It was March and in the high 80s with a searing sun as palm trees waved along a white sandy beach, lapped by turquoise water. No mistaking that for Vinalhaven. Yet we were reminded of Vinalhaven as we visited the two smaller islands off Puerto Rico’s northeast corner, Culebra and Vieques. Culebra is the same
Stroke!: Vinalhaven Holds its First Indoor Rowing Race
April is an itchy time of year for islanders. Fishermen are itching to get traps overboard, gardeners are itching to get in the dirt, and kids are itching to get out of school. As the relatively novice sport of rowing continues to grow on the Maine Coast, members of the Vinalhaven Rowing Club found themselves
Recruiting New Firefighters is a Problem for Islands
At the March 26th Firefighters’ Forum at the Island Institute, there was much talk of training problems, the cost of fire insurance, recruitment woes and aging equipment. But there were also grant success stories, idea sharing and a renewed commitment to improving island fire departments. The forum was designed to connect island fire departments in
Islesford’s Museum May Open Full-Time this Summer
The Islesford Museum, previously slated for closure by Acadia National Park, may have been spared in recent days. According to park officials, the Islesford Museum, which has been operated by Acadia National Park since 1948, was to remain closed this summer due to budget constraints. Acadia National Park is facing budget shortfalls of between $500,000
Young Islesboro Dancer Forms Troupe
Ten-year-old Claire Boucher loves to teach as much as she loves to dance, so it was only natural that she combine these two interests by forming her own dance troupe. Claire primarily studies ballet, but has also learned hip-hop, tap and jazz, and has been performing with the Camden group “People to People” for more
Isle au Haut Passes School Budget, Buys Hose, Pumps
In a large turnout for a small island, around 50 people showed up for Isle au Haut town meeting on Monday, March 29th. They passed a $190,696 school budget, re-elected most town personnel, and approved new money to finance the fire department and build a town sand shed. Ted Hoskins was elected to moderate the
Shellfish Farm Agreement Breaks New Ground
In the past, applicants for shellfish aquaculture leases have worked hard to communicate with riparian landowners and address their concerns, making changes to their plans either prior to or during the public hearing held by the state. In March, Babe and Shain Stanley carried the process a step further by signing a legal agreement with
Alewives Need Equal Rights, Activist Says
The alewife is a much-misunderstood fish, and some of its life is still a mystery. Each spring, alewives migrate upstream from the sea, in great numbers, to spawn. It’s a huge orgy, “the fish version of creation,” said Naomi Shalit of Alna, an alewife advocate head of a group called Maine Rivers. At a recent
Muscongus Among Us!
One evening in April, a group of midcoast teachers gathered in Waldoboro to sniff the musky odor of a deceased storm petrel, test out a “blubber mitt” and turn a paper plate into a puffin. These were but a few of the activities overseen by Sue Schubel, outreach educator for Audubon, as she handed elementary
Tax Cap Proposal Clouds Islands’ Financial Future
Waterfront property owners may not like it, but they’re accustomed to paying higher taxes than their inland counterparts. But when waterfront residents in Portland received revaluation notices from the city last month, their collective gasp was audible throughout Casco Bay. Many saw their valuations double and in some cases triple. Increases like that are adding