Working Waterfront

In the face of change, towns must plan

As a multi-generational Mainer, I believe what makes this state special is that there has been such little change. I’ve had the opportunity to work with several local historians who share photos of their town and it’s amazing how recognizable places still are. SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

How to say goodbye to an island

Reflections is written by Island Fellows, recent college grads who do community service work on Maine islands and in coastal communities through the Island Institute, publisher of The Working Waterfront. At some point during my final summer of living on Islesboro, the thought of how to say goodbye trickled in.… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Community at the heart of resilience plan

Our community resilience plan was created this way, with residents offering what they had to give, their knowledge of history and place, their ideas and visions, and what they valued. SEE MORE

A summer scene on Swan's Island. FILE PHOTO: TOM GROENING

Working Waterfront

It’s the people part of island life

History is made and told by people. It’s happening as you read this newspaper. SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Without a map, new turf becomes clearer

The trail is long, and my position is regional, which means that I work with many communities throughout Hancock and Washington counties. But I find that this place—this earth, these streams, these blueberry fields, and these fir trees—make it all feel like home. SEE MORE

Boats off Stonington. FILE PHOTO: TOM GROENING

Working Waterfront

Stark reminder of need to support children

Some of the kids in our program don’t have a stable home life or the certainty of knowing where their next meal is coming from. SEE MORE

Vinalhaven's downtown as seen from the water. FILE PHOTO: TOM GROENING

Working Waterfront

When high standards can stand in the way

Recently, I wrote an incorrect answer to a question in front of a group of students. We were learning how to work with variable lists in Javascript and how the rules we established for variables still applied... SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

The new shape of water

How does water shape communities? I think about this as I load onto the Sunbeam on my way to Frenchboro, an island community off the coast of Mount Desert Island. It is a beautiful blue-sky morning, deceivingly sunny for my weather app to be reading 20 degrees. Working and living… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Regional work challenges idea of community

This type of regional collaboration provides a vehicle for improving social and economic opportunity... SEE MORE

Swan's Island summer scene. FILE PHOTO: TOM GROENING

Working Waterfront

History in the flesh

Reflections is written by Island Institute Fellows, recent college grads who do community service work on Maine islands and in coastal communities through the Island Institute, publisher of The Working Waterfront. The steamboat went away during World War II. Randy was five. Now, at 87 years old, he has more… SEE MORE