Boathouses on Islesford catch the late-day sun.

Working Waterfront

Waiting to exhale while reflecting on finite spaces

Breathe in… Breathe out… Breathe in… Breathe out. If you are reading this while in the throes of a hectic island August, you might be thinking, “Yes, stay calm. Remember to breathe. Soon this pace of all good things will get slower and slower.” If you are reading after Labor… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Making lemonade not from lemons, but from love

Island legend, writer and historian Ivan Calderwood left his island home and land to the town of Vinalhaven for the purpose of providing a home for older islanders no longer able to adequately provide for themselves. The Ivan Calderwood Homestead is now Vinalhaven’s eldercare facility, home at any given time… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

New boat for Isle au Haut, Stonington run

The Otter has replaced the Mink. No, it’s not spy code language, but rather the big news on the Stonington and Isle au Haut waterfronts. The nonprofit Isle au Haut Boat Services put the new Otter into service in August, replacing the long-serving Mink, which will remain as the winter… SEE MORE

Emergency response volunteers practice with a mannequin on Vinalhaven.

Working Waterfront

Medical emergencies on islands: Who ya gonna call?

Living on any of Maine’s 15 inhabited islands means making compromises. One of the most serious of those compromises is living with limited medical care. Emergency medical services, in particular, are available in varying degrees, depending on the island in question. Some islands, such as Monhegan, rely solely on good… SEE MORE

Tourists enjoy a stroll on Rockland's breakwater in late July.

Working Waterfront

Linda Bean goes coop, St. Croix Island erodes

It's close to 90 degrees in the Midcoast as this is being written, tourists are strolling the streets of Rockland and for most of them, it’s cooler than the air they left at home. Last week, the Maine Lobster Festival returned to town for its 59th year, and the U.S.… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

New England climate could become predictably problematic

You won’t hear too many Mainers complain about this summer’s weather. It’s been hot, sunny and dry. Gardeners have had to work to keep their flowers and vegetables watered, but for those not in the agricultural business, it’s been ideal—a time to be outside to savor what we love about… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Bucksport to host maritime film festival

Two Maine organizations dedicated to preserving the past have collaborated to present documentary films in a festival this fall. The International Maritime Film Festival, set for Sept. 30-Oct. 2, is being hosted by Northeast Historic Film (NHF) and Brooklin-based WoodenBoat Publications. The festival will include short and feature length films,… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

What happens after the centennial?

By Aimee Beal Church With some relatives in town this summer, my family and I swam at Echo Lake in Acadia National Park almost every day for a week. On a typical afternoon we’d stake out a little spot with our towels on the granite ledges at the bluffs, sharing… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

A tale of two retail towns—Freeport and Kittery

Freeport and Kittery may be well known as outlet shopping destinations, but residents of these coastal communities rarely think of themselves that way—and they know it’s important that everyone else come around to their way of thinking. Outlet stores began proliferating in these coastal communities in the 1980s. Over the… SEE MORE

Dr. Bill Thomas answers questions at the Aging on Islands conference.

Working Waterfront

New vision for eldercare praised at island conference

Speaking at the July 16 “Aging on Islands” conference on North Haven, keynote speaker Bill Thomas confessed to breaking New York state law governing eldercare facilities. He did not seem repentant. Thomas said the law allowed one dog or cat in a nursing home. “We decided to bring in lots… SEE MORE