Rod Stevens’ recent guest column (“Winslow’s ‘sense of place’ is at risk,” Jan. 3) mirrored many of our thoughts regarding any facelift development for Winslow Way.

Granted, infrastructure repairs are needed but a main street like ours should be treasured. It allows members of our community to own local businesses and serves as an informal social experience like no other on the island any day of the week. It’s ours not “theirs.”

We have yet to see any design elements that would actually enhance a street that already works so well. Imperfectly, yes, but in the most fundamental ways others can only aspire to.

Please be careful what you wish for in this case. We’re not against change but only as a real improvement so we would be greatly saddened to see our elected leadership preside over any lessening of the oddball character and charm that is Winslow Way under the guise of Winslow Tomorrow.

We’ve always taken it delightfully for granted but only now realize how fragile that attitude may be.

Frank Childers and Mary Terry

Manitou Beach