Two young adults sit on the grass in front of Maine Maritime Academy's new ABS Center during the dedication ceremony.

Working Waterfront

New Maine Maritime Academy building reflects STEM focus

CASTINE — It's more than a building. That was the point speakers made at the May 1 dedication of Maine Maritime Academy's new ABS Center for Engineering, Science and Research. The center is the first new academic building constructed on campus in the last 30 years. It's attractive and well-integrated… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

From Castine to the world—again

Picture in your mind a cargo ship and an aircraft carrier, one 900-feet and the other 1,200-feet-long and both 20 stories tall, traveling through the ocean only 100 yards away from each other. Water shoots between them, causing suction and push forces that make the two vessels want to steer… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

How to become an educated Midcoast seashore explorer

When I was in my 20s and 30s, free time was a rare commodity. When it was available and the weather cooperated, my wife and I loaded the kids in the van and explored the Maine coast. It never seemed to be a question that needed discussion; we just hit… SEE MORE

Donna Damon poses in front of a bulletin board in her classroom that reflects her life.

Working Waterfront

‘Public Servant One’ calling it quits

Let's clear this up at the outset—Donna Damon never proclaimed herself to be "Public Servant One." She does use that moniker in three different email addresses, and it might sound like she's tooting her own horn, like a politician running for office. The truth is her son, then in middle… SEE MORE

Firefighters squeeze into the galley to fight a simulated grease fire.

Working Waterfront

Fire in the galley!

Charles Salerno surveys the scene with a sharp eye. Several figures in bright yellow and orange jackets and pants crawl up to a doorway, their breathing masks and oxygen tanks making movement difficult. Their helmets bounce off of one another's visors, and their heavy gloves make handling the 2-inch hose… SEE MORE

MDI High School students in a previous Habitat for Humanity class do a trial fit of their walls before the units are shipped to the house site.

Working Waterfront

High schoolers help build walls for Habitat for Humanity houses

BAR HARBOR — Work is underway to build headers and cut lumber to make studs, part of a volunteer effort to construct a Habitat for Humanity house. While most will picture a group of adults doing the work, for past nine years, it's been students at Mount Desert Island High… SEE MORE

Education

Working Waterfront

Spotting whales from buoys and other scientific wonders

By Susie Arnold, Ph. D. and Heather Deese, Ph. D. This month, we decided to highlight some of the new science we heard about at the 40th Maine Fishermen's Forum in early March. * * * The Eastern Maine Skippers Program, a regional collaboration among high schools including Deer Isle,… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

The rewards of coaching and being coached

Kelsey Byrd is an Island Fellow, a participant in a two-year service program operated by AmeriCorps and the Island Institute, doing community development work on islands and remote coastal communities. When I first moved to Vinalhaven a year and half ago, I was excited to help coach the high school… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Maine Maritime Academy hires alumnus to develop offshore industry program

Maine Maritime Academy has hired Michael Young of Ellsworth, a 1977 MMA graduate and previous instructor at the college to develop courses and programs to prepare students for jobs in offshore industries. The industries encompass oil and gas exploration, sub-sea engineering, dynamic positioning, floating production and storage offshore and supply vessel operations.… SEE MORE

Students who are part of the Outer-Islands Teaching and Learning Collaborative play outside during an inter-island field trip.

Working Waterfront

Small island schools get creative for phys ed

OK, now squats with our arms up! Let's count down… 20…19...18...17… Straight arms! Pretend like you're sitting in a chair. Early on Tuesday and Thursday mornings in a few island schools along the coast, the video conference meeting ring comes through, lights flicker on, and faces showing varying degrees of… SEE MORE