To the editor:

I would like to thank the people who have written letters to the editor, that do not want to have a CMP Corridor through Maine.

I am one of a few, from the Dead River, Flagstaff area, who can remember about getting driven from our land and homes by CMP 69 years ago. Their project that time was to build a dam and flood the area, which they did. It had been talked about for years, but finally in the ‘40s officials from CMP came to the homes of people in Dead River and Flagstaff to buy their land and homes, and told they would have to move. No one was happy that this was happening.

But CMP won that time and flooded the area. I have pictures of the tops of the houses of those who had refused to sell, sticking out of the new lake. I have many sad memories of the whole process. Many men were called there to cut all the trees, and fires got started, we were surrounded by raging fires on more than one occasion, it was not pleasant!

According to the map in today’s paper, that shows where this corridor will go through Maine, it will pass near where one of my sons and two of my brothers have camps on Flagstaff Lake. I cannot describe the peace and quiet that is in that vicinity that exceeds all understanding…. Perhaps it is because it is near to where I grew up in Flagstaff, but I call it “Up in God’s Country!”

And so my small voice for the wilderness begs you, please, don’t let this CMP Corridor become a reality in our beautiful, special State of Maine!

Marilyn Rogers-Bull
Solon

To the editor:

On Saturday and Sunday September 15 and 16, with the encouragement of Richard Dillenbeck and along with other China residents, I and a “team” of three other members participated in an organized trash pick-up along Lakeview Drive. Our group consisted of myself and my wife Nan, and Mary Benziger and Donna Loveland. Together, we policed, to use the military term, the portion of Lakeview from the Route 3 intersection to the China Diner. As a result of this activity, I have a number of comments.

First, over the two days, we picked up about seventy-five (75) pounds of trash and returnable bottles. One of those bottles, by the way, contained a needle; no one was injured. This is over a length of highway about a mile and a half, from both sides. And, as I have told many people, this year seems to be better than most, having observed much of Lakeview close-up while riding my bike. One of the most disturbing facts about this debris was the number of nip bottles and beer cans. There are obviously some very impaired drivers along our roads; just what we need with distracted driving. Also, even though all four of us were wearing fluorescent clothing to show up better, few if any drivers slowed down at all as they passed us. This included dump trucks and tractor trailers that gave us a good breeze.

The other thing that became very obvious as we moved about was the simple fact that this is not really an activity that is suitable for older folks. While all four of us are in very good physical condition, relative to our age, we are “getting along in years.” Granted, our timing could have been better; we started on Saturday after noon, and it was hot and humid. On Sunday, three of us, my wife not included because of some physical issues left over from the day before, got started earlier and finished the job. My point is this. We very likely will not participate in this very worthwhile activity again due to the potential toll on our bodies. It is physically challenging, what with the climbing over guard rails, wading through potentially tick-bearing grasses and climbing up and down hillsides along the roadside. Other community members need to pick up the ball.

We all want to leave a positive legacy for those who come after us. Having and sharing a positive and constructive view of the way we deal with our environment is one of the best ways to start that process. It would be wonderful to see families, school groups, youth organizations and any younger citizens outside helping to undo the damage caused by the, hopefully, small percentage of our population that drinks and drives and stupidly throws trash out of their car windows as they move along our roadways. Safety is obviously a prime concern when venturing out into this kind of activity and care must be exercised. However, our world’s environment is balancing today on a very risky tightrope and it needs to be protected in any way possible.

In conclusion, I admire Mr. Dillenbeck’s devotion to this cause and I’m glad that Nan and I and others were able to contribute to its success. However, this wasn’t a “one shot” deal and others need to step up to further the cause. Thanks in advance.

Bob Bennett
South China

To the editor:

I live out on the never-ending-detour road. All my neighbors are scoping out the new neighbors we rarely see on a pleasant 4 mile-ish roundabout. Not bad, but the 25 mph, narrow, no center line, blind hills, roadside brush/trees; it takes what seems to be ten minutes, each time back-and-forth; when will it end? Pity the families, with all the traffic through what was once a quiet road. One place has lost at least two birds to the traffic. I hope for no accidents or personal injury.

I feel like we’re all idiots sitting at the red light that doesn’t change, 2 a.m., no traffic to be found. I’ve complained that it must be a ‘state’ job; for the shut-downs at break and lunches, and three days of about nothing, setting-up the detour, getting their equipment parked in the road, concrete barriers – and that, insult-to-injury, occurred just in time for the three day weekend; not working, just us, watching nothing for work as we drive by too often, each time more annoyed. State crew, maybe, but definitely a union job.

Maybe it’s too important, dangerous even, to put off starting after the long weekend. Maybe I should hope someone on the crew isn’t scheduled for vacation time. But, for the disruption to traffic, the headaches of people who regularly depend on that section of road, and safety issues; where’s the ‘effort’? I’d think, to get the job done, someone would spell the shovel operator for his lunch; keep digging. Would it be to much to consider longer days working, maybe even two shifts, And who closes, detours, a road, barely starting the work, only to take the holiday weekend off?

Thanks guys, and even for letting us know; we didn’t. We don’t get the paper, was it published somewhere? A sign; “Road closed next week for culvert replacement”? I don’t see everyone to know, but no one yet has told me they had heard anything prior to the closing/detour. That’s not respectful to us at all, like we’re nobody, nothing to be concerned for; it’s not right! Meanwhile, they work, take breaks, have no traffic to worry them, and keep them safe. Them, but no concern for us it seems.

Dean DeWitt
China

To the editor:

I’ve heard concerns expressed about a new comprehensive plan (Plan) being considered in the Town of Somerville. Some worry that passing the Plan gives selectmen the right to change regulations for things suggested in the Plan, or to vote whatever they want to do if the Plan isn’t specific enough.

Fortunately, that’s not how ordinances and comprehensive plans work. Ordinances are the documents that implement regulations in municipalities. Somerville has a number of ordinances already:

• Cemetery Ordinance;
• Floodplain Management Ordinance;
• Holding Tank Ordinance;
• Land Use Ordinance;
• Planning Board Ordinance;
• Shoreland Zoning Ordinance;
• Site Plan Review Ordinance; and
• Subdivision Ordinance.

By state law only certain ordinances such as traffic ordinances can be adopted by vote of the Selectmen. Other ordinances by Maine law require a vote of townspeople, either at town meeting or secret ballot. That won’t change.

A comprehensive plan is a vision of what challenges the town faces and what can be done in response to those challenges. Passing a plan doesn’t give Selectmen any new authority. It merely provides a vision to guide the Town’s future, including what needs to change such as better broadband, and what shouldn’t change, such as the rural nature of Somerville.

Passing a comprehensive plan does NOT alter who has authority to adopt ordinances, nor the process, as set in Maine law, Title 30-A, Chapter 141.

The Plan we will be voting on suggests ways to be more farm and business friendly and it seeks to make our town a place where young and old can better afford to live, and to thrive, together.

If you haven’t already done so, I urge you to visit the Town office to get a copy of the comprehensive plan to see for yourself what the Plan really says before the vote on it at Town Meeting, this Saturday, June 23.

Chris Johnson
Somerville