In late July and early August, 85 students and teachers from Maine’s year-round islands and remote coastal communities explored fundamental information technology and database-management skills at the Island Institute’s second annual Community for Rural Education, Stewardship, and Technology (CREST) Summer Institutes. Designed to provide high-level technology training in an intensive residential format, each of the
In education, equal doesn’t exist
Last spring 17-year-old Ladd Olson, of Vinalhaven, was given an essay assignment by one of his teachers. The topic was up to him. Having been designated a “special education” student, he decided to research his learning disability (or learning difference), dyslexia. “This topic stuck out to me,” he said. “I got sick of hearing other
The Cranberry Report: What Goes Around Comes Around
Summer in the Cranberry Isles is busy, busy, busy. Since the middle of July, on Great Cranberry Island, the activities have included: a Garden Party and Art Auction to benefit the Great Cranberry Island Historical Society, a 50K “uber-marathon” with runners from all over the country, an Evening of Music and Poetry, potluck suppers to
A New Chairman for the Island Institute
John Bird, a nationally recognized educator and organizational consultant with strong Maine coastal ties, has agreed to serve as chair of the board of trustees of the Island Institute. Bird succeeds Horace A. “Hoddy” Hildreth, Jr., chairman of the board of Diversified Communications, whose 16-year term as board chair included such landmarks as the launch
Planning for the PenobscotAs a river flows cleaner, groups collaborate to map its future
Several related and parallel efforts are underway to address changes occurring in the Penobscot watershed. Most have come in the wake of the Penobscot River Restoration Project, which in 2003 announced plans to remove the Great Works and Veazie dams, create a natural bypass channel around the Howland Dam on the Piscataquis, and rebalance hydropower
Penobscot bottom sediment could be headed for bay disposal site
Cianbro Corporation is proposing to dispose of 32,000 cubic yards of Penobscot River bottom sediment in west Penobscot Bay, about 4 ½ miles off Rockland. Cianbro plans to dredge the bottom of the river as part of redevelopment of the former Eastern Fine Paper Mill in Brewer. Cianbro will raze most of the mill buildings
Panelists: fishermen need greater local control
Cianbro Corporation is proposing to dispose of 32,000 cubic yards of Penobscot River bottom sediment in west Penobscot Bay, about 4 ½ miles off Rockland. Cianbro plans to dredge the bottom of the river as part of redevelopment of the former Eastern Fine Paper Mill in Brewer. Cianbro will raze most of the mill buildings
Council to consult marine industry
The Gulf of Maine Council will be holding a consultation meeting with marine industry representatives on Sept. 13, 2007 at the Seacoast Science Center in Rye, NH from 10 AM to 2 PM. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the objectives and work of the council and encourage more participation by industry in
Coalition focuses on health care
Health care is an issue problematic countrywide, but it’s particularly complicated for small communities surrounded by water. At an Aug. 10 meeting of the Maine Islands Coalition, the discussion quickly turned to two separate issues: emergency services and general health care. For emergency medical service (EMS) providers, problems include call volume, transportation, and retaining people
Vinalhaven dedicates an addition to its library
June MacDonald of Friends of the Vinalhaven Library hands over the library “key” to Leonard “Buddy” Skoog, president of the library trustees. On Aug. 15, 100 years to the day after the Vinalhaven Public Library — thanks to a $5,200 grant from Andrew Carnegie — first opened its doors, the library’s trustees, friends and community