Penelope Overton

Press Herald

Penelope Overton writes about the lobster and marijuana industries in Maine, a mix of the iconic and the emerging, the economic powerhouse and the mysterious darkhorse. Just the right mix of old and new for a Maine transplant. Penny joined the Press Herald in 2016. She has covered politics and government, the environment and Indian Country in Florida, Connecticut, Arizona and Washington, D.C. Her favorite stories are when she gets to dive into a world where readers seldom venture. When she’s not newspapering, Penny and her young daughter like to hike, body surf, travel and explore new books, places, poems and people. She is plovertonpph on both Instagram and Snapchat.

Latest

Published
August 15, 2016

Pogy fishery reopens with strict new rules

Maine fishermen must limit their pursuit to Tuesday-Thursday, and net less than 120,000 pounds a week.
Published
August 14, 2016

Invasive green crabs are scuttling from dilemma to delicacy

Moleche, anyone? A group of Georgetown fishermen and others are getting expert advice from Venice, Italy, to turn a rampant threat to Maine’s fisheries into a marketable part of the solution.
Published
August 9, 2016

Shortage of herring used for lobster bait sparks run on pogies

Officials close the fishery after the catch to meet demand for an alternative trap bait surpasses the state’s quota for the first time.
Published
August 1, 2016

Ads use real-life stories to recruit tourists to ‘Work in Maine’

The campaign posts banners showing a scientist and a consultant who gave the state a shot and decided to stay.
Published
July 20, 2016

Herring limits expanded to prolong catch of lobster bait

Maine lobstermen feared the herring fishery might be shut down early, leaving them with no ready supply of bait for the remainder of the lobstering season.
Published
July 14, 2016

Lewiston’s Fuel restaurant is offered as prize in essay contest

The 10-year-old upscale eatery could be yours for a 300-word essay and $150 entry fee.
Published
July 14, 2016

Sunglasses with lobster trap wood make a Maine fashion statement

‘I loved the idea of telling a story about Maine,’ says the young entrepreneur who came up with the idea for Traps Eyewear shades.
Published
July 13, 2016

Exactly where do Maine lobstermen find their catch? Answer’s hard to find

Agencies that need to know for permitting wind farms or other activities discover detailed data is limited, partly on purpose.
Published
July 6, 2016

Invasive species got your goat? So does Kennebunk woman’s new landscaping business

For $500 a week, clients can rent Heather Lombard’s Scapegoats herd to help clear off their land.
Published
June 29, 2016

Only a third of Mainers feel secure financially, poll indicates

That’s half the national number, but the survey also finds residents are better prepared to pay an emergency $1,000 bill than many other Americans.