130th Legislature
Senate of
Maine Senate District 7
Senator Louis Luchini 3 State House Station
Augusta , ME 04333-0003 ( 207 ) 287-1515
Louis . Luchini @ legislature . maine . gov
To Whom it May Concern : June 10 , 2021
I am writing in support of a National Heritage Area designation for Down East Maine in Hancock and Washington Counties . As the state senator representing most of Hancock County , I can attest to the value NHA designation will have to increase collaboration between different organizations and promote preservation , recreation , and economic development throughout the region .
Ellsworth is “ The Crossroads of Down East Maine ” and contains the Woodlawn Museum , Gardens , and Park ; Bird ’ s Acre , the home of Ornithologist Cordelia Stanwood ; the Down East Scenic Railroad , and the entry to the Down East Sunrise Trail , a multi-use trail that is the longest off-road section of the East Coast Greenway from Key West , Florida to Calais , Maine . These are just a few of the rich natural and cultural assets that extend from Stonington and Deer Isle to the Canadian Border . We are a living reflection of the history and culture of Maine and New England
Machias is the site of the first naval engagement of the Revolutionary War , Castine was once the capital of French Acadia , Eastport was the last American city occupied by the British in the war of 1812 , and our canneries provided wild blueberries and sardines to Union troops during the Civil War . Stonington and Mount Desert Island still have active granite quarries , Machias hosts an annual Wild Blueberry Festival , and traditional industries such as boatbuilding , forest products , agriculture , and fishing are viable and employ hundreds of people . Fresh lobster is available at numerous restaurants , farmer ’ s markets flourish in our towns , and 24 lighthouses guard our coast .
Down East Maine is a truly unique geographic area with long historic roots . Designation as a National Heritage Area will increase community pride and enable us to leverage increased funding from private donors , local , state , and federal sources . More importantly , it will support historic and healthy communities in Down East Maine .
Sincerely ,
Louis Luchini
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