Alaskan Salmon in Maine: (delicious) food for thought

People driving down Route 1 on Sunday smelled wild salmon from the northern reaches of the Pacific hitting the grill a stone’s throw from the Atlantic. Those smart enough to follow their noses were greeted by sustainable salmon from Alaska and seaweed salad from Maine.

Hands-on learning in schools large and small

What kind of school gets kids to build their own racecar? How about asking students to carry their trash around for a week? Or compare themselves to a favorite vegetable? Those are just a few of the student assignments I heard about at this year’s Island Teachers Conference, and they all have a common result: Students are diving deeper into their surroundings, and learning more along the way.

Commercial Currents: Boosting business with better internet

Island residents strive to provide better internet for businesses and communities

Are you frustrated when trying to run a customer’s credit card? Can’t provide WiFi? Are you prevented from working where you want to live because of poor internet service? Struggling to market your products to customers beyond your neighborhood?

Commercial Currents: Finding efficiency with digital tools

Island and coastal business owners have often told us that they would like to make their businesses more efficient through the use of digital tools like QuickBooks and social media. As a result, we teamed up with Axiom Education and Training Center (AETC) to deliver digital workshops on islands, to support businesses on their own turf.

How many islanders does it take to change a tire?

I’ve been told that Long Islanders are notoriously frugal, and some of that must have rubbed off on me because I decided that instead of paying for freight service, I would just carry the sizeable truck tire on board with me.

Commercial Currents: Island store owner brings in tourism dollars

Kendra Chubbuck of Shore Shop Gifts on Isle au Haut is an entrepreneur who knows the value that conserved lands can bring to local businesses. On the doorstep of a beautiful section of Acadia National Park, her store focuses on providing high-quality, Maine-made products to the varied tourists that come through the island. The following interview gives insight into her winning strategy.