To the editor: There’s more to the story of the new Waldo-Hancock bridge than was reported in December’s Working Waterfront. This $85 million project has something in common with the new span over the Kennebec River at Bath. And that “something” is the fact that neither bridge really needed to be built. The 1931 bridge
Second Chandlery
To the editor: I had the opportunity to read a recent piece in your paper regarding the working waterfront, which contained information about my competitor, Brown Ship Chandlery. I wanted you to know that there is a second ship chandlery in Portland, which is our company, A.L. Griffin, Inc. We have just celebrated our 50th
A New Bridge
Some readers will ask why we’re devoting so much space this month to a bridge across the Penobscot River. We’ve done so for a couple of reasons: it’s an important piece of coastal infrastructure over which a lot of the Maine coast’s products must travel to reach their markets, and, quite simply, it’s an innovative
In the English West Country the birthplace of Maine
BRISTOL, England – We’ll be marking a lot of 400th anniversaries along the coast in the coming years. Last year it was the 400th anniversary of the first failed European colony on our coast (a French one on an island near Calais). This year the residents of Thomaston celebrated English explorer George Waymouth’s 1605 landing
Island airline wins federal subsidy
On a warm evening last August, when Jeff Northgraves, Knox County Regional Airport Manager, first heard the good news that sizeable federal grant money was recently allocated to fledgling Penobscot Island Air, Northgraves kicked himself (just a little) for not having asked for more. Down to the penny, the U.S. Department of Transportation handed out
Maine builds an Egyptian-inspired bridge across the Penobscot
What started as a routine bridge inspection during the summer of 2003 has turned into one of the most exciting and dramatic construction projects in Maine’s history. When they examined the 72-year-old Waldo-Hancock Bridge that spans the Penobscot River between Prospect and Verona Island, engineers from Maine’s Department of Transportation (DOT) discovered more corrosion than
Shipping Out to School
Most islands in Hancock County have primary schools that feed into Mount Desert Island High School (MDIHS), which is located on an island connected to the mainland. After graduating from their tiny primary school, Swan’s Island students who wish to attend MDIHS must catch a morning ferry to the mainland and an afternoon one back
Journal of an Island Kitchen: Thanksgiving
On the fourth Thursday of November, 97 percent of all Americans eat turkey. Most of them eat it with other people, accompanied by mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing (if you are in the North) or dressing (if you are in the South), cranberry sauce, and miscellaneous other vegetables, often squash, and that casserole made of green
Plain to See
To the editor: After reading Spencer Apollonio’s letter to the editor in the Nov. 05 issue one thought comes to mind. Is it better to be thought a fool, or speak and remove all doubt? It is plain to see the cut of Spencer’s jib from any direction. Even though three lefts will make a
Swan’s celebrates Thanksgiving
Swan’s Island celebrated its community Thanksgiving Dinner on Nov. 18. Men from the island churches traditionally serve the meal and community members bring desserts to share. Ken Dutille, pastor of the Swan’s Island Baptist Church, estimates that two-thirds of the island population (220 people) attended. Also in observance of Thanksgiving, The Bread of Life Food