BAR HARBOR — In a weak economy, in a part of Maine that often faces high unemployment, one organization is bucking the trend. And it is working to persuade workers to sign on. Jackson Laboratory, the Down East region’s largest employer, has been airing a radio employment ad featuring testimonials from workers, who offer plugs
The view from fifth grade to the future
At the fifth grade celebration ceremony on the last day of school at Peaks Island Elementary School, the students were asked: “Picture yourself at 25; what will you be doing?” The students responded with some big dream ideas: soccer player, professional singer, president, NBA star and video game designer. In that moment, I paused and
Parasites on Vinalhaven, and it’s a good thing
VINALHAVEN — The island was just blessed with the arrival of 2,000 parasitic flies (Cyenis albicans). It doesn’t sound like much of a blessing, but islanders hope the flies will help control the winter moth population, which has been defoliating deciduous trees noticeably for the last two years. The release was the result of hard
The ‘dream’ partnership created ambitious goal
This month the College of the Atlantic and Island Institute are launching the Fund for Maine’s Islands, a joint effort that will focus our collective efforts on working with island leaders to address the greatest threats to island community sustainability. This partnership demonstrates a growing trend for non-profits and philanthropists alike. Did you know that
Celebrating the Summer Food cookbook… and memories
Summer Food, a grand community cookbook of recipes just published by Islesboro’s Tarratine Club, reminds me how closely food and memory are linked. Add vacation, long-beloved island summer homes, and at least three meals a day, and you are in for a grand wallow in memory and memory-making. Summer at last, there’s time to cook
North Haven’s Calderwood Hall restored to year-round role
NORTH HAVEN — In 1908, Harry Calderwood fulfilled his dream of having a community space on the island. The four-story hall he constructed on the corner of Smith Street and Iron Point Road, built into the hill heading out of town, hosted legendary dances, movie screenings, plays and Aunt Ell’s restaurant in the basement. As
Island store relies on town donation
ISLE AU HAUT — You can’t call the Island Store a convenience store. It’s really more of a necessity store. For the 45 year-round residents of this island town off Stonington, the store is not a typical small-town “Mom and Pop” business. It’s the only place to buy groceries and other essential household items. And
The burning island question: ‘Could you put it on the boat?’
The first thing many people assume about living on an island without a bridge is that you can still get here by car. There is no car ferry to the Cranberry Isles, yet we have plenty of cars and trucks and golf carts on both Little and Great Cranberry Islands. “How do they get here?”
York River preservation study championed
YORK — Local stakeholders and Maine legislators are lining up to support a bill in Congress that would call on the National Park Service to study whether the York River qualifies as a Wild and Scenic Partnership River. A preliminary survey by the park service seems to indicate that the river could qualify for the
Lyme cases on Islesboro grew between 2012 and 2013
ISLESBORO — Officials at the island health center report that the number of Lyme disease cases treated on the island rose at an alarming rate between 2012 and 2013. The Islesboro Health Center recorded an almost eight-fold increase in the number of confirmed cases of Lyme treated at the facility. Alison Wood, a physician assistant