Working Waterfront

Ferry service floats resident, non-resident fare plan

A Maine State Ferry Service proposal to raise revenue by creating resident and non-resident rates will be aired at public hearings on Islesboro on Jan. 29 and on Swan’s Island on Jan. 30. A hearing was held on Vinalhaven on Jan. 23. The plan also would eliminate the current discount… SEE MORE

Inter-island News

Work was underway in November to bring broadband-speed internet to Islesford.

Working Waterfront

Change in the air, and in the fiber optic, on the Cranberrys

“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” —SocratesIn March of 2016, at the annual meeting for the town of Cranberry Isles, citizens voted overwhelmingly in favor of borrowing up to $1.2 million to “build a broadband… SEE MORE

The woking waterfront on Islesford (Little Cranberry Island) is busy

Working Waterfront

Decorum in D.C., as seen from inside (and above) the room

I’ve learned a trick that helps me move through high-pressure situations. I wish I’d been able to use this trick when I was competing in piano recitals as a kid. Now, when I walk into a room in one of these situations, I imagine zooming out and standing above myself—actually,… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

November is a time of waiting

As I’m writing this column, October’s been over for two days. I must confess to feeling a little let down. October gave us unseasonable warmth, an unexpected continuing glut of fresh tomatoes, and photos on social media of friends taking late-season dips in various bodies of water. It also went… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

A five day return to the 19th century

Oh, sure, the power will probably go out, for a little while anyway, so I suppose it would be a good idea to fill a few empty milk jugs with water for drinking and cooking, and I’ll put some in a spackle bucket for the ducks and chickens. And it’s… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Ross Greene offers new strategy for teaching, raising ‘human beings’

Few would argue that public school classrooms are easier to manage today than they were 50 years ago. Or that children face fewer social pressures. Or that parents have more time. But Ross Greene says the way educators and parents—and children—respond to the challenges of a fast-paced, pressure-filled environment is… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

On Vinalhaven, business hopes kelp will help fishermen

Making ends meet from season to season is a challenge for many islanders. Finding additional avenues of income can be difficult in an isolated community with limited resources. It is, in part, to that end that Vinalhaven Kelp, Inc. was established. The business is a new venture seeking to prove… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Letters to the editor: Nantucket thoughts

Nantucket native remains islander To the editor: What a delightful surprise to open November’s issue of The Working Waterfront to see a story and pictures of my native Nantucket Island. It was a fine article and so vividly portrays what has happened to it in the past half century. Unfortunately,… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

The road trip and the VW camper that made it possible

In 1966 I was stationed in Florida for a while after my squadron returned from Vietnam. I bought a Volkswagen camper, a new one I think, and, to the consternation of my superiors and a few comrades, joined the hippies I was so attracted to who were protesting the war.… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Mixing it up with the generations

Reflections is a monthly column written by Island Fellows, recent college grads who do community service work on Maine islands and in remote coastal communities through the Island Institute, publisher of The Working Waterfront. The first night I moved to Islesboro, I woke up in the middle of the night and… SEE MORE