Wishing everyone well

To the editor:

I want to thank the 1,757 residents of China, Albion, Benton and Unity Twp. who voted for me on election day. It was a wonderful learning and growing experience and I gave it my best effort. I have spent more than thirty years working for the people of Maine. My career in environmental protection aside, my primary focus has been to work to fix Maine’s very broken system of fish and wildlife management. I am already back doing that work and I will redouble those efforts.

Maine’s problems are too great and too many for a single election to dampen my spirit. If anything, my desire to work to fix broken government and to work for Maine is even greater. I know my race was not decided based on qualifications, hard work or character. As children, we were told the importance of honesty and hard work. Some of us learned that lesson and I still believe both will win out in the long run. My opponent well knows what I am referring to.

I wish the residents of District #79 well over the next two years. 2,940 of you have decided that you are satisfied with the kind of representation you have been receiving in Augusta. I and 1,757 others believe we can and must do better.

The next election cycle starts one short year from now. Until then, we will be watching.

John M. Glowa, Sr.
South China

Thanks voters

To the editor:

To the citizens of Maine House District #80. I’d like to take this opportunity to express my deepest thanks and gratitude to the people of Vassalboro, Windsor, Somerville, and the House District #80 portion of Augusta for selecting me as your next representative to the Maine House. Getting to meet many of you as I was visiting door to door over the past several months was truly a rewarding experience. My promise to you is to work diligently in the Maine House of Representatives with members of all parties as we seek to make Maine a better place to live and work for generations to come.

I would also like to thank my predecessor, Lori Fowle, for her dedication and the hard work she has done on behalf of District #80 residents over the past four years in Augusta. Her efforts as a public servant are very much appreciated, and I want to convey my best wishes to her.

Dick Bradstreet
Vassalboro

Condemning the riots

To the editor:

As a veteran who served during two wars, I am appalled at the actions going on concerning Donald Trump winning the election. Watching these protests, all I can think is that we are reverting to a third world culture where citizens say, to hell with law and order if they don’t get their own way. [I] must blame the media for most of our problems and hyping all these protests and riots.

Thank God Trump is remaining a gentleman and not falling for all this hype, but where is Hillary and Obama? Why are they not [condemning] all this anti-new president terrible display of ignorance, arrogance and criminality?

Too disgusted to continue and really fear for our republic that all of us love and would die for.

[I] hope cooler heads prevail and the media would pull in its horns. [I] will pray our republic survives and sincerely hope Washington gets its act together.

Frank Slason
Somerville

Glowa visit to Hime Hill

To the editor:

Mr. Glowa, I am writing in regards to your letter to the editor in The Town Line of the October 13 issue. After reading your letter I quickly arrived to some opinions that are not favorable towards you.

First, I thought to myself – what does consuming alcohol on ones own property have to do with your campaign for House District #79? Actually nothing! You do not know what was in those glasses – it could have been a hot cup of tea, water, orange juice or even perhaps it was a beer. The fact remains it does not matter as all was consumed on private property and drinking is not a crime last I knew.

Was it your sole intent to make people look bad? Drinking alcohol has not one single thing to do with your campaign. The fact is we were sitting around a campfire mourning the loss of my dad, Roy Dow, a man who was good, honest, hard working, and very much devoted to his family and his wife, and then you arrived on the scene. You became confrontational, because we did not agree with your way of thinking. To you maybe things are a “no brainer” but to us, and many others, it could be a much different view. Also, instead of having to be asked to leave, maybe you should have realized that some function was taking place and you should have politely excused yourself and left – that is a “no brainer.” Instead you hung around until you were finally asked to leave, and even then you didn’t.

You had to be escorted to your car, a bad choice on your part especially when one is campaigning for a seat in the House.

Secondly, after reading your letter I came away with the thoughts – Wow, that man is on a one man agenda. In case you didn’t know it takes teamwork when you’re elected and you work for the good of people who elected you. You write about how you’re going into the House to change everything.

Thirdly, I would recommend that one should not go around bragging to all that one worked for the State of Maine for 5 or 6 years and did nothing each day yet collected a hefty salary. I don’t know about you but I take deep pride in doing an honest day’s work for a pay check.

