In a column several months ago, a certain self-satisfied father let his Scotch nature get the better of him while complaining about his children’s wasteful energy habits whenever they returned home (http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/Empty-Nesting/15108/). We must learn to be careful of whom we have become. With their children now all off launching their lives into the gales
MDI school tackles dropout rates
MOUNT DESERT ISLAND — The school district here aims to see that all of its students earn a high school graduation diploma. The issue of secondary students withdrawing from school before earning their diploma landed on the board’s agenda at the beginning of the 2012-2013 year. The issue, in this particular district, is considered to
Property tax relief must remain budget priority
The headline-grabber in Gov. Paul LePage’s initial budget proposal to the Legislature was a two-year freeze on state revenue sharing, meaning cities and towns would lose $98.9 million in revenue in each of the next two years. The headline writers were right: that’s a big deal. In order to compensate, municipalities across the state would
Connecting a pair of unrelated existential questions
OK, two questions: why be cheerful and what is the value of innocence? The first question begins with the enduring impression I have of my father-in-law in his final years and months, while he was much reduced by open heart surgery, followed by a stroke from which he struggled mightily to regain his mobility and
Good Harbor’s Clarke’s letter to Searsport planners
February 12, 2013 Mr. J. Bruce Probert Chairman Searsport Planning Board 1 Union St Searsport, ME 04974 Mr. Probert and Searsport Planning Board Members: Thank you for the opportunity to present before you, members of the Planning Board and members of the community, the findings of our all hazards risk assessment for the proposed Liquefied
Connecting a pair of unrelated existential questions
OK, two questions: why be cheerful and what is the value of innocence? The first question begins with the enduring impression I have of my father-in-law in his final years and months, while he was much reduced by open heart surgery, followed by a stroke from which he struggled mightily to regain his mobility and
About Nemo finding us
This past weekend a northeasterly blizzard, named Nemo, roared across the outer edge of the Gulf of Maine and buried the Maine coast and islands with over 30 inches of snow and then whipped its icy cargo into drifts six and seven feet high to help us all with upper body strength exercises.Weather makes you
Maine coastal homeowners could be hit by LePage budget
A budget proposal released by the administration of Maine Governor Paul LePage would curtail two popular property tax relief programs while also ending the state’s revenue-sharing program with Maine municipalities. Under the proposal, Maine’s Homestead and so-called “Circuit Breaker” programs would tighten income restrictions and lower the maximum tax offsets for homeowners and renters who
How I spent my winter vacation
Thanks to the thoughtful planners in town and the skillful inoculations from Sharon Daley of the Seacoast Mission, a record number of people received painless flu shots in November in the Cranberry Isles. It’s a darn good thing too, since those of us who came down with the two-week worst-cold-virus-ever in December and January could
Low catch prompts two more days for shrimpers
AUGUSTA, Maine—The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has added two fishing days for shrimp trawlers in response to low catch rates seen early in the season. Effective Feb. 11, the trawl fishery will be able to land fish Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The change will remain in place until further notice. Previously, shrimp trawlers