Moving Maine

“Maine is on the move.” That was the slogan a few years back that helped get Gov. Angus King elected. Then we have our pro business Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins. And of course we can’t forget Congressman John Baldacci, the man who wants to be our next governor and who when campaigning said that his priority was to bring “more and better jobs” to his district.

Why do I bring this up? Because after all these years with the people mentioned, what has all their work brought us? Well, let’s look at it. The mills in Costigan and Passadumkeg have closed. Holtrachem shut down leaving a lot of people in Orrington what was next. Eastern Fine Paper had to have workers give concessions in their contracts to keep the mill working. Plus, recently, the mill in Bucksport shut down for a week because of business conditions. Then the news comes that EnvisioNet is closing one of its sites, followed by the news that they were filing for Chapter 11.

Of course, all this bad news is compounded when you think of the truck drivers, store owners and others who are hurt do to these closings.

So, yes, Maine is on the move. And according to the census, it’s to Southern Maine.

Craig D. Brann

Old Town