Working Waterfront

When small island nations speak, we should listen

By Kate Tagai Fourteen island states gathered in the Maldives in November 1989 for the Small States Conference on Sea Level Rise. Jack Hopa, minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries for the island nation of Vanuatu (in the Coral Sea, east of Australia) asserted: “On the issue of sea level… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Coyotes on Chebeague worry islanders

By Donna Miller Damon It wasn’t interest in the workings of local government that drew nearly a hundred Chebeague islanders to a select board meeting. It was interest in the newest island inhabitant, the non-native Eastern coyote The meeting featured a presentation by Scott Lindsay, regional wildlife biologist for the… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Nothing I’d rather be doing

By Courtney Naliboff It was a warm September day, and the horses had congregated in Fiona’s back yard. Not horses of the real, equine variety, but a bunch of women and one little girl, gamely wearing silicon horse and unicorn masks in the service of another Bait Bag music video.… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Fabric, fiber, and food

By Sandy Oliver The Sewing Circle cooks. There is a whole lot of sewing, knitting, crocheting, needlework, and weaving going on, but can we ever cook! The food and fiber connection is a strong one, reinforced by an island-wide lack of fast food options despite the small rotisserie chickens one… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Maine’s place in the urgent work on climate and social justice

By Rob Snyder When I look back on the past few months, I see them as some of the most formative of my career. My work brought me close to diverse efforts addressing a range of problems, but a theme linking them emerged. Climate Week in New York City was… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Pulling back Bar Harbor’s shingled curtain

Bar Harbor Babylon//Dan and Leslie Landrigan Review by Tom Walsh So, this summer's “beach book” wound up being a buzz kill? Sorry. You could have spiced up your summer in the sun with a copy of Bar Harbor Babylon, a historic anthology of killers, thieves, scammers, and seriously rich families involved in the… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Senior sing-along meets important community needs

Members of the chorus are given their lyric sheets. MICHELE STAPLETON Sue Spalding, a retired music educator, directs Ten people file into the nave of Brunswick United Methodist Church on a Tuesday afternoon in early September and take their seats in rows facing the altar. Everyone is over the… SEE MORE

Passengers disembark the Islesboro ferry in Lincolnville.

Working Waterfront

Ferry rate ‘fix’ is still not the right response

By Sen. Erin Herbig It’s time for ferry rates that work for everyone. In April 2018, the Maine State Ferry Service more than doubled the ferry rates to Islesboro, devastating not just island residents, but the state as a whole. Passenger tickets went from $5.50 to $11, vehicle tickets from… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Deer Isle, Stonington housing reaches crisis levels

By Laurie Schreiber A severe shortage of affordable workforce housing on Deer Isle and in Stonington has hit crisis proportions. Employers can’t attract new employees because of the cost of housing, causing some businesses to scale back, close, or relocate. The population of younger workers and young families has dropped… SEE MORE

Cliff Island residents gathered to celebrate establishing broadband service on the island

Working Waterfront

Cliff Island celebrates securing broadband

By Jack Sullivan More than two years ago, three Casco Bay islands began in earnest their pursuit of high-speed, reliable internet, otherwise known as broadband. One of the three, Cliff Island, just crossed the finish line, and the excitement for that achievement was evident at a community meeting on Aug.… SEE MORE