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April 18
Rising seas and the power of laughter
Risks are frightening, but let’s start the conversation with a smile
By Kate Tagai A few months ago, I had one of those "I can't believe I get to do this" moments. Pages of my cartoons were spread on one of the conference tables in front of Andy and Hanji, the duo that make up O'Chang Studios in Lincolnville. We on the Island Institute’s sea level rise team had been asking…
April 18
The Lyme threat, and how islands are responding
No solutions, but there are strategies to combat this scourge
By Jack Sullivan The threat of Lyme disease presents complications that leave many of us flummoxed, but thankfully, Mainers—especially islanders—are problem solvers by necessity. Many of the challenges mainland communities…
April 18
The power of saying something nice
It’s the tail-end of complaint season, so think before you…
By Courtney Naliboff Indulge me in a moment of “get off my lawn.” These days, it’s far too easy to complain. Where in the not-too-distant past someone in a snit…
April 18
When appliances fail on islands
The idea of convenience takes on new meaning
By Barbara Fernald Just before we were to leave for a family trip to Baltimore, the cooling fan broke in our oven. A call to Brown’s Appliance in Ellsworth confirmed…
April 17
Casco Bay on front lines of climate change
Friends group working to raise awareness, engage volunteers
By Tom Groening Friends tell friends the truth, even when it’s unpleasant. And that’s what the nonprofit Friends of Casco Bay group—which marks its 30th anniversary this year—is doing, reporting on…
April 17
Going deep—maybe too deep—on the lobster industry
Writer embedded in fishing community, science, and research
The Last Lobster: Boom or Bust for Maine’s Greatest Fishery? By Christopher White; St. Martin’s Press, 2018 Review by Tina Cohen My review copy of The Last Lobster included some pages of…
April 17
Penobscot Marine Museum catalogues Maine collections
Thanks to a grant of $3,886 from the Maine Historical Records Advisory Board, the Penobscot Marine Museum has rehoused and cataloged four collections documenting quintessential 19th and 20th century Maine…
April 16
Art in the Middle East: How a national gallery was built
Suhail Bisharat of Chebeague Island recounts how fine art earned recognition in Jordan
By Tom Groening The scene sounded more like something from a classic caper movie than the art exhibition world. Speaking at the Island Institute’s Artists and Makers Conference in Northport…
April 16
Finding harmony in the ‘inland island’ of Millinocket
Outsider status changes after time spent with community
By Diana Furukawa Reflections is written by Island Fellows, recent college grads who do community service work on Maine islands and in remote communities through the Island Institute, publisher of The…
April 16
Islesboro librarian tackles thorny question with Rose
Origin of most famous plays in English language questioned in book
By Tom Groening Good luck to anyone trying to market Islesboro resident Melissa Olson’s The Rose by Another Name. It features spies, murder, deception, conspiracy, and political intrigue, yet it’s not…
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.
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