And there's a similar upswing in all of midcoast Maine, Kuhnert's turf for more than 30 years. After graduating from Colby, Kuhnert spent four years teaching in Searsport, a small town near Belfast. As a teacher, you find out how a small community works. He was teaching when he heard about an opening at Down East , went for an interview and was hired on the spot. But we meet every morning and every night.
Planning is what makes it work.
Under Kuhnert's watch Down East 's circulation and ad revenues have risen steadily. Readership continues to be about a third from Maine, two-thirds from out of state. But the latter aren't tourists, Kuhnert said. They have some tie to Maine. They were born here, own property here, would like to return here or move here.