Editor:



As a Maine native and now Cape Elizabeth resident, I am proud of my
state and town’s tradition of welcoming people who want to live or
visit here. In that tradition, I am opposed to charging non-residents a
fee to visit Fort Williams, this exceptional park with its historic
lighthouse.



We who live here are fortunate that our town had the foresight in the
1960s to create a municipal park that would be open to all visitors,
especially Mainers who may not have ready access to the ocean, the
rocky coast and the outstanding view of Casco Bay and entrance to
Portland Harbor. When my parents bought a small cottage in Hannaford
Cove, my children and I spent our summers climbing the rocks and
fishing off the Cunner Club’s point. My grandchildren are not so
fortunate because so much property has been sold and new owners are not
so welcoming. However, we can still go to Fort Williams at any time of
year and picnic, hike, swim, sled, play tennis and fly kites with
people from all over Maine and elsewhere.



Will the people of Cape Elizabeth join me on Tuesday, Nov. 7, and vote
“no” to fees at Fort Williams? Let’s continue our tradition of
welcoming everyone to our beautiful park.



Lois A. Carlson

Cape Elizabeth