Scuttlebutt

Scuttlebutt is Gouldsboro’s newly published guide for folks who have just come to Gouldsboro or are thinking about buying property here. For those who already live here, the 24-page booklet is a beautifully illustrated reminder about what makes Gouldsboro a special place. Even long-time residents might find things in Scuttlebutt that they didn’t know.

As Scuttlebutt says in its introduction, “Gouldsboro’s economy and character depend on sustaining a working waterfront rooted in an attentive, respectful relationship to the sea.” The booklet explains what that means.

Stop by the Gouldsboro Town Office in Prospect Harbor if you would like to pick up a printed copy.

The idea for Scuttlebutt emerged from Gouldsboro Shore’s work toward ensuring that clam harvesters have access to the shore and keeping the intertidal zone free of pollution and toxins. We realized that many new people were coming to Gouldsboro and that the real estate market was especially active along the shore. We wanted to welcome these newcomers and invite them to become part of the community.

The idea began to take shape at this year’s Maine Fishermen’s Forum when we met people from Harpswell and the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association (MCFA) who had just published a Scuttlebutt for Harpswell. Something like that, but focused on Gouldsboro, was just what we needed.

We also understood that making arrangements to let others cross their property might be entirely new for them. Similarly, they might not know how quickly fertilizer or poisons applied in their yards enter the intertidal ecosystem. We wanted a way to tell people about these things because they are part of living in a Working Waterfront community.

Financial support from the Maine Coastal Program and private donors, encouragement from MCFA, and hours of effort by volunteers made Gouldsboro’s Scuttlebutt possible. Special thanks go to Susan Bierzychudek, who volunteered her skills as a branding consultant to manage the design and production process, and Pauline Angione, Brett Binns, Chantal Jennings, Elin Poneman, and Vicki Rea, who donated many volunteer hours to creating the text and photos. Special thanks also go to Mike Pinkham, Gouldsboro’s shellfish warden, and Ada Fisher, Gouldsboro’s 2023 high school intern, for innumerable contributions to the final publication.