Star Island Officials Embrace Change

Joe Watts, general manager of the Star Island Conference Center, said change and tradition can co-exist and nurture each other without losing the island's rustic, 19th century charm.

And yet the thousands of people who will venture out to the island to attend conferences or for day trips may not notice some of the biggest changes that will take place as part of the Green Gosport Initiative which is designed to make the island more energy efficient.

Beginning with the third annual 2012 Gosport Regatta sailing race which will have the theme of "Racing for a Sustainable Star," the nonprofit group said the island will carry out its three-year strategic plan to make Star Island a leader for eco-tourism and sustainability in the Seacoast region.

Jack Farrell, Star Island's superintendent, said grant it received earlier this year. Among other things, the Star Island Corp. officials want to bring more solar power to the island to reduce the need to use fossil fuels.

Farrell said other changes include: reducing energy consumed for fresh water production and wastewater treatment; reducing solid waste exports and cutting down on the number of boat trips to take passengers to and from the island to reduce fuel consumption.

Farrell said the island also wants to incorporate an education and awareness component for its staff, guests and the community to promote sustainable practices. The island has already been doing a great deal to reduce its carbon footprint and the Green Gosport Initiative is designed to enhance those efforts.

Some of sustainable practices already in place on Star Island include: producing all of the island's freshwater from seawater or rain water; using a solar battery to provide electricity and heating for the caretaker's cottage in the winter months; and growing a vegetable garden to supply food to the kitchen. Farrell said the island will also grow a herb garden this year.

Star Island Corp. CEO Victoria Hardy said this will be the 114th summer season for Star Island. She also said it will be her last one after she steps down in the fall to move back to the Seattle, Wash., area to be closer to her family. Watts will succeed her in that role.

Hardy said that while Star Island will offer its usual complement of conferences this summer, including some new conferences, the island also wants to welcome more and more day and overnight visitors.

"We've been on a concerted effort to open Star Island to more of the general public," she said. "We are New Hampshire's only island with an ocean village."

In 2011, Hardy said 42,000 passengers boarded the M/V Thomas Laighton where Wednesday morning's press conference was held to travel to Star Island. She said 3,500 of those people were conference attendees, which translated into as many as 600 people at a time who would arrive in Portsmouth each Saturday during the summer. She said Star Island Conference Center also employees 120 people in the summer.

Watts said Star Island Corp. wants to continue to make the island as accessible and affordable for families throughout New Hampshire and elsewhere regardless of their financial situation. He said the non-profit group will continue to offer financial aid and reduced rates for those who need them.

Watts also said the nonprofit group hopes to establish more partnerships with for profit and non-profit groups to bring more people to Star Island. In the end, people usually experience the same escape from their daily, hectic lives when they arrive on the island that they have for more than 100 years, Watts said.

Star Island may just be 10 miles off shore, but Watts said it continues to be a very special place that makes people want to return again and again. Watts said he has worked there since he was 16 years old and never dreamed he would one day become the Star Island Corporation's CEO.

He joked that many people will still bring their laptops and cells phones to take advantage of the island's Internet access, but often forget they have them "because they are having so much fun."

People are often after to step back in time and enjoy relaxing pursuits such as board games, oil painting, playing a musical instrument or even playing in the weekly softball game, Watts said. Children love the island's marine lab and just exploring the surrounding grounds. Others just like sitting in one of the rocking chairs on the conference center's porch and sipping a Lime Rickey.

By becoming a sustainable island that reduces its reliance on fossil fuels, Star Island Corp. officials believe they can preserve the island retreat for generations to come.