Thanks Channel 5
“We do what we do for you” — a catchy little phrase. It makes the announcers at Channel 5 feel good when they read it, and management feel good because they think everyone believes it. So on Monday June 4, after having read the catchy little phrase, they announce that as of midnight, Channel 5 will not be carried on DirecTV.
Channel 5 will also hide behind the FCC ruling and block you from having access to any other CBS network station for programming. “We do what we do for you.” Mike Young naturally bristles and blames it on DirecTV.
I’m not saying DirecTV is faultless, but with approximately 250 cable channels, 60 sport channels, 50 movie channels and four other networks, both locally and nationally under contract, can Mike Young and Channel 5, the only channel now off the DirecTV programming be free from the thought that they are asking for excessive increases in their current contract.
“We do what we do for you” is typical of Channel 5’s history with customers unable to receive signals before the DirecTV era. They always relied on the FCC to fall back on by not allowing access to other network outlets, even when all other network stations in the area provided releases so that customers could receive network programming.
Because Channel 5 transmitters are the most powerful in the area it seems to give them the idea that they can make these excessive demands and other capitulate. Thanks Channel 5 for being so concerned for those you serve and thanks for not coming out with that other catchy phrase. “It’s not about the money.”
Harry Williford
Wellington
Front page news
The article entitled “Calais nursing home to be shut down July 6” was placed on page B6 of the June 13 edition. The fact that it was right next to the Obituaries was probably apt, but why wasn’t it on Page One?
This news is devastating to many in Washington County. Over 100 people will be losing their jobs, families will be struggling to find places for their loved ones as near as they can get them. Machias area facilities are strained to capacity and are sending new patients farther away.
Lubec and Eastport facilities have the same dilemma.
The fact that the state of Maine has abandoned the people in this area by backing the closure and move out of the county wasn’t mentioned in the article. The planners who limited the number of available licensed beds in the state obviously did not know what everyone else knows: The population is decreasing but the population of older people is rapidly increasing. Faced with this fact, the state chose to ignore those obvious trends and kept the licensed beds the same.
Those beds are now moving out of Washington County. This should be front page news. Hancock County has more money and more votes. It is hard to think that these assets take precedence over the well-being of our most vulnerable citizens. I am appalled at this callous decision on the part of Secretary Mary Mayhew of DHHS.
Linda L. Gralenski
Pembroke
Lest we forget
Gov. LePage was recently criticized for not appearing at the demolition of the Great Works Dam in Old Town. Dam removal proponents would have you believe that removal of the two Penobscot dams is celebratory. Gov. LePage is right, “removing hydro dams is irresponsible.”
Lest we forget, in 2008, the needless demise of the Ft. Halifax Hydroelectric Dam in Winslow was an environmental disaster. The removal of the dam caused the loss of clean renewable energy, the loss of a 417-acre lake, the loss of a four-season recreation area, the loss of slope stability, the loss of six family homes on Dallaire Street, the loss of the city sewer line, the landslide on Cemetery Hill, the loss of tons of soil through bank erosion, the loss of countless endangered mussels, fish and aquatic life, the loss of property values on the dewatered impoundment, the increased cost of replacing the Mile Brook Bridge due to pier scouring, and the loss of the scenic waterfall in the center of town.
The taxpayer cost from removal of this one dam is hovering at two million dollars. The emotional cost is immeasurable. For what? So that sea run fish can swim another five miles to the next dam. There is a saying; if you can’t be a good example you may end up being a horrible lesson. Winslow won’t be celebrating the Penobscot dam removals any time soon.
Mary Ellen Fletcher
Winslow
Turtle crossing
How about a timely article in “Outdoors” about turtles who are crossing roads to lay eggs so people will think to slow down and give them a chance. Two days in a row I have seen turtles run over by cars. I pulled over to help one across and then the car behind me ran it (her) over.
People should stop and see the damage they inflict. I imagine they suffer after being hit lingering in the hot sun unable to move.The shells were largely gone so that you could see the insides. How hard is it to be mindful of something dark in the road and then slow down so an innocent creature can just live?
Lorraine Lans
Stonington
Landmark decision
A news item you may have missed — In another landmark decision that resembles the court’s ruling on the definition of a corporation, the Supreme Court ruled five-to-four recently that constrictor snakes living in the wild and currently causing problems in Florida are so like corporations that they too are persons.
Because they are now persons, they can no longer be hunted unless they break laws.
Charlie Cameron
Addison
UM disrespect
Imagine my surprise and disappointment this week when visiting UMaine to find not only were the fundraising bricks at the athletic field in deplorable condition but some — including ours — had been removed.
Shame on you! This disrespects all UMaine supporters. Jon Sias ’93 and G’95.
Jon Sias
Las Vegas, Nev.
Questions about coaching
In regard to the Bangor school system’s asking Roger Reed to choose between coaching the Bangor High boy’s basketball team and being, possibly, a part-time Maine legislator, I am wondering how it is that full-time teachers are able to coach sports teams. For that matter,
if Roger Reed’s coaching position has been this demanding, was he ever asked over the years to choose between coaching and devoting his full time to his teaching?
