Local Letters to the Editor
To the Editor:
Scientists confirmed what many Mainers already assumed: 2012 was the warmest year yet on record. Combined with devastating events like Superstorm Sandy and the record drought that engulfed much of the country, the past 12 months offered an alarming picture of what we can expect even more of as the climate heats up.
This is a clear call for us to tackle global warming and to clean up the largest sources of the carbon pollution fueling the problem. President Obama proposed the first-ever carbon pollution limits for new power plants — a truly historic step towards cutting carbon emissions from the biggest culprit.
A record number of Americans have already spoken out in support of the proposed standards, and I urge the EPA to finalize these standards and to develop standards for existing power plants. Stopping global warming and protecting our environment depend on it.
Alison Giest
Environment Maine
Salute to a postman and friend
To the Editor:
My father was first in his class in the French Naval Academy when the Germans invaded and installed the pro German Vichey government. In order to avoid fighting for the Germans, he fled France through Spain through the mountains and if caught would have been immediately executed. Once in Spain he voyaged to North Africa to join up with the Free French navy.
After the war he became an American citizen and married. He always wanted to own a farm but died of a heart attack before realizing his dream. It became my dream too and motivated me to buy the Moosehorn Farm in Abbot. Thus my experience as a “farmer” began along with my other occupation as a flight attendant with a major airline — two totally incompatible occupations. I needed an income, though, to get the farm going which necessitated a commute to Chicago to begin my trip assignments.
The first person I met in Maine was my postman, Waldon Pride who became my friend and watched out for my family when I was flying and out of town. He became a good friend and teacher, walking and marking my property lines, fishing, and advising me on how best to cope with the Maine winters. We played cribbage every day at high noon with his wife, Barbara and her brother during his lunch hour. The competition was keen and nasty. He always won. Barbara was always stuck with me as a partner. And oh how he liked to win! I became addicted to the game and the company.
Then came the Kuwaiti war with Iraq. I volunteered to ferry troops to many out-of-the-way military bases on 747’s. Shuffling troops, dropping off, picking up kept me away weeks at a time to places like Brussels, Alaska, Iwokuni (southwest of Okinowa), Okinowa itself and Saudi Arabia. I got the idea that to involve the students in our national experience, get them to leave notes and sign their names on large posters that I hung on the back wall of every 747 which held over 300 soldiers at a time. To my surprise the soldiers responded by not only signing their names, leaving notes too but filled a bag with numerous trinkets, rank IDs etc. I also sent postcards at my stopovers. I tried to get to as many states as possible to convey to the kids our beautiful country. Being gone for long periods of time took a toll on my marriage and my friendships in town particularly with the Prides as one day I returned to find out Wally had passed in my absence. I was at a loss for words as to why I was absent at the occasions around his passing; to honor him, his life and what the Pride family did to make my life a fuller experience. Never being much of a farmer, it took me 20 years to figure it out. Have since moved away and remarried..
One day I ran into his granddaughter, Sebrina, at a Walmart only to find out Wally’s brother a fighter pilot in the Vietnam War had passed. A patriot as well, it seems this kind of honor runs deep in this family. Holding back tears as the memories started flooding my mind, I wished her well, sat down and reflected once again on the life of that wonderful man —my postman — and his wife, Barbara.
Henri Gilbert
Newport
To the Editor:
I was in the Dover-Foxcroft Y the other day and ran into Deb Boyd (the director). “How’s it going?” I said. “Oh, I could use about a million dollars,” she replied. “Take a check?” I said… (haha). There was a tone in her voice, maybe a look in her eye that told me there was a grain of truth to her request. After a few pointed questions she told me that, like all buildings, sooner or later fair wear and tear issues are experienced that need addressing. Some more immediate than others. Like the recent boiler break down. Or the loss of the dehumidifier for the natatorium. Then there are the doors that are breaking down. The wooden doors run about fifteen hundred dollars each. The steel door to the pool room (which is in need of replacement) goes for about two grand. The front doors of the building need to be replaced to the tune of four thousand dollars. Suddenly my “take a check?” comment didn’t seem so amusing.
As I tried to get to sleep that night, my brain couldn’t seem to stop going round and round about the whole issue. I thought about some of the businesses in Dover that are integral to the community. Not only for the jobs they provide, but for the goods and services as well. Yet they’re for profit and still facing challenges in an economy that has seen better days (and hopefully will yet again). The Y is a not-for-profit enterprise that I suspect gives more to the community than it gets and this is not a situation that can continue indefinitely.
