Bingo vs. hockey

On Aug. 11, the Penobscot Nation officialy voted to end all ice activities and events at Sockalexis Memorial Ice Arena on Indian Island. This decision to end ice skating at one of only three skating rinks in the Penobscot area is of great distress to the more than 2,000 youth hockey players, high school hockey team members, figure skaters, and adult league hockey players in the Greater Bangor area.

Of even greater concern to the state of Maine taxpayer is the Jobs Bond allocation to the Penobscot Nation in July 1992 of nearly a third of a million dollars “to renovate the … Sockalexis Ice Arena into a multipurpose facility that will be utilized for its high-stakes bingo games, ice skating activities, and other special events.” Did the Penobscot Nation Indians use even part of the funds ($300,000) to improve the arena for ice skating? It appears as though they did not. However, an elaborate smoke-filtration system (for bingo), special bingo lighting, a new insulated bingo floor, and a highly technical bingo board were installed. And, just one year later, all ice activities have been terminated at the Sockalexis Memorial Ice Arena.

To rub even more salt in the wound, in March 1990, the Bangor Daily News reported the Penobscot Nation lobbied the Legislature to extend the (bingo) games from 18 to 36 weekends. Then Gov. James Sappier indicated “the increase in high-stakes bingo games is the only scenario that could save the arena, which serves about 100 area hockey teams.” The game weekends were increased from 18 to 27.

It appears as though the Maine state taxpayer has given the Penobscot Nation everything it has asked for in an effort to save Sockalexis Ice Arena and make the arena profitable for the Indians. Has the Penobscot Nation Indians fulfilled their part of the deal?

For young hockey players in Millinocket, Dover-Foxcroft, Hampden, Brewer, Bangor, Old Town, and Orono, it will be difficult to understand that bingo has more merit than the enjoyment of learning and playing the game of hockey. Susan Roeder Peggy Boone Brewer