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Log inBelgrade region ready for summer
Belgrade region ready for summer
by Outspoken on Sun May 11, 2008 5:42 am
Belgrade region ready for summer
From the Morning Sentinel
BELGRADE -- Gray fog shielded the last stubborn snowbanks from the sun, but residents still felt its warmth.
Beneath a drizzly cloud cover, the village awoke from a long, cold winter and began preparing for the influx of seasonal visitors whose arrival doubles the local year-round population of 3,000 each summer.
Some might count the crowds as a mixed blessing, but Bob Gardner, owner of Great Pond Marina, calls it business.
"I think it will be good," he said, referring to the coming summer's boating season. "Our reservations (for boat rentals) are ahead of last year."
Gardner talked while replacing the bucket seats in a friend's boat parked near the water's edge. He had nearly retired this year, but said he thought better of it when he started noticing all of the retirees walking for exercise along the side of the road.
He decided to keep operating his marina for a few more years after all, since he would rather get his exercise while on the job, rather than having to get it in other ways because he has "got nothing else to do."
Besides, he has the help of "five young bucks with strong backs" who installed his network of docks that will provide a place to tie up the summer's boats.
Belgrade may be a more obvious example of communities that benefit from summer tourism or seasonal residents, but it's not the only one.
"We all know that there are second-home owners who come up to a lot of places throughout Maine every year," Maine Office of Tourism Director of Marketing Steve Lyons said. "Those people obviously have a positive impact on the local economy as far as spending money in local shops, golf courses and what have you."
The state has banked on Maine's attractiveness to tourists as a way to generate revenue and advertise its highlights. Various communities tout their snowmobile trails, picturesque ocean coastlines or fresh seafood.
Belgrade's primary natural summer attraction is, of course, its seven lakes: North Pond, East Pond, Salmon and McGrath Ponds, Long Pond, Great Pond and Messalonskee Lake. Residents facilitate the experience with bed and breakfasts, shops, boat rentals, hiking trails, camp rentals and restaurants.
Belgrade also has coffee. Up Route 27 a short way into the village proper, a 'closed' sign hangs inside the glass door of the Lazy Lab Café coffee shop as its two owners, Wendy Schlosser and Wendy McCarthy, swap out inventory and load their shelves with dog collars, sandals and Frisbees in anticipation of the flood of customers.
http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/670123581.html
From the Morning Sentinel
BELGRADE -- Gray fog shielded the last stubborn snowbanks from the sun, but residents still felt its warmth.
Beneath a drizzly cloud cover, the village awoke from a long, cold winter and began preparing for the influx of seasonal visitors whose arrival doubles the local year-round population of 3,000 each summer.
Some might count the crowds as a mixed blessing, but Bob Gardner, owner of Great Pond Marina, calls it business.
"I think it will be good," he said, referring to the coming summer's boating season. "Our reservations (for boat rentals) are ahead of last year."
Gardner talked while replacing the bucket seats in a friend's boat parked near the water's edge. He had nearly retired this year, but said he thought better of it when he started noticing all of the retirees walking for exercise along the side of the road.
He decided to keep operating his marina for a few more years after all, since he would rather get his exercise while on the job, rather than having to get it in other ways because he has "got nothing else to do."
Besides, he has the help of "five young bucks with strong backs" who installed his network of docks that will provide a place to tie up the summer's boats.
Belgrade may be a more obvious example of communities that benefit from summer tourism or seasonal residents, but it's not the only one.
"We all know that there are second-home owners who come up to a lot of places throughout Maine every year," Maine Office of Tourism Director of Marketing Steve Lyons said. "Those people obviously have a positive impact on the local economy as far as spending money in local shops, golf courses and what have you."
The state has banked on Maine's attractiveness to tourists as a way to generate revenue and advertise its highlights. Various communities tout their snowmobile trails, picturesque ocean coastlines or fresh seafood.
Belgrade's primary natural summer attraction is, of course, its seven lakes: North Pond, East Pond, Salmon and McGrath Ponds, Long Pond, Great Pond and Messalonskee Lake. Residents facilitate the experience with bed and breakfasts, shops, boat rentals, hiking trails, camp rentals and restaurants.
Belgrade also has coffee. Up Route 27 a short way into the village proper, a 'closed' sign hangs inside the glass door of the Lazy Lab Café coffee shop as its two owners, Wendy Schlosser and Wendy McCarthy, swap out inventory and load their shelves with dog collars, sandals and Frisbees in anticipation of the flood of customers.
http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/670123581.html
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Plato (427-347 BC)
Plato (427-347 BC)
