Letters

I wish to compliment the Harpswell Anchor team for its journalistic efforts to provide the community it serves with a high-quality newspaper. As a former reporter and editor with a newspaper company serving a large area of Chicago's suburbs with community news, I am saddened by the continuing reports of local newspaper closures throughout our country.

My family and I have vacationed on Bailey Island for more than 40 years, and we always stopped at a flower stand on Route 123.

Our many thanks for the support you've shown Friends of Barleyfield Point and our efforts over the past couple years — by donating money, baked goods and auction items, and by attending our benefit in April. (Thank you, Cook's!)

The town of Harpswell owes a debt of gratitude to the first responders of its three volunteer fire and rescue departments. It also needs more first responders, whether they be paid employees or volunteers from the community.

The striper tourney postponement because of a lack of fish ("PTO reschedules inaugural striper tournament after anglers strike out," June 20, harpswellanchor.org) is a sad state of affairs, but the reasons an organizer gave for lack of stripers are incorrect.

Kudos to the Comprehensive Plan Task Force for their hard work. At their public meetings, they have listened to Harpswell citizens and continued to tweak the plan to reflect feedback.

As members of the Affordable Housing Working Group, we met with community members at locations throughout Harpswell. The most common sentiment was that housing is needed at several moderate price points: housing for young families who wish to put down roots; year-round housing for the fishing, hospitality and public service sectors; and opportunities for older residents to downsize.

Thank you so much for your great newspaper! I eagerly look forward to its arrival and am never disappointed.

In 2022, the Mitchell Field Committee conducted a survey of more than 500 residents, which found that more than 55% were in favor of repairing and repurposing the administration building. The town commissioned the Midcoast Council of Governments to review the evidence and produce recommendations for the future of the building. After confirming that the building is structurally sound, the organization conducted a series of interviews and workshops. Finding a high level of support, it recommended inviting nonprofits to submit proposals to repurpose the building.

Having listened to both sides of the ballot question about the building at Mitchell Field, I think I understand the merits of both sides. I urge a no vote to allow the group of interested citizens a chance to create a valuable asset for the future of Harpswell.