Political Quotes

“Mr. President, in 2001, Maine's legendary Ellsworth American newspaper celebrated its 150th year by launching a new enterprise, the Mount Desert Islander, dedicated to covering every aspect of life in a place of extraordinary beauty. It is a pleasure to congratulate the two outstanding journalists who have guided the Islander since its inception, publisher Alan Baker and editor Earl Brechlin, for being recognized with the 2017 Sunbeam Award from the Maine Seacoast Mission. The recipient of numerous State and national awards for excellence, the Mount Desert Islander is a great example of the value provided by community newspapers. From Acadia National Park, local government, and businesses, to education, sports, and the arts, the Islander's dedicated staff writes the history of their communities as it occurs. They keep people informed and help them be more involved as citizens. They follow State and national issues, always with an eye on how they affect their neighbors. This dedication starts with committed leadership. After achieving success in journalism and publishing in Philadelphia and New York City, Alan Baker returned home to Maine and, in 1986, joined the Ellsworth American's management team, eventually purchasing the newspaper. In this age of media consolidation, Mr. Baker strongly believes that newspapers should be owned by individuals who are in touch daily with the readers they serve.…”