On the coast of Washington County, a small hill rises between Pigeon Hill Bay and Dyer Bay. The 317-foot summit is marked by a cairn of stones; beneath the stones is a copper bolt driven into the exposed granite, marking an 1856 visit by the Survey of the Coast, the first scientific agency created by
VLT walks and talks foster connection with place
Nature journaling…children’s literature…hydrogeology. What do these have in common? All are part of the popular series of Walks and Talks offered by Vinalhaven Land Trust (VLT) that help participants connect with the unique natural and historical gifts of the island. This season, VLT has put together a diverse array of programs focused on such topics
Through the Photographer’s Lens: Penobscot Bay and Beyond
“Through the Photographer’s Lens: Penobscot Bay and Beyond,” this summer’s special exhibition at the Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport, opens with a tribute to Everett “Red” Boutilier (1918-2003). The journalist photographer covered the coast of Maine for nearly a half-century (from the 1960s to the `90s) for the Boston Globe, Maine Coast Fisherman and other
Variations
To the editor: Mr. Conkling instructs us, in the July issue (p. 35), that the proper way to pronounce the name of the island is “I’ll -a hoe” (perhaps because someone on Chebeague “she bigue, she-BIG, ch-beeg” told him so). I often heard from my grandfather and father (Bangor, Southwest Harbor) that the name of
Audubon study finds bird decline
Leslie Clapp only began birding in 1999, too little time, she says, to see trends in local bird populations. But as president of the Downeast chapter of the Maine Audubon Society, she’s heard from other members that once-common birds, like the evening grosbeak, have vanished. “Decks…would be full of 30 to 50 [evening grosbeaks],” Clapp
Vinalhaven discusses sidewalks, medical evacuation costs at town meeting
On June 22, approximately 35 residents attended the Vinalhaven annual town meeting, held at the Smith Hokanson auditorium. The meeting was called to order and Bob Candage was elected as moderator. Most of the 47 articles passed quickly, but there was interesting discussion on a few. There were some questions about some town expenses (approximately
Swimming in Circles: Aquaculture and the End of Wild Oceans
Thunder’s Mouth Press, 2006 www.thundersmouth.com 344 pages, $15.95 An Unvarnished Look at Aquaculture This book is split between two seemingly very different areas — the foggy and rocky Maine coast and the parched and sandy Sonoran desert shoreline of northwestern Mexico, but writer Paul Molyneaux draws them together through their shared industrial history of aquaculture.
Shorelines haiku, haibun, and tanka
Black Cat Press $15.95 Poems to sip like blackberry wine Kirsty Karkow of Waldoboro has done it again. This sailor-paddler-poet has turned out a second slim volume of Japanese-influenced poetry, using the traditional haiku, haibun and tanka forms. The first book was Water Poems; now we have Shorelines to dip into for a special treat,
Phippsburg plans Popham Colony’s 400th anniversary
“I’m glad this happens only once every hundred years,” says Bill Perkins, co-chair with Bill Murray of a 12-member volunteer committee that is making sure the Popham Colony’s 400th anniversary receives suitable recognition. The group has planned four days of festivities Aug. 23-26 to celebrate the colony, which through the efforts of Maine’s First Ship,
Frenchboro passes 42 articles, defeats one
In a good mood after barbequing and eating together on the church lawn, the town of Frenchboro gathered in the community building for its annual town meeting on June 18 to discuss 43 issues on the warrant. The meeting started at 4 p.m. and concluded by 5. The meeting opened with elections of town officials