Editor:
     As many of us with close ties to Goose Rocks Beach, I have been reading with great interest each article and letter to the editor that I come across regarding the proposed conversion of the Tides Inn to condominiums.  The very different perspectives (and sometimes hidden motives) of those weighing in on this issue have also been quite interesting.  It is obvious that the Tides is the most important visual and historical existing landmark at the beach.  For me personally, as I’m sure for many others, the Tides Inn represents family history and the opportunity to continue making this history for future family members.  My great-great-grandmother signed the guest book, which now belongs to Marie, on July 2, 1900 and also signed in my 2-year-old grandfather and his brothers and sisters.  They enjoyed staying at the inn until the means were available for the family to rent cottages and later purchase property.  My great-grandmother was friends with former Tides owners, the Allens, and was living temporarily in a room at “Allens-By-The-Sea” at the time of her death in 1951.  My grandfather’s little brother happened to meet his future wife at the Tides as she worked there waiting tables.  Had this encounter not occurred, many in town may not have ever known Clarie Nickerson.
     Sentimentality and stories aside, one aspect of the Tides debate that I have not seen or heard mentioned yet, is that the Inn provides the only remaining public gathering place on the beach.  As such, it seems to function as the nucleus of our beach (passing by the Inn late at night and seeing Marie in the one lit window, head tilted over the register, working away into the wee hours reminds us of this).  Without the Tides Inn, there is often only the hurried conversation while waiting in line at the General Store or maybe a chance encounter on the street or beach.  Even if we do not frequent the pub or restaurant often, we know that the faithful Inn is there when we have a friend or family member in town and want to walk down and pay a visit.  We love to show them how great life in Maine can be – what it’s like to sit on the grand old porch in a comfy wicker rocking chair in front of the ocean, drinking in the salt air, listening to the waves, rocking and talking the night away.  Special times like these are long to be remembered as rare and totally unique.  We have met many others on that porch over the years who also share this great experience.  This is part of the heart and soul of a community, isn’t it?  
    The current zoning will not allow another inn, hotel or restaurant at Goose Rocks Beach, despite the fact that, in the past, several have existed there at the same time.  In fact, when my father was growing up, there were two hotels, two stores, two gas stations and a hair salon, in addition to “the Casino” which boasted a fancy dance floor for weekend socials, a movie theater and a bowling alley.  Towne’s store in front of it had a soda fountain counter and restaurant with a juke box and pinball machines.  The Homestead, a hotel on the corner of King’s Highway and the New Biddeford Road, had a public dining room.  There was also Flora Cleaves Tea Room, behind O’Hara’s Art Gallery and School at the east end of the beach.  There was even a restaurant run by the Reed family in their home, which served lobster dinners.  Several homeowners along King’s Highway ran gift shops out of their homes.
    Where is that great social community today?  Where can the children play together and forge lifelong friendships on a rainy day? Where can the parents and grandparents have the opportunity to relax and socialize while the children play?  Where can the teenagers go at night to hang out?  (In my day, we congregated on the rocks across from the Tides, where we helped to provide a rookie named Joe Bruni with the excellent training he needed to be our chief of police.  Certainly we could have done better!)  Of course, there is the GRBA Community House, which once hosted dances and movies for kids of all ages that were open to the public.  Unfortunately, only those more permanent and well-off residents who can afford a membership take advantage of any activities.  But these are issues for further consideration.  Perhaps the next owner of the Tides could run a more family-oriented, less expensive restaurant which could be open year-round, breakfast, lunch and dinner (good idea Mr. Carr!).
    Yes, change is inevitable, but how about change for the good of the people of Goose Rocks and the town instead of just for the owners of the Tides and those who may benefit from the conversion (surely you don’t really think the people will benefit, do you?).  As Peter Gray pointed out so well in his letter, the public beach access is a complete non-issue.  The public restroom issue can always be further debated – it does not have to be settled right now (in the form of a bribe, I might add).   The system currently in place seems to be doing the job for now.  As others have pointed out, the public restroom issue is what precipitated approval of a contract zone in the first place, and it is obvious from the poll results that most people agreed that the restrooms should be located by the General Store.  This location would bring extra business to the store as those who are taking care of their business will decide that they are hungry or thirsty, or that they forgot to get something while in town and stop in.  And speaking of the contract zone, for those without such sentimental ties to the Inn, isn’t this the most important issue?  
    Everyone should think hard about what precedent such a move might set for their town.  What’s next?  The contract zone may have its place, but this use of it is not in the best interest of the townspeople.  Inevitably, with these legitimized “arrangements,” some will win and some lose.  We need to choose the side that will benefit our community and town as a whole as well as the common good over the welfare of the few.  Please vote NO on Question 6!

Laura Nickerson Celi
Kennebunkport