Sweet are the sounds and scents of summers on islands, when we set aside careworn worries that we collect like polished stones, and in those moments, hours or weeks, breathe in the pure contentment of moments suspended in time. Everyone has their own catalog of the unforgettable sense of an island summer. Here are a
Education Bill Favors Rural Communities
Last year, when Paul LePage marched in Eastport’s Independence Day parade he went mostly unnoticed. But this 4th of July, Governor LePage was the focus of celebration when he signed the education funding bill, LD 1274, in front of Eastport’s Shead High School. Standing by his side were Senate President Kevin Raye (sponsor of the
Maine’s First Ship Will Sail Again
After more than a decade of research and planning, the reconstruction of the first ship built in Maine was kicked of with a keel-laying party on July 3. The project started in 1997 when a group of Bath residents formed a non profit organization called Maine’s First Ship (MFS). The group was dedicated to researching
Broadway on Chebeague
It’s a hot July evening, and bikes are strewn about the entrance to the Chebeague Island Hall. From the open windows, the sounds of teenage voices and Broadway music can be heard. Inside, everyone is divided into groups, some sitting on the piano, some on stage, singing in unison. Opening night beckons. Summertime on Chebeague
Experience and Dedication Drive Rockland’s Sail, Power and Steam Museum
To tour the Sail, Power & Steam Museum with Captain Jim Sharp is to taste and then to understand the nautical significance of Rockland, Maine. This little museum (in square footage) is enormous in its impressive collection and its ability to convey Midcoast Maine’s place in history. Located in Sharp’s Point South, or the old
Deadlines and a Dream Destination
This happens to me every July and August. My calendar is full. I try to catch up with friends who are here for a limited time, and who I might not get a chance to see again until next year. Bruce and I either go out more or entertain more, which requires more off island
Trip Reporting Goes Digital
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced in June that it will allow groundfishermen to submit vessel trip reports electronically. Previously, the trip reports, or VTRs, could only be submitted to government agencies via fax or mail. Both NOAA officials and Maine groundfishing stakeholders hope the move will streamline the reporting process and save
Stereotyping
To the Editor: My recent trip to Vinalhaven was filled with good times over lobster rolls, creemies, and tide pools, but I also attended the island’s 4th of July celebrations. I was appalled at the racist float of “Chinamen” protesting the ferry service. I have no issue with the political point the float was trying to make,
From flesh-eating monster to ecosystem engineer
“Body elongate, eel-like. Jaws absent, mouth forming broad, elliptical hood armed with horny, hooked teeth arranged in 11 or 12 rows, innermost teeth largest.” This is not a detail from some alien encounter, but the opening lines of Henry Bigelow’s description of the sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus, an ancient fish with a lineage that extends
A Week in an Island Kitchen (and Garden)
Vigorously sprouting potatoes, a super-abundance of frozen green beans, combined with a busy schedule, a changing cast of visiting characters, and a certain level of personal laziness, drove menu choices this week at my house. There was a lot of potato salad around here and an every-other-day granola or eggs breakfast pattern. Then there were