The Town of Cranberry Isles passed a series of articles at its annual Town Meeting on March 10 to promote a groundbreaking environmental agenda, pledging to sign the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement; spend up to $10,000 to promote and support energy efficiency projects; and purchase electrical power for municipal needs from a renewable energy
Good Meat
To the editor: During the Depression, when I was a high school student in rural Maine, all girls were required to take a course called “home economics.” This was a time when these girls’ mothers were stay-at-home moms who cooked. Might it not be more important in this day to teach “home economics” — we
Bad Meat
To the editor: Last Sunday’s recall of 143 million pounds of beef by the U.S. Department of Agriculture should provide a loud and clear wakeup call that federal inspection is not adequate to ensure a safe meat supply. This largest meat recall in U.S. history was actually brought on by an animal rights organization’s undercover
Tight Turns
To the editor: Great article by Harry Gratwick about U.S.S. Georgia — a Maine built battleship [WWF Feb. 2008]. I can imagine the difficulty maneuvering that heavy vessel down the bends in the Kennebec River below Bath. The story of the Great White Fleet’s trip around the world is also fascinating, as well as the
Island school superintendents: cost savings can be elusive
Geographic isolation, pre-existing savings, and new or about-to-be renovated school buildings defined how three Penobscot Bay island schools responded to the state’s requirement for cutting education costs to taxpayers. Responding to state calls for school district consolidation to save money, island superintendents prepared plans to show cost cutting or containment measures in administration, transportation, facilities
Islesboro group summarizes vision for school
Recognition that the Islesboro Central School’s existence is “essential to the life of the community” was a major theme in a new “Vision Statement” for the school. ICS “supports the broader efforts of island residents to plan and maintain a vibrant, year-round, sustainable community,” declared the final version, assembled by a committee with the help
CREST orients new teachers
On Feb. 8 the Island Institute CREST team traveled to Bar Harbor to hold an orientation for teachers and administrators of a new group of schools that is joining in the CREST project. Launched in 2005, Community for Rural Education, Stewardship and Technology (CREST) is a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded project that provides hands-on Information
CREST to pair students with IT professionals
The CREST Project is targeting the misconception that few high-tech jobs exist in Maine by pairing students with Midcoast professionals who use information technology (IT) skills and applications on a daily basis. On March 21, Midcoast Career Exploration Day will enable participants to “shadow” workers at diverse Midcoast businesses including Lyman-Morse boatyards, Penobscot Bay Medical
Casco Bay affordable housing forum scheduled
Representatives from affordable housing organizations on Cliff Island, Long Island, Chebeague Island and Peaks Island will be gathering for an affordable housing forum on Thursday, March 6 at the Casco Bay Lines Terminal in Portland. The forum will run from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Participants will discuss topics including application and selection criteria for housing
Bucksport addresses environmental challenges
The people of Bucksport and surrounding communities are rising to meet the global challenges of peak oil, resource depletion, environmental degradation and climate change, addressing them locally through an Environment and Energy Committee formed in 2006. It’s a big committee with 19 members and 12 associate members. The group held a public forum on environmental