Articles
Stealth taxes
As Joan Amory reports this month, commercial fishermen will see their license fees increase by 25 percent in 2004 as a direct result in the $1.1 billion revenue shortfall in the state’s General Fund. The increase will go into the General Fund to help erase the shortfall. Granted, everyone has had to do his or
Institute schedules summer lecture series
Each year in June and July, the Island Institute schedules a series of lectures, usually on topics covered in the annual Island Journal. Speakers are often the authors of stories in the magazine. On Wednesday, June 25, Nancy Griffin of Thomaston will speak about Bell Island, Newfoundland, which she described in a story about that
Woodturning demonstration at Archipelago
On Saturday, June 14 – Father’s Day – from noon to 3 p.m. Joaz Hill will be at Archipelago, the Island Institute’s retail store on Rockland’s Main Street, demonstrating the art of woodturning. Joaz’s work reflects his passion for innovation and experimentation. Over the years, he has found that the characteristics of the wood itself
Risk-averse
Insurance companies, it seems, are increasingly risk-averse these days. No surprise to anyone who’s seen his or her car insurance premium go up after a claim or two, or to the parents of teenage drivers, or to anyone who has paid a health insurance premium lately – but at the end of the day it
Cod and a province
Top-down fisheries management, to some extent discredited in the United States, is alive and well in Canada. So the Canadian federal government’s decision a month ago to close down what was left of Newfoundland’s legendary cod fishery was at least in character, if not welcomed by fishermen and their families. Unfortunately it’s more of the
Investing in the future
Congratulations to the people of the Cranberry Isles, who saw an opportunity to solve a perennial problem and took action – in their case, purchasing a piece of property in Southwest Harbor for a mainland parking lot. Having title to this lot will help Islesford and Great Cranberry, the two islands in the town with
Cranberry Isles dedicates new parking lot
Cranberry Isles dedicated its new mainland parking lot in Southwest Harbor on May 16. Selectman David Stainton spoke to a crowd of islanders who came to the mainland for the event (Sandra Thomas photo).
OnIsland.org is a new place to discuss island issues
In hope of increasing communication about the issues related to life on Maine’s islands, two islanders have created an online discussion forum. The forum – which can be found at www.onisland.org – currently has nine topics: logistics, island visitors, stewardship, government, services/vendors, real estate/ rentals, island property owners newsletter, islands in the news, and islandness
Frenchboro’s baby boom necessitates a preschool
Twenty years ago, Frenchboro decided it wanted to grow. With the help of the Rockefeller Foundation and many others, the Frenchboro Future Development Corporation was formed, and undertook a project to provide affordable family housing. The goal was to attract young families, and today it’s clear the plan worked. All 12 lots in the affordable
Islesboro school starts orchard
Islesboro Central School Horticulture teacher John Pincence, along with students David Pike and Craig Delaney, planted three apple trees on May 7 in a newly-developed orchard on the school’s grounds (Bonnie L. Mowery-Oldham photo).