Exit Interview and Other News

At the risk of becoming the Brett Favre of the small pond blogosphere, I do have just one more post.

Besides featuring the full version of my Q & A in the American Journal this week (I got a little too long-winded for their column inches), I also want to use this post to thank everyone for the heartfelt comments and e-mails I've received over the last week.

I've been deeply touched by this experience and would like to extend an invitation to all for an open house/party/strategic bull session at my house on Saturday, July 11 from 3p-5p. I'll supply the beverages and some hors d'oeuvres, so please RSVP (riverbank_republic@yahoo.com) to let me know you're coming and to allow me to give you my address. I figure it'll be a great chance to put faces with names and would like to thank each one of you personally.

Anyway, without further ado, the (full) exit interview:

Why are you giving up the blog?
Several reasons. Last spring, I juggled the maintenance of the site along with working full time during the day and taking three grad classes at night and I just did not look forward to maintaining the Web site amid an even more hellish schedule next fall and spring. I also owe the Coast Guard a lot of work this summer, along with the usual responsibilities that come with the job that, you know, pays the bills.

There's also the proverbial bit about wanting to spend more time with my wife and sixteen-month-old daughter. I have to say, though, nothing focuses the mind quite like getting nudged out of the house for a night after a, ahem, disagreement that had everything and nothing to do with our Netflix queue.

How many hours a day were you spending on the blog?
On the one hand, not enough. On the other, way too many.

Did you have goals when you started? If so, did you meet those?
I had three goals when I launched the site on the cold New Year's Day in 2008: To build social capital in Westbrook, to learn about the city, and to have fun. From the overwhelmingly positive feedback I've gotten over the last 18 months in conversations and postportem comments and e-mails, the site seems to have made people feel more connected to the city and to their neighbors. I've learned tons about the city and will continue to learn more about it. And, since I'm the type of geek who considers the occasional trip to Room 114 as a night out on the town, I almost always enjoyed myself. Throw in the unexpected (and unrealized) friends and acquaintances I've met solely because of the site, and I'd have to say this site exceeded my expectations.

What did you learn about Westbrook that you didn't already know?
I learned something new about Westbrook almost every time my fingers punched the keys. But the thing I am most struck by is the general civility and respect of my readers. To be sure, there were a couple times when I had an internal debate about whether a comment should remain, but the general thoughtfulness among my commenters was refreshing, especially when you consider how quickly Internet chatter devolves into racism, vulgarity, and nastiness.

What's the wackiest comment you've gotten on the blog?
I'll always remember being called out by a longtime resident of Westbrook in the letters to the editor section in the Press Herald for some comments I made in a March 2008 piece about Westbrook's burgeoning restuarant scene. Besides being told to keep my (wait a minute, I have the letter hanging on my fridge) "extremely rude" remarks to myself, I was taken to task for my inadequate boosterism on the city's behalf and my lack of appreciation for Westbrook's history. Go figure.

What posts or topics have elicited the greatest response from your readers?
The Stroudwater Place hearings, the Skybox saga, the donnybrook between Pike and Idexx et al obviously come to mind. You name the controversial issue that's popped up in the city over the last 18 months, and I'm sure I can dig up a few comments related to it.

What are your favorite blogs to read?
I have a list of blogs on my site that I had been reading nightly, but I'm hoping to live as much of a computer-free existence as I can this summer.

Sure, I'll occasionally check in on an assortment of Maine blogs, The New Republic's blogs, Soccer by Ives, and the Full Circuit Clout to get my Boston Red Stockings fix. But, I'm mostly going to party like it's 1999 by reading books and these really cool things called newspapers.

Would you like for someone else to pick up where you left off?
I was actually always hoping someone would start a similar site while I was going strong. I think the competition would've been good for readers and it would've cultivated a give-and-take environment that would've been healthy for the the city, not to mention a lot of fun for myself. Nevertheless, I'd love to see someone start a similar site.

What's next?
After I lose the twenty pounds I've packed on and iron out the knot that's been wrenching my lower back since I started this project, I'm going to sit down with some people to see if we can't figure out how to take what made this site successful and turn it into something that won't force me to degrade my eyesight and develop arthritis in my hands. In other words, accomplish similar ends by using different means.

In the meantime, I'm going to throw a party for all my readers so I can thank them personally and finally put faces with names and Internet handles.

Here's to seeing you on the 11th.

- John C.L. Morgan

With Sadness and Gratitude

Since I started this project in January 2008, I've thought about shutting it down exactly three times. Alas, the fourth time is the curse, as professional and personal responsibilities are just too great--and will become even greater in the fall--to allow me to devote the time I need to maintain this Web site like I would want to.

