Articles
Lobster marketing strategy centers on ‘new shell’
ROCKPORT — A firm hired by the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative to help grow markets for and increase the value of the state’s signature seafood unveiled its strategy at the Maine Fishermen’s Forum on Friday, March 6. Representatives from the firm Weber Shandwick said their vision aims to: “Seasonal food is exciting food,” said Joe
Islesboro voters to consider $3 million for broadband
ISLESBORO — Voters will be asked at their May 9 annual town meeting to authorize borrowing $3 million to build a broadband Internet network for the island. In a front-page opinion piece in the January/February edition of the Islesboro Island News, Arch Gillies, chairman of the board of selectmen, argued in favor of the proposal,
Environment-based job market alive at career fair
UNITY — Almost 70 organizations were represented at an environment-based career fair at Unity College on Feb. 10. Is that a sign of a rebounding economy? Maybe. Many of the organizations were recruiting for summer jobs, such as counselor positions at camps, or for limited duration internships. But for the young adults nearing the end
Ticks are winning in invasion of Maine
Ticks. Even now, with snow, ice and frigid temperatures holding them in abeyance, the very mention of the little critters can make your skin crawl. But it gets worse, because those critters carry diseases like Lyme, anaplasmosis and babesiosis, illnesses that are debilitating as they are, at times, baffling to physicians. Chuck Lubelczyk, a field
No need for selfies: Photographer captures islanders in ‘We Are Swan’s Island’ project
SWAN’S ISLAND — Whether it’s a wedding, reunion or holiday celebration, photographers often struggle to get all the key family members in their shots. Imagine how hard it was for Miranda Battiste to capture the family that is the island’s year-round population. By most measures, Batiste succeeded. Not only are the images—as evidenced by those
Marketing lobster, restoring old ships and the winter of 1914
Waterfronts and those coastal towns that bustle with visitors in the summer tend to go quiet after the new year dawns. But that doesn’t mean decisions affecting those waterfronts and towns aren’t being made. In banks, in local and state government meeting rooms, and around conference tables at nonprofits, things are happening. The effort to
Portland promotes cigarette butt recycling to make downtown friendlier
PORTLAND — Mike Roylos is old enough to remember when offices, restaurants and other businesses featured strategically placed ashtrays. Though they were filthy and smelly, often holding a still-smoldering cigarette, they served a purpose. Today, ashtrays are long gone. Smoking rates are down, and those who do smoke, must do so outside those offices and
Portland steamships link to lucrative European market
PORTLAND — One of the best business opportunities Maine has seen in years could begin with a single pallet-load of goods. That opportunity is now available through Eimskip, the Icelandic company that in the last two years has established a shipping facility at the west end of Commercial Street. Eimskip (pronounced AIM-skip) has facilities across
New Vinalhaven town manager on board
Steve Eldridge began work as Vinalhaven’s new town manager on Dec. 1. Eldridge had been interim town manager in Bethel in western Maine for the six months prior to being hired on the island. He also has been town manager in Lisbon and Rumford. The island job appealed to him because of the quality of
Island Institute, by the numbers
A recent survey of our readers revealed that many of you wonder just what it is that the Island Institute does (besides publishing The Working Waterfront newspaper, that is). For all of us on staff here at the Institute, fielding that question in professional and social settings can give us pause. Not because we’re confused