Letters to the Editor: Are we on a path to national suicide?

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To the editor:

I must preface this letter by acknowledging most are not my words or thoughts, but those of a Mr. Patrick J. Buchanan, but will close with my words.

The following headlines appeared in a Washington newspaper above the article written by Buchanan as follows: Race Matters in Immigration Debate, and “Trump’s recent remarks about Haiti, not really so delusional as seems.”

Agree that Trump should not have called Haiti a ***hole country, but for some interesting history on Haiti. Please peruse the following concerning the Haitian Massacre of 1804. After enslaved Africans defeated the French military in 1804, and established Haiti as the first black country in the Western Hemisphere, a mass killing of all non-blacks occurred. The ethnic cleansing of all whites was ordered by Jean-Jacques Dessalines, the first ruler of independent Haiti. Through the entire territory of Haiti, from February to April, 5,000 people of all ages and gender were massacred. Today, Haiti is considered one of the most violent places in the Caribbean where assaults, street muggings, even bank robberies, are commonplace. Trump was not wrong, just vulgar.

Now, something to think about. In U.S. presidential elections, persons of color whose roots (no pun intended) are in Asia, Africa and Latin America voted 4-1 Democratic. And against the candidates favored by America’s vanishing white majority. Not for the first time, liberal ideology comports precisely with liberal interest.

Mass immigration means an America in 2050 with no core majority, made up of minorities of every race, color, religion and culture on earth, a continent-wide replica of the wonderful diversity we see today in the U.N. General Assembly. Such a country has never existed before. Are we on the yellow brick road to the new Utopia or on the path to national suicide?

My closing thought or observation is to ask ourselves the following question: What did immigration do for the Native Americans? Looking forward to your answer.

Frank Slason
Somerville

Would you like to share your views? Write us a Letter to the Editor by sending us an email at townline@fairpoint.net or visit our contact page. Put “Letter to the Editor” in the subject.

COMMUNITY CHATTER: Looking for ceramic ram

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Looking for ceramic ram

I am looking for a ceramic figurine of a ram, preferably red and white – Cony High School colors. I need it for my collection of area school mascots. If you can help me, you may email townline@fairpoint.net, leave contact information, and they will get in touch with me.

Had some good or bad experiences? Good service? Concerns?
Looking for something?Share them with your neighbors. Send your comments to townline@fairpoint.net.

Letters to the Editor: Is the Legislature Serious?

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Is the Legislature serious?

To the editor:

Is the the Legislature seriously considering imposing property tax on nonprofits, educational institutions, and hospitals? How about churches? What part of “tax-exempt” don’t they understand?

All of the above organizations and institutions provide services to the people of the community, which are beyond the scope of governmental responsibility, but which are still necessary. Nonprofits also allow people and businesses with taxable assets to invest in our communities without penalty, or without the risk of the stock market. Besides, the federal government has delineated which organizations and institutions are tax-exempt, and it’s not up to the state to change that.

Thank you.

Connie Bellet
Palermo

Community Chatter: Recommends handyman

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To The Town Line:

Recently, I needed to have snow and ice removed from the roof of my home. I looked in The Town Line’s Business Card Bulletin Board and saw an ad for Handyman Henry. I called and made arrangements with the owner. They came, and cleaned my roof in less than a half hour. They were prompt, courteous, thorough and affordable. I would recommend them to anyone.

William H.
Waterville

Had some good or bad experiences? Good service? Concerns? Share them with your neighbors. Send your comments to townline@fairpoint.net, for consideration.

Community Chatter: Watch the cashiers/baggers

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To The Town Line:

Please pay attention when checking out of a supermarket. I have had two occasions when I should have paid more attention. Because they try to get by with the minimal number of baggers, that, in my opinion, is what caused the problem. Back in December I was at Hannaford at JFK Mall, in Waterville. The checkout cashier began to process my groceries before the person in front of me had their bags filled and placed in the cart. When I arrived home, I had five items – that I had paid for – missing from my shopping bags. The store, to their credit, replaced all the items with no questions asked, but I had the inconvenience of having to return to the store.

