Monday, August 16, 2010 — Maine Rep. Dawn Hill has informed local bridge activists that Maine’s Senate President, Libby Mitchell, will visit Badger’s Island tomorrow one week from tomorrow* to inspect Memorial Bridge and the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge, and to conduct a forum for the area businesses and concerned residents.
The forum will be held at Weathervane’s Lobster in the Rough pier on Badger’s Island, beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 24th. The importance of this event is, we presume, self-evident.
Here is Rep. Hill’s e-mail:
Good Morning Ladies & Gentlemen:
Exciting and good news to share for further support of the Bridge funding….
Senate President Libby Mitchell who is concerned about the Kittery/Portsmouth bridges wants to get a first hand account of the situation.
She has been paying close attention to the progress of the funding application and requested assistance in arranging a visit to inspect the bridges and to conduct a forum for the area businesses and concerned residents on Tuesday, August 24. Senator Mitchell will view the bridges at 8:00am and then go to the Weathervane’s Lobster in the Rough pier on Badger’s Island to begin a forum at 9:00 a.m. Owner Terry Gagner graciously has made his facility available to us all for this occasion.
The timing of this visit is strategic in light of the fact that the Maine Senate has been called into Session on the 25th of August to vote on appointments. Thus, it will be an opportunity and advantage to have had Senator Mitchell hear directly from the stake-holders on the day prior to the Senators reconvening for the first time in months. Hopefully this will bolster the discussions and heighten the relevance of the visit to the State House in Augusta by members of the “Save the Bridge Coalition” on the 25th.
Kindly forward the above message to all of your list serves so that we can continue to show a united front as to the importance of this issue not only for local communities on each side of the Piscataqua but the State of Maine generally as a gateway to tourism, business travel, and support of our local businesses that contribute so much to our State’s economy.
Sincerely,
Rep Dawn Hill
207-337-3689
* Our thanks to “Concerned Citizen” for pointing out our error. — The Ed.
Glad this issue is FINALLY getting some public attention!! Some of our local bridges seem to be falling apart. It may take federal money but we have to invest in our bridges or suffer the consequences. By the way, Dawn’s email says the 24th and not the 17th. 😉