We have been spending money that we could use for other reasons. I thought the council was starting in a new direction, but I see the council is being lead by the town manager. We have had economic developers here before and you can see the results. Its time to move on and promote the region, and the town council can do that without hiring anyone. We've had ideas come from the people of this town at no cost and pull off events so why not have a meeting of the minds and come up with a plan to promote business. We have everything we need from tourism to wood supply. This area is full of resources for the busioness community. We have to start by bring in a department store.

stearns66 makes sense to me

mull this one over. The one which was heading up the small group theorizing about MAGIC is now on this subcommitee aka Dave Cyr. Very interesting, huh? His minions are Alice Maragas and Jim Talbot. Hmmmm any theories on this? Will they be advising?Seein as how Dave Cyr lyed to the people in town bout where he lives until he found he could get away with it guess he'd have no problem lying about anything else either. Trading one lying self- agenda control freak for another. Only differance from Dave Cyr's group and MAGIC is who is doing it. Good ole town boy Dave even has imported his own smarmy grant writer. Hmmmmmmmm here we go again.

CB04462 you only left out one thing - his 2 best friends JUST moved back to the State of Maine and Millinocket recently. Now, is there really ANY guessing necessary as to WHO'S really on that committee. Dave is like the current President of the United States. He only SAYS what his speech writers put on the paper/teleprompter.

Mark Marston is David Cyr's mouth piece in East. totally agree with CB04462 and anotherneighbor....

Me, too. A more jealous and resentful man than Cyr you'd be hard-pressed to find.

What's almost as crazy is stearns66. Here's somebody who has no idea what economic development is. "Led by the town manager"? What does that mean? You mean the same guy who has been so instrumental in bringing in Re-Gen?

"Promote the region" without money? How do you do that? Or "ideas come from the people of this town at no cost and pull off events"? No kidding. Ideas are cheap and easy to come by. Ideas by themselves do nothing. If they did, the area would have had an ATV trail network decades ago. It's people who work those ideas and overcome the obstacles to them that make the difference. Ask Brian Wiley and Chooch Raymond about how much work they have done, and for how many years they have done it. That's the difference between ideas and goals, workable plans and finally realities. "Pull off events"? You mean like the motorcycle rally? The one Alyce Malice wrote to the organizers of and told them to stay the Hell out of Millinocket? Is that what you mean by "have a meeting of the minds" and "a plan to promote business"? Everybody in town favored the rally except Alyce, and did that stop her and her unbelievable hatred? Nooooooooo.

"We have to start by bring[ing] in a department store"? You mean, like the owners of the Ames Plaza have tried to do for several years now? After spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to clean the place up?

No meeting of the minds can ever occur with David Cyr, Talbot, Maragus, etc. around. Those people have got to go. They are crazy, ignorant, and worse, lazy. They have had plenty of time to work on problems, but nothing they do has ever met with success. They're failures because they would rather be vengeful than productive. John Raymond and Wiley could sit with Katahdin Forest Management people, overcome their resistance to ATVs, and get them to sign on the dotted line. Cyr never could. He lacks the skills and the intelligence and would rather be hateful than admit it. He's excelled at 2 things: begging for government funding and getting the town manager to apply for grants and using his council influence to try to sabotage his enemies. There's a reason he sticks to the script, anotherneighbor. He knows his mouth and ideas are his own worst enemies.

I just shake my head when I read these posts. The posts clearly show why Millinocket is deteriorating. The posts clearly show that if you don’t agree with the “right” people you, and if you’re unlucky enough to own a business in the Millinocket region, you become a target as to why things have gone wrong in Millinocket.

Let’s look at the facts. In the past, MAGIC received millions of dollars in redevelopment money. Where did it go? To this day they refuse to produce a full and complete accounting of where the money went. Just drive through town and you can see it did not go where it was suppose to go. That money lined the pockets of MAGIC and its supporters. Yet I bet you still support them.

Who was against the annexation of land for the town of Millinocket? It was the Matt Polstein controlled town council at the time. The annexation would have expanded Millinocket’s tax base and allowed it to grow. Of course, it would have also put Mr. Polstein’s resort within the Town of Millinocket. I know people who want to buy land in Maine, but they won’t consider Millinocket. The town is too close in (people from “away” want a lot of land) and when you go outside of town you run into leased land. The lakes are almost all leased land. Nobody in their right mind would want to invest their money in leased land with Katahdin Timberlands as their landlord. Most people I know are looking South to Lincoln where you can have owned land on the waterways. Does the term Gateway Community, come to mind?

