The new Wiscasset group planning how to encourage shopping during and after the state's downtown project already has some good ideas going. The possible slogans are catchy and maybe something even better will enter the running.

The point is, getting proactive is good for at least two reasons: First, it could work. A campaign gets word around and the more people hear and see about the new look and the parking and other changes, the more the village will be on their radar of places to go. Second, any time you get merchants and others together to put the town's shine on, any move is likely to be in the right direction.

Resignation or other lack of forward thinking doesn't get people excited about change. And if Wiscasset's downtown was not excited about the change, why would anyone else be? So kudos to those showing their town spirit and downtown spirit.

Support the merchants with your continued, maybe even increased, presence downtown. As you move about, keeping your shopping as local as you can, you will be showing those passing through, “Hey, people are here. Maybe we should stop, too.”

I can’t remember if it was a “Flintstones” or “Scooby Doo” episode, but when I was a kid I saw one where someone shady was trying to sell the gang an amusement park. They tried to make it look busy by having a line of people go to whichever activity the gang was trying. The shady part bears no resemblance to Wiscasset. But I never forgot the premise: If you want to sell someone on something, make that something look popular. A lot of commercials work that way, showing people using, having fun with, or wanting the product.

Wiscasset’s the product. It’s more to all of us than that. But for promotional purposes, it’s a product.

Make people want Wiscasset. Show up.