Finally, my biggest beef with you is how you have tried to portray my family. You have attempted to portray your visit as one where we were belligerent and intoxicated, when in truth, you intruded upon a private mourning time and did not leave when asked. In the eyes of many, this has made you seem as though you cannot properly interact with the public and furthermore you, perhaps, have lost their votes.

Jane Dow Glidden
Palermo

Don’t sit this one out!

To the editor:

Last week I set out to write a supporting letter for Mr. Graves’ [letter to the editor] entitled Christians need to get involved. But after reading Eric Austin’s piece, I feel I first need to respond to two of Mr. Austin’s assertions.

First, Mr. Graves was addressing Christian, not “ordinary people.” Second, Mr. Austin makes no mention of the Declaration of Independence which embodies the principles on which our government, and our identity as Americans, are based. To quote the preamble, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

Can one really believe that the authors meant “Mother Nature” by using the term “Creator?” God may not be explicity expressed in either the constitution or the Bill of Rights, but there is no doubt that Judeo-Christian values have had a fundamental impact on the history of our country since before its inception. The denial or the dismissal of this understanding is precisely one of the reasons our country is headed in the direction of the Titanic (to paraphrase Mr. Pauley’s comment in another [letter]) and precisely why Christians need to stand up for the right to have their beliefs heard and respected by our fellow citizens, as any other religious group’s rights should be respected.

This belief is why I hope many quiet Christians like me have taken Mr. Graves’ words to heart, to become involved, at least as far as studying the substance behind this presidential election. As a Christian whose relationship with Jesus Christ is personal, I have been frustrated for many months by the lack of clarity in the media’s portrayal of the two major candidates. Like Mr. Graves, I am directing this [letter] to other Christians, especially those who feel they cannot make a wise decision based on what they hear blasted at them 24/7 by the many media outlets.

There is no denying that both Clinton and Trump are flawed, but who of us is not? Romans 8:28 is quite clear. It is so easy to become distracted by this continual bombardment of accusation and innuendo. By focusing on the flaws, we lose sight of the really important issues, which have everything to do with the future direction of America. Because Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have profoundly different world views, their solutions to the threats facing America are diametrically opposed. Set the candidates aside for the moment and consider the impact of what they propose concerning the role of the federal government, the protection of our Constitutional rights, our national security and defense, the future of the Supreme Court, etc. When talking to neighbors and friends, I am stunned to find that so many have no idea where each of these candidates stands on any of these issues.

Christians, the media blitz is designed to discourage you from exercising your responsibility to vote. Pray for God’s guidance and wisdom to make the right choice. For some deeply thoughtful insights into where each candidate would like to take our country, you can find an election guide that clearly defines the differences between the two candidates on all the major issues of importance to Christians, in the September 2016 issue of Decision Magazine, online at billygraham.org.

The future of our country and our personal liberty is at stake. The single thing that makes America different from any other country in the world is the belief that our rights are granted to us by a Creator God, not by nature or mother earth, and especially not by the government. If we continue to exclude, ignore, and even deny God in the public square, our freedoms cannot long endure and the decline of this great nation is assured. Don’t sit this one out. We are supposed to make the difference.

Carole Johnson
South China

Nadeau cares about veterans

To the editor:

My mom has a lot of respect and really cares about veterans. Her father, Richard “Duke” Caron, served in the Marines during the Korean War. My uncles John and Paul are veterans. I am a veteran having served in the United States Coast Guard.

My pépère died in 2009 after a long courageous battle with cancer and was buried in the Maine’s Veterans Cemetery in Augusta. Every year since then, each Memorial Day, mom joins a group of volunteers who place more than 30,000 flags on the graves of the brave men and women that are buried at both VA cemeteries in Augusta. She now serves on the committee that organizes these events.

Mom has served the citizens of Winslow for over 25 years and I believe her experience, work ethic and true caring nature are what we need more of in Augusta.

Jim Nadeau
Winslow

Nadeau leads by example

To the editor:

November 8 is fast approaching and I’m sure you’re as tired as I am of all the negative campaigning. Even in my wife’s race there are false claims and twisted facts being sent out by those supporting her opponent. Let me tell you what I know to be true.