This past weekend, again at the same store, the cashier started processing the items of the woman behind me before the bagger was finished with my order. Upon arriving home, I noticed two items in my bags that I had not picked up nor paid for. I’m sure upon arriving home, that woman realized she had two items missing. I know exactly how she felt. So, my word of advice: watch the baggers and the cashier when checking out.

Dave C.
Vassalboro

Had some good or bad experiences? Good service? Concerns? Share them with your neighbors. Send your comments to townline@fairpoint.net, for consideration.

Letters to the editor, Week of February 8, 2018

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Thanks to volunteers

To the editor:

The China Food Pantry exists because of volunteers. Every week four drivers travel to collect fresh items to be distributed on Friday and Saturday. These items are then sorted and prepared both mornings so as to offer good quality shopping. Because of the generosity of three Hannaford stores, Friehoffers Bread Outlet, in Fairfield, Bagelmania, Little Debbie’s, and food donations from community people, we have a wonderful selection of nutritious products for families feeling the “crunch” of winter costs. Kind locals plow the snow and sand the front driveway as their contribution to making China a safer community for all. Money donations arrive regularly from individuals, businesses, churches and local organizations making it possible to buy staple items and put gas in the pantry truck. Our thanks to everyone who has a part in making China a wonderful place to live.

Ann Austin
China Community Food Pantry

Please support benefit fishing derby

To the editor:

There is an ice fishing derby this weekend, organized by the Vassalboro Business Association. Proceeds are to benefit “Save the Mill,” which is a great cause. Tickets are available at The Olde Mill Store, Maine Savings FCU, and the Vassalboro Town Office. I’d like to encourage people to support the derby and Save the Mill, by buying a few tickets, even if they don’t enjoy ice fishing. I’d like to encourage people to contribute directly to Save the Mill. There is an account at the Maine Savings Federal Credit Union, in North Vassalboro. I have been there. They will accept a check payable to “Save the Mill.”

There was also an article in The Town Line in the February 1, 2018, issue describing the derby and where to buy tickets, and an article about Save the Mill.

I’d like to encourage members of the Webber Pond Association to contribute to Save the Mill and maybe indicate that you are affiliated with WPA.

Frank Richards
President, Webber Pond Association
Vassalboro

Letters to the editor, Week of February 1, 2018

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Climate change

To the editor:

Isaac Newton, in 18th century England, discovered natural laws which formed a basis for classical physics. One of these relates force and motion. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Recoil.

On the scale of forces now possible with nuclear weapons, Earth’s path in space could be disturbed. Distance from the sun, a skewered axis, irregular tides and flooding.

Strata in the Earth’s crust are like pages in a book. They tell the history of the Earth.

Thus, it may be that another form of life in the distant future may uncover deposits which record two mass extinctions. The age of dinosaurs from a collision with a massive meteor, and the age of mammals followed caused by forces linked to lingering radiation.

Every species has a predator. Even us. Man is his own predator.

Russell Vesecky
Harmony

Letters to the editor, Week of January 18, 2018

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Firefighters thank supporters

To the editor:

Tim Theriault, China VFD Chief

The China Village Volunteer Fire Department has raised $48 through the Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program. The Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program launched in October 2015 and is designed to support local nonprofits through the sale of the reusable Cause bag.

The China Village Volunteer Fire Department was selected by Hannaford store leadership as the December 2017 beneficiary of the program at the China Hannaford store. Every purchase of the reusable Cause bag during December generated a $1 donation to the department.

The amount of $48 may not sound like much, but every dollar does help. The Fire Department appreciates the support from our community and the great team at the China Hannaford store. The funds will go towards the kitchen renovations in the department building.

