BPA poses threat to Maine kids
I want to echo the call to get BPA out of our food supply in an OpEd published Aug. 5, “Vast Majority of Americans Have BPA in their Body.” As a natural health and nutrition oriented doctor, I’m concerned about the array of toxic chemicals in our society today.
These toxic substances make it ever more challenging even for health-conscious adults to stay healthy. Unaware adults and their children face an even tougher battle. One of the most pervasive chemicals found in our bodies is BPA, a toxic chemical linked to cancer, learning disabilities, obesity and other health problems.
BPA is a plastic-hardening chemical commonly added to food packaging such as metal cans. BPA has been proven to leach into our food from the packaging. If BPA were removed from food packaging, we could reduce our BPA exposure by two thirds. Our children are particularly vulnerable during their early development years due to their small body ratios.
Thankfully, action is being taken here in Maine. Maine moms recently submitted more than 800 signatures to the state asking the Board of Environmental Protection to get the process started to ban BPA in baby and toddler foods.
The BEP will decide whether to adopt a rule to ban BPA from children’s food at a public hearing on Sept. 6. If approved, a bill will be sent to the Maine Legislature.
It’s time to stand up for the health of our children and get BPA out of children’s food.
Christina Akliros Pritham, DC, CNS
Greenville
Verona bridge removal
Is anyone besides me upset at the awarding of the removal contract for the Verona bridge to an out-of-state firm?
For a bid that was only about $300,000 more than the Massachusetts firm, Cianbro of Pittsfield was eliminated. I have to wonder how much money Maine will lose from not getting the taxes that Cianbro would have paid on the contract, how much money Maine will not get from Cianbro employees paying taxes on their wages — wages that would have been paid to Maine residents who live and work here.
To say nothing of the money that those Cianbro employees would have spent for groceries, gas, recreation and other living expenses.
Money spent in Maine by Mainers. Which now, of course, they won’t do because an out-of-state company got the bid.
Awhile back I was on Deer Isle for a spring birding festival and was impressed by all of the “support local business” signs all over the island. Then as I was leaving and driving across the Deer Isle bridge, I noticed that it was being painted by a company from Pennsylvania. I can’t believe that there wasn’t a Maine company that would have painted that bridge.
Now there is another Maine bridge being tended to by folks “from away.” How sad that we seem to feel compelled to send our money out of state
Sue Shaw
Penobscot
A compromise?
On Aug. 7, two of our county commissioners, along with the county manager, decided to allow Roxanne Quimby to construct a new gate at the mouth of Little Wilson Road, effectively stopping all vehicle traffic going to visit Little Wilson Falls. They said they will have to compromise in this matter.
I was always led to believe that a compromise was that both sides gave a little to reach an agreement. The county has given up the right for its residents to travel on a county road. Quimby has agreed to allow foot traffic through her gate. Fred Trask, Tom Lizotte and Marilyn Tourtelotte call this a compromise.
I am quite confident this whole mess started when the county manager gave permission for the first gate to be erected. She was under the impression that the road had been discontinued, which was not the case. The control of the road is of the county and has been for many years. It was maintained by the county into the 1990s. There is no compromise here, just another deal where Roxanne Quimby gets her way, thanks to Fred Trask, Tom Lizotte and Marilyn Tourtelotte. It seems the commissioner from Greenville, Eric Ward, had the people of Maine in mind when he voted against this proposal. Thank you, Ward.
Roy McSorley
Elliottsville Township
November vote
I am writing in support of Geoffrey Gratwick, a Democrat who is running to represent Bangor and Hermon in the Maine Senate. In this time of divisive politics at every level, Gratwick is a model of civility. He believes that the Maine Legislature should move away from polarized extremes and focus on the issues that really matter to our community and our state, such as good jobs, sensible health care and fair taxes.
As a city councilor, Gratwick has shown that he approaches every decision with care, but he is not afraid to stand up for his values. His skills at listening carefully before acting, which he uses in his practice as a doctor, are sorely needed. He would be a strong, thoughtful voice in Augusta.
We are fortunate to have him running in state Senate District 32. Now we need to cast our votes for him on Nov. 6.
