Spring in the air
With spring a mere few hours away, the inhabitants of Bangor are more than ready to escape the frigid grip of this never-ending winter to embrace the tantalizing promises of barbecues, beach days and lobster dinners.
As a result of climate change, Bangor has endured the coldest February in history, a record 2 degrees below the monthly average. But warmer weather may no longer be a welcomed respite, as — because of global warming — it promises Lyme disease-bearing ticks ready to ruin barbecues, higher sea levels sure to spoil beach days and increased oceanic carbon levels prepared to decimate the lobster population. Maine’s environment is severely threatened by climate change: Its waters are heating faster than 99 percent of the world’s oceans while its winters are becoming increasingly severe.
The United States is one of the key contributors to climate change, producing 19 percent of the world’s carbon emissions while containing 5 percent of its population. America’s 50 dirtiest power plants alone produce more carbon than all but six other countries. Luckily, the Clean Power Plan, proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency, is the biggest step in cutting carbon in America’s history, vowing to reduce 30 percent of power plant emissions by 2030.
Already 8 million Americans, including 50,000 Mainers, have spoken up in support of the plan. Its time for the voices of Bangor to join in and call upon U.S. Sen. Susan Collins to fully support the EPA’s plan in congress.
The Clean Power Plan is Maine’s greatest hope to protect its rapidly deteriorating environment.
Clara Harter
Kennebunk
Don’t tax museums
Maine’s museums are stewards of the identity and achievements of Maine’s residents. They provide access to education, power economic engines and anchor their communities. They are gathering spaces, gateways to the world and forums for debate and delight. Whether an institution stands alone in its community, such as one of the state’s iconic lighthouses, or plays a vital role in an urban hub, these museums teach us, our children and our visitors what Maine’s legacy is.
Gov. Paul LePage’s proposed budget endangers the long-term survival of Maine’s cultural nonprofits. The proposal, requiring municipalities to tax their museums’ property while eliminating the tax deduction for charitable giving, attacks the stability of museums from both sides of their budgets. This proposal would increase costs while diminishing museums’ ability to raise private funds, endangering the services these institutions provide and the heritage they protect.
Maine is home to more than 700 museums and historical organizations, which are responsible for nearly $80 million in direct spending with a total economic impact of over $158 million in Maine’s economy. While LePage claims his budget will partially shift Maine’s tax burden to tourists, how many will choose to visit if many of the state’s attractions are forced to close their doors?
The New England Museum Association stands with Maine’s museums, our allies from Maine Archives and Museums, and the Maine Association of Nonprofits in urging the citizens and state legislators to reject these elements of LePage’s budget, which are so damaging to our past and our future.
Meg Winikates
Advocacy Manager
New England Museum Association
Arlington, Massachusetts
Childish politicians
Would someone please explain to me why politicians so often are stubbornly childish? The Republicans are merely the most recent example of “our leaders” acting like 10-year-olds, stomping their feet and vehemently denying doing something wrong.
The letter recently signed by 47 Republicans and sent to Iran, concerning the negotiations of the Obama administration along with several other countries on Iran’s development of nuclear technology, clearly is an overreach of congressional power. It may or may not have been treason. It may or may not have been foolish or stupid. But it certainly was done on the spur of the moment, timed to get as many supporters as possible who would not consider whether it was a wise thing to do. And it was a ploy to make the president look bad and impotent. As if that is a good thing for America.
Sure, there will be differences of opinion among people and between parties. Yet a simple effort to denigrate the leader of our country, whether or not you support him, when he is engaged in perhaps the most sensitive foreign policy initiative of our time cannot possibly be beneficial for our country or the world. Claiming that Democrats have done similar things in years past is no excuse.
When you have made a mistake, the grown-up thing to do is to admit it and learn.
Steve Colhoun
Addison
Calling all musicians
I am a retired director of the United States Air Force Academy Drum and Bugle Corps, and I am looking for musicians. Along with several other marching band members, I am trying to see whether there is interest out there to march in an All State Marching Band. We are in the planning stages and want all the input we can get.
Our tentative plans are to have rehearsals in different areas of the state, then to combine the groups for performances. There appears to be much interest in having a marching band for parades and festivals throughout the state, and we would love to fill that void.
We anticipate starting rehearsals in April and marching in parades this summer. What we need now are musicians. We are looking for junior high and high school students who need the experience and practice, rusty musicians who want to get back in shape and just about anyone who can play an instrument and can march. We’ve done this before, and it is fun.
If you are a musician and are interested, give me a call at 592-4536. We also need more instructors and some support people.
Ken Tyler
West Gardiner
Reduce UMS office staff
Regarding the March 14 BDN article about the University of Maine System, “Trustees to discuss reducing footprint,” reduction certainly is called for, but the trustees are nibbling around the edges. Maine is a small state and does not need more than 100 employees at the system office; 30 would be more than enough. And, if the top six of those agreed to salaries of no more than $100,000, then all the cuts to programs and professors at the University of Southern Maine would be restored with millions left over. Why should administrative bloat seriously harm higher education in Maine?
Margaret Cruikshank
Corea