Letters

Published
December 29, 2015

Letter to the editor: Consider giving a mother a chance at living a full life

Twenty-five years ago, Katie Costello’s kidney failed. If I may use the word “fortunate,” she was; her brother’s blood type matched and she received the gift of his kidney. We always ask: Why are good people faced with more than one tragedy? Does it make a person stronger in their faith? Does it reinforce ties […]
Published
December 29, 2015

Letter to the editor: ‘Master fear instead of cultivating it’ when it comes to refugees

What a fitting editorial to appear in the Christmas Day edition of your paper (“Our View: Angel’s message still rings out this Christmas”). The angel’s admonition to “Fear not” that you cited can certainly seem unrealistic in modern times, in light of the challenges around the globe. So I was thrilled that you encouraged following […]
Published
December 29, 2015

Letter to the editor: Start a crusade to stamp out annoying Windows 10 pop-up

I currently run Windows 8.1 on my desktop computer at home. A few weeks ago, I started getting a recurring pop-up window on my computer encouraging me to download Microsoft’s Windows 10 for free. While Windows 10 may eventually turn out to be a fine operating system, I am satisfied with 8.1 and have no […]
Published
December 29, 2015

Letter to the editor: New education law gives government even more control

Re: “Maine looks to capitalize on education power shift” (Dec. 21): Your article about Maine education officials reading the massive new federal education law in eager anticipation of all the regulatory freedom they will gain in 2016 and beyond invites comparison to children figuring that Santa surely will deliver the wishes on their lists. However, […]
Published
December 29, 2015

Letter to the editor: Aversion to referencing Christmas has gone too far

I volunteer a couple of days a week at an elementary school, trying to be a help with the kids. One day last week when I went into the classroom, I asked the teacher: “Oh, boy, can we please all sing ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’?” “No,” she replied. “No? Why not?” “Because,” she explained, “it […]

Published
December 29, 2015

Letter to the editor: That homeless person in Maine could be you

Re: “Bill Nemitz: Indifference over deaths of homeless unacceptable” (Dec. 23): I’ve observed from an early age that things are often not what they seem, and that the impoverished and/or homeless among us might well be in that situation because of the depraved indifference they experienced at an earlier point in their lives. I know […]
Published
December 28, 2015

Letter to the editor: Recognition of caregivers by AARP deserves praise

I heard about AARP’s “I Heart Caregivers” initiative and, as someone who has been greatly affected by caregiving issues, I welcome this opportunity for us to share our stories. I am 82 years old and I’m caring for my 46-year-old son, who had an accident two decades ago that left him cognitively and physically impaired. […]
Published
December 28, 2015

Letter to the editor: Costly or not, Portland’s Spring Street needs to be redesigned

What is the sign of something well designed? It is intuitive to use or operate, and it’s beautiful to look at. The Spring Street project is the opposite. Instead of a welcoming boulevard into the Old Port with trees and flowers running down the center, we got something unattractive and hard to use, requiring the […]
Published
December 28, 2015

Letter to the editor: Is clearing of homeless camps violating environmental protections?

Re: “State clears homeless camps off Interstate 295 as part of brush-removal project” (Dec. 18): The Maine Department of Transportation’s tree and brush clearing is alarming on several issues beyond homeless rousting, as they are causing significant environmental destruction and eliminating the buffer from areas that never held camps. Indeed, in some areas, it may […]
Published
December 28, 2015

Letter to the editor: Seniors shouldn’t be hit with Medicare premium hike

Enough is enough! What is the federal government doing to the senior citizens? There will be no increase in our Social Security for 2016, and Medicare will increase its premium from $104.90 to $121.80 for new beneficiaries. I became a Medicare beneficiary in November. Seniors are working well into their 70s. I thought these years […]

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Letters