Rain dampens some businesses, fuels others

POLAND - Camp Connor leaders tried to send kids outside for archery and boating Thursday morning, but the rain drove everyone indoors, again.
As they have for much of the season, day campers spread out in the lodge and on porches, said Chris Shea, director of the YMCA camp. They played dominoes and other board games, drew pictures and did other arts and crafts.
"They have done surprisingly well," Shea said of the campers. It could be because since summer camp started, it's been raining. "Rain is what they know."
Attendance has been good. "Kids haven't been staying home," Shea said.
But the wet weather has taken a toll on agriculture and tourism.
"This prolonged rain is not a very good thing," said Doug Chipman of Chipman Farms in Poland. Chipman's pick-your-own strawberry fields have been open for a week. In a good weather year the season is only two weeks. The rain is shortening the season.
"Strawberries are a soft fruit. They can't stand up once they've turned red," Chipman said. Some customers are staying away waiting for a sunny day. But the strawberries aren't waiting.
With or without the sun, they're ripening. The fields are full. Chipman urges strawberry lovers to pick despite wet fields. "Once they're here people are understanding. They know they're not dealing with perfect conditions."
People want strawberries for July 4. Some rain but some sun is forecast for Saturday and Sunday. "We'll probably be really busy this weekend," Chipman said. At Agway in Wilton, greenhouse business has been good.
With first lady Michele Obama promoting vegetable gardens, and people trying to save by growing their own, sales have been high for vegetable plants, seeds, fruit trees, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries, greenhouse manager Adam Coffin said.
All the rain had hurt some plants, prompting some to buy more.
"A lot have bought plants two or three times," Coffin said. "They planted cucumbers and they plain rotted. They replanted, trying again. . . . With no sun everything is turning yellow."
People with raised garden beds are having more success because there is better drainage.
Slug and snail bait has also been selling well. Slugs thrive on moisture. "They're everywhere," Coffin said. "I pulled 143 from my own garden yesterday."
Statewide, tourism is suffering because of the weather, not because of the economy or a one-cent rise in Maine's gasoline tax, said University of Maine Associate Professor of Marketing Harold Daniel.
If the sun doesn't appear, the July 4 weekend will be disappointing.
Daniel and graduate students have recently completed a survey of New England and Canadian tourists about the impact of the economy and their summer vacation plans. Most Maine tourists drive from Montreal and other parts of Canada and the Boston area.
"We found the economy may not be the big problem for Maine that everybody thought it would be," Daniel said. Gas prices are favorable compared to last year. Tourists that Maine attracts have more discretionary time and money. "They're people who may have been less affected by the stock market crash of last year. And there are still groups who feel confident in their jobs and investments."
Some plan to spend less eating out and at high-end lodging, "but they are still coming, Daniel said, if the weather is good.
"Maine is so dependent on outdoor activities. The weather is really important. The rain is bad for everybody. Clearly the weather has hurt us. The lodging industry has had some real problems. People aren't coming."
Daniel's survey showed that technology allows people to better monitor the weather. They're more likely to book a room after reviewing the forecast.
Booking at the last minute "is not good for the lodging industry," Daniel said. "It makes it difficult to plan staffing."
Tourists are also less likely to stay for a full week, opting for shorter stays in different locations, Daniel said.
Locally, constant rain has driven more out of their kitchens.
"My lunches have been very busy," said Greg Hird, one of the owners of The Falls, a new restaurant in downtown Auburn. People are eating out because "they can't do anything else. You can't go to the beach. It's just miserable."
The Chick-A-Dee Restaurant in Turner reported a similar experience. It's always busy this time a year, "but the last week has been unusually busy," said manager Annette Spear. "More are coming in to get away from thinking about the rain."
Rain has increased youngsters playing indoors at Joker's Family Fun N Games at the Auburn Mall.
"It's been very busy for the last couple of weeks," said General Manager Jamie Grattelo. One day of rain doesn't bring in more customers. But when it rains for days "people go stir crazy," Grattelo said. "The long spell of rain helps us out, especially in the summer."
Children are enjoying the play gym and big blow-up slide. "Kids need a place to scream and run around for a little while."
bwashuk@sunjournal.com