Losing power periodically is a regular fact of life on islands, but recently Cranberry Island residents faced a more serious power situation when a critical underwater cable became unstable. In late February, Cranberry residents suddenly found themselves without electricity during a winter storm. Cranberry Isles Selectman Richard Beal went out to investigate and quickly discovered
Dick Jones and the Jones Fruit Co.
Tucked away amidst the pages of marinas, anchorages, bascule bridges and other points listed in my “Cockpit Cruising Handbook” to the Intracoastal Waterway is this notation for Mile 945 on Florida’s east coast: “Jones Fruit Dock … purchase some fruit and you can stay overnight for a nominal charge. 15-amp. electricity may be available.” Intriguing,
Cranberry Isles Town Meeting votes no on property revaluation
It took eight hours for townspeople of the Cranberry Isles to work their way through 38 agenda items on the warrant at their annual Town Meeting on Monday, March 9. All chairs were filled and some voters stood during the packed morning session held at the Fire House on Great Cranberry Island. The meeting started
Winter’s work: a tour of four island studios
At this time last year, Henry Isaacs had no idea he would spend the winter living on Little Cranberry Island. Thanks to his wife, Donna, who accepted a teaching position at the Islesford Elementary School last August, Henry is doing something he always wanted to do. Henry’s studio, originally built for summer use, is just
A tough winter on Swan’s Island
“There’s not much to do for work if you’re not a fisherman or a carpenter,” said Swan’s Island resident Chris Carlson. Carlson lost his job recently after working for 9 years at the Swan’s Island Electric Cooperative. “Living out here makes it awful hard. In order for me and my family to survive-we have to
Mill closing a blow to Port of Eastport
Domtar Corporation will be closing its pulp mill in Baileyville on May 5, according to an announcement on March 5. The move will put roughly 300 employees from Baileyville and surrounding towns out of work. The shutdown will also mean a stoppage of the Port of Eastport’s primary, and virtually only, export at present-kraft pulp.
“Water Dogs”
Random House, 2009 Hardcover, 246 pp, $25 Dysfunctional Maine family and a paintball game gone wrong Lewis Robinson’s debut novel opens with lines from the final stanza of Wallace Stevens’ famous poem “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird”: “It was evening all afternoon./It was snowing/And it was going to snow.” Stevens’ imagery fits the
Champlain’s Dream
One of the giants of the Age of Exploration has become a relatively unknown figure in recent years. “Champlain,” the author was asked a few years ago, “why are you writing a book about a lake?” In the wave of political correctness, Champlain’s name had all but disappeared from school curriculums, the author tells us.
At tourney time, island schools were there
It was a great year for Penobscot Bay basketball teams. Both the North Haven and Vinalhaven girls’ teams made the quarter finals of the Maine Principals’ Association Western Maine Class D tournament, while the Vinalhaven boys went as far as the semifinals. The annual competition is held every February. One might wonder how island schools,
Fellow working to help solve island affordable housing problem
As Mary Terry describes it, a pivotal moment in her decision to work as an Island Fellow for the Island Institute came about 10 years ago. On a trip to the Common Ground Fair, she and her friends took a side trip to Rockland, where she was stopped cold by an image in Peter Ralston’s