Comments on: Goodman’s Gam http://blog.discovernantucket.com/?p=128 We'll need a real tagline here Mon, 06 Sep 2010 19:22:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Leslie Linsley http://blog.discovernantucket.com/?p=128#comment-21351 Leslie Linsley Sat, 26 Dec 2009 21:36:14 +0000 http://blog.discovernantucket.com/?p=128#comment-21351 We absolutely don't need more commercial business, retail or otherwise at the foot of Main St. Businesses in town are having a hard enough time with such a short season and inflated costs of doing business. Extending retail space will just bring more off island concerns to the island. Why is it that every organization feels we much keep growing? When is it enough? Why don't we just keep making what we have function better? Too many organizations set impossible goals and then announce that they fell short of what they had hoped to achieve. Lower your sights and stop making everyone feel as though we didn't do enough when everyone is stretched to the limit as it is. We absolutely don’t need more commercial business, retail or otherwise at the foot of Main St. Businesses in town are having a hard enough time with such a short season and inflated costs of doing business. Extending retail space will just bring more off island concerns to the island. Why is it that every organization feels we much keep growing? When is it enough? Why don’t we just keep making what we have function better? Too many organizations set impossible goals and then announce that they fell short of what they had hoped to achieve. Lower your sights and stop making everyone feel as though we didn’t do enough when everyone is stretched to the limit as it is.

]]> By: Rita McPhee-Fusco http://blog.discovernantucket.com/?p=128#comment-18888 Rita McPhee-Fusco Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:26:41 +0000 http://blog.discovernantucket.com/?p=128#comment-18888 Glenn, You are so right, and it wasn't my intention to paint all contractors/caretakers with a broad brush. I apologize to anyone I may have offended. Keep returning those phone calls...I can't tell you how many people thanked me for returning calls even when we were booked up...seems a lot of folks neglected common courtesy practices when times were good. People DO remember; it is your best marketing tool, as I'm sure you have experienced, with new and repeat business. Best of luck to you and beautiful Nantucket in the coming year. Take Care, R.M.F. Glenn,
You are so right, and it wasn’t my intention to paint all contractors/caretakers with a broad brush.
I apologize to anyone I may have offended.
Keep returning those phone calls…I can’t tell you how many people thanked me for returning calls even when we were booked up…seems a lot of folks neglected common courtesy practices when times were good.
People DO remember; it is your best marketing tool, as I’m sure you have experienced, with new and repeat business.
Best of luck to you and beautiful Nantucket in the coming year.

Take Care,
R.M.F.

]]> By: Glenn Speer http://blog.discovernantucket.com/?p=128#comment-18483 Glenn Speer Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:54:47 +0000 http://blog.discovernantucket.com/?p=128#comment-18483 A few thoughts on Rita's letter. Not all the apples on a tree are sour. Not all the contractors, house cleaners, plumbers, painters, electrictions are/have been out to fleece you. Rental property always demands extra care as the use is more intense. A turnover is time critical. I am in no way condoning shoddy work or taking advantage of a situation. As a year round tradesman here for 27 years, I am always aware I am as good as my last job, not a job I did 8 years ago. I learned early on to answer my phone and return calls. This last item seems to be a lost art here. Be honest with your billing and your client. You will get repeat work and word of mouth is a great way to get more work. The Island has really changed in the last 10 years. Competition for work right now is very tight. Last week I was speaking to a local businesswoman about the flat economy and ahe said to count the amount of "year around housing" ads in the Inky. There were 36 or 38 ads where there used to be just a few. Many families have had to leave due to no work. It is sad to see, but it will turn around and those who can stick it out honestly will survive. A few thoughts on Rita’s letter. Not all the apples on a tree are sour. Not all the contractors, house cleaners, plumbers, painters, electrictions are/have been out to fleece you. Rental property always demands extra care as the use is more intense. A turnover is time critical. I am in no way condoning shoddy work or taking advantage of a situation.
As a year round tradesman here for 27 years, I am always aware I am as good as my last job, not a job I did 8 years ago. I learned early on to answer my phone and return calls. This last item seems to be a lost art here. Be honest with your billing and your client. You will get repeat work and word of mouth is a great way to get more work.
The Island has really changed in the last 10 years. Competition for work right now is very tight. Last week I was speaking to a local businesswoman about the flat economy and ahe said to count the amount of “year around housing” ads in the Inky. There were 36 or 38 ads where there used to be just a few. Many families have had to leave due to no work. It is sad to see, but it will turn around and those who can stick it out honestly will survive.

