Most American children know that Santa Claus arrives on Christmas Eve driving a reindeer-powered sleigh. What most of those children don’t know is that Santa also travels by helicopter doing 160 miles per hour. Flying Santa, as he has come to be known, visits lighthouses and Coast Guard stations along the East Coast from Jonesport,
Making Dreams Come True
Dear Fellow Mainers, The time of year has returned when we start baking cookies and finding excuses to spend all day inside by the fire. It is a time for calling relatives and humming Christmas carols all day long. It is also a time to stop and think of those in the world whose dreams,
“A General Amazement among All Sorts of Animals” Islesboro remembers its role in a 1780 solar eclipse
Tucked away on Islesboro is a modest historical marker. “First Eclipse of the Sun, 1780,” it states. The granite monument commemorates the first scientifically recorded solar eclipse on the North American continent. This testament to a little-known piece of history is located on the east side of Penobscot Bay at the Narrows, known in 1780
“The Downside of Principle” Why did James Swan sit in jail for 22 years?
James Swan was a writer, Revolutionary War soldier, land speculator and wealthy businessman who created fortunes in America and France. After the Revolution, Swan purchased 25 islands in Penobscot Bay, including the island now named for him, and founded the first recorded settlement on Swan’s Island. He also spent the last 22 years of his
Swan’s celebrates Thanksgiving
Swan’s Island celebrated its community Thanksgiving Dinner on Nov. 18. Men from the island churches traditionally serve the meal and community members bring desserts to share. Ken Dutille, pastor of the Swan’s Island Baptist Church, estimates that two-thirds of the island population (220 people) attended. Also in observance of Thanksgiving, The Bread of Life Food
Journal of an Island Kitchen: Thanksgiving
On the fourth Thursday of November, 97 percent of all Americans eat turkey. Most of them eat it with other people, accompanied by mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing (if you are in the North) or dressing (if you are in the South), cranberry sauce, and miscellaneous other vegetables, often squash, and that casserole made of green
Island airline wins federal subsidy
On a warm evening last August, when Jeff Northgraves, Knox County Regional Airport Manager, first heard the good news that sizeable federal grant money was recently allocated to fledgling Penobscot Island Air, Northgraves kicked himself (just a little) for not having asked for more. Down to the penny, the U.S. Department of Transportation handed out
“Islands in Crisis” draws a crowd
Over 50 people crowded into a room for the “Islands in Crisis” sessions at the Governor’s Annual Affordable Housing Conference on Nov. 3 in Rockland. Bridged and unbridged islands were represented, including Mount Desert Island, Isle au Haut, Islesboro, Monhegan, Peaks, Long, Cranberry Isles, North Haven, Cliff, Chebeague and Swan’s. Mainlanders attended the session as
Cranberry Report: No Starter’s Pistol for an Ex Con
The second half of October was cold, rainy and gray; very much like the weather we had in May. Many islanders once again had flooded basements. On a wet October 16, the fourth annual Mount Desert Island Marathon was successfully orchestrated by Gary Allen of Great Cranberry Island. His friend Martha Stewart started the runners
North Haven voters allow their new school to proceed
By a 62 to 38 percent margin, North Haven voters approved an amendment that will allow a $7.5 million dollar school construction project to move forward. Two hundred forty-two island residents cast their ballots, with 149 votes in favor of the amendment and 93 against. It was one of the largest turnouts in recent town