Warning sign on Islesboro at Broad Point Preserve.

Working Waterfront

The Lyme threat, and how islands are responding

By Jack Sullivan The threat of Lyme disease presents complications that leave many of us flummoxed, but thankfully, Mainers—especially islanders—are problem solvers by necessity. Many of the challenges mainland communities face are exacerbated when faced by an island. Some of this is obvious. Of course it’s harder to get a… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

When appliances fail on islands

By Barbara Fernald Just before we were to leave for a family trip to Baltimore, the cooling fan broke in our oven. A call to Brown’s Appliance in Ellsworth confirmed that the whole back of the stove would have to come off to replace the broken part; not a DIY… 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

Ivy Frignoca and Mike Doan of the Friends of Casco Bay.

Working Waterfront

Casco Bay on front lines of climate change

By Tom Groening Friends tell friends the truth, even when it’s unpleasant. And that’s what the nonprofit Friends of Casco Bay group—which marks its 30th anniversary this year—is doing, reporting on the health of that busy, diverse bay. At three public events this spring, in Portland, South Portland, and Brunswick, Friends… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

What lies on the other side of recovery

By Annie Gross Something we don’t talk enough about in addiction is what life is like after you choose sobriety. As a recovering bath salts and heroin addict, I found it wasn't what I expected it to be. Maybe I had unrealistic expectations. I thought that once I got clean,… SEE MORE

Suhail Bisharat speaks at the Island Institute’s Artists and Makers Conference.

Working Waterfront

Art in the Middle East: How a national gallery was built

By Tom Groening The scene sounded more like something from a classic caper movie than the art exhibition world. Speaking at the Island Institute’s Artists and Makers Conference in Northport on April 5, Suhail Bisharat, who helped launch and served as director of the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Art,… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Islesboro librarian tackles thorny question with Rose

By Tom Groening Good luck to anyone trying to market Islesboro resident Melissa Olson’s The Rose by Another Name. It features spies, murder, deception, conspiracy, and political intrigue, yet it’s not quite a thriller in the classic sense. It’s set in the 16thcentury, but it also isn’t quite a historical novel. … 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

Working Waterfront

The fare that drives our fare

By Sandy Oliver If the Maine State Ferry Service’s latest fare schedule lasts long enough, Islesboro might just figure out how to be more food self-sufficient. “Sustainable” seems to be the word of the year, and sustainable local food is high on the “want” list. But the persistence of food… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Bigger boat for Peaks raises host of concerns

By Kim MacIsaac For nearly 150 years the Casco Bay islands of Peaks, Long, Little and Great Diamond, Cliff, and Chebeague have been served by numerous ferry lines which, by 1920, had coalesced into Casco Bay Lines. Prior to 1982, Casco Bay Lines was a privately-owned company operating passenger boats… SEE MORE