Anti-vaccine dangers
The anti-vaccination movements fail to look back far enough to the years before polio vaccines. Bear in mind vaccines do not kill viruses. The polio virus and others still are in our environment.
Those of us old enough to have lived through the annual polio epidemics understand all too well how severe the consequences of avoiding vaccination will be when an outbreak occurs. Diphtheria and pertussis still pose life-threatening consequences to the unvaccinated.
Martin Perfit
Hampden
John Martin’s genius
Without question, I dream of going to Fort Kent to peruse John Martin’s archive of his 50 years in the Legislature. Having worked in the Legislature a number of years ago, I watched firsthand his dedication, hard work and magical accomplishments. He is a genius man.
Clearly, I recall when the second and third floors of the State House conducted themselves in an atmosphere of civility for the overall greater good. Martin never gave in nor gave up. We need him in Augusta now more than ever.
Connie Holmes
Southwest Harbor
Dechaine retrial
I’m hoping someone in the Maine judicial system decides it’s long overdue to do the right thing in the Dennis Dechaine request for a retrial, which was denied in 2014. There is evidence the DNA under Sarah Cherry’s fingernails belongs to someone who is not Dennis. Logic suggests she scratched her killer. Common sense says the DNA under her fingernails belongs to her killer, which this evidence indicates is not Dennis Dechaine.
It’s time for Maine to step up to the plate and do its part in getting true justice by granting a retrial so that, at the very least, the person whose DNA is under her nails is held accountable, not to mention to offer Dennis the opportunity to prove his innocence. An opportunity he was not granted all those years ago using DNA and scientific evidence along with all the other exculpatory evidence obtained after he was convicted.
Is there a judge who is bold enough to stand for what’s truly right and just in this case, who will allow this truth to be proven in court? I sincerely hope so.
Lori Dumont
Brewer
Diabetes support
In one single moment, a life can be changed forever. That moment for our family was when our son, Mark, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 4, some three years ago.
Since then, we vigilantly have monitored and maintained Mark’s blood sugar levels through finger sticks and insulin injections/infusions. If his blood sugar level goes either too high or too low, it could result in drastic consequences, such as a coma or even death.
Recently, Sen. Susan Collins, co-chair of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, led the successful charge to renew the Special Diabetes Program, as included in H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015. Renewal of the program will allow for the continued funding of cutting-edge research resulting in improvements in the treatment of Type 1 diabetes — and hopefully someday prevention and a cure.
This research will improve Mark’s quality of life, as well as the quality of life of many others in Maine impacted by or living with diabetes. My family is grateful for Collins’ leadership on the program’s renewal.
Sarah Hurlbert
Harrington
ATV laws too weak
During the past several years, I have had considerable trouble with all-terrain vehicles terrorizing my neighborhood. I have spent some time reviewing state laws regulating ATVs and find it is no wonder that law enforcement is unable to do anything to protect the public from irresponsible individuals.
ATV regulation 13157-A. sub paragraph 19 says a person may not operate an ATV within 200 feet of a dwelling. This regulation does not exclude dwellings on private roads but other regulations do. The problem with this is that the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution prohibits denying any citizen equal protection under the law. I know Washington has a blatant disregard for the Constitution, and apparently so does the state of Maine.
Also be aware there are no speed limits on private roads — another example of the state’s total disregard for the safety of its citizens. Speed limits are imposed as means to protect the public. I understand no speed limits on private logging roads in northern Maine may be justified where truckers encounter only an occasional deer or moose. But in southern Maine, many private roads, including mine, have dwellings every hundred feet. Failure of the state Legislature to make the distinction is another example of their total disregard for the safety of its citizens.
The governor is making considerable effort to correct some of the problems created by previous administrations. It might be helpful if the Legislature moved out of the stone age and joined the governor in the 21st century.
Richard G. Curran
Shapleigh
Fireworks nuisance
Now that spring is here, we can light up the grill, put on some hamburgers and hot dogs or maybe a good steak. At last, we can relax, sit in our easy chair to watch our favorite TV show or a good movie or maybe even curl up to read a good book, when all of a sudden we hear a boom bang boom and another boom bang boom. It’s then we realize that along comes spring, so comes the noise and disturbance of the fireworks and there goes our peace and quiet time.
This is allowed because our state representatives say so. They don’t mind if it disturbs the elderly, the sick, nursing homes, hospitals and even our animals — our poor dog is so frightened that he tries to find a place to hide.
Apparently, we have lost our rights to have our quiet time. The law does state that these fireworks can only be displayed up until 10 p.m., though we hear them at 11:30 p.m. and midnight. We hear them all hours of the day and night. So much for the curfews, as they have no meaning at all.
We reside at the lake during the summer and we hear them every night, night after night. There is no escaping them.
I’m asking our state representatives to please ban fireworks that cause such a disruptive noise and let us have the opportunity to once again have our quiet time if we so desire.
Dolores Holden
Hampden