Elementary students from remote island schools up and down the coast are voting this month for a slate of officers for their first inter-island student council. In the words of Monhegan eighth grader Dalton, “This is the first time we have ever done something like this between the islands. This is truly a historic moment
Domestic Field Notes
He knew better. But he was tired. As if that were an excuse. It was bedtime at the end of a long day when the field naturalist’s wife announced that there was a rodent in the bedroom, which they were going to have to catch before they could climb into bed. Such are the portents
It’s a Man Eats Fish Eats Fish World
Most days, the ocean can seem deceptively calm, with no signs of the breeding, feeding and migrating mayhem below the surface. The Gulf of Maine is home to an diversity of animals that live on and under the waves, that crawl along the seafloor, or burrow deep into the mud. Some live in the Gulf
Island Food Pantries Extend Helping Hand
Neither island residents nor their cats and dogs have to go hungry as Maine’s seasonal economy leaves them on the edge financially in long winters, a situation exacerbated in the past few years by the economic downturn. The good news is that when times are tough, most island and nearby mainland coastal communities have food
Eastport Boat School to be Run Locally
One thing is for sure, Eastporters have a soft spot in their hearts for the Boat School. Through ups and downs in enrollment and changes in management, the city has supported the facility. Last year, David Marlow of Marlow Yachts (see “Eastport to Sell Boat School” February/March, 2011) courted the community with a plan for
Give Us This Day…
One of the things that still stands out from my senior year in college is learning to make English muffins from my roommate, Meg. Before the muffins could be made, she stirred flour, water and yeast together, letting it stand for two days at room temperature, creating a “starter” for the muffin dough. It was
Oceanic Center Proposed in Harpswell
Through an improbable series of events—a hip replacement gone bad, a visit with a college friend not seen in 55 years, an impromptu trip to George J. Mitchell Field—two marine biologists with a combined 93 years’ experience in aquaculture and other marine-related projects have put together a plan for an Oceanic Center in Harpswell. Since
Fright Night at Fort Knox
Last December, Leon Seymour, the executive director of the Friends of Fort Knox, lost half of his index figure in an accident. Most of us would find such a loss downright depressing. Seymour sees it as an opportunity. “I think I’m going to be getting a fake finger and making it work for me, you
Island Schools are a Gifft to Education in Maine and Abroad
At the recent Sustainable Island Living conference and Island Teachers Conference island residents from Maine’s fifteen year-round island communities were joined by visitors from the U.S. Virgin Islands, Prince Edwards Island and the Downeast Coast of North Carolina. All came together to share ideas about how to ensure a vibrant future for islands, and who
The Maine Summers Cookbook: Recipes for Delicious, Sun-Filled Days
Don’t think that just because summer is officially winding down, you can’t put this summer-themed cookbook by mother and daughter team, Martha and Linda Greenlaw, to good use. Luckily, for those of us living and gardening along the coast, fall’s mild temperatures continue to sustain the growing season a bit longer. This may be when