Cranberry Isles

Maine's island communities suffered serious damage during the January and March storms. After collecting 20 bags of debris on one trip, volunteers are heading back.

The entire job is slated to be finished next week, although construction won't begin until early October on the second project.

A former teacher in Cranberry Isles' two-room schoolhouse has built an aquaculture business that recently took a top prize in the Mount Desert Business Boot Camp. She explains how her business has grown, one oyster at a time.

Many small businesses are looking beyond the pandemic with a sense of excitement. There's a vigorous spirit in Maine's small-business community, despite difficulties including staffing shortages and supply chain woes.

The bootstrap oyster-growing operation off the Cranberry Isles will plant 300,000 oyster seeds this year. It takes four years to grow a crop.

The nonprofit is working closely with communities for accurate head counts and to figure out trip rotations, to avoid both vaccine shortages and oversupply.

Islands without bridges to the mainland are taking special steps to protect residents from the threat of coronavirus. The Cranberry Isles and North Haven have issued restrictions on movement.

More than 200 Maine cities, towns and plantations entered the annual competition, which judges annual reports on their looks, content and relevance to residents.

Sundog Solar of Searsport completed installations of two solar arrays in Hancock County, one at Mount Desert Island High School and the other at Cranberry Isles Fishermen’s Co-op. The MDI project is Maine’s largest high school solar array.

Cranberry Isles voters on March 11 approved a plan to borrow up to $1.2 million to upgrade their internet network.