[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 9, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5865-S5866]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING THE INN AT LONG SANDS

 Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, today I wish to honor and recognize 
a small business from my home State that has triumphed over adversity 
in the wake of several major coastal storms. The Inn at Long Sands in 
York Beach, ME, suffered extensive damage as the result of a 
devastating storm on Mother's Day weekend of May 2006. With Memorial 
Day weekend approaching, signaling the unofficial beginning of summer--
a busy time for York County's tourism industry--Arline Shea, the Inn's 
co-owner watched countless hotel and meal reservations get washed away. 
As a result of the storm, the Inn sustained over $100,000 in damage. 
This was not a welcome beginning for Arline, who had just purchased the 
Inn in February 2006.
  Although the storm dealt Arline a heavy blow, she exemplified Maine's 
entrepreneurial spirit by reopening in a matter of weeks. To recover 
from the damage the Inn had sustained, Arline wisely made good use of 
the tools available to small businesses in the wake of disasters. She 
contacted the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Small 
Business Administration to find out what kinds of assistance she would 
be able to receive. Arline's exemplary decision to find out what help 
was available to her, along with her hard work and dedication, allowed 
her to reopen the Inn and Long Sands in time for last year's Fourth of 
July holiday.
  Despite all of the tragedy that befell Arline Shea and her employees, 
her optimistic spirit shined through just a month following the storm, 
when the Portsmouth Herald interviewed her for a story on the recovery 
from the storm. ``Nobody died,'' Arline said. ``We all have our health. 
That and the ice cream cone I have every day from the Village Scoop 
helps,'' she added with good humor. Arline displayed an entrepreneurial 
spirit, combined with a sense of humor, that allowed her to prevail 
following the devastation.
  Unfortunately, the nightmare did not stop there for Arline. Just last 
month, Maine suffered, as did most of the east coast, a crippling 
storm, known to Mainers as the ``Patriots Day Storm.'' This time, 
however, Arline was prepared for the storm, with sandbags and new sump 
pumps. Because of the lessons learned--and her preparation--Arline 
sustained minimal damage from

[[Page S5866]]

a storm that caused major flooding in most parts of the country, and 
certainly across Maine.
  While countless Maine businesses have overcome obstacles and 
succeeded, Arline's story sticks out as an outstanding example to all 
Maine business owners. Shortly after purchasing the Inn, Arline's 
father passed away. She rebounded from this personal tragedy, and from 
the disaster that beset her business, by utilizing the resources 
available to her, maintaining an optimistic spirit, and learning how to 
deal with disaster in the process. Arline's inspiring example shows all 
Maine business owners that they can persevere from any challenge that 
they face.
  And so, I want to congratulate Arline Shea and the Inn at Long Sands 
for providing small businesses with a beacon to look forward to. She is 
truly a small business owner of whom we are all so proud. We wish her 
future success and offer her, and all of Maine's small businesses, our 
complete assistance. Maine, and indeed the nation, can benefit from 
Arline Shea's optimism, determination, and entrepreneurship.

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