CRANBERRY ISLES — Mosquitoes have been driving residents of the Cranberry Isles crazy for at least a century. But the swarms likely will return this summer, because residents rejected a proposal to address the biting bugs. At their annual town meeting on Saturday, March 16, residents voted down the plan to introduce a bacterium that
Island living, the one-wheel way
ISLESBORO — A dull winter haze has settled over the island after some morning sun, bringing a rawness to the air and making the fireplace in the Murphy home that much more seductive. But Ryan Murphy would rather be outside, working his way through the obstacle course that is the Pendleton Yacht Yard, just down
On the record with… Front Street Shipyard’s JB Turner
BELFAST, Maine — The Front Street Shipyard has been the biggest thing to happen to the city’s waterfront since the poultry plant was demolished in the late 1990s. JB Turner, president of the yard, is the most visible of the company’s six partners, and though he bears a prestigious title, Turner would never be confused
Islesboro selectmen want full federal tank study
ISLESBORO — Town officials voted unanimously on Wednesday, March 13 to ask the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to complete a full environmental impact study of the 23 million gallon liquefied propane gas tank proposed for Searsport. The board will send a letter to the Army Corps seeking the full review, the second time the
Rockweed: ‘Fishable’ plant or critical habitat?
AUGUSTA — Seaweed may not be fish or animal, but according to the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) and Maine law, “fish” as a verb includes the harvesting of all marine organisms, including marine plants. In February, DMR drafted a bill that would direct the creation of a statewide management policy for seaweed harvesting.
One-room schools, then and now
I grew up hearing stories of my grandmother’s days in a one-room schoolhouse, working with one ear tuned in to catch the older students’ lessons across the room. Some local history group moved a tiny renovated schoolhouse (which spent part of its life as a chicken coop) to the field across from “the Farm,” my grandmother’s
Guy times
It began innocently enough. A friend from years past moved to town and called another friend to reconnect. The two of them went out for a run together one Saturday morning, found it satisfying, and kept it up. Soon they added a second running date Sunday morning before they went to church. Then another friend
Mosquitos attack, Cranberry residents fight back
CRANBERRY ISLES — Mosquitoes have been driving residents of the Cranberry Isles crazy for at least a century. Voters will soon consider a renewed effort to control the pests, with the deployment of a naturally occurring bacterium called Bacillus thuringensius israelensis (Bti) in salt marshes, cattail marshes and stagnant waters. Property owner permission would be
Maine lobster fishery achieves ‘sustainable’ status
BOSTON, Mass. — The Marine Stewardship Council has certified the Maine lobster fishery as sustainable, Gov. LePage announced at the Boston Seafood Show on Sunday. “This not only helps other Maine fisheries, it helps the state. We are the lobster for the world,” said LePage, who gave credit to Maine Department of Marine Resources Commissioner
Finding winter fun on Swan’s Island hasn’t changed much
Kate Webber is an Island Institute Fellow working with the Swan’s Island Historical Society. Her projects include oral history recording, digital archiving, service-learning with 6-8th graders, and the revival of local music and contra dance. Photos and research courtesy of the Swan’s Island historical collection. There was a time when I assumed the only thing