Maine news, sports, weather from Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram, Portland, Maine

July 31, 2012

Letters to the editor: Headline clouds smart-meter concerns

The Maine Public Utilities Commission "wants" an answer to the question "are so-called smart meters hurting us" (July 25)? It "decides" to investigate safety concerns? What a ridiculous sub-headline.  

Anyone in the state who followed the lack of investigation, the lack of concern about the public's safety and the lack of ethics on the part of the Maine PUC in fast-tracking the greed of the foreign-owned monopoly they call Central Maine Power knows better.  

I am sure David Littell wants to "move quickly" and did not anticipate that the Maine Supreme Judicial Court would actually rule that the PUC did not do its job when the fast-track-without-appropriate-information travesty was completed.

If anyone actually believes that the PUC will "look hard" at the issue and actually have the health and safety of the public as its priority -- I have a bridge to sell you.  

The Maine PUC did not do its job when it helped CMP ram the meters down the throat of the public, and this current review is obviously already a partnership between the PUC and CMP. (CMP's "spokesperson," John Carroll, "appreciates" the PUC's interest in moving the matter ahead "expeditiously.")

The way to stop another dereliction of duty is for the public to rise up and hold the state and the PUC accountable. Unfortunately, the masses in Maine are ignorant and do not pay attention to those around them who do not have their interest at heart.  

And it is especially difficult to educate the public when media articles start with obfuscating headlines. Shame on you, Portland Press Herald.

Kerry Corthell

Scarborough

With Kindle, iPad or books, library patrons still reading

When my husband hollered into the kitchen that the South Windham Public Library was selling its books cheap and closing, I'll admit my first thought was, "Yeah, cheap books for my classroom!"

I teach fourth grade, where independent reading is critically important to reaching my goal of developing lifelong readers. To do this, I must have thousands of books readily available for my 25-plus students.

Donalyn Miller, of Book Whisperer fame, researched what makes a person truly a lifelong reader. The most important two factors were stealing time to read and belonging to a reading community.

I am also on the board of the Scarborough Public Library, where I advocate for our community of readers and where we actively move with the times. Shutting down a library isn't a sign of the times; it's a sign that people are unwilling to open the borders that once defined a library.

It is sad that the value of the library seems to be wrapped up in the perception that technology is stopping people from reading. Using a Kindle or iPad is the same as those paper things we call books -- just other tools for stealing time to read.

Tools do not a community make. The reading community is thriving and bigger than it ever was before. Technology makes us all closer.

I tweet about the books I read with the authors who write them. Librarians and teachers are writing blogs and enlarging their reading communities every minute of every day.

Books are not the only purpose; the librarians and the patrons make the library. We must have the people and the tools.

Kimberley Gorelik Moran

Scarborough

Pro-charter school letter promotes elitist viewpoint

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