]]> By: Greg Garber http://blog.discovernantucket.com/?p=128#comment-18175 Greg Garber Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:57:44 +0000 http://blog.discovernantucket.com/?p=128#comment-18175 Rita......bravo! As a former year-round resident and homeowner, I witnessed much of what you related during my three-year residency. It was absurd indeed. Yet no other place on Earth occupies my thoughts more. I may even make an appearance during Christmas Stroll (save the editorial, David), my first visit on-island in eight years..... Rita……bravo! As a former year-round resident and homeowner, I witnessed much of what you related during my three-year residency. It was absurd indeed. Yet no other place on Earth occupies my thoughts more. I may even make an appearance during Christmas Stroll (save the editorial, David), my first visit on-island in eight years…..

]]> By: Rita McPhee-Fusco http://blog.discovernantucket.com/?p=128#comment-18085 Rita McPhee-Fusco Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:19:23 +0000 http://blog.discovernantucket.com/?p=128#comment-18085 David, I apologize ahead of time, as I am going to ramble on here... This has been on MY mind for years. Reading your blog today (with mention of the contractors work opportunities being down) triggered me to respond. Here's a view from the other side. As a 30 yr. visitor to Nantucket and a former homeowner (if you can call 400 Sq. Ft. a home) I am very saddened about what has happened to the island. We bought our little cottage in the late 90's and I thought we would never leave. It was our dream to spend our retirement years there, full time. We needed the income to support the debt service so offered summer rentals. As frequent fall, spring and winter visitors, we got to see, and came to love, the 'real' island. The soul of Nantucket is strong, it's people are good. Community spirit...well, I don't have to tell YOU! I have always suggested to first time visitors, if you want to see the true Nantucket, go in the OFF season! Too bad you've lost so many good families, indeed! OK, now for some not so nice truths: Guess what? It isn't just the 'outsiders' looking for easy money. We had caregivers/housecleaners that would charge $300 for Saturday turnovers, (400 Sq. Ft!) and my neighbor would let me know the 'cleaning' crew stayed 10 minutes, (leaving their child in a hot car) shook out (rather than washed) the sheets, etc. We are not 'rich' people so yes, this was a big deal. I was not willing to give my guests a sub-standard 'take it or leave it' kind of experience. Our rental rates were the best on the island; and the location great for visitors. It was our goal to give 'regular' people and families, the opportunity to experience Nantucket without having to take out a second mortgage. (Like it used to be...Hardy's, the Seven Seas...where can the kids get a deal for their dollar now?) We did not have a vacancy in the summer for 5 years running... eventually, it became clear, that Nantucket was no longer a place for the 'regular guy', and we sold the cottage to one of our summer guests. I got tired of the fight: Sometimes, the turnover help just plain no showed. We had a (small) hedge trimmed; charged $300+. When we had the cottage re-shingled, the contractor never showed as promised, and did not complete the work (as promised) before our tenant was due to arrive. The completed job was sub-standard, though the fee was not. And for the privilege of one of Nantucket's contractors giving you the time of day in the good 'ole cash flow days, we had a huge mess to clean up. Every friend I have on the Island has had multiple problems with contractors and 'caretakers'. If we lived closer ( and I didn't have a full time Nursing job) I would have gladly done all the cleaning/turnover work myself. Too bad the island is in such decline...reminds me of how I first found it in the 70's. I can remember houses on the Cliff, boarded up, deteriorating. I have not been back to ACK in 2 years...it is still a place that tugs (and will always) at my heart, and I will get back soon. Everything goes in cycles, (like the fish!) and I hope Nantucket will find the road back. On my last visit, I opened the door to the Tap Room and saw it was gutted. UGH! That did it for me! I always said when they got rid of the Tap Room, Pharmacy/Soda Fountain, it would be time to leave. We didn't wait that long... change was in the air and it was not a positive vibe. I miss Nantucket very much and wish her and her people well. she is tired; tired of being pillaged and abused, but she WILL come back...she always has. Thanks for listening! Rita McPhee-Fusco New Castle, N.H. David,

I apologize ahead of time, as I am going to ramble on here…
This has been on MY mind for years.
Reading your blog today (with mention of the contractors work opportunities being down) triggered me to respond.
Here’s a view from the other side.

