Millinocket group looks to revitalize Peddler’s Hill

MILLINOCKET – Located on Route 11 just east of Medway Road, Peddler’s Hill is little more than a rough unpaved lot, and it looks rather trashed, until you see it through the eyes of Kathy Gagnon and Rose Weymouth.

They envision a paved farmers market with rows of vendors booths, a lunch cart, picnic tables, shade trees, flowers, benches and pretty rock gardens. A small log cabin with bathrooms and a bulletin board area would welcome business advertisements, community group notices, a map of local businesses, snowmobile and ATV trails and residents’ want ads for tourists to see while they gaze at Mount Katahdin.

“It’s going to be a major focal point for the town,” Weymouth said Friday. “It’s an eyesore right now and what we want to do will beautify it and make it be of service to the community.”

Weymouth and Gagnon unveiled their idea to the Town Council on Thursday as one of the first initiatives of the Millinocket Community Action Committee, a new citizens economic and community development effort they co-chair.

MCAC, they propose, will help end bitter fighting over the town’s economic direction by being a gathering point for citizens interested in revitalizing Millinocket. Residents can help do cleanups and volunteer for new holiday and seasonal festivals promoting the town, among other things.

“Citizens often have ideas that could be a great benefit for the town, but most never get beyond discussing them over coffee because there is no place to take their ideas for consideration,” Gagnon read from a prepared statement Thursday. “The citizens committee will be a ‘think tank’ for citizens’ ideas and for turning those ideas into plans.”

Councilors seemed impressed.

“It’s a really good thing to have citizens take an initiative like this,” Councilor David Cyr said. “I have heard nothing but good ideas come out of this.”

“I love the ideas as well and I would like to work with you on those,” said Councilor Bruce McLean, who is also the executive director of the Millinocket Area Growth and Investment Council, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the economic climate in East Millinocket, Medway and Millinocket.

One potential hitch to the idea, McLean said, is that it might create unwanted competition with town grocers. The committee might want input from them, he said.

Councilor Matthew Polstein said he could use the farmers market’s homegrown produce at his River Driver’s restaurant, which is located just outside town lines.

“If there is any way I can help, I would be glad to, as a citizen and as a councilor,” Polstein said.

Council Chairman David Nelson complimented Gagnon and Weymouth for another idea they proposed, surveying residents and businesses to see how they can improve the town’s economy or culture.

The committee is something of an outgrowth of council efforts to restore a town economy buffeted by more than 20 years of bad news, including unemployment at twice the state average, layoffs of about 3,800 millworkers and the town’s population shrinking from about 8,000 residents to about 5,200.

It also comes in the wake of a November referendum denying MAGIC an extra $30,000 to complement $30,000 already appropriated by the town. Gagnon said she appreciated McLean’s offer, but wants to keep the committee a citizens-only effort.

“One of the reasons for this committee was that several of us have tried signing up for MAGIC-led committees many times and after leaving our names and phone numbers we were never called for any of them,” Gagnon said.

MCAC wants to achieve its goals, Gagnon said, with fundraisers and grants, not municipal monies. The committee consists of five residents, though Gagnon and Weymouth want to add to that number.

“We are working on finding a location for our first meeting and hope that any interested citizen will join us,” Gagnon said.

Any town residents interested in participating can call Weymouth at 723-4226.