Working Waterfront

Swan’s Island’s ‘water girls’

Lesley and Leah Ranquist of Swan’s Island, sisters in their early 20s, were first introduced to fishing when they were mere kindergarteners. Now they are among the 4 percent of women currently holding commercial fishing licenses in Maine. Lesley and Leah’s story isn’t just noteworthy because they’re young women making… SEE MORE

High school graduation on North Haven in 2014. The grads wore the colors that corresponded to the colors of their lobster buoys.

Working Waterfront

Reversing island ‘brain drain’ falls to locals

As a high school teacher, I spend some time each year talking with students about their next steps. At North Haven Community School, we have a healthy mix in each graduating class of students attending four-year colleges, community colleges or trade schools, entering military service, or choosing to stay on… SEE MORE

Tracy Ames outside the home at 187 Main Street she and her family will now call home

Working Waterfront

North Haven housing, eldercare groups gearing up

With two houses in the hands of owners, three rental units, an eldercare facility in the works and more projects on the way, North Haven Sustainable Housing is working hard to keep islanders from having to do what’s known on the island as the “housing shuffle.” “There’s an increasing crisis… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Islands set high bar for ‘adulting’ beginners

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. Erin Love works on Long Island with the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership and other Casco Bay island… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

My old kitchen stuff: practical, not vintage hip

The best place to get kitchen utensils is a flea market, collectibles shop or antique mall. Or your grandmother. In my case, it was my mom and grandma, at least for the basic collection. Every once in a while it does occur to me that I have a fine collection… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Vinalhaven to honor World War II vets with new memorial

A local newspaper of the day told the tale: March 19, 1945, Pacific Ocean—Donald C. McLaughlin, Jr. of Vinalhaven is a seaman first class aboard the USS Franklin, also known as “Big Ben.” Operating 60 miles off the coast of Japan, the Franklin sits vulnerable, with many of her planes… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Dear, yet not-so-dear April

Have you fallen off on writing “thank you” notes? I know I have, and I’m not proud of it. I used to enjoy writing long letters to people before I became a mother. Then computers, the Internet, e-mail and Facebook also came along to lure me away from the handwritten word.… SEE MORE

Bathing suits of the modest variety dry in the sun on Peaks Island.

Working Waterfront

Just two strings attached

A few years ago I went to Florida on vacation. I’d never seen a woman in a thong before. Of course I’d seen pictures of them, but seeing them actually move around close enough to, well, study, is different. I’m glad I waited. At this stage, happily married and with… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Blair Colby is Great Cranberry’s truck guru

Great Cranberry Island’s 40 or so year-round residents know that if roads need to be plowed, trees cut, fields mowed, firewood split, land cleared, wells drilled or anything hauled, they can call Blair Colby. Colby can be relied on to bring to bear his extensive collection of hard-used Franken-trucks, assembled… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Lessons learned from bread-making extend to island work

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. Jessica Duma works on Great Cranberry Island with the historical society. I may be the… SEE MORE