There’s a new sign greeting visitors to Presque Isle. It’s on the south end of town on Route 1, constructed by the new owners of the Presque Isle hotel (formerly the inn and convention center). I was in there recently dropping someone off, and spoke to the owner about it, and she said they wanted to do something to express pride in the town. I think it’s a great idea and am all for it.
The roof is up on the new airport Terminal. I’m looking forward to it being completed as it will make air travel in and out of the county a lot more comfortable. I recall a few years back when the airport was served by a small, regional airline. Whiskey Jack used to stay at the PI Airport Hilton when he was flying out. For those who haven’t heard the story, it’s a strip of woods across the street from the terminal where he would camp out so as not to miss a flight. I don’t think there are too many airports in the USA where one can camp out in the woods across the street from the terminal. I’m hoping this will still be an option when the new terminal opens. If not we’ll have to scope out the nearest patch of likely-looking woods.
Ashland is getting it’s grocery store back, under new owners, and the town just had a vote to not disband the police department, which has been a trend in rural Maine as costs increase and population declines.
It’s been raining a lot, and there is some water back in the river. After the record drought of the late summer and fall, it’s a welcome sign.
One of our local residents has decided to move away, so it appears the population of Masardis will dip below 200 (199). The town office is only open for a few hours on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. On the Wednesday before the election I was in to register vehicles and pay property taxes, and asked the town clerk if I could vote while I was there. She said sure. I was there for about 25 minutes taking care of all my civic responsibilities, and no one else came into the office. This was six days before election day. Each election cycle I see news of people waiting in line for hours and of huge crowds and general chaos and mayhem. My experience this year was that no one was there except me and the town clerk.
Things are just different in Aroostook County; slower and more relaxed.
I’m getting ready to travel to see family for the holidays after having not left the county since March. I’m not looking forward to the frenetic pace of the outside world. It’s jarring to transition out of the Masardis state of mind, and I don’t like it. But my other option is to rename the field school the hermitage and go full-on hermit, which I’m not ready for yet. Maybe in a few years.
Thanks for reading.
