A sunny spring day did not deter 109 Islesboro voters from turning out for Town Meeting on April 9. Moderator Marc Schnur presided over the nearly five-hour meeting at Kinnicutt Center. Voters filled two positions each on the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee, as well as budget items, land use changes and a
Newfoundland crabbers strike over production quotas
Newfoundland fishermen’s anger at the provincial government’s decision to change the crab production quota system has resulted in a strike, demonstrations and a one-day blockade of oil tankers trying to enter Placentia Bay. Early in March, provincial Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Trevor Taylor announced a new raw material shares (RMS) system for the crab fishery
From The Deck – The Pretty Pinnace Virginia and Maine’s First Colony
2007 will be the 400th anniversary of the establishment of the Popham colony at the mouth of the Kennebec River and the building of Maine’s first ship, VIRGINIA. In celebration, Maine’s First Ship will build, launch and sail a reconstruction of VIRGINIA at the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, beginning this fall. This article tells
State is negotiating to buy islands off Popham Beach
The deputy director of the state Bureau of Parks and Lands, Ralph Knoll, confirmed in April that the bureau has been seeking to acquire the Fox Islands located just off the coast of Phippsburg. Knoll reported that the two islands, totaling approximately six acres, have been a major attraction for visitors at Popham Beach State
Missed Credit
To the editor: Harry Gratwick wrote a piece for the March Working Waterfront on Second-Hand Prose. My picture of the bookstore, which was published with the story, was incorrectly attributed to him. I contacted Harry, he was very nice, and said he had notified WWF and that it would be corrected. However, I do not
SCOTIA PRINCE cancels season; Portland looks for alternatives
In early April, just a few days from the start of its 2005 season, the owners of the SCOTIA PRINCE abruptly cancelled the sailing season. They cited toxic mold in Portland’s International Marine Terminal as grounds for terminating the season. The ferry, with a capacity for 1,000 passengers, has made the run between Portland, Maine,
Assumptions and Omissions
To the editor: I invariably find Working Waterfront an interesting read. However, although your writers are no doubt familiar with the variety of industrial/marine terms used in your stores and reasonably assume that their readers are as well informed as they, I’m afraid that is not necessarily the case. Of course you know your market
Current Use Taxation
Once again, the Maine Legislature has acted on behalf of the coast’s beleaguered middle-income property taxpayers, particularly those with connections to the fishing industry. L.D. 299, which passed both houses unanimously, revives an idea that failed several years ago in a statewide referendum: amending the state constitution to allow “current use” taxing of property used
The Amazing Island Book Store
(Sent to author Harry Gratwick in response to “Words, Recycled” [WWF March 05]; printed here with permission) Dear Harry: How many people leave home as an unknown and return to find they are “golden?” Thank you so much! The article has been so well received and generated many lovely compliments. Two personal libraries have been
Legislature OKs another current-use tax referendum
Heeding the need to maintain fishermen’s access to the water, both houses of the Maine Legislature voted this session to pass a resolution to tax their property at current use. Because the resolution is to change the constitution to assess at current use “waterfront land used for or that supports commercial fishing activities,” both houses