The April 1 snowstorm was the only April Fools’ joke I thought I had to endure as I shoveled out my driveway on Friday.

In my neighborhood it was trash day, and like everyone else on my street I had put out the blue trash bag and the separated recycling we had dutifully collected from the prior week.

It wasn’t too long before the Portland trucks could be seen making their way down the street. The trash guys tossed the blue bags into the back along with the recycling, and I wondered how they separated the trash from the recyclables if it was all going into the same truck. Had the city had come up with an efficient way to do it since the trash was still in the blue bags?

I was curious and walked down to my neighbor’s driveway ahead of the truck to get the answer. As the trash guy approached, I asked him why the trash was mixed with the recycling. His response was, “Sometimes you just need to get the job done.”

Say what?

So there you have it. All my family’s efforts and the rest of my neighbors who recycle — wasted.

It is my belief that with the environment under assault from every direction that recycling is the least we can do to help. I think our city workers do a great job and understand that it might be problematic to collect the recycling on challenging days, but my family did our part.

Wouldn’t it be better if the city just let us know what the policy is on snow days, so we could put our recycling out on a day when it would actually be collected for its intended purpose?

Dave Courtney

Portland

Would new laws let business exploit teenage employees?

I was offended by Bill Nemitz’s March 30 column, “GOP bills exploit kids in the workplace.”

We have employed students for the 24 years that we have owned our seafood restaurant. His implication that we will exploit kids to increase our bottom line if this law passes is both false and unjust.

We have provided students a good first job experience. We rarely pay anyone minimum wage, it is generally higher. We accommodate requests for time off to go to camps, family vacations, sporting activities, etc.

We are proud to say that without a doubt, some of the finest kids (including the stepdaughter of Mr. Nemitz) worked for us throughout their high school and college years.

If this law passes, an employer with no conscience might actually do as you imply in your column.

However, I think if you did a little research in Maine communities, you would find that as an industry we have integrity, are civic-minded and are honest.

As an employer of students, I believe we have an important and positive role in the development of children. We also have been instrumental in their ability to earn money for their educations.

Has Mr. Nemitz spoken with even one restaurant owner who endorses, as his column states, “lame-brained efforts to beef up businesses’ bottom line by cutting into the time kids have to sleep, do their homework and enjoy the best years of their lives?”

Please, Mr. Nemitz, do more research before you assume and publish that we are all out to commit labor atrocities against the children of Maine.

Ky Wolterbeek

Jake’s Seafood

Wells

I find it fascinating and tremendously disappointing that members of the Maine Legislature are giving consideration to longer hours and lower pay for teens in the work force.

We bemoan the tendency to overschedule our children, we worry about the effect of stress on their academic achievement and emotional development, and we project dire consequences for the family unit.

Yet, attach the term “business friendly” or “decreased regulation” to the issue, and suddenly, it becomes more palatable to exploit our kids.

The sponsors of this legislation should be ashamed, and all Mainers should question the moral compass that impacts the decisions of these legislators.

Phyllis Giordano

York

Auditorium’s challenges go far beyond its stairs

The letter from the Rev. Henry L. Bird (April 2) regarding the safety of Merrill Auditorium for seniors and the infirm was right on target.

Not only is the facility somewhat lacking in safety, it is also lacking in comfort for the audience. We have been attending performances at Merrill for more than 10 years and are finding the seats and stairs an increasing challenge.

The best seats in the house are the first seven or eight rows in sections 2, 3 and 4 in the Grand Tier. Getting to this area requires climbing some serious stairs, as the elevator is usually so full and so slow that walking up the stairs, which may be slow, is a surer method of getting there.

The stairs for each row of seats are another challenge. They vary in depth, making them difficult to navigate, and there are no railings to hold on to when leaving the area. Using a cane would make problems for everybody.

We had seats in the orchestra for the performance of “Avenue Q.” The seats there were equally uncomfortable — so much so that we had to leave at the intermission. In general, the seats are too small and the knee room is too narrow. Having to put a coat on the seat in winter makes the seating space even more restricted.

We have had a long-standing commitment of attendance and support for the Symphony and Ovations (previously Great Performances) and hope to continue to do so in the future.

However, both safety and comfort concerns will be a serious influence on our decision.

Priscilla and Raymond Blanchette

Alfred

If a letter can bar a mural, why can’t a letter restore it?

Is anyone else curious as to the identity of the “secret admirer” letter writer who instigated the removal of the mural in the Department of Labor building?

How is it that one anonymous individual could broach the subject of a work of art depicting the history of the labor movement in Maine, cast aspersions on the struggles of Maine workers, and promptly cause the removal of said art?

It certainly is remarkable that an anonymous individual carries so much more weight than the majority of the citizens of Maine.

Maybe someone else should write an anonymous letter to Gov. LePage and the mural will be restored to its rightful place, just like that.

Nancy A. Ciocca

South Portland

 

Copy the Story Link