Last year when Maine legislators approved Governor Baldacci’s school consolidation plan in an effort to reduce looming state budget deficits, they quietly carved out exemptions for Indian and island schools, where consolidation is widely regarded as tantamount to ringing the community death knell. What mainland school board, after all, would rationally decide to maintain —
Faced with challenges, lobstermen call for U.S.-Canadian combined effort
At the end of the fifth annual Canadian/U.S. Lobstermen’s Town Meeting, harvesters from both countries took an unprecedented step, voting to try a combined promotional effort for lobster. Generic promotion of lobster is a distinct departure from the trend to “brand” products from a specific place such as Maine or Alaska to cash in on
Fundy Tidal Power: What Impact On Fisheries?
It’s no secret that tidal power is now being explored as a viable alternative to dependence on domestic and foreign fossil fuels. And the Bay of Fundy, with some of the highest tides in the world, is considered by experts to be a logical place for tidal power development. In April the Bay of Fundy
The Cranberry Report: The Joy of our Lives
There is a lot of good energy around the islands these days. People are coming together more. From yoga classes to island sustainability meetings to weekly literary discussions to establishing a food buying club, several young adults have enthusiastically encouraged the rest of us to consider reducing our carbon footprints and to find more creative
A Lifeboat for Fishermen
When congress revised bankruptcy laws a few years ago, they included one major provision that didn’t get media attention: fishermen gained access to Chapter 12. Available to farmers for decades, Chapter 12 allows filers to restructure debt at current value, coordinate loan expenses with income, and stops a fishing boat repossession. “It’s remarkably unused” by
PEI fish plants take steps to find more workers
The Prince Edward Island Seafood Processors Association (PEISPA) is attempting to address a lack of suitable accommodations for fish plant workers. Michael MacInnis, executive director of the association, cites a lack of workers and competition from other sectors as part of the problem of finding workers for the industry in Canada’s smallest province. But more
Parallel 44: Book continues a long tradition: ignoring early Maine
Nathaniel Philbrick’s Mayflower is well written, carefully researched, critically acclaimed and enormously popular, a New York Times bestseller that’s helped Americans understand the real story of the Pilgrims. But from where I sit, here on our rocky side of the Gulf of Maine, it’s hard not to be upset by Philbrick’s egregious error of omission:
Repo rumor swirls among lobstermen swamped in debt
Lacking hard data or the sight of fishing boats clogging up coastal bank parking lots, it’s difficult to confirm persistent and growing rumors that repossessions are soaring and as many as 100 lobstermen could lose their boats through loan defaults this year. The number of commercial fishing vessel repossessions in Maine — and nationwide —
Map encourages informed use
The Damariscotta River Association (DRA) recently published an invaluable guide for anyone who wants to explore any section of the Damariscotta River Estuary. “A Small Craft Explorers’ Map and Guide” was created through a collaborative effort of DRA and various users and protectors of the river. All preserves and other tracts managed by the association
In Search of Monhegan’s Letters
Boundary surveying on Monhegan includes a lot of the same logistics as most island jobs, such as ferry schedules, housing if the job requires overnight stay and equipment transportation, as the ferries to Monhegan are only passenger ferries. Adding to Monhegan’s charm in the summer months are the always over interested tourists who feel compelled