Dear Editor

I have been giving a great deal of thought as to where are we going as a community, and so far all I that can see is that we are going nowhere, and rather quickly.

Now, I am an optimist at heart, believing that all things happen in due time. Or better, where a door closes a window opens; and so I am of the thought that perhaps the time HAS come to market our town as a tourist destination. I think that with a bit of planning and some thought this might be able to happen.

One great place to start is in the attitude of the people who live here. I have met, in the few years that I have lived here, people who cannot be bothered to smile, extend a greeting to a stranger, never mind a new resident. I don't remember anyone from the chamber calling to welcome me to the neighborhood, or extending a hand in greeting. I never received a packet of information providing me with a list of all of the groups and affiliations, who they are and when they meet. I've never receive a note from the "garden club," the "literacy club" or "philharmonic club," which apparently exist; but the letters of invitation haven't arrived - yet.

In other communities I've lived, in letters are sent and hands are extended in greeting and welcome. I realize that this has been a closed off place for many years, but the news is - NO LONGER.

No longer are bad manners acceptable. We no longer have need of these things that people refer to a cliques needed; I'm sorry but they went out of style in the 50's. No longer is poor customer service acceptable.

The way I see it, people of this community need to rise of above their self imposed downfall. Those of you who will return to work at the mills need to generate money and put it into your own community, rather than spending it in Bangor or elsewhere.

You need to go to Town Council meetings, and let your government work for you! This community can no longer survive on the taxes and givens from GNP, as it is no longer. Soon, we will have a new company; one that will hire mill workers based on performance and work ethics. Hopefully, we will have a company that will not be able to govern, or to control who makes their way into town to start a business.

A new era HAS arrived, and I for one will rise - but a change in attitude is needed. The Town Council is apparently busy trying to figure out if they should cut a day of work off of the work week at Town Hall, and have been very busy working on planning next year's budget .. But wait, did we finish 2003's already? Did I miss this mail out?

When next November rolls around, and the time comes to elect new town councilors, I hope that people will take the time to consider all their options this year, and not simply vote for the people they know, because that's the way it's been always done, as far as I can figure. If you do what you've always done, you'll GET what you've always gotten!  Think CHANGE and NEW BLOOD - the future is in your hands.

Nonie Woughter
Millinocket