Change is difficult, but it is the future

Tue, 11/28/2017 - 4:00pm

Dear Editor:

I remember driving from Route 1 to Route 27 sixty years ago. It was a “long driveway” - 12 miles - to the beautiful Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor region and it has been my home ever since. Both my husband Ken and I have been involved in our community and consider it a privilege and honor to be part of such a wonderful area. 

There have been so very many changes in our region over the years, some accepted with ease and others with great difficulty. BUT change is the future. There are those that fall in love with the area, move here permanently and do not want change, they want things to stay the same. No progress, no revitalization, no expansion of businesses; they do not want the fishing and lobster industry to prosper, and certainly do not want any more tourists or “people from away.”

How fortunate we are that we have Paul Coulombe, who also made that 12-mile trip years ago, and decided this is where he wanted to live. During the years he prospered and came back to town, he saw great potential and decided to invest in our future. There are so many communities just like ours along the coast that would be welcoming this man and his visions. Instead, our community is filled with dislike, hate and discontent, and will not give him a chance. Our community will not even take the time to listen to his proposals. I heard someone even said ‘this town doesn’t need any money - we are doing just fine’ - WRONG. The young people are moving away, the school enrollment is down, the infrastructure needs to be improved. 

It’s time to at least LISTEN, be involved, show up at meetings and hearings. Speak up, be it pro or con, learn what is being offered as change and improvement. Stop listening to all of the negative words being spoken. Take the personalities out of the equations and think about the future of our region. CHANGE is PROGRESS!

Laura Honey

Boothbay Harbor