On Nov. 6, the ballot will feature Question 3 regarding a $5 million bond used to purchase land and conservation easements, for us and our children, forever, through the Land for Maine’s Future program.

Land for Maine’s Future helps conserve working farms, productive forestlands, commercial waterfronts, recreational areas and valuable wildlife habitat, which are the heartbeat of Maine’s natural resource-based economy.

Additional Photos

A lobsterman readies his gear at Widgery Wharf in Portland in a 2007 file photo. Voters will decide whether to approve Question 3, which seeks $5 million to replenish the Land for Maine’s Future program. Part of those funds would be earmarked to conserve Maine’s working waterfront. 2007 File Photo/The Associated Press

Land for Maine’s Future has been vital in maintaining and improving outdoor recreation in Maine and has an outstanding record of success at conserving Maine’s natural resources. By conserving all kinds of land in every county in Maine, it has protected the outdoor activities that so many of us cherish.

All the land acquired through the use of this bond is required to allow public access for fishing and hunting, protecting these beloved traditions. In the past, these bonds have helped establish hundreds of miles of snowmobile and cross-country ski trails, providing the links for a statewide snowmobile system.

Every $1 invested in land conservation through Land for Maine’s Future returns an astonishing $11 in natural goods and services to the Maine economy.

Land for Maine’s Future is one of the state’s most popular programs. Voters overwhelmingly passed bonds in 1987, 1999, 2005, 2007 and 2010. However, funding for the program has run dry and needs to be replenished in order to complete several projects.

All Mainers see value in Maine’s natural heritage and realize it must be maintained for the future, as shown by the overwhelming and bipartisan support for Land for Maine’s Future bonds in the past.

Please continue to show this support for Maine’s great outdoors and vote “yes” on Question 3 to secure a $5 million bond for the Land for Maine’s Future program.

Peter Rubins

Cumberland

Chipman backs key services for mentally ill, addicts

Living in Parkside, I see daily the effect that substance abuse has on our community. It is not uncommon to see or hear about assaults and thefts, intoxicated people struggling down the streets or people passed out in random places.

On the other hand, there are many people in our neighborhood engaged in recovery from addictions. We have numerous treatment facilities, sober houses and halfway houses whose mission it is to support those in early sobriety and give them the tools to live productive, healthy lives.

A recently proposed budget cut of $4.3 million to substance abuse treatment by Gov. LePage would have crippled many programs and effectively closed the Serenity House, a halfway house on Mellen Street that has helped hundreds of people recover from addiction.

Since 1967, the Serenity House has been a safe haven for men whose lives had been destroyed by addiction, and it would be a devastating blow to our community if it closed. Many men who have gone through the program say they came from a place of complete despair, and for them to recover is nothing short of a miracle.

Luckily, our state representative, Ben Chipman, is in touch with the recovery community and would not allow this to happen.

Rep. Chipman rented a van, filled it with recovering people from the Serenity House and drove to Augusta to oppose these cuts, and ultimately the cuts were reduced from $4.3 million to $1 million.

On Nov. 6, I will be voting to re-elect Rep. Chipman, and I urge residents of Parkside, Bayside and East Bayside to do the same.

Rep. Chipman is in touch with the needs of our district and works very hard to represent these needs in Augusta, and he understands the importance of funding mental health and substance abuse services.

Ben Skillings

Portland

Commuter supports call to shun Maine Turnpike

I completely agree with Daniel Mercer and am voting against the Maine Turnpike the same way he is (Voice of the People, “As message to Augusta, ‘vote’ by avoiding turnpike,” Oct. 10).

I live right by the pike, work right off the pike, but I am going to find a different way to go and will take more of my time to do just that. My Grandmother Kink and Grandfather Guy said they always tried to go a different way to and from their destination, so I will enjoy that part in our beautiful state of Maine.

Winter is a tougher time to comply, though, because the pike is so well plowed, so early. The road crews, toll attendants and customer service employees of the Maine Turnpike do a tremendous job. My thanks to them.

The Maine Turnpike should not have passed the cost of mismanagement on to us citizens. (I’ll tongue-in-cheek mention that the pike was supposed to be free long before now.) So on Thursday, I in my car and Daniel in his will find other ways to get where we are going, and I also urge you to do the same.

Terry Prince-Tarsetti

Gray

Summers, not King, will work for Maine’s interests

Independent or irrelevant? That’s what I’d like to ask Angus King supporters. So Angus is well-known and well-liked. Will he make an effective U.S. senator?

He has said he might not accept committee assignments. How is that helpful to Maine citizens? He won’t say who he will caucus with. Oh, sure. Who among us has any doubt?

The man is a phony, an aging politician trying to grab a little glory. I find it amazing that Mainers, who value independence, do not see the duplicity.

Charlie Summers knows first-hand small business, the legislative process and defense issues. He is not pretending to be something he’s not. Charlie Summers is the real deal. That’s why I’m supporting him for U.S. Senate and hope you will, too.

Patti Bicknell

Yarmouth

Rainy weather dampens trick-or-treater’s spirit

I would not like to trick or treat in the rain. I would like it to be postponed until it stops raining because I like Halloween.

Sidonia Summers, 9

Portland

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