The next day I did a little research and came up with some interesting info. Did you know the Y will be celebrating 25 years of service to the community this year? Back in the day, there were some drownings at the lake. The Kiwanians thought it would be a good idea to sponsor a swim program – which they did, but it was limited to the months when the water was warm enough to swim in (which is a matter of debate for some Mainers).
Someone got the idea to build an indoor swimming facility so classes could go on during the winter months. Apparently many of the local businesses and families in the community (both Guilford and Dover) got behind it and chipped in funding. Hey, this could save lives, right? The building was completed and then handed over to the YMCA to run (I’m a little vague here, but that’s about the gist of it). Directors have come and gone. Some funding was lost over disputes regarding which town was being catered to. There have been concerns about proper stewardship and management of programs, funding and the facilities.
While these may have (or may not have) been legitimate issues at some point or another, I have personally seen a great effort under the current administration to reach out to the communities and provide a broad range of services to a wide local demographic. There’s a free Tot Watch program where folks can place their children while participating in programs offered at the Y. Seniorcise programs for the elderly. Aerobic exercise classes. Spinning groups. Yoga. Racquetball, ping-pong, belly dancing, martial arts and fencing.
Then there’s the youth athletic programs. Soccer, baseball, basketball to name a few. Do you think Foxcroft Academy won the Class C Championship game this year without assistance from the Y? Half the team is in the weight room on any given night trying to maximize their chances of winning the next game. Not to mention the FA swim team’s accomplishments (and existence) due to the proximity of the pool.
Then there are the Heartwise graduates who take advantage of the cardio equipment as well as those who need to rev up the heart a bit after a sedentary day at the office. There are even $60,000 (!) worth of scholarships awarded annually for those who can not afford the membership fees. I could go on, but you get the idea.
Imagine how it would affect the community if the Y closed its doors. Seriously. Take a minute and try to imagine how deep an impact that would have.
Why am I writing all this? So that if you’re reading it and are in a position to help out, then maybe you will. Yes, they have annual campaigns and fundraisers, but I’m hoping to raise the level of local awareness that there is a financial requirement in order to not only keep such an integral and vital part of our community in operation, but to make it so issues that need attention can be dealt with proactively instead of putting out fires that could have been avoided with proper funding.
I noticed a sign taped beside the door to the Tot Watch room. It had been obviously created by one of the children using a piece of red construction paper onto which were glued cut-out foam letters. It said, “I (heart) the Y.” The “y” was a little close to the “the” and at the initial glance I read, “I (heart) they.” I thought this also appropriate. “They” that give back to their community. “They” that support the positive impact that the facilities and programs provide.
I heart they too and I hope you do as well.
Arne Halvorsen
Guilford
To the Editor:
I really didn’t want to play the ridiculous high school game that’s being played out in Monson but in order to salvage what is left of my reputation I find I must get my side of the story out to the general public.
I have been doing all I can to keep the town of Monson’s roads as clear and safe as possible. I would welcome any suggestions to make them better but unfortunately my biggest critics will not speak to me (high school time). Instead they prefer to make spectacles of themselves by calling (at the first flake) the authorities from the sheriff’s office up to and including the county commissioners. In the past two and a half years I received direct calls to my home number about issues with my work from two people.
I believe much of the problem is stemming from the previous contractor who resigned three years ago and instructed the town to place the winter maintenance out for bid. My bid for the three-year contract was $2,600/mile for the first year with an increase of $125/mile for each of the following years. Total cost of first year was $66,950. Mr. Leary bid $4,500/mile the first year for a total cost to the town of $115,875. There were also two other bids received with per-mile costs in-between our two bids.
This contractor has a history of quitting the contract in Willimantic — telling town officials to put the job up for bid. When he re-bid and lost the contract he and his little clique of puppets caused a similar turmoil as he is now in Monson. Obviously no one can plow as well or is worth as much money as Mr. Leary. I believe there was also a similar issue in Elliottsville in the past — this is not fact and didn’t make publication in the Observer.
Speaking of which — to the Observer — the town of Monson does in fact have four officials, three selectmen and a town manager. To selectmen Bryant Brown and Buddy Martin, perhaps you could show your credentials for winter road maintenance which justified you to crucify and defame my work. Not to mention that it is winter in Maine, roads will be slick at times. We cannot be on all roads at the same time and I do try to keep them safe. I have spoken to several people who travel the roads in the surrounding towns as well as Monson roads — they are the same or better.
