New Maine Marine Patrol Officer Ben Wiant, center, with Col. Matthew Talbot, left, and Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher.

Working Waterfront

New marine patrol officer for Jonesport-Beals

Ben Wiant of Romulus, N.Y. has joined the Maine Marine Patrol as its newest officer and will serve in the Washington County communities of Harrington, Jonesport, Beals, and Addison. Wiant has completed the Maine Criminal Justice Academy’s Law Enforcement Pre-Service Training Program and the Marine Patrol’s 45-day field training program.… SEE MORE
Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher, left, presents the annual DMR Andy Mays Award of Excellence to Friendship fisherman James "Jimmy" Wotton. The award was presented Saturday at the Fishermen's Forum in Rockport.

Working Waterfront

Wotton honored by DMR

James “Jimmy” Wotton of Friendship received the annual “Department of Marine Resources Andy Mays Award of Excellence” at the March 2-5 Fishermen’s Forum in Rockport. Wotton currently serves as the Chair of the Lobster Zone D Council and as a member of the Scallop Advisory Council. He has held licenses… SEE MORE
William Irvine, “The Resting Fishermen,” 2020, oil on canvas, 36 x 48 inches. COURTESY: COURTHOUSE GALLERY FINE ART

Working Waterfront

William Irvine’s sleeping fishermen

“Although the painting is called ‘The Resting Fishermen,’” painter William Irvine explains via email, “they are actually asleep.” A trio of barefoot simply-clad men, eyes closed, lean against each other, their backs against a small shed set on a dock strewn with lobster traps, buoys, oars, nets, and rope, with… SEE MORE
This photo from our February/March issue generated details from our readers.

Working Waterfront

A tree’s demise prompts stories

The photo we ran on page 9 in the February/March issue showed a large tree with its roots torn from the ground, leaning onto wires and another tree (and possibly a house) with a Rockland police vehicle parked nearby. We asked readers from more information, and as usual, they came… SEE MORE
A view of the harbor on Swan's Island. FILE PHOTO: TOM GROENING

Working Waterfront

Hearing stories of love and loss

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. Being a “person from away” is not a new experience for me. I was born in the Southeast where my… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Have you seen the Scuttlebutt?

The phrase “buyer beware” seems inappropriate for someone settling in a pretty Maine waterfront community. But maybe “buyer aware” makes some sense. After all, if that town has a working waterfront, a newcomer’s expectations may not match reality. Fishermen’s pickups driving by at 4 a.m. in summer. Diesel boat engines… SEE MORE