The Working Waterfront newspaper reports on the people and forces that shape Maine’s coastal and island communities. As publisher, Island Institute’s premise is that the cultural, environmental, and community assets here are rare and valuable, and are worth fighting for.
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October 22

Electric issues spark ownership thoughts

When should the public own public services?
For a technology that’s more than a century old, electricity is in the news a lot these days. The headlines—and political ads—here in Maine center on the corridor Central Maine Power wants to build from hydro generation sources in Quebec, and the legislative proposal to have the state purchase and operate our two largest electric utilities. Both issues sit like…
Tom Groening
October 22

Port authority wins $4 million grant

Funds will improve Merrill, International marine terminals in Portland
The Maine Port Authority has received a $4,098,360 grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration. The port authority sought funding from a port infrastructure program for improvements at the…
Staff Writer
October 22

Researchers track deadly ‘blob’ in Cape Cod Bay

Oxygen sensors attached to lobster traps to measure levels
In the fall of 2019, lobster fishermen off the coast of Cape Cod pulled up traps and discovered a ghastly find—dead lobsters. An invisible force had snuffed the life of…
Craig Idlebrook
October 22

Luke’s Lobster, Island Institute join forces

Partnership aims to boost demand for Maine seafood, wild and farmed
The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged Maine’s fishermen and coastal communities in an unprecedented way. Diminished demand for Maine’s seafood has left Maine’s marine economy at risk. The Island Institute and…
Staff Writer
October 21

On the record with… Kaja Veilleux of Thomaston Place Auction Galleries

By the time Kaja Veilleux, owner of Thomaston Place Auction Galleries, was 15 years old, he had already spent half his life tramping across Maine and Canada with his father…
Stephanie Bouchard
October 21

Maine’s ‘flying hospital’

LifeFlight of Maine has helped 30,000 patients, and counting
One August day, a Midcoast resident cut her finger while slicing fruit. Within the next few weeks, the small accident developed into septic shock—high fever, respiratory failure, kidneys shut down.…
Laurie Schreiber
October 21

On the record with... Heidi Neal of Loyal Biscuit

Entrepreneur now has seven stores
A career in banking was beginning to lose its luster for Heidi Neal, and so she followed the lead of her dog to find her new calling as the owner…
Kelli Park
October 21

Maine climate assessment provides dire numbers

Report to be forwarded to full climate council
A new assessment of climate change and its effects on the state provides concrete numbers that confirm what many here already sense—Maine is warming. The average temperature is 3.2 degrees…
October 4

The sublime joy of sailing, courtesy the Apprenticeshop

ROCKLAND NONPROFIT’S COMMUNTY SAILING PROGRAM PROVIDES ACCESS
When power boats supplanted sailboats, the argument could be made that mariners were free of the reliance on the vagaries of the wind. But does that freedom to travel wherever…
Jack Sullivan
October 4

One veteran’s bewilderment

A struggle to understand support for someone for someone who insults
As a veteran, I have never gotten over the fact that, in spite of his having made such crass and appalling statements as calling John McCain a loser for having…
Phil Crossman

Island Postcards

EPISODE 10: Keep the Light Shining

Two ambitious young women swam around the entire Island of Isle au Haut during the summer of 2019 to raise money for crucial renovations to the lighthouse.

WATCH ALL ISLAND POSTCARDS

 

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