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.

The black-legged
November 16

Island tick survey gathering data, but more participants sought

Anonymous, online survey a step toward better policy
An online and print survey of Maine's island residents on ticks has garnered more than 500 responses, but more data is being sought. Susan Elias of the Maine Medical Center Research Institute said some about half the respondents are women 55 and older, and there is an even split between year-round islanders and seasonal residents. Researchers hope to contact island leaders…
Tom Groening
November 10

Thankful for one president, bracing for another

Complacency blinded me to bigotry and hatred
It’s the season of Thanksgiving and I try, as always, to remind myself of the things I’m most thankful for. For the last eight years, our American president has been…
Phil Crossman
October 25

A love letter to the seasons

Essays that unpack beauty, science make case for ‘being present’
Summer To Fall: Notes and Numia from the Maine Woods Dana Wilde/North Country Press 2016 Remember in the film Jerry Maguire when Dorothy says, “You had me at hello…”? Author…
Dave Morrison
October 25

​Adventures in eating out

When local service meets from-away expectations
A new restaurant that opened up a while back had itself a maitre d’ and its own bartender and everything. They had a lot of live music and as a…
Phil Crossman
October 25

Cultural close encounter delights island students

Indian musicians break down barriers with power of rhythm
A concern that we sometimes have as educators on a fairly isolated island in Penobscot Bay is how our students will react and behave when suddenly confronted with a new…
Courtney Naliboff
Big sky over Islesford.
October 25

Delight of island life shines through Dutch guests

Talking jewelry, seeing island through visitor eyes a pleasant 24 hours
No matter where you live, it is easy to lose sight of the highlights of your surroundings. You do your job, raise children, make phone calls, pay bills and run…
Barbara Fernald
A late winter view of Frenchboro
October 25

Fund launched to help support Frenchboro school

Frenchboro Community Fund will begin generating revenue next year
A philanthropic fund to help one of Maine’s offshore island communities might focus on any of a dozen goals. Or maybe on all of them. But for Frenchboro, the community…
Tom Groening
October 25

Learning to give as a family lesson

Weighing competing donation requests is a teachable moment
When I was young, my experience of giving was watching the circular bottom of a wicker basket as it passed above my forehead, hand to hand, down the aisle at…
Rob Snyder
October 25

Mainer roots teased out in 'Salt in Their Veins'

Book gathers interviews with 35 coastal residents
Salt in Their Veins: Conversations with coastal Mainers (As told to Charlie Wing… published by Charlie Wing Books, 2016) Before Salt in Their Veins, Charlie Wing was already a published…
Tina Cohen
A map showing tanker routes through the Gulf of Maine.
October 25

Oil that doesn’t float: Tar sands oil shipped through Gulf of Maine poses threat

It’s hard to imagine a heavy tar sands oil spill in the Gulf of Maine. Not just because of the vastness of the open ocean and our dependence on clean…
Heather Deese, Ph. D.|Susie Arnold, Ph. D.

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

 

SIGN UP FOR OUR
E-WEEKLY

Get the latest articles from the Working Waterfront delivered to your inbox every week.

SIGN UP NOW

THE WORKING WATERFRONT
LATEST ISSUE

A nonprofit publication of the Island Institute which has been published for over 20 years.

LEARN MORE