As the eastern waterfront braces for Portland’s brave new world of development, Maine State Pier finds itself at the center of some controversy. Construction on Ocean Gateway, the city’s new cruise ship terminal, is underway, but so is discussion on the Portland City Council’s proposed zoning changes on this Portland-owned pier. More than 600 of
“CREST” Institute collaborates with NSF, colleges, schools to build technology awareness
On a beautiful day in July after a long stretch of rain, 55 middle and high school students and teachers forfeited all of the tempting opportunities for outdoor recreation and, instead, gathered at the Darling Marine Center to work. They were there for a week-long training program that would help them understand GPS (global positioning
New Housing for Island Teacher
Islesboro Affordable Property (IAP) recently brought its newest house to the island by barge and truck. The house is for one of Islesboro’s teachers, who has lived on the island for 19 years and all of a sudden found herself without a home. (photos: courtesy of Joanne Whitehead, IAP)
Archipelago expands, features two island artists in new gallery
Archipelago, the Island Institute’s retail store, is expanding into the adjacent space at 386 Main Street in Rockland. This new fine art gallery will exhibit solo and group shows of significant island art. Archipelago Fine Arts will present its first show on Sept. 15, 2006, titled “Visions from the Island Studio: Influence and Inspiration.” Featured
Island Saltwater Farms: Farming on Vinalhaven 1820-1960
Remembering the Farm-Sea Connection Vinalhaven Historical Society, 2006. 79 pages $20.00, vhhissoc@midcoast.com I was first introduced to the turning of the tides of a saltwater farm through the verse of Robert P. T. Coffin’s work Saltwater Farm, combined with my own personal upbringing on a small New Hampshire sheep farm where we sold lambs, wool,
Columnist wins award
Islesford jewelry designer and Working Waterfront columnist Barbara Fernald won second place in the PMC category in the 2006 Saul Bell Design Award competition for jewelry design. Fernald received a $1,000 gift certificate for her winning design. The 2006 competition challenged jewelry designers to push the boundaries of creativity as they created original and innovative
Commemorating Portland’s Submarine Defenses
An iron pin in a rock on the south end of Chebeague Island marks one end of the World War II submarine net that once stretched between Chebeague and Long Island. The net protected an entrance to Portland Harbor from German submarines that preyed on Allied shipping in the early 1940s. Recently the Chebeague Historical
When the Island is the Star of the Show
Entertainment is a regular feature at the Smith Hokansen Auditorium in the Vinalhaven School. Nationally known musical acts have appeared, and presentations with lots of local appeal. A movie premiere on July 16, however, had a turnout that surprised everyone. Originally only one showing had been scheduled for “The Islander,” filmed last year on Vinalhaven.
Steel pan music finds a home on the Blue Hill peninsula
There’s island music in the air in Blue Hill this summer, the kind of island music that seems more at home among palm trees than spruces. Since 1974, the Blue Hill peninsula has been Maine’s center for steel pan music. There are at least five active steel pan groups on the Downeast coast, and more
A Man of Stone
Sculptor William Lasansky’s home and studio are right where you might expect them to be on Vinalhaven: perched on the edge of a quarry, up the street from a cemetery full of carved monuments and a stone’s throw from the rocky shoreline. That he is an artist working with granite is no surprise. He has