Self-Employed!

To the editor, I would like to clarify a point in Sally Noble’s article “Lobster Chic.” Kevin Moore is NOT my “boss.” I have been self-employed for most of my life. I simply choose to sell my lobsters to Little Bay or anywhere else I want to. As far as the lobster electric chair goes…if

Continue reading...


Thanks from 04050

To the editor: I have been remiss in not contacting you sooner. I work at one of the small island post offices along the coast of Maine. Any and all business that you have sent our way is greatly appreciated and needed. I personally thank every stamp-by-mail customer that orders from me–and I neglected to

Continue reading...


School “Arts Team” mounts spring productions

Vinalhaven’s kindergarten through fifth grades put forth their best effort March 15 and 29 in two spring performances of song, dance, art and French language. Kindergarten through second graders presented “A Taste of Impressionism” and the third through fifth graders presented “Through the Decades.” The shows were the result of a collaboration among the art,

Continue reading...


Looking Windward

Within the past few years, we’ve all received a few shocks concerning energy prices. But few of us have experienced the shock felt by many Vinalhaven residents in 2006 when their electric bills went up by $100 to $300. Not surprisingly, the rate increase caused great concern on the island — especially because the cost

Continue reading...


Wind Power

News that electric co-ops on Swan’s Island and Vinalhaven are taking steps to develop those islands’ ample wind-energy resources is heartening evidence that citizens of the United States, if not their national government, are thinking creatively when it comes to replacing fossil fuels. Wind turbines are one of those technologies — hydroelectric dams are another

Continue reading...


Patriot’s Day Storm

Portland–Lobster dealer Peter McAleney, of New Meadows Lobster on Portland Pier, said, “It couldn’t be any worse: tremendous wind with 65 mph gusts.” He then recalled, “Maybe the worst storm was in `77, but we had lobster.” This storm, at a time of next-to-no landings due to colder-than-usual water, hurled thirty-foot waves over his wharf

Continue reading...


To the media: a `no-theast’ kick in the pants

It has become necessary to interrupt our relentless pursuit of definitive solutions to cosmic problems in order to excise a festering sore in today’s marine and weather journalism. It’s the burgeoning use of “nor’easter.” There ain’t no such word. For something that doesn’t exist, it’s sure as hell contagious: the Guy Gannett newspapers have George

Continue reading...


Where are the lobsters?

“It’s very normal to have a slow start to the lobster season,” said Carl Wilson, Maine’s lobster biologist, in early April. “It won’t pick up till the water is 40 degrees.” What he meant was that lobster activity increases when ocean water reaches a temperature of 40 to 42 degrees Fahrenheit on the bottom and

Continue reading...