Square dancing still popular
I’d like to answer the question Sarah Cottrell posed in a July 15 BDN blog post about whether people “actually like square dancing.” Yes, people still do enjoy square dancing, more than ever.
I should also say that, judging by the examples she used, it doesn’t seem like Cottrell’s has been to a square dance recently. If she were to attend a dance, she’d find that the only similarities between today’s modern American square dancing and her regrettable memories of dancing in gym class would be that the dancers still form a square and there is a skilled caller to give out the choreography.
Modern square dancing is a multigenerational activity that anyone can learn and enjoy. More than anything, square dancing creates a community of folks who are all out to laugh, dance and have a huge amount of fun together. At the risk of sounding old-fashioned, square dancing is what our parents called a “wholesome” activity, and it seems today there aren’t too many such “clean cut” group activities left.
Really, in this day of overwhelming technology and electronics in which smartphones and tablets and YouTube all seem to isolate us from each other and from our kids, we need more activities like square dancing, where people can interact face-to-face and where elders can meet and dance with youngsters. Square dancing is a wonderful reason for couples to get out and do something together, to get up off the couch, get out of the house and move. Dancing is great exercise. People today still like square dancing and for all the right reasons.
Randy Randall
Member
SAGE Square and Round Dance Club
Saco
LePage needs to be held accountable
I thank Rep. Brian Hubbell and the BDN for their efforts to expose the impropriety of the LePage administration and to preserve the transparency and accountability required of any government. The BDN has carefully been exploring the facts that demonstrate ethical breaches, potential violations of state and federal law and deliberate falsehoods by Gov. Paul LePage and his administration during his time in office.
Hubbell, as the BDN noted in its July 14 editorial, has been asking the LePage administration to explain why it had issued $11.2 million less in state school funding than the Legislature, which has the power of the purse, had authorized. As a member of the Education Committee, Hubbell is doing his job. LePage has refused to do his job and has imperiously declared that this simple request is an “excessive disruption” of his administration and an attempt at “exerting improper influence on members of state government.”
LePage seems to think he alone is the government and can do as he pleases, spend or not spend what he wishes and comply or not comply with the law. I thank the BDN and Hubbell for shining the light of truth on this imperious arrogance.
Donna Mae Karlson
Bar Harbor
Fulford for state Senate
Why has Republican Senate President Mike Thibodeau consistently opposed expanding Medicaid, which would permit federal money to assist Mainers with getting health care?
As an occupational therapist, I work with patients from across the income spectrum who are seeking to restore their basic, independent functioning to carry on with their lives. Despite great need, people are turned away from rehabilitation services for their lack of eligibility for MaineCare because of cutbacks.
If Mainers using Medicaid lived in any other New England state, they would be entitled to receive greater health care benefits. Local hospital administrators and providers alike are asking for Medicaid expansion.
Shouldn’t the president of the Maine Senate be leading the Senate to develop legislative support for Medicaid’s expanded services? He has had ample opportunity to vote for his constituent’s needs. But he has consistently voted against them. We need a leader in Maine advocating for expanding Medicaid, and Thibodeau is actively opposed.
Thanks to Democrat Jonathan Fulford, citizens of Waldo County can vote for a different kind of representation in Augusta. Fulford holds the record among Maine’s legislative candidates for meeting people in their homes to listen to their concerns. Access to health care is one of the biggest concerns he has heard. Fulford pledges to work for expanding Medicaid for improved access to health care.
Take a positive step for Maine and Maine families. Join me in voting for Fulford for state Senate to promote a healthier community.
Lauren Murray
Belfast