“Chick” Wilder was a beloved member of the community, a veritable Patron Saint of Willard Beach. His friends, led by Pam Nolan and Suzan Smith, thoughtfully placed a memorial tribute to him at the beach, with text of their choosing. That doesn’t mean that this text should now to be considered revealed scripture, or that “Chick’s” dead hand should be at the controls of city government 15 years after his passing. We have a city council, who occasionally show signs of life, who can deal with current issues.

The council has dealt very capably with dogs walkers on the beach issue. For one, they honored “Chick’s” implied sentiments and banned dogs from the beach when it was likely to be crowded with beach goers. 

Remember in “Chick’s” time there were no restrictions on dogs on the beach at all, hence his caution to “leave your dogs at home” in context, made perfect sense. Secondly, they crafted an ordinance that put serious restrictions on dog walkers when they were allowed on the beach. At the same time they enabled both residents and visiting dog walkers to share in their use of the beach with everyone else at the appropriate times. This is something of which I’m sure “Chick” would have approved.

 The bottom line is that the community needs to try to get along and not let itself be divided by an activist group, the deceptively named “Save Willard Beach, “ who are intent on stripping dog walkers of their right to use the beach as envisioned by the city council.

Peter F. Erlin

South Portland