Dear Editor:

I must add my own perspective to my wonderful neighbor, Lincoln Furber’s letter to the editor last week in which he “contrasts” the $27 million in total to be spent on the Boothbay Harbor Country Club to “a year of financial and other help to local folks by volunteers and donors.”  

During the summer, and even though I don’t golf, I took the time to visit the country club’s dining room — a restaurant that is open to the paying public without membership. There I was honored to meet the staff, which included a woman and her boyfriend moving to the area because of her job opportunity as manager; a fine chef who’s family moved here years ago (he moved away and got a culinary education and returned here for the job opportunity); the son of a Bristol lobsterman who, still in high school, commuted to the peninsula for the job opportunity as waiter; plus several others.

Some of these employees had local roots and others were newcomers. They shared a common pool of creative talent and delivered an admirable first-year performance for a local business. And this says nothing about the groundskeepers, golf pros and other professionals who I did not have the pleasure to meet.

I suppose the owner of the country club could have left his millions in the stock market and contributed a few more (millions) to the peninsula than I understand he already has. But I presume that is not the point he wishes to make — I do not know him personally. I do know, however, that he is a self-made success story and a Maine native who earned his income using his creative talent. Talent similar to those I saw at work in the employees at this new venture.

The generosity of this peninsula has always been exemplary. But a gift of assistance does not compare to the opportunity to earn your own living, the pride of accomplishment, and the right to spend your income the way you choose.

Tom Myette
Southport