Thursday, January 10, 2013
Ktaadn Guide Service: This Is My Town
Ktaadn Guide Service: This Is My Town: This blog is directed to the great folks of the Katahdin Region. I would like to say that I agree with the comment of Dan Byron of East Mill...
This Is My Town
This blog is directed to the great folks of the Katahdin Region. I would like to say that I agree with the comment of Dan Byron of East Millinocket who stated, we need our schools! Yes, indeed. We have watched our small communities change in ways I'm certain folks never thought they would see. Many never saw the paper mills closing, after all, they took care of our communities for quite a few decades, but they did. I bet many never thought they would see downtown Millinocket crumble to the ground, but it has. Many never thought their children would have to leave the region, not being able to make a living here anymore, but they have. School enrollments have dropped severely as the caravans of U-Hauls and Budget trucks of young families loaded up the kids and headed out of town. Drive along the streets of East Millinocket and Millinocket and you will see the many houses empty, realtor and for sale by owner signs are everywhere. There was over 900 employees in the East Mill when I worked there in the 80s, now there is around 300 give or take. Millinocket took the hardest hit as their mill never restarted. We used to have Ames department store, a movie theater, Newburys, Epsteins which became Millers. We had a Radio Shack, and a local newspaper. Coffee shops, Mom and Pop stores, sport shops; There was Pratt Ford, Moores Auto Sales; you could buy a Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, GMC, Pontiac, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and the still resilient Katahdin Motors Chevy dealer. The Dolby was a family restaurant and motel, and the infamous Hamms Restaurant, lounge and motel was the place where "You are only a stranger once"! Are ya depressed yet???
Now, yes we miss it, and we can reminisce the good old days until we draw our last breaths, but it is all in the past. It is our history and no one can ever take it away or even match it in memories. Please, let it all go and look forward. There is a light, and it touches mount Katahdin before it ever touches Maines coast. Take a moment, stop, and just look. Do you know that we all live in a place that others dream about? I have had clients at my guide service who are truly awestruck when they look up at the stars as many of them see nothing but the lights of skyscrapers. I had one tear up when he looked across a field at dusk full of fireflies and the purple silhouette of Katahdin on the horizon. He called it Heaven.
Thats not all folks. Our communities and our people are just as special. Now, take a bit of history and build the future. People need a reason to come. Not just to visit, but to stay. We need to give them a reason. We need to be the kind and friendly folks that people imagine we are and I know we can be. We need to bring businesses back to the region. We have a wonderful sporting shop in Medway: Two Rivers Canoe and Tackle, and I would never want to take away from them: I know the owners and think an awful lot of them and their employees. However I feel we have room for more. I received an inquiry from a couple staying at one of the local hotels as to where one could rent cross country ski's. We used to have a shop in Millinocket that rented out equipment, but not anymore. We have all these wonderful groomed trails! Yes when the snow is deep and the ITS trails packed and groomed, the area thrives for a period of time. Still there is more we can do, and more we can offer. Winterfest is good, take a swing off that, put the region on the map for more than just a week. I understand it takes volunteers and money, but can you really think of a better investment?? Lets do more!! Why not a sled dog race in the area? Lets do a winter carnival! I miss the snow sculptures!! Remember them?
Now here is another idea which saved a few small communities out in the boonies, theme towns. Don't laugh!! I visited a small town in Frankenmuth Michigan back in the late 90s (www.frankenmuth.org/visit/) that turned the whole town into an old Barvarian wonderland with a Christmas theme along with it. Check it out; it was awesome!! That same year I went to Duluth Minnesota, the hometown of my Mother and found there was still some of the olden days alive that I truly enjoyed! The old train station, the Lake Superior museum with remnants of the past like the Edmund Fitzegerald and the tale of that terrible night. While there we went into some of the old buildings down on the water front once slated to be demolished, but redecorated into little specialty shops and cafe's. There were things to do and things to see that took more than a day to enjoy and a lifetime to love and embrace. Build it and they will come.
We should have new businesses geared to the region. If a hiker needs a good pair of boots and can't find what they want at Tractor Supply, they are Bangor bound! By the way, thank you Tractor Supply for coming to our towns. It is like this, we have a mountain, and people like to climb mountains. We should be able to provide, somewhere, things that people who like to climb mountains and camp out in the wilderness need!
