Mention the 1836 wreck of the Royal Tar to some islanders and you’ll hear some very amazing tales. Some will tell you about rumors of an elephant arriving on the beach, or serpents seen slithering on various islands way back when. You might even be told that there are some places where people still won’t
Launching a Sailing Life at 60
I’ve wanted to learn to sail for a number of years and planned to go to sailing school someday. Since I’m about to turn 60, I thought I’d give myself an early birthday present and go to WoodenBoat School in Brooklin, Maine, for their course in Elements of Seamanship. I had done some sailing with
Who gets to lobster from Matinicus Island?
Lavon “Biscuit” Ames is proud of his lobstering heritage, going back to a great-great-grandfather whose sloop is at Old Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut. Ames, 46, started fishing at 10, with four traps and a skiff in the harbor. Now his daughter, 10, and son, 7, are fishing a string of traps using the same
New event unveiled to celebrate lobstering
The Maine Lobster Promotion Council, working with area lobstermen, is unveiling a new event to help support the lobster industry. The event is called Maine Lobster Harvest Days and will be held throughout October and November. The fall was picked for the harvest days because most Maine lobster is actually harvested in the fall, according
Monumental truths
Those of you who venture out towards Eagle Island in Casco Bay are familiar with the Little Mark Island Monument. Having sailed the length and breadth of the Maine coast a number of times, I am quite sure that there is nothing else like it in these parts, which has made it a popular topic
Two Peaks Island artists featured in new Archipelago show
Archipelago Fine Arts, the Island Institute’s art gallery at 386 Main Street in Rockland, is exhibiting two Peaks Island artists: woodcut printmaker Jane Banquer and photographer Victor Romanyshyn. The new show, “Ink & Light,” runs through Jan. 24. After studying woodcut and relief printing with Leonard Baskin at Smith College, Jane Banquer spent decades working
Vinalhaven childcare program marks first anniversary
Island life doesn’t always afford the same amenities and services that mainlanders often take for granted. Affordable and reliable childcare is one of those. So when several new and expecting Vinalhaven mothers saw a need, they did something about it. Island Village Childcare (IVC) opened its doors in September 2008 and marked its first anniversary
Tenants Harbor lobstermen take part in trap density study
At first, Tenants Harbor fishermen resisted the idea of removing lobster traps from two fertile fishing grounds. But multiple meetings and a better understanding of the purpose of a trap density experiment led to what may be a revealing study, sponsors say. And even if the study isn’t helpful, the process of getting fishermen together
Cranberry Report: Never stop learning
On Little Cranberry Island, service at the Islesford Dock Restaurant ends just before Labor Day, due to the fact that most of the employees need to head back to high school and college. For some of us who are left behind, September instills a yearning to start something new or go back to school ourselves,
Ethanol gasoline causes problems for islanders
A couple of years ago, our televisions wooed us with happy advertisements showing glistening ears of bright yellow corn, a marketing strategy encouraging us to imagine a clean, renewable, American-made fuel source that would reduce our dependence on foreign oil, improve air quality, and sidestep runaway price hikes at the local service station because we,