Whether you’re out for a stroll on Portland's Eastern Promenade or cruising on a boat on Casco Bay, you can't miss Fort Gorges, the stone sentinel that sits on a tiny island in Portland Harbor. Construction on the fort began in 1858 and it was completed in 1865.

Christmas truly came in July for the tiny town of Castine and it is hoping the gift it received will keep on giving. The gift was a two-day visit from the tall ship Hermione—a replica of the 18th-century frigate that brought the Marquis de Lafayette to the United States in 1780 with a message of support for Gen. George Washington from the king of France.

In addition to nearly 50 new exhibitors, the Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors Show has assembled a varied flotilla of new events and displays for the 13th annual event, which runs Aug. 14-16 on the waterfront in Rockland.

Flying at 90 miles per hour, we leaned out the door from our strap-in chairs and clicked pictures left and right…

The Maine Coastal Program, part of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, announced on Aug. 4 that it has awarded nearly $250,000 to 11 municipal and county projects. The funds will provide support for the coastal economy through projects that increase public access to the coast, support shellfish harvesting, identify pollution sources that result in coastal beach closures, revitalize coastal downtowns and identify key island transportation assets at risk from rising sea levels.

The state's Maine Coastal Program has awarded nine communities a total of $163,206 in grants covering planning, design and engineering work for a host of improvement projects, some conceptual, some ready to be built.

The Washington Chambers, which I am sailing with this summer, probably carries more explosive on board than the entire battle group she services.

Marine Patrol Officer Benjamin Burnes, who graduated from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in May, has already put his training to good use, saving the life of a man whose canoe capsized while fishing recently on the York River.

Kathleen Reardon, who has coordinated the Maine Department of Marine Resources’ lobster monitoring programs for the past ten years, has been promoted to the position of lead lobster biologist.