I'll give the Pellitiers credit for this, they made life in the Maine woods interesting to the outside world and found out that there are folks out there that are intrigued by our rugged way of life. Their restaurant, sorry, a little over rated, but beautiful inside and a place visitors want to go to, which is good.....It's a start.
Now if you give folks a reason to want to come, and a place to shop, eat and have some fun, you need to increase access. Yes folks I said INCREASE access! We can do that. Again, I don't know if this has been looked at, however, we have an airport!!! Did you know that Millinocket airport was an emergency airport during WW11? Did you know it was also a major refueling station for the big bombers?? Now, if they could land and take off, why are we not looking into an airline shuttle service? Have we?
When you increase access, you create a need for more lodging, diners and eatery's, car rentals and other services. Another huge benefit to increasing access is it will increase interest and that opens the door for businesses to think, hey, this might be a real nice place to start something wonderful!
We covered winter. I hope that I would not have to list all that is spectacular about the Katahdin Region in the summer and fall!!! But I will...at least list a few: Fishing, boating, camping, hiking, biking, canoing, kayaking, rafting, mountain climbing, photography opportunities of flora, fauna and landscapes,hunting, leaf peeping....the list goes on, add in comments. Now add to all that, things like the art of the region, the museums (and for goodness sakes promote and advertise the dang museums, they are no good if they are either closed or difficult), how about a concert schedule in the parks featuring our awesome local talent from singers to tellers of tall tales and comedians. By the way, the new ATV trails have numerous opportunities and I think it was excellent when they allowed the ATVs to come into town and patronize the businesses. I believe that will continue to grow.
Imagine now with me....picture it, stores and shops with smiling faces and woo hoo, employees!! New businesses, families coming back home along with new families.
If we build it, if.....if we embrace a new beginning with just a hint of the past..... we can once again thrive and really put the Katahdin Region on the map and life, prosperity, and the sounds of laughter once again.
I'm not claiming to know all the answers. I don't know what has been looked at, or how much effort has been put into marketing the area. I'm simply giving you a perspective of my point of view out there for you all to think about and please do comment your thoughts as it will and can never be just one to make such huge changes, or take big risks. I admit I have a stake in the whole game, being a guide and running a camp rental and guide service. Yup, hunting folks, it is big business, or at least it was and can be again. Hate me if you like. Kuddos to Matt Polstein, I think he really has something special where Twin Pines Once stood ground. I know he is not a favorite person to some, but, he does have something, and he is thriving from it. Now, why can't the rest of us??
I have other ideas that could bring new life and interest. I'm sure others do too and I want to hear from you. Let the new world of computers and facebook, and blogs like mine and Wileys Dam Camp stories of the camp wife, and so, so much more create new life and beginnings!! I have touched this subject in past blogs, however, I felt it needed to be revisited. Also I'm concerned that if something is not done, our towns will continue to wither. Folks are struggling with the high costs of gas, heating oil, groceries......they can't take more burdens of higher taxes, they can't take losing any more schools.
Lets chat!
Are you with me????
Now, yes we miss it, and we can reminisce the good old days until we draw our last breaths, but it is all in the past. It is our history and no one can ever take it away or even match it in memories. Please, let it all go and look forward. There is a light, and it touches mount Katahdin before it ever touches Maines coast. Take a moment, stop, and just look. Do you know that we all live in a place that others dream about? I have had clients at my guide service who are truly awestruck when they look up at the stars as many of them see nothing but the lights of skyscrapers. I had one tear up when he looked across a field at dusk full of fireflies and the purple silhouette of Katahdin on the horizon. He called it Heaven.
Thats not all folks. Our communities and our people are just as special. Now, take a bit of history and build the future. People need a reason to come. Not just to visit, but to stay. We need to give them a reason. We need to be the kind and friendly folks that people imagine we are and I know we can be. We need to bring businesses back to the region. We have a wonderful sporting shop in Medway: Two Rivers Canoe and Tackle, and I would never want to take away from them: I know the owners and think an awful lot of them and their employees. However I feel we have room for more. I received an inquiry from a couple staying at one of the local hotels as to where one could rent cross country ski's. We used to have a shop in Millinocket that rented out equipment, but not anymore. We have all these wonderful groomed trails! Yes when the snow is deep and the ITS trails packed and groomed, the area thrives for a period of time. Still there is more we can do, and more we can offer. Winterfest is good, take a swing off that, put the region on the map for more than just a week. I understand it takes volunteers and money, but can you really think of a better investment?? Lets do more!! Why not a sled dog race in the area? Lets do a winter carnival! I miss the snow sculptures!! Remember them?
