Currently the Wide Waters-Wal-Mart development on Stillwater Avenue in Bangor, behind the Circuit City store, is on hold. Plans are to build a Super Wal-Mart on the property. It is expected that a new proposal will be submitted to the Bangor Planning Board in the near future.

You may or may not be aware of the 300-plus acres of the wetland complex that is on the southern tip of the Caribou Bog, known as the Penjajawoc Bog-Marsh. The bog-marsh was incorporated into the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s inventory in 1989. It has more than 183 species of birds and approximately 183 species are nesting there. Some are on the endangered species list. Other animals such as river otter, bear, coyotes, numerous species of frogs, deer (wintering grounds) and beaver make their homes there.

A University of Maine graduate student, in the Ecology and Environment Science Department, which we support via scholarships yearly, has done a study of 20 streams in the state looking into urbanization dangers and has found that the Penjajawoc Stream is already negatively affected. Do the citizens of Bangor want to see this unique treasure destroyed further? The Penjajawoc has great educational potential for our children and the general population.

Aside from this, do we need a Super Wal-Mart store with parking for 1,000 cars, five lanes of traffic and the possible loss of business to our local merchants?

Gerry Kearns

President

Bangor Nature Club