Help keep city moving forward
IN THE CITY
by Ken Arndt
In life, things are constantly changing … nothing simply stays the same. Think about it, back just 30-40 years ago, we had no Aroostook Centre Mall, we had no giant retailers or fast food stores in Presque Isle. Yes, we had a Sears and we had a J.C. Penney’s, but they were much smaller than the big box stores of today.
Riverside Park and the Northern Maine Forum didn’t exist in the early 1970s … in fact, there were a bunch of dilapidated potato houses along the beautiful Presque Isle stream in the ‘60s and ‘70s. “Urban Renewal” was the prevalent governmental game of change at that time. Similarly, the snowmobile trail systems that bring tourist dollars into the region, didn’t even exist in the early ‘70s! Another governmental program called the “Comprehensive Employment and Training Act” was used to put folks to work that were unemployed or underemployed at that time.
Local residents chose to show some courage and foresight, they committed their efforts to helping change occur in an intelligent way, a thoughtful way. Today, those efforts have been long forgotten, but are part of the reason that Presque Isle has remained vibrant and livable, as a community.
Things change! Things can change slowly or rapidly and in an unplanned way or they can change in a controlled and intended way … but, rest assured, things will change. Absolutely nothing stands still forever, you’re either moving ahead or slipping backwards.
Presque Isle, as a community, again finds itself in a position of needing to make a choice … either move ahead in a planned way or slip backwards … as a community, we get to choose. In the very near future, Presque Isle can chose to move ahead with a common and challenging vision for our community or we can do nothing and stand by as unplanned change takes a hold of our city.
Also, keep in mind that most really good things in life happen because someone could see a bright and prosperous future in the years ahead they made plans, they made a thoughtful decision and, once committed, made those plans become reality. Please stay alert, stay involved and become committed to positive and valued change. It is unbelievable what commitment and positive attitude can do for ourselves and the generations to follow us.
Whenever I get a chance, which isn’t often enough, I read. Powerful words and phrases frequently stick in my mind even though I often don’t remember the author. I have this phrase posted in my office, “Try new things and if they fail, admit the mistake, but do not apologize for having tried.”
In my humble opinion, the power of positive thinking is the only way to go! Please consider becoming involved, be an active part of the unending change that is sure to occur. Let’s make Presque Isle an even more remarkable community in which to live, work and play.
Ken Arndt is Presque Isle’s director of planning and development. He can be reached at 760-2727 or via e-mail at karndt@presqueisleme.us.
