It’s been a lose-lose situation for lobster fishermen and dealers this spring. The low $3.25 per lb. boat price (the price paid to fishermen) for superb hard shell lobster this spring left both worried about how low the price might drop when shedders come on the market. By mid-June lobster was in short supply as
Maine sets sail to be wind energy leader
Summer began with Maine leaders asserting the state’s leadership on renewable energy issues, attracting an international ocean energy industry conference to Rockport and ushering in new rules for ocean energy development. Over 450 alternative energy developers, scientists and policymakers from around the world were in Rockport from June 16-18 to talk about wind and tide
House calls still made on Vinalhaven
The road is puddle-filled from the morning’s rain as Jennifer Desmond, a family nurse practioner, walks down the muddy dirt lane in her rubber boots and rain poncho, carrying her classic black doctor’s bag. She is headed to see her neighbor, 71-year-old Evelyn Ames, for a house call. Ames is diabetic and lives alone. Her
Housing blocked, group charges discrimination
Anais Tomezsko, executive director of Mano en Mano, looked stunned as she stood near the Milbridge town office. Just moments before, Milbridge residents voted 68 to 49 to impose a 180-day moratorium on multifamily housing construction. The moratorium vote halted a Mano en Mano project to build six affordable housing units for farm and aquaculture
A profile of the average lobsterman
Over three-quarters of New England’s lobster is landed in Maine. The average New England lobsterman is 50 years old and has been lobstering for 30 years; his vessel is 32 feet long and 17 years old and has a 260 horsepower engine. We can be grateful to The Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GOMRI), in
Island lobster license bill signed into law
While much of the attention on the State Legislature was on the state budget and an overhaul of the state tax system, an important bill to help island lobstermen was passed. The bill, L.D. 1231, was approved by both houses of the State Legislature on June 2 and was signed by Governor John Baldacci on
New affordable housing bond can help coast, islands
A major affordable housing bond that will have a huge impact on housing in the state also has the flexibility to help island and coastal residents. The bond was part of a larger energy bill designed to reduce statewide heating oil consumption by 20 percent by 2020. The bill was passed as emergency legislation, so
I have the right of way… or do I?
Give islanders a break on ferry rates
With regard to the recent hearings on ferry fares to and from the islands in Penobscot Bay (“State ferry hike passes unanimously,” Working Waterfront, June 2009), it would seem a fair thing if the islands’ residents were given a fare reduction all year. I hope this is something Maine DOT will consider in the future.
Riley School students honor Civil War soldiers
How often have you heard, “when I went to school I walked five miles in three feet of snow to a one room school house, split the wood for the stove, and drew the drinking water from the well, all before school”? I didn’t have to do all that but I did have to walk