Actually, VIA has the Green Thumb

Conny Barker’s recent letter congratulating Brunswick for the colorful petunias that run down the middle of Maine Street got everything right except for one detail: the planting was not done by the Brunswick Downtown Association, but rather by the Village Improvement Association, the same organization responsible for Maine Street’s window box contest, the rhododendron garden at the public library and the trees and shrubs planted around the gazebo on Brunswick’s mall.

Wallace Pinfold,

President, Village

Improvement Association,

Brunswick

Beyond Comprehension

I have been following town politics since the 1950s, but the episode by District 2 Councilor Steve Walker is beyond comprehension. He admonished fellow councilors for not voting his way in not buying land at Mere Point. This is basically a junk piece of land by any standards, and it stretches the imagination for any potential uses for the general public. This councilor needs to apologize to his fellow councilors, the folks in his district, and of course our town. Also, the chairwoman was very weak with no since of direction to be taken by all, and she should have admonished Mr. Walker for his childish attitude in not getting his way, but no, she agreed with him, so she did not take him to task.

We are stuck with nine half-dead mules, and teamwork for a common good is not why most are serving on this council. It is for individual needs. I can see why two councilors did not vote for the current chair to serve in that capacity, they saw something that I am seeing now, lack of discipline and leadership, and not by word, but by deed.

The only logical use for that mere point land is for people who clam for a living. They have found a way in the past, and I am sure will find a way to get to clam flats in the future. I do not believe the town should offer a 10-foot right of way on that property, because whoever buys that lot, may not want the public to access that land so close to their property. Also, instead of the council deciding what to do with the sale money, leave it up the manager to get the best deal for Brunswick.

Bill Perreault,

Brunswick

Leadership , Courage Needed to Remove LePage from Office

On Nov. 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered a short, yet brilliant and long enduring, speech to a crowd gathered at the new cemetery on the Battlefield at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It is my favorite speech and the words that he wrote may be more important now than taking on a new meaning. The first sentence of his address needs no introduction and many more brave men and woman have died to ensure that these beautiful words remain true today.

However, in the rest of his speech, I see the great battle and war that he speaks so eloquently about as the great divide in our political system that puts politics above people. I believe that our country is the greatest ongoing experiment in history. Yet, “government of the people, by the people, and for the people” is at great peril.

The courage that almost cost President Lincoln his re-election and, ultimately, cost him his life, is all but gone from our government. Who is responsible for that? I am. You are. We all are because we accept it. So I am sitting down to write this hoping that the pen is mightier than the sword (or a gun pointed) “… right between his eyes” as Gov. LePage threatened recently to a state legislator. And, ultimately, encourage the party of Lincoln in Maine and its leadership to follow our state motto and lead the removal of LePage from office immediately.

This action is not based on politics, it is based on a number of actions taken by our governor that have hurt our state, and more important, the people of our state. Had any of us committed even one of these actions in our regular jobs, we would have been terminated immediately. His actions are not acceptable and he must go!

It will take great courage for our elected officials to represent all of us as they were elected to do. In taking this bold action, some will most likely lose funding and even possibly their re-election. Yet we will long remember what they did. And their courage will help ensure “– that this [state and] nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

Glenn Michaels

Brunswick

Stick with Tepler

If you live in Topsham, you might remember a few years back when it took a rescue squad up to 30 minutes to arrive if you had to call 911 emergency services at nighttime. That changed in 2013 when citizen action and certain town leaders worked together to get “quick response” rescue squad service at night.

One of those key Topsham leaders was Denise Tepler, who was on the critical Finance Committee at the time. For her many years of work to help the people of Topsham (including her longtime service on the school board), voters elected Denise to become our State Representative in Augusta. A quick learner, she’s proven to be an effective voice for Topsham. Known for her intelligence, common sense and ability to compromise, Denise has been called a “Rising Star” in the state legislature.

Topsham has a good thing going with Tepler. Now is not the time to “change horses in mid-stream” when so many critical issues require a person with experience, knowledge, and the kind of dedication to “people issues” that Denise Tepler has shown throughout her years of service to our town.

Eve M. Thorson,

Topsham