Kris Davidson in the space that is becoming Vinalhaven's new "speakeasy."

Working Waterfront

Food, drink, and music at Vinalhaven’s new Skål

By Courtney Naliboff Vinalhaven’s night life will get a little more vibrant beginning in late May with the opening of Kris Davidson’s speakeasy, Skål. Located at 6 Bodwell Lane, the performance space will host live music, and will offer small plates, and a full bar on weekends in late May and… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Maine lobster fishery agrees to deep cuts to protect whales

By Patrice McCarron Editor’s note: Patrice McCarron is executive director of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association. This letter was originally sent to association members, and is reprinted with permission. After a long and difficult week in late April in which the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Mammal Take Reduction Team… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Two of the coast’s biggest economic drivers face threats

By Tom Groening Two of the most brilliant branding achievements have to be putting the word “Vacationland” on our state’s license plate, and marrying the word “Maine” to lobster. The license plate tag, added in the 1930s, is an audacious claim. What makes Maine any more of a vacation destination… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Maine employers confront seasonal hiring crunch

By William Hall As Maine is poised to record another month of historically low unemployment, many of the state’s businesses are preparing for the season when their demand for workers reaches historic highs. The dilemma brought nearly 100 people to Portland in April for a business forum sponsored by the Portland… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Seaweed ruling hinged on property rights, definition of plant

Analysis by Tom Walsh Move over, NIMBY. Make some room for NIMFY. Shorthand for “Not in My Back Yard,” NIMBY is a predictable Maine rhetorical retort to real and imagined plans for everything from near-shore oyster, scallop, and mussel aquaculture projects to proposals such as a Maine North Woods National Monument… SEE MORE

An artist’s rendering of the Fore Points Marina

Working Waterfront

Portland redevelopment plan touches water

By Stephanie Bouchard The much-anticipated Fore Points Marina on Portland’s East End opened for vessel docking in May. Due to various construction vagaries, berthing slips are opening in phases, said Vanessa Pike, the marina’s director of sales and marketing. The west side of the marina, which is mostly for smaller,… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Ferry fare rationale challenged at hearing

By Tom Groening A blast from the past provided some drama late into a two-hour long public hearing on proposed ferry rate changes. Bill Kelly of Islesboro, who serves as vice-chairman of the island school board, had researched the genesis of the Department of Transportation statutory commitment to funding the… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Food sovereignty—do you trust your neighbors?

By Sandy Oliver So far, 54 Maine towns have passed food sovereignty ordinances which allow the municipality to permit a producer (farmer) to sell most food—excluding meat and poultry—directly to consumers. Plain old out-of-the-ground or off-the-plant produce has always been OK to sell and buy. The minute someone changes them,… SEE MORE

Ivy Frignoca and Mike Doan of the Friends of Casco Bay.

Working Waterfront

Casco Bay on front lines of climate change

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 the health of that busy, diverse bay. At three public events this spring, in Portland, South Portland, and Brunswick, Friends… SEE MORE

The Penobscot Marine Museum campus along Route 1 in Searsport

Working Waterfront

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 industries. The collections document the shipping of Maine’s natural resources, the use of Maine built ships in the global trading… SEE MORE