EASTPORT, Maine — A congressional veteran and a congressional candidate were the political headliners Wednesday at Eastport’s traditional Independence Day parade.
Outgoing U.S . Sen. Olympia Snowe and Maine State Senate President Kevin Raye, a Republican who is running this fall for Maine’s 2nd District seat in the House of Representatives, joined the fun as thousands of revelers lined the streets of this Washington County seaside village for the parade.
Snowe and Raye have been politically connected for years. A native of Washington County and the owner of Raye’s Mustard Mill in Eastport, Raye was once Snowe’s chief of staff on Capitol Hill.
Former Maine Gov. Angus King, who is seeking Snowe’s seat as an independent U.S. Senate candidate, had his campaign staffers working the crowd, passing out lapel stickers and bright green balloons. King didn’t attend, although he will be in town on Friday.
The day’s events began with a pancake breakfast at Eastport’s airport, which Airport Manager Steve Trieber declared a “politican-free zone.”
“This is an annual fundraiser to help support airport operations and is not politically partisan in any way,” he said. “One of the candidates wanted to set up a booth, and we said no.”
Looming over the Water Street parade venue Wednesday was a massive U.S. Navy warship, tied up at the downtown deep water port. The USS San Jacinto, a 550-foot guided missile cruiser, arrived in Eastport July 1 for a weeklong stay after making its way up the East Coast from its base in Norfolk, Va.
“We always conduct training exercises when we are under way,” said Brian Hamilton, the ship’s fire control officer. “We’re making this trip as part of our commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812.”
Hundreds of civilians have toured the ship since its arrival. Hamilton said the last opportunity to do so will be Sunday between 8:30-11:30 a.m. He declined to discuss the size of the ship’s crew or the extent of its weaponry due to security concerns.
“This ship has had several deployments to the Middle East,” he said. “It was the first ship to fire a cruise missile during the Gulf War.”
Downtown Eastport’s streets were blocked from traffic and filled with activities all day, ranging from the annual blueberry pie-eating contest to a blocks-long vintage car and motorcycle showcase. Sailors in their crisp, white uniforms enjoyed being ashore and mingling with the locals while chowing down an eclectic array of fair food.
Although clouds began building by mid-morning, there was no rain at the 2 p.m. start of the parade.
Keystone Cops directing traffic after the parade. Total disaster. Not going to the fireworks as I’m afraid of a repeat performance. Get some 5th graders next year.
I agree. Very very poor job the Eastport police did. You don’t yell at drivers to drive faster through an intersection when the vehicle in front is only 10 feet away.
Tears of synpathy run copiously down my cheeks as I read your problems! Give it a break! A small police force being overwhelmed by this massive flow of people, a word of appreciation would be more in line. Maybe next year you can go to Northeast Carry and avoid this traffic gridlock! Or better yet, maybe Boston- anywhere but Eastport!
The “police force” is used to this “massive flow of people”. HUGE numbers of people have arrived in Eastport for the 4th for many, many, many years.
Your point? I’ve been to Eastport on the 4th (and on other days,lol). Yep, the are “HUGE” crowds of people, and alot of cars trying to funnel down the one road out of town. My point? A little patience on the part of these two would go a long way!
A little patience by EVERYONE would go a long way! People sitting in their cars during the height of the 4th celebrations in Eastport (or anywhere, for that matter) need to think beyond their car. If all they want to do is complain about the traffic and the way the cops are handling things, maybe they should stay home. That’s my point.
Super- we’re on the same page!
LOL! Yup…..:)
Maybe if everyone wasn’t yelling at the cops, they wouldn’t be getting aggravated and yelling back. If ya’ll think you can do a better job, then become a cop and direct traffic during the 4th! Yes, they’re supposed to be professional, but when you have 300-400 people yelling at you, I think patience only goes so far. Get a grip and take a chill pill next year!
As usual, people blame anyone else fro their poor driving skills. There were numerous (actually a lot more than numerous) pinheads who decided to cut into the parade in an effort to get back to the campers or motels. We’d see a float then a line of pinheads then another float or two then more pinheads driving in teh parade. The cops are good and get frustrated as any human would at the level of stupidity from people who can’t drive and are too ignorant to be patient.
Stay on topic. The traffic clot had nothing to do with people driving into the parade. The PD bungled traffic control. I will not commend them for doing a good job, when they did not.
My glass is half full. I am driving back home tonight after enjoying a great day in Eastport. I look forward to next year when it will fall on a thursday and give us a four day week end. Something to look forward to! Salute!!!
Independence Day seems to have been hijacked by power hungry politicians, retail outlets and other self-serving posers. Let’s try to remember the principles this nation was founded on and forget those that would use this day to promote their own careers and line their pockets.
Keystone Cops and an officer from the ship who stole from a local business…..hope the Chowder House got their mermaid plaque back! :P It was on the police scanner, so don’t delete this BDN!!
I heard it on the scanner, too. When the cops reached the shuttle bus they were riding in, some of this culprits’ “bad boy” shipmates stuck up for him. REALLY?? You guys are in the military…..wow!
The Fourth of July in Eastport gets to be more like a carnival atmosphere every year.
I’ve heard this from many people, too. Some go just for the parade, then go home.
It does have a carnival feel to it, but its great!! Its an almost week long celebration and everyone out enjoying the community!! I loved it. The best celebration in Maine!