Lubec advice

The article “New businesses help revitalize Lubec” (BDN, July 2) was interesting and informative, and it clearly shows that those “from away” have both the vision and money to create a place uniquely different. Let us hope that their dreams and influences, which in some cases have priced out the locals, do not change the character and culture.

I say newcomers should adapt, appreciate, learn the ways and customs and then add their dreams and visions. And remember that the locals have limited money and no other place to go.

Dave Melochick

Hampden

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Wind power not green

I am not a “greenie,” and until recently I was never called a NIMBY. What I am is a man who lives close to the land and understands and cares for the wild areas left in Maine. I learned a long time ago that without a healthy forest, there will be no me or us. I don’t live off of the land, but rather with it, and believe we can all do the same.

I have yet to meet any reasonably intelligent person in favor of mountain-top industrial wind power after learning all the facts. The industrial wind projects in Maine are bringing with them massive social, economic and environmental damage. This is not generally understood because all people are hearing from the politicians, the developers and the media is that “wind is green.” It simply isn’t so.

It hurts me terribly to see my neighbors duped into supporting and paying for the rape of our mountains so that a few men can get rich at our and future generations’ expense. Please, do the research. If you have trouble getting started, contact me and I’ll point you in the right direction.

David P. Corrigan

Concord Township

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Ex sex-offender

The question of where convicted sex offenders can or cannot live will always come down to where can they live. Where will we build the “internment” camp?

Will Bangor’s ordinance affect anyone who has ever committed a sex crime or just those currently on the state’s dwindling sex offender list?

Offenders who have satisfied their court imposed sentences are ex-convicts and ex-sex-offenders. We have to add the term “ex-sex-offender” to our vocabulary to create a clear and credible ordinance.

Leonard S. Diecidue

Bangor

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Libby’s compromises

Libby Mitchell’s OpEd “Improving classrooms in Maine” (BDN, July 6) about education and her role in education in Maine indicates she is a legislator and politician with a gold-plated record. She began her political career in 1974. She clearly has accumulated many remarkable resume “clips” and this is what bothers me.

She has, for 36 years, delivered policy for the people of Maine across a wide spectrum of services. But let’s not forget she is a politician and her getting people of all persuasions to come together will be done at a price. The price is compromise, which can be good, but compromise also indicates a balance sheet of political debts and credits.

She seems to have written in reply to candidate Eliot Cutler, and she doesn’t fail to deliver a political backhand slap by indicating he’s an outsider.

He’s not. He’s an independent and his independence, not his ties to party politics nor his debit-credit sheet with other state legislators, enables him to bring a view of Maine which can lead Maine out of its political lethargy.

Yes, Libby Mitchell and others can be seen as political savants, but there is a reality seen by the people of Maine that seems counter to the view presented by politicians.

I, too, applaud the two remarkable teachers noted in the article, but these are two of 25,000 teachers in the MEA, so unless all the teachers in the MEA, not just their leadership, support Mitchell, her listing her legislative educational successes won’t be reflected at the polls.

Mark Schwartz

Stillwater

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Kudos to Buell

Kudos to John Buell for his July 6 BDN column, “Spending not the cause of our problems,” and for his clear understanding and explanation of the current financial situation in which our country finds itself.

Fear of national debt must not force us to forget human needs. Timidity has taken hold of too many people in positions of influence. I wish more people would take to heart Mr. Buell’s thoughts.

Nina Collins

Franklin

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LNG now

The proposed LNG terminals in the St. Croix Valley would be a huge economic boost to our area.

When you consider the impact that the BP spill is having on our country and what LNG really is, it’s like comparing apples to rocks. LNG evaporates when released into the atmosphere, unlike thick globs of crude oil.

Canada is opposed to our LNG development, but sees no problem selling its gas on our markets. If we don’t start looking out for our own interests in this country, we are in big trouble.

If you support LNG development, it is really important for you to attend the upcoming FERC hearings in Calais and Eastport and show your support for these worthwhile projects. We need these jobs for our future in this area; tourism alone cannot support our way of life, and never could.

And also, Southern Maine can’t outvote us on this one.

Dan Spear

Calais

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Education top issue

To obtain and maintain good jobs in Maine we need an educated and skilled workforce. That is why I consider educational reform the top issue in this year’s gubernatorial race.

Eliot Cutler fired the first shot across the bow when he wrote that he has heard a lot about teachers, but not much about students. Not exactly strong on details, but I guess it has promise. Libby Mitchell responded with a grandiose OpEd response outlining her achievements in educational reform and concluded with a blanket statement, “Maine does a good job of educating our children.”

I totally disagree. First, this is not a problem with the teachers. We have intelligent, hard-working teachers. The problem is systemic, and here are the dismal results of our current “system.” In 2009, only 61 percent of our students met or exceeded their grade-level mathematical ability; only 59 percent met or exceeded their grade-level in science, and only 70 percent met or exceeded grade-level in reading.

When we approach 90 percent in all three academic areas, then we can explore the possibility of saying, “good job.”

I suspect the solution does not lie in more creative funding or school-centered programs. I think the best solution must be a “village” solution. It takes a village to raise a child and it takes a village to educate them. Unless, and until, we involve the entire community — parents, businesses, everyone — as well as the students and teachers, we will continue to educate ourselves into ignorance.

Brian Callahan

Searsport

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