• Jenny Chase – Trans. Director Rowell’s Garage: “I have been asked to address the condition of the winter roads in Monson, Maine. Rowell’s Garage, Inc. has two school buses that travel daily in Monson transporting students to and from school. The roads are snow covered currently, as can be expected in January, however neither of the drivers report any problem traveling or stopping and starting for student stops. In the past, if I ever had an issue with a road, I would call the town manager and she would resolve the problem right away. I would anticipate this would be the procedure I would use if there were to be a concern brought to my attention by my drivers.”
• Steven Dauphinee – Rural Mail Carrier for Abbot, Blanchard Twp. and Monson: “I travel Monson’s roads basically five and six days each week, year-round, some of them three times per day. I have had no undue hardship traveling the winter roads in this town, which would cause any excessive endangerment to lives or property. I have not missed a dispatch deadline from a result of any poor winter maintenance of Monson roadways.”
The sheriff’s department had three reportable accidents in Monson from 11/1/12 to 1/4/13. Two were on Route 15. The one on the N. Guilford Road was not listed as road conditions — may have been a medical reason. The fire department has had no safety issues with the roads either.
So enough of the high school theatrics, I’m done playing. If anyone has an opinion on the conditions of the winter roads, please call me at 876-4524 or stop in. You can also call the town office at 997-3641, even if you’re not a resident but travel Monson roads. I know the clique will.
Just as a heads-up, my bid for the next contract for 2013-14 season will increase to $3,200/mile.
Tim Knowlton
Abbot
pushing forward
To the Editor:
The East-West Corridor, a 220-mile long path with pipelines, power lines, and two to four lanes of heavy vehicle traffic, has just moved one step closer to reality for the residents of Charleston, Garland, Dexter, Bradford and Corinth. The program manager for this project, Cianbro’s Darryl Brown, met recently with the town manager of East Corinth. He reportedly said it will go between the Campbell and Center roads in Garland and cross Route 15 just north of the Bacon Road in Charleston with an interchange.
As it runs from Calais to Coburn Gore, this fenced-in, 500-foot wide corridor (compare to the Maine turnpike at 300 feet wide) will divide our properties and communities in half. Some of us will be approached about selling our land or right of way, and there is concern that eminent domain may be used to take land from those who choose not to sell. Those of us not directly in the path will be faced with living next to a superhighway/pipeline with the associated air and noise pollution, decline in property values, and a lower quality of life.
Cianbro’s Peter Vigue has often stated “it is not our intent” to use eminent domain. He has been very careful to call this project a “utility corridor that will improve utility transmission and communications.” He may be truthful in stating that Cianbro won’t use eminent domain, but he is being deceitful by not noting that the Maine DOT can be called upon to use it on Cianbro’s behalf, if and when that becomes necessary. If you are skeptical, look under: http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/search.asp and search for “eminent AND domain” in the text box. The top two cited laws, in their first paragraphs, state that eminent domain may be used for power lines and pipelines.
There has been little public support voiced by local businesses, but in September, Keith Van Scotter, CEO of Lincoln Pulp and Paper, wrote that the corridor would save his trucks 100 to 200 miles each way on their trips to the Midwest. However, future tolls each way for corridor trucks are estimated to be $100-$200. Fleet Owner, a web trucking journal, estimates the average per mile cost of operation in 2012 for a single tractor trailer truck to be $1.38 per mile. Thus, it appears that the tolls alone might wipe out much, if not all, of the savings Mr. Van Scotter is anticipating.
“Jobs!” are being claimed to be the reason for this project. Of course there will be some short-term, well-paying construction jobs for a couple of years, but these will not be guaranteed to local residents, and any local long-term jobs will likely be part-time, low-pay, no-benefits retail and service jobs. Jobs like these force people to work two or three of them to make ends meet. Some will argue this is better than nothing, but we should consider the alternatives before accepting this fate for our area. This project will only hurt the small retail, recreational, tourism, and farming businesses that many here currently depend upon.
Bob Lodato
Charleston
To the Editor:
In response to an epistle in last week’s Observer re estimates for Central Hall, I’d like to make these points:
The author seems be in some bewilderment as to the author of those estimates. To put that confusion to rest, he should know that to date all of the estimates for project costs and running costs for the building are mine. They are purely mine. I have not presented my estimates to the town’s select board. As the project progresses, I am confident that these estimates will change. I am always happy to share my thoughts on Central Hall with anyone who will contact me at chrism@roadrunner.com.
We have been working on this project for almost three years now. As we began the project we raised over $28,000 from over 200 people motivated, I agree, partly by nostalgia, but also, I think, by a desire to preserve the cultural heritage of the town and also to do something positive for the community. This money was to take expenses for utilities off of the town’s shoulders. We expected those funds to last a year or two. Through careful management, at the end of almost three years, we have about a third of those funds still available to keep expenses off of the town for at least another year or two.
