Listen, my children, and you shall hear Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere, On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-five; Hardly a man is now alive Who remembers that famous day and year. Who of us of a certain age have not travelled in their imagination with Paul Revere on his epic ride to
Swan’s Island Celebrates Thanksgiving Together
On Swan’s Island there’s a very special tradition celebrated each year—Island Thanksgiving. For nearly 20 years, Swan’s Islanders have gathered together the Friday before Thanksgiving in the school’s gymnasium to have a meal, enjoy fellowship, and share their love for their community. Throughout the year, there are many potluck suppers, a chowder cookoff, pie auctions,
Desserted: Recipes and Tales from an Island Chocolatier
Yep, stuck on a tiny Maine island with chocolate. Chocolate for breakfast, chocolate with your roast chicken. Chocolate pudding. Chocolate just for instance. Let the wind blow and ferry and mailboat stop running. All you need is this book plus a supply of chocolate, preferably bittersweet, a stove and the usual flour, sugar, butter, spices,
Pesticide Charges in Canada Raise Concerns About Aquaculture
News that Canadian authorities have charged executives of the largest aquaculture company in the Northeast with illegal pesticide use has sent a shockwave through the waterfront community in both Maine and Canada. The charges, which allege that Cooke Aquaculture used a banned pesticide that caused a wave of lobster deaths in New Brunswick, have raised
Potato Wealth and Bean Beauty
“We’re rich!” exulted a third grader while his classmates huddled around the next spot in the row of potatoes about to be overturned with a spading fork. Each time the fork pushed up a potato, six small hands made a grab at the emerging potato and three voices exclaimed, “There’s one,” or “Look at that
Students Consider Energy Future
Four students and two teachers clutched the sides of a white sheet with three small, numbered holes. One student sat on the floor and peered up through the bottom of the sheet to make sure numbered wiffle balls fell through their corresponding holes and into the waiting cardboard box below. As each ball plunked into
Scallops in Closed Areas
During November, young scallops, which have drifted in the sea and along ocean currents since their parents’ late-summer spawning, are settling down on patches of sand and gravel seafloor along the Maine coast. No one knows where they have come from, or where exactly they will go, but some will land in a sheltered area
Maine Island-Based Chocolatier Named Top Ten in Nation
Black Dinah Chocolatier’s Kate Shaffer has been named to Dessert Professional magazine’s third annual list of Top Ten Chocolatiers for North America. Created to honor professionals whose craft exemplifies the use of chocolate, the “top ten” is a highly diverse group from Mexico, Canada, and the United States. Three from this exclusive culinary list are
Scientists Surprise Fishermen with Talk of Cod Collapse
In 2008, a NOAA assessment of the cod fishery in the Gulf of Maine gave groundfishermen cause for hope. The cod stocks, which had been heavily overfished in the 80s and 90s, were showing strong signs of recovery. Cod numbers were stronger than they had been in three decades, according to the assessment, and recovery
Learning Life Skills
Every Tuesday and Thursday, students from Deer Isle-Stonington High School can choose to use their free period to attend Real World 101, a program in which community volunteers teach basic skills and share experiences in the areas of food, shelter, transportation, work, money and relationships. Classes offered this semester include making chowder, balancing a checkbook,