The New Brunswick Environment Department has produced a province-wide coastal zone protection policy, but many Grand Manan residents are feeling more worried than protected. Among the complaints are the assertion that a “one-size-fits-all” approach won’t work, especially on Grand Manan; concern that the wording is so vague as to make consultations with local people meaningless;
Berries Out to Sea
Mainland berry growers experienced a poor harvest this year. Out on Vinalhaven, though, despite a cold winter and foggy, wet summer, the wild berries seemed plentiful whenever I went out with bowl in hand. Perhaps island berries are unfazed by weather. I do like to think that island berries are special. Berries out to sea
Chebeague pair craft environmentally friendly candles
Late at night, after reading bedtime stories and tucking in their three little sons (Ethan, Aaron and Cameron, ages four, three and almost-two, respectively), Jen Belesca and Vicki Todd slip baby monitors in their coats and head for Jen’s barn. This just-insulated building on Chebeague is now headquarters for Island Essentials, their new soy-wax-candle company.
Stratton Island Seal Deaths Still Under Investigation
The discovery in August of 27 dead harbor seals stranded on Stratton Island (in Saco Bay) prompted the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to reopen a previous investigation to determine the cause of unusual seal deaths along Maine’s coast. NOAA officials began looking into the problem last fall, after 66 adult harbor seals were
Grand Manan’s Swallowtail Light gets a facelift
Grand Manan’s Swallowtail Lighthouse tower has a fresh coat of paint thanks to an Island-wide volunteer effort spearheaded by the Rotary Club. “The year 2005 will mark the 100th anniversary of Rotary International,” said Andy Daggett, who also serves as Grand Manan Village Manager. “Each Rotary club was asked to take on a ‘Centennial Project’
The Barberry Coast
Rick Dyer takes Japanese barberries personally. As a professional forester he has seen the barberry scourge invade Eastern woodlands and he has witnessed the startling robustness of the aggressive, non-native import on coastal islands such as Monhegan. Two years ago, when he was studying for a master’s degree in Forestry at the University of Maine,
SHAMROCK: “A Glorified Collections Case”
For most of the summer an empty container vessel has been riding at anchor in Portland harbor. In July, U.S. Marshals arrested SHAMROCK for defaulting to its creditors. SHAMROCK was the only container ship to service Portland. Container cargo shipments in and out of the port stopped with its impoundment, a blow to Portland’s International
RAWFAITH readies herself for southbound voyage
RAWFAITH, the 100-foot, three-masted galleon built in Jonesport by dedicated volunteers (WWF Oct 04), reached Rockland in September, and her owners now plan to sail her south to New Jersey and eventually to Jacksonville, Florida. RAWFAITH was designed to be the first wheelchair accessible large sailing vessel. She was launched Aug. 2. Since then, executive
New management structure empowers Vinalhaven’s teachers
For 20 years the door to the principal’s office at Vinalhaven School has been a revolving one. This year however, students, parents and staff alike began the 2004-05 school year with a great feeling of hope that the revolving door will be stopped once and for all. The school staff is trying out a new
No Boredom Allowed! – Sportsmen’s Association entertains, educates everyone in Phippsburg
Without the Phippsburg Sportsmen’s Association, “There’d be a lot more bored kids around in Phippsburg,” observes Arnold Rice, who teaches hunter safety, archery and is a certified range officer for the club. It’s a fair guess that there might be a lot of bored adults, too. Even though activities sponsored by the club, which was