the Sixties), but also about what was going on in the world-Vietnam, U.S. and British elections, the glamorous life led by Ines and events in Janet's more tranquil existence.

These letters give unusual insight into the lives of two very interesting and articulate women-and into the qualities that can make for friendship-over the years and over thousands of Trans-Atlantic miles.

Dear Ines, Dear Janet is a unique correspondence between two women-one British and one American-from totally different backgrounds who became friends and wrote to each other over a period of 50 years.

Janet Bookman was born to an immigrant Jewish family from Eastern Europe. Her father spoke mainly Yiddish, and her mother had little formal education. Janet grew up in the Bronx borough of New York City, found her way to Washington, married a news man and raised two children.

Her friend, Ines Burrows, came from the British upper class, descended from founders of The Times of London, and married a career diplomat who became Ambassador to Turkey and NATO, and represented Britain in the Persian Gulf. He was knighted for his work by the Queen.

The two women met in Washington soon after World War II, became close friends, and wrote to each other over half a century until Ines died in 1997. Naturally they wrote about family problems (each raised teenagers in the Sixties), but also about what was going on in the world-Vietnam, U.S. and British elections, the glamorous life led by Ines and events in Janet's more tranquil existence.

These letters give unusual insight into the lives of two very interesting and articulate women-and into the qualities that can make for friendship-over the years and over thousands of Trans-Atlantic miles.