A fine summer

We all say goodbye to the tourists that visited the state of Maine this summer.

You might have complained about the gas prices, but you must have enjoyed the beautiful weather of June, July and August — all sunshine daily.

Please return next summer. Have a safe trip home.

Gordon Wotton
Thomaston

Share the responsibility

Following a near-miss incident this morning with an adult bicyclist at the Head of The Bay, I have learned that Maine bicycle laws are quite liberal and in favor of the bicyclist — as they should be.

Apparently, the fact that I stopped at the YIELD sign was not good enough for my new acquaintance — but the fact is [with no motor vehicles traveling in the same direction as him], I didn't see him until he was right on top of me.

That said, in my research, I found nothing that declares that a bicyclist has the legal right to ignore oncoming traffic at an intersection of a rural highway like North Shore Drive and Route 73 in Owls Head at a busy traffic time of day.

And it seems to me that skinny bicyclists on skinny bikes would be far more visible to motorists if they wore something that would make them more obvious and bigger while pedaling downhill and around a curve in excess of 20 mph than the stylish, variegated pastel patterned shirts that blend so nicely with the scenery, and black shorts that my "friend" was wearing.

This guy is an experienced cyclist; I see him several times per month on the same route. And I am an experienced driver. Timing is everything, and I sense the outcome would have been different had I been a high school senior rushing to school with a cell phone in my ear.

Note to bicyclists: You are not entitled. You must be as attentive as the motorists who outnumber and outweigh you. Complacency is not your friend.

For motorists wishing to learn more about Maine state law related to bicycles, see this link: maine.gov/mdot/bikeped/safety/laws.shtml.

In the meantime, fellow motorists, give bikes the right of way; but be on the lookout for jerks!

Gordon Page Sr.
Owls Head

Why no skyscraper?

What happened to the project at the corner of Pleasant Street and Main in Rockland?

Its goal was to be Rockland’s first skyscraper in the city. The project started and then they stop.

They had beautiful summer weather to work — June, July and August. But perhaps the owner didn’t or doesn’t want to release the reason to the news media — the reason for the work stoppage.

The public was looking forward to see their first skyscraper. But let’s hope it is still on the blueprint table.

Gordon Wotton

Thomaston

Support for Carter

I am writing to announce my support for Bob Carter who is running for his first term as a state legislator in District 49, which is Warren, Union, Cushing and Friendship.

Earlier this spring I attended a local school budget meeting and Bob was also there. He asked numerous questions of the school board and I was impressed with his clear logic, his grasp of the complex workings of curriculum and it was obvious he had studied and prepared for the meeting well in advance. A month later, at the Warren town primary election where I had the honor of serving as the deputy registrar, I observed Bob politely greeting voters. Subsequently I have had several conversations with him and find him to be a man who I feel will represent my needs well in Augusta.

He is fiscally conservative and demonstrated this to me with some free advice he gave me on a financing matter that my husband and I were considering. Due in part to his good judgement we feel we averted a possible crisis by following his sensible advice. So it is with pleasure my I will be voting for Bob Carter on Nov. 6.

Paula G. Sutton

Warren

Camden Windjammer Festival

Thanks to a great team effort, the Camden Windjammer Festival blew into town during the recent Labor Day Weekend. It took many people and organizations to make the festival a reality.

Thanks first to the windjammer fleet, the day tour boats and many private vessels which make the festival the outstanding sight that it is. This year was a special one for the schooner Mary Day, 50 years old. They celebrated the birthday with a party and a lovely wedding on board watched all around the harbor. Haddie Hawkins, son of Mary Day’s builder and first captain visited in his sloop Vela. Captain Jim Sharp provided commentary on the boats as they arrived and filled everyone in on the history of the schooners in Camden. Wayfarer Marine provided the harbor support including an all comers boat parade to round out the festival on Sunday afternoon.

The Maritime Heritage Fair was the centerpiece of the land based events showcasing a range of exhibitors demonstrating and explaining maritime skills and knowledge. Meg Sharp helped recruit exhibitors provided leadership in getting everyone in place on the public landing. Shed City loaned us a lovely shed as an information center and Lyman Technologies provided the solar generator that powered the exhibits and build-a-boat contest. Jory Squib organized and managed the build-a-boat, providing assistance to all participants including a team from the visiting Navy Ship. Our thanks to EBS for the building materials and Sika Corporation for the glue. Seth Silverton and Jessica Manbeck with the help of Harbormaster Steve Pixley and his team organized and ran the lobster crate race, filled as always with exciting running and spectacular splashes.

Camden and West Bay Rotary clubs contributed a pancake breakfast and chowder challenge respectively. Nine local restaurants supported the Rotary and the festival by contributing wonderful chowder. Thanks to Pete Lammert of Thomaston for the loan of the event tent which came in handy for the breakfast and chowder, not to mention the dampness of Sunday. The P.A.W.S. staged a fun dog show and the Pirates of the Dark Rose entertained visitors throughout the days including a dramatic arrival of the ship Must Roos. A new feature this year was a wet paint auction implemented by Howard Gallagher and the staff of Camden Falls Gallery that featured the auction of more than 20 works of art created during the festival.

The Town of Camden was a supportive partner. The Harbormaster’s office, the Fire Department, Parks and Rec Department, Public Works, Police Department, Pat Finnigan and the administrative staff all were major contributors to the success of the event. While not an official down department, thanks to Camden First aid for their reassuring presence.

Major sponsorship was provided by Down East Magazine, Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce, Cellardoor Winery, Point Lookout, Allen Insurance and Financial, The First, Camden National Bank and Courier Publications with in-kind media support and printing the festival program. Local Camden businesses also provided important support and are listed on the websitewww.camdenwindjammerfestival.com. Key contributors were Elm Street Printing and Graphics and Adventure Advertising. A small but mighty team of volunteers helped to keep everything ticking along.

The Camden Windjammer Festival is truly a community event that seeks to showcase the maritime heritage that made Camden what she is today. We will be on the harbor and the public landing again next year on Labor Day weekend with fun for all.

The Camden Windjammer Festival Steering Committee: Emily Lusher, Dan Bookham, Steve Pixley, Meg Sharp, John Viehman, Flint Decker, Seth Silverton and Jessica Manbeck

It's Angus for me

As a long-time admirer and supporter of Angus King, and, when he was governor, an occasional collaborator on his successful program to help Maine businesses increase their exports, I was delighted when he announced his candidacy to replace Olympia Snowe in the U.S. Senate.

And now his campaign is giving me the additional pleasure of being able to watch the out-of-state PACs waste the money of their anonymous wealthy supporters through the comically ill-conceived ad campaigns they're throwing at him. Imagine spending perfectly good money to claim that Angus is "anti-business", when most of the businessmen in Maine will tell you that the claim is nonsense. And then there's the spectacle of certain Republican PACs running ads supporting the Democratic candidate as a better way to chip away at Angus's lead than buying ads for their own guy.

I imagine that a lot of would-be "Angus-assassins" out there will soon realize that their feet are getting full of self-inflicted bullet holes.

Charlie Graham

Camden