Dear Editor:

This letter is coming eight years too late, but I have to applaud Korey Lewis, Rick Carmolli and the Lewis Construction Crew for their astounding renovation of Pier 1 Pub back in 2014.  I write this now in hopes that other local businesses will look to Pier 1 as an example of a renovation done right with regards to accessibility. As a power wheelchair user, I can tell you that it was a struggle for me to get into Pier 1 prior to their renovation. Several plywood ramps were fashioned for me to safely get from the pier and through the original entrance.  Every time I went over those ramps I had to hold my breath as it was a tad treacherous. The renovated entrance is perfectly flush with the pier. With the door propped open, I can enter and exit on my own free will. How refreshing it can be to feel so independent.

Many storefronts in the Boothbay region are old and outdated, and in need of a facelift. Some proprietors elect to make this investment and good for them. They should. However, they should do so with a careful eye towards accessibility for all. Recently, I visited a newly renovated business in town and was surprised to see a four-inch lip up and into the doorway. It took three people for me to get inside – one person pushing my chair, one person pulling, and another holding the door. It’s a scenario that could easily be avoided with either a mound of crushed rock to help level the threshold, or even a small wedged ramp.

There are a number of places in our region that have an egregious lip or a single step that act as a barrier for the disabled. The good people at Pier 1 consciously broke down that barrier and for that awareness I am grateful. Whether renovating or not, I would encourage all local business people to examine their entryways and ask themselves if they are truly accessible for all. If they are not, is there anything you can do to change that? Summer is just around the corner and as places open up I know myself and plenty of other tourists who may use a chair, walker, etc. will be looking forward to honoring establishments with our patronage. Hopefully we will be able to get inside.

Tanner Grover

Boothbay Harbor

P.S. – I’m a good tipper!