Working Waterfront

A tale of two retail towns—Freeport and Kittery

Freeport and Kittery may be well known as outlet shopping destinations, but residents of these coastal communities rarely think of themselves that way—and they know it’s important that everyone else come around to their way of thinking. Outlet stores began proliferating in these coastal communities in the 1980s. Over the… SEE MORE

Dr. Bill Thomas answers questions at the Aging on Islands conference.

Working Waterfront

New vision for eldercare praised at island conference

Speaking at the July 16 “Aging on Islands” conference on North Haven, keynote speaker Bill Thomas confessed to breaking New York state law governing eldercare facilities. He did not seem repentant. Thomas said the law allowed one dog or cat in a nursing home. “We decided to bring in lots… SEE MORE

Stonington's water tower is visible above rooflines.

Working Waterfront

Saltwater towns worry about freshwater supplies

With Maine in the middle of a drought by early August, municipalities vulnerable to water shortages were keeping an eye on their water supplies. For coastal and island towns, concerns were two-fold. Lagging supply could mean trucking in water from elsewhere, an expensive proposition. And pumping groundwater that is too… SEE MORE

The sewer treatment plant in Portland's East End.

Working Waterfront

Rising seas, bigger storms threaten sewer plants

Over the course of three days in April 2007, a storm dumped 8.5 inches of rain over Southern Maine, causing massive flooding, especially where the floodwaters met the sea. The Ogunquit sewer treatment plant, and the access road to the plant, were flooded. Five years later, an engineering report concluded… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Vinalhaven hires part-time town planner

Town Manager Andrew Dorr said John Bubier, a retired municipal manager who lives in Yarmouth, will work for the town for 20 to 25 hours per week. He is expected to be on-island one day a week, more often when the work requires. The town is budgeting about $25,000 annually… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

‘Paris of the ’70s’: Portland emerges

This is the second of a three-part series recollecting the look and feel of Portland in the 1960s, '70s and '80s by a Maine writer who spent his youth there. In the 1970s, Portland grew up. That's one way, anyway, of describing the transition the whole city, and especially the… SEE MORE

Visitors to Lubec look across the narrows that connects Cobscook Bay with the Atlantic Ocean and marks the international border. Mulholland Light is on Campobello Island in Canada.

Working Waterfront

Camping Downeast

LESLIE BOWMAN Tim Corcoran clamming in Cobscook Bay with equipment provided by the park. Robin and John Ladd of Brownsville Junction at their campsite. Tim and Shari Corcoran of Casco have been camping at Cobscook Bay State Park for a dozen years. “Sometimes, it seems we… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Town government: confidence or apathy?

The town of Vinalhaven’s administrative assistant, Barbara Philbrook, gave notice several months ago that she would be retiring this month. Until it was revealed that she’d only been working here for 46 years, most of us had assumed she’d been there forever, or at least since Vinalhaven gained its relative… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Wrack Line: Herring shortage, L.L. Bean donates to Island Explorer

It’s high summer on the coast of Maine, and the state’s newspapers are reflecting the splendor of the season. But it’s not all pretty pictures and fun; the news marches on, and some of it has serious consequences. Let’s start with the splendor, though. * * * The Ellsworth American… SEE MORE

A runner crosses the finish line in Lubec.

Working Waterfront

The passport marathon

Four years ago, having just moved to my new home in Lubec, I went to work immediately on a vision I had nurtured for some time: Let’s stage a marathon here. Not just a modest marathon. An international marathon that would be spectacular. One that connects the adjoining communities of… SEE MORE