Working Waterfront

Champlain, an explorer who doesn’t inspire shame

By Tom Groening It was one of the more absurd exchanges the Jerry and George characters have on the TV show Seinfeld, which is saying something. The topic was explorers. Jerry extols the achievements of Magellan. “Oh yeah, my favorite explorer. Around the world? Come on,” he says. “Why, who do you… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Seasonable eating is intuitive

By Sandy Oliver The term “seasonable eating” means normal or appropriate to the time of year, as if the weather told us what was good to eat, and not magazines or newspapers, the internet or corporate test kitchens, or especially the produce sections of the grocery stores. At this house… SEE MORE

A scenic view of an island off Scotland.

Working Waterfront

It’s time for a national islands act

By Rob Snyder I couldn’t help but find the timing appropriate. Five years ago, the Island Institute added the banner “Strengthening Communities” to our website. And late last month, I found myself being escorted—by a bagpiper, no less—to a keynote speaking engagement at the second “Strengthening Communities Conference” in the… SEE MORE

Beyond Acadia on display in a local bookstore. PHOTO: SARAH CRAIGHEAD DEDMON

Working Waterfront

‘Beyond Acadia’ illuminates lesser-known beauty of Bold Coast

By Sarah Craighead Dedmon A young family passing through Machias stopped at a land trust office looking for local activities to fill their day. “They had a site at Cobscook Bay State Park for just one night, and they wanted to know what to do in the area,” said Rich… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Leaders: are they born or unleashed?

By Rob Snyder Leadership, I learned at a young age, was a trait you inherited at birth. Or you didn’t. I am fortunate to have come from a family that instilled in me the expectation, supported with a lot of loving communication, that someday, I would lead something. In my… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Wary of being told I’m ‘looking good’

By Phil Crossman I’ve been reminded, since a January column disclosing I have cancer, that an update is called for. Since treatment began, little irritants have become routine. My nose runs continually. I carry a roll of toilet paper with me everywhere, in the truck, a less obtrusive one in… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Bird-friendly island has unintended consequences

By Barbara Fernald As the birds return to the islands, I have to admit that some birds are a little more special to me than others. Nothing beats that incredibly sweet moment when I hear my first hermit thrush of the season. Cardinals, with their variety of calls, used to… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Following the whale into an array of lessons

By Courtney Naliboff As an island teacher, it is often my duty and pleasure, and that of my colleagues, to take students off-island overnight. We do it for basketball games, we do it for rowing races, we do it for theater festivals. As wonderful as the island is, and as… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Memorable food and drink

By Sandy Oliver If you are as old as I am, you can remember life without pizza. I was about 14 before I had my first piece of pizza in New Preston, Conn., at a tiny pizzeria near the shore of Lake Waramaug: plain cheese pizza sprinkled with oregano transported… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

National models for broadband impart lessons

By Kendra Jo Grindle In Clatskanie, a small rural town in northwestern Oregon, local organizers are piloting a new way to connect—“mesh” networks. Medina County, Ohio is implementing an open access fiber model to bring multiple, competitive internet service providers (ISPs) to residents county-wide. Multiple electric co-ops in Tennessee are… SEE MORE