During the past four years I have seen Cathy spend countless hours in Augusta working tirelessly on behalf of the citizens of Winslow and Benton. Even though Cathy is a Democrat she strives to work together with members of both parties to do what’s in the best interest of all the people of Maine. She does what is ethical and leads by example. This is what we surely need more of in Augusta and Washington.

I am extremely proud of the work Cathy has done and encourage you to re-elect her on November 8.

Bob Nadeau
Winslow

Know your audience

To the editor:

Mr. Glowa, political differences aside and perspectives aside (as we all know every one’s glasses are a different color), I am the daughter of Roy M. Dow, Jr., whom passed away on May 29, 2016, Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. He was the tender age of 86 years old. He has a large family – a wife of 65 years whom you met the day you visited us on your door-to-door campaign trail (and you probably don’t know which one of the persons she was), five children and spouses, 11 grandchildren and spouses, and nine great-grandchildren, five of whom were born right before he passed away.

Roy Dow was a pillar in the town of China for 65 years. He owned China General Store, he owned the ice cream stand “Custard’s Last Stand,” he owned the town little league fields, he plowed the driveways of China’s residents, he pumped the septic tanks of China’s residents, he owned and operated the heavy equipment of the town, he owned and managed woodlots, he worked for the state of Maine (yes, your employer who paid you to do nothing for five years, self-proclaimed); and the litany continues. He hunted, he fished, he trapped, he lobstered, he dug clams, he was a sharp shooter, he was a pilot. He was friend, he was a voice of reason, he was a giver. He had it, you needed it, he gave it to you. He was a creator.

He created “Hime Hill Road,” our private property, our family compound. Private the operative word here. You came onto our private property, unannounced and uninvited, walking into the middle of a very private family time….when the patriarch of the family had just passed and we had just gathered; and to top it off, you refused to leave when asked. You had to be told multiple times, like a child, to leave.

Mr. Glowa, you have no intuition. You have no political savvy. You have no social etiquette. You wrote in a letter to the editor of The Town Line published on October 13, 2016: “When I arrived at the property as part of my door to door campaigning, a number of people were sitting around a campfire consuming alcohol. I was not “asked” to leave, I was ordered to “get off my property.”

Roy Dow would have told you the same thing: ‘get off my property,’ because you were not welcomed there. Furthermore, we can drink all the alcohol we want on our private property. Not a political issue. Were you trying to paint a picture?

Lastly, regarding the Northern Maine Woods, Roy Dow [knew] every inch of the Northern Maine woods by vehicle, by boat, by snowmobile, by plane, and by foot. I can guarantee you that he could take you in there, and you would never find your way out – because you most likely do not know the Northern Maine Woods.

I would recommend that if you ever campaign for anything again you know your audience, because not knowing your audience is political suicide.

Roberta Ann Dow
China

Rebutts two letters

To the editor:

I want to thank Messrs. Pauley and White for their letters to the editor regarding the campaign for House District #79 and for providing me this opportunity to set the record straight.

With regard to Mr. Pauley’s letter, I have been a wildlife advocate in Maine for more than 20 years. I am also a sportsman. During that time I have seen how broken and corrupt Maine’s system of fish and wildlife management is. The special interest group that he identified as targeting me for defeat is benefiting from this corruption. They have tried multiple times to take away all of our rights to petition the government for citizens referendums on fish and wildlife issues. I believe in government of, by, and for the people and I believe that we need to identify corruption in government and get rid of it. No wonder they want to keep me out of the legislature. The people of Maine deserve a government that represents all of us, not just the special interests.

Regarding wolves, I am an advocate for a healthy ecosystem. Wolves are native to Maine and are essential for a healthy, complete ecosystem. I have never advocated bringing wolves into Maine. Mr. Pauley’s comment that, “I suspect that if wolves wanted to be in Maine, they would be in Maine” is an interesting one. In fact, wolves are attempting to naturally return to Maine but are being killed in the process. Unfortunately, neither our state nor federal governments are giving these animals the legal protection they are entitled to. I encourage folks to go to www.mainewolfcoalition.org for factual information on the status of wolves in the northeast. Because of their close proximity to Maine and our abundance of natural prey (beaver, moose, deer) and habitat, wolves will recolonize Maine and it is up to us to be educated and informed about them. Because the state of Maine refuses to do so, it is up to us to educate ourselves.

