Articles
Everyone who was asked said “yes”
THE CRANBERRY REPORT: July 19, fog, rain and wind. High temperatures in the 50s. The petunia blossoms are molding, growth is stunted in the vegetable gardens, but trees and lawns are lush. Over the VHF radio in our kitchen, Bruce Damon gives Bruce Fernald a call. “I’ll be glad when they get them Superman glasses
CRANBERRY REPORT:Farewell to Captain Ted
June 15. Foggy weather and 50 degrees at noon. Mildew and mosquitoes are the most common annoyances and lawns are very green. Even with the continued dreary weather, island fishermen are going out steadily with one guaranteed day off each week. The state law that prohibits lobstermen from hauling traps on Sunday is in effect
Little Ray never even got his feet wet
By the afternoon of May 11 the weather had warmed up to 70 degrees, and the leaves we’d been waiting so long to see finally popped out on the trees. Our postmaster, Joy Sprague, took advantage of the warm afternoon to set her lobster traps in the harbor for the first time this year. Joy
The water in April didn’t feel much warmer than it had in March …
T.S. Elliott could have been living in Maine when he wrote, “April is the cruelest month…” The week of April 12 brought rain, wind and more rain. Weather forecasters said we would see sun and warmer temperatures by Friday, but on April 16, it was still 32 degrees and snowing. Not yet time for Dip
Cranberry Report: Fishing Boat Names are as Diverse as Their Owners
March 18. With the weather still cold, Amy and Will Palmer became parents of Islesford’s newest citizen, Adele Louise, at 8 p.m. Adele was born in Bar Harbor weighing just over 10 pounds and measuring 23 inches long. Warmer weather was forecast for later in the week, providing a good opportunity for Adele’s first homecoming.
Cranberry Report: Cranberry Isles Holds a Memorable Town Meeting
The annual Cranberry Isles Town Meeting, our town’s biggest March ritual, is a wonderful example of democracy and unpredictability. The meeting date of March 8 was determined at the annual town meeting last year. However, a plan for a motion to adjourn the meeting to March 15 had been discussed at a November selectmen’s meeting,
Cranberry Report: One Captain Leaves, A New One Returns
Our community lost a beloved friend and a wonderful source of island history, when Ted Spurling died on January 27 after battling a long illness. With his Cranberry Report, he kept us up to date with weather observations, community happenings, and memories of years gone by. From a few islanders with whom I spoke, he
Cranberry Report: Cold Dipping
Friday, Nov. 11, 2003. Veterans’ Day. 30 degrees at 6 a.m. A calm morning with not a boat left in the harbor at Islesford. Early that day, the voice of co-op manager Mark Nighman came over the VHF radio telling fishermen in the area to “wave goodbye to the GALE as she heads down east.”
Cranberry Report: Beware the Barbie Doll Lobster!
Ted Spurling decided to retire from writing a monthly column for Working Waterfront in favor of writing occasional pieces. He asked me if I would be interested in taking over for him in his monthly report. Ted’s individual style and historical knowledge of the Cranberry Isles presented me with a daunting challenge. How could I