I remember well when I first came to Bangor in the early 1950s – when my first stop upon hitting town was at Freese’s lunch bar for coffee or hot chocolate.

It’s sad to see that the owners of Hollywood Slots are planning on expanding and the city thinks it’s a good idea. I can hear the young high school graduates saying to their parents: “Wow, they’re going to teach me how to get rich quick!”

Bringing the University of Maine administrative offices to downtown Bangor is a good thing; a mini Las Vegas is a bad idea.

I think fondly of the days when a young man or woman could get a job at the mill and earn honest pay, for honest labor.

Ah, progress.

I’m glad my children are all grown up and earning honest pay, for honest labor.

Robert E. Johnson

Bangor