Iceberg Spotted in Penobscot Bay

I have written a few April Fool's Day articles for the local papers over the years. The one that received the most response was one I wrote while a board member of the Friends of the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse about the lighthouse being moved from the breakwater to the public landing. Lots of people were upset until they realized it was all in good fun for April Fool's Day. This is the article I wrote this year, complete with a photo-shopped image of the iceberg. And just in case it's hard to read in the scan:

Ferry passengers heading to North Haven aboard the Capt. Neal Burgess saw an unusual sight this week. NOAA scientists have revealed that they have been tracking a small iceberg for several weeks after it calved off a much larger iceberg near Greenland.

“We expected prevailing winds and currents to keep this iceberg well offshore. We also expected that as it traveled south, seasonal temperatures would cause it to melt before it even got close to the U.S. Weather patterns and unseasonably cold temperatures have allowed it to track right into Penobscot Bay.” said oceanographer Hardy Frieze in an interview aboard the RV Atlantis. The Atlantis, owned by the U.S. Navy and operated by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, was deployed from Woods Hole specifically to handle this unique event.

A special bulletin has been issued by the United States Coast Guard to alert mariners that the iceberg is in the area, reminding them to steer clear of the obstacle until it either melts or moves out to sea. USCG Commander Sebastian Arnsdorf expressed surprise. “When I took command of Station Rockland I never expected I would be dealing with icebergs. Now that it has made its way into Penobscot Bay, we’re afraid it may be here for a while. Based on its size and composition from samples the scientists have been able to obtain, it wouldn’t surprise me if early season boaters get a chance to sail right by this thing.”

Rockland’s Harbor Master, Ed Glaser, said it will be business as usual this spring along the waterfront unless the iceberg finds its way into the harbor. “We haven’t created a plan yet to deal with the iceberg if that happens. I can hear all the Titanic jokes already though.”

Did you get fooled on April Fool's Day?