Now here is another idea which saved a few small communities out in the boonies, theme towns. Don't laugh!! I visited a small town in Frankenmuth Michigan back in the late 90s (www.frankenmuth.org/visit/) that turned the whole town into an old Barvarian wonderland with a Christmas theme along with it. Check it out; it was awesome!! That same year I went to Duluth Minnesota, the hometown of my Mother and found there was still some of the olden days alive that I truly enjoyed! The old train station, the Lake Superior museum with remnants of the past like the Edmund Fitzegerald and the tale of that terrible night. While there we went into some of the old buildings down on the water front once slated to be demolished, but redecorated into little specialty shops and cafe's. There were things to do and things to see that took more than a day to enjoy and a lifetime to love and embrace. Build it and they will come.
We should have new businesses geared to the region. If a hiker needs a good pair of boots and can't find what they want at Tractor Supply, they are Bangor bound! By the way, thank you Tractor Supply for coming to our towns. It is like this, we have a mountain, and people like to climb mountains. We should be able to provide, somewhere, things that people who like to climb mountains and camp out in the wilderness need!
I'll give the Pellitiers credit for this, they made life in the Maine woods interesting to the outside world and found out that there are folks out there that are intrigued by our rugged way of life. Their restaurant, sorry, a little over rated, but beautiful inside and a place visitors want to go to, which is good.....It's a start.
Now if you give folks a reason to want to come, and a place to shop, eat and have some fun, you need to increase access. Yes folks I said INCREASE access! We can do that. Again, I don't know if this has been looked at, however, we have an airport!!! Did you know that Millinocket airport was an emergency airport during WW11? Did you know it was also a major refueling station for the big bombers?? Now, if they could land and take off, why are we not looking into an airline shuttle service? Have we?
When you increase access, you create a need for more lodging, diners and eatery's, car rentals and other services. Another huge benefit to increasing access is it will increase interest and that opens the door for businesses to think, hey, this might be a real nice place to start something wonderful!
We covered winter. I hope that I would not have to list all that is spectacular about the Katahdin Region in the summer and fall!!! But I will...at least list a few: Fishing, boating, camping, hiking, biking, canoing, kayaking, rafting, mountain climbing, photography opportunities of flora, fauna and landscapes,hunting, leaf peeping....the list goes on, add in comments. Now add to all that, things like the art of the region, the museums (and for goodness sakes promote and advertise the dang museums, they are no good if they are either closed or difficult), how about a concert schedule in the parks featuring our awesome local talent from singers to tellers of tall tales and comedians. By the way, the new ATV trails have numerous opportunities and I think it was excellent when they allowed the ATVs to come into town and patronize the businesses. I believe that will continue to grow.
Imagine now with me....picture it, stores and shops with smiling faces and woo hoo, employees!! New businesses, families coming back home along with new families.
If we build it, if.....if we embrace a new beginning with just a hint of the past..... we can once again thrive and really put the Katahdin Region on the map and life, prosperity, and the sounds of laughter once again.
I'm not claiming to know all the answers. I don't know what has been looked at, or how much effort has been put into marketing the area. I'm simply giving you a perspective of my point of view out there for you all to think about and please do comment your thoughts as it will and can never be just one to make such huge changes, or take big risks. I admit I have a stake in the whole game, being a guide and running a camp rental and guide service. Yup, hunting folks, it is big business, or at least it was and can be again. Hate me if you like. Kuddos to Matt Polstein, I think he really has something special where Twin Pines Once stood ground. I know he is not a favorite person to some, but, he does have something, and he is thriving from it. Now, why can't the rest of us??
I have other ideas that could bring new life and interest. I'm sure others do too and I want to hear from you. Let the new world of computers and facebook, and blogs like mine and Wileys Dam Camp stories of the camp wife, and so, so much more create new life and beginnings!! I have touched this subject in past blogs, however, I felt it needed to be revisited. Also I'm concerned that if something is not done, our towns will continue to wither. Folks are struggling with the high costs of gas, heating oil, groceries......they can't take more burdens of higher taxes, they can't take losing any more schools.
Are you with me????
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