Working Waterfront

St. John hurricane disaster raises questions about our islands

I serve on the board of a small school on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It is called the Gifft Hill School because of its location, perched atop Gifft Hill. It is a place filled with hope for the island’s future because it focuses on preparing island children… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Bridging the communities within a community

A good friend from the Middle East moved to the Maine coast, to a small island community. I asked him what that was like, how difficult it was to find elements in his new community that reminded him of his birthplace. With a large smile and open arms, he said… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

An expedition for a new pilot

By Eva Murray My flight instructor liked to talk. As I circled Belfast endless times with Alfred “Sandy” Reynolds, there was generally idle conversation in the airplane—sometimes, very idle. My lessons did not involve what you’d call a “sterile cockpit,” meaning strictly business, no needless chattering. Sandy wanted to make… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Whaddya have to do to get a popsicle out here?

It was an ordinary evening. Dinner was running a little late because my daughter Penrose and I had made chocolate chip cookies after her nap. As I grated zucchini from the late summer garden for fritters and mixed rice and beans, she played follow-the-leader with the dog, crawling behind him… SEE MORE

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

Working Waterfront

Doing ‘the green thing’ is nothing new

Some of us old baby boomers and a handful of those a little older are sharing a much-forwarded email item entitled “The Green Thing.” It’s a video which begins with a scene in the grocery store where a bagger stuffs groceries into a plastic bag for an older customer while… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Sharing sourdough a way to spread island flavor

I recently participated in the Island Institute’s summer lecture series in Rockland, in fine company with fellow columnists Sandra Oliver and Courtney Naliboff. We answered questions about what it was like to be women writers living on Maine islands. One question that is often asked is: “How do you come… 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

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

Working Waterfront

War on invasive plants relies on many weapons

Carolyn Walker first heard about invasive plants while taking horticulture classes 25 years ago. One summer when she arrived at her family home on Casco Bay’s Cliff Island, she noticed a lovely purple plant. It caught her eye not for its attractiveness, but because it had overrun the island’s marshes.… SEE MORE