Speed, Adrenaline, and Outdoor Things: Brothers Bring Adventure to the Iris Park Apartments

Elijah, left, and Jonathan at Sunday River

Elijah and Jonathan Steward recently moved into the Iris Park Apartments, where they live across the hall from each other. Now in their mid-twenties, they grew up in a log home in the woods near Bingham, between the northern Maine towns of Skowhegan and Jackson, and, also, according to local legend, halfway between the Equator   and the North Pole.

Their ties with The Iris Network extend back to their high school days, when they received vision rehabilitation services, individualized programs of training, education, and support. One brother is nearsighted and the other farsighted, so together they can read movie subtitles and menus when they are out for an evening.  Both have degrees from the University of Maine, Orono. Elijah majored in kinesiology and physical education, and Jonathan in psychology. Now Elijah works as a personal trainer and massage therapist, and Jonathan is employed at AAA-Northern New England

Despite the options of the city, the outdoors, especially the woods, always beckon. Driven by their shared love of outdoor spaces, the brothers have become expert at outdoor sports. They ski and snowboard with Maine Handicapped Skiing, scuba dive, rock climb, and have  recently started training in skydiving.  

"We’ve gone skydiving twice,” says Elijah. "The first time I did it, the minute I hit the ground, I marched right over to the office to sign up for certification.” They need to adapt this activity further for their vision impairment.   "We need to  figure out some support for ourselves, like someone talking to us over headphones, so we can jump by ourselves and land without hitting anything,” Elijah adds. "We like speed, adrenaline, outdoor things,” Jonathan comments. 

For now, the Stewards enjoy Maine Handicapped Skiing, which picks people up in Portland once a week for a daytrip to Sunday River. In the future, they hope to organize their own recreational programs. Having already volunteered extensively with the New England Blind  Athletic Association, they would like to run an outdoor education program, camping trips, whitewater rafting trips, and canoe trips. And they would like to learn  sailing.  

“I like extreme sports, but I can bring it down a notch,” Jonathan says.  

 

New Beginnings: Introducing Our New President

Watch for Jim’s column in each upcoming issue of Insight.  The Board of Directors is delighted to announce   the appointment of James E. Phipps as the new President/CEO of The Iris Network.   "The search committee was impressed by Mr. Phipps’ long history of dedication to The Iris Network and to the visually impaired and blind community of Maine,” says Nancy Hawes, board member and chair of the presidential search committee. Mr. Phipps has served 18 years on the organization’s board of directors in many capacities. He has extensive experience in program development, fundraising, and special projects at the agency. Prior to his arrival at The Iris Network, Mr. Phipps was an attorney and partner at the Portland-based law firm Preti, Flaherty, LLP, for over 20 years,  specializing in non-profit and health care law.   He states, “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead The Iris Network, one of the most vital and vibrant organizations in Maine.”  Born in Lindenhurst, New York, Jim is a graduate of Florida State University. He earned a joint MBA/Juris Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania. He lives on Chebeague Island with his wife, Gisele, and daughters, Katie and Christy.