Who was it that said you can’t have a park by a mill or a mall? It was Matt Polstein at a meeting in Augusta. And guess what? Millinocket doesn’t have a mill or a mall! Why do you think that is? Do you think it is my fault? Do you think it is Alyce’s fault? Do you think it is David Cyr’s fault? No. Just read the above and you’ll know why. You may not want to believe it, but the above is the factual history. Also neither myself or Alyce is a minion of Cyr. I disagree with Alyce and David on a lot of issues, but I respect their opinions. Something you fail to do. I disagree with Ron Preo, but he got to air his opinions live on WSYY. I disagree with Mike Madore on the loan to Mike Brown Custom Builders, but he still works for WSYY doing sports. Again, I respect his opinion.

The problem with Millinocket is YOU. You fail to respect other people. They either agree with you or they become a target of YOUR hatred. Nobody wants to have a business or live in an area where people fail to look at the objective facts and jut bury their head into the sand as to the reality of the situation, then they go out an blame all their problems on other people. Millinocket will never grow until they learn to respect other people and their views.

Wow. Another set of Jim Talbott conspiracy theories blaming Matt Polstein, Katahdin Forest Management and MAGIC for Millinocket's troubles. What a surprise.

Let me amend that, slightly:

Wow. Another set of Jim Talbott conspiracy theories blaming Matt Polstein, Katahdin Forest Management, MAGIC and anybody who disagrees with him for all of Millinocket's troubles. What a surprise.

There.

I would point out that they are not conspiracy THEORIES. There is without question a conspiracy which involves at the very least Matt Polstein and his sock puppet Bruce McLean who is the business partner of two of the people he got hefty grants for. I would also point out that the "small group" of people is more than 800 who came out to sign petitions and stop MAGIC and Polstein and the majority of voters in both referendums that went to ballot.

And people wonder why Medway & East Millinocket stay on this end of Rt.157

You've just proven my point again.

Just go back and read all the newspapers and other articles over the years. No conspiracies. Just facts. Facts that you want to ignore and then blame everything on Cyr, myself and Alyce. Yet you fail to say what each of us has done. Just innuendo, unsupported by facts. By the way, what have you done to help the town and the region. Are you on the Town Council? Have you ever run for the Town Council or volunteered for anything else in town?

Where to begin? CB04462 should get his facts straight. Mr. Talbott's name is spelled with 2 "t"s: Mrs. Maragus' name is "AlYce MaragUs". That being said, how can we believe anything he/she says if he/she can't even spell their names correctly?. As to being minions of David Cyr it is my understanding none of these people have much communication with each other - minions, I don't think so.

Fred Phillips criticizes Alyce "Malice"s comments on the motorcycle rally (which are not accurate quotes) but let's be honest - who benefitted the most from this rally? Was is the displaced employees of our dead mill or was it the Polstein monopoly who held most of the events at their restaurant and camping complex? Yes! maybe the motels and a few other restaurants benefitted but only for the overflow the Postein's couldn't accomodate.

Economic Development? I hardly think so - and if you think so - ask those out of work or those who have had to leave their beloved town!

i say just look at the bike/hiking path you folks stand too receive,,,,,,id say developement is underway

Yep! Development is under way! Won't be long before everone is fighting over who gets to use it first.

And is the biking and hiking trail truly "economic development"?

Will it put our people back to work? or is it just another aspect of "TOURISM" at work?

Already problelms have arisen as to ATV's using this pathway.

Who is going to monitor its usage and who is it been constructed for? Tourists or our people who are out of work?

watchdog

why all the fuss over a walking/biking trail.

many other towns and cities around the country have them, they're quite nice actually.

your argument that it won't put people back to work is exactly right, last time I checked a recreational trail wasn't supposed to employ 2,000 people.

and your "tourism" jab is laughable, i don't think anyone in millinocket is expecting this to draw people from away. they can simply go walk and bike on their own recreational trail.

let's call it what it is, development of an eyesore, for the benefit of the local people. plain and simple. paid for with a federal grant that would be given to someone else had millinocket not taken it.

along with the jerry pond facelift, and the town pool upgrade, i think it's all coming together nicely. it's just what millinocket needs.

if you're expecting economic development to arise from a walking trail, you'll be waiting a long time.

