2007-09-03
enlargeBlessing Austin Handley photoRep. Sue Austin on 'The Local Journey'
Wide sidewalks and waving flags beckon from above. What’s more enticing to get the spirit as well as the feet moving in and along North Yarmouth’s reconfigured Rts. #9 and #231 with newly constructed sidewalks…..As the ole saying goes, built it and they will come and how healthy that Maine walk looks as people are outside moving along freely and much more safely!
If there is a safe space for pedestrian traffic it will be utilized as the good folks of No. Yarmouth have found in this last year! The beauty of walking presents no barrier to our senses. Moving along we are hit by the aromas of not only the season but the time of day. I often catch the sweet scented dryer sheets wharfing fragrances out to the roadway from dryer vents or smell bacon being prepared for breakfast. In spring I react to the freshly cut grass while in the Fall I love the dried hue and smell of the fallen leaves…Knowing the full body (like a good coffee or wine) of one’s community means being out and about in it! Literally, absorbing the smells, the sounds, the colors and the rhythm of the community’s everyday life. Buzzing around from one side of town to the other in a vehicle is no substitute for the Real Thing! A delicious treat to one’s senses for harmony and connectivity must be with both feet literally on the ground in a one on one relationship.
In days gone by, folks walked a great deal… you must recall the stories your parents shared about making their trek to school on foot, going up hill BOTH ways!! Well, in that era walking was a norm with lighter vehicle traffic, less intensity to arrive at one’s destination at the present speeds, hence, safety in terms of separated, designated space were not as imperative.
An additional enhancement to the North Yarmouth walka-jog-strolling experience is the presence of our country’s flag unfurling overhead. As people witness Old Glory’s presence, they are reminded of those who served country and community as well as beloved family members. This creates a very poignant setting for peaceful serenity, thought and thanksgiving!
Continue to use and savor your space walking the healthy Maine walk through your community. Your priority to achieve a pedestrian friendly Walnut Hill area close to business services, eateries, Town Government/law enforcement and your elementary school is certainly a great role model for other small towns of Maine to replicate.
“HAPPY” North Yarmouth Fun Days!!!!
Rep. Sue Austin
If there is a safe space for pedestrian traffic it will be utilized as the good folks of No. Yarmouth have found in this last year! The beauty of walking presents no barrier to our senses. Moving along we are hit by the aromas of not only the season but the time of day. I often catch the sweet scented dryer sheets wharfing fragrances out to the roadway from dryer vents or smell bacon being prepared for breakfast. In spring I react to the freshly cut grass while in the Fall I love the dried hue and smell of the fallen leaves…Knowing the full body (like a good coffee or wine) of one’s community means being out and about in it! Literally, absorbing the smells, the sounds, the colors and the rhythm of the community’s everyday life. Buzzing around from one side of town to the other in a vehicle is no substitute for the Real Thing! A delicious treat to one’s senses for harmony and connectivity must be with both feet literally on the ground in a one on one relationship.
In days gone by, folks walked a great deal… you must recall the stories your parents shared about making their trek to school on foot, going up hill BOTH ways!! Well, in that era walking was a norm with lighter vehicle traffic, less intensity to arrive at one’s destination at the present speeds, hence, safety in terms of separated, designated space were not as imperative.
An additional enhancement to the North Yarmouth walka-jog-strolling experience is the presence of our country’s flag unfurling overhead. As people witness Old Glory’s presence, they are reminded of those who served country and community as well as beloved family members. This creates a very poignant setting for peaceful serenity, thought and thanksgiving!
Continue to use and savor your space walking the healthy Maine walk through your community. Your priority to achieve a pedestrian friendly Walnut Hill area close to business services, eateries, Town Government/law enforcement and your elementary school is certainly a great role model for other small towns of Maine to replicate.
“HAPPY” North Yarmouth Fun Days!!!!
Rep. Sue Austin