Hope Brogunier
Bangor
Speaking out publicly
Kudos to Dr. Erik Steele! In his piece on supporting physician-assisted suicide he wrote compellingly about how he was able to identify and modify his initial position.
More importantly, I salute his bravery in speaking out publicly. When the initial physician-assisted suicide movement was taking place here in Maine, the few professionals who stood up for this idea allowing patients to choose death with dignity were not well received. I hope that this heralds a change.
Julie Balaban
Orono
Intelligence, civility, open-mindedness, and a dedication to Mainers of all walks of life: Dr. Gratwick will be an excellent State Senator.
Roy McSorley–It is a shame that it was Ms. Quimby and not you that purchased the land containing the Eliotsville Road. I’m sure you would have been much more generous than Ms. Quimby and allowed everyone to do as they pleased on your property, right?
She doesn’t own Lisbon Falls, and she can’t block a right of way on an existing road.
Thankfully Maine has laws like the Great Pond Law to keep wealthy flatlanders from making the state into their own private compound.
She does own all the land around Little Wilson Falls and is complying with the Great Ponds Act by allowing foot traffic.
It’s too bad you didn’t purchase the land so we could all continue to use the property however we desired.
pssst…dont tell anyone…she doesn’t want it for her own compound….she doesn’t want anybody on it…no human contact…there is not larger social or cultural dynamic than that….
It may be cheaper to go out of state or even out of the country, but we should be working with each other. There is something to say about loyalty and benefits that may not be immediate.
I knew the day would come when we would agree on something. I don’t believe in oursourcing if there is a local workforce available to do the work. Take care of the home front first, and it will pay dividends in the long run.
You never answered my post the other day. Answer it now please. What were you trying to imply?
I was implying that no matter what, you come across as a person that would be on the opposite side of any issue than I am on. I am willing to fight and die for this country against ALL enemies, foreign and domestic. If you are on board with that, then I apologize for implying the wrong way. And if you are on board with that, I would be honored to have you fight alongside.
Now, let’s have a truce and start discussing issues as mature adults. No more calling names or personal attacks. Are you on board?
I have been mature. I will continue to call you out when I see you being dishonest and/or making things up.
reading between the liberal lines….um….’no’
Mr. Parsons has gone beyond what most would do and has offered you an olive branch. You are only reinforcing what most of us feel about Liberals. You are what’s wrong with our Country. Personally I think we are beyond the point of compromise. We are far too divided to ever achieve any sort of middle ground. God help this Country!
EJP made a disgusting implication about me yesterday simply because I disagreed with him. When he couldn’t supply facts for claims he was making, I presented some demonstrating he was being dishonest. That’s not me being personal or partisan — that’s me seeking to have a discussion based in reality.
EJP tried to step away from his claim/implication that he thought I haven’t and wouldn’t fight for this country and/or what I believe in. He was suggestive in his remarks and made awful and baseless character jabs towards me. Saying I wouldn’t fight for this country? That’s disgusting and completely irrelevant. Me pointing out when someone is lying? That’s NOT what’s wrong with this country. What’s wrong with this country is demonizing those that you disagree with simply because you disagree with them.
I saw and read the comment you are talking about. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. You’re a drama queen and immature to boot. To be quite honest, you’re also a bully. mr Parsons should have told you right where to go a long time ago.
You have personal attacks and baseless sweeping generalizations — that’s about it. Sad for you.
God did help this country. She helped Senator Obama become President. Because she cares for this country, she will help him get re-elected.
After eight years of Bush, God realized that this country needed all the help it could get!
Too bad that is not how the free enterprise system works.
I agree but if the state, city or town are to have a bid process where do you draw the line? If the local business bids 5% more do you give him the bid? How many out of state businesses are going to continue to bid if they bid low and still don’t get the bid. To have a bid process the low bidder must be rewarded assuming all things are equal.
Hope Brogunier: yes, City Councilor Gratwick is a fine public official who, in other circumstances, might warrant election to the State Senate. But surely incumbent Sen. Nichi Farnum has amply demonstrated her value as a voice of democracy, of fairness toward all, and of responsible representation. If, to use an analogy, Susan Collins were running for re-election against challenger George Mitchell, the choice would be obvious: Collins would deserve another term, just as Sen. Farnum does. Let Dr. Gratwick wait for another opportunity and withdraw from the race now.
