Rockland's Snow Marine Park on a spring morning.

Working Waterfront

Welcome home, Rockland

By David Wylie Down East magazine chose Rockland in 2018 as the best place to live in Maine. We have come a long way. From the plywood windows on Main Street of 25 years ago amid a stagnating fishing industry, Rockland has come into its own as a major tourist destination… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

How the community can respond to climate change

By Rob Snyder Communities are largely absent from national discussions of how to address climate change. Instead they are featured as victims. As a result, we are missing a major opportunity to navigate our way out of this crisis. National conversations highlight how the ocean is warming and becoming more… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Travel is a vital complement to island life

By Courtney Naliboff On Christmas Day, Bill, Penrose, and I found ourselves swimming in a warm pool in a cold city. Rather than visit family in San Diego, which we did last winter, or stay on island, which we’ve often done in the past, I thought it would be fun… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

One winter day in January

By Barbara Fernald Summer visitors often ask what it’s like to live here in the winter. For many of us, this is a much slower and quieter time of year, affording us the time to travel, to catch up on some projects or take a class. I dedicate the month… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Childhood memories, and valuable land, preserved

By Phil Crossman When I was a Vinalhaven youngster, I lived on the western side of Armbrust Hill. It seemed enormous. A little pond, the Trolley Puddle, was nestled under granite cliffs in a natural amphitheater on its northwest flank. It assumed magnificent proportions and fairies lived in and around… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Some good news, some bad news

By Sandy Oliver Some people can see the upside of almost any bad situation; they’d keep a good attitude going even in a nuclear holocaust. I am not one of those. I can find a cloud around almost any silver lining you have. Still, when something good happens, when a… SEE MORE

Actor Martin Clunes of the TV show Doc Martin is flanked by Mikki Ames

Working Waterfront

Meeting Martin on Matinicus

By Shirley Barlow My friend Mikki owns a house on Matinicus Island. She and her late husband, a merchant marine seaman and lobster fisherman, spent most of their lives on the island where they raised their son and daughter. Matinicus is a working island and for years has had the… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

The ‘City Island Fellow’ finds new roots (and garlic)

Reflections is 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. By Nell Houde “Miss Nell, Miss Nell!” Two of my students were running towards me, yelling my name. “Miss Nell,… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Can both sides win in the battle over the waterfront?

By Tom Groening Now that I have six years under my belt here at the Island Institute, I’ve begun—cautiously—to accept a few speaking engagements, holding forth on the topic of the working waterfront. My presentation is very much a work in progress, and I begin by disclosing that I am… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Adventures on the sea, adventures of the heart

Wayfarer: A Memoirby James S. Rockefeller Jr. (Islandport Press, 2018) Reviewed by Tina Cohen The book cover features snapshots: an airborne glider, a Friendship sloop under sail, a young man in settings connoting adventure and romance. And then there is the author’s prestigious name. But set aside attributes like wealth… SEE MORE