There are a number of people, all volunteers, working on the management of this project. The original group, informally known as the Friends of Central Hall, has grown to become a group of about 30 volunteers, incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit known as the Maine Highlands Senior Center. We meet frequently and invite anyone who is interested in the project, even to assuage their cost containment concerns, to come and join us in this worthwhile project.
We believe that at the conclusion of this project the town will have, in Central Hall, a very valuable asset to the community. We are working hard to maximize the value of Central Hall, and are always open to useful suggestions to make the best use of this facility.
In summary, there is no mystery to our activities concerning Central Hall. I am always available to share information on the project. We welcome your inquiries. You may contact me at any time. (But I warn you, as your learn more about this project and the great volunteers working on it, you may become infected with the enthusiasm that motivates all of us! Come join us. You will meet some good people, do something good for the community and feel good about yourself.).
Chris Maas
Dover-Foxcroft
To the Editor:
Moose and 75 mile per hour hundred foot long diesel trailer rigs like the ones Peter Vigue hopes to see on his proposed $2 billion East/West Highway cannot share the same space at the same time and survive.
The Maine moose herd is estimated at about 76,000 animals, and many of them range just where Mr. Vigue is likely to want to build his as yet anonymous road, which he apparently plans to heavily fence off in the mutual interest of moose and trucker safety. Vigue offers to spend a million dollars investment each for 10 animal bridges or tunnels, “game crossings” to facilitate animal browsing and mating movements. That’s 7,600 animals for each crossing, over or underpasses spaced about 20 miles apart. Twenty miles is a long way to travel for teenage and/or mature animals in heat, 40 miles if a wrong turn is taken —infuriating.
Hunters with moose permits would be foolish to hunt anywhere else than the Vigue Game Crossings if those places were the sole highway animal crossings, but there would need be many, many more game chutes piercing the toll road, already existing local roads for school busses, ambulances, commuters, oil trucks, bikers, bread trucks, teen donut writers, hikers, FedEx, UPS, Postal mail delivery — existing traffic to be maintained.
Other openings under the Via Vigue will be needed to provide for drainage maintenance for Maine’s almost four feet of annual rain to find its way back to the sea. Watercourses and ponds, in order to prevent swimmer-capable animals from wandering up onto the roadway, the road builders will need constant vigilance and patrol of stream bank fence contiguousness, especially between his east going and west coming lanes.
A means must be provided to keep animals from taking the first underpass opening they encounter and thus trotting down Main Street when school busses are loading and unloading kindergarteners, cheerleaders, or when shoppers are in and out of stores. In the American West where “cattle is king” cows cannot escape their range thanks to cattle guards, railroad iron rails replacing road pavement sections, which cattle will not cross for fear of breaking legs. Is a moose in heat rational enough to fear a cattle guard, and what of the winter when plowed ice and snow would fill it to level? Would cattle guards need to have defrosting burners?
And what would Spring In Maine be like if so many State protected vernal pools where the tiny “peepers” breed if the small ponds should get buried under the road’s cheap powerhouse waste flyash fill beneath awesome double 220 mile great walls of Vigue? Before Peepers are all gone I think I should plan to have a Hyla crucifer tiny stuffed head mounted on a nice wooden micro-plaque over my pellet stove.
Peter Vigue and Senator Doug Thomas have a lot to think about besides money. I wouldn’t want to be in their shoes.
Charles MacArthur
Sangerville
To the Editor:
2012 was a busy and successful year for the Parkman Grange. We started with a chicken pie supper for the town meeting in March. May brought us our Mother’s Day Tea, a popular event for over a decade. In June with the help of the Bridge family we had a spaghetti supper and awarded two $500 scholarships from the Minnie Bridge Scholarship Fund.
The next couple months plans were made to present books to young readers and get ready for a busy fall. September began with a benefit supper for a long time member battling cancer. Later that month Parkman Day was a fun event despite the rain. In October we hosted a free supper for active and retired military and got many thanks from the vets. Our Hunter’s Supper in November was a sell-out and helped out another member also battling cancer.
We ended the year with our biggest project. Led by Amanda Kain as the new Piscataquis Santa Project coordinator for MSAD 4, the community provided a winter coat, boots and toy for more then 170 local kids. Each family also got a turkey and all the fixings, thanks to the Masons from Sangerville. The Grange helped out with a craft/bake sale and lunch. We finished off the year with our kid’s Christmas Party, the highlight was a visit and photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus and a gift for each child.
