Articles
German battleship prowls Maine waters
As that a battleship headed your way, bristling with turreted guns? But wait. It’s no bigger than a war canoe, and there’s classical music — Wagner, in fact. It all began when Bill Terra thought building a battleship might be an enjoyable hobby. He didn’t realize that his working model would consume years of his
Befriending a Friendship
An old Friendship native has come home. Eagle, built by Wilbur Morse of Friendship in 1915, is now undergoing repairs at Spruce Head. And the latest owner, Dick Rapalyea of Thomaston, is finding out that an old boat, like his 18th century house, requires a lot of time and energy, not to mention money. Rapalyea
Monhegan rescue service calls it quits
For 20 years, Monhegan Island residents had their own licensed rescue service, bringing emergency care to the sick and injured and even saving lives. Now the service itself has died, a victim of rising costs, training requirements and a lack of volunteers. Last April the Monhegan Emergency Rescue Service “breathed its last,” as director Susan
Our Point Of View: Fourteen Years at a Maine Lighthouse
Down East Books, 2007 “It was simply our home” Pictures of Maine lighthouses are so common that you could be forgiven for seeking something with more grit. But if you’re thinking that when you’ve seen one lighthouse, you’ve seen them all, you’re in for a treat. My advice: curl up by the woodstove with Tom
Birds, Not Bombs Corps of Engineers plans cleanup of offshore island
Seal Island, a 65-acre wildlife refuge six miles east of Matinicus, is home to nesting seabirds but off limits to visitors. That’s because this barren, rocky isle 21 miles out to sea from Rockland was a bombing target for training U.S. Navy pilots from the 1940s through the 1960s. Live explosives could still lie buried
Basic Lobster History
Lobster season sinks under fuel costs, low catch
Lobsters are scarce, boat fuel costly, and other kinds of fish so scarce they aren’t worth chasing any more. That’s the gloomy picture facing lobstermen such as Dave Cousens of South Thomaston, who estimates lobsters are off by 30 to 40 percent this year. “I can sum it up in one word, it sucks,” he
Term Limits How Long is Long Enough?
One of five items facing voters on Nov. 6 is extending legislative term limits from eight years to 12 years. Many legislators have said they don’t support term limits at all, but doing away with the cut-off is considered too unpopular an idea for voters to pass it. Rep. Leila Percy, D-Phippsburg, said she fully
Bond issue would protect commercial waterfront access
It’s not grabbing headlines, but a statewide referendum on the Nov. 6 ballot includes funding that could help preserve coastal property for fishermen. If approved by voters, the Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) program would receive $3 million for protecting the state’s shrinking working waterfront. It’s part of a proposed $35.5 million conservation bond, of
College student goes lobstering, extends a family tradition
A breeze rippled the shimmering sea; a seal poked his head through gold and silver waves and Erica Davis headed out to haul her traps. “I love seals,” she announced, grinning as she gunned her outboard runabout until it planed. It’s sunny and warm enough this particular afternoon that Erica’s father, Scott, is shirtless and