LePage right about Eves
It is disappointing that the search committee at the Good Will-Hinckley school neglected to do a complete and concise appraisal of Mark Eves during his elected role as speaker of the house with a focus on the success of charter schools in Maine.
As speaker, he has held an important position to influence votes against charter schools. How could the elective board not take his assertions as a detriment to the success of the Good Will-Hinckley’s financial foundation, primarily the support from the Harold Alfond Foundation, which stipulates performance goals, including enrollment criteria?
Aside from being against charter schools, what qualifications does a “licensed therapist” have to be president/administrator of this institution that depends on taxpayers’ money and grants? If the board feels he has adequate qualifications for this position, perhaps we should be looking into the qualifications of other personnel that the school has hired.
The statement from board chairman Jack Moore, who stipulated “the institution’s desire not to be involved in political controversy,” could have been easily avoided if the board had done its homework.
I feel Gov. Paul LePage is owed a grave apology. He did his homework and is taking the heat for the lack of professionalism from the board of directors of Good-Will Hinckley.
Carol Klitch
Old Town
Support national park
Recently, my husband and I attended his 45th class reunion in Dexter. Classmate after classmate approached both my husband and me to ask why some people in the Katahdin region opposed a national park. It just didn’t make any sense to them.
Nor does it make any sense to us. I am a third generation, lifelong citizen of Millinocket, CEO of a nonprofit and an active community member. But one does not have to venture far from the Katahdin area to see that there is great support for the creation of a national park — and these are people who will not necessarily stand to gain economically from it like those of us in the Katahdin region will. Many of these people are constituents in the 2nd Congressional District, too.
Supporters of a national park are not asking for a handout. We are not asking for a bail out. As an elected official in Millinocket for nine years, I witnessed a parade of scalawags and carpetbaggers who proposed to “help” Millinocket when all they wanted was a handout. What we are asking for is that a viable plan from a major landowner who will pony up $40 million dollars be given a chance. We are asking that Sen. Angus King, Sen. Susan Collins and Rep. Bruce Poliquin use the power and privilege of their offices to benefit all Maine people to propose legislation that will promote the creation of a national park and national recreation area.
Gail Fanjoy
Millinocket
Korean War memorial
In 1991 a group of area Korean War veterans organized a local chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association with the goal of constructing a memorial for their fallen comrades who gave their lives for the freedom of the people of the Republic of Korea. The Korean War of 1950-1953 was a terrible, costly war, with more than 35,000 Americans killed in action and more than 5,000 still missing in action. In 1950 the United Nations, in perhaps its first brave, almost unified action, sent troops to drive the North Koreans and Chinese invaders back into North Korea.
After some four years, the local area vets, with very generous help from citizens, businesses, towns, clubs and others, built the memorial on the plot of land generously donated by the Mount Hope Cemetery Association. The memorial was dedicated in July 1995, with the names of 247 Maine men who never came home etched into the black stone. The walkway is bordered with flags of member UN nations, paved with stones engraved with donors and people they wish to thank — who have served their country.
Our chapter conducts three different services each year on Memorial Day, July 27 and November 11. There is space remaining for a few more stones on the memorial walkway and if you are interested please call Carol Gilbert at 207-469-7011. Our chapter has created a trust fund for perpetual care by the cemetery, as time is taking its toll on our chapter.
The Korean consul general and his wife have visited our memorial and simply stated: “It is so beautiful, we are so moved.”
John Wedin, Secretary
Burton-Goode-Sargent Chapter
Korean War Veterans Association
Orrington