You wouldn’t dive into the water if you saw a shark fins. But a lot of low-income and older Mainers take the plunge into a sea of debt, at the mercy of unscrupulous mortgage brokers. Typically, these people no longer qualify for a straight-ahead loan at their local bank so they turn to less accountable
Part-time help is hard to come by at some island schools
It’s a perennial sign of the school year to come: a School Union #98 ad in the Ellsworth American seeking a part-time music teacher and a part-time physical education teacher at the Islesford school. There usually isn’t fierce competition for either position. Selena Dunbar, administrative assistant at the Union #98 Superintendent’s office, said a part-time
Development leads to hotter temperatures in Ellsworth
This summer in Ellsworth, Lindsay Moon worked two jobs in the city’s expanding commercial district of High Street, splitting time between Mr. Paperback in the Mill Mall and the UPS store across the busy four-lane street. She said the parking lots at both locations were often unbearably hot. “There’s so much asphalt and no trees
Hot Spots
“Heat islands” may seem a strange topic for a coastal newspaper that devotes much of its space to the varied ways people earn their livings in this region. But when you think about it, the way we design our malls and parking lots has a lot to do with this place where we live: large
Cranberries vs. Verizon On some islands, high-speed Internet remains elusive
When asked for his assessment of high-speed Internet capability in the Cranberry islands, resident Hugh Smallwood replied with a statement that would be questionable to print in this newspaper. Afterwards, he said at best he can get 50 KB, better than dialup, but not fast enough for his needs. “It’s way below DSL speed,” he
Cranberry Report: The Noisy Month of August
Ahh. Summer in the Cranberry Isles. We have no RVs, no bridge to the mainland, only minor parking problems, and no cruise ships in the harbor. Sounds quiet, doesn’t it? Folks on Great Cranberry Island got together for a live auction on July 10 to raise over $9,000 for their library. Donations were almost all
“Big Claws” raises money for Islesboro Preschool
On July 30 the Islesboro Preschool hosted a very successful lobster dinner and claw auction. The two-foot-long fiberglass lobster claws, decorated by local artists, were on display throughout town during the month of July. There were one hundred tickets sold for the dinner, which included mussels, corn-on-the-cob and the featured crustacean donated by fisherman JT
Swan’s groups collaborate to entertain, raise money
Three Swan’s Island organizations joined forces Aug. 12 to raise money and create entertainment. The Swan’s Island Educational Society (library), the Lighthouse Committee and the Hockamock Players provided islanders with dinner and a play. The First Annual Chowder Cook-off was held early in the evening as a joint fundraiser for the library and lighthouse. Fourteen
Chebeague kids celebrate Independence Day with old-time fun
Chebeague Island kids celebrated the Fourth of July this year with a return to old-time, homegrown fun. There was a lot to celebrate. For one thing, parents now know that the island school will stay open — Chebeague has won its own independence and will soon become Maine’s youngest town. The under-ten crowd took wooden
Frenchboro Lobster Dinner Draws Crowd
The Annual Frenchboro Lobster Festival was held on Aug. 12 and drew a large crowd. On the only day of the year that the ferry makes a return trip to Frenchboro, visitors were treated to a unique day of food and entertainment. The Frenchboro Church put on the event, and served over 400 dinners. The