With regard to Mr. White’s letter, it is true that I visited the property and I did respond to one question, “That is a no brainer.” Mr. White left out a few other aspects of my visit. When I arrived at the property as part of my door to door campaigning, a number of people were sitting around a campfire consuming alcohol. I was not “asked” to leave, I was ordered to “get off my property.” Of the many hundreds of homes I have visited during the campaign, this is the only one where I was told to leave and I promptly did so. During the five or ten minutes that I was there talking with folks, I was asked a number of questions by several different people regarding my stances on several issues including the North Woods National Monument. I truthfully answered all of their questions (some weren’t happy with my answers) and I stated that I support the National Monument and that it was a no-brainer. From an economic standpoint, the creation of the monument is a no-brainer. The 87,000 acre donation of public land has now been completed, the National Monument has been created, and the local economy is already benefiting from visitors.

Concerning his claim that I stated that I, “…drew a big salary and did nothing…” I worked for the people of Maine for nearly three decades, most of that time in the Department of Environmental Protection. As many people know, and as all DEP staff, past and present know, this governor ran for office on an anti-DEP, anti-environmental enforcement platform. My career happened to be working for the DEP in water enforcement. For the last 5-6 years with the DEP, I was given so little work that I had nothing to do some 90 percent of the time. I am not proud of this. I am disgusted that given the environmental problems and issues in our state, DEP staff are paid to sit in the office and do nothing because people in positions of power don’t want to rock the boat. This is a major reason why I am running for the legislature.

It is this kind of government waste and corruption that I intend to eliminate if I am elected. I would add that it is easy to throw stones and complain. It is not easy to put yourself out there, expose yourself to lies and half-truths, and actually work to make things better.

John M. Glowa, Sr.
South China

Christians need to get involved

To the editor:

In less than a month, American voters will go to the polls and select their choice of who will become the 45th President of the United States of America, the most powerful office in the world.
Our founders recognized early on that the perfect foundation for a good government could only come through the blessings of God.

But once again, it is quite obvious that we have allowed our Government, our Courts, our Churches and Ourselves to succumb to a cancerous deterioration of our Founding Christian principles.

We see it every day through the TV lens, the constant continual moral decay that will eventually bring us to a course that knows no redemption.

America, our complacency is destroying us. Why aren’t professing Christians speaking up?

Isn’t it time for the body of Christ to awaken from its apathy and act responsibly?

If we fail to express our opinions, others will be more than happy to make decisions for us.

Let us never forget that we are a government, “Of the People, by the People and for the People.”

It says in II Tim. 4:3: “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
Less than 60 percent of eligible Christians actually vote or are even registered to vote.

Christians, We need to Get Involved!

Gene V. Graves
Rockport

Vote No on Question 3

To the editor:

As a former member of the NRA and owner of a pistol and rifle, and also passed a background check, the following dawned on me.

Question 3 needs to be defeated because, too late for me and others who passed the, but in my opinion this law is a government “stealth” way to keep records on all us law abiding citizens. Why? Just like in Nazi Germany in the 1930s, the regime feared a possible uprising. How to be ahead of this possibility? Have all citizens register their weapons. By the late ‘30s, with all gun owners registered, the Gestapo quickly confiscated all the registered guns, claiming “national security.” Sound familiar? Vote “No” on Question 3, and remain free.

Frank Slason
Somerville

A vote for Theriault

To the editor:

On September 8, Judd Thompson posted a letter to the editor which peaked my interest. He says he was dismayed (interesting comment) to learn that Tim Theriault had missed 18 percent of the roll call votes in the legislature. I made inquiries with friends in Augusta and they consider that a sterling record. He’s batting .820 and that is not bad in any league. Interesting as well, Mr. Thompson alludes to Roger Katz as “my senator!” Well, he is “our senator” and one of the most respected members of that body. I am also told that Tim Theriault is just as well respected in the House by members of both political persuasions. He also states that he will not vote for Mr. Theriault this time and I’ll wager that he didn’t vote for him last time. I will further wager that he didn’t vote for Roger Katz last time, and most likely will not vote for him this time. After all, they are Republicans and Mr. Thompson, like most voters, is entrenched in the nonsense of political partisanship.

