Working Waterfront

Chebeague Island revives fund to boost local nonprofits

As if on cue, a LifeFlight of Maine helicopter circled the island school, then hovered a hundred feet or so above the ballfield. Some of the 50 or so Chebeague islanders, sitting at picnic tables and milling about the wood-fired pizza oven, saluted the pilot with a wave, acknowledging the emergency… SEE MORE

The Margaret Todd obscures the view of a cruise ship off Bar Harbor.

Working Waterfront

Southwest Harbor cool on cruise ships

Bar Harbor is Maine’s top cruise ship port, with 165 visit scheduled this year, bringing 226,846 passengers—up from 121 visits and 159,515 passengers in 2016. On cruise ship days, the waterfront and downtown are packed with visitors tendered in from ships at anchor. Many hop on buses that head to… SEE MORE

Members of the two island lighthouse committees pose on the walkway at the Isle au Haut light.

Working Waterfront

Lighthouse ‘Friends’ from Isle au Haut, Swan’s Island become friends

COURTESY DOUGLAS CORNMAN/MAINE SEACOAST MISSION Burnt Coat Harbor Lighthouse on Swan's Island. Two small island communities working to preserve their lighthouses are learning about each other’s efforts through field trips. Committees from Isle au Haut and Swan’s Island say the burgeoning friendships and shared information are helping in the daunting… SEE MORE

Houses close to the shore on Moody Beach in Wells

Working Waterfront

Maine beaches remain battlegrounds

A day-long conference devoted to beaches on the coast of Maine, in July, might seem like, well, a day at the beach. In fact, beaches here are at the center of threats and debates. Threats include sea level rise, erosion, and land-based pollution. Debates swirl around development, flood insurance, and… SEE MORE

Visitors flock to the top of Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park

Working Waterfront

Acadia planners, public seek to alleviate congestion

The Fourth of July holiday, which many used as a four-day weekend, brought lots of visitors to Acadia National Park. That meant traffic congestion, a situation that continues to be serious not only on holidays but throughout the summer at Acadia’s hotspots. One of the park’s most popular spots is… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Remembering a star of the glory days of newspapers

We’ve dropped the editorial in this month’s issue in favor of a personal column remembering a life well-lived, and a colleague whose example continues to shine bright. One of the benefits we enjoy on the Maine coast is that prominent and accomplished people visit or retire here, and often, we… SEE MORE

Sitting on Great Cranberry Island's back shore

Working Waterfront

Savoring summer evokes childhood memories

On one of the last days of June, I met up with my friend and neighbor, Cindy Thomas, at the Sand Beach on Islesford. We get together all year long for a brief monthly dip from this beach, but on this particular day we were gathering for a more seasonal… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Connecting our communities more critical than ever

This column first appeared in the 2017 Island Journal, which is now available for purchase at TheArchipelago.net. Maine touts its allure for visitors and prospective transplants by asserting that we provide qualities summed up as “the way life should be.” The phrase suggests purity, simplicity, a pace more in tune… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Beverly Ross Johnson is Chebeague’s volunteer extraordinaire

There is an old saying that you can’t keep a secret on an island, but that was disproven at Chebeague Island’s town meeting on June 10, when Beverly Ross Johnson was presented a legislative sentiment by Rep. Janice Cooper. The sentiment recognized Johnson’ s 53 years contributing her time and… SEE MORE

Galen Koch at work on the Airstream trailer that will serve as her mobile recording studio.

Working Waterfront

‘First Coast’ project aims to tell our stories

Bureaucrats, academics, and advocates develop talking points, position papers, and policies to address the problems of our coast. Galen Koch has chosen a different approach. The 28-year-old Stonington native and Skidmore College grad has dedicated her professional life to storytelling. Or, more accurately, letting others tell their stories. Her newest… SEE MORE