You published a story Sept. 15 titled, “Roxanne Quimby’s son offers new hope for national park plan.” Shortly after, ReStore posted a comment on their Facebook page with a link to a similar Bangor Daily News article. The comment above the link said, “Major progress toward a Maine Woods national park!”

No surprise, but rather ironic considering this is the first post on their page since April and the fact that Elliotsville Plantation Inc. and Quimby have been trying to convince people that she has “stepped away” from ReStore.

Quimby, a former board member, has been a staunch supporter of ReStore for many years. I do not believe she has abandoned her wish for this park proposal to be, in her words, a “seed” for ReStore any more than she will ever abandon her quest for the park.

Roxanne Quimby owns the land and does have the right to do as she pleases with it. But when it comes to turning it over to the federal government, the people of Maine have a right to reject this proposal.

The federal government will not be responsible for promises from Elliotsville Plantation. If the park is allowed, there will be nothing but more broken promises to the people of Maine.

Elliotsville Plantation may have a “kinder” approach and a new face, but the only things new about it are the tactics involved.

Advertisement

Unless you want to see Roxanne Quimby plant her “seed” for ReStore, don’t be blinded by the false light Elliotsville Plantation is shining.

Kathy Gagnon

Medway

Review alerts printmaker to work of ‘master’ in field

Thank you for alerting me to the exhibition at the June Fitzpatrick Gallery (“Daniel Kany: Postcards from the great Thomas Cornell,” Sept. 15). The stunning reproductions of Thomas Cornell’s graphics in the Maine Sunday Telegram made a trip into Portland from Chebeague Island an important destination.

I studied printmaking at Pratt Institute and have for years worked in the Discover Graphics Atelier in the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, Va. I am a member of Printmakers Inc. Gallery at the art center.

Advertisement

I was thrilled to see the beautiful work of this master, of whom I knew nothing. As noted in the review, his technical mastery of etching, dry point, engraving and lithography is awe-inspiring; his drawings of animals, and the human figure, also masterful.

One note on the review’s description of the lithographic medium: Wax is not part of the process.

Lithography, a more recent technique than engraving or etching, was invented in Prague by Alois Senefelder in the late 1700s. It actually was discovered quite accidentally, as a means of reproducing plays and sheet music. Its potential as an artist’s medium quickly followed.

The process is based on the principle that oil and water do not mix. Drawing on the prepared limestone is done with an oil crayon or oil-based ink. The stone is covered with a film of water while oil-based ink is rolled onto the image and then printed. Gum arabic mixed with acid sets the grease in the image prior to printing.

Cornell used both lithographic crayon and ink in the lithographs at the gallery, including a splattering of oily ink for texture. The exhibit should delight all those who love drawing, animals and graphics!

Avis Fleming Hodge

Advertisement

Middleburg, Va.

Column uses broad brush to describe rescue dogs

I am glad that North Cairn (“Refreshed by puppy love at first sight,” Sept. 22) has found a replacement golden retriever puppy for her beloved golden that she had to put to sleep.

We are on our fourth dog, a rat terrier, after a pointer mix, a greyhound and a West Highland terrier. My first dog, the Westie, was a pure-breed; the rest were rescue dogs.

Cairn wrote a long paragraph on the issues of surrendered dogs, “animals who have wed their fates to human beings.”   

Go look at the pros and cons of the myriad types of dog breeds and mixtures. Nothing is guaranteed. They can be expensive.

Advertisement

Yet ask any dog owner who has rescued any breed. We all say the same thing: They are so grateful and so are we, their owners.

Please do not ignore surrendered, stray or abandoned dogs. They are wonderful. I am sorry to say Cairn did a grave disservice.

Cydne Buckley

Old Orchard Beach

While whale hunt goes on, boycott of Iceland justified

In response to Tom Bell’s report on Iceland in the Sept. 22 edition of the Maine Sunday Telegram (“Portland’s fresh connection with Iceland“), I would like to remind people that despite diplomatic sanctions, Iceland is ignoring the moratorium on killing endangered fin whales and has plans to kill up to 184 in 2013. It is also killing minke whales to export the meat to Japan.

Advertisement

Please reconsider doing business with or traveling to Iceland until it stops killing whales.

Tracey Allen

Scarborough

American flag isn’t flying at school that lacks pole

There is an unorganized territory in Penobscot County called Kingman. I grew up in this small town and have fond memories from there.

The residents of that town pay their taxes to the state of Maine. They have an elementary school in the town that does not have a flagpole.

Advertisement

Somehow, I thought that it was a law that schools had to display the American flag. If not, then it should be.

I am asking all of my friends to share this message with hopes that someone in state government will pick up the message and cause a flagpole with an American flag to be installed at the school. Will you help me to circulate this message?

Linwood “Jake” Mulligan

Biddeford

Despite clamor for labor, IT graduates can’t get jobs

In 2012, industry created 14,000 IT jobs. In 2012, our colleges graduated 14,000 IT workers. Industry lobbied for 8,000 offshore guest worker green cards for IT workers and displaced more than half of the graduates.

Advertisement

This is just another example of corporate manipulation of labor markets to reduce labor costs. Corporate America proclaims it cannot find skilled labor, though 50 percent of math and science graduates can’t find work that requires a college degree.

Rep. Mike Michaud has recently announced a $13 million grant to Maine community colleges to fund IT programs and proclaims this will benefit Maine business.

I have a friend with an IT degree who has not been able to find work for 18 months.

Wilbur Clark

Presque Isle

Reviewed pickup doesn’t meet ‘full-size’ standards

Advertisement

Why is it now so difficult to buy a real pickup truck? In the Sept. 8 Telegram, Terry Box of The Dallas Morning News extols the merits of the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado LT.

The model he references is a four-door pickup, and he calls the bed “standard.” That is so much nonsense. He also refers to it as a “full-size pickup”!

If you can’t carry a 48-by-96-inch sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed, it is not a full-size pickup!

What’s wrong with a cab that seats two or three and has a real full-size cargo box? And please give me the option of a genuine stick shift with a clutch pedal on the floor!

The model that Box refers to is not pretty enough to be a car and inadequate as a truck.

Yet the latest brochures from GM don’t even show an example of a real pickup. They all have crew cabs or expanded cabs, cargo beds of 6 feet or shorter, and all are automatic.

Advertisement

Why do you need a 5,400-pound vehicle to haul a lawn mower? It seems that nothing bigger is likely to fit unless you install one of those chrome bar things that extend the cargo bed, if you keep the tailgate open.

It is possible on a special order to get an extended cab or crew cab with an 8-foot bed. What you sacrifice is turning radius.

If I needed the big cab, I’d live with the larger turning radius, but I don’t need it. Just give me a real truck!

Bob Meixell

Westport Island


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.