Dot Black Cleans Up the Mess

Not one to let grass grow under her feet, Dot Black put together a crew of Coast Guardsmen and other volunteers to clean up the graffiti at the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse. They worked all morning Saturday and got the job done.

They repainted shutters valued at over $20,000 and worked with special cleaning agents to clean the hundred-year-old brick walls.

Our lighthouse has been returned to its original state and web cameras may end up catching the felons who created the mess in the first place. Onward. -H-

Of Losers and Other Lowlifes

ROCKLAND (Aug 23, 07): One has to be appalled at the outbreak of graffiti in Camden and Rockland. The attack on the historic Breakwater Lighthouse in Rockland was particularly upsetting. The Breakwater is Rockland’s icon and has stood guard over the harbor for over 100 years, protecting those at sea. It is the first impression for those entering our harbor from Penobscot Bay.

It was great to see that an alleged loser has been arrested for defacing property in Camden. We can only hope that the ignorant little felons who attacked the lighthouse left their own initials in place to help the police pin charges on them.

I just don’t get it. What’s the big deal about writing on a public place? Are the perpetrators so pathetic that the act is the only way that they can gain any attention for themselves?

Right now the Camden and Rockland police departments are working together to solve the crimes. Let’s hope the judge throws the book at them. –H-

Chamber Opposes Diesel Ordinance

At the August Board of Directors meeting of the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce, the board voted unanimously to oppose the proposed City of Rockland ordinance regulating diesel emissions from train engines. The proposed ordinance would create fines for the railroad if diesel fume emissions exceeded a certain prescribed level of acceptability. Board members were concerned in particular that the ordinance could destroy passenger service between Rockland and Brunswick and as an unintended consequence affect railroad cement deliveries from the Dragon plant in Thomaston to the barge wharf in Rockland. Enforceability of the ordinance has been called into question.

Chamber C.E.O. Bob Hastings stated that achieving passenger rail service to Portland and tying in with the Downeaster to Boston is a priority for the organization. The proposed Rockland ordinance could permanently damage that effort and negate the millions of dollars spent on rebuilding the rail between the two cities. “Bath just celebrated the $1.5 million rehabilitation of their historic depot. There are millions invested in state and local infrastructure to support rail service here.”

The chamber board was empathetic about environmental concerns over diesel fumes expressed by some homeowners adjacent to the tracks. “The fact is that each Dragon barge load takes 360 diesel truck trips off the neighborhood streets of Rockland,” said Hastings. “Those trucks would emit diesel fumes as well and the noise and safety threat to the neighborhoods would be unacceptable. In addition, a fully loaded passenger train takes scores of automobiles off of MidCoast highways for the trip between the two communities. We submit that while the diesel train engine does in fact create emissions, it reduces overall emissions and is therefore more environmentally responsible in the long run.”

Maine Eastern Railroad has voluntarily agreed to reduce engine idling times. In addition, Rockland city attorney Carol Emery reported to the council that the railroad was in compliance with EPA and other federal requirements.

The chamber also expressed concern for Rockland taxpayers regarding the potentially dramatic legal costs of defending the ordinance. Federal law pre-empts local communities from regulating railroads and reserves those rights at the federal level. In a recent case this summer in Southern California a federal judge ruled against a local air regulation district and said that the regulators could not require railroads to shut down idling locomotives or obey other local laws designed to clean up diesel pollution. That district spent over $3.5 million on the case and lost to the railroads and national railroad organizations. That does not bode well for Rockland taxpayers.

Go to http://www.ble-t.org/pr/news/headline.asp?id=18521 to read more about the court case.

Next Up: Maine Boats, Homes and Harbors Show

The third great 2007 Rockland waterfront event is set to take place on Friday, August 10 through Sunday the 12th. Following the great success of the North American Blues Festival and the Maine Lobster Festival, publisher John Hanson and his great crew are in the process of setting up the grounds for New England's premier boat show.

This is the show where the finest of Maine's boat builders exhibit over 120 custom creations on the docks at Public Landing and on the grounds of Harbor Park. The show features some of Maine's finest artists, architects, boat builders, furniture makers, craftsmen, designers, marine gear vendors, and musicians. There are great food vendors and music played on show stages throughout the event.

My favorite event takes place on Sunday when the 5th Annual World Championship Boatyard Dog® Trials takes place. Watching the antics of these lovable boat companions is worth the price of a ticket.

Tickets for the Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors Show, will be available at both gates starting at 9:45 on the days of the show: $10 for adults, children under 12 free. No pets allowed. (Except of course for the contest entrants on Sunday).

Chief Justice Needs a Little Peace and Quiet

PORT CLYDE: Well by now the world is aware that Chief Justice John Roberts has been dismissed from Penobscot Bay Medical Center and is reportedly doing well following his seizure while vacationing at his summer home on Hupper Island, a few hundred yards off of Port Clyde. What was for a while the lead national story is about to be relegated to the back pages of the nation's newspapers.

TV trucks filled the parking lot at the hospital as reporters waited for the judge to emerge from the building. Apparently the political reporters lack the skills of the paparazzi that stalk Paris Hilton, for all they got out of their all night vigil was a long distance friendly smile and a wave from his honor as he jumped into his waiting red Ford SUV. Come on guys, you can do better than that. A nurse's outfit, a dime store stethoscope, it doesn't take much to go under cover here to get that $10,000 shot for People Magazine.

My sister called from the Midwest, having seen the Rockport byline on the story. She was surprised that the judge was here in the first place. I explained that there are many famous people summering along this part of the Maine coast. They’re here to enjoy the cool Maine summer with our spectacular scenery (where the mountains meet the sea). They’re here because of our proximity to Boston and New York but here because the local people give them their privacy. Politicians, musicians, writers, actors and other famous folk know that they can relax here in relative anonymity. We know they’re here; we just leave them alone and allow them to enjoy their time here on the coast of Maine.

So now let's give our famous neighbor some peace and quiet. Ship the sound trucks back to Portland and Boston. It's summer on the Maine coast and all is right with the world. -H-

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