Dear Editor:

I’m not afraid of change, because change really is the only constant we can expect from life. Change can energize and invigorate a community. But, I am scared to death about the proposed roundabout in Boothbay Center and everything that goes along with it. Although from away, I’ve been coming here with my husband for the past 49 years. We live here full time and love everything about the Boothbay peninsula. Not only is it one of the most beautiful places in the world, it is also safe, quiet and filled with kind and friendly people. At night, we can see the stars. We brag that there’s just one traffic light.

Bel Air, Maryland, where I grew up, was once a charming and quaint rural community, not unlike Boothbay. Bel Air’s growth began when another millionaire had a vision about making the community better and built a country club. Life there changed dramatically. Bel Air also got a roundabout. Now it has 10.  It’s polluted with lights, traffic and noise. Rampant artificial  light obscures the night sky.

There is really only one reason for the proposed roundabout in Boothbay Center, and Mr. Coulombe told us what that was in his commentary on May 20. “I have designed plans to create a Boothbay Village with a general store, restaurants, retailers, cafe, dry cleaning, day spa, dog grooming, and other possibilities. The roundabout is absolutely critical to have the traffic flow smoothly in and out of the new village. Not having the roundabout would make it impossible for traffic to get in and out of the village.” His village.

I’m a small town girl who has seen first hand what a “very important opportunity to improve our community” can really mean going forward. Opportunity turned out to be heartbreaking.

Lynne Tobin

West Boothbay Harbor