March 6, 2013 Contact Calendar The Mix Archives
A good op ed piece in the Sentinel by a KVCOG guy talks about central Maine's demographic problem: not enough people in the prime working age bracket (18-44). He quotes a study that shows a way to draw people in that bracket to your area is promoting Quality of Place. I think that idea, Quality of Place, has worked for Unity and that maintaining quality of place is the aim of comprehensive plans and ordinances.

Movies: Frank and Robot featuring the near future, phones, charming robots, Susan Sarandon. A Cat in Paris is a sweet artsy animation with characters drawn in the mode of famous French painters and a plot similar to Iron Giant. After watching it, I googled the name of the film combined with Guernica, but I must have been the only one who thought I saw a fight scene flash to an image of that painting.

At Wednesday's meeting of the land use ordinance committee, I was surprised to see that they had gotten it the week before when Piotti, Joel and Don Newell explained the importance of the Comprehensive Plan and how it really has to happen before the ordinance update. If people can change course when presented with the facts, then there is hope for us. The minutes were taken by Sherry, a court reporter in training, who, lucky for us, is practicing by transcribing some town meetings. It's amazing to have a real transcript of an important meeting for all to read. Another kind of detente that happened that day is that I went into the Depot Store, got a latte at the Dunkin counter, then went out to the Amish store and got a donut to go with it. A yummy combination that could become a Wednesday ritual.

For the third time, I've noticed how a franchise gets transformed into a semi-local place. Marden's in Waterville used to be WalMart with a MacDonalds inside. I went in there once to get something that MacDonalds usually served, maybe an English muffin. The older women who were running the place said they didn't have any, but they had made chowder and would I like some. The current MacDonalds on KMD in Waterville is a comfortable hangout for old people. The amazingly inefficient staff there are just perfect for making them feel at home. It took me about 20 minutes and a lot of conversation to get a muffin and coffee. I'm not complaining. This localizing of something bland and generic is a good thing. I see the same thing happening at the Dunkin in Unity for a different demographic; people will make a place their own.

Last Time