Thanks to all the Commenters
I’ve said a couple times that “a blog is a conversation.” My greatest wish in launching the Future Freeport blog is that it would stimulate a conversation in Freeport, Maine about our town’s future. In a blog, particularly one about a town, the conversation takes place in the comments. It’s where the action is.
A comment this morning from Phil, one of the family members carrying forward the 5 generation phenomenon that is Desrosier’s, reminded me that this is off to a great start. In gratitude to the people who have engaged in Future Freeport, now seems like a good time to highlight some of the great comments people have contributed so far.
Here are a few of my favorites:
At the end of the day Freeport is still a small town of 7500 people and therein lies both its limitations AND its charm. You see, Freeport doesn’t have to pretend to be authentic - it is, you just need to look around. Phil
While shopping may be the goose that lays the golden egg, Freeport has far more to offer. These other facets of Freeport can only enliven and enrich the Freeport experience for visitor and resident alike. The result is an improved economy for all. If this is, as you say, a knuckleheaded opinion, I want you to know that there are many of us knuckleheads around that share those thoughts, so you needn’t feel alone. Dick Collins, Freeport Merchants Association.
What separates Freeport shopping from Kittery shopping? Are we just another outlet shopping desitnation on the coast of Maine or are we headed in another direction? I am a big fan of the Portland Buy Local movement, Freeport seem miles apart. Freeport seems more aligned with Kittery.
So how can Freeport strengthen its brand by re-asserting its diversity and authenticity? I think that Main Street needs a major storefront presence that clearly serves the locals’ quotidian needs. A library, for instance - but you already have one of those. How about a Reny’s? Or even a Rite Aid - ANYTHING that serves Freeport’s downtown residents inexpensively would also send a valuable message to tourists that this is still a real, functioning village center, that serves real people. Christian
I’m with you 100% regarding Buck’s. National chains cheapen Freeport’s experience. I am concerned about the scale of the new parking garage. The energy and resources that went into that project may have served Freeport better had it integrated a future train station. Dan
I had (almost) exactly the same thoughts when I read about the Apple store’s move to the Mall area - the only difference in my reaction being that I thought Apple belonged in downtown Portland instead. I’m a devoted Apple customer, but I will never visit their store if they locate in the Maine Mall area. C Neal
I think this is a great conversation to continue…I do think it is time to consider the genuine local community in Freeport. Enabling true community by encouraging independent businesses, widening our scope of bike and walking accessible destinations and making our public schools the highest priority will provide the framework for prosperity and true community. Naomi C O Beal
Isnt Freeport already tipped dangerously toward being a “lifestyle center”? (That phrase makes me shiver.) DeRosiers, Bow Street Market, Azure, and a handful of other local businesses are all that stand between Freeport and mini-mall status. How can we help nudge our town the other way? Jenny Melville
Lots of people have chimed in privately in email (and I’ll protect their identities) but have been inspirational to me in keeping this going:
Wow. I look forward to spending more time with it, what a great idea and terrific execution. Interesting! Wow. What a great communication device!!
Great thing you are doing. Thank-you for the effort. It is inspirational.
Wow! This is the only blog I’ve seen/been invited to that has seemed worthwhile and looks to fill a need that is unmet and serve a purpose that benefits a whole community rather than a sub-group or individual. Thank you for pioneering this.
THANK YOU for taking the time to write thoughtful and provocative posts.
This is great. I believe there is silent majority of Freeporters who are very progressive, and we often don’t see that group represented fully… Thanks for doing this.
For those who are get this via the RSS feed (highly recommended), you can subscribe to the comments feed by clicking here.
Thank you everyone. Keep ‘em coming.
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Comments
I saw a notice for this blog and thought, well had actually thought of doing one myself. So I decided to check it out. I must say that I am disappointed at what I have seen. It totally has a business slant ” how can we improve the Freeport brand” . How can we get more people to visit Freeport and so on…. I would rather see one that was more local oriented, has no one noticed that the more Freeport grows the less locals have a say, ie the parking garage. Or has no one noticed that Derosiers or a store like that could not open in town these days. The amount of money and regulations to start any business in town precludes anyone who does not have deep pockets.
Where are the comments on town meetings? One which seems to me that has gone under the radar is the town discountinuing Morse Street. The safety concerns alone should set off alarms. The idea of turning Howard’s place into a two way street just doesn’t pass the straight face test. It is not big enough. But big brother offers 300k which goes under the radar until last moment and they get there way. Here is an idea, the forecaster says the town is not sure where that money will go, how about using it for tax relief, how about fixing a safety issue on flying point road before a biker or someone walking gets killed!
We have a town manager who has been here for years and runs Freeport like it is own private company. The library is a good example not that the one we now have isn’t awesome, but I remember the old one. How many times have we tried to move the town hall so we could rent it out to business? Freeport is so pro business and anti locals it scares me! I remember the discussion when we bought the ladder truck for the fire department and were told that it was to fight chimney fires, and not for response to fire for LL Beans retail store and Production facilities, these untruth and half truth are the norm and not the exception.
I’ll end for now, by saying that I hope this will turn into a site where locals(long term) are encouraged to voice their thoughts and not just another business tool to bring more people to town so as to make it harder to get thought town. Also one last thought that by requiring names and emails to post here is just another way to keep tabs or place labels on people, I think those requirements should be removed. Thanks for allowing me to post.
Concern Local
Scott–
One of my hopes in launching a blog about Freeport Maine is that it might encourage others to do the same. It would be awesome if the many perspectives of Freeport were made more visible, and blogs are a great way to expose those views.
I have the same wish as you for more independent coverage of the key issues going on in town. I don’t expect anyone to agree with my particular perspective on issues; they are my opinions and nothing more. Within my time-starved life, I have only so much time for this, and it isn’t enough to write about everything I’d like.
As to “rules,” there really are none besides good manners. I publish every comment I get without moderation (with the exception of spam.) My preference is for people to identify themselves transparently, as I have, but I appreciate that some wish to remain anonymous and I’m grudgingly OK with that.
Please keep the comments coming. The diversity of viewpoints makes this a lot more fun.
PT
I haven’t visited for a bit. I enjoyed the summary post of the comments. Every town in Maine that still has a Desrosier’s is maintaining a link back to a Maine that is all too often, disappearing.
People come to Maine for that “something” that our state has always offered visitors; places like Desrosier’s, Moody’s Diner in Waldoboro, The Moxie Store in Lisbon Falls, and Main Street in Damariscotta, Front Street in Bath, and even downtown Waterville.
Sadly, Maine’s movement to chain stores, big-boxes, and the ubiquitous homogenization of the rest of America imperils that very uniqueness that makes us different than everyone else.
We’ll never have the income levels, urban density, or sophistication of other states–if you want that, try some other place. However, we can still hold onto a small town spirit–Americana for want of a better term–if we decide we want that, and I for one cast my vote for that.
Thanks for your blog and your efforts to keep Freeport local.