In the last days of July, 1914, Europe resounded with saber rattling, mobilizations, counter mobilizations and ultimata back and forth – and with sincere efforts for peaceful solutions to insoluble problems. However, no one was at war when the North German Lloyd liner KRONPRINZESSIN CECILE sailed from New York for Southampton, England. She carried 1,1216
LNG and Leadership
The current round of proposals to build LNG terminals, and the state’s response to them, is reminiscent of Maine’s flirtation with oil refineries a quarter-century ago. Back then, developers would poke their heads up here and there, counting on support from people in need of jobs, business-oriented citizens, tax-conscious politicians and local officials. Over about
Grow Your Own
A program to educate individuals about shellfish aquaculture has quietly gotten underway in Damariscotta and Blue Hill. It’s not a training program for commercial growers; instead, it provides an opportunity for ordinary citizens to learn about shellfish biology and husbandry, predators and diseases, environmental impacts and regulations. The program, Muriel Hendrix reports elsewhere in this
Fire Departments
Ask anyone to name important community institutions and it won’t be long before they name the local fire department. It’s what protects us all from disaster, the first responder. When the World Trade Center was attacked, it was firefighters who responded, and many of them lost their lives in the attempt to rescue people. An
Where are the herring?
To the editor: I am wondering why, with all of the herring being caught off the coast of Maine, I am unable to buy ANY. Living near Portland, I have asked every store that sells fish; they say they do not get any. Earlier on, when the sardine packing plants were operating, they used to
Seeing Pink
To the editor: This may sound stupid, but I think I remember reading an article last fall about some study with seagulls that caused the gulls to turn pink/red on their bodies and under side of wings. There is one flying around the Vinalhaven Co-op and I can’t remember what was causing this to happen.
Potter-mania!
Islesboro Central School teacher Janet Dooley’s 4th and 5th graders – Harry Potter fans all – transformed their classroom into the Hogwarts School of Muggle Wizardry, complete with colorful banners, robes for each student and courses such as Arithmancy, History of Muggles and Spelling Spells. Sorted into houses at the beginning of the school year,
Author visits Islesboro
Maine author Tess Gerritsen visited Islesboro Central School on May 13, and discussed the process of writing as well as details of her latest book, The Sinner, with high school students. From left: Carolyn Leach, ICS librarian who arranged the author’s visit, Tess Gerritsen, Caitlin Andersen, and student Nick Porter, an avid admirer of Gerritsen’s
Mayday!
Islesboro Central School’s annual May Day celebration included an array of exhibits by horticulture students, singing of spring songs and dancing around the May Pole. The event, well attended by students, staff and community, was organized by horticultural teacher Jon Pincince. The school’s “work-in-progress,” an apple orchard, provided the setting for a primary school play
In Praise of New Asparagus
As soon as mud season is over, and the earth gives just a little underfoot, I go out to our 35-foot-long double-rowed asparagus bed, and begin my gardening year by pulling away last year’s dried old stalks and throwing them on the compost pile. We mulch that bed pretty heavily, and I pull the hay