Working Waterfront

A star is born on North Haven

It was Amanda’s idea. She had seen the star on Mount Battie and thought North Haven should have one, too. North Haven is going all out decorating the island to cheer everybody up in this long time of COVID fatigue, she thought. Wouldn’t it be great to have a bright… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Explaining and bridging Maine’s digital divide

The things people can do from home would be unfathomable to someone 30 years ago. Those with access to broadband can further their education, utilize telehealth, engage in remote work, and connect with anyone (who also has broadband access) around the world. “It is necessary for our civic and cultural… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

When winter gets tough, we bake cookies

Ahhhhh. November and December in the Cranberry Isles. I really don’t mind these darker months. I know the light comes back pretty quickly in January and February and there’s something very special about the pre-solstice sunsets seen from a ride home on the mailboat. Hello wool socks and old sweater friends.… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

From crisis response to community resiliency

As the COVID storm continues to roil our coast, my thoughts return to the image of Monhegan’s Matt Weber easing his lobster boat against a large tanker, both vessels in motion, as a Penobscot Bay pilot leaps from the smaller boat to a ladder hanging from the ship, where he… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

A serving of nostalgia for the holidays

When we hang our stockings this year, I’ll fill them with nostalgia. Is it because I am older now that some of my childhood memories seem in sharper focus? (I’ve heard that while oldsters can’t recall where they put their car keys, some details of earlier times come more clearly… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Getting outside is critical, and never easier

As I write this, COVID 19 has arrived on North Haven. Today, the town office announced that we had 11 positive cases, and that testing and contact-tracing continues. The store is closed for in-store shopping, we’re remote schooling at least through the end of November, and emotions are high as… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

A new, old-fashioned way to serve school lunch

Lincoln Academy students who purchase lunch will now eat it out of what are known as “tiffin” containers. Tiffins are reusable stainless-steel lunchboxes that can be washed and sanitized every day which will significantly reduce schools packaging costs as well as plastic waste. Most schools use disposable plastic containers—thousands of… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

South Portland’s history is in good hands

Like many of its counterparts around the country, the South Portland Historical Society’s museum has been closed since the onset of the pandemic. The small size of the building in Bug Light Park, combined with the older age of the society’s volunteers, make keeping the museum’s doors open a risk.… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Chebeague Island has new town administrator

Chebeague Island town administrator, Marjorie Stratton, who has served the island community for the past five years, is stepping down. [caption id="attachment_22775" align="aligncenter" width="250"] Justin Poirer[/caption] According to long-time select board member Donna Damon, Stratton has left the town with a stable workforce and in a sound financial position. Stratton… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Downeast cranberries were a bust, too

In a good year, Sugar Hill Farm harvests 50,000 to 80,000 pounds of cranberries. Not surprisingly, 2020 has not been a good year, even for Maine’s drop-in-the-bucket cranberry industry. Too hot. Too cold. Too much rain. Too little rain. Such is farming. [caption id="attachment_22750" align="alignleft" width="199"] Christine Alexander. PHOTO: TOM… SEE MORE