Reopen rest areas
In 2009, the state closed a rest stop near Pittsfield on Interstate 95. Arguably, this is the gateway to the Central Highland area.
With the economy improving and tourism at new highs — 8.1 million vehicles on the turnpike in August — now is the time to reopen these rest areas and provide information to tempt more tourists to visit the Moosehead-Millinocket-Bangor areas. There is no reason why I-95 should be seen as a fast way to get to the coast.
Richard Kessler
Rockwood
Thank season ticket holders
Here’s a “thought for food”: The Friends of Maine Hockey, or some such unit, should sponsor a series of pregame spaghetti dinners specifically recognizing hockey season ticket holders. The dinners might be held in Wells Commons, a complex situated near the Alfond Arena.
Records exist for each season ticket holder with respect to their years of commitment to the hockey program. Personal invitations could be mailed to each holder based on the length of continuous purchasing of season tickets.
Perhaps the initial dinner would involve season ticket holders with 30 or more years. Succeeding dinners might have holders of 20 to 29 years and so forth. Such a gesture would certainly be a meaningful — and very much needed — from the hockey program.
Long-term season ticket holders are the vital guts of any college athletic adventure. Many hockey fans have been faithful to the Black Bear men on ice. I think it is time for the athletic department to return some faith and appreciation to its long-range supporters.
It would be exciting to have Coach Red Gendron speak and sup at each dinner. Perhaps name tags with the number of years each invitee has been a season ticket holder could be distributed prior to the dinner.
My wife and I have been ticket holders since 1978. We attended every home game in 1977. In my case, spaghetti should be the bill of fare, as I find such types of food easier to chew.
Tracy R. Gran, Sr.
Winterport
Overcrowded island
This has been a terrible summer in Bar Harbor. I’m glad the month of August is over. Mount Desert Island has been very overcrowded this year. People forget that this island, barely joined to the mainland, can hold only so many people. The normal pace of life is interrupted by traffic jams and very few parking spaces. Cars are everywhere, from the Loop Road to the top of Cadillac Mountain, which has been repeatedly closed because of overcrowding. Idled running cars cause smog, which is bad for everyone’s health.
Overworked medical staffs cope with the many visitors who fall on the trails or become otherwise injured and need emergency treatment. The message for the rest of us: Don’t get sick during the summer months.
Certainly, overcrowding pleases owners of lodging, meals and souvenir businesses. But then rents and land prices rise and so do the already high price of everything else. I dread next year’s celebration of Acadia National Park’s centennial, which is expected to draw even more visitors to this crowded island.
Beth Kidder
Bar Harbor
Hunger action
September is “Hunger Action” month and a good time for all of us to remember those in need. For many Mainers, this is a difficult time of year and, regrettably, too many residents have to eat less or even skip entire meals because they don’t have enough money for food. Maine has highest rate of hunger in New England with more than 200,000 individuals experiencing what is known as food insecurity. The truth is, one person going hungry in Maine is one person too many.
Together, we can make a big difference by donating nonperishable items to local food pantries, which will help many of our friends and neighbors. In addition, we can help raise awareness about SNAP, otherwise known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. SNAP is one of the country’s most effective tools to address hunger and poverty. In 2011, SNAP kept 4.7 million people out of poverty, including 2.1 million children. Here in Maine, 70 percent of older seniors who are eligible for SNAP are not enrolled, which likely means there are many individuals who are unaware of the program.
SNAP is an excellent resource for families and individuals who struggle to put food on the table. If you think you know someone who might be eligible, they can go to maine.gov/mymaineconnection or call 1-800-442-6003 to connect with their local Department of Health and Human Services office.
To learn more about what you can do to end hunger for Mainers 50 plus, go to drivetoendhunger.org. By taking action now, we can make a difference to at-risk Mainers in the months ahead.
Jane Magnus
AARP Maine Communications Volunteer
Windham
Thank a trucker
Do you know how you get the clothes you wear, food you eat or medicine you take? All these items, and nearly everything we use in our daily lives, are delivered by a professional truck driver.
Many Americans do not recognize the vital role the trucking industry plays in our everyday lives. But, when you see a truck on the highway today, realize that a professional truck driver is delivering the goods that keep America moving.
In Maine, trucking provides more than 29,780 jobs, or one out of every 16 in the state. Further, the average salary for someone in the trucking industry in Maine is $42,502. It is a great career that a lot of Mainers depend on.
Trucking’s professional drivers last year hauled over 9.96 billion tons of freight, or 68.8 percent of total U.S. freight tonnage. Trucking is so vital to our economy that more than 80 percent of U.S. cities and towns rely solely on the trucking industry for their goods and commodities.
When you head to your local grocery store, look at the variety of products available on the shelves. Everything there was delivered by a professional truck driver, from the fresh fruits and vegetables to your morning coffee or your ingredients for dinner.
Barry E. Pottle
President & CEO, Pottle’s Transportation, LLC
Vice Chairman, American Trucking Associations
Hermon