Watchdog,

Let's be honest, who are the people that benefited most from this rally, the people from town that ride and the people from all over who came. So what is your point. Who cares if not one person made any money, it was fun. Let's be honest as you say, who the he!! cares! Enjoy life, that is what all the bikers were doing at the time. Shiat happens, people have to move to find work, maybe someday they can move back. Do I really care who benefited, NOOOOOO, many of us had fun. Guess what, it will be coming back, try to enjoy it this time. If it's not your cup of tea, toooooooo baaaaaaad.

Without question a conspiracy, RattyMatty? Or a group of people who think Polstein is the devil? Hefty grants my a--. Every time I hear the story from you guys, it has a new twist on it. If 800 signatures actually occurred, then why was it that Polstein and Mclean won every election they ran in? Just another paranoid conspiracy theory. People are out of work in Millinocket because the mill closed. It's tragic, but that's the only truth to these things. The rest is vendetta, period.

What each of us has done, Talbott? You mean, insinuating on your radio station for weeks that Ron Preo and his business were corrupt until he finally came on the radio and defended himself? With Alyce Maragus, Ken Anderson and Cy at the radio station behind microphones that day? When Preo was at one time on MAGIC's board of directors? Then calling yourself "fair" and "respectful"? And all the while making money off your broadcasts?

Fair indeed.

Well Fred as always you have your facts all wrong. The only thing we put on the radio was what had been put in the newpapers, yet you never complain about newspaper reporting. All you have to do is look at the spin Nick Sambidies puts in all of his articles including this one. Look at this passage:

"A small group theorized that MAGIC was conspiring to depopulate the region and turn it into a tourist haven while seeding East Millinocket and Medway with manufacturing businesses — a charge that MAGIC, pro-MAGIC residents and several businesses have called preposterous."

Talk about biased! Yet you don't complain. Maybe because that is YOUR point of view.

And since you have no idea of what transpired before the radio broadcast, here it is. Ron Preo and I had two phone conversations (both recorded). He brought up various issues involving David Cyr, Alyce and the Andersons. Because of that, they were invited to attend the broadcast. Mr. Preo was invited to bring whoever he wanted. He invited no one. Mr. Preo set the on-air agenda. No one else. And in case you weren't listening, Mr. Preo even admitted on the air (something he previously denied) having conversations to dissuade people from advertising on WSYY, although as you know, he tap danced around the exact language. The result, however, was the same.

So my previous posts stand.

It is people like you, who are keeping people from wanting to move or start any new business in the Millinocket area. You can;t stand anyone having an opinion or viewpoint other than your own narrow view of the world. It is you that is making people not want to live and conduct business in Millinocket. Nobody can proffer a new idea or vision of the town, other than yours, without being made the target of your constant harping, complaining, and, to use your words, hatred. Who wants to put up with that. Life is tough enough without dealing with the likes of people like you who just live to complain and complain and complain. You ignore facts, and just acknowledge the facts that support your narrow viewpoint. You harp on Alyce about her objection to the motorcycle rally. Why? It happened anyway. Doesn't she have a right to voice her opinion without being constantly attacked and THREATED. YES SHE WAS THREATED. Who want to live and do business with people like you.

Also we don't make money with those broadcasts. They are a community service. We do a lot of thing that are a community service. Yet you never appreciate it. You just DEMAND it and then complain, complain and complain.

Let me ask you; has Matt Polstein or MAGIC ever done anything for the town that didn't put money in his, or his supporters pockets? Your hypocrisy is overwhelming!

By the way. Why don't you come on the air and share your vision of the area?

You're a bizarre man, Mr. Talbott, and you sure do make Millinocket seem like a nice place.

Again, comments like a "bizarre man."

No constructive or rational replies. Nothing but insults and non sequiturs. No cogent reply to my posts and the issues raised therein.

Again, why don't you put yourself on the line. Ron Preo did, and as I said previously, I disagree with him, but at least he had the guts to stand up and put his opinion out there for all to hear. I respect him for that.

What about you?

Oh, by the way, one other comment. There are a lot of good people in the area. Unfortunately, they are mostly silent for fear of their business or themselves coming under attack by people like you. I wish they would stand up, but I've learned that they won't. I don't care. You guys have been attacking myself and WSYY for years. It just rolls off my back. And if you haven't learned by now, I'm not going away and I'm not backing down. So keep up your posts. I'll be happy to reply.

Also, my offer is still out there. Why don't you come on the air.? Or are you only vocal when people don't know who you are?

