Communication and understanding. Never have they been more essential for the health of Maine’s farming, fishing and forestry industries, which are so vital to the health of the state’s economy. Some of these enterprises feel their ability to survive is being threatened by increasing restrictions which affect them. Jeff Kaelin, independent contractor for Heritage Salmon
Young violinists perform at the State House, meet Gov. King
How do you get to the State House? Practice, practice, practice. Last October, 16 students from the Chebeague Island school picked up violins for the first time. Six months later they were playing at the State House for the opening of the Maine Legislature. Not bad for a group of fourth through sixth graders. Even
Lobstering, the catch-and-release way
John Nicolai says it took him a long time to forge a connection with the sea, even though he has a line of ancestors who have made their living in various maritime pursuits, from fishing off the island of Corsica to captaining schooners from Southern Spain to Morocco to serving in the navy and merchant
Two Directions: One Monhegan fisherman buys into groundfishing; another sells his permit
As potential new cutbacks threaten the groundfish fishery in Maine this spring, most fishermen see the future of the industry as bleak. A few others, however, see enough potential for future growth to view this as a good time to invest. Monhegan Island, a community founded by fishermen and almost entirely supported in centuries past
“It’s a crazy business” 40 years in the schooner trade gives you a unique perspective
Even at age 80, Capt. George Allen just can’t get away from boats. The Brooklin native is now carving toy boats for children in his Creeping Thyme Gift Shop after spending decades in the Penobscot Bay windjammer trade. His career culminated with building the 52-foot pinky schooner SUMMERTIME with Capt. Bill Brown, virtually in his
New general store opens on Cliff Island
April 13 was the grand opening for an expansion of Cliff Island’s sandwich shop into a general store, Beachead General. Islanders are likely to continue to buy most of their groceries in Portland, but proprietor Libra Cusack hopes to provide islanders with snacks and some of their meat, produce and household items. Beachead General provides
Testing, testing, testing
If anyone mentions something might be beneficial for lobster pounds or the lobster industry in general, Herb Hodgkins’ ears perk up like a fire horse hearing the alarm. He’s off and running, willing to devote oodles of time and energy to whatever it is that might improve the lot of anyone associated with the lobster
Bangor firm refines its 12-year-old electronic navigation software
For thousands of years man has depended upon the stars for navigation. The development of the sextant and its forerunner, the astrolabe made the fixing of latitude (north and south) much easier, but the determination of longitude could not be plotted without an extremely accurate method of keeping time. John Harrison, a British clockmaker, was
Bob Indiana, famous artist: Let’s give credit where it’s due!
You know that famous artist fella, Robert Indiana, who did the Love stamp so many years ago? Well, he lives here on this island – has lived here quite a while now – to the benefit and beauty of the town. A lot of stories have been written about Robert Indiana, his life and work,
The Boardmans of Islesboro: Seven generations, going strong
Since the late 1700s, Boardmans have lived on Islesboro. The youngest descendant of this prolific lineage is six-year old Davis Lamar Boardman, who only recently mastered the concept of property ownership. Her anxious response was to admonish her parents to never, ever sell off any of the family’s land on the island. Pondering the matter