Maine Businesses in Support of a New National Park and National Recreation Area To Maine’s Congressional Delegation: We, the undersigned Maine business men and women, are contacting you to express our support for creation of a new National Park and National Recreation Area in the Katahdin Region, as proposed by Elliotsville Plantation, Inc. (EPI). We urge you to support this project, which has been carefully developed with input from local residents and business owners. We are fortunate to live in a state like Maine with its wonderful natural resources that are enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. Acadia National Park is one of Maine’s great destinations, drawing millions of people annually to the area’s spectacular coast and unique geology. In a similar fashion, we believe a new National Park and National Recreation Area near Katahdin could be an exciting destination that introduces visitors to Maine’s inland forests, rivers, wildlife, and mountains, and the communities and businesses nearby. Economic studies show that a new National Park and National Recreation Area located east of Baxter State Park could provide more than 450 direct and indirect jobs. These studies show that rural locations across the U.S. that currently have a National Park or National Recreation Area have experienced stronger economic growth over the past forty years than the U.S. as a whole. Thus, EPI’s proposal to donate the land and create a $40 million endowment for operating costs, could be very beneficial for towns and businesses in Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties, in particular. Filmmaker Ken Burns has described our national park system as “America’s best idea.” People are drawn to America’s national parks because they provide exceptional opportunities to experience our natural world in an accessible way. EPI’s proposal includes both a National Park component, with all the features that people have come to know and expect in a National Park, and also a National Recreation Area where snowmobiling and hunting also would be allowed. The result would be a powerful combination of recreation opportunities that would attract visitors year-round. To us, this seems like a great idea for the region and the state as a whole. For these reasons, we hope you also will support EPI’s proposal for a new National Park and National Recreation Area on up to 150,000 acres east of Baxter State Park. Sincerely, 86 This!, Ellsworth Jeffery Kelly-Lokocz Bread of Life Bulk Foods, Presque Isle, Cheryle Matowitz Dream Dress Bridal, Brewer Holli Owsley A Straight Stitch, Brewer Jeff Norton Bumpy Road Studio, Eddington Rosalita Feero Dreamcatcher Antiques, Ellsworth Thomas Sawyer Acme Pizza & Wing Co., Orono Steven Kilmurran Busytown Bikes, Lewiston Francois Jalbert Echo Salon, Bar Harbor Jefferson De Lima Allspeed Cyclery, Portland Mike Davies Cara Romano Studio Jewlery, Ellsworth, Cara Romano Eclipse Gallery, Bar Harbor Ruddy C. Androscoggin Wooden Boatworks, Wayne, Chris Cushman Celtic Moon Rising, Brewer Lorie Garnett Eden Rising, Bar Harbor Delia Cyanic Aqua Pura, Bangor Bernadette Gaspar Charlotte Lorrianes Consignment, Bangor, Betty McCarty Epic Sports, Bangor Brad Ryder Attitudes Salon, Bangor Ann Lucas Cherry Stones Restaurant, Bar Harbor, Meghan Bishop Everex (Edge Video), Bangor Sadie Flood Attitudes Salon, Waterville Naomi Plourde Children's Book Cellar, Waterville Ellen Richmond Evergreen Pottery, Bar Harbor H. Scott Stevens Bagel Central, Bangor Sonya Eldridge Chocolatte, Bar Harbor Christopher Marcial Fago Electric, Brewer Robert Fago Jr. Bam Bam Bakery, Portland Bevin McNulty Choppin' Cotton Quilts, Bangor Barbara Ewing Fetch Grooming, Brewer Sherri Therrien Bangor Wine and Cheese Co., Bangor, Christine Mihan Cigar & Smoke Shoppe, Bangor Frank Coglitore Fin Back Ale House, Bar Harbor Evelina Kacprzykowska Bar Harbor Bicycle Shop, Bar Harbor, Albert Minutolo Corner Store, Bangor Barbara Cyr Finn’s Irish Pub, Ellsworth Lorena Sterns Berry's Stationary, Waterville Michael Givone Cottage Street Restaurant and Bakery, Bar Harbor, Richard Fisher Frank's Bake Shop, Bangor Bernadette Gaspar Between Friends, Inc., Brewer Tracy Marceron Country North Gifts, Houlton Shannon Cibic Fringe, Orono Emily Herlihy Big J's Pizza, Bangor Jolena Glidden Cyclemania, Portland Eddie Quinn Generations Boutique, Brewer Roxanne Noddin Bike, Board & Ski, Presque Isle Thomas Chase Jr. Diane Country Craft & Gift Shop, Old Town, Diane Richard Gorham Bike & Ski, Portland Jamie Wright Black Point Surf Shop, Scarborough, Crystal Ouimette Dick's Barber Shop, Orono Deidra Fournier Grasshopper Shop of Ellsworth, Ellsworth, Linda Beauvais Blue Heron, LLC, Bangor Chelsea Brown