In this day and age we actually have someone running for public office that would refer to citizens that enjoy viewing wildlife as "Bird Nerds"?! Does Mr. Frary not know that the number 1 reason (by a huge margin), reported annually by the Maine Department of Tourism, that tourists come to Maine is for sightseeing and to view wildlife? Maine, The Vacation Land - Maine, whose number one industry is tourism - and yet someone choosing to represent us is so removed from reality? I worry in this time of Global Warming that perhaps that should be his biggest fear. Perhaps the idea that a study has shown Plum Creek's Plan to raise Maine's total carbon emissions by 1% should alarm him. Eco-tourism is documented as the largest segment and fastest growing segment of tourism world-wide. Entire countries have redefined themselves out of desparation to prosperity all by preserving all that is wild! Please let's not continue with the current President Bush administration mentality.

Mr. Frary should take a hard look at the responsibilities of the LURC Commissioners in their review of Plum Creek's Concept Plan for their lands in the Moosehead Lake Region. I recently completed an analysis of Plum Creek's concept plan and found that it does not meet the requirements for approval. In my letter to LURC, I also suggested some new ideas to help retain the wildlands character of the Moosehead Lake Region for all to enjoy. I would be pleased to e-mail a copy of my letter to LURC to anyone who still has an open mind on this matter.

Nicholas Barth

A Maine Republican candidate standing up for a huge, out-of-state corporation?

I'm shocked.

A few weeks ago I went to a debate at Colby College between a Plum Creek representative and a lawyer from the National Resources Council of Maine. NRCM has in fact produced an alternate plan. It would have development on the land that Plum Creek actually owns in Greenville, it would be scaled down significantly, and it would not be in endangered species habitats. The current Plum Creek plan is simply unacceptable and would only harm the economy and environment in the long term. Plum Creek and the Republicans only care about one thing, and that's money in their pockets.

Hmm, I wonder what's in it for Frary?
Bird nerds? What an ugly thing to say. The only coherent plan going on is by Plum Creek to destroy Maine woods.

I am an 18 year resident of Sangerville, in Piscataquis County. I support Plum Creek's revised rezoning application.

I have reviewed NRCM's proposed alternate plan for development of Plum Creek's land in the Moosehead region. The NRCM plan shows that NRCM clearly lacks local knowledge of the area. Among other things, NRCM's proposed residential development in Greenville would be located within and would totally change the character of the upper Wilson Valley. Upper Wilson Stream is a currently undeveloped, highly scenic, "steep creek" rated as class V-VI whitewater by the American Whitewater Federation. Upper Wilson Valley contains five little-known, highly scenic side stream waterfalls of up to 80 feet height. It is in close proximity to and buffers a portion of the Appalachian Trail, which crosses Wilson Stream in nearby Elliotsville. Yet NRCM, of all organizations, is proposing major residential development in this area as an alternative to Plum Creek's plan.

Plum Creek, which owns the land, evidently realized that development of this area would not be appropriate. NRCM, which does not own the land and which offers its opinions from Augusta, obviously doesn't know the landscape. Yet NRCM and others from outside the area claim to know more about the Moosehead region than those who live here.

P.S. Greenville's town manager, John Simko, who supports the Plum Creek plan, is a life-long Democrat. After graduating from Bowdoin college at the top of his class, he began his professional career as a staffer in Senator George Mitchell's office.

John is also a Piscataquis County native.

This is not a Democrat vs. Republican issue. It is an issue about whether those who live in the Moosehead Lake region will get a say in decisions that vitally affect their lives.