Tag Archives: ROCKLAND
Rockland Council holds off on resolve that supports lobster industry, dismisses right whale concerns
The City Council voted Monday evening, June 12, to postpone for two months a resolve to support the lobster industry out of concern that the language goes too far in dismissing concerns about the impact on the endangered right whale. Councilor Austin was unsuccessful in removing some of the language from the resolve concerning right whales. That vote was 3-2 against removing the language with the mayor supporting Austin’s effort. The statements at issue in the resolve were ones that dismissed the concerns that environmentalists have about the lobster industry’s impact on right whales. >click to read< 08:02
The Birds Eye Fleet
In 1954, General Foods Birdseye Division was a big part of Rockland’s waterfront. In addition to a fish processing operation on Tillson Avenue, the company had a shipyard on Mechanic Street that maintained a fleet of nine fishing boats. On the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 13, 1954, the Surf went aground on the ledges of Devil’s Limb off Seal Island, to the west of Nova Scotia. The Surf was built in 1937 and was registered at 309 tons. Her length was 132 feet with a 25-foot beam, powered by a 750-horsepower diesel. Captain Douglas Schwartz of Rockland was taking the trawler and his crew of 10 men to the Grand Banks, having left the day before at 4 p.m. It is believed the trawler’s compass was off. Men who have sailed the area observe the Surf was 15 to 20 miles off course when she ran aground. >click to read< 11:53
The ‘last 20 miles’: Real estate boom, new demands threaten Maine’s working waterfront
Rockland – The potential sale of three commercial waterfront properties has the potential to bring new development and tax revenue, but also great change to the town’s character. The properties are being marketed as development opportunities for hotels, restaurants, retail or office space, residential or marine usage and are listed for sale for $13.9 million, according to the New England Commercial Property Exchange. “We expect that whatever we do will be controversial,” Ed Glaser, mayor of Rockland. Elsewhere in Rockland, the nonprofit Island Institute has been sounding the alarm about shrinking coastal frontage still available for commercial use by fishermen, boatbuilders, marinas and so on. Of Maine’s 5,300 miles of coastline, just a fraction, 20 miles, is still available for working waterfront, according to the nonprofit’s 2014 report, “The Last 20 Miles.” >click to read< 13:32
Maine: Fire roars through fishing boat in Rockland
A commercial fishing boat was heavily damaged Tuesday night when a fire roared through the vessel while parked at a boatyard. The F/V Dark Star was ablaze when the first crews arrived shortly before 9:30 p.m. Nov. 30 in a parking lot of Journey’s End Marina on Tillson Avenue. Flames were shooting high in the sky and thick smoke was pouring from the vessel. Photos, >click to read< 22:21
At 101, Maine woman may be the oldest person in the world still lobstering
Virginia Oliver lobsters her 200 pots in the waters off of Rockland, usually three days a week. Her sea legs aren’t as steady as they used to be, but she might be more at ease on a rocking boat than possibly anywhere else. “They call me the Lobster Lady.” Virginia grew up between the mainland, Rockland, and Andrews Islands, where her family has a home and where her father lobstered and fished for sardines to sell to the local factory. She started lobstering when she was just 8 years old and would go out with her big brother John. All of her four children lobster, just as her late husband had. What does Virginia like best about lobstering, “being the boss.” She doesn’t go out if she doesn’t want to but she likes the independence life on the water has afforded her and her family. Video,>click to read< 21:19
Video: Lobster Boat Races, Rockland style. Photos: 2021 Charles Begin Boothbay Harbor Lobster Boat Races
Videographer Terry Boivin was aboard a lobster boat owned by Willie Coombs, of Prospect Harbor, for the June 20 lobster boat races around Rockland Harbor. It’s a great ride along, and when Willie winds her up, and that turbo kicks in, you can feel the power! Thanks to Terry Boivin, and Willie Coombs for a great way to start today! >click to watch<
