A few years ago I saw a bumper sticker on the rear end of a truck, belonging I suppose to a fisherman, that read: “If it smells like fish, eat it.” Fish is a stumper for some folks. A fishmonger friend of mine told me a long time ago that customers “want you to do
A child’s dream – and jewelry sales – help an island lighthouse
Oriana Waldren, a seven-year-old from Portland, is helping to save the lighthouse on Swan’s Island. When she arrived on the island with her family this summer, she set up a small stand at the end of her driveway with the help of her mother, artist Willa Vennema. At her stand, Oriana sold jewelry, note cards,
Bond issue would protect working waterfronts
Question 4 on this fall’s Nov. 6 ballot is a $35.5 million Natural Resources bond that will provide $3 million to protect Maine’s dwindling working waterfront. The working waterfront bond funding is part of a larger package that includes funding for parks, rivers and the Land for Maine’s Future fund. The new funding will extend
Belfast hopes to turn corner on big box debate
After eight years, two referendum votes, one reported bribery attempt and countless hours of public debate, Belfast may have found consensus on whether to allow a big-box store in city limits. Or maybe not. Recently, the Belfast City Council voted unanimously to rezone land off Route 3 for development of a single retail store that
Island Teachers Conference planned for Belfast
The 2007 Island Teachers Conference (ITC) will be held on Thursday, Oct. 18 and Friday, Oct. 19 in Belfast. This biennial event, last held in 2005, gives island teachers and administrators a unique opportunity to network, discuss common challenges and learn about new resources, strategies and tools. A broad range of workshops and presentations will
Coastal Communities Trimming Energy Use
Kittery residents are organizing yet another “lose to win” campaign, but instead of reducing waistlines, this time volunteers are targeting energy use. By signing on to EPA New England’s Community Energy Challenge, Kittery has pledged to reduce municipal energy use by 10 percent or more. Kittery town manager Jonathan Carter said town officials were already
Swan’s Island studies wind possibilities
A climber from the Renewable Energy Research Lab at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst goes aloft to mount wind measuring instruments on the U.S. Cellular tower on Swan’s Island. Instruments were mounted at 130 feet and 165 feet on the 300-foot cell phone tower.
The Cranberry Report:Season’s End
Summer has come to an end in the Cranberry Isles. The Beal and Bunker mailboat and Cranberry Cove ferry have shortened their schedules for the off-season and the Islesford Dock Restaurant is closed until next June. Though there are still daytime visitors who come by boat to wander the islands for an hour or so,
Islander is the mainstay of an on-line forum
“Piffin” sits down on his well-upholstered rocking recliner, raises the foot rest, and balances his laptop on his lap. With his right hand on a wireless mouse set on the chair’s armrest, he clicks his way on-line into Fine Homebuilding magazine’s forum, Breaktime, enters his password, then sits back to see what new questions have
CREST heads back to class
Following their summer institute, teachers and students at the eleven CREST-participating schools are heading back into the classroom. Once in school, the students and teachers will begin meeting as a Sustainable Learning Community (SLC). These groups, consisting of teachers and students at each participating school, were formed during the CREST trainings this past summer. Each