NORWAY – About a half dozen people held at public demonstration Wednesday in opposition of a proposed casino in Oxford.
“This is not a quick fix,” said Scott Vlaun, who along with his wife, ZiZi, of Otisfield, held a sign at the corner of Pikes Hill Road and Main Street for about an hour Wednesday afternoon. “This is to let the rest of the state know how we feel.”
Vlaun outlined reasons behind the group’s stance, including:
* Many local businesses could close.
* Many professional gambling people from others parts of the country will fill most of the casino jobs.
* There are better ways to raise money for the state.
Vlaun, who grew up near Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, Conn., said local people are looking for a “sustainable” solution to keeping the area economically sound.
“We want something else,” he said of the need to build a strong, green sustainable economy in places like downtown Norway, which is well into that process.
The group of local residents organized earlier this month to oppose the $165 million four-season casino and resort proposed by Black Bear Entertainment. They join several other groups who have organized statewide to oppose the measure.
The question will be on the Nov. 2 statewide ballot.
Vlaun said they held a rally earlier in the day across from Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School on Route 26 in Paris, then moved to downtown Norway. The gathering included video taping of Cyndy Tinsley of Poland, an opponent of the casino proposal. The video will be put on the website ohno1.org and other venues such as Facebook.
The group intends to rally each week until Nov. 2.
Meanwhile, proponents say the casino will create about 1,000 jobs and boost education funding for the state. The casino is expected to generate an estimated $52 million in tax revenue, half of which will go toward education.
Randy Seaver, a worker for the Vote Yes On 1 campaign, said the group was at the Oxford Fair last week and he was told they received more than 1,000 people at the table expressing their support for casino.
Suzanne Grover of Norway, an investor in Black Bear Entertainment, along with her husband, Rupert, is also the president of the Oxford County Agricultural Society, which runs the fair.
Seaver said Vote Yes On 1 will present an informational session Sept. 30, sponsored by the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce. The one-hour session will begin at 7 p.m. in the Forum at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School.
Chamber Executive Director John Williams said its board of directions voted to support the casino project. He said next week’s forum is to have Vote Yes on 1 present details of the development to the public.
Supporting Sponsor for the Advertiser Democrat
Keeping communities informed by supporting local news. norwaysavings.bank
Comments are no longer available on this story