2021 Boothbay Harbor Lobster Boat Races – The 2021 Charles Begin Boothbay Harbor Lobster Boat Races were held Saturday, June 19 after skies cleared. Here, professional photographer Michael Leonard captures the action from West Boothbay Harbor. Race results will appear in a separate article. >click to view the photos< 08:01
2021 Boothbay Harbor Lobster Boat Races results >Click to read the results!<
Obituary: Captain Travis L. Thorbjornson, beloved husband, father, grandfather and son
Travis Lee Thorbjornson, beloved husband, father, grandfather and son, perished at sea tragically Friday, March 26, 2021 in Port Clyde. Born in Rockland, August 12, 1966, he was the son of Edward and Jacqueline (Kaler) Thorbjornson. Once you met Travis, it did not take long to realize that he was just as beautiful on the inside as he was on the outside. Travis met the love of his life, Renée Olsavick. They were married,,, Together, they would go on to raise three beautiful children in their Thomaston home. As a young man, Travis began his fishing career working with his brothers on the family owned fishing fleet. >click to read< Travis Thorbjornson Family Support Fund – The funds collected will be given to Renee for funeral and living expenses to support her and Travis’s family as they mourn the loss of such an amazing man. >click to read< and please give if you can. 07:49
The “Lobster Lady” is honored as Grand Marshal for Sea Goddess Coronation
At the 73rd Sea Goddess Coronation luncheon Aug. 8, visitors honored the 2020 Grand Marshal for the parade, who is Virginia Oliver (also known as “The Lobster Lady”). Oliver recently celebrated her 100th Birthday and is the oldest licensed lobster fishing person in the state of Maine. >click to read< 17:58
Seafood Connect! Maine Fishermen hold events to get products direct to customers
It’s first come, first served this weekend at Maine’s Working Waterfront – Seafood Connect event. In the midst of everything happening in the world, the local fishing community has been hit hard. This event will feature fresh seafood at an “off the boat” price. Any fisherman who is legal to sell is welcome. No preorders. Fishermen will decide what/if they are selling each week. As of May 4, the group will be switching from the Rockland location to the Reny’s in Camden. Bring bags to take your seafood home. Names, phone numbers, locations, product diversity! >click to read< 09:21
Lobster Boat Races come to Rockland
Lobstermen in Rockland weren’t hauling any traps today, but that doesn’t mean their boats weren’t in action. Summer in Maine is actually multiple seasons rolled into one. The Rockland boat races happened to be on the fifth birthday of Owen Hotchkiss, so his dad Blake brought him down from Brewer, for a loud, Fathers Day/ Birthday afternoon. “A lot of noise, which is great though,” said Hotchkiss.” Love the engines, how fast they’re going. He really likes it too. You know, I grew up on the coast near Blue Hill, so we’ve been around boats all our life, so this is really important.” >click to read<19:08
Boothbay Harbor kicked off lobster boat racing season Saturday, and in Rockland on Sunday
Maine’s summer lobster boat racing season opened last weekend with turnouts of nearly 50 boats both at Boothbay Harbor on Saturday and at Rockland on Sunday. Both races drew several new boats, including several from Downeast, and both events saw some impressive speed runs, though no records were broken. This year, race organizers established two classes for boats built primarily, or exclusively, to race rather than fish. >click to read<11:46
Proposed fishermen’s academy aims to keep teens in school
ROCKLAND, Maine — The Class of 2015 at Oceanside High School started with 203 freshmen in the fall of 2011, but by this year only 158 seniors remain, a decline of nearly 25 percent. The Oceanside principal is proposing the school offer a fishermen academy to keep young fishermen in the classroom instead of dropping out without a high school diploma. Read the rest here 17:45
Linda Bean buys Rockland building to meet demands of growing lobster business
BDN – ROCKLAND, Maine — Linda Bean, who has become a major player in the lobster industry, has purchased an 11,000-square-foot building from a Canadian company that had planned to convert the facility into a lobster processing plant. continued
