Working Waterfront

On Casco Bay—changes in ferry, school policies cause concern

Changes in the works to ferry and school policies, though unrelated, could impact residents of the Casco Bay islands. The board of directors of Casco Bay Lines voted at their March 26 meeting to raise the age for which children are eligible for reduced fare, from 9 up through 13.… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Program gives islanders a leg up on lobstering

FRENCHBORO—Residents hoping to sustain a viable lobster fishing community are celebrating the implementation of a program that allows island fishermen to get fishing licenses more quickly than their mainland counterparts. "It’s a wonderful program to sustain the island for generations to come, not just for us, but for others," said… SEE MORE

Donna Damon poses in front of a bulletin board in her classroom that reflects her life.

Working Waterfront

‘Public Servant One’ calling it quits

Let's clear this up at the outset—Donna Damon never proclaimed herself to be "Public Servant One." She does use that moniker in three different email addresses, and it might sound like she's tooting her own horn, like a politician running for office. The truth is her son, then in middle… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Escaping winter in Italy brings ‘bump’ in the road

On Sunday, March 22, Bruce and I caught a windy 5 a.m. ride off island with Richard Howland on his fishing boat, Endeavor. We were flying to Italy on Monday night, but the weather forecast did not guarantee getting away from the island any later. It was just fine to have… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Don’t fear the spotted produce… or slimy pork chops

Apparently Seattle is fining people who toss food waste instead of composting it. And in big cities like New York, some chefs are making a point of using up every last bit of broccoli stalk and cucumber butt in order to cut closer to the economic bones of their businesses.… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Town meeting time on the islands

Town meeting is a celebration at best, or a tense endurance test at worst. Sometimes, it's both. It really depends on what seat you're in. Emerging island leaders find themselves working alongside selectmen who've held their seats for decades. Each person in the audience has a personal relationship to every… SEE MORE

Firefighters squeeze into the galley to fight a simulated grease fire.

Working Waterfront

Fire in the galley!

Charles Salerno surveys the scene with a sharp eye. Several figures in bright yellow and orange jackets and pants crawl up to a doorway, their breathing masks and oxygen tanks making movement difficult. Their helmets bounce off of one another's visors, and their heavy gloves make handling the 2-inch hose… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Chebeague celebrates Islander with free passage on April 6

The distance between the Stone Wharf on Chebeague Island and the Cousins Island landing is just 1.7 miles. But over the 30 years that the Islander ferry has been making the daily runs, she has logged enough miles to take her to the moon and halfway home. On Monday, April 6, the Chebeague… SEE MORE

Children take off in their hunt for the Easter eggs in this snapshot from decades ago.

Working Waterfront

Hunting eggs, hunting spring

Charlotte image The sun is shining through a milky sky. A warmth beats its way through the crisp early spring air. Stalks of new green grass struggle to poke through the thick, dead, brown mat of old grass left from the winter, and gray trees have yet to offer… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Dreaming of a not-too-distant future

It's early March as I write, and snow is still piled up to the crotch of the pin cherry tree. But you may be reading this in early April, and I hope you'll permit me to do a little fantasizing about what it might be like, a month from now.… SEE MORE