Governor Must Resign

Twenty-one years ago our first daughter was adopted from China and then over the course of the next decade other children from around the world and the U.S. were adopted and fostered. (Cambodia, Haiti and an African American son from Chicago) At that time, we had no fears of racism. Our neighbors in this great state of Maine were gracious and supportive of our family. In fact, Freeport offered a close knit community that embraced our children with love and safety. Last week our children woke up to the quote by the Governor that “the people of color are the enemy.” He was speaking within the context of the drug problem in Maine. Currently, my middle school son is reading the book “Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy,” which is a young adult historical fiction based upon the century ago true event of removing the residents of Malaga Island in order to over take a prime piece of real estate. All of the residents were African American or biracial. They were put in mental institutions and their community was destroyed. This was the most shameful official act in Maine, one that many wish to forget.

And now in 2016 we are faced once again with the promise of racism from our governor. My family has never felt so unsafe and wary about the future. Our children do not understand how we have found ourselves in this place. It is like stepping back in time. All of my children are well accomplished in academics, music, sports, theater, and have contributed to their community. They have received many awards, in fact the governor awarded our daughter, who was born in Cambodia, the Governor’s Young Writer’s Award last year. They have contributed to this state in a positive way more than the governor ever has or ever will. These children deserve better than this. We are not asking, we are instead, demanding that the governor resign. He is unfit to remain in this position and is harmful to our state. The only way to look forward towards our future, our children’s future, is to have him resign or impeach. Otherwise we will return to Malaga Island.

Robin Monahan,
Freeport

Vote for Neilson

So, where do we go from here? Right now any reasonable judgment as to the fortunes of our beloved state is that not much good has happened for us over the past decade.

Attempts to assign blame for our loss of economic vitality, the stagnation of our incomes, the outsourcing of our talented youth to others, the torrent of empty political slogans and tepid policy actions from Augusta, and the sad diminishment of our schools and our roads seem less than useful.

Hand-ringing and endless faulting of other does nothing but deepen our predicament. We can little afford more such name calling and treading of water. Sadly, such leads to just more treading. The status quo does not measure up.

Rather, as Mainers, we need to follow the lead of our forbearers. We need to get together, get to work, and get behind folks who can help us claw our way forward to something more, something better. This November offers us an opportunity to do just that.

This fall’s votes will determine much about what happens here in Maine going forward – more treading water while falling further behind or embracing the challenge of the future and swimming up-stream toward promising possibilities.

For those of us in District 53 such a choice awaits us at the ballot box, November 8th. We can choose more of the past pointless partisan treading water or we can choose possibility and begin to swim up-stream.

One “up stream swimmer” on November’s ballot is Will Neilson – successful business owner, experienced attorney, and dedicated community leader.

If we want something more for ourselves, something beyond the diminishing state of affairs in which we now find ourselves, Vote Change. Vote Possibility. Vote Progress. Vote Leadership. Vote Will.

Things will start getting better.

Bill Foster,
Phippsburg

Lucky to Have Mid Coast

Recently, it was my good fortune to be recently admitted to the E.R. and I.C.U. of MidCoast Hospital, Brunswick, with an unexpected and critical heart condition.

Drs. E. Rivas,surgeon, and E. Simon, and M. Riccioni, were exemplary in their professionalism, informative and caring attitude.

The I.C.U. staff and the constant stream of technicians and their machines were too many to note and I do not wish to omit anyone. Suffice it to say that without exception everyone treated me with remarkable consideration, skill and welcome humor. They ensured what could have been an unpleasant experience into a mostly comfortable and at times an amusing one! I miss you and am grateful to you all.

We are incredibly lucky to be able to benefit from having such an excellent facility in this area.

Jean M. Anthony,
Bath