Nichi Farnham has voted with Paul LePage 92% of the time in Augusta. Her votes in the legislature just do not reflect the values of the majority of the community, and she is consistently on the wrong side of the issues. She supported the right wing attempt to end same-day voter registration (which was overwhelmingly defeated by a people’s veto referendum last fall). She also vocally supported the right wing attempt to implement the so-called “voter ID law” (which they later abandoned, at least for now, after the people overwhelmingly rejected their attempt to end same-day voter registration). The right wing has pushed this around the country to try to suppress low-income and minority voters. The talk about “voter fraud” is absolutely unsubstantiated as voter fraud almost never happens according to every study ever done. And the attempts at foisting national right wing efforts to suppress voting on Maine are just the tip of the iceberg.
Dr. Gratwick will be an excellent State Senator. While he will be a calm and moderate voice of reason who will work to bring people together to solve problems, he will also stand up to the radical right wing Paul LePage agenda when necessary. What have we gotten with LePage? People thought they were going to get “jobs jobs jobs” as he kept saying in his campaign. What we got was stagnant job growth, labor history murals taken down for political reasons, “kiss my butt,” “women will grow little beards,” “the IRS is the Gestapo,” “Maine students are looked down upon everywhere.”, attacks on voting rights, attacks on educators and our schools, unneeded tax cuts for those at the very top, attacks on healthcare, attacks on the environment, attacks on the poor and infirm, toxics back in our food and products, threats of intentionally divisive secret agendas and secret special sessions of the legislature, and on and on.
We need state senators who will stand up to this stuff, and Geoff Gratwick will. I urge voters in Bangor and the rest of the 32nd district to say NO to the Paul LePage agenda and support Geoff Gratwick for state senate.
So, we will ever see any of candidate Gratwicks accomplishments or more of “Bash LePage”…I think the Good Doctor could pen a brand new disorder..LDD…LePage Derangement Disorder”….Its all the liberal MINORITY have at this point…
Senator Farnham has served her district above and beyond what is asked of her and and is a proven leader. The citizens of Bangor would certainly step backwards three bounds to have anyone but Sen. Farnham representing them.
Folks, the days of concentrated power and foolish, irresponsible financial experiments are over….guess some people don’t like it…..
Taxpayers and Maine businesses need Senator Farnham….status quo needs the other candidate…
It’s sad that you let an ad bought by outside interests sway your opinion. Your 92% figure is telling only part of the story. The Democrats chose 13 bills that were supported by the Governor and the Senators they highlighted. They did not tell people that those bills were changed drastically due to the level-headed Senators who took the extreme bill from LePage and made them good for Maine(which is why most Democrats also voted for them). Senator Farnham is far from my ideal Republican because she is too moderate, but that is probably fine for Bangor.
Susan Collins does not deserve another term.
Nichi Farnum’s support of the repeal of same day voter registration and her demand for photo IDs in the absence of a single case of voter fraud shows that she is not a believer in democracy. She wants only certain people to vote, rather than every eligible citizen.
Sue Shaw- Thank your lucky stars that it is not a Chinese company doing the job and a bunch of tools on Wall Street making a killing off from it. A little side note. The bulk of Cianbro’s work is out of state. Would you have them locked out of the bidding process in another state for the same reasons that you would have them awarded the bridge removal bid here?
Who cares if Sen. Farnum was a State Senate leader in wishing to impose voter ID and in eliminating same day voter registration/election? These are minor issues. She supports Gov. LePage in his courageous struggle to bring Maine into the 21st century in terms of putting conservative business-oriented values first and foremost and to turn back the “triumphs” of the civil rights movement and of the New Deal/Great Society. End of story.
Thanks to Dr. Akliros Pritham for speaking up about toxic chemical exposures in Maine. The question really is whether we want “more of the same” – i.e. diseases that are on the rise in developed and developing countries. do we know that chemicals in consumer products are responsible for these conditions? No, there is no conclusive evidence. Does that mean we should do nothing and wait to see if things get better? I still say no.