May and June are two of the busiest months in the Cranberry Isles. They hardly resemble the social whirl of July and August, but they are the time when the physical stage is set for whatever drama the summer will bring. Islesford postmaster, Joy Sprague, refers to Memorial Day weekend as the “dress rehearsal for
Fathoming: One fish, two fish: The virtual reality of counting lobsters
So scientists and fishermen and everyone else rely on computer models that mimic what is known about fish. Into the models goes information like size, age, growth rate, how many fish will die of natural mortality (predation, disease, moving away from the area) and how many are taken in the fishery. But lobsters, Maine’s largest
Maine Island Scholarship Program celebrates 20 years
Over the past two decades, there have been approximately 650 awards equaling $730,000 in scholarship support to island students. Students that received special awards this year include: Arthur Govoni of Islesboro received the Academic and Community Leadership Scholarship, given to a graduating senior who exemplifies a combination of academic excellence and community leadership. Arianna Stefanilo
Artists of Archipelago: Casco Bay
As a program of the Island Institute, Archipelago gives artists and island-inspired art and craft a mainland venue. Here is a small sampling of our many artists from the Casco Bay region. For over 20 years, Gail Miller at Miller Designs on Chebeague has been hand crafting metal jewelry including earrings, pins, barrettes and napkin
Fathoming: One fish, two fish: The virtual reality of counting lobsters
In many ways, the ocean is still a mystery. We take things out of it, things like food and fuel, that we call “resources.” We almost never directly observe what is going on beneath the surface of 70 percent of the planet, and yet US fishing rules and regulations demand that scientists predict how many
So how many lobsters are out there?
Summer of tears: A fisherman’s reaction to the Gulf oil spill
The boat ride out, from Lafitte, Louisiana on Sunday, May 23 2010 to our fishing grounds was not unlike any other I have taken in my life as a commercial fisherman from this area. I have made the trip thousands of times in my 35-plus years shrimping and crabbing. A warm breeze in my face,
Schooner: Building a wooden boat on Martha’s Vineyard
I can’t say that I’ve ever hugged a book before, but when Schooner arrived on my doorstep, I unwrapped it, took a long look, and…well, it happened. Writer Tom Dunlop and photographer Alison Shaw, both Martha’s Vineyard residents, take on the unique project of following the building of a wooden boat from design to launch
Summer of tears: A fisherman’s reaction to the Gulf oil spill
The boat ride out, from Lafitte, Louisiana on Sunday, May 23 2010 to our fishing grounds was not unlike any other I have taken in my life as a commercial fisherman from this area. I have made the trip thousands of times in my 35-plus years shrimping and crabbing. A warm breeze in my face,
Tensions run high over fate of Machias dike
Marshfield farmer Chris Sprague is dressed in colonial garb for the Margaretta Days Festival in Machias, an event that commemorates a naval battle that occurred in local waters in 1775. Sprague sits at a picnic table and quietly expounds on the threat of governmental intrusion on personal liberty and property. But Sprague isn’t channeling a