In May, members of the Peaks Island community formed multiple committees to address the dramatic increase in their property taxes. The summer has been especially busy for the Peaks Island Tax Assistance Committee, or PITA. This committee’s goal is to provide financial assistance to residents so they can remain in their homes despite extraordinary tax
Island Institute welcomes 2006 Island Fellows
Fellows and their sites, pictured from left to right: Alyson Mayo, Islesboro (affordable housing fellowship); Meredith Harr, Fishers Island, NY (community development fellowship); Cyrus Moulton, Cranberry Isles (community development fellowship); Sean Gambrel, Vinalhaven (community GIS fellowship); Stacy Gambrel, North Haven (community GIS fellowship); Carly Knight, Chebeague Island (historical preservation fellowship); Jeff Killian, Deer Isle- Stonington
One-man delivery service serves Swan’s Island
When Swan’s Island’s only general store burned in July (WWF Aug. 05), islanders banded together to make sure that everyone would have food. Several business owners expanded their hours and inventory. According to the owner of Claire’s Kitchen, it was Southwest Harbor resident L.J. (Lewis Jr.) Hopkins who helped to make their increased services possible.
South African teacher savors an island’s way of life
When Ngubo Ndaba, an exchange teacher through the Fulbright program, arrived at Islesboro Central School to take over the duties of math teacher Tom Tutor for a year (WWF Feb 2005), it was on one of the coldest days of January 2005. A Maine winter is something to get adjusted to, especially if you’re coming
Looking for Laths
To the editor: Question: Who would be a good contact to find old oak laths? I saw on a program on television these unique looking sticks that farmers raise oysters on. I would like to find a farmer who may discard the old sticks. I just read your article (web edition) on different farmers and
Fooling the Eye – Painted postcards, portraits tell Vinalhaven’s quarrying story
Vinalhaven residents have always been proud of their granite-quarrying heritage. This summer artists Pamela and James Grumbach memorialized that facet of the island’s history in a mural in Tibb’s Restaurant on Vinalhaven. The mural reaches from floor to ceiling and flanks both sides of an enormous granite fireplace. The finished piece is actually a montage
Great Sadness
To the editor: It was with great sadness I read the latest Working Waterfront newspaper. Although I have never lived in Vinalhaven, I was raised being told what a great place it is, from my father and grandmother, who did live there until 1927. I lived my childhood through them, feeling it was my home
Missing Public Policy Balance
To the editor: As a follow-up to Robert Moore’s excellent article on resource sustainability [WWF June 05], I offer a public policy explanation with three historical references from my home state of Connecticut. Being rather small and lacking direct ocean access, its ports were not able to sustain the colonial “slash and burn” agricultural economies,
Competency Afloat – A Maine-based training center teaches multiple marine skills
“I’ve been teaching non-traditional students for 13 years,” said Shawn J. Ahern III, Ocean Master and president of the Down East Maritime Training Center, based in Freedom, Maine. The school offers 15 courses, specializing in Merchant Marine officer licenses, Able Bodied Seaman’s licenses and endorsement courses for mariners. All courses are geared toward certification for
A Compromise
To the editor: If a compromise is needed for financial reasons, then restrict ads to existing development (i.e., residential or commercial structures) thereby protecting raw land and undeveloped frontage. This wouldn’t solve the problems identified by Willson and Singer [WWF Sept. 05] but it would be a very modest step in that direction, affecting just