This spring, state legislators were asked to do a favor for Jack DeCoster, the Turner-based egg magnate. A bill sponsored by Rep. Dale Crafts (R-Lisbon) proposed to relieve Mr. DeCoster of the requirement to pay his workers minimum wage or overtime or to allow them to unionize. The proposal was later scaled back to nix
Hometown Crowd, Hometown Seafood
The river is visible from every seat in Thomaston’s newest restaurant, The Slipway. The hull of a sailboat bobs peacefully on the nearby St. George River as the 44-year-old chef and owner Scott Yakovenko sits at a small table describing his hometown venture. The Slipway is located at the Thomaston docks in the building that
Baggage Shame
It starts at the grocery store on the mainland. I hand my cooler and canvas bags to the cashier, who passes them to the bagger, and I start to unload a full grocery cart. I have an itching need to get the cart unloaded quickly so I can get to the other end to help
Newcastle Marina Project Rescued
A foundering marina/condominium project in Newcastle has been re-floated by Hallowell developer Kevin Mattson, an avid boater and champion of reviving downtown communities. He expects the bulk of construction to be completed this summer. The 19th-century style building will provide four luxury apartments upstairs, and a first-floor commercial space, in keeping with the character of
U.S. Environmental Lawsuit Settlement May Impact Maine Shores
A lawsuit settlement that could clear a backlog of 251 plant and animal species being considered for protection under the Endangered Species Act may have consequences in future land use, fishing regulations and energy production along Maine’s shores. Under the plan, the federal government agrees to speed up its review process of species being considered
Pan-seared sea scallops with roasted red pepper cream sauce
From The Maine Summers Cookbook: Recipes for Delicious, Sun-Filled Days by Linda and Martha Greenlaw (Studio, 2011, $30.00) We get big, sweet scallops just offshore of Isle au Haut. I have two friends who fish for scallops and deliver them to my door the same day. Can’t get much fresher than that! This recipe is
Mainers in the Civil War
In proportion to its population, Maine sent more soldiers and sailors off to fight the Civil War than any other state in the Union. They came from cities and small towns, from farms and islands. In the end, as many as 70,000 men (and a far smaller number of women) marched or sailed away to
Listening to the Scenery
Driving on Route 1 from the mid-Maine coast toward an island meeting Downeast when you are dealing with an implacable ferry schedule on the other end requires careful calibration. First, of course, you consider the season and the condition of the roads. In late spring you can generally count on avoiding delays from the icy
Four-Season Island Agriculture Funds Awarded
The Island Institute is pleased to announce awards through the Four-Season Island Agriculture Fund, supporting 12 island farming and gardening projects, and totaling $10,000. The fund seeks to support farming and gardening projects that contribute to increasing the amount of locally produced food, and/or raising awareness about island-based agricultural efforts and heritage. Since its launch
Student Meteorologists
Can you predict what the weather is going to do tomorrow? The students of Frenchboro school might be able to. Over the past few months, Frenchboro, along with 12 other small island schools, has been participating in the Island Institute’s Students and Teachers Observing and Recording Meteorological Systems (STORMS) project. The purpose of STORMS, which