Working Waterfront

The Acadia auto wars

The centennial of the founding of Acadia National Park being celebrated this year has presented an occasion for a diverse array of reflections on the history of Mount Desert Island. By way of a terrifically engaging installation, which will be on view for the next two years, the Seal Cove… SEE MORE

The late afternoon sun illuminates boats in Front Street Shipyard's marina on Belfast Harbor.

Working Waterfront

Belfast’s Front Street Shipyard expands to city land

A years-long negotiation with the Belfast City Council has resolved, allowing the high-profile waterfront business Front Street Shipyard to expand onto city property. Front Street Shipyard, established in 2011 on the waterfront where the former Stinson Seafood once operated, now employs 90-plus. The company’s niche has been servicing large yachts,… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

When art met science

Sometime back in January, Maine Audubon announced that the renowned entomologist, ultra-marathoner, University of Vermont emeritus biology professor and acclaimed author Bernd Heinrich would be speaking about “the nexus of art and science” at its Field Pond Center in Holden. A few weeks later, a follow-up email arrived: due to… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

The power of mitzvah revealed, again

My daughter Penrose and I were sitting at our kitchen island, covered in finger paint, when I heard scratching sounds coming from our front yard. I left her with her latest masterpiece, “Baby Owl,” and peeked out the front door to see our neighbor (well, he lives a few miles… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

The hermit’s tale

The April issue of The Working Waterfront featured two photos from the Library of Congress depicting the self-described Maine Hermit, who lived in Freeport. Terry Sue Allen, also of Freeport, noticed the photos and interviewed her father-in-law, Nathan Allen Sr., who lived across the street from the hermit. Here is… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Letters to the Editor: History, Gulf Stream and wampum

‘A great little history’ To the editor: Thanks for writing the piece on Arthur Rothstein, (“History spills from frame of film,” April issue). I'm a great, great, granddaughter of Rabbi Israel Perlstein and Chania, and this is a treasure of little details I didn't know. (My great grandmother was Ida, the… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Vinalhaven to honor World War II vets with new memorial

A local newspaper of the day told the tale: March 19, 1945, Pacific Ocean—Donald C. McLaughlin, Jr. of Vinalhaven is a seaman first class aboard the USS Franklin, also known as “Big Ben.” Operating 60 miles off the coast of Japan, the Franklin sits vulnerable, with many of her planes… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Dear, yet not-so-dear April

Have you fallen off on writing “thank you” notes? I know I have, and I’m not proud of it. I used to enjoy writing long letters to people before I became a mother. Then computers, the Internet, e-mail and Facebook also came along to lure me away from the handwritten word.… SEE MORE

Bathing suits of the modest variety dry in the sun on Peaks Island.

Working Waterfront

Just two strings attached

A few years ago I went to Florida on vacation. I’d never seen a woman in a thong before. Of course I’d seen pictures of them, but seeing them actually move around close enough to, well, study, is different. I’m glad I waited. At this stage, happily married and with… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Blair Colby is Great Cranberry’s truck guru

Great Cranberry Island’s 40 or so year-round residents know that if roads need to be plowed, trees cut, fields mowed, firewood split, land cleared, wells drilled or anything hauled, they can call Blair Colby. Colby can be relied on to bring to bear his extensive collection of hard-used Franken-trucks, assembled… SEE MORE