Working Waterfront

Finding community in the strangest of places

Reflections is written by Island Fellows, recent college grads who do community service work on Maine islands and in coastal communities through the Island Institute, publisher of The Working Waterfront. By Maddy Bruno I recently attended a workshop with a stellar group of 8th grade students in which the following question… 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

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

The power of saying something nice

By Courtney Naliboff Indulge me in a moment of “get off my lawn.” These days, it’s far too easy to complain. Where in the not-too-distant past someone in a snit might write a letter to the editor, or stand up at a board meeting during public comments, or motivate a… 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

The view toward Roque Bluffs State Park.

Working Waterfront

Tiny Roque Bluffs working to create broadband network

By Tom Groening Roque Bluffs is an idyllic coastal Washington County town, a peninsula south of Machias with rolling hills and fields leading to a state park with a pretty sand beach. But it’s also on the wrong side of the digital divide, and community leaders, including First Selectman Lisa… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Finding harmony in the ‘inland island’ of Millinocket

By Diana Furukawa Reflections is written by Island Fellows, recent college grads who do community service work on Maine islands and in remote communities through the Island Institute, publisher of The Working Waterfront. I learned recently that when you ask a large group of people to each sing anynote, almost universally,… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Maine is not ‘full,’ and we need to act

By Tom Groening Most Mainers know the story of Flagstaff, the town in western Maine that was evacuated and then flooded in 1950 to create a back-up water impoundment for the Wyman Lake hydropower dam. It was a sacrifice made in the interest of the greater good, but the back-up… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Wrack Line: Boats, cars, and piers

Compiled by Tom Groening My spring to-do list emerges as the snow and ice retreat in my yard this time of year. Gone are the excuses that sub-freezing air and snow cover provided for my home- and yard-improvement projects. Given Maine’s short construction season, it seems the same urgency is… SEE MORE