I applaud Anna Durand and completely support the statements she made in relation to this cruise ship unpleasantness at last week's Town Council meeting. Although retired now I ran a successful small business in Bar Harbor for 25 years and never felt like Bar Harbor and its citizens owed me anything. To the contrary as a business owner privileged to be able to operate my Sea Venture Custom Boat Tours in one of the most beautiful coastal areas in the world I felt I owed a great deal to the Town and its citizens. Consequently I tried to run my business in a manner that created minimal impact on the Town and its natural beauty. I was approached numerous times by national booking agencies wanting me to supply boat tours to cruise ship passengers and I told them I was not interested. One of them attempted to win me over by offering to double my current hourly trip fees to which I replied "Still not interested." Over the years I did supply tours to perhaps a dozen or more cruise ship passengers who privately booked tours in advance of their arrival. Sadly I found most of them completely unappreciative of the area's incredible natural beauty. While I don't wish to paint with too broad a brush I felt and continue to feel that the vast majority of cruise ship passengers I encountered over the years would have been far more satisfied with a trip to Disney World or Las Vegas. And that, I suspect, forms the crux of the dilemma facing Bar Harbor and other MDI towns at this point in time. Do we take the slogan, "Maine The Way Life Should Be!" seriously? Or do we wish to maintain a high quality of life based largely upon abundant natural beauty and the intimate friendliness of a small town community or do we wish to trade all that in for a fast buck? When I moved to Bar Harbor in the 1970s it was with the complete realization that opportunities for fame and fortune would not abound in my new home. To those constantly whining about the lack of fast buck opportunities lost to maintaining a high quality of life anchored to a strong sense of community I would say Disney World and Las Vegas are just a short plane ride away. Heck I can think of a few of them where I'd be happy to chip in for the plane fare!
This morning your article drew my attention before Heather Cox Richard and I read both before the NYT. I also wanted to compliment the recent ad on Facebook.
I have had a special interest in your tackling of local news and issue in Maine. I grew up in Ashtabula. OH, and have always been acutely aware of the lack balance there to the local hack politics. I have watched the town being decimated by poor decisions and interests in conflict with the town's welfare. Ashtabule has never benefited from a voice such as yours.
I have slowly tried to introduce people there to your journal in the hope that some will get inspired. You might find a comparison to your battle. Connie Schultz is the only successful journalist I know of from Ashtabula and she now lives 60 miles away.
I applaud Anna Durand and completely support the statements she made in relation to this cruise ship unpleasantness at last week's Town Council meeting. Although retired now I ran a successful small business in Bar Harbor for 25 years and never felt like Bar Harbor and its citizens owed me anything. To the contrary as a business owner privileged to be able to operate my Sea Venture Custom Boat Tours in one of the most beautiful coastal areas in the world I felt I owed a great deal to the Town and its citizens. Consequently I tried to run my business in a manner that created minimal impact on the Town and its natural beauty. I was approached numerous times by national booking agencies wanting me to supply boat tours to cruise ship passengers and I told them I was not interested. One of them attempted to win me over by offering to double my current hourly trip fees to which I replied "Still not interested." Over the years I did supply tours to perhaps a dozen or more cruise ship passengers who privately booked tours in advance of their arrival. Sadly I found most of them completely unappreciative of the area's incredible natural beauty. While I don't wish to paint with too broad a brush I felt and continue to feel that the vast majority of cruise ship passengers I encountered over the years would have been far more satisfied with a trip to Disney World or Las Vegas. And that, I suspect, forms the crux of the dilemma facing Bar Harbor and other MDI towns at this point in time. Do we take the slogan, "Maine The Way Life Should Be!" seriously? Or do we wish to maintain a high quality of life based largely upon abundant natural beauty and the intimate friendliness of a small town community or do we wish to trade all that in for a fast buck? When I moved to Bar Harbor in the 1970s it was with the complete realization that opportunities for fame and fortune would not abound in my new home. To those constantly whining about the lack of fast buck opportunities lost to maintaining a high quality of life anchored to a strong sense of community I would say Disney World and Las Vegas are just a short plane ride away. Heck I can think of a few of them where I'd be happy to chip in for the plane fare!
The Town council can easily find the money to defend this lawsuit in the $24 million 2023 General Fund.
The residents and taxpayers have spoken by way of the referendum. Now it's time to defend their position with their tax dollars.
This morning your article drew my attention before Heather Cox Richard and I read both before the NYT. I also wanted to compliment the recent ad on Facebook.
I have had a special interest in your tackling of local news and issue in Maine. I grew up in Ashtabula. OH, and have always been acutely aware of the lack balance there to the local hack politics. I have watched the town being decimated by poor decisions and interests in conflict with the town's welfare. Ashtabule has never benefited from a voice such as yours.
I have slowly tried to introduce people there to your journal in the hope that some will get inspired. You might find a comparison to your battle. Connie Schultz is the only successful journalist I know of from Ashtabula and she now lives 60 miles away.