The air we breathe

We all breathe the same air. The town council passed the endorsement of carbon fee and dividend, a very important step in addressing climate change.

There are many ways individuals and companies can voluntarily do in Brunswick to protect the pure air we enjoy.

We also need guidelines and tax incentives to help developers and new businesses to repurpose buildings.

There have been a number of places where trees have been clearcut. One example is a barren parcel on the Bath Road which now has a “Will build to Suit ” and the other part of the parcel has a new building with one tenant and a For Rent sign. We have so many empty stores at Cooks Corner. Merrymeeting Plaza is across the street from this land cleared for speculation. The one tenant in an otherwise empty new building could have been encouraged to move into one of the huge empty malls.

When tracks of land are clear cut before even a use for it has been determined it makes our town look ugly while at the same time undermining our health. Not only trees have been destroyed but all the plants under and around them are gone. The whole ecological system, trees, plants, animal, and bugs help prevent global warming. It was so unnecessary to clear-cut that lot.

How many trees have been cut in the last year? What does it do to the air we breathe? Native trees need to be planted by the same people who cut trees for development. A strip of land as an undisturbed woodland buffer needs to be left on all sides of commercial and residential land when cleared. Parking lots need to have water penetrating surfacing and trees between rows of cars. No trees means the buildings and cars need more air conditioning.

Trees and the plants filter the pollutants that contaminate the air. Landscaping does not take the place of mature growth.

Asthma is on the rise. Trees and the plants under them clean the air for us. Please help protect the trees and residents of our town.

Marji Greenhut,
Brunswick

Congratulations to Weil

Regarding Gordon Weil’s recent column: Many, thankful, years back, we stood on perhaps opposite sides of the LNG issue in Harpswell. I was against it.

Regardless, I read your recent column on the current political landscape between parties, and could not help but nod in nearly complete agreement. Your analysis was spot on, and deepest congrats on the anniversary of your TR publication.

Kevin White ,
Harpswell

Vote McCreight

As a retired educator, I am supporting Rep. Jay McCreight for reelection to the Maine House to continue to represent Harpswell, West Bath and East Brunswick. Jay has been consistently interested in promoting and supporting those educational issues which affect our young people. An example is when, two years ago, Jay asked me what I thought was needed to help our educators deal with the increasing number of mental health problems experienced by our young people. We both decided that our educators were in need of training to deal with the issue. Thus, Jay introduced the bill “Act to Provide Youth Mental Health First Aid Training to Secondary School Health Educators” which is not law. It is an important step in addressing a very serious problem. Jay represents us well: she sees a problem, does the research, and then acts upon it!

Rep. Jay McCreight has proven that she is a strong advocate for the students and educators of Maine and I encourage you to send Rep. Jay McCreight back to Augusta in November to continue her work for all of us.

Peg Newberg,
Harpswell