An undated photograph by LaRue Spiker shows snow and ice-encrusted rocks strewn over the Seawall Road.

Working Waterfront

MDI’s Seawall illustrates dynamic ocean interface

A sea wall’s mobility is easier to visualize in areas where there is no road to impede it, such as West Pond on the west side of Schoodic Point, or between Ship Harbor and Wonderland on MDI, where waves during the January 2024 storms carried rocks... SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Developer wants ‘mixed use’ at Cushing’s Point

The plan by a California land developer to convert the former shipyard at Cushing’s Point where Liberty ships were built during World War II into a 30-acre “mixed-use neighborhood” including as many as 1,000 residential units is creeping forward in the face of substantial opposition from many in the South… SEE MORE

Fishing off Stonington. FILE PHOTO: TOM GROENING

Working Waterfront

‘Blue economy’ expert makes bold predictions

Speaking at the state’s top lobster-landing port, Charlie Colgan had a harsh prognosis for the fishery. But he also offered hope for a future for the community in which it might still rely on a thriving blue economy. Colgan, a former state economist and director of research for the Center… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

How to say goodbye to an island

Reflections is written by Island Fellows, recent college grads who do community service work on Maine islands and in coastal communities through the Island Institute, publisher of The Working Waterfront. At some point during my final summer of living on Islesboro, the thought of how to say goodbye trickled in.… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Ocean, land, and temperature change

To grasp how the ocean affects these patterns, we need to explore its key processes: heat distribution, ocean currents, and ocean-atmosphere interactions. SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Summer in a jar

I’ve filled mason jars full; good use for small peaches whose skins slip off easily after being scalded and slide into a jar without argument. A light syrup of two parts water to one of sugar is all that’s needed. I usually leave one pit in the jar to intensify the peach flavor. SEE MORE

Students at work in courses on electric outboard maintenance and repair. PHOTO: YVONNE THOMAS

Working Waterfront

Going electric—Training technicians to work on electric outboards

The topic was electric outboards and the course was created with boat yard technicians in mind, but designed for a wide range of levels of familiarity with the content. It was offered in Rockland at Mid-Coast School of Technology in July and in Farmington at Foster Career and Technical Education Center in August. SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Island Institute funded for lobster work

Island Institute has landed a $1.4 million grant from the Small Business Administration to support Maine’s lobster industry and enhance the economic resilience of the coastal communities dependent on this vital fishery. This congressionally directed spending request championed by Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King will launch the Future of… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Letters to the editor: Yard South, Blue Hill

‘No’ to Yard South To the editor: There is a brief opportunity to save waterfront on Portland Harbor, currently zoned industrial, for future marine commercial use. A 30-acre parcel that borders South Portland’s Bug Light Park and boat ramp to the east and an oil tank farm to the west… SEE MORE

The Machias dike, which carries Route 1.

Working Waterfront

Machias dike repair awaits plan

One recent late August evening, a few tourists gathered on the deck of Helen’s Restaurant overlooking the Machias River. The summer holdouts tugged sweaters closer and steadied their glasses while trapping napkins that threatened to fly away. This time of year, the river’s breezes grow colder and lustier, as if… SEE MORE