LETTERS: Secretary Collins up to speed

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To the editor:

As I read Gary Kennedy’s Veterans Corner in the Sept. 4, 2025, issue of The Town Line, I wonder where he’s been for the past eight months.

The Trump Administration’s policies to reduce waste and fraud led to massive reductions in the federal workforce. Within the Department of Veterans Administration, this reduction includes core medical staff as
well as ancillary staff leading to longer wait times and more community referrals to an already stressed medical pool. Budget cuts
halted some vital clinical studies, affecting thousands of Veterans, and forced cancellation of contracts for waste disposal and record security services. These issues are not limited to Togus VA but affect VA facilities throughout the US.

Contrary to Mr. Kennedy’s speculation that DVA Secretary Doug Collins cannot move “at the speed of Trump”, I think he is, indeed, on board and up to date with the administration’s policies.

Mr. Kennedy is right in pointing out the problems now facing our veterans. We can help address these concerns by contacting our Congressional and Senatorial representatives,

Deborah Marlett
South China

LETTERS: Affordable by whose standards?

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To the editor:

I believe it’s said that America is the richest country on earth. If so, why do we have such a homeless problem? We have friends who are living in a tent in the woods right now. Why? Granted they have made some poor life choices, generational alcoholism, lack of education, lack of health and dental care, etc., but now at 50 or 60 years old…unemployable, on disability. How can anyone live on $700 a month? A one bedroom apartment in Waterville is over $1000 and can be over $2,000 – $3,000 to move in. I was told that just a one room (hotel type) rents for at least $220 a week.

They’re tearing down buildings in Waterville to make way for ‘affordable’ housing, wondering what is meant by affordable…affordable by whose standards? The Maine Housing Authority website says the wait for assisted housing is several years…the homeless shelter helps a few, but the need far exceeds what is available.

I’m not talking about drugs or alcoholism now, but people who are trying to get their lives together and have no way to get started.

I have no answers, just a lot of questions…

Linda Morrell
China Village

LETTERS: China Area Golden Agers

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To the editor:

The China Area Golden Agers has no structured organization or agenda. We do what gives us enjoyment and have a good time with neighbors and friends. If we had a product it would be laughter. Laughter is great medicine. During our Wednesday meetings we have lots of fun and our troubles and cares are put aside for a short time.

We like to do activities as a group that we probably would not do as individuals, like trips. We have taken several bus trips over the last three years and are planning our annual trip to Cabbage Island for the traditional “Downeast” Clambake. Twenty Golden Agers have signed up for this year’s trip on August 24. These trips are open to anyone that may be interested in the China area. You do not have to be a member of the Golden Agers to enjoy getting in on our excursions. For the second year we are planning a trip to Boothbay Harbor to the spectacular show of “Gardens Aglow”. We will be starting a sign-up sheet for this event in September. Please try to put this on your calendar and join us on this beautiful adventure. More information will be available in September.

We also plan on going out to eat lunch as often as we can. We go to MAJEK Seafood & Grill, two or three times a year and enjoyed our third BBQ and potluck lunch on July 30, with 34 attendees. Will try to keep the China area folks informed of all our activities so you can plan on joining us.

Stay safe and enjoy.

Sheldon Goodine
For the Golden Agers Group

LETTERS: John Jones not related

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To the editor:

I read Mary Grow’s biographical essay on John “Black” Jones (July 24 issue) with great interest. The reason this article caught my eye more so than most of Grow’s excellent work was the fact that my Jones ancestors arrived in South China a long time ago. Since I read it I have discovered John Jones is unrelated to my family, which, based on what I learned about him, came as a great relief.

John Jones, born in 1743, was a surveyor, which apparently was a big deal back then. He lived in China for a period and was the first to survey China Lake, according to Grow. But this Jones was not exactly someone I would call a model citizen. He was described as “lithe of limb, flippant of speech,” “replete with sensation and romance,” and “the incorrigible and dauntless tory of Fort Western in Augusta.”

A tory! For a while he would “use his influence to disturb town meetings and bother the popular party generally,” which sounds like our current day politicians, but his support for the British during the revolution went too far. Jones enlisted with the British Army with the rank of captain and actively fought against our people. Eventually, and deservedly, he landed in jail, twice, yet somehow escaped each time.