Overcoming the feeling of relief for finally untethering myself from my computer, though, is a sense of sadness for giving up what has become an enjoyable hobby and a feeling of gratitude toward you, dear reader, for making this endeavor last as long as it did.

Your visits convinced me this blog was worthwhile, your comments generally enriched my thinking on numerous subjects, and the flesh-and-bone friendships I've developed as a result of this virtual portal ensure this site will have served a purpose long after it's gone black.

So with this post, I say goodbye to the blogosphere and thank you for your readership over the last 18 months.

Stay in touch,

John
riverbank_republic@yahoo.com

P.S. Here some numbers related to the site, courtesy of Google Analytics:

38,166
Number of visits

16,946
Number of absolute unique visitors

186
Most absolute unique visitors in one day

96
Average number of unique visitors per day during June 2009

102
Number of countries registering on my visitor list

37,072
Number of visits from readers within the United States

1
Number of visits from readers within Albania

44%
Percentage of visitors who visited this site only once.

20%
Percentage of visitors who visited this site more than 100 times

$1,722.80
The value of this Web site, according to websiteoutlook.com

Progress Continuing on Trail From Sebago to Casco Bay

PPH:

The trail will follow the Presumpscot River as much
as possible. Portland Trails has five miles of the trail completed there, most
of it along the river, and some sections that dip alongside the Presumpscot's
falls and rips. The trail also has support from Healthy Portland, the
Presumpscot Regional Land Trust, the National Park Service, the Mountain
Division Alliance and several state and town agencies.

The Sebago to the Sea Trail coalition's Web site is down right now, but I assume this trail will wind through Westbrook.

- John C.L. Morgan

Quote, Unquote: Charles Colgan

"There used to be three legs supporting the economy in Aroostook County: Loring Air Force Base, the forest products industry, and the potato industry. One of those legs went away entirely and the other two got sawed off."

- Economist Charles Colgan on the exodus of Aroostook residents.

Source: Peter Smith's "You Say Potato" in the July 2009 Down East.

- John C.L. Morgan

Hmmm...

I have to admit this Strange Maine post did cause me to momentarily consider adding another item to my summer to-do list, but I've concluded my provincialism does have limits after all.

- John C.L. Morgan

P.S. Check out Vigorous North for an interesting argument of why such a tattoo might actually be worth getting.

State Board Reinstates Firefighter's Rank

AJ:

After a hearing, which concluded last month, the
Board of Arbitration and Conciliation ruled Friday that the city’s demotion of
[Donald] Trafford was “a penalty that exceeds the situation,” according to a
written decision from the three-member panel.

- John C.L. Morgan

(Update: The PPH has more on this story.)

Related: New Fire Chief Hired; Firefighters Demoted And/Or Suspended (December 24, 2008)

Westbrook Comedian to Participate in Bob Marley Special

Johnny Cail, a comedian whose bio describes him as a lifelong resident of a trailer in Westbrook, is among the six comedians who'll be featured in "Bob Marley's Young Comedian Special."

The special, which will be filmed, is scheduled for tomorrow night at Comedy Connection at 8p. Admission is $20.

- John C.L. Morgan

P.S. If you can't attend tomorrow night's show, Cail is scheduled to perform at Westbrook High School at 7p on Sunday, June 21, as part of a Project Graduation fundraiser.

Broadening Horizons: The Farmington Diva

More on Lillian Nordica here.

- John C.L. Morgan

Class of '09

All about this year's graduating class at Westbrook High School:

The AJ reviews the graduation ceremony.

The PPH compiles a list of highest honors, high honors, honors, graduates, and awards.

Graduate Lori Anne Esmiller is recognized in the PPH for contributing over 430 volunteer hours to Maine Medical Center.

Graduate Mary Maxwell is featured in the AJ for overcoming adversity to earn a college scholarship.

- John C.L. Morgan

Westbrook Politics: June 15- June 19, 2009

Tuesday, June 16
Planning Board meeting
Westbrook High School, Room 114
7p
FMI

- John C.L. Morgan

Westbrook Almanac: June 7- June 13, 2009

Week-to-Date:
High: 78F (June 12)
Low: 51F (June 10)
Precipitation: 2.23 inches
Previous Sunrise: 4:59a
Previous Sunset: 8:24p

Month-to-Date:
High: 78F (June 12)
Low: 39F (June 1)
Precipitation: 0.00 inches

Year-to-Date:
High: 92F (April 28)
Low: -16F (January 16)
Precipitation: 19.00 inches

Source: National Weather Service

- John C.L. Morgan