ROCKPORT — A firm hired by the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative to help grow markets for and increase the value of the state’s signature seafood unveiled its strategy at the Maine Fishermen’s Forum on Friday, March 6. Representatives from the firm Weber Shandwick said their vision aims to: “Seasonal food is exciting food,” said Joe
Record lobster landings in 2014: 123 million pounds, $456 million in value
For the third year in a row and only the third time ever, Maine lobster fishermen landed over 120 million pounds with a record overall value of $456,935,346, according to preliminary landings data reported by the Maine Department of Marine Resources. At $3.69 per pound, the 123,676,100 pounds landed represented an improvement of 79 cents
Got a story? ‘Salted Tales’ event seeks story tellers
Hey there, sailor! Got a story to tell? The Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport and The Colonial Theatre in Belfast are teaming up to host “Salted Tales: stories from the sea told live” on Sunday March 29, from at 3:30 p.m to 6:30 p.m. at the Colonial on High Street. Organizers continue to look for
Color up the end of winter with funk at the Farnsworth
ROCKLAND — On Saturday, March 14, the Farnsworth Art Museum’s membership group, known as [Collective], will host its 4th annual BASH. This year’s BASH will feature the Brooklyn, N.Y.-based Baghra Funk band Red Baraat, which NPR recently called “the best party band in years.” The 2015 BASH, which is open to members and nonmembers alike,
Environment-based job market alive at career fair
UNITY — Almost 70 organizations were represented at an environment-based career fair at Unity College on Feb. 10. Is that a sign of a rebounding economy? Maybe. Many of the organizations were recruiting for summer jobs, such as counselor positions at camps, or for limited duration internships. But for the young adults nearing the end
Islesboro voters to consider $3 million for broadband
ISLESBORO — Voters will be asked at their May 9 annual town meeting to authorize borrowing $3 million to build a broadband Internet network for the island. In a front-page opinion piece in the January/February edition of the Islesboro Island News, Arch Gillies, chairman of the board of selectmen, argued in favor of the proposal,
UMaine’s Steneck and team study ‘underwater time capsule’
Navigating my way through designing a class
Ian Watkins is an Island Fellow, a participant in a two-year service program operated by AmeriCorps and the Island Institute, doing community development work on islands and remote coastal communities. Watkins works on Deer Isle and the Downeast coast with high school students. The three-ring binder is one of the bigger ones, 3- or 4-inches
Value of Penobscot East’s scallop work featured in impact publication
STONINGTON — Penobscot East Resource Center’s work with fishermen, regulators and the scientific community reviving the Maine sea scallop fishery has been featured as one of eight return on investment case studies in the Maine Association of Nonprofits’ (MANP) recently released biennial report that illustrates the essential contributions of Maine’s nonprofits to the state’s economy
Remembering Chandler “Blackie” Blackington
My relationship with Chandler “Blackie” Blackington began about a decade ago when I traveled to Vinalhaven to visit the community’s medical center and eldercare home, exploring the possibilities for Swan’s Island. Blackie was my tour guide. He picked me up at the ferry terminal on Vinalhaven and showed me around the island. We visited the