Dear Readers,

Did you notice that the sun has arrived (along with the black flies)?

High school graduation week is winding down as the senior boys, who usually wear shorts or jeans with their sneakers and flip flops, put on tuxedos. The girls, looking more and more like young ladies, picked out gowns. Eat your heart out Gatsby and friends.

They all will soon swan down the aisle in the traditional Grand March on the arms of their proud parents. We will all applaud.

Congratulation grads. You did it.

Now, what comes next?

For some, it means college and heading out of town, some for the first time. The first time away from home can be difficult; I know it was for me. For others it may mean finding a place in the military service or the job market.

All will survive and many will prosper. We wish all of them well.

Meanwhile, back home, Paul Coulombe's purchase of the country club and his plans for its expansion is one of the most exciting things that has happened in the area for years.

Make no mistake, the retired spirits executive with the big smile is on a roll. He says he wants to transform the sleepy, out-of-the-way golf course into a major attraction.

Just for the record, I notice that he has not asked for tax breaks or community funding. He has just opened his check book and moved forward.

Coulombe is a Mainer. He went to Lewiston High School and the University of Maine.

He calls himself a “local yokel,” and says he is a guy who understands that some in the community resent “people from away.”

But, he added, PFA's are needed. “I understand we need people from away. We need things to attract people. If we have amenities, they will come. We could use more hotels and better restaurants and shops. I hope people will come and invest.”

He is right. While we applaud our smiling graduates and their proud parents, we understand there are a limited number of good jobs here. In order to retain and attract and employ our young men and women, we will need more and better good jobs.

Maybe, just maybe, Paul Coulombe's bold investments in the country club project will attract other investors to our hills and harbors. And that may translate to more jobs for our grads. At least this is his idea.

Will it work? No one can say for sure. But so far you have to give him an “A” for effort.