There’s no such thing as an intimate dinner out for two on an unbridged Maine island. Here in Penobscot Bay, on Islesboro, there might be someone we don’t know sitting nearby at the Community Center Café, or enjoying a Wednesday night dinner there, or up at the new barbecue place, Seasmoke, but generally anonymity is
Island life: a broadening of opportunities
That elusive quality of ‘Maineliness’
Historically, it’s been vitally important to a native Mainer to be able to make a clear distinction between himself and others, particularly those others who live here in Maine but haven’t always and, when push comes to shove—as it often does—to acknowledge the more subtle distinctions that mark the difference between that native and those
In a tiny village, massive granite sculptures take form
PROSPECT HARBOR — Arrayed in a circle in a field in a quiet peninsular town, surrounded by woods, farmhouses and small businesses, seven sculptors from around the world are making a heck of a racket. The whining, grinding noise of circular-bladed saws against granite blocks fills the air, punctuated by the pounding of mallets on
Is Maine a hotbed of UFO activity?
On a mid-December evening, I’m driving on Route 7 in Brooks, headed for Belfast. Up and down those Waldo County hills. Black sky. Suddenly a knot of white light pops into view over the trees to my left. Distant but bright, I register at the speed of thought. A fireball! But there’s no trail. It
North Haven production of ‘House of Broken Ships’ explores island’s dark side
NORTH HAVEN — This summer, the island hosted an original dramatic production written by native Tom Emerson. “The House of Broken Ships,” a Gothic play about the elderly and seldom-seen matriarch of a grandiose house, is drenched in island culture. Set in the 1920s, the play touches on issues like suicide, mental illness, and small
Seafood processing, and the past and future workforce
I’ve noticed that in Maine we tend to look backward in order to identify our future economy. We work hard to create new ways to finance the future of the fishing industry—more processing, value-added products, more efficient boats, all atop constantly evolving conservation-oriented management practices. At some level, it just makes sense. We love our
DOT reverses course on North Haven bridge
NORTH HAVEN — The Pulpit Harbor bridge—or First Bridge, as it’s known to island residents—spans a narrow channel between the harbor and the Mill Stream, a tidal inlet that ultimately feeds the island’s oyster pond. In summer, kids line up to jump off at high tide. The bridge is frequently walked and biked by day-trippers
Offshore sand and gravel extraction boon, threat
When Superstorm Sandy rolled over the Jersey shore, it washed away some 20 million cubic yards of beach sand. Replacing that resource is not optional, many believe, because decimated beaches kill tourism economies and leave coastal areas more vulnerable to damage from the next storm. So where does the sand come from to replenish, or
Aging in place on islands: a worthy, but expensive goal
Maine’s population is the nation’s oldest. The median age of its island communities is even higher. Geographically isolated, with the delivery of basic services complicated by limited transportation and increased costs, Maine’s islands are struggling with how to care for their small, aging populations. The best solution is one that enables seniors to remain in