After intently watching the Democratic debate on Sept. 12, I wonder if anyone is really listening to what they are proposing. Free health care for all, but where will the money come from? Do we really think that free health care is not going to come out of our paychecks? No wonder Democratic candidates want to raise the minimum wage.

Just read the article about dropping the Mount from the name Katahdin. Makes perfect sense when you learn what the word means, many words have a meaning derived from early civilizations, cultures and nationalities. As a native of Millinocket, I stopped using the word Mount at an early age when I learned the native meaning from my grandparents, some of the earliest 1900s Millinocket settlers.

I am pleased to learn that Governor Mills has appointed a task force to study ATV changes and trail use. I find it especially interesting that it is also at a time when decisions are being made about where electric bicycles may be used. Intentionally or unintentionally, there also seems to be a push to attribute improper or illegal use as the reason for the need.

Maine teacher certification is seriously flawed as Paul Stearns pointed out in his OpEd, and has been for years. Maine's restrictive and simple-minded requirements are keeping the highly qualified individuals mentioned, as well as others, out of our schools that urgently need the best teachers we can find.

Bob Mallard, in a letter to the editor, once again states that the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife does not fully embrace catch and release. While C&R is undoubtedly an effective management tool, there are many other options required for different situations.

Catch-and-release is an invaluable management tool. It’s the regulation that comes closest to allowing a fishery to be what it naturally is. Per the Department of Environmental Protection, Maine has nearly 6,050 lakes and ponds. Approximately 2,435 are listed on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s lake and pond database, indicating they contain fish.

I wanted to respond to a letter written by Richard Aishton published in your newspaper. Mr. Aishton discusses in great detail the presumed environmental damage the New England Clean Energy Connect will do to Maine’s western mountains. I disagree.

Our town has looked so beautiful this summer with an abundance of flowers on our bridges, in pots in front of businesses and gracing the front of Central Hall. I am grateful for the talented and dedicated effort of local volunteers and especially Karen Maas who has lovingly tended these flowers for all of us to enjoy

I find it rather offending that CMP and Doug Herling constantly try to remind people that Mainers are not paying a penny for the construction. What Herling leaves out is that Maine will pay a serious environmental cost that has never entered the calculus of CMP’s project. A 53.5 mile long, 300 foot wide clear cut crossing hundreds of vernal pools, native trout spawning beds, fragmenting the largest unfragmented forested tract east of the Mississippi River and totaling 1,926 acres of land that will remove a huge CO2 absorption capacity from the land (not to mention an additional 1,600 acres for the remaining 92 miles of corridor).

In Maine, internet access is growing. Service is getting better, speeds are getting faster and more people are getting connected every day. Expanded broadband access is creating new opportunities for Mainers. From new employment opportunities to distance learning to telehealth, and everything in between, growing broadband access is revolutionizing the way we live.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful -- and a change of pace from self-enrichment to focusing on the good of the country -- for the U.S. to host the G-7 (and 7 only)?

I wanted to take a moment to respond to a recently published letter about the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) project written by Urgel Pomerleau. As anyone reading the letter can sense, he has true passion for the direction of our state, but I feel it is important to ensure Maine people understand the process that is in place to consider such a major climate change solution.

It’s time for the people of Maine to stand up and be counted. The Legislature and the governor’s office have not been forthcoming about the proposed hydro project bringing electrical power through Maine to Massachusetts and Connecticut. From Fort Kent to Kittery, every resident taxpayer needs to come forward to vote on a referendum about whether we want to allow the power companies to build a power transmission line through our state.

Maine’s North Woods is the largest undeveloped area east of the Mississippi and is the home to Canadian lynx, bear, moose, bobcats and more. This 10 million acres of undeveloped forests, lakes and rivers needs to be protected for future generations. Right now, Mainers use the land for fishing, hiking and hunting but public access to this area is not guaranteed. Acquiring more public lands would ensure public access forever.

Without specifically mentioning Deirdre Fleming (or the Portland Press Herald), John Holyoke basically disses her and her whole very well done article in his recent piece, "Catch and Release not to blame for togue population explosion.”

What a relief it is to hear about campaigns that take aim at price gouging by pharmaceutical companies! It is a long-standing problem that just seems to be getting worse. Many Mainers find it very difficult to afford the medications they need.

In reading John Holyoke’s recent piece, “Catch and release fishing not to blame for togue population explosion,” I was struck by the writer’s claim that catch and release is “under attack.”

On behalf of all the pilots and organizers of Wings for Wishes on the Waterfront, I would like to express my sincere thank you to all who attended and helped our group donate almost $11000 to Make-A-Wish Maine. We collected over $5000 on the waterfront the day of the event. I am humbled by the outpouring of support from our local community.