Here is my point: there is an island on China Lake named John Jones Island, located across from Fire Road 38 and China Primary School. It’s possible the name doesn’t refer to this traitor. (Surely it does!) Having read Grow’s essay we must not be indifferent to this grave mistake. The Town of China should never honor traitors and criminals in this manner, especially since there are so few islands on China Lake. I urge those with authority to consider renaming this island with all deliberate speed. There are many other good Joneses from which to choose.

Geoff Hargadon
South China

LETTERS: Nominations for awards open

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To the editor:

With so many older Mainers making a difference in our communities every day, AARP Maine is proud to once again honor one outstanding individual through the annual Andrus Award for Community Service. I’m writing to encourage Mainers to nominate someone age 50 or older who has gone above and beyond in serving others. The nomination deadline is July 15, 2025.

This award is AARP’s most prestigious volunteer honor and is named after Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus who founded AARP at age 73. It celebrates people whose selfless work has improved lives and inspired those around them. Nominees do not have to be AARP members or volunteers; they just need to live in Maine and have made a meaningful impact through unpaid service.

As a volunteer myself, I’ve met so many people who give their time quietly, never asking for recognition. Whether delivering meals, mentoring youth, helping neighbors age safely at home, or running community programs, their acts of kindness often go unnoticed. That’s why this award matters, and it shines a light on those who lead with heart and action.

Last year’s recipient, Pamela Partridge, of North Anson, is a perfect example. She is a retired educator who continues to give back, improving lives and inspiring others long after retirement. I believe there are many more Mainers like her, and they deserve to be seen and celebrated.

If you know someone who you feel would be worthy of this award, please take a few moments today to nominate them. Details and nomination forms are available at www.aarp.org/andrusaward.

Let’s celebrate the people who make Maine a better, stronger, and more compassionate place for all of us.

Dr. Erica Magnus
AARP Maine, Communications Volunteer
Windham

LETTERS: CMP and the ospreys

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To the editor:

My friend Marty and myself are convinced that CMP – Central Maine Power, is responsible for placement of the osprey nests on the power line poles. Have you ever noticed that these nests are typically adjacent to the road? You can look through the clear cut area and see multiple poles, but the nests are on the pole immediately next to the road. There are numerous examples of this on Turner Ridge Rd., the 105, and along Highway 95. south before Fairfield. With all these options … Why would an osprey build a nest on the exact pole next to the road ?

You may say that it’s close to the road to allow these birds to eat road kill. To my knowledge osprey catch live fish and it’s typically crows or vultures that eat road kill. My wife Margaret talked to the CMP crew that was installing new power poles about this question and they just had a good laugh at our expense. I have Googled the question and there are some examples of CMP intervention to relocate Osprey nests that could cause harm to the birds or cause power outages. It shows some type of human intervention but it still does not answer the question about CMP placement of nests adjacent to roads.

The purpose of this letter to the editor is to solicit feedback on whether it’s true or false that CMP is responsible for the placement of these osprey nests.

Okay, I know I’m retired and I have extra time on my hands to ponder these types of questions. So please if you have any facts on this subject please write your own letter to the editor to The Town Line with the information. Please help us in this debate!

Gary Mazoki
Palermo

LETTERS: Disagrees with article

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To the editor:

I was very disappointed in the uncredited May 22 article entitled “Local students go to state house to support girls’ sports and spaces.” Not only did it display a shocking amount of bias, but it was also poorly researched and nonfactual. It made the claim that, “most Mainers recognize these bills are commonsense policy that needs to be passed.” It fact, the vast majority of individuals who showed up to testify, including many female student athletes, were testifying against these anti-trans bills.

I won’t include numbers here for every bill (testimony available to all at https://legislature.maine.gov/Calendar on May 8), but just one of the bills, LD 1337, had 92 testifying for it and 477 testifying against, with two neutral testimonies. That is more than five times as many individuals who do not believe that these bills should be passed. I am not writing here to make an argument on the bills myself, but I strongly encourage readers to look at the words of their fellow Mainers themselves and check out some of the testimonies. The bills in question are LD 233, LD 868, LD 1002, LD 1134, LD 1704, LD 1337, LD 1432, and LD 380.

I have lived in East Vassalboro since I was six and have been an active member of the community, including stage managing a play at the local Grange with proceeds to benefit The Town Line. It is incredibly disheartening to me to see this paper, which should represent our community, showing blatant prejudice against myself and many other queer members of the community.

