Working Waterfront

The power of storytelling, past and present

Reflections is a monthly column written by Island Fellows, recent college grads who do community service work on Maine islands and in remote coastal communities through the Island Institute, publisher of The Working Waterfront. The snow is piling up outside, a fire is crackling the fireplace, a cup of tea is… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Expanding economy forces the question: Who do we want to be?

In September, we’ll mark the ten-year anniversary of a frightening moment in our country’s history. Just weeks before the presidential election that saw Barack Obama defeat John McCain, George W. Bush’s treasury secretary reported that the U.S. banking system was on the brink of collapse. A bail-out was approved by… SEE MORE

A house donated to Island Housing Trust is moved to a new property in Somesville to provide affordable housing.

Working Waterfront

MDI’s affordable housing shortage squeezes labor force

On an overcast February day, with the help of contractors donating their services, Island Housing Trust had a small house trucked a couple of miles along wooded roads from one Somesville neighborhood to another. Given the narrow rural roads, the effort took the better part of a day, as the… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Yielding to winter weather a wise response

This winter started off with a bang. As we spent our Christmas holidays with family in Baltimore, we watched the weather reports from home, seeing ice, high winds, and lots of snow forecast for Christmas day. Our electrician had just completed installation of a generator that would turn on the… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

The North Haven effect

Winter is the time when North Haven’s diaspora spreads far and wide. Sure, the core 350 of us stay put, keeping the lights on at Waterman’s, the school, the store, and the church; plowing the roads and fixing burst pipes; and carrying on living in our home town. But there… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Norway firm plans $400 million land-based salmon farm in Belfast

From left: Elizabeth Ransom (Ransom Consulting), Lars-Henrik Røren (Chairman of NAF), Sen. Angus King, Erik Heim (CEO and founder of Nordic Aquafarms), and Peter DelGreco and Ashley Pringle (Maine & Co). A Norway-based company is planning to build the world’s largest land-based Atlantic salmon-raising operation in Belfast, the firm’s CEO… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Three takes on making connections

A letter recently landed on my desk from a reader of The Working Waterfront. The man, who lives in New Harbor, receives the newspaper in his mailbox; we mail the paper to everyone on Maine’s 15 year-round islands, as well to all of Mount Desert Island, the Blue Hill-Stonington peninsula,… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Island mud inspires Vinalhaven man’s skin-care business

Inspired by the natural resources of his island home, Vinalhaven’s Willie Drury has launched a line of skin care products he’s calling Maine Magic Mud. Drury, 25, returned home after graduating college with a plan to go fishing. He had always been interested in starting a business, but didn't know… SEE MORE

Ice on North Haven's public landing area in January 2014.

Working Waterfront

An island as I least expected it

Reflections is a monthly column written by Island Fellows, recent college grads who do community service work on Maine islands and in remote coastal communities through the Island Institute, publisher of The Working Waterfront. Maria Keeler At times, I need to remind myself that I am living on North Haven, and… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

First World War housing demand remade Bath

One hundred years ago, as the U.S. ramped up its involvement in what was sometimes called the “War to End All Wars,” the city of Bath had a problem. Its population was exploding as thousands moved to the city to work in the shipyards as part of the war effort.… SEE MORE

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