On the afternoon of October 28, the water in Boothbay Harbor seemed to disappear, withdrawing toward the ocean, then all at once rushing back toward shore in a muddy swirl of currents and 4-to12-foot waves. Then it happened again, and again. The ocean’s strange behavior was noted along the coast from Bristol to Cundy’s Harbor.
New mussel company emerges in wake of Great Eastern closure
Carter Newall says several mussel growers who joined together in April to form Pemaquid Mussel Farms, an owner-operated business that focuses on selling its mussels locally, like to call themselves “the survivors.” He is alluding to the demise of New Harbor-based Great Eastern Mussel Farms, which closed its doors in June after almost 30 years
Opinion
Midway in their yearlong discussion of developing Sears Island, a Joint Use Planning Committee began hearing from the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) about a new federal rule governing wetlands mitigation banking. The mitigation rule (33 CFR Sec. 332) is the mechanism under which MDOT proposes to register all of Maine in a federal Umbrella
Venturing
Dancing on the sound For 20 years, Mark Hooper has tended crab pots on Core Sound, northeast of Beaufort, North Carolina. Bounded by forested lowlands to the west and south, and the distant Outer Banks just visible five miles away, Core Sound is shallow and can be windy, but by the standards of Capes Fear
Mount Desert, Swan’s island students take part in a community read
Since the Seattle Public Library’s Washington Center for the Book launched its citywide book club in 1996, inviting everyone to read and discuss Russell Banks’ The Sweet Hereafter, the “one book, one community” concept has spread across the country. This fall, the community read came to Mount Desert Island (MDI). In a remarkable partnership, the
A Geography of Oysters: The Connoisseur’s Guide to Oyster Eating in North America
Bloomsbury USA, 2007 Hardcover, 304 pages, $24.95. Art on the half shell MFK Fisher, in her delectable book Consider the Oyster, begins with, “An oyster leads a dreadful but exciting life…” The poor thing beginning as a mere wisp in a vast sea, suffers sexual confusion as it reverts from a he to a she
Duncan’s voyage as chronicler of the coast continues onward
Author, historian, yachtsman, crew oarsman, coxswain, and coach, and retired teacher Roger F. Duncan may move slowly and wear a hearing aid, but his mind remains swift and clear as does his wry, impish sense of humor. In response to a, “Good for you!” at hearing he’d reached 92, he replied, “I’m not so sure.”
Vinalhaven student raises funds for school defibrillator
How old must one be before becoming a contributing member of society? At what age should one begin giving back? For Vinalhaven High School senior Olivia Chilles, the magic number is 17. With the support of her parents and key community leaders, Chilles made it her personal project over the last several months to obtain
Thank you for bycatch article
I wanted to write and applaud Working Waterfront for the article done on recent bycatch of haddock by herring midwater trawlers (“Haddock bycatch upsets groundfishermen,” November issue). I can speak for the just about every groundfish fisherman from the entire coast in saying that what those boats are doing is unacceptable and that something must
A Passion for Sea Glass
Down East Books, 2008 Hardcover, 160 pages, 200 photos, $30 A happy obsession with sea glass Books showcasing the treasures found along the seacoast have been popular lately. Primarily, the format is photographs illustrating objects like beach stones, sea glass, or shells. The text itself may be sparse, means to evoking feelings. I like those