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.
Please join us to support this important nonprofit journalism.
- Community
- People
- Opinion
- Environment
- Marine
- Inter-island News
- Business
- Columns
- Arts
- Education
- Climate Change
- Book Review
- Cranberry Report
- Journal of an Island Kitchen
- Salt Water Cure
- Reflections
- Op Ed
- Observer
- Fathoming
- Field Notes
- Rockbound
- Essay
- Energy
- Editorial
- In Plain Sight
- Letters to the Editor
- Wrack Line
- From The Helm
- Dispatches from World Ocean Observatory
- Sweetest in the Gale
- The Public's Policy
October 22
Ellsworth adds walkability to residential, commercial upgrades
Broadband corridor, center for innovation, improved park included in efforts
By Laurie Schreiber Ellsworth is experiencing a surge of development propelled both by the city and commercial interests. The Jackson Laboratory recently opened its new mouse production facility in a former Lowe’s building that was repurposed with state-of-the-art infrastructure and technology. Attracted in part by the promise of several hundred employees at the new facility, plus significant pent-up demand, private…
October 22
Free speech more than an idea for Swan’s Island’s David Shipler
Summer resident is retired New York Times reporter and author of seven books
By Tom Groening When the New York Times published a “name withheld” op-ed column from a purported senior White House official on Sept. 5, most everyone had an opinion about the newspaper’s…
October 22
Island intangibles marked first year on North Haven
Watching students grow in empathy for natural world a high point
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.…
October 22
Our oceans are worth a deeper dive
So much of the underwater part of our planet remains unexamined
By Tom Groening The rock musician Frank Zappa often chose bizarre, sometimes off-color, but usually witty titles for his instrumental songs. One from the late 1970s, “The Ocean is the…
October 22
The case for ranked choice voting in choosing our governor
New method in place for election of U.S. senator, representatives to Congress
By Phil Crossman Ranked choice voting is not a sinister effort to undermine our constitution and electoral process. It is, instead, a refinement that the authors of the U.S. Constitution…
October 22
The story of Bajupa is the story of lobstering and Matinicus
A smack with old-fashioned lines ages gracefully on the coastal runs
This story first appeared in Landings,the monthly publication of the Maine Lobstermen’s Community Alliance, and appears here with permission. By Melissa Waterman It’s rare to find a boat that nearly…
October 18
Dear islands: Thanks for showing us so much
Great Lakes island communities offer solutions, serve as model
Jon W. Allan is director of the Michigan Office of the Great Lakes, an organization the Island Institute, publisher of The Working Waterfront, has partnered with in recent years. By Jon…
October 18
Early numbers show tourism generally up statewide
Repeat visitation continues to mark success of promotion efforts
By Laurie Schreiber To date, 2018 has been a generally strong tourist year, up from 2017 and continuing a positive trend of the past decade. “In a recent survey of…
October 17
‘High seas’ threatened by lack of regulation, ocean researcher says
David Shaw urges more scientific inquiry into the waters 200 miles offshore
During introductions at the Aug. 28 installment of “Coffee and Conversation,” a summer series at Bar Harbor’s College of the Atlantic, a joke was made about the school’s opening session…
October 17
Energy policy question draws contrast in gubernatorial forum
Seafood industry boosters hosted Oct. 4 candidate event in Rockland
By Tom Groening Pundits have characterized Maine’s four-way gubernatorial campaign as low-key, and the nature of an Oct. 4 candidate forum in Rockland bore out that observation. Independents Alan…
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.
SIGN UP FOR OUR
E-WEEKLY
Get the latest articles from the Working Waterfront delivered to your inbox every week.
SIGN UP NOWTHE WORKING WATERFRONT
LATEST ISSUE
A nonprofit publication of the Island Institute which has been published for over 20 years.
LEARN MORE