Working Waterfront

Remembering the Vinalhaven ferry, circa 1920

The following was written by my grandfather Ted Maddox, a fireman aboard these ferries: On a brisk late spring morning in 1920 the Governor Bodwell was docked at Tillson's Wharf in Rockland and preparing for departure to Vinalhaven. Several capable deckhands wheeled dollies loaded with freight down water-slicked ramps… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

A year in the life of a new family

A year on North Haven follows a predictable rhythm. For nearly a decade my husband and I have lived by that rhythm. We know which weekends to avoid the ferry and that it's surprisingly easy to leave for Thanksgiving, since most people stay. We look forward to the church coffee… SEE MORE

Fishermen unload their catch at one of Stonington's buying stations last September.

Working Waterfront

Stonington tops in lobster, LNG returns Downeast

It may have been lost in the news of the high volume and high value of the 2014 lobster catch, but it's worth noting: Stonington was once again the top grossing lobster port in the state. The Island Ad-Vantages newspaper reports that in the $457 million value statewide, Stonington… SEE MORE

A boat under construction at Hodgdon Yacht.

Working Waterfront

Manufacturing, alive and well in… Boothbay?

Everyone wants to see manufacturing businesses return to the U.S. and Maine. And why not? The value of businesses that make tangible things in large plants where hundreds of employees go to work each morning is easy to understand. Those large-scale manufacturing businesses typically offer a range of entry level… SEE MORE

An image used to illustrate the "genuine originals" group.

Working Waterfront

Trolling for the (right) tourists

When it comes to tourism, Maine can't be complacent and count on license plates that proclaim itself Vacationland. It's a crowded and expensive marketplace, and one in which potential visitors weigh competing lodging choices and even competing weather forecasts. Under the leadership of director Carolann Ouellette, the Maine Office of… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Escaping winter in Italy brings ‘bump’ in the road

On Sunday, March 22, Bruce and I caught a windy 5 a.m. ride off island with Richard Howland on his fishing boat, Endeavor. We were flying to Italy on Monday night, but the weather forecast did not guarantee getting away from the island any later. It was just fine to have… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Don’t fear the spotted produce… or slimy pork chops

Apparently Seattle is fining people who toss food waste instead of composting it. And in big cities like New York, some chefs are making a point of using up every last bit of broccoli stalk and cucumber butt in order to cut closer to the economic bones of their businesses.… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Town meeting time on the islands

Town meeting is a celebration at best, or a tense endurance test at worst. Sometimes, it's both. It really depends on what seat you're in. Emerging island leaders find themselves working alongside selectmen who've held their seats for decades. Each person in the audience has a personal relationship to every… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Planning to fish is difficult, but necessary

If you ask a lobsterman if he works from a business plan, the response might be something like, "I'm trying to get through next week," or "I take it year by year." Some will say that they used to have one, but they stopped when the timing of the… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Don’t give up on groundfishing just yet

"Why should we help those who destroyed their own fishery?" This is the question that is usually trotted out when there is a debate about allowing lobster bycatch on groundfish boats here in Maine. (Bycatch is the term that refers to species incidentally caught in fishing gear in addition to… SEE MORE