Letters From Our Readers
Tim Searchfield, Cynthia Lambert
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PLEASE SLOW DOWN!
Tourist season has arrived in Bar Harbor which can mean only one thing: ROBERTS AVENUE SPEED WAY IS NOW OPEN.
Every year from May to November, Roberts Ave. becomes the go-to shortcut from Cottage St. to Mount Desert St. It starts at the Citgo station and ends at the Catholic Church. While the speed limit is 15 MPH, many find it more convenient to go a little faster.
You can't blame the visitors though. The miniature speed limit sign the bottom of the street is cleverly hidden behind oak tree foliage. Human nature designed us to look up the road and not behind the foliage for a speed limit sign. So, I don't blame the visitors for their indiscretion.
However, locals seem to think they can save valuable time by speeding up Roberts.
Most offenders seem to feel that twice the speed limit (30 MPH) is acceptable. The all-time leading offender was a U.S. Postal Service truck. His estimated speed was around 50 MPH.
The police are aware of the problem, confirmed it with a speed measuring/recording device, and yet are powerless to do anything about it. The Bar Harbor Highway Department, town council, police department, and even the town safety officer have all received emails begging them to do something. And yet nothing has been done.
Safe Streets is a program the town has received a grant to implement. This may be a great time for the town to purchase a larger speed limit sign and relocate it to a location that is more visible. I have suggested to the highway department and the code enforcement/planning office that the sign be a 2' x 3' sign with the cool blinking lights to draw the drivers’ attention to the sign. We'll see.
In the meantime, I am begging folks to please slow down before we have another vehicular death.
Tim Searchfield
Bar Harbor
A Brighter Future: Reorganizing Our Schools
As a voter, I know you care deeply about our kids and our community, and will consider the proposed school district reorganization. Reorganization isn't just about budgets or buildings; it's about creating a brighter future for our children and for the towns we all call home. Reorganization presents an opportunity to establish a school system where every student has the resources they need to thrive, and where our communities come together as one. Please consider voting yes.
Imagine a place where every child feels seen and valued. Right now, our schools have different resources and opportunities based on their location, creating an uneven playing field that can hold some of our kids back. The reorganization seeks to level that playing field, ensuring that every child has access to the same high-quality education, no matter which town they live in. It's about giving all our students the chance to discover their passions, whether it's art, science, or sports, preparing them for whatever path they choose.
Think of the powerful connections that can be made when we bring our students together. By creating a central middle school, we can offer a wider range of classes and extracurriculars that are not possible in our smaller schools. Our middle schoolers deserve a place where they can broaden their perspectives and build the kind of close peer groups that will support them through their middle school years and beyond.
Our children need to see that our community is stronger together. This reorganization is an opportunity to move beyond the "us vs. them" mentality that can sometimes divide us. By coming together and supporting all our children, we can create a more unified and inclusive community. This is a chance for us to show that we all want the best for every student in our community.
Reorganization is also about creating safe and enriching schools. With more space and resources, our elementary schools will be able to offer more programming for our youngest learners, including pre-K programs. By moving the seventh and eighth graders into a centralized middle school, we create more space for PK-6 students to meet their learning needs.
Reorganization is about our shared responsibility to our students and our towns. Change isn't always easy, and I understand the fears some people have about this reorganization, especially regarding transportation and the emotional impact of new schools and new ways of doing things. However, the Reorganization Planning Committee (RPC) has worked hard since March 2024 to develop a plan that takes these concerns into account, including a phased implementation to minimize disruptions and a focus on maximizing the use of our current school buildings.
Reorganization isn’t just about schools, it’s about our children. We have the opportunity to build a stronger and more equitable school system that truly serves the needs of all our kids. I believe that with your support, we can create a brighter future for our students and our community. Please vote yes for our students and a stronger community.
Cynthia Lambert
Cynthia Lambert is entering her 35th year in education for the Mount Desert Island area. She is a member of the RPC. For more information from that committee about reorganization, visit mdirss.org.
Kudos to MS Lambert for this well presented argument for consolidation. This is a no-brainer, just look at the success of MDIHS merger. This Island needs to think beyond the town boarders on lots of issues, not just education, but also housing, tourism, healthcare, and more.
Roberts Street is not the only Bar Harbor raceway. Bridge Street, between Cottage and West, is frequently driven as if it were an access ramp to Route 95. What is worse, it is a two-way street with cars barely able to pass each other as they accelerate from opposite directions.
It would only make sense to add speed calming humps on these side streets which are often used by pedestrians, especially tourists. because of overcrowded and obstructed sidewalks.
Also, serious consideration should be given in how to improve the traffic flow and safety of the Bridge Street corridor. Traffic heading towards West is often backed up due to heavy traffic flow in both directions on West; due to tourists pedestrian congestion at this intersection; and because vehicles parked along West obstruct the view of drivers exiting Bridge.
Would it make more sense to make Bridge Street one-way from West to Cottage? Would 4-way stop signs at Bridge and West improve pedestrian safety?
Before something tragic happens, some changes should be made on these side streets, even if they are only effective during the tourist season.