1. Where do island children go to school?...The island children attend a one-room schoolhouse on the island for grades K-5, in the past the city has allowed students to remain at the Island school as late as the 8th grade, at the parent's request.. They then attend the King Middle School in Portland for grades 6-8. Thereafter they attend Portland High School for grades 9-12. There are also private schools for grades 6-12 in the Portland area and Cumberland County. There are many colleges in Portland proper including the University of Maine.
2. What business and/or employment opportunities are there on or off the island?... The island itself has limited employment opportunities unless you have lobstering, carpentry, plumbing & heating or landscaping, skills. However, if your area of expertise is in the computer industry you may find that you can work out of your island home via the Internet. We also have a full service Post Office that can support any mailing requirements of a small business. Federal Express and UPS deliver to the island via the Casco Bay Ferry Lines.
   Because Portland is within a reasonable commuting distance, and the ferry schedule is designed to accommodate daily commuters, you will find all of the business opportunities a major city has to offer in Portland.
3. What medical services are offered on the island?... There are no medical facilities on the island and routine medical treatment would be handled by your family physician in Portland. However, during an emergency medical situation we have three EMTs on the island and a rescue boat that can be dispatched out of Portland by dialing 911. It generally takes the rescue boat 20 minutes to get to the island and there are paramedics on board. Once you reach Portland there would be an ambulance service waiting to take you to a major hospital. The doctors who summer on the island are always happy to be called on for in the case of an emergency.
4. What is the availability of home rentals and sales on the island?... Currently, there are three year-round homes available for rent on the island and three year-round homes available for sale. However, the Future of Cliff Island Committee will continue to update additional rental or sales opportunities as they arise. Rents range from $350 to $700 per month. Homes for sale range from $145,000 to $250,000. There is no land available at the moment and none is likely to come up for sale in the foreseeable future. Real estate is currently taxed at $24.56 per $1000
5. What is the cost of utilities on the island?... Utility costs are very subjective and consumption for each family is based upon its individual needs. However, to give you a basis from which to estimate your individual expense, the electricity is supplied by Central Maine Power at 11.710 per kilowatt-hour. Many of our homes are heated by forced hot air or water furnaces and/or monitors, which utilize either #2 heating oil or #1 kerosene. Heating fuel can be purchased from the Fisherman's Cove Store and currently #2 heating oil is $1.40 per gallon and #1 kerosene is $1.55 per gallon. These prices are subject to change at anytime. There is no cable TV or Primestar service available but the RCA type dishes work fine. Both phone and electrical services are very reliable (our outages seen to be fewer and shorter then the mainland) and the costs are the same as on the mainland. I have been told that virtual ISDN can be arranged.
   Water is by private well, most houses have driven wells a few still use dug wells, and some are on a community well. Part of the island has very good water and part has water with varying amounts of iron. We do tend to conserve our water although we have never had an island wide shortage.
   Homeowners are responsible for waste disposal. Generally there is a septic tank with a sub-surface leach field or where there is not enough soil, overboard discharges have been grandfathered in. Overboard discharges have to be licensed with the state and need to be chlorinated.
6. What level of transportation service is offered to and from the island?... The island is serviced by Casco Bay Ferry Lines, a non-profit ferry service. A winter adult round trip ticket costs $5.75 and a commuter book is $20.00 for 5 round trips, there are also monthly passes. Commuter books can be used by anyone in the buyer's immediate family and must be used within 2 weeks. Summer fares and freight rates are higher then winter. During the winter months we have four boat runs leaving the island bound for Portland, 6:15 am, 12:00 noon, 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm. There are also four boat runs leaving Portland bound for Cliff Island, 5:15 am, 10:00 am, 2:45 pm and 5:45 pm. The ferry schedule is subject to minor changes periodically throughout the year so it is best to call The Casco Bay Ferry Lines at (207) 774-7871 before you leave on your journey.
   A number of people use their own boats to travel back and forth to town during the warmer months. Tie-up is available in Portland as well as other towns on the bay. Dimillo's marina has short term (hourly) space available for a fee and the city has 2 floats that are meant to be used for pick ups and drop offs.. Slips and mooring can be leased for the season from S. Portland all the way around to Potts Harbor and on the island side you would need to contact one of the fishermen about were would be a good place to put a mooring. Of course Portland wants a cut of the action and expects moorings to be registered.
7. What happens if the ferry can't run?... The Casco Bay Ferry Lines (CBL) is probably one of the best ferry services in the United States and it is unlikely that they will not be able to run any ferry service to the island for an entire day. If a captain decides not to land at a wharf it is generally because of an a combination of wind and astronomically high tides, which fall at Noon so the other boats aren't usually effected. Hotels are available in Portland should the ferry not be able to make the last run of the day or you have missed the boat. If you have missed the ferry during the summer months, there is a water-taxi service, which will pick you up at the Portland Wharf and bring you to the island for a $45.00 fee. This price is subject to change.
8. How are things shipped to the island?... Casco Bay Lines will ship anything for a fee. The freight fees differ according to whether the freight is a "necessity" or a "luxury"-luxuries being the most costly. The ferry to Cliff has room for one car, and advance reservations must be made. There are also a couple of barge services that will bring moving vans, lumber trucks, dump trucks etc to the Island.
