Meet the team

A smiling middle-aged man with a beard wearing a black baseball cap and a blue and white checkered shirt outdoors with green trees and a clear blue sky in the background.

John Boit, Publisher and Editor

John Boit grew up in Penobscot and started his journalism career in local Maine media. He has worked in media and communications throughout his career, including as a foreign correspondent and media development expert in Europe and Asia. Boit co-founded a public relations firm in Washington, DC, where he was a partner for 18 years. He returned to Maine in 2022, and now lives year round in the same farm house where he was raised in Penobscot.

A woman with shoulder-length dark hair, fair skin, and a lip piercing, standing outdoors in a forest with green foliage in the background, wearing a black shirt with a graphic design.

Bethany Violette, Advertising, Marketing and Development Manager

Bethany Violette brings nearly 15 years of experience in entrepreneurship, branding, and marketing to The Rising Tide. As a founding member and Brand Manager of a craft brewery in Vietnam, she wore many hats—developing creative campaigns, building community, and helping shape a fast-growing business from the ground up. Now rooted in Blue Hill, Bethany is channeling her passion for local storytelling and design into The Rising Tide, while building an off-grid home with her family and working on her first fantasy novel. 

A middle-aged woman with reddish hair and a scarf around her neck, smiling softly indoors with bookshelves in the background.

Tricia Thomas, freelance reporter

Tricia Thomas is an award-winning journalist who covers news, people and events of interest for The Rising Tide from throughout the Blue Hill Peninsula and Downeast Maine. She has more than 40 years of experience in journalism, technical writing, public relations and communications. A lifelong writer and interviewer, Tricia is committed to spotlighting and sharing the unique stories of Maine’s people and places. She lives in Blue Hill.

Close-up of an older man with short gray hair, slight beard, wearing a dark green textured shirt, smiling with teeth showing, in front of a dark-colored background.

John Epstein, freelance reporter

John Epstein is a retired lawyer who handled trials and litigation for the State and City of New York. In addition, he has worked as a freelance reporter for Pacifica Radio, National Public Radio, The Village Voice, and several weekly newspapers. He lives in Brooksville along the Bagaduce River with his wife, Joanna Hefferen, their peppy corgi, Lucy, and their tuxedo cat, Trixie. He also enjoys singing bass in The Bagaduce Chorale.

A middle-aged man with glasses, short brown hair, and a checked blue shirt smiling at the camera against a plain white background.

Steele Hays, freelance reporter

Steele Hays is a freelance journalist and year-round Blue Hill resident. He has worked as a newspaper reporter, advertising manager and marketing executive. When he is not researching and writing, he is likely to be found on a sailboat, working in the garden or hiking a local trail.

Brian Robbins, columnist

Brian Robbins grew up in Stonington, Maine.  His past lives include his years offshore lobstering with his brother Steve, a legend in the fishery, and traveling the New England coast for Commercial Fisheries News. These days Brian lives in Nobleboro with his wife and best buddy, Felicity, but as the late boatbuilder Wesley Lash told him a number of years ago, “You can take the boy off the Island, but you can’t take the Island out of the boy.” His column, “Wheel Watch,” appears monthly in The Rising Tide.

A young person with short, tousled brown hair and light skin gently resting their hand on the back of their neck outdoors against a cloudy sky.

Gilbert Rieff

Gilbert Rieff—”Gil” to most—contributes sports coverage at George Stevens Academy, where he is a freshman. Gil is very involved with different local theaters, and has made and acted in over 68 short films, one of which won an award at the Maine International Film Festival. He also played a role in the professional short film “Drifts”, directed by an upstate New York director and filmed in MDI. He enjoys acting, visiting his grandparents in NYC, going to the gym, playing guitar, and most of all, spending time with his family. Gil lives in Penobscot with his parents, sister, dog and cat.