Edward French at the offices of The Quoddy Tides.

Working Waterfront

Living in, and telling a community’s story

We journalists are supposed to be objective, but really, the objectivity exists in the work we produce, not in our hearts. The truth is that we tend to be an opinionated bunch. I will admit there are places on the Maine coast I love more than others. One of those… SEE MORE

Bruce Fernald prepares to unload his boat

Working Waterfront

When chefs and lobstermen meet, live

Anyone around Little Cranberry Island would say my husband Bruce, a lobster fisherman, has a knack for getting involved in some very interesting media situations. (See “One lobsterman’s 15 minutes of fame” at workingwaterfrontarchives.org.) Friends joke that he likes attention from the press, but lately most of the situations have revolved… SEE MORE

Students from the Blueberry Harvest School learn about sustainable fisheries during an August 2014 trip in Frenchman Bay.

Working Waterfront

How Trump administration’s immigration policies are hurting Maine

By Julia Brown Maine recently hosted statewide “Families Belong Together” rallies protesting the administration’s so-called “zero tolerance” policy. While the unprecedented policy of separating and detaining asylum seekers has rightfully taken center stage, this administration is applying its anti-immigrant agenda to all facets of immigration law. This indiscriminate attack on… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Islands in the woods, islands in the water

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 “An Island Fellow? Well, then how did you end up here in Millinocket?” I hear this question less frequently now… SEE MORE

Diane Blanchette takes the first charge from Ellsworth’s new electric vehicle charger

Working Waterfront

Electric vehicle charging stations added to key corridors

On June 26, Ellsworth City Council Chairman Marc Blanchette backed up his plug-in hybrid electric car to the city’s first publically available Level 2 electric vehicle charging station, located under a shady copse at Merrill Park on Water Street. Blanchette’s wife, Diane, had the honor of taking the first plug-in… SEE MORE

Renowned history writer Nathaniel Philbrick talked about his latest book

Working Waterfront

Benedict Arnold and the rest of the story

By Nancy Griffin Nathaniel Philbrick, best-selling author of several books on early American history, used his low-key but direct delivery to make the audience sit up and listen during his talk at the Strand Theater in Rockland, on Friday, June 29. They listened because he told the compelling story of… SEE MORE

People

Working Waterfront

Bristol voters consider dam replacement, repair

By Tom Walsh A patchwork quilt of intertwined issues—social, political, environmental, economic, and public safety—surround the July 24 written ballot referendum that will decide what’s to become of the Bristol Falls Dam, an iconic landmark within the Lincoln County community of Bristol since 1917. Debate has been simmering since 2001… SEE MORE

Teacher Kathryn Meyer and student Zack Harvey hold a big lobster.

Working Waterfront

Students, teachers travel to PEI to compare fishing notes

PHOTO: VAL PEACOCK Zack Harvey of Swan's Island at sunrise on a boat. By Val Peacock The annual Maine Fishermen’s Forum in Rockport offers opportunities for networking among those in the business. This year, a chance encounter with a Prince Edward Island lobsterman at the gathering led to a trip… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

One more from the road

The reader will recall that we, in our 2003 Eurovan VW Camper, had thus far avoided camping altogether for the first four nights of our great camping adventure. Day five was no different. Having spent the night in a Hampton Inn in Fredericksburg, Va., I was up early the next… SEE MORE

Corbin Davis peers through the glass counter to make his choice.

Working Waterfront

‘Go Fish’ continues to hook customers on Vinalhaven

In a time when more and more independently owned brick and mortar shops are closing, Vinalhaven entrepreneur Rachel Noyes is celebrating the 20th anniversary of her gift shop, Go Fish. The shop offers gifts, toys, candy, jewelry, clothing and more, but Noyes says it started with one T-shirt. "I never… SEE MORE