Down East magazine, has been publishing since August 1954, and continues as one of Maine's most prominent monthly magazines. Their web site's history page provides the following description:

"The goal of Down East has always been to hold a mirror up to Maine — its storied past and lively present — and to celebrate its flinty, independent character and unhurried way of life. As Maine has changed with the times, however, so has Down East. Today the state has come to embrace its future as well as its past. Accordingly, the magazine now focuses more on contemporary Maine life and what the future might bring and less on historical background and quaint rusticity. Booming circulation and advertising gains demonstrate the wisdom of this editorial shift."

Portland Public Library's collection of Down East is complete, and begins with the first issue, August 1954. The hard copies are available in the Portland Room.

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Submissions from 2005

Profile of painter Alex Katz, 78, of Lincolnville, whose oil paintings, acclaime

Profile of Portland native, former lawyer, and director of planning and developm, Jeff Clark

Profile of Republican centrist and U.S. senator, Susan Collins of Bangor, who is, Jeff Clark

Profile of Roxanne Quimby, founder of Burt's Bees, resident of Palm Beach and Wi, Gerry Boyle

Profile of Sue Keating of Sweet Pea Gardens in Surry, a business that she owns w, Rebecca Martin Evarts

Profile of the Reverend Paul Plante, 62, pastor of Our Lady of the Lakes Catholi, Monica Wood

Profile of "Tomato Lady" Amy LeBlanc, of Whitehill Farm in Wilton, who grows mor, Sally Noble

Profile of Vietnam vet, Bowdoin College graduate, lawyer, and executive director, Jeff Clark

Profile of wild-animal specialist Dave Sparks, 54, of Windham, who runs Sparks A, Ken Textor

Public school enrollment has dropped from a peak of 250,000 in 1975 and is predi, Jeff Clark

Ralph Owen Brewster (1888-1961) of Dexter, a two-time Republican governor of Mai, Edgar Allen Beem

Retired school superintendent Arthur Pierce, 79, of Belfast, is modest about the, Rebecca Martin Evarts

"Retiring & Relocating to Maine: A Down East Guide to Settling Down in the Pine

Round Pond, a village in Bristol on a protected harbor, has a legendary Fourth o, Elizabeth Peavey

Scarborough, a 54-square-mile area with six distinct villages, is the fastest-gr, Michaela Cavallaro

Thanks to a Right-of-Way Discovery grant from the Maine Coastal Program, the tow, Nancy Comiskey

The 1999 closing of Sherman Lumber Co. and the 2002 bankruptcy of Great Northern, Brian Fiske

The author, a self-confessed "martini snob," evaluates Chicky's Fine Diner in We, Elizabeth Peavey

The author describes how elms were planted as "Liberty Trees" in Colonial Massac, Ken Textor

The author, her husband, and another couple encountered a black bear during a hi, Elizabeth Peavey

The Federal Aviation Commission counts more than 3,000 Maine pilots, with half o, Abby Zimet

The little-known Green Acre Baha'i School in Eliot includes a retreat and confer, Tess Thompson

The mega-yachts of the super-wealthy are increasingly showing up in Maine harbor

The new Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor, named for its founder, Dr. Robert Abbe, is fu, Luther Young

The New England sport of candlepin bowling is more difficult than tenpin. Erin, Ken Textor

The official program for Designers' Showcase 2005, presented by the Portland Sym

"The Talk of Maine" piece on Look's Gourmet Food Company in Whiting. New owners, Jeff Clark

"The Talk of Maine" piece on Maine methadone clinics, five in total, that treat, Jeff Clark

"The Talk of Maine" piece on Nelson Daigle, 66, of Millinocket, who has climbed, Jeff Clark

"The Talk of Maine" piece on outdoors journalist Roberta Scruggs' controversial, Jeff Clark

"The Talk of Maine" piece on Seattle-based Plum Creek Timber's 30-year plan for, Jeff Clark

"The Talk of Maine" piece on the Androscoggin River, the dirtiest river in Maine, Jeff Clark

"The Talk of Maine" piece on the shortage of public restrooms in Maine's tourist, Joshua F. Moore

"The Talk of Maine" piece on whether a promise by Gov. John Baldacci and the Mai, Jeff Clark

"The Talk of Portland" piece on the Portland vs. Maine split on issues such as G, Jeff Clark

The town of Perry, on the Passamaquoddy Bay, is at the center of a debate over a, Colin Woodard

The town of Turner's reputation was once tarnished by the giant DeCoster Egg far, Andrew Vietze

The unnamed third bridge across the Kennebec River in Augusta opened in November

Thirty percent of the 32,000 motorcycles registered in Maine are Harley-Davidson, Henry Lofton

Three miles south of L.L. Bean is South Freeport, a close-knit village that resi, Edgar Allen Beem

"What's in a Picture?" piece on a 1909 picture of a gas-powered log hauler desig, Joshua F. Moore

"What's in a Picture?" piece on a 1910 photo showing Capt. Walter Tolman of the, Joshua F. Moore

"What's in a Picture?" piece on a 1945 photograph taken during a wrestling match, Joshua F. Moore

"What's in a Picture?" piece on a 1952 photo by Carroll Thayer Berry of schoolch, Joshua F. Moore

"What's in a Picture?" piece on a Christmas Santa sitting in Pat's Barber Shop i, Joshua F. Moore

"What's in a Picture?" piece on an advertising photograph done by Webber Studios, Joshua F. Moore

"What's in a Picture?" piece on a portrait by Norway photographer Minnie F. Libb, Joshua F. Moore

"What's in a Picture?" piece on a spring log drive on the Machias River in the e, Joshua F. Moore

"What's in a Picture?" piece on Montpelier, the mansion that General Henry Knox, Joshua F. Moore

"What's in a Picture?" piece on Pi Beta Phi sorority sisters at the University o, Joshua F. Moore