Working Waterfront

The trouble with March

I hate March. Someone described February as the two-month period between the end of January and the beginning of March, a completely unfair accusation. February is downright charming compared with March. February has the decency, usually, to provide at least a little snow, and a lot more if we are… SEE MORE

The Vinalhaven Vikings girls basketball team celebrates its Class D state championship in Bangor on Friday

Working Waterfront

The team within the team also deserves praise

The Vinalhaven Lady Vikings, having won this year’s State Class D girls basketball championship in Bangor, brought the cherished Gold Ball trophy home to Vinalhaven. Coach Sandy Nelson and Assistant Coach Sam Bickford, both island natives, are a rare and cohesive team themselves, so passionate about and focused on the… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Unity College fertile ground for green—and blue—recruiters

A first-time visitor to Unity College’s annual “green” career fair might be confused. The gymnasium at the western Waldo County college was peppered with well-groomed men and women in uniform. But young men and women with longer hair, sporting flannel shirts and jeans, also lined the aisles, ready to explain… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Bryan’s ‘Freedom Over Me’ earns Newberry honor

Islesford’s Ashley Bryan, the author and artist whose books, illustrations and paintings have reached world-wide audiences, was honored this month for his latest children’s book Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life. The book won a Newbery Honor Award, a runner-up to the Newbery Medal.… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Map-making as art

When most of us think of mapmakers, we think of the big names in mapmaking: Google, Garmin/DeLorme, Rand McNally. These are companies engaging in cutting edge technologies to push cartography into the future. But there are lesser-known mapmakers contributing to the field right here in Maine, and their work spans… SEE MORE

Volunteers and supporters celebrate WBFY/100.9 FM going on-air.

Working Waterfront

Hyperlocal radio: Belfast has new low-power radio station, joining Eastport, Rockland and Standish

Some 20 years ago, a weather-related disaster struck a small town in South Dakota, and officials wanted to reach residents with emergency information. The five radio stations heard in town were programmed remotely, pulling in music and talk via satellite dish, and so were useless in the emergency. That scenario,… SEE MORE

Newman & Gray on Great Cranberry Island.

Working Waterfront

Passing the torch—Helping next generation of boatyard owners protects jobs, access

This is the second in a three-part series about the role boat builders and boatyards play in Maine’s coastal and island economy. Boatyards, marinas and boat builders represent a large part of the state’s island and coastal economies, accounting for more than 2,200 jobs. But these businesses, often run by… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Vinalhaven participates in women’s march

The Women’s March on Washington, a concept begun by one woman and a handful of friends just after Election Day, far exceeded their expectations. Two months later, it had become the distinctly inclusive voice of an astonishing five million people from every continent and from every state in this union.… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Three bridges lead to new life in Stonington

Reflections is a monthly column 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. Dana Mark works with the Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School in partnership with the Institute’s SuCCESS program, which provides… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Everybody loves chicken

Just about everybody loves chicken. Even vegans love them, although differently than, say, Colonel Sanders, a hawk and probably you and I. In addition to juicy chicken thighs, boneless breasts and eggs, some of us love chicken company and conversation, too, and value chicken capacity to churn compost, forage for… SEE MORE