Bangor’s future
I find it to be a great relief that Bangor will continue to support its great education system, a system that has benefited my friends and I and hopefully will continue to do so for future generations. In order to prepare Bangor students for a strong 21st century economy and attract more families to help Bangor grow, we need to keep our school system as good as it traditionally has been.
We take a lot for granted in our own high school: the activities that go on, the computers that are available to use, the money that backs our teams and clubs, and the quality of all our teachers as well as our education. There are schools — not very far at all — that have very limited resources. We fortunately have more, which is why many Bangor students are and will be incredibly successful.
Our school system has already gone through cuts. To have gone through more would have been very painful, which is why I am very relieved to see the news and very relieved to know the people of Bangor still care about our education. Our superintendent, Dr. Betsy Webb, quoted the situation perfectly — she looks out for us, you know — stating that we, as students, “did not choose to be educated during a recession.” I couldn’t agree more. Thank you, Bangor. Thank you for supporting the future.
Andrew Sandweiss
Bangor
Rain gardens
Every property owner should install a rain garden to reduce the volume of stormwater runoff. A rain garden is a garden planted lower than the land around it, which allows rain and stormwater runoff to be absorbed into the ground, instead of going into combined sewer systems.
It is important to do this because our community is trying to curb urban runoff, which is stormwater that flows off impervious surfaces and into storm drains. When the runoff soaks into the earth instead, the ground cleans the water naturally. Runoff needs to be cleaned because it collects pollutants like pet waste, bacteria and harmful toxins from cars and industries. Some storm sewers drain directly into Casco Bay.
It is critical to slow the amount of runoff in cities like Portland because, in a powerful storm, this water combines with wastewater in sewers. The sewer pipes then overflow, and wastewater eventually ends up in Casco Bay, which can make people, animals and plants sick.
Rain gardens will help improve the quality of our city’s waters and in turn will help native marine animals and plants.
To install a rain garden, one must first dig out the soil so water can infiltrate the ground. A plant that soaks up water the best, such as sweet fern, is a good choice in the garden.
Installing rain gardens is an easy and effective way to increase water quality. Therefore, all residents should establish a rain garden to overcome the problems of stormwater runoff.
Abas Moahmmed
Portland
Cantor’s loss
Eric Cantor’s loss Tuesday ought to be a clarion call for Democrats and Republicans. Primaries tend to draw the most passionate to the polls. Thus, the candidates who win have views that may not be consistent with the mainstream.
Redistricting voters in ways that promote homogeneous thinking increases the likelihood that in primaries candidates with more extreme views will prevail and will compete in the general election. This leads to more gridlock in Congress, as finding the middle ground becomes more difficult. Eric Cantor, though conservative, lost to an even more hard-line conservative. Had the district been more inclusive, Eric Cantor may well have become the next speaker of the House.
Lisa Buck
Orono
Benghazi, right and wrong
How much longer and how much more evidence will it take for Congress to step up to the plate and stop the Obama regime? The failure of this administration to take action in Benghazi was more than enough to have an intelligent, responsible electorate recognize something was terribly wrong with their decisions. Four good men, in service to their country, died at the hands of terrorists, and this administration wants us all to forget it and move on.
Now the man holding the most powerful seat in the country has negotiated with terrorists and released back into the world five blood-thirsty, American-hating murderers, putting every single American, particularly our military, in jeopardy. He single-handedly has put a price on our heads.
Congress should stop everything and put all their authority into stopping this madness now. Enough is enough. How many Americans must die before our elected representatives do what’s right?
Beth Weirich
Glenburn
Portland crossroads
Thank you to the BDN for running the recent multimedia presentation on changes in Portland. I was relieved in some ways to find out I’m not the only person who was priced out of Portland. The city is becoming more and more a place for people like media consultants, real estate developers and people who sell gourmet pistachio nuts while marginalizing those who are just trying to make an honest living.
That the city would harass a small business owner about sidewalk signage, after hiring some marketing group to come up with the foolish, “Yes, life is good here” slogan, I mean, really, Portland? You got took on that one. The fact that Portland would pony up such a wad of cash for obvious hucksterism is indicative of the fact that life here may not be so good any more.
I spent my adult life in Portland, the last 20 years, and now I’ve left. Financially, I never did get back on solid ground after the recession hit. I really liked Portland in many ways, long before the gourmet nuts showed up. OK, sorry, but I just can’t get over that. Seriously, gourmet pistachio nuts? Have BDN readers ever in their lives been offered pistachios and said, “Hmm, I don’t know, dahling, are they gourmet?” What’s next, organic cheese doodles?
Getting back to my point, I’ve had many friends who have moved away, been part of endeavors that have lasted for as long as they could, partly due to the harsh economic conditions, and my past in the city is fractured. This town has done little but break my heart for the past five years, and I feel like I don’t have a place there any more.
Robbie Neal
New Sharon