Working Waterfront

Remembering trees

It began with my younger brother stumbling across a photograph of a beautifully decorated Christmas tree—stunning in fact. It was taken in 1954 but was entirely typical of the many nearly identical and similarly breath-taking trees I’d enjoyed by then for ten Christmases and he for eight and our still… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Winter’s highs and lows

“What is winter like on the island?” We’re back at that time of year that summer visitors ask about the most. My standard answer is, “Pretty quiet. We often get rain when the mainland is getting snow. It can get pretty windy, causing boat cancelations and power outages.” I don’t… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

The recipe is just part of the story

It’s a terrible job writing recipes. I know this because during the past 40 or so years, I’ve written around 1,400 of the little stinkers. The biggest chunk of those were recruited from friends, neighbors, and readers which I tried out, reworked a little, and published for a weekly column… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Life prepares for spring

Last year, I got myself a Chanukah present, a little thank-you for making it through the year. It was a vertical grow light array, two shelves and four lights. It's next to my desk as I write this column, and on the top shelf I have a tray of just-sprouted… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Beware of explaining islands to islanders

A central conflict of the novel is Mari’s desire to farm a few acres of Harry’s family's land, something his lawyer sister dismisses as not right for the island. SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Political refugee lands in Portugal

Bailey dives into the details on everything, from how to order a cup of coffee to banking, from how to buy food at a street market to why the roofs are all red. SEE MORE

An older view of the former hospital on Great Diamond Island.

Working Waterfront

Former island hospital back on market

Built in 1903, the two-and-a-half story, brick hospital has been empty for nearly 80 years. “We would like to see it brought back to what it was. It’s really a beautiful building,” said Greg Watson. SEE MORE

A shipwreck on the Passagassawakeag River invited archeological field work in September. PHOTO: COURTESY BELFAST MARINE INSTITUTE

Working Waterfront

Belfast school launches Marine Institute

That academic year saw the acquisition of an on-campus wet lab with a 500-gallon water tanker and kelp-growing materials, as well as a limited-purpose aquaculture license… SEE MORE

Cod drying on a Newfoundland shore. ADOBE STOCK

Working Waterfront

How Newfoundland fishermen protected their own

It was into this environment that the Fishermen's Protective Union was initiated by Newfoundland businessman William Ford Coaker. He recognized that the system meant fishermen had no direct access to markets or control over prices. SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Storm-related counseling available

StrengthenME, a program of Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services, is offering free, confidential, and anonymous mental health and spiritual care services funded through by FEMA in partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration. These services are available to individuals, families, and groups in need of… SEE MORE