Working Waterfront

Two of the coast’s biggest economic drivers face threats

By Tom Groening Two of the most brilliant branding achievements have to be putting the word “Vacationland” on our state’s license plate, and marrying the word “Maine” to lobster. The license plate tag, added in the 1930s, is an audacious claim. What makes Maine any more of a vacation destination… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

A father’s values shine light over decades

By Phil Crossman We used to live in, renting, a little Cape down by the old ballfield. It was called “The Bucket,” short for “The Bucket of Blood,” something about an ancient murder or suicide, a sobering but constant and compelling reflection for a 12-year-old at any rate. The house… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

The power of saying something nice

By Courtney Naliboff Indulge me in a moment of “get off my lawn.” These days, it’s far too easy to complain. Where in the not-too-distant past someone in a snit might write a letter to the editor, or stand up at a board meeting during public comments, or motivate a… SEE MORE

Warning sign on Islesboro at Broad Point Preserve.

Working Waterfront

The Lyme threat, and how islands are responding

By Jack Sullivan The threat of Lyme disease presents complications that leave many of us flummoxed, but thankfully, Mainers—especially islanders—are problem solvers by necessity. Many of the challenges mainland communities face are exacerbated when faced by an island. Some of this is obvious. Of course it’s harder to get a… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Rising seas and the power of laughter

By Kate Tagai A few months ago, I had one of those "I can't believe I get to do this" moments. Pages of my cartoons were spread on one of the conference tables in front of Andy and Hanji, the duo that make up O'Chang Studios in Lincolnville. We on… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

When appliances fail on islands

By Barbara Fernald Just before we were to leave for a family trip to Baltimore, the cooling fan broke in our oven. A call to Brown’s Appliance in Ellsworth confirmed that the whole back of the stove would have to come off to replace the broken part; not a DIY… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Food sovereignty—do you trust your neighbors?

By Sandy Oliver So far, 54 Maine towns have passed food sovereignty ordinances which allow the municipality to permit a producer (farmer) to sell most food—excluding meat and poultry—directly to consumers. Plain old out-of-the-ground or off-the-plant produce has always been OK to sell and buy. The minute someone changes them,… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Going deep—maybe too deep—on the lobster industry

The Last Lobster: Boom or Bust for Maine’s Greatest Fishery? By Christopher White; St. Martin’s Press, 2018 Review by Tina Cohen My review copy of The Last Lobster included some pages of promotional information provided by the publisher; one titled “Key Ideas from The Last Lobster” presented succinct bullet points. Here, on one page!… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

What lies on the other side of recovery

By Annie Gross Something we don’t talk enough about in addiction is what life is like after you choose sobriety. As a recovering bath salts and heroin addict, I found it wasn't what I expected it to be. Maybe I had unrealistic expectations. I thought that once I got clean,… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Finding harmony in the ‘inland island’ of Millinocket

By Diana Furukawa Reflections is written by Island Fellows, recent college grads who do community service work on Maine islands and in remote communities through the Island Institute, publisher of The Working Waterfront. I learned recently that when you ask a large group of people to each sing anynote, almost universally,… SEE MORE