The Portland Press Herald / The Maine Sunday Telegram

WEDNESDAY OPINIONWe do need to watch what we drink

— Thanks to Ann Walker for her recent letter highlighting the problems that plague both bottled and tap water (''Filtered tap water beats bottles,'' Jan. 6).

click image to enlarge

click image to enlarge

Select images available for purchase in the
Maine Today Photo Store

I've also been concerned with our country's lack of focus on safe water infrastructure. The Dec. 17 New York Times article, ''Tap Water? is Legal but May be Unhealthy,'' reports that 91 contaminants are regulated by the Safe Water? Drinking Act even though there are 60,000 chemicals used in the United States.

It reports that more than 62 million Americans have been exposed to contaminated disease-causing drinking water since 2004. We must pay more attention to our public water supplies.

The place where I diverge from Ms Walker is on bottled water. I believe this option is vital to public health. We are very lucky to have good tap water in Maine. But some people with wells have sulfur, lead, arsenic and other contaminants in their water. Many others live and work in older buildings with lead and copper piping.

Growing up, my neighborhood's wells were contaminated. The state was not properly storing the salt used on roads in the winter and there were high levels of salts in wells. Our water was unsuitable to drink.

In addition to situations like ours, bottled water is an important option in times of disaster and when people don't have access to safe tap or filtered water. We should encourage more water consumption in general.

I am also in favor of more recycling. Maine has an outstanding bottle recycling program, but not every state does. Citizens and bottled water companies must work together to push for a national recycling program so that every state recycles its bottles the way Maine does.

And when people choose bottled water, they should have the option of water from a Maine-based company with a long history of environmental leadership and water stewardship.

Andrew Freye

Yarmouth

'Homeland security' sounds just a bit too totalitarian

What's in a name?

I just can't reckon the use of the ''homeland security'' name.

The Germans referred to their country as ''the fatherland'' and the Russians referred to their country as either ''mother Russia'' or ''the motherland.''

I would prefer ''American security,'' which covers all 50 states and possessions. My homeland is located in Falmouth.

Ike Ostrove

Falmouth

Reviewer's qualifications deserve to be made public

I don't know who Josh Katz is, but I strongly question his qualifications to critique locally produced film (''Filmmaker has work to do after local test screening,'' Dec. 10). He is probably another English or journalism major who couldn't cut it in New York or Los Angeles, where a vitriolic review is the norm.

I don't just say this because, according to Katz, I was one of the ''worst two offenders'' of the cast of ''Up Up Down Down,'' Allen Baldwin's film.

He has nary a good word to say about the movie in his entire review but at the end suggests the movie can be ''saved.'' That single contradiction stacked up against his pile of hateful, mean comments doesn't make sense. He also throws around all the typical phrases that big-city critics use; another hint at his displeasure with his position here in Maine.

I am not what you'd call a well-known film actor; I am a serious student of acting of much training at the university level with lots of stage experience. I am however, a member of the Screen Actors Guild and can tell you ''Up Up Down Down'' is a good movie. I am proud of my work, the work of the entire cast, and I am impressed with producer/director Allen Baldwin's work.

Perhaps Mr. Katz would be so kind (or bold) as to let your readers know what qualifies him to have his opinions appear in your newspaper.

David Branch

Publisher

Memories of Maine Magazine

Scarborough

Riding the River Road like trip on Appalachian Trail

May this message reach the eyes of someone or of several ''someones'' who serve in the Maine Department of Transportation: The River Road from North Windham to Westbrook is in very bad shape.

I am not sure it can get any worse. Traveling that trail is like riding a bucking bronco. Would the Appalachian Trail be any rougher?

And yet, the word is that nothing will be done to that road for several years. It should be good for the automobile repair business because of the damage being done to our cars.

To all members of the DOT: This situation is very serious and needs immediate attention.

Joyce B. Mahany

Standish

As the world turns, it is turning to the sun

Fiat Lux (let there be light)!

Each day after perusing your newspaper I always look forward to the colorful weather page. ''Today's Forecast'' dictates both my wardrobe and daily activities.

''North America'' offers a long-range picture of things to come. ''Sea Watch'' indicates which Portland tides will permit that walk on a beach.

But the ''Almanac'' is the most informative. While it chronicles the amount of snow I have shoveled, it also charts my lower oil consumption in heating degree days. I will know when the romantic full moon will appear and both sunrise and sunset times that define my day.

The final reward, which started on Dec. 26, was a one-minute increase in daylight that has now grown nearly to a full half hour.

I know that this solstice phenomenon will eventually return the full 390 minutes of daylight lost since last June and I can contemplate all the wonderful ways I might utilize this incredible gift.

Jerry Garman

Peaks Island

Headline seems understated to fan of E.B. White's humor

''Signs point to serious terror threat,'' said the Press Herald headline on Dec. 29 (on a story about the ''underwear bomber'' being connected to al-Qaida).

E.B. White has risen from the dead and is about to do something marvelous with that in the humor section of the New Yorker magazine.

Christopher Rushlau

Portland