Working Waterfront

Launchpad program will help small business owners

The Island Institute’s economic development programming focuses on the idea that interlinked, strong and diverse businesses will make island and remote coastal communities not only sustainable, but help them thrive. We know that helping individual entrepreneurs succeed is a key way we can help enhance a strong coastal economy. With… SEE MORE

The Vinalhaven Vikings girls basketball team celebrates its Class D state championship in Bangor on Friday

Working Waterfront

The team within the team also deserves praise

The Vinalhaven Lady Vikings, having won this year’s State Class D girls basketball championship in Bangor, brought the cherished Gold Ball trophy home to Vinalhaven. Coach Sandy Nelson and Assistant Coach Sam Bickford, both island natives, are a rare and cohesive team themselves, so passionate about and focused on the… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Bryan’s ‘Freedom Over Me’ earns Newberry honor

Islesford’s Ashley Bryan, the author and artist whose books, illustrations and paintings have reached world-wide audiences, was honored this month for his latest children’s book Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life. The book won a Newbery Honor Award, a runner-up to the Newbery Medal.… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Oped: Wind energy project bad fit for Monhegan

By Travis Dow Island Institute President Rob Snyder recently wrote a generally supportive piece about offshore wind (The Working Waterfront, February/March issue: “On offshore wind, we weigh community costs, benefits”), including the Maine Aqua Ventus (MAV) project proposed for just off Monhegan. In it, he wrote: “The Island Institute supports… SEE MORE

Newman & Gray on Great Cranberry Island.

Working Waterfront

Passing the torch—Helping next generation of boatyard owners protects jobs, access

This is the second in a three-part series about the role boat builders and boatyards play in Maine’s coastal and island economy. Boatyards, marinas and boat builders represent a large part of the state’s island and coastal economies, accounting for more than 2,200 jobs. But these businesses, often run by… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Vinalhaven participates in women’s march

The Women’s March on Washington, a concept begun by one woman and a handful of friends just after Election Day, far exceeded their expectations. Two months later, it had become the distinctly inclusive voice of an astonishing five million people from every continent and from every state in this union.… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Three bridges lead to new life in Stonington

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. Dana Mark works with the Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School in partnership with the Institute’s SuCCESS program, which provides… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Everybody loves chicken

Just about everybody loves chicken. Even vegans love them, although differently than, say, Colonel Sanders, a hawk and probably you and I. In addition to juicy chicken thighs, boneless breasts and eggs, some of us love chicken company and conversation, too, and value chicken capacity to churn compost, forage for… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Dish migrations dictate: put a name on it

I was having a cup of tea with my neighbor, Mary Schuch, last week as she recalled what it was like, three years ago, to move into my nephew Malcolm’s house. The house was occupied by several summer employees. She noticed that some of the dishes in the kitchen had… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

The play’s the thing

One of the purposes for which I was hired to come teach on North Haven, nigh on 12 years ago, was to direct plays. The theater program, formalized by the school's relationship with John Wulp, had achieved some renown through original programming and attention paid to contemporary classics by Brecht… SEE MORE