Filmmaker Laura Hamilton interviews Capt. Matt Ridgway general manager of the Chebeague Transportation Co. PHOTO: SUSAN STRANAHAN

Working Waterfront

An island lifeline at 50

CTC operates 4,000 regularly scheduled trips a year. In addition to transporting islanders, off-island workers, summer residents, visitors and school students, CTC also provides 24-hour emergency service, working closely with Chebeague's volunteer rescue squad. SEE MORE

The September 1901 launch of the USS Cleveland at Bath Iron Works.

Working Waterfront

Sliding into history: The tradition of the launch

The accompanying images show the September 1901 launch of the USS Cleveland at Bath Iron Works. Spectators packed the yard, standing shoulder to shoulder among scaffolding and shipyard debris to witness the Navy cruiser’s christening and launch. SEE MORE

A view of the harbor, framed by trees. FILE PHOTO: TOM GROENING

Working Waterfront

When life gives you a library

Now the library is poised for a new chapter. It holds over 15,000 volumes and finds its home in a spacious and modern facility that would never have come to be without the 2008 tragedy. After many successful years as “just a library,” we feel like we can dream bigger. SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Thanks for the gift of island life

My cousin Gail, the eldest of five of us, spoke at my grandmother’s funeral in 1992. What I recall most vividly is her saying, “Without Nanny, we wouldn’t have Islesford.” I’ve had the privilege of spending summers on little Cranberry Island, also known as Islesford, my whole life, as did… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Coastal aquifers face new challenges

Salty wells are not new to the Maine coast, but the problem is getting more attention in recent years. All aquifers are impacted by fluctuations in precipitation, particularly the big annual swings we've had recently in Maine with the entire state experiencing drought conditions in the summer/fall of 2024, following… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Pandemic memories haunt novel

For many of us, jobs and schooling went remote, and many left crowded urban areas to reside in seasonal homes or with family or friends offering more room to spread out. Emotional support often was a low priority, and paranoia and distrust came to dominate our normal, instinctual desire to share and problem-solve in communal ways. SEE MORE

An image from the Boat School's early days.

Working Waterfront

Downeast boat school sees revival

To fund the first phase, the Friends won a $675,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and a $120,000 grant from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, both of which enabled the replacement of the main building’s roof and asbestos removal, work that began in late spring. SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

The power of big dreams

My home on Chebeague Island entered a new age last year—we finally connected to high-speed internet. Honestly, it’s so simple now that it’s difficult to remember being on the wrong side of the digital divide, where telehealth, telecommuting, and tele-anything was out of reach. The opportunities on the other side… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

‘Glamping’ is growing, but not always welcomed

In 2020, KOA—one of the largest camping corporations in the country—converted its traditional Bar Harbor campground into Terramor, a luxury glamping resort. The Montana-based glamping company Under Canvas opened Under Canvas Acadia in Surry in 2021. In 2022, the glamping site Acadia Wilderness Lodge opened in Tremont, just a few minutes away from Acadia National Park. SEE MORE

Maine Maritime Academy's waterfront. PHOTO: JACK SULLIVAN

Working Waterfront

Maine Maritime Academy names president

Following a national search, the Maine Maritime Academy board of trustees selected Craig Johnson, an MMA graduate of the class of 1991, as its new president. SEE MORE