Working Waterfront

Maine’s ‘Boatbuilder Laureate’ wants to sell his waterfront property

SOUTHWEST HARBOR—When wooden boatbuilder Ralph Stanley retired five or six years ago, he was hoping to see his shop converted into a living museum with a teaching component, with Stanley as artist-in-residence. Despite interest from a number of organizations and individuals, the potential cost of endowing and operating such an enterprise… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Portland’s growing Indian population drawn by high-tech jobs

This is the second in a series of stories about how immigration is changing coastal Maine. Jennifer Atkinson is a lawyer based in Friendship who specializes in immigration matters. As Maine’s flagship coastal community, the greater Portland area is home to immigrants from all over the world. In recent months,… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors show this weekend in Rockland

In addition to nearly 50 new exhibitors, the Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors Show has assembled a varied flotilla of new events and displays for the 13th annual event, which runs Aug. 14-16 on the waterfront in Rockland. While regular attendees have come to count on displays of fine boats in… SEE MORE

The waterfront on Islesford (Little Cranberry Island).

Working Waterfront

Nine coastal communities win planning grants

The state's Maine Coastal Program has awarded nine communities a total of $163,206 in grants covering planning, design and engineering work for a host of improvement projects, some conceptual, some ready to be built. The work the funds support ranges from a longer pier on Islesford to a better managed… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Swan’s, Frenchboro ratepayers approve move toward merger

Ratepayers in the Swan's Island Electric Cooperative voted to authorize the coop's board to further investigate merging with or being acquired by Emera Maine, the utility that provides electricity for much of eastern and northern Maine. Ratepayers on Swan's Island, and nearby Frenchboro, whose electric customers are linked to Swan's… SEE MORE

Brown's Head Light on Vinalhaven overlooks the Fox Islands Thoroughfare.

Working Waterfront

Vinalhaven transfers lighthouse to foundation

VINALHAVEN — Citing the burden of maintenance costs, the town has decided to transfer its ownership of Browns Head Lighthouse to a nonprofit organization whose mission is to preserve the historic beacons. An attorney for the island town is in the process of drafting a quit-claim deed through which ownership… SEE MORE

A photo of Bishop that appeared in a 1994 New York Times review of One Art: Letters

Working Waterfront

‘Master’ poet Elizabeth Bishop had North Haven connection

By Carl Little —To have no personal moods at all, to have only the same moods that the weather has here on North Haven Island—that would be the (perfect) temperament, for the rest of life the rest of life…. When the poet Elizabeth Bishop’s letters were published in 1994,… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Busy town agenda coincides with busy island life

By Phil Crossman Vinalhaven is usually governed by a five-member board of selectmen, but this year—this month, anyway—we only have four. There were no candidates for the two vacancies in the May election and so the top two write-ins were invited to take office. I had 20-something write-in votes because,… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Muffins, doughnuts and the little blue house

By Barbara Fernald Forty years ago I had a college roommate who amazed her friends by making English muffins from scratch. She baked them in a covered skillet sprinkled with cornmeal to keep them from sticking. She passed the recipe along to those of us who were interested. A few… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Poor Internet speeds hampering island economies

By Tom Groening Fast Internet is more than a matter of convenience. Economic and community vitality hinge on download and upload speeds, local and state policy makers have realized. And the status quo is not cutting it, they say. One survey puts the U.S. at 17th among developed nations for… SEE MORE