Passengers disembark from the Islesboro ferry.

Working Waterfront

Ferry service impacted with rising emergency trips

The state ferry service is concerned about a recent trend in which more emergency boat trips are made from the islands to the mainland, disrupting scheduled trips. At its March 1 meeting in Rockland, the ferry advisory board learned from ferry service manager Mark Higgins that statistics from the last… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

No car ferry dramatically changes the nature of unloading

Picture an average day, doing errands. Maybe you have a dentist appointment and will receive that complimentary little bag with a toothbrush, paste, and floss inside. You might then head over to the drug store for a few health and beauty aids, toss that bag in the car and move… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Lyme disease rates spur Swan’s Island deer hunt

With as many as half the ticks on Swan’s Island infected with Lyme disease, state officials approved a special hunt to reduce the deer population, the primary host animal for the ticks. The hunt concluded on March 1. Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife biologist Thomas Schaeffer said a study… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Seth Macy goes public with his love, hate relationship with Maine

It’s a glorious time to be a satirist. The Onion’s headlines feel painfully truthful, people seem abundantly willing to share “news” stories on social media without verifying their accuracy, and every day a new “you can’t make this up” story breaks. Maine, in all its quaint and quirky glory, was… SEE MORE

Richard Howard examining his photos of Vinalhaven residents.

Working Waterfront

‘Heartfelt’ portrait project to feature islanders

Photographer Richard Howard has travelled all over the U.S. and the world photographing people and places for publications such as Smithsonian and National Geographic. Now the long-time Vinalhaven summer visitor wants to use his 45 years of experience to document the island community. Howard plans to spend two years making… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

The road trip, part III

I will remind the reader that in early 2017 Elaine found just what we were looking for right next door, in New Hampshire. It was a 2003 white VW Eurovan Camper, in perfect condition, having been loved and cared for during 14 years by only two devoted owners. It was… SEE MORE

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

The Capt. Neal Burgess at the Rockland ferry terminal.

Working Waterfront

Ferry service still pondering rate hike

After taking public comment at three public hearings in recent weeks on Islesboro, Vinalhaven, and Swan’s Island, and accepting written submissions through March 2, the Maine State Ferry Service has not yet decided how or if it will institute a rate increase. At the ferry advisory board meeting in Rockland… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Islands I like, others that are navigational hazards

Obviously, I like islands. I live on one and find that I like to vacation on them—Cyprus, England, the Orkneys off Scotland’s north coast, Hawaii, Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, Newfoundland, Key West, St. John in the Virgin Islands, and I aspire to visit Iceland. I just don’t like islands… 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