http://www.workingwaterfront.com Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:23:55 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.workingwaterfront.com/images/ww_banner_bg.png http://www.workingwaterfront.com http://www.workingwaterfront.com/columns/Cranberry-Report-Potluck-luck/13713/ As I played my phone messages back on Friday, March, 5, I heard a request from Amy Palmer, treasurer of the Islesford Neighborhood House Association: "Would you be willing to bake some bread for the Town Meeting lunch on Monday?" Apparently I had missed seeing the poster at the Islesford Post Office, where island residents were asked to sign up to bring salads, breads or desserts to accompany the homemade soups. No problem. ... info@workingwaterfront.org (by Barbara Fernald) Thu, 01 Apr 2010 04:00:00 +0100 http://www.workingwaterfront.com/columns/Cranberry-Report-Potluck-luck/13713/ http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/Students-remember-school-food-director/13718/ On a normal weekday afternoon, the Chebeague Island School couldn't be busier. With classes over, the students twirl and skip down the single hallway, creating a ruckus. Over the din, backpacks and lunchboxes are gathered; coats and hats donned. Teachers Kristin Westra and Ruth White act like sheepdogs, herding the youngsters towards the bus that will take them home. Things were quite different on the afternoon of February 24. ... info@workingwaterfront.org (by Anna Maine) Thu, 01 Apr 2010 04:00:00 +0100 http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/Students-remember-school-food-director/13718/ http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/Another-strong-tournament-run-by-Viking-basketball-teams/13719/ The Vinalhaven Vikings basketball teams are experiencing resurgence. In the last few years, both the boys and girls teams have performed well in the Maine Principals' Association Basketball Tournament. This year, the boys appeared in the Western Class D finals and the girls played in the semifinals. In 2008, the boys' team finished in last place. Before 2008, the girls' team had not appeared in the semifinals in 22 years. ... info@workingwaterfront.org (by Kris Osgood) Thu, 01 Apr 2010 04:00:00 +0100 http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/Another-strong-tournament-run-by-Viking-basketball-teams/13719/ http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/Vinalhaven-and-Spruce-Head-lobstermen-benefit-from-working-waterfront-program/13722/ All Maine lobstermen are facing big challenges: new rope requirements intended to reduce risk to North Atlantic Right Whales put a financial strain on lobstermen at the same time that lobster prices plummeted; herring quota cuts threaten to cause bait shortages and cost increases; and development and rising land values are squeezing out traditional working waterfront uses. But members of the Vinalhaven Lobstermen's Co-operative are taking these challenges head on. ... info@workingwaterfront.org (by Hanna Wheeler) Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:00:00 +0100 http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/Vinalhaven-and-Spruce-Head-lobstermen-benefit-from-working-waterfront-program/13722/ http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/Field-Notes-Housing-policies-on-an-island-scale/13706/ The building I am looking at on Vinalhaven is a nondescript, large two-story structure that used to function as an island store. Having just arrived after a quick walk up the hill from "down street," I am a stones' throw from the historical society, the Arts and Recreation Center and its Cafe, and beyond I can see the recently restored town offices and Carvers Pond. It would be a good place to rent an apartment for a young family who needs to be close to everything. ... info@workingwaterfront.org (by Rob Snyder) Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100 http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/Field-Notes-Housing-policies-on-an-island-scale/13706/ http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/Beyond-power-Will-offshore-wind-development-bring-jobs/13695/ State legislators and industry advocates have been heralding the coming benefits of offshore wind development: it will reduce Maine's costly addiction to imported fossil fuels, lower the state's ecological footprint, and provided a much-needed stimulus to the state's struggling economy. According to Dr. ... info@workingwaterfront.org (by Suzanne Pude and Gillian Garratt-Reed) Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100 http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/Beyond-power-Will-offshore-wind-development-bring-jobs/13695/ http://www.workingwaterfront.com/online-exclusives/Vinalhaven-basketball-teams-have-a-good-tournament-run/13685/ The Vinalhaven Vikings basketball teams came close to the state championship finals this year. The boys' season ended last Saturday after an appearance in the Western Class D finals of the Maine Principals' Association Basketball Tournament, losing to Richmond High 47-32. This