Ward Peck's Jersey Tawk "Connection to community" (Printed June 29, 2007)
As someone who lives in Portland, from time to time
I am accused of being an interloper in the affairs of South Portland
Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth. “What gives you the right to tell us
what we should do? You don’t even live here.”
This sentiment is different from the one held by the people who believe one’s vote should be counted in proportion to the number of one’s grandparents were born in Maine.
I deal with the latter with heaping helpings of scorn and serves as a reminder that it’s time for another “Here’s how we do it in Jersey column.”
The former is a much more valid criticism although based on some level of misperception. There is any number of reasons why my opinion should be dismissed and very few have anything to do with my zip code.
Our home is in Portland’s West End, not far from the Riche Elementary School. A few months back, I had an appointment in Mill Creek and not much to do before and after said appointment. I decided to conduct a little experiment and walked there.
Any guesses about how long it took to get from my house to Mill Creek Park?
Twenty-three minutes.
That’s not bad, especially because I wasn’t speed walking or jogging. I went at my usual pace and it was still less than a half-hour– and a very pleasant half-hour at that.
Driving is much quicker. That is the reason we do our shopping, fill prescriptions and buy our garden supplies in South Portland. Driving across the bridge is much more convenient than driving across Portland to do those same things.
Now that it’s summer, we spend quite a bit of time in Scarborough, too. We just bought our season pass to Scarborough Beach and looking forward to getting our money’s worth. That also means lots of ice cream and lobster rolls in Cape Elizabeth.
And these are all things I do when I’m not driving hundreds of miles crisscrossing the three towns for work.
Being a part of a community is more than just an address. The only thing that is required is caring. You’re free to dismiss my opinions for whatever reason you choose. But the fact is some reasons are better than others.
This sentiment is different from the one held by the people who believe one’s vote should be counted in proportion to the number of one’s grandparents were born in Maine.
I deal with the latter with heaping helpings of scorn and serves as a reminder that it’s time for another “Here’s how we do it in Jersey column.”
The former is a much more valid criticism although based on some level of misperception. There is any number of reasons why my opinion should be dismissed and very few have anything to do with my zip code.
Our home is in Portland’s West End, not far from the Riche Elementary School. A few months back, I had an appointment in Mill Creek and not much to do before and after said appointment. I decided to conduct a little experiment and walked there.
Any guesses about how long it took to get from my house to Mill Creek Park?
Twenty-three minutes.
That’s not bad, especially because I wasn’t speed walking or jogging. I went at my usual pace and it was still less than a half-hour– and a very pleasant half-hour at that.
Driving is much quicker. That is the reason we do our shopping, fill prescriptions and buy our garden supplies in South Portland. Driving across the bridge is much more convenient than driving across Portland to do those same things.
Now that it’s summer, we spend quite a bit of time in Scarborough, too. We just bought our season pass to Scarborough Beach and looking forward to getting our money’s worth. That also means lots of ice cream and lobster rolls in Cape Elizabeth.
And these are all things I do when I’m not driving hundreds of miles crisscrossing the three towns for work.
Being a part of a community is more than just an address. The only thing that is required is caring. You’re free to dismiss my opinions for whatever reason you choose. But the fact is some reasons are better than others.
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