Founded in 1947, the mission of this organization is to protect the lives and property of the citizens of our community, the China Village Volunteer Fire Department Fire Operations Area, the town of China and our mutual aid response areas with high quality and consistently professional fire protection, rescue services, emergency management, and public safety programs.

Learn more about the China Village Volunteer Fire Department by visiting our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ChinaVillageVFD.

For more information on the Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program. visit hannaford.bags4mycause.com or facebook.com/hhbagprogram.

Tim Theriault
Fire Chief,
China Village Volunteer Fire Dept.

Letters to the Editor, Week of January 11, 2018

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The China Bicentennial

To the editor:

Let’s start with the year [we had] without a summer, 1816. Imagine a town that bases its whole existence on farming or selling goods to the farmer. Without summer it’s impossible to raise food and grain for your family and farm animals. Families came together and survived.

In the summer of 1817 word was passed around that Maine would become the 23rd state with the Missouri Compromise. A non-slave state with towns incorporated by the Massachusetts Legislators. A delegation from the north end of Harlem traveled to Boston to get incorporated as China.

On February 5, 1818, an agreement was made but when ratified by the town in June the southern portion did not agree with their northern neighbors. They remained the town of Harlem for another four years. Was it because of a strong religious difference (Baptist in the north, Quaker in the south) or a strong community bonded by a bad year for planting in 1816?

Our bicentennial this year will look at what life was like in 1818. Living with wood heat, no electricity, canning, drying meats and fruits, making your clothes and making soap to hand wash them. Taking care of your neighbors just as you care for your livestock. It was a time of survival, but it also produced generations who lived and prospered in China.

For them, we must celebrate 200 years as the Town of China. Please join me.

Neil Farrington
China bicentennial coordinator

Letters to the Editor, Week of November 2, 2017

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Vote Yes on local Question 1

To the editor:

A YES Vote, November 7, on Winslow local Question 1, School Construction Bond, is a vote for:

1) Consolidated, more efficient schools, closing the Junior High.
2) Renovations and additions to the Elementary School and High School to accommodate the Junior High student body.
3) Additions to gymnasium space to accommodate all student P.E. and sports program schedules, and even community rec programs.
4) Renovations to arts space due to addition of Junior High art, band, and chorus students.
5) Renovations to the library to house books and other resources for 7th and 8th grade students.
6) Construction of a theatre large enough to host programming for High School, Junior High, and Elementary School students.
7) Expansion of the High School’s refrigerator and freezer units to handle the increased storage for junior high meal programs.
8) Redesign of cafeteria service lines and seating to speed up food service, allow students time to eat, and increase healthy nutrition participation.
9) Reallocation of Elementary School wings to separate students into appropriate age groups.
10) Parking lot and traffic flow changes at both Elementary and High School to provide safer, more efficient vehicle access.
11) A precautionary fund for the demolition of the old Junior High building, if not sold.
12) A reasonable, steady, 20-year bond payoff schedule.
13) Quality school facilities more likely to attract students from China and Vassalboro and reduce the number of students leaving for charter schools.
14) Schools that attract employment applications from the best teachers in Maine.
15) Investment in local infrastructure that will serve our residents for many decades.
16) School facilities that recognize generations of social change, learning science, and student needs, and comply with modern building codes and educational requirements.
17) A stable community with a promising future, instead of a community of declining significance, declining investment, and declining services.
18) A community desirable to new and returning residents with families; these residents are likely to purchase, renovate, and build homes, increasing the tax base and thus reducing future mil rates.
19) Well-educated, well-rounded students with the best opportunities for success in the world.

This is not just an investment in buildings, but in our children, our community, and our future. I hope you will join me November 7 in voting YES on the Winslow school construction bond.

Thomas McCown
Winslow

Tom McCowan is a Winslow resident, father, real estate lawyer, and the only non-committee member to attend all of the school construction committee meetings. Visit www.kennebectom.com/schoolbond for essays in support of this referendum.