As a 30 yr. visitor to Nantucket and a former homeowner (if you can call 400 Sq. Ft. a home) I am very saddened about what has happened to the island.
We bought our little cottage in the late 90’s and I thought we would never leave.
It was our dream to spend our retirement years there, full time.
We needed the income to support the debt service so offered summer rentals.
As frequent fall, spring and winter visitors, we got to see, and came to love, the ‘real’ island.
The soul of Nantucket is strong, it’s people are good. Community spirit…well, I don’t have to tell YOU!
I have always suggested to first time visitors, if you want to see the true Nantucket, go in the OFF season!
Too bad you’ve lost so many good families, indeed!

OK, now for some not so nice truths:
Guess what? It isn’t just the ‘outsiders’ looking for easy money.
We had caregivers/housecleaners that would charge $300 for Saturday turnovers, (400 Sq. Ft!) and my neighbor would let me know the ‘cleaning’ crew stayed 10 minutes, (leaving their child in a hot car) shook out (rather than washed) the sheets, etc.
We are not ‘rich’ people so yes, this was a big deal. I was not willing to give my guests a sub-standard ‘take it or leave it’ kind of experience.
Our rental rates were the best on the island; and the location great for visitors.
It was our goal to give ‘regular’ people and families, the opportunity to experience Nantucket without having to take out a second mortgage.
(Like it used to be…Hardy’s, the Seven Seas…where can the kids get a deal for their dollar now?)
We did not have a vacancy in the summer for 5 years running… eventually, it became clear, that Nantucket was no longer a place for the ‘regular guy’, and we sold the cottage to one of our summer guests.
I got tired of the fight:
Sometimes, the turnover help just plain no showed.
We had a (small) hedge trimmed; charged $300+.
When we had the cottage re-shingled, the contractor never showed as promised, and did not complete the work (as promised) before our tenant was due to arrive.
The completed job was sub-standard, though the fee was not.
And for the privilege of one of Nantucket’s contractors giving you the time of day in the good ‘ole cash flow days, we had a huge mess to clean up.
Every friend I have on the Island has had multiple problems with contractors and ‘caretakers’.
If we lived closer ( and I didn’t have a full time Nursing job) I would have gladly done all the cleaning/turnover work myself.

Too bad the island is in such decline…reminds me of how I first found it in the 70’s.
I can remember houses on the Cliff, boarded up, deteriorating.
I have not been back to ACK in 2 years…it is still a place that tugs (and will always) at my heart, and I will get back soon.
Everything goes in cycles, (like the fish!) and I hope Nantucket will find the road back.
On my last visit, I opened the door to the Tap Room and saw it was gutted. UGH!
That did it for me!
I always said when they got rid of the Tap Room, Pharmacy/Soda Fountain, it would be time to leave.
We didn’t wait that long… change was in the air and it was not a positive vibe.

I miss Nantucket very much and wish her and her people well.
she is tired; tired of being pillaged and abused, but she WILL come back…she always has.

Thanks for listening!
Rita McPhee-Fusco
New Castle, N.H.

]]> By: David http://blog.discovernantucket.com/?p=128#comment-18038 David Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:22:41 +0000 http://blog.discovernantucket.com/?p=128#comment-18038 I don't care what postal workers look like, just do the job efficiently and everything will be fine. No cellphones, no gift shops behind the counter and attention to detail is the way to go. They could turn a profit if it was run like a business. **David** I don’t care what postal workers look like, just do the job efficiently and everything will be fine. No cellphones, no gift shops behind the counter and attention to detail is the way to go. They could turn a profit if it was run like a business. **David**

]]> By: Greg Garber http://blog.discovernantucket.com/?p=128#comment-17968 Greg Garber Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:19:06 +0000 http://blog.discovernantucket.com/?p=128#comment-17968 Glad to hear you're back on the water, David! Something I've had on my mind for years about our Postal Service...back in the day, the postal worker who delivered the mail to our mailbox at my childhood home was always impeccably dressed in uniform. People in that line of work were as respected as public safety officers. These days, working as I do in an urban area, I notice postal workers dressed like slobs, often on their cellphones, yelling at their significant others. Is it symptomatic of the times, given that postal workers deliver little else other than bills and ad promotions? Glad to hear you’re back on the water, David!

Something I’ve had on my mind for years about our Postal Service…back in the day, the postal worker who delivered the mail to our mailbox at my childhood home was always impeccably dressed in uniform. People in that line of work were as respected as public safety officers. These days, working as I do in an urban area, I notice postal workers dressed like slobs, often on their cellphones, yelling at their significant others. Is it symptomatic of the times, given that postal workers deliver little else other than bills and ad promotions?

]]>