Children’s trip draws business owners’ ire

MADAWASKA – The owners of a Madawaska movie theater are not happy that a local recreation program intended to bring children to a Caribou theater this weekend.

Donna and Gary Pelletier decried a move that would use local tax money to bring children to see the movie “Shark Tale,” which also is playing at their theater.

“How do you feel about supporting local business?” Donna Pelletier asked selectmen. “Why take children out of town when we have facilities here?”

The Pelletiers brought their frustrations to selectmen after they received no answers they wanted from Town Manager Fred Ventresco.

The program was to occur Friday, Oct. 1. At last report the event was canceled because no children signed up.

The project, one of more than 18 programs the Madawaska Recreation Department had planned between now and Christmas, involved bringing children to Caribou to play disc golf, have lunch at Burger King and attend the movie showing. Children would leave Madawaska at 9 a.m. and return at 4 p.m.

The Pelletiers said children could have been brought to Caribou to play disc golf, which is not offered in Madawaska, but returned to town for a lunch at McDonald’s and to see the show at a local theater.

“A town is like a business,” Donna Pelletier said. “When it’s not supported it dies.”

“Why use tax money to bring kids to a movie theater outside of town?” Gary Pelletier asked.

The program also involved children from several central and southern Aroostook County towns. It was to be held in Caribou because of its central location. Dean Gendreau, recreation director, said the department attempts to have events with other communities.

Gendreau said the town of Easton spearheaded the project. The event has been planned since August. “I don’t believe in isolating kids,” he said. “This kind of program happens once or twice a year.”

Gendreau tried to tell the Pelletiers and the Board of Selectmen that recreation brings kids from other towns to Madawaska now and then, including another program this coming weekend.

The Pelletiers maintained it never should have happened.

Had the program not been canceled because no one signed up, selectmen said they would not have canceled the program.

In other business, selectmen heard a preliminary proposal by the owners of Ridgewood Estates, an assisted living project, about renovating the former Wisdom House, a former residential facility, into a low-income and health care apartment facility.

Leo James Roy, owner of both places, said he would be looking to get a municipally backed loan to help with renovations.

The loan application for an Urban Development Action Grant loan, Roy was told, needs to be done through the Northern Maine Development Commission, agents for the town fund.

Roy is looking to renovate the heating, sprinkler and electrical systems in the St. Thomas Street Wisdom House.

Roy said the Ridgewood Estates project has a 40-person waiting list for occupancy.

The town has preliminary plans for three projects using UDAG money. The town’s UDAG fund contains $27,000. It receives quarterly payments from others who have lent money from the fund, which increases the fund’s balance.