team is one only five Vinalhaven boys teams ever to make it this far in the tournament. Last year the boys were eliminated in the semifinals. ... info@workingwaterfront.org (by Kris Osgood) Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100 http://www.workingwaterfront.com/online-exclusives/Vinalhaven-basketball-teams-have-a-good-tournament-run/13685/ http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/As-electric-co-op-conducts-sound-experiment-Vinalhaven-residents-debate-solution-to-turbine-noise-issue/13674/ On February 1, the Fox Islands Electric Cooperative, Inc. began an experiment in which the three 1.5 megawatt General Electric wind turbines on Vinalhaven will be randomly slowed down at night for one month. On January 29, the co-op's board of directors sent letters to 38 households located within a half-mile of the 388-foot tall turbines. About half of those are seasonal homes, according to Chip Farrington, the co-op's general manager. ... info@workingwaterfront.org (by David Tyler) Wed, 10 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100 http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/As-electric-co-op-conducts-sound-experiment-Vinalhaven-residents-debate-solution-to-turbine-noise-issue/13674/ http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/Islesboro-Community-Center-celebrates-opening/13673/ A potluck supper with 170 attendees, fitness center equipment demonstrations, and Sunday brunch in the café marked the opening on February 6 and 7 of the long anticipated Islesboro Community Center. The project has been in the works for 10 years. While the island school is being renovated, kindergarten through fourth grade have occupied a portion of the building since September. ... info@workingwaterfront.org (by Sandy Oliver) Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100 http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/Islesboro-Community-Center-celebrates-opening/13673/ http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/By-taking-test-you-can-help-broadband-mapping-project/13669/ Maine residents have a chance to shape the future development of broadband service, according to a press release.The U.S. Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NITA) on January 12 awarded the ConnectME Authority about $1.3 million for broadband data collection and mapping over a two-year period and almost $440,000 for broadband planning over a five-year period. ... info@workingwaterfront.org (by Staff Writer) Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100 http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/By-taking-test-you-can-help-broadband-mapping-project/13669/ http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/Winter-on-Chebeague-means-skating-at-Sanfords-Pond/13661/ To most people, winter in Maine means sub-zero temperatures, shoveling driveways and being cooped up in the house for days on end. To the kids of Chebeague Island, winter means sledding on Thompson's hill, a little snowmobiling and, most importantly, skating on Sanford's Pond. For nearly three decades, the pond has been a part of winter life on Chebeague. ... info@workingwaterfront.org (by Anna Maine) Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100 http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/Winter-on-Chebeague-means-skating-at-Sanfords-Pond/13661/ http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/Inactive-Matinicus-Rock-weather-station-to-be-fixed/13662/ For years, Penobscot Bay fishermen and other boaters have relied on a government-run weather monitoring station at Matinicus Rock. It spewed out data available via Internet on any home computer, and many lobstermen checked it before heading out to sea or, depending on conditions, deciding to stay home. Last year, the station went off line. Now the head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has indicated a temporary station will be operating by March 31. ... info@workingwaterfront.org (by Steve Cartwright) Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100 http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/Inactive-Matinicus-Rock-weather-station-to-be-fixed/13662/ http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/Providing-housing-and-loans-to-Isle-au-Haut-residents-for-20-years/13657/ When a young islander came to Isle au Haut in the late 1980s, he became worried about the island's future. "When I moved to the island in late 1988 the community had 35 year-round residents and one kid in school," recalls Matthew Skolnikoff, one of the founders of the Island Community Development Corporation (ICDC), and the organizations' chairman and administrator for the past 20 years. "There was a real fear that the community would die. ... info@workingwaterfront.org (by Kate Taylor) Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100 http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/Providing-housing-and-loans-to-Isle-au-Haut-residents-for-20-years/13657/ http://www.workingwaterfront.com/columns/For-Matinicus-students-leaving-home-comes-early/13655/ From the time they are big enough to ride a wobbly bicycle a quarter of a mile until they are, in some cases, capable of running a boat to the mainland, Matinicus kids assemble daily in their one schoolroom. Preschoolers look forward to it. Students learning the alphabet work beside teens working on algebra and chemistry. Children study with their siblings, their cousins, their neighbors, their babysitters. ... info@workingwaterfront.org (by Eva Murray) Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100 http://www.workingwaterfront.com/columns/For-Matinicus-students-leaving-home-comes-early/13655/ http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/Challenges-of-island-government-appeal-to-new-town-manager/13652/ "I enjoy town administration because it's never boring and sometimes affords the opportunity to be innovative; that could be particularly true here," says Islesboro's new Town Manager Jeffrey Grossman.  When asked what attracted him to the position in Islesboro, Grossman replies, "I liked the thought that some problems which might be solved simply in other places will have a different dimension on an island; more of a challenge. ... info@workingwaterfront.org (by Maggy Aston) Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100 http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/Challenges-of-island-government-appeal-to-new-town-manager/13652/ http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/Cranberry-Isles-residents-consider-paying-for-more-winter-ferry-runs/13650/ For over 50 years, the town of Cranberry Isles has depended on one ferry service provider to bring the mail, transport residents to medical appointments, and be their dependable, year-round connection to the mainland. At the March Town Meeting, the town will be seeking funds from voters to subsidize a second morning and evening commuter service that is intended to address the continuing challenge of maintaining a year-round community. ... info@workingwaterfront.org (by Cherie Galyean) Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100 http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/Cranberry-Isles-residents-consider-paying-for-more-winter-ferry-runs/13650/ http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/Vinalhaven-students-explore-ethics/13649/ Most high school students will tell you they are not thrilled to go back to school after Christmas vacation. This year the Vinalhaven High School staff found a way to ease back into the swing of things by holding a week-long exploration of ethics. Ethics Week ran January 4-8 and included a viewing of the movie "Hotel Rwanda," a two-day residency by artist Robert Shetterly and art projects, among other things. Regular classes did not meet during Ethics Week. ... info@workingwaterfront.org (by Kris Osgood) Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100 http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/Vinalhaven-students-explore-ethics/13649/ http://www.workingwaterfront.com/columns/Journal-of-an-Island-Kitchen-Growing-endives-in-the-bathroom/13641/ What a show-off stunt it is to grow endive. Practically a parlor trick. Of course, you expect people like four-season growing experts Elliot Coleman and Barbara Damrosch in Harborside to go around growing endive. Or maybe the Belgians when they are not brewing beer or raising horses. But we do it, too, as our endive makes its lengthy trip from seed to plant to big fat root to the cellar then to the bathroom closet then finally the kitchen and dinner table. ... info@workingwaterfront.org (by Sandy Oliver) Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100 http://www.workingwaterfront.com/columns/Journal-of-an-Island-Kitchen-Growing-endives-in-the-bathroom/13641/ http://www.workingwaterfront.com/columns/The-ABCs-of-a-Cranberry-Winter/13640/ At the height of the busy summer season, there are hundreds of daily visitors to the Cranberry Isles, along with hundreds more who own or rent houses to stay for their favorite vacation of the year. We are inundated with faces we don't know, and frazzled by trying to catch up with all of the people we do know because they are only here for a week or two. ... info@workingwaterfront.org (by Barbara Fernald) Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100 http://www.workingwaterfront.com/columns/The-ABCs-of-a-Cranberry-Winter/13640/ http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/North-Havens-entire-high-school-class-takes-part-in-drama-festival/13639/ Although the islands appear quiet this time of year—summer houses drained and closed up, fields frozen, seasonal businesses closed—for North Haven Community School students, winter is the busy season. Between basketball, major research projects, yearbook preparation and homework, the school’s 17 high school students sometimes feel stretched pretty thin. ... info@workingwaterfront.org (by Lisa Shields) Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100 http://www.workingwaterfront.com/articles/North-Havens-entire-high-school-class-takes-part-in-drama-festival/13639/