Goose Rocks Beach Resident Outraged!

This is often referred to as the “quiet time” at Goose Rocks Beach.  A time when most cottages are closed up for the winter season, when there are only a few people strolling the beach who are “buttoned up” against the harsh Maine winds and cold, and a time when neighbors invite neighbors into their homes for quiet conversations around a warm fireplace.  The winter of 2010 is different!

This winter we have television news anchors conducting interviews on the beach, newspaper photographers strolling along snapping photos to use in out-of-state publications, neighbors are informing neighbors of the latest controversies over the “battle” to keep the beach open for all to enjoy.  And a group of Goose Rocks Beach neighbors, the Executive Committee of Save-Our-Beaches is spending countless hours developing ways to keep the public informed of this important issue. 

Save-Our-Beaches has almost 200 members and more are joining everyday.  Have you pledged your support to keep Goose Rocks Beach open for all to enjoy?

Personally, I have pledged my support and I am very involved.  My husband and I have joined in the suit as Defendants alongside another neighbor, The Town of Kennebunkport, The State of Maine, and The Surfrider Foundation.   We are also on the Executive Committee of Save-Our-Beaches.  Many of us have contributed a tremendous amount of hours toward this cause.  I’ll admit there has been a time or two when I’ve grown weary and wondered where all this is going.  It’s at those moments that I re-read comments that have been made by representatives of the 23 Plaintiffs.

As an example, how can one sit idly by and not take a stand against a group that makes remarks such as those made by two of the representative Plaintiffs, Robert Almeder and Jack Fleming, in a Maine Voices piece dated October 30, 2009 titled Kennebunkport seizing private property rights at Goose Rocks Beach:

“… the owners have expressed a willingness to abandon litigation if the Town of Kennebunkport provides appropriate signage, information brochures indicating where the public and the private areas of the beach are, the prompt enforcement of trespass laws when initiated by beachfront owners, and restrictions on buses and shuttles by way of dropping off and picking up visitors at public access paths to the public area of the beach.

If the town will agree with these conditions, then the owners will consider seriously an agreement permitting the general public to walk the beach from end to end at any time. If the town does not accept all the conditions proposed, however, the beachfront owners will need to continue litigation in order to obtain a court judgment strictly enforcing ownership rights..”  The article in it entirety is available at www.preservegooserocksbeach.org.  

Good for the Town for not capitulating to such a blatant attempt at coercion!  Imagine the town entering an agreement with the Plaintiffs whereby they would agree to only “consider seriously an agreement permitting the general public to walk the beach from end to end at any time.”  How gracious of them!  Of course, even if they did find it in their hearts to “permit walking the beach from end to end” there would be no opportunity for sitting and reading, sunbathing, building sandcastles, or simply sitting quietly and appreciating the beach and all its sights and sounds.  We need to continue to support the Town to stand strong against this lawsuit!

My grandparents built their cottage the year I was born and today my husband and I own that same “beach house”. In 58 years, I have enjoyed Goose Rocks Beach without interruption.  In all those years I have never been asked to leave because I was trespassing on someone’s private property.  I am outraged and highly insulted that a few homeowners at Goose Rocks are attempting to privatize the beach!  I will continue to fight to keep the beach open for everyone to enjoy just as we have for many, many years…probably more years than many of the Plaintiffs.

I pray you will join me and Save-Our-Beaches to maintain the long established history of public access and use of Goose Rocks Beach for recreation and enjoyment.

Sincerely,

Sharon A. Eon-Harris

13 Wildwood Avenue