I am just trying to understand the logic of the educational leadership in Bangor.
Jan Rideout
Holden
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CBS (which WABI carries) has some excellent dramas, such as “The Good Wife,” and carries my favorite sitcom, “The Big Bang Theory,” and also “60 Minutes.” I’d like to get those shows back, and hope Directv and WABI settle their differences soon. It’s all about money — and each side blames the other. Kind of like politics.
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Governor LePage doesn’t have time to show up at something progressive like dam removal, He is busy finding new ways to dam up progress.
Charlie Cameron
You’re confusing snakes with unions who are also people like corporations
Mary Ellen Fletcher
Great letter. Its interesting that many of the proponents of clean energy are advocates of dam removals. Makes no sense as the same people come out in favor of unreliable wind. This is a very confusing component of the progressive agenda
Great letter???? That’s the most selfish, self-serving letter I’ve ever read.
Lorraine Lans, as sad as it is, it is illegal to slow down, stop or swerve in traffic to avoid animals. If you were the one that got hit instead of the turtle you would have been at fault. Wild lfe is not an excuse to endager the lives of other drivers.
Please provide the cite which supports your statement. I find it hard to believe that it is illegal to slow down, stop or swerve in traffic to avoid, oh let’s say, a moose, deer, or other large animal that would cause significant damage to you and/or your automobile.
If the choice is damage or possibly killing another human being, I don’t think there is much of a choice.
I slow down for traffic, pedestrians, and yes, turkeys, deer and other wild creatures. I once came to a complete stop for a moose in the middle of the road. Slowed down for a turtle just the other day, and went around it, just as I would go around a branch of a tree if it was in the road. I’d be surprised if slowing down (or stopping) to aviod a collision with another car, a pedestrian, a bicyclist, or an animal was illegal.
I agree that if it is not possible to slow down or swerve you shouldn’t but most of the time it is possible and one should in the name of humaneness and safety (people swerve instinctively to avoid an animal). Even if it were illegal which I seriously doubt it would be insane not to slow down or swerve for a moose standing in the road. The life you risk is your own. That would be a great cartoon; motorist swerves to avoid a moose and gets pulled over and ticketed by a dimwitted police officer.
//o\
Linda L. Gralenski, remember the lack of real action on the part of our Washington County legislators on behalf of their constituants. They seem to ba able to submit bills written by ALEC and the MHPC with ease, but when it comes to their own citizens they seem to have writers block.
Re Coach Reed: were he a liberal Democrat rather than conservative Republican, he’d have been able to keep his Bangor High job. It’s a blatant political move that should have no place in public schools.
Harry Williford, Dish carries channel 5, so do all the cable supliers. Easy solution would be to switch. There would be no breach of contract, in that the subscribers to Direct TV signed for channel 5, Direct TV is not providing what they promised.
I fully agree. How is it that Dish Network was first in our area to offer all the local channels? And most, if not all cable providers plus Dish Network have managed to strike an agreement with Channel 5, but DirectTV cannot. If Ch 5 is at fault, how is it that all other providers but DirectTV have managed to supply ALL the local channels?
Don’t be surprised when Dish and Time Warner have the same problem with WABI at contract renewal time. For all you potential switchers keep that in mind. When settled with DirecTV, they will likely have the longest lock-in for WABI.
It’s not that easy a choice, because if you look at what Dish and cable offer compared to DirecTV, even with losing what I find to be important channels, DirecTV is still heads above what the others offer. That’s the kick in the pants – DirecTV has so many other options, you’re almost forced to accept any cuts in stations because the many other stations you like aren’t on Dish and cable.
We’re “stuck” if you want to put it that way, because the NFL package DireTV carries is probably the most important, so I have to sacrifice the CW to keep that package – bummer.
If enough Direct subscribers cancel their contracts, you will see how fast Direct comes to terms with Channel 5.
I had Direct before and if the humidity got over 90% we would lose service. Since I switched to Dish it is rare that we lose service.
I know what you mean about the Football package. I would like that but I’m not willing to give up good service to get it.
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I guess there is nothing I can do when channels and the company that I purchase them from cannot get along. I do, however, feel that if the said company is no longer providing what I signed up for, then there should be a discount in the cost. I signed up based on the fact that I could watch channel 5, or CW (that is the real pi**er here – got a lot of shows on that channel). So when you take away what I deem the post important channels to that package, I should be seeing something in the bill other than an increase.
But as long as DirectTV carries the NFL package, we’re good. I guess I will have to find other channels to Tivo (because Dish and Cable are not an option – they stink no matter how many channels we lose). You start messing around with that puppy, and we’re going to have words (and they aren’t going to be nice).
Sadly, I too have seen turtles run over. Sometimes by accident and sometimes on purpose. If you see a turtle in the road please pick it up, take it off the road and face it in the direction of known ponds or lakes. Also, even if a turtles shell is cracked, IF it is still alive please get it to a rehabber such as Avian Haven in Freedom (382-6761) They do miraculous work with turtles even those with severly cracked shells. Snappers which are generally not aggressive but defensive, should be picked up by both hands at the rear edge of the shell They can not turn around to bite in that position