Lynne Williams
Lynne A . Williams
13 Albert Meadow Bar Harbor , ME 04609 Phone : ( 207 ) 266-6327 Lynne . Williams @ legislature . maine . gov HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 28 , 2021
National Heritage Feasibility Study County Economic Council 7 Ames Way Machias , ME 04654
RE : National Heritage Area in DownEast Maine
I am writing to express my strong support for the establishment of a National Heritage Area ( NHA ) in DownEast Maine .
I am the State Representative from House District 135 , which includes the Towns of Bar Harbor , Lamoine and Mount Desert . With Acadia National Park as my backyard , I see first hand the benefits that tourism brings to my Town and to the surrounding communities . Over the years , I have seen an increasing number of folks visiting Mount Desert Island who want to know where they should go next . I am always pleased to direct them to go to the heart of the DownEast Region . I direct them to Eastport to wander around town , to Lubec to take the ferry to Campobello Island , to Cutler to walk the trail along the water .
But the designation of an NHA in this region would add so much . First , as someone who has done tours on MDI , I know that people are drawn to history , of the people and of the land . An NHA would present and preserve multiple aspects of our regional history , especially the stories of how we became who we are and how our landscape has evolved .
This land is the land of the Passamaquoddy and bringing more visitors to the DownEast Region will bring more attention to their history and artistic and creative skills , such as their unequaled skills at basketmaking . And the lobsters , the blueberries , and the fish that can be found throughout the region are part of the culinary masterpieces available to visitors .
Preserving our DownEast heritage is of utmost importance , as is economic development in Washington County . We get the visitors here on Mount Desert Island . Now we want to send them on their way to an unparalleled experience throughout the entire DownEast Maine region .
Thank you for your consideration of a National Heritage Area Designation for DownEast Maine , and I am willing to assist in any way possible to make such a designation a success .
Sincerely ,
Lynne Williams
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