I’ve known Tim Theriault for over 30 years and let’s look at his record of involvement here in the town of China. He served on the budget committee, has always been an active participant at town meetings, is a member of the Thurston Park Committee, has been involved with the China Fire Department for 28 years and is the current fire chief. Many of these missed roll calls were caused by having to respond to fire or emergency calls, and I’m sure we can all forgive him for that. He is a member of the China Four Seasons Club, coached little league, soccer, basketball, as well as involvement with the Boy Scouts. The question is, can Mr. Thompson or Mr. Glowa state the same?

Tim Theriault worked at the SAPPI mill for 31 years in maintenance. I designed many of the hydraulic systems in that plant and had years of experience knowing first hand of his value to that company. Mr. Theriault knows what it means for a company to have to make a profit in order to stay in business. Unlike the government, they can’t raise taxes or print more money to make payroll. I asked Dave Cotta what he thought of his first few months in office when he was our representative and his response was, “they think it’s their money!” So does Washington to the degree that a newborn child is burdened with a $60,000 debt before its first borning cry. Now that is really something to be “dismayed” about.

I do not mean to impugn Mr. Glowa’s beliefs in any way. I am sure he believes very strongly in his stance on certain issues and I respect him for that. It is also my privilege to take an opposite stance on some of those same issues. I spent time at the town office this week to ask about the Thompson and Glowa record of involvement in town affairs in either elective or appointive positions. None they could think of.

Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine considers him having the most adversarial position concerning sportsmen in the state of Maine. The executive director of SAM, Dave Trahan, wrote a scathing report concerning Mr. Glowa and it would be well worth your time to read that article. Mr. Trahan spent 12 years on the Fish and Wildlife Committee, and can attest to the extreme confrontational nature of Mr. Glowa. I have talked to three other members of that committee who agree with the confrontational assessment. The most damning is the statement that, (I quote), “he has made the destruction of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife a life mission. He has advocated and made it his life’s mission to restore wolves in Maine. I can think of no man in Maine potentially more destructive to wildlife management than John Glowa.”

Their words, not mine. The world is going to hell in a handbasket and we have to be concerned about wolves in Maine? I suspect that if wolves wanted to be in Maine, they would be in Maine. Does anybody remember the state attempting to introduce caribou into Maine? They put a seed herd in the Katahdin area, and those that survived the attempt were back in Canada within six months. Seems to me wildlife will be where they want to be.

Tim Theriault has served his town well in elective and service positions and deserves to be re-elected to the legislature.

Don Pauley
South China

Don’t have to live with progress

To the editor:

I am submitting this letter in response to Dale Worster’s September 22 letter to the editor in The Town Line.

Dale, having read your last two letters to the editor – Aug. 25 and Sept. 22 – I need to respond.

As a resident of China, third generation, I found some of your statements disturbing. Although your ideas for development here in China are quite noble, as described in your Sept. 22 letter, I don’t know what makes you think we actually need or want that kind of “progress” for China.

I will not speak for other residents but I am one who lives here for a quiet, low-key way of life along with the beauty of this lakeside community.

I do not need “new experiences” in the form of your visions. If I want or need new experiences I know what to do and where to go to get them.

I would much rather see: lowered taxes; improved fire department; lowered taxes; improved public safety; lowered taxes; a small health clinic. (I think of the empty old general store on Main St. [in China Village]); whatever the town’s restrictions are for the conversion of the old Grange hall on Main St. lifted (re: Susan White’s letter to the editor, dated Sept. 15); Did I say lowered taxes?

Yes, yes, I know all too well that the five million “Simoleans” and “cheddar,” that you so fondly refer to as TIF money, is marked only for business and recreational development.

By you making the comments you have such as:

“I’ve been doing my part for China when many aren’t” – my response is China has zero debt, residents pay a very high property tax to a community that offers very few services in return.  I think residents are very well doing their part.

“Some people may have to live with progress,”— my response, the last I knew there was a voting process that could very well prove you wrong on that.

Dale, it is no wonder, with comments such as these, that you “don’t always find it true when China calls itself the friendliest town in Maine, especially on the pages of The Town Line.”

Mary M. Allen
China