Julie Berry of Gorham is still on the island, with only a few weeks left. Berry was accepted into the Peace Corps but has not served yet
Mainer stays on the island with two episodes to go
By DAVID HENCH and RAY ROUTHIER, Portland Press Herald Staff Writers
Copyright © 2004 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
Julie Berry of Gorham is still on the island, with only a few weeks left. Do you think she'll make it? Check out our coverage of her stay on the island and tell us how you think she's doing.
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Julie Berry, Maine's local favorite on the hit television program "Survivor," is just one week away from making it to the show's finale.
Berry, of, Gorham, survived Thursday's episode to become one of the final five contestants on the unscripted competition played out on a South Pacific island.
Each week the surviving participants vote one of their number off the island and out of contention for the $1 million grand prize. The winner will come from the four contstants who survive next Thursday and advance to the show's two-hour finale on Sunday, Dec. 12.
Berry has done well - so far. She survived Thursday, but one of her allies wasn't so lucky, putting Berry in a precarious position.
"I would say next week she would be the one to be voted off," said Joe Polek, a fan of the show from Richmond. Berry's allies in the game have either been voted off, like Ami Cusack on Thursday night's show, or shifted allegiance, as Eliza Orlins apparently has.
"Obviously alliances change week to week. Just by the little preview they gave for next week, I think Julie will be trying to throw a curveball into an alliance," Polek said.
The show is a strange mix of survival skills - starting fires, foraging for food - and junior high school-style gossiping and sniping. One contestant is voted off by the group each week, so forging alliances and appearing to be everyone's friend is very important.
Each week, a challenge is held and the winner gains immunity and cannot be voted off that week. Given Berry's precarious position, immunity could be essential to her survival next week.
Wendy Willard of Bath thinks Berry has a good chance of winning immunity, which would force the other four remaining contestants - who seem to be lining up against her - to turn on each other.
"I think at this point it's anybody's game," Willard said.
With her pretty smile and youthful energy, Berry has had her fellow Mainers tuning in every week this fall to watch her play the "Survivor" game.
"It doesn't matter if I'm a Julie fan or not, I kind of root for her because she is from Maine," Polek said.
This season's 14 episodes began airing Sept. 16, with 18 contestants.
Berry, 23, grew up in Gorham, graduated from Gorham High School in 1999, and returns often to visit friends and family.
She was born in Lewiston and is an American Indian from the Maliseet Tribe. At age 4, she was adopted by Judith and Les Berry and raised in Gorham. Judith Berry is a lawyer who specializes in adoption, and Les is an engineer. Growing up, Berry was a tomboy who loved the outdoors, adventures, climbing trees, that sort of thing.
In high school, she played soccer and softball. She attended East Carolina University and received her degree in family and community development. After graduation, she was accepted into the Peace Corps and worked with youths at risk. She is planning to pursue a master's degree in counseling.
This season's "Survivor" was taped ahead of time on the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, near Australia. Contestants and their families were legally required not to give any details of the shows or the contestants' whereabouts until the contestant is voted off or wins.
This is the ninth edition of "Survivor" but only the second time a Mainer has been a contestant. In 2002, Zoe Zanidakis of Monhegan Island made it through nine of 12 episodes before being voted off.
