SOUTH ADDISON, Maine — During a recent island cleanup held in collaboration with the Maine Island Trail Association, volunteers picking up trash on Tibbett Island off the Washington County community of South Addison discovered a message in a bottle.

The bottle was caught under a large spruce tree with other debris. The note, from a young girl named Taryn, was dispatched to the the ocean in July 2000.





The note reads: “My name is Taryn and I’m 3 years old. I live in Welland, Ontario and spent my 1st real vacation in New Brunswick. I really loved seeing the ocean, but it was very cold so I couldn’t swim in it. I really liked collecting shells and pretty rocks off of the beach. I saw whales and seals. I had so much fun. I hope you like my letter. See ya!”

Becky Lee, Downeast Coastal Conservancy’s membership coordinator, found the note. She suspects young Taryn had help from her mom or dad in writing the note.

“I was really excited to find the note, and was even more surprised to see that the note was from 2000,” she said. “It makes me wonder about the journey the bottle took from New Brunswick. Taryn is now 15. I’d really like to find her and let her know that we found her note.”

Downeast Coastal Conservancy sponsors several beach cleanups every year.

Even after 12 years in the ocean, the clear plastic soda bottle that contained the note was in perfect condition.