9. Transportation on the Island?... There are approximately 8 miles of dirt roads on the Island. The wharf is centrally located so you are never more then a mile or so away. Cars are allowed, as are golf carts, mopeds and motorcycles. There is no inspection but brakes and lights are a good idea. Walking and bikes are sufficient for many. And then there is Chester, he meets most boats and is will provide transportation as well as taking the mail to the Post Office and delivering UPS and Fed-Ex
10. Transportation on the mainland?... Most people have a car that they park in Portland. There are a number of parking garages and lots in the area near the ferry terminal that have monthly parking available for between $50 and $75. The city also maintains a lot for islanders, parking is free but you need to prove residency to get a permit. Portland also has a good bus system with a stop (with waiting room) at the CBL terminal. The city is small enough so walking can be as easy as any other form of transportation, for the downtown and Old Port areas
11. Can you buy food and provisions on the island?... We islanders take pride in our little general store, Fisherman's Cove, owned by Suzanne Rieth. The store has everything a family needs regarding food and provisions, i.e., canned goods, meats, dairy, wine & beer, staples and good gossip. Although you can go off island to purchase your food supplies at the local Shop & Save or Shaw's supermarkets and have it shipped to the island via Casco Bay Ferry Lines, we encourage all islanders to use the general store as much as possible. The Store is a very important part of our community and it helps to maintain our special island lifestyle.
    During the summer there is also a sandwich shop in the building at the head of the steamboat wharf. In the past it has also carried milk and some fruits and vegetables. This year it will be under new ownership so we will have to see what is carried. If you take a ride down the bay on CBL, many times there is a long enough stopover at Cliff to walk up and get an Ice cream cone or soda and a bag of chips.
12. Island weather?... The surrounding water generally moderates the weather on the island. Expect summer temps to be 10 degrees cooler then the mainland the prevailing wind is SW and it can get a bit choppy in the afternoons. We will also get fog more often then the inner islands in the bay, many days that start out foggy will stay foggy here, while Portland turns sunny and warm
    Winter days tend to be warmer then the rest of Maine. Many snowstorms will turn to rain, which can be disappointing to the cross-country skiers on the island. The storms we have can be spectacular, with the beach road ending up covered with seaweed and driftwood. A walk on the bluffs to watch the surf is a major attraction.
    Check out the current conditions in Portland with WGME's live sky cam
13. What kind of entertainment is on the island?... Island life is one of solitude and much of your personal entertainment will come from pursuing your own interests and hobbies. However, we do have a community hall, which has periodic dances, movies, dinners and holiday social functions. We also have a library that is rich with literature, both past and current. It also has a special section upstairs devoted to the history of Cliff Island. We have the A.C.E. (Athletics, Conservation and Education) ball field on the island, which accommodates outside recreation such as volleyball, baseball and island community outings. ACE also puts on a summer program for kids and ACE Monday nights, a series of concerts, lectures, movies, etc. The roads are the only public land on the Island, there is however a good deal of undeveloped land that can be used by residents for recreation.
14. Is there a daycare on the island?... Although there is no formal daycare on the island, we do have a network of mothers and fathers who in community spirit and with the use of the barter system, may help to accommodate the needs of another family.
15. Is there a bank on the island?... There are no banking facilities on the island, therefore you would have to fulfill all your banking needs with a local bank in Portland.
16. What churches or synagogs are available on the island?... The island has a Seventh Day Adventist church, but other religious groups are welcome to come and worship. During the summer the Cliff Island Ecumenical Church meets on Sundays
17. Is there trash removal service on the island?... Cliff Island is considered a part of Portland and we enjoy the same trash removal services that the city offers. Trash pickup is on Monday, and there is one large-item trash pickup service every spring. Recycling is encouraged, with bins located at the Association Hall.
18. What is the crime rate on the island?... Crime is virtually nonexistent here. There is a constable on the island and the Portland Police can be brought to the Island on the fireboat if necessary.
19. How many children are there on the island?... Currently, there are eight children on the island ranging in age from newborn to 18 years old and we have one expectant mother.
20. Hunting & Fishing?... There is good Mackerel fishing from the wharf using a jig, and Strippers are caught from the Bluffs and Stinky Beach. Blues were plentiful a few years ago but have followed the Pogies off to greener pastures. Clams can be found, although they seem to be at a low spot in a cycle.
    Being with in the city limits, hunting is not allowed, but people do hunt some of the surrounding islands for deer and sea birds.
21. Animals: Pets and Wild?... There are a number of dogs and cats on the island. Various other animals have been kept here in the past, including horses, sheep and other farm animals. I think Portland would probably frown on most of these now and there is very little land that could be used for them. Veterinary services are available once a year at the Hall, for vaccines and general check ups. A trip to town is necessary for more involved procedures.
    Wild animals include deer, mice raccoons and occasionally mink and muskrat. None are a real problem, the deer population seems to be fairly stable at 10 - 15 and they do some damage but not nearly as bad as most of the other islands were the populations seem to explode. Most people here enjoy seeing the deer and are willing to put up with what damage they do.
22. Pests?... Yes we have a few. We grow a mean mosquito but there are no Black Flies, there are a few ticks, few enough that they must be imported on summer dogs. Some areas of the island produce a good crop of Poison Ivy so you need to be able to recognize it summer and winter. The biggest problem for the last couple of years has been the Browntail moths. For a month or so in the summer the microscopic hairs from the caterpillars produce a rash similar to Poison Ivy on people who are allergic.
23. Local media?... Portland has one daily newspaper, The Portland Press Herald and a weekly, The Casco Bay Weekly. Five local television stations carry NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox & PBS.
24. Where can we stay when we come to visit the island?... Any family who is interested in pursuing the opportunity to live on Cliff Island as year-round residents should contact the Future of Cliff Island Committee, P.O. Box 116, Cliff Island, ME 04019 with specific dates on which you wish to visit. We can put you in contact with the appropriate homeowners who are willing to rent their house on a short-term basis. There are no hotels, Inns or B&Bs on the island. You may also contact the Committee via the Internet at http://www.cliffisland.com If you would like more information about Portland in general, contact the Chamber of Commerce of the Greater Portland Region, 145 Middle St., Portland, ME 04101 (207) 772-2811.

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