Libraries need security guards
During a recent visit to the Bangor Public Library, a patron who had been using a computer became a public menace. His allotted time of 90 minutes was up. He got angry and wanted more time. The library was busy, and the entire computer room was full. The library staff explained the policy, but this guy would not leave.
He became loud, threatening and was swearing at the staff, disrupting everyone. The employee kept calm yet firm. Finally, the guy stormed out of the library slamming the door and swearing. No one got hurt. But someone could have.
The Bangor Public Library is one of the friendliest and most accommodating libraries I’ve ever been in. Its collection of books is superior, and I look forward to the addition being completed. This has been designed by the firm that created the wonderful addition to the Portland Public Library.
The addition of security guards who are uniformed, wear badges and have limited police powers would help remove difficult people who visit the library and harass staff and patrons. Staff and patrons should not be fearful of using the library.
Kevin Tremblay
Ripley
Caucus for Kasich
I want a president who is focused on our system of government and concentrates on improving the lives of our people — the poor, the middle class and the wealthy — and will hear us out as we strive to get a handle on the mental health and medical problems that plague our state and country.
I will not vote for a candidate who operates with “my way or the highway” mentality. I want a president who follows simple rules of common decency, respect and practices the principles of democracy.
I believe John Kasich is the candidate who can do this. In his book “ Every Other Monday,” he sums up his approach to working with others beautifully: “I listen to their take, and then I’ll share mine, and we’ll mix and match until we hit on some common ground.” What a concept.
My gut churns over candidates who assassinate the character of their opponents. If I were a 15-year-old student running for class president and used the such tactics, I’d be suspended. I applauded Kasich when he stopped the craziness on stage at a recent debate saying, “ this is just nuts.”
If your gut is churning, too, then please get involved. I will attend the Penobscot County Republican caucus at Husson on Saturday, March 5, and vote for Kasich. And, when you vote for your chosen, I will respect that decision.
Virginia Fitzgerald
Bangor
Fiberight not a solid waste solution
I’ve worked around heavy equipment and industrial environments most of my life. I understand that with proper maintenance and care industrial equipment will keep working for many years. I also know that if you have equipment that is working well, it wouldn’t make much sense to replace it with something that is unproven and costly. That seems risky, especially if that equipment is in good shape and works well.
As a Hermon town councilor, I take very seriously my responsibility to use taxpayer dollars wisely. That’s why I can’t understand why any town would sign on to the Municipal Review Committee-Fiberight proposal for waste disposal. Penobscot Energy Recovery Co. has served us and many other communities well for many years. The plant has been well maintained and is operated by people who know what they’re doing. It’s almost paid for and has lots of life left in it.
On the other hand, there is nothing like the Fiberight plant anywhere in the U.S. or Canada. Sure, different components of what they are proposing may be used in other places, but no one has ever put them all together this way before. We have no guarantee it will work, so why should we be the first?
To build Fiberight, the Municipal Review Committee has to take control of a lot of money that belongs to Hermon residents. I guess it’s easy to take chances when you’re spending someone else’s money, but I can’t in good conscience recommend that the Hermon taxpayers sign over their money to build an $80 million science experiment.
Tim McCluskey
Hermon
Garrett Brown’s struggle with addiction
The BDN article about Garrett Brown’s life and death was a heartbreaking story that needed to be told, and he has not died in vain. I believe he knew he was not destined to recover, no matter how hard he tried, and he accomplished a feat to help save others from a terrible addiction to opioids by staying in touch with Bangor Daily News editor Erin Rhoda so his story could be told.
God bless Garrett.
Kathy Doucette
Ellsworth
Doctors shouldn’t question patients about faith
Meg Haskell in her Feb. 25 BDN column bought up a good point about the value of being in synch with your doctor’s philosophy of medical practice, which can at some points be related to matters of faith.
I was, however, very surprised about her lack of understanding of the medical and general privacy ethics involved here. She seems to think it the doctor’s responsibility to ask her about her beliefs and go into all the possible details of how faith impacts medical decisions. It would be highly unethical for a doctor to question patients about their faith.
Although he was under no obligation to reveal his faith, he did and gave Haskell an obvious invitation, which she said she missed, to tell him whatever she was comfortable with about herself and any questions that his faith might raise.
Haskell said she is not comfortable with a Christian doctor — at least one for whom faith is important — because of how his faith may influence the medical advice he gives. It would be impossible to list every possible case in which his faith might affect medical advice. Life and death decisions are never that simple and straightforward.
Finally, the opportunity has not been missed. She can go back and ask whatever questions she feels are relevant. It is always the patient’s prerogative to bring up matters of faith. It is never the care providers to question patients about their faith uninvited.
David Randall
Bangor