Dear Editor:

After reading Margaret Racicot's letter, I find myself feeling as she does.

My husband and I, both natives, raised two boys here. Our oldest bought a home in Westbrook and the younger plans to move away after completing school. They can't afford to live here.

The changes that have taken place leave me saddened. No longer do I feel that the town is what I once knew. Boothbay was always a place to come and slow down and relax.

Does anyone actually remember that the town of Boothbay begins on Route 27? Just before Eric Wood Construction. (Yes, there’s a sign!) Everyone seems to forget that, as everything focuses on the roundabout and the changes. Boothbay Center is becoming a thing of the past, no BCA 4th Fourth of July Celebration this year and the Rotary Auction has moved.

Traffic flow? Talk about dangerous! Stopping at yield signs to wait for traffic, pedestrians trying to cross. This makes the flow of traffic better?

It makes me sad to find so many of our “natives” were in favor of changing our town. Did you actually want to see your hometown turn into this? Were the changes looked at long term? Were you swayed one way or another? Did making changes make a better place to live? We are not a city, nor will we ever be. The once quiet, vacationing town, comfortable, relaxing, and friendly, no longer exists.

Did anyone think this would be the year that re-evaluation of property values would be done? Re-evaluating property is necessary, but what a coincidence for the timing? Costly events in the past two years, lawsuits exceeding budgeted amounts allotted, etc.

Well taxpayers, here it comes! My taxes will be increasing, how about yours? Did you honestly think we wouldn't be paying for the costs of these changes? Change can be beneficial, but is costly and money has to come from somewhere. The long-term effects weren't looked at very well, were they now?

Margaret sees it, don't you? Stated by Margaret: “Residents here are tight-lipped now. The rapid changes and conflicting opinions are tearing apart the friendly fabric of this community.”

Well said Margaret, well said.

Stacy Dickinson

Boothbay