Working Waterfront

Saving a Little Diamond shore

In September, I visited the small community of Little Diamond Island in Casco Bay to witness something remarkable: a shoreline restoration project marked by new science and sheer community determination. Hosted by Island Institute, the event brought together island residents, representatives from neighboring Casco Bay islands, and others eager to… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Saving Marshall Point

One of the Maine coast’s most recognizable, beloved—and accessible—scenes might have had another fate. In 1988, a rumor circulated through St. George—which includes the villages of Port Clyde, Tenants Harbor, and Martinsville—that the Marshall Point Lighthouse would be converted into a hotel and resort property. This is the iconic site… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

A season for readying

I think of late October and early November as the “readying season.” We learn to adjust our timing and be flexible with changing arrangements. The mailboat, on its winter schedule, runs three boats a day between Northeast Harbor and the islands. Road construction has picked up on the mainland and… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Why serve baked beans in summer?

Some people doubted anyone would want to eat baked beans in the middle of summer. On Islesboro the Masons do a ham-and-beans supper on the fourth Tuesdays of September through May. There’s mac and cheese, coleslaw, tossed salad, rolls, sometimes hot dogs, desserts including cupcakes, cookies and sometimes chocolate or… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

When we’re really loved

When my daughter was about 10, she came home from school, having attended something called “pre-pooh class,” a precursor to puberty class. She was somber and circumspect. “Sweetie,” I said, “why don’t you tell me what you learned today. Start at the beginning.” “OK. When a man and a woman… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Finding home within home rule

At a recent Damariscotta Select Board meeting, the public heard a proposal for a joint public works department between Damariscotta and neighboring Newcastle. Both towns have been working together to visualize... SEE MORE

A stereograph image captured the William Underwood Co. cannery, which operated in Southwest Harbor at Clark’s Point, circa 1870.

Working Waterfront

A fishery transformed by canning

Men handled the heavy lifting and soldering of cans, while women cooked, processed, and packed the meat in addition to labeling cans. SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Historic Eastport mansion restored to new life

One of Eastport’s behemothic houses—a remnant of the port’s mercantile legacy—has been saved from demolition. Beyond its historic value, the Isaac Hobbs mansion carries a vital connection to stories much larger than its own. One of the last stops on the Underground Railroad and the former home of Don Gellers,… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

The state of local journalism

An Oct. 30 event honoring Tom Groening, the retiring editor of The Working Waterfront and Island Journal, was as much a toast to his own career as it was an uneasy reflection on the important but precarious role journalism plays in the world. The event opened with remarks by Colin… SEE MORE

Lauren Stevens sang during an event in Veazie on Indigenous Peoples’ Day. At the event, the audio version was released of a report documenting how Wabanaki people have lost access to sea run fish. PHOTO: CATHERINE SCHMITT

Working Waterfront

How Wabanaki access to sea run fish is changing

For thousands of years, Wabanaki people were sustained by “sea run” fish that moved between rivers and the ocean. Fish evolved this migratory strategy to ensure they would reproduce successfully, but it also resulted in abundant and nutritious food for people, as hundreds of thousands of salmon and millions of… SEE MORE