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July 20
Busy town agenda coincides with busy island life
New Vinalhaven town manager resigns as short-handed board face full plate
By Phil Crossman Vinalhaven is usually governed by a five-member board of selectmen, but this year—this month, anyway—we only have four. There were no candidates for the two vacancies in the May election and so the top two write-ins were invited to take office. I had 20-something write-in votes because, at the last minute, I asked a couple of dozen…
July 20
Can oysters save New York Harbor?
The Big Apple was once the Oyster Capital
By Susie Arnold, Ph. D. and Heather Deese, Ph. D. New York, New York is a lot of things to a lot of people. But it isn't a great place…
July 20
Cliff Island, Portland work together on key property
Sustainable Cliff Island group secures former store, pier, fuel depot and house
CLIFF ISLAND — A key waterfront property is now controlled by an island-based nonprofit and the local group is crediting the cooperation of Portland city government for the transfer. A…
July 20
Electric grid, social grid and 'energy nerds'
What happens in your house when the lights go out?
By Rob Snyder I am increasingly surrounded by "energy nerds" (their words) and if you live in an island or remote coastal community in Maine, you may be too.…
July 20
I'm Annie, but I've got no gun
Gun culture is foreign to this country girl, but accepted
By Courtney Naliboff As I write this, I've just started rehearsals for the Waterman Community Center's summer production of Annie Get Your Gun. I'm Annie. Along with the requisite singing,…
July 20
Muffins, doughnuts and the little blue house
Baking tradition on Little Cranberry continues with brick oven
By Barbara Fernald Forty years ago I had a college roommate who amazed her friends by making English muffins from scratch. She baked them in a covered skillet sprinkled with…
July 20
Oil, water and poorly considered science mix in Destiny
Sci-fi novel imagines environmental catastrophe off New England
Reviewed by Tina Cohen The cover of Carl Howe Hansen's first novel presents some powerful allusions. The photograph by Peter Ralston features what we can assume is the book’s Pine…
July 20
Store serving island artists marks 15th anniversary
Archipelago Fine Arts Gallery and Gift Store has featured 200-plus artists
The challenges of living on an island are many, but for an island artist, there is one more: getting your work recognized off-island. But a shop and gallery on the…
July 20
Vinalhaven transfers lighthouse to foundation
Town cites costs of maintenance as reason
VINALHAVEN — Citing the burden of maintenance costs, the town has decided to transfer its ownership of Browns Head Lighthouse to a nonprofit organization whose mission is to preserve the…
July 20
What you hear about lobsters, and what's true
Were lobsters served in prisons and poor houses?
By Sandy Oliver There are oft-told stories that long ago lobsters were food fit only for the poor, that the prisoners at the Maine State Penitentiary (and apprentices in Boston)…
Island Postcards
EPISODE 10: Keep the Light Shining
Two ambitious young women swam around the entire Island of Isle au Haut during the summer of 2019 to raise money for crucial renovations to the lighthouse.
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