Page 4. MAINE COASTAL NEWS February 2014


Maine Coastal News Winterport, Maine 04496-0710 U.S.A.


P.O. Box 710 (207) 223-8846 Fax (207) 223-9004 E-mail - igmatats@aol.com Web site: www.mainescoast.com Publisher's Note


This has certainly been a good old Maine winter in some respects, although I think it needs a little more snow. It certainly has been cold enough and with winter a little more than half over there is probably plenty more to come.


Maine Coastal News is published 12 times a year and is dedicated to covering the news along the entire coast of Maine, Kittery to Eastport. We cover general marine news, commercial fi shing, yachting (power and sail), boat yard and waterfront news and maritime history. Distribution of Maine Coastal News is from Eastport to Marblehead, MA and is free on the newsstand. It also can be by subscription. A year subscription, 12 issues, is $20.00. A single copy is $2.00, which covers the postage. Foreign rates for subscriptions are $40.00 per year. The Maine Coastal News offi ce is located at 966 North Main Street, Winterport, Maine. Comments or additional information write: Maine Coastal News, P.O. Box 710, Winterport,


Maine 04496.


Depending on how involved you want to get one could spend almost every evening of every week attending meetings. I try to do as many as I can, but at times the schedule just does not allow it to work. In mid-January I attended the Bucksport-Belfast Propeller Club meeting held in Belfast. Capt. David Gelinas is the President and has been able to get some impressive speakers to come and talk to the group. This is a dinner meeting and the food is absolutely great and worth the $25 fee, and the talks are an added bonus. Plus the excess funds are given as scholarships to students at Maine Maritime Academy.


The speaker for this meeting was Peter Publisher Editor-in-Chief


Jon B. Johansen Rachel Elward


Advertising Deadlines: The deadline for the March issue is February 14. The deadline for the April issue is March 14.


Vigue of Cianbro. Over the years I have met him a couple of times, but never listened to him discuss issues facing us, both as a state and a country. His talk was “Why not Maine.” The current administration in Washington wants to increase trade between other countries, but for that to happen we need to spend a lot of money on infrastruc- ture. There are the larger known ports, like Boston, New York, Baltimore and so forth on the East Coast and to make them work- able for Panamax ships will take billions of dollars. Vigue then pointed to our three ports at Eastport, Portland and Searsport. Eastport is the jewel for it could be made into a sig- nifi cant seaport for a fraction of the cost. It does not need to be dredged since there is


already 64 feet of water at the dock. The major work would be leveling the ground at Este’s Head for additional level space. East- port would also need to have a railroad and that could hinge on the new owners of the MMA Railroad, which was just auctioned in bankruptcy court in mid-January. There is a much bigger problem, Maine is not business friendly. Moving into the State are the retirees, who could care less if there are any jobs. They do not drive the economy and thus are a major reason this States is running at a loss. Moving out are the young people, because there is no jobs, no future, and who can blame them. Just look at the port of Searsport, which has a major problem with depth going into Mack’s Point and it needs to be dredged. However there is opposition from environ- mental groups and others. The environmen- talists do not want to see Mack’s Point grow and I would bet they would love to see it shut down. What would be the ramifi cations of this, hundreds would lose their jobs and hundreds more would be adversely affected fi nancially. Beyond this products that are needed would take longer to arrive and at a much higher transportation cost. Politicians have absolutely no back- bone to standup for what is right. They rarely stand up against special interest groups because more than likely they would not be re-elected. So instead of doing what is best for the state they do what is best for them- selves and who is surprised. Augusta is an absolute cesspool and if you think they can accomplish anything think again. Trying to


Continued on Page 18. MCN's Calendar of Waterfront Events


On-Going Exhibits: - 1 June 2014 Exhibit: Going Coastal: Humor, Parody and Amusement of a Maritime Nature Maine Maritime Museum, Bath General Admission Going Coastal celebrates how we have enjoyed ourselves on, alongside, and at the expense of the maritime world. It traces the transformation of maritime amusements from shipboard traditions to sailor stereo- types and nautical nonsense ashore. FMI visit www.MaineMaritimeMuseum.org.


2014


FEBRUARY 3-6 ASMFC Winter Meeting Crowne Plaza Old Town Alexandria, VA


27-1 Mar. Maine Fishermen’s Forum Samoset Resort Rockport


MARCH 9-11 Boston Seafood Show Boston Convention Centre Boston, MA


14-16 Maine Boatbuilder’s Show 58 Fore Street Portland


Info: (207) 774-1067


APRIL 22-24 New England Fishery Manage- ment Council Meeting


Hilton Hotel Mystic, CT


MAY 12-15 ASMFC Spring Meeting Crowne Plaza Old Town Alexandria, VA


JUNE 11-12 Commercial Marine Expo State Pier


New Bedford, MA Info: (207) 799-1356


14 Boothbay Harbor Lobster Boat Races


Boothbay Harbor


Info: Marshall Farnham (207) 380- 5892


15 Rockland Lobster Boat Races Rockland Harbor @ Breakwater Rockland


17-19 New England Fishery Management Council Meeting Holiday Inn by the Bay Portland


23-26 Newport Charter Yacht Show Newport Yachting Centre Newport, RI Info: (401) 846-1115


29 Bass Harbor Lobster Boat Races Bass Harbor Info: Wayne/Colyn Rich (207) 244- 9623


JULY 5 Moosebec Reach Lobster Boat Races


U. S. Coast Guard Station Jonesport


Info: E. Blackwood (207) 598-6681


12 Searsport Lobster Boat Races Searsport Town Dock Searsport


Info: Keith & Travis Otis (207) 548-6362


9 Winter Harbor Lobster Boat Races Town Dock Winter Harbor


Info: Chris Byers, (207) 963-7139


13 Stonington Lobster Boat Races Town Dock Stonington Info: Nick Wiberg, (207) 348-2375


20 Friendship Lobster Boat Races Barge middle of harbor Friendship Info: Wes Lash, Jr. (207) 832-7807


27 Harpswell Lobster Boat Races Barge off Mitchell Field Harpswell Info:


30 Castine Classic Yacht Symposium The Maine Lobster Boat Maine Maritime Academy Castine


Info: (212) 471-4709


31 Castine Classic Yacht Race Castine to Camden Info: (212) 471-4709


AUGUST 1 Camden to Brooklin Yacht Race


2 Eggemoggin Reach Regatta WoodenBoat Waterfront Brooklin


4-6 ASMFC Summer Meeting Crowne Plaza Old Town Alexandria, VA


SEPTEMBER 11-14 Newport International Boat Show Newport Yachting Centre Newport, RI Info: (401) 846-1115


23-25 New England Fishery Management Council Meeting


Sea Crest North Falmouth, MA


OCTOBER 26-30 ASMFC 73rd Mystic, CT


Annual Meeting


10 Merritt Brackett Lobster Boat Races State Park Restaurant Pemaquid


Info: Don Drisko& Laurie Crane (207) 677-2432


16 Long Island Lobster Boat Races Long Island


Info: Lisa (207) 332-3968/Amy (207) 317-1576


16 Maine Retired Skipper’s Race Maine Maritime Academy Waterfront Castine


16 MS Regatta Portland Yacht Services 58 Fore Street Portland


17 MS Harborfest Lobster & Tugboat Races Portland Yacht Services Portland


Info: Jon Johansen (207) 223-8846


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