In addition, each month we donated to local groups and individuals. We also sent out care packages to active military members.
During this past year we have raised and donated over $10,000 to various causes. We could not have done this without the help and support of the community and we would like to thank everyone that made all this possible. A special thanks to the cooks and bakers that provided so many tasty dishes for our events.
We are making plans for another great year, if you would like to join us in our efforts, please call me at 277-3942 .
Sue Manchester
Parkman Grange Master
Guilford
To the Editor:
“We must reject the idea that every time a law’s broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American principle that each individual is accountable for his actions.”
Ronald Reagan
Common sense, like the lesson in this quote, is a virtue that we here in the rural Northeast hold in high regard. This is why the recent events, which are careening completely out of control day by day, leave the good, decent people of Maine puzzled and appalled by the words and actions of those elected to serve them. After the horrific and tragic misdeeds of the demented, how is it that the servants (politicians) are now calling their masters (citizens) criminals? What is our crime?
What has prompted the Democrat Party to blame peace-loving, law-abiding Americans with the deaths of little children? Leaders of the Maine Democrat Party have publicly chastised Maine citizens, who own guns and, by the way, make up the majority of Maine residents. Some, such as Janice Cooper, have gone so far as to say that they are sickened by us, yes us, for I am a gun owner myself and not ashamed of it.
So what is so sickening about Maine gun owners, which, by the way, make up the majority of Maine residents? Was it our outrage when the Democrats started their new leadership tenure with a call for a pay raise? They hadn’t even started working yet. Same ol’, same ol’. It’s what we call “teenage politics.” Yell, scream and blame every problem on their “idiot” authority figure and then turn around, ask that same authority figure for the car keys and some more money so they can go party on that selfsame authority figure’s dime.
Our country is in a fiscal crisis, the likes we have never seen, and the first act of the Democrats in Washington is to introduce eight laws to restrict our right to own firearms. Because it’s our fault, you see? We own guns. How can they pass a budget with all these gun owners lurking around? If we would just pass our guns in to the government, they could sell them fast and furious to Mexican drug lords, make a bundle and perhaps balance the budget. Perhaps, because there would, of course, be the expense of the committee to collect the guns, then the committee to log all the serial numbers, then the committee to lose all the serial numbers, a committee to devise a curriculum to teach the new “Omericans” how better off they are without any self-defense and, yes, the committee to implement the new “Omericans” education course.
A little over the top? Of course. But it does seem more than coincidental that immediately after a horrible, heinous attack on little children, the liberal elites immediately launch a coordinated attack on the majority of American citizens, most still blinded by their grief for the loss of the “littlest of these” and too numbed by sorrow to see it coming. Easy targets.
Here in Maine, Democrats label gun owners “sickening.” A newspaper in New York, The Journal News, has printed maps plotting the location of the residences of gun owners. Now incarcerated criminals are threatening those that staff the prisons with harm to their families because they now know where they live. Thieves are rejoicing with the knowledge of what homes have no defense and are easy pickings. In an ironic twist, the outrage against the Journal was so great the paper felt the need to hire armed guards for safety. Oh, those nasty guns make you feel safe now, hmmm. The President and most of his elite friends send their children to schools with armed guards, but not for us, why?
Other papers have asked for lists of gun owners and called for their execution. Dianne Feinstein continues her call for a forced return of all guns from the citizens. Mayor Booker of Philadelphia is offering $1,000 to anyone who turns in his or her neighbor who owns a gun. In California, residents brought in their weapons in a buy-out program. Standing if front of the pile of weapons, officials stated that the children of the state would be safer now. But how many of the individuals returning a gun had a criminal record, except for the aspersions cast on them by arrogant public servants? And therein lies the culprit to the insanity.
We, as Americans, have wilted under the withering tantrums of our juvenile public leaders, much the same as beleaguered parents tire and succumb to the insults and tirades of a spoiled child. Yes, we grieve for the loss of our nation’s most precious treasure, but we must not allow our public servants to blame us for it. We, the majority of gun owning Americans, are not capable of such mindless acts with the weapons we possess. We only wish that we could be there, with those weapons, to defend the little ones.
This is not a crime and we must never allow small, empty-minded despots to portray our love as hate, our independence as immoral and our patriotism as asinine. They will try but we don’t have to accept the label. We are Americans, free by the blood of our forefathers. Don’t ever forget the cost to gain it and the cost to lose it. May the fire of freedom still course through our veins and burn in our souls, forever unquenched.
Andy Torbett
Atkinson