Articles
Five new fellows head for coastal communities
This fall, five new Island Institute Fellows have joined four returning fellows to work in island and coastal communities from the Downeast region to Casco Bay. The new fellows will work on a variety of projects. The Island Fellows Program is perhaps the Island Institute’s most visible and valued program. At the request of communities,
The Glass Menagerie
Performed by Islesford Neighborhood House Directed by Sonja Moser Sharing the Stage When the lights came up, it took a second for everybody to reconfirm their bearings: Islesford Neighborhood House reappeared and Eric, Bruce, Richard and Cory were in the middle of the room as if at any community function. But today, they were in
Coalition focuses on health care
Health care is an issue problematic countrywide, but it’s particularly complicated for small communities surrounded by water. At an Aug. 10 meeting of the Maine Islands Coalition, the discussion quickly turned to two separate issues: emergency services and general health care. For emergency medical service (EMS) providers, problems include call volume, transportation, and retaining people
Maine’s Casco Bay Islands: A Guide
Photography by Nance Trueworthy An Insightful Tour of the “Calendar Islands” David Tyler begins this new book by saying; “Growing up often means losing reverence for the places and people that were special during childhood, but that has not happened to me with Casco Bay. My knowledge of the bay moved beyond a place of
Coalition tackles Tree Growth tax
Tree Growth tax designation and its impact on property taxes and revenue was the topic at the May 11 Islands Coalition Meeting at the Island Institute in Rockland. And, like many issues, the implications of Tree Growth are very different for islands than for mainland communities. As Jeff Kendall from the Maine Revenue Service put
Looking Windward
Within the past few years, we’ve all received a few shocks concerning energy prices. But few of us have experienced the shock felt by many Vinalhaven residents in 2006 when their electric bills went up by $100 to $300. Not surprisingly, the rate increase caused great concern on the island — especially because the cost
Up and down the coast, Island Fellows harness community energy
Since 1999, the Island Institute has matched over 50 recent college graduates with communities throughout the coast of Maine. These Island Fellows stay for one to two-year assignments, living in the community and working on locally led projects. Fellows have offered expertise and assistance on a wide range of projects. They have helped develop school
Island Fellows, forest service to evaluate fire risk
As part of a national program to evaluate the risk of wildfire and develop strategies to mitigate these risks in the “wildland-urban interface,” defined as “where the homes meet the woods,” the Maine State Forest Service Forest Protection Division and Island Institute Fellows are partnering on a two-year project to assess year-round islands. We often
Pay Phones Return to Cranberries
The Town of Cranberry Isles has been awarded two new “Public Interest” pay phones by the Maine Public Utilities Commission to be located on the town docks at Great Cranberry and Islesford. Chris White, a seasonal resident of Great Cranberry, submitted the application for the phones with the help of Deputy Town Clerk Nanette Hadlock.
Communities and Cathedrals: Islanders, experts take on affordable housing
Nearly 100 individuals gathered at the Hutchinson Center in Belfast on April 28-29 to discuss one of the most important issues affecting the island communities of Maine: affordable housing. The event provided an opportunity for islanders and professionals involved in community development and affordable housing to network, share information and discuss the unique challenges of