Greetings to my Wednesday On Main visitors, supporters, friends and partners.
In reviewing our History, it seemed like time to update you all on Bucksport’s journey since the closing of the paper mill in December of 2014.
As you’ve read, we began our summer event program in June of 2015, and it’s been a wonderful success ever since.
2020 was booked with terrific singers, writers, food and fun events for the family and so much more and then – COVID. What a national heartache and local disaster. Having to call all of the performers booked for the 2020 season and cancel their booking was just awful. Little did we know just how much awful was ahead.
Fast forward to 2022, after the life-saving COVID vaccines became available to the world and we could slowly re-enter our lives. But it was a different world, and the impact is still felt today.
Bucksport has changed since 2015. There was great promise, energy, creativity and determination for our town after the closing of the paper mill. We charged ahead for 5 years, and in fact, during the COVID years, the Town and private citizens joined forces to buoy our local businesses – not easy – and continue to provide services as they had in the past. But, alas, we were not the same coming out of COVID as we were going in.
We have lost much. So many dear souls who succumbed to COVID. We learned a lot about what the word Pandemic meant.
Many of our merchants could not overcome the loss of revenue for 2 years and either closed or relocated to a more populated area. Having said, though, we have a few new restaurants, community activities and events that are frequent and very good. Plans are in the works for more activity at our gorgeous Bucksport Performing Arts Center. The community feels tighter and connected in many ways. We are an optimistic lot (well, I am) and building slowly but surely, welcoming new residents, families and entrepreneurs. But, we are changed.
Wednesday On Main is going strong, one of several efforts to bring happiness and joy and a variety of entertainment to Town. We’ve expanded into the Fall and last year offered The Muppet Christmas Carol Movie on November 30th. It was FREE to everyone, thanks to partnership with The Town of Bucksport’s Economic Development Committee, and our beloved BookStacks provided the popcorn, and it was a sell out. Added to the fun were holiday tunes and carols performed by Bucksport High School students – in costume! It was grand.
If I sound somber, part of me is. Too much loss these last few years. But I am grateful for this Community, generous sponsorships, the friendly faces everywhere, our Economic Development Committee who really supports the Wednesday On Main work and often partners with us to bring events to town, David Weeda, who supplies freshly baked shortbread cookies at EVERY event (since 2015), my frequent partners The Alamo Theatre and their fabulous staff and WERU Community Radio, the hard and diligent work by The Town to upgrade roads and services, and the Town staffers that really go the extra mile for this community. Our beautiful waterfront walkway beckons to all and it’s a mighty fine place to have a band or a festival. We live in peace – aren’t we fortunate for that! The world is scary but we are comforted by our community.
The 2025 season line up is looking fantastic, see you there!
Thank you for joining us.
