I was tooling around the internet yesterday and ended up looking at the MAGIC site, and I noticed something that is very telling. In fact, what I found underscores just what I've been telling people for some time now: MAGIC wants to make Millinocket a 100% tourist town.

I clicked on the Medway button and found MAGIC's public description of Medway. The page talks about Medway, their location, their form of government, the excellent schools there, and both industry and tourism.

One key paragraph from that page:

"Medway supports a variety of local businesses, including a turf and mulch manufacturer and a paving supply and asphalt company. The area offers year-round tourism opportunities, including snowmobiling, white water rafting, hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting."

It's a great page. It's one that would make me think of moving my family and my business to Medway.

Then I clicked on the East Millinocket button and found yet another great place I might want to locate my family and business!

The page tells of the geography and the history of lovely East Millinocket. It speaks of both tourism and industry. It speaks of the wonderful educational system in East Millinocket.

A key paragraph from that page:

"Today the community promotes economic development at the Katahdin Regional Industrial Park and through its low mil rates. We work hard at encouraging tourism by promoting the rivers, lakes, streams, and nearby Baxter State Park: the most beautiful site in Maine. East Millinocket is an ideal base for visitors taking advantage of the local white water rafting, fishing, hiking, camping, hunting, and snowmobiling."

Again, I say to myself, "What a wonderful community in which to work and raise a family!"

Then, I noticed a strange thing! Right there on the East Millinocket page of MAGIC's website, it says:

Millinocket Regional Hospital, a full service health care facility with several specialized physicians, is located within 10 miles of East Millinocket. In addition, three local doctors and a dentist serve our community.

"How wonderful!" I think to myself. "Only 10 miles from East Millinocket, in some unnamed town, is a full service health facility."

"Well," I think to myself, "I can hardly wait to see what MAGIC's website says about Millinocket!"

So, I click on the Millinocket button. Realizing that something was wrong with the page, I read it over three times before I understood what the problem was: MAGIC had forgotten to mention the industrial and commercial aspects of our town.

It mentions the woodlands, lakes, rivers, and mountains. It talks about the wildlife and trail systems. It even mentions ice fishing, and updated trail reports.

A representative paragraph from the Millinocket page of MAGIC's site:

"Surrounded by woodlands, lakes, rivers and mountains, Millinocket residents enjoy year-round recreational opportunities amidst spectacular natural beauty. The town is only 20 miles from Mt. Katahdin, Maine’s highest mountain and the terminus of the Appalachian Trail. Poet Henry David Thoreau explored and wrote about this area in his book, The Maine Woods. It remains a preferred destination for outdoor enthusiasts from all over the world."

In fairness, I will admit that it mentions the school system. But the MAGIC page does not mention that that full-service health facility we learned about on East Millinocket's page is in actuality right here in downtown Millinocket! It doesn't mention Huber, the foundry, or our mill.

"No, this is not a place to relocate my family," I would say to myself. "Perhaps one of those other nice communities which are so close to this idyllic tourist town."

Now, as I mentioned before, many of us have realized for quite some time that MAGIC is not slating Millinocket for any long-term businesses other than tourism. But need it be so blatant?

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