The line stretched beyond the corner of the Chebeague Island Hall, weaving around parked cars and bicycles. Nearly100 people-some in line for more than an hour-eagerly awaited the 11th Annual Island Commons Yard Sale, set to begin at 10 a.m. Saturday. As the clocked ticked toward the hour and the crowd swelled, a thin piece
New Brunswick sea lice pesticide treatment generates opposition
A plan to kill sea lice on caged salmon with a powerful pesticide that will subsequently be flushed into several bays in southwest New Brunswick is generating concern among fishermen and environmentalists. The New Brunswick Department of Agriculture and Aquaculture has secured an emergency authorization from Health Canada to conduct an experimental “bathing” of about
New archives building dedicated on North Haven
On July 5, almost 100 gathered for the formal dedication of the North Haven Historical Society’s Archives Building. The sun that has proven so elusive of late shone brightly on the new building, which boasts a climate-controlled storage room and library, office, workspace and a meeting room. The product of years of fundraising efforts, the
Loan programs to help lobstermen are still available
When the price lobstermen were paid for their catch collapsed last October, officials from the state and local banks came up with a program to help fishermen restructure business loans. Despite fluctuations, that price has not recovered in the last 10 months, remaining below $2.50 a pound in many sections of the coast at the
Celebrating Holbrook’s Wharf
In the midst of a recession, celebrating working waterfront preservation is a welcome sign. On July 19, over 100 people celebrated the new Holbrook’s Wharf in Cundy’s Harbor. The Holbrook Community Foundation rebuilt the wharf and the snack bar. The new pilings were adapted from recycled utility poles. There are also three new commercial fishing
Mapmaker creates cookbook for home and away
If Jane Crosen had not spent 1975 through 1978 at the Scottish spiritual community Findhorn, she might not have become a mapmaker, editor, cook and cookbook author. Although as a child, she had imitated a grandmother cooking, making what her grandmother referred to as “Janie’s little messes,” Crosen discovered a love of baking while planning
Venturing
On my wall I have a large-scale reproduction of a newspaper column written 15 years ago by the late Ed Myers, who was a regular contributor to Working Waterfront for more than a decade. Ed wrote about many things – the tricky business of aquaculture, the activities of a “wharfinger” (he was one), the connections
Changing tides at Higgins Beach
When people in the Portland area tell veteran surfer Joe Conway that they’re interested in learning the sport, he says, “Oh yeah? Go to Higgins Beach.” Located in the town of Scarborough an easy 15 minutes south of Conway’s home in Portland, Higgins Beach stretches for seven tenths of a mile along Saco Bay. Conway
Clamming law change allows diggers, like Ken Bailey, to sell to restaurants
Ken Bailey’s Chevy 12-passenger van has no back seats. Two broken plastic sleds and a variety of junk rattle in the back as he bounces down the rutted path to the shore to pick up his clams. Cigarette butts overflow from the ashtray and soda bottles litter the passenger side. Sharp white lettering on the
Stereotyping Matinicus
In most places in Maine, the actions of one individual would not become a symbol for an entire community. Unfortunately for Matinicus Island, that is precisely what has happened after island lobsterman Vance Bunker allegedly shot another island lobsterman, Chris Young, in the neck (see “Shooting shocks Matinicus community). State marine patrol officers said the