Working Waterfront

One man’s seaworthy seagull companion

As a lobsterman who’s spent six decades on the water, John Makowsky knows the meaning of lasting relationships—with the sea, with his boat, with his crew, and with his best friend of 16 years: a seagull named Red Eye. Makowsky hails from Long Island Sound in Connecticut, where he grew… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Jane Crosen’s new, old Hancock County atlas

As far as I’m concerned, every map is a treasure map. In our first years in Maine, there were many Saturday mornings in which I’d pore over the Maine Atlas and Gazetteer, scoping out a minor road that might offer views of a bay or ocean. Later, I collected hand-drawn maps of… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Leaving town, and unfolding its many facets

As a kid, I was obsessed with origami, spending what felt like a whole summer learning to make frogs, boxes, cups, pinwheels, and most of all, cranes. The engineer in me almost enjoyed unfolding as much as folding, fascinated by the simple geometries of the paper, the way many of… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Island life protects us from realities of racism

I am white. I am a female. I am from Long Island, in Casco Bay. I am privileged. When I moved to Long Island full time as a child, I felt welcomed and safe in the community. I loved the island school. I loved the freedom and safe feeling of… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Behind the scenes on this first day of school

Most years, the Labor Day weekend marks the start of the school year. Teachers begin weeks earlier, preparing their classrooms, refreshing lesson plans, and creating an organized, welcoming space for their students. This year is different. Administrators and teachers started preparing months before the planned start of school. The work… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Warm currents feeding Gulf of Maine outpacing cold currents

A much-used statistic says the Gulf of Maine is warming faster than 98 percent of the world’s oceans. While one might imagine the warming is due to a “Bunsen burner-like” effect in the gulf itself, it actually results from two sources of water that feed the gulf. The effect is… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Going solar on Islesford is only option

In the 1970s, residents of Isle au Haut had finally had it with their World War II diesel generator and so banded together to invest in a seven-mile electric cable to Stonington. The cable, expected only to last 20 years, is now nearly 40 years old. But Isle au Haut… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Machias farm is betting on hemp

Ben Edwards planned to begin harvesting in mid-September, but a new variety of hemp matured almost overnight, possibly in response to heavy rains. “For whatever reason, this strain is maturing really quickly,” said Edwards, pointing to plants with yellowing leaves. “Ideally, some of these would have stayed out here for… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

A powerful voice from a life that matters

I was asked in the late spring if I would be willing to participate in a webinar with The Working Waterfront’s three other island columnists to answer questions about island living. Our editor, Tom, was to be the moderator of a panel discussion via Zoom. He sent us his questions ahead of… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Little island leaps lead to bigger steps

From wharf to boat, boat to wharf, rinse, recycle, and repeat. Each island trip requires this momentary leap of faith. Trusting in that short span of wood, metal, or (occasionally) air serving as conduit between wharf and boat, trusting in the boat captain to get you where you’re going safely,… SEE MORE