Downeast Coins & Collectibles, Bangor, Dixie Barone Hair After, Orono Phoebe Trask Body Graphics Tattoo Studio, Brewer, Sydney Winship Downtown Smoothie, Waterville Mark Cunningham Hair Designs, Bangor Dawn Godin Hand Me Down Antiques, Presque Isle, Eva Kirk Maine Discovery Museum, Bangor Niles Parker Old Creamery Antique Shop, Ellsworth, Timmy Torrey Harraseeket Inn, Freeport Rodney Gray Maine Made And More, Waterville Emilos Zirtidis One Lupin Fiber Arts, Bangor Jodi Clayton Harvest Moon Deli, Orono Meg Philippon Maine State Sea Kayak, Southwest Harbor, Robert Aho Orono Pharmacy, Orono Ali Aghamousa Heads Up, Presque Isle Tish Tuttle Maple Hill Farm Inn & Conference Center, Hallowell, Scott Cowger Orono Thriftway, Orono Khan Mohmand House of Brides, Bangor Jill Hunter-Smith Mark's Music, Brewer Mark Braremon Orvis Freeport Outlet, Freeport Aly Fox Ichiban, Bangor Ruai Luie Massimo's, Bangor Steven Beaulieu Patkus Guitars, Waterville Dennis Patkus Ipanema Bar & Grill, Bangor Megan Marquis Merchants on the Corner, Presque Isle, Chantel Graves Pat's Bike Shop, Brewer Scott Seymore Island Falls Canoe, Atkinson Jerry Stelmok Metropolitan Soul, Bangor Tracy Monaghan Peekytoe Provisions, Bar Harbor Drew Smith J + B Atlantic Co., Ellsworth Aziza Daigle Mexicali Blues, Bangor Pete Erskine Personal Hair Styles, Waterville Beverly Kelly Jason’s Pizza, Brewer Sandra Olmstead Mini Music & Tack Shop, New Limerick, Cheryl Tarly Pet Pro, Bangor Alex Young Jean's Serendipity, Houlton Richard Slout Modern Beauty Salon, Houlton Linda Pilsbury Pine State Trading Co., Gardiner Nick Alberding Knapps Music, Bangor Daniel Meck Mojo Outdoor Sports, Presque Isle Mark Fullen Queen Anne's Flowershop, Bar Harbor, Maureen McGuire Larsen's Jewelry, Waterville Mark Larsen Morning Star Art & Framing, Presque Isle, Brian Brissette R & C In Home Care, East Millinocket, Rick McLaughlin Lebreeze Delivery Service, Old Town, Timothy Richard Morton's Moo, Ellsworth Kirsten Henry Raegamuffins Bakery, Veazie Rachel Eugley Lee Auto Mall, Topsham Adam Lee National Park Sea Kayak Tours, Bar Harbor, Robert Aho Rainbow Bicycles, Lewiston John Grenier Lougee & Fredrick's, Inc., Bangor Linda Murphy Nocturnem Draft Haus, Bangor Bryan Young Rebecca's Gift Shop, Bangor John Spellman Loyal Biscuit Co., Waterville Chelsie Herrin Nomads, Portland Kelly Fernald Reboot Computer Services, Brewer Gerald Jenkins Madlyn's, Waterville Melissa Holmwood Northeast Reprographics, Bangor Benjamin Metzger re-Imagined, Houlton Jamie McKay Main St. Barber and Beauty, Brewer Coleen Patterson Oasis Salon, Presque Isle Jean Brawn Remedy Salon + Sap, Waterville Kelly Paquette Richard Parks Furniture, Ellsworth Aaron Piacentini Syncopation Software, Bangor Chris Dalton Union River Book and Toy Co., Ellsworth, Michael Curtis Riverside Cafe, Ellsworth Leon Harrington Tangled Web, Southwest Harbor Leslie Jones University Inn, Orono Tracey Whitten Roy's Bike Shop, Lewiston Mariel Roy Tesoro Pizzeria & Restaurant, Bangor, R. Agrusa Valentine Footwear, Bangor Summer Allen Salon Bonifacio, Brewer Guy Ortega Thai Siam, Bangor Chinda Rustanavibul Verve, Bangor Tabitha Johnson SALT, Bar Harbor Melissa Walls The Cellar, Ellsworth Aaron Porter Verve, Orono Ara Foster Sand Castle, Ellsworth Jess Morehouse The Courtyard Cafe, Houlton Joyce Transue Virtual Tech, Houlton Doug Boreland Sandra Qualey, LCPC-C, Houlton Sandra Qualey The Family Dog, Orono Robert Cutler Volumes Book Store, Houlton Gerry Berthette SBS Carbon Copy, Waterville Martha Stevenson The Growing Place, Bangor Sara Rice Washing Baby Elephants, Ellsworth Wendy Preston-Ward Second to None, Ellsworth Lass King The Growing Place (2nd location), Bangor, Serena Cruz What's the Scoop? Cafe, Bangor Melissa Howard Seven Arts, Ellsworth Rebecca Krupke The Independent Cafe, Bar Harbor Tim Rich Wilder's Jewelry, Presque Isle Cathy Beaulieu Shelley's Cafe & Bakery, Houlton Michelle Williams The Rock & Art Shop, Bangor Annette Dodd Zen Asian Bistro, Bangor Chinda Rustanavibul Shoestring Thirft Shop, Brewer Cheryl Huskins The Roost, Orono Jim Coleman Short Fuse Fireworks, LLC, Old Town, Ronald Farwell The Ruhlin Corporation, Bangor Chris Ruhlin Siam Orchid, Bar Harbor Hatsana Hanthan The Sewall House, Island Falls Donna Davidge Sign of the Sun, Waterville James Egerton The Tackle Shop, Portland Dana Eastman Silver Street Tavern, Waterville Andrea Shorty Thirsty Whale Tavern, Bar Harbor Heather Surokan Star City Cafe & Bistro, Presque Isle Dwayne Singletary Threads to Beads, Presque Isle Sherri Theriault State Wide Distributers, Inc., Bangor, Michael Rodrigues Toad and Co., Freeport Ponch Membreno Super Star Nails, Bangor Jimmy Pham Uncle Willy's Candy Shoppe, Houlton, Matt Sutton