Kala Freytag Wistar,
East Vassalboro

LETTERS: Big not so pretty bill

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To the editor:

The way to convey to you how utterly awful the so-called “one big beautiful bill” passed by the House [recently] actually would be to give you this short ten-question exam. (Answers are in parenthesis but first try to answer without looking at them.)

1. Does the House’s “one big beautiful bill” cut Medicare? (Answer: Yes, by an estimated $500 billion.)
2. Because the bill cuts Medicaid, how many Americans are expected to lose Medicaid coverage? (At least 8.6 million.)
3. Will the tax cut in the bill benefit the rich or the poor or everyone? (Overwhelmingly, the rich.)
4. How much will the top 0.1 percent of earners stand to gain from it? (Nearly $390,000 per year).
5. If you figure in the benefit cuts and the tax cuts, will Americans making between about $17,000 and $51,000 gain or lose? (They’ll lose about $700 a year).
6. How about Americans with incomes less than $17,000? (They’ll lose more than $1,000 per year on average).
7. How much will the bill add to the federal debt? ($3.8 trillion over 10 years.)
8. Who will pay the interest on this extra debt? (All of us, in both our tax payments and higher interest rates for mortgages, car loans, and all other longer-term borrowing.)
9. Who collects this interest? (People who lend to the U.S. government, 70 percent of whom are American and most of whom are
wealthy.)
10. Bonus question: Is the $400 million airplane from Qatar a gift to the United States for every future president to use, or a gift to Trump for his own personal use? (It’s a personal gift because he’ll get to use it after he leaves the presidency.)

Most Americans are strongly opposed to all of these.

Paige Schadt
Belgrade

LETTERS: Beware of CryptoCurrency ATM

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To the editor:

It is very likely that most Mainers, even if they have never used a CryptoCurrency ATM, have seen them in neighborhood grocery stores, convenience stores or liquor stores. They are easy to spot as they are designed to imitate a regular ATM. However, it is important to know that these machines are neither FDIC insured nor regulated like bank industry ATMs. Although these machines can be used for legitimate commerce, unfortunately the Cryptocurrency ATMs provide an easy conduit for criminal use.

According to the FTC, nationwide fraud losses through Crypto ATMs jumped nearly tenfold from 2020 to 2023 and surpassed $65 million in the first half of last year. This is why AARP Maine is in favor of the Crypto ATM Scam Prevention Bill, LD 1339, a measure that will help prevent Crypto ATM scams and protect older Mainers from criminals who want to steal their life savings.

Because Crypto ATMS are still relatively new and largely unregulated compared to traditional financial institutions and money service businesses, they lack sufficient consumer fraud protections. As a result, criminals use Crypto ATMs to steal tens of thousands from Mainers each year through their fraudulent schemes.

We ask Mainers to join our efforts to pass LD 1339 by urging their own legislators to support this bill and stop Cryptocurrency ATM scams. With the high dollar amounts being stolen via these machines from our neighbors, friends and loved ones, Maine cannot afford to wait. This bill must be passed now.

Paul Armstrong
AARP Maine Lead Advocacy Volunteer
Palermo

LETTERS: Speaking for the Unheard

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To the editor:

Sparked by a letter to the editor from an AARP volunteer in Maine, highlights how the issue of social isolation among adults 50 and older, 28 percent of seniors living alone totaling more than 14.7 million people (5 million men and 9.7 million women) remains a global concern.

This illustration comes at a perfect time, leading us into June, which is Elder Abuse Awareness Month. Social isolation is a key factor contributing to elder abuse, a problem that is distressingly common and remains unseen. We know individuals affected by this personal problem and may one day be facing it ourselves.

Living through the pandemic’s aftermath recall how widespread social isolation felt and how this mirrors the daily reality of many elders, particularly those lacking close family connections, who also experienced profound feelings of disconnection. Whether a person’s social circle is large or small, being cut off from others has significant consequences. There is a growing body of research confirming that social connections are vital for an individual’s overall mental and physical health.

Let us advocate for our elder population and use Maine’s proactive approach of providing supported resources to aid them directly as an example. I implore you, the readers, to show compassion by actively reaching out to someone who may need to hear a friendly voice, volunteering at a local senior living facility, visiting neighbors or loved ones that are craving your attention. The lives of elders matter too and should matter to you.

Angelica Caballero,
Los Banos