Oh, by the way, one other comment. There are a lot of good people in the area. Unfortunately, they are mostly silent for fear of their business or themselves coming under attack by people like you. I wish they would stand up, but I've learned that they won't. I don't care. You guys have been attacking myself and WSYY for years. It just rolls off my back. And if you haven't learned by now, I'm not going away and I'm not backing down. So keep up your posts. I'll be happy to reply.

Also, my offer is still out there. Why don't you come on the air.? Or are you only vocal when people don't know who you are?

Good job letting it roll off your back, JT. You have now invested a story about a proposed economic developer with every bit of baggage for the last 10 years! THAT is why this town can't move on, because, in your need to be believed, you drag it all out again. I think any attempted step forward should be encouraged, not bound up before it gets started with qualifiers.

Sorry, Downtowner, but I didn't not change the subject, nor start it. Just go back and check the thread and you'll see where it began.

As to your next assertion, I could care less if I'm believed, but I'm not going to allow Fred Phillips to make whatever charges and attacks against me without a reply. So I think your next post should be to FredPhillips.

Are you all jealous of Matt because he is a succesful business man in Millinocket. Some people do, some people just sit around and complain about those that do...

What is wrong with tourism? Get over it, the mill is NOT going to reopen and hire all you losers back. Gat a life and help Millinocket become a destination for people with money that is going to spend it. You are so freaking miserable, the anger in these posts show. Makes me glad I moved out of town.

jcarrme

i think everybody is glad you moved out of town.

Sin City, No fuss from me about walking/biking trails and your analogy that a federal grant (taxpayer money) might have gone somewhere else is more than valid. But - I'm also sure the taxpayers are not happy to see the government spending "their" hard earned tax money on all of these grants that never seem to accomplish what they're supposed to.

However, you made "MY" point quite well when you said "If you're expecting economic development to arise from a walking trail, you'll be waiting a long time" - and yet that is exactly what this trail is being tooted as - economic development.

To the editors:

Comment made on 10/14/09 by ucykate1999 certainly doesn't belong in this discussion.

By your screen name "movethen" I guess you're trying to send Alyce a message. But why should she have to "movethen"?

Maybe you want to have FUN but she seems to more interested in seeing people have jobs and being able to stay in their town!

But then I guess that doesn't matter , as long as your having FUN!

Fred Phillips states that the radio station (WSYY) insinuated for weeks that Ron Preo and his(?) business were corrupt. I don't believe that was what Mr. Talbott was saying (corrupt). He was merely trying to bring everyone's attention to the fact that the business was on shaky ground; not paying off its loans and had outstanding debts with the IRS.

In fact, IRS records for tax liens on "Mike Brown's" cabinet business include over $35,000. just for the four quarters in 2007. Oh! wasn't that when business was good and they supposedly had a $260,000. payroll for that year?

Maybe they should have paid the IRS before asking for an additional loan from the town? Do you think?

watchdog,

This happens all the time with business's, large or small. The towns, States and Federal governments all know it. They would rather these businesses keep people employed than go under for a measly 35k. It is just the way business is done. Even Godzillianaires like Donald Trump do the same thing, just in different ways. Kind of like whining over spilled milk. An no, these small examples like this is not how are economy got to be the way it is now. (Before you even go there, I would suggest you read up on it)

watchdog,

You don't even make sense. Why does a bike rally have to do with making money? I do many things for fun, and most of them cost me money. Why couldn't we just say this rally was for publicity, promoting the area. Maybe these people will come back with there families and spend money, meaning someone is making money. I stand by my point that not everything has to be about money. I think Alyce was more concerned with whom she thought was going to make the money, or she just plain does not like the whole biker thing. If the latter, then that is just too bad. So yes watchdog, we all looked at this as having some fun, are you jealous?? I think so.

Movethen, it doesn't HAVE to make money, but that is the lie that's being touted, and if you live here and/or pay attention to what's going on, you would know that.

Matt Polstein's success is not the issue. The fact that he voted his own financial interests while he was supposed to be voting ours IS the issue. His conflicts of interest went undeclared for a few years before he was finally backed into a corner and forced to acknowledge them. His own statements, over and over again, were that he didn't know he was violating the law, and he apologized. In fact, he apologized every time he was caught violating conflict of interest laws.

...........And what does that have to do with the price of tea in China! My comments had nothing to do with Matt. Now if you get right down to it, there was more money going through this town during the bike rally than if it was not here. So you fail to make your case against the bike rally. This is what my posts were about. If you have something against Matt, that is your problem. We enjoyed the bike rally and welcome it back.