Letters to the Editor
YMS thanks hosts
Dear Independent:York Middle School recently hosted a group of students from Lynn Grove High School in Great Yarmouth, England. The visit was very successful due to the hospitality of many families in York and the generosity of many local businesses, whowe wish to acknowledge.
A huge Thank You to The House Of Meats and Mark Blanchette who donated the beef and chicken for our "Farewell Barbeque". Your contributions were delicious.
We also owe thanks to Hannaford's, York House Of Pizza, Domino's, and McDonald'S of Portsmouth for their contributions to our meal events.
The students were able to visit some of our local businesses where they were treated to tours and "goodies' to take home. Thank you, Stonewall Kitchen, The Goldenrod, and Ghostly Tours. Unfortunately, we were weathered out of our trip with The Isle Of Shoals Steamship Company, who were most pleasant and generous with their arrangements. We must also recognize C&J Trailways for their accommodating service back and forth to Boston.
This was a successful event due to the efforts of the entire community. With your help, many of our seventh grade students established lasting friendships with students from England. We hope these relationships will continue through the years.
Marcia Hansen, Coordinator
York Middle School
Thanks from the Girl Scouts
Dear Independent:The Girl Scouts of Kennebec Council, Gundalow Service Team would like to thank the following businesses for generously supporting our leaders: Whispering Sands of York Beach, Eliot Agway on Route 236; Russell Stover, Bagel Caboose, Weathervane Seafood and Domino's of Kittery; Bagel Basket, Lobster Barn, York Heads-Up, York Shears, Curves, Coastal Landscape, Fiona's Porch and Stop and Go Video, all of York, Portsmouth Tea Company of Somersworth, N.H., and the leaders who also donated items to be auctioned off or be given as door prizes.
On May 10 we held our leader appreciation banquet at the Lobster Barn in York, and 55 leaders attended. Maddy Buckless of York received her 25-year numeral guard for her combined years as a leader and a scout. Wendy Bruno-Moulton of South Berwick and Mary Richardson of Kittery received their 15-year numeral guard awards and 10-year and five-year guards were also awarded to many leaders too numerous to list here.
Brenda Gordon-Ervin of Kittery and Michelle McGarry of York each received their 10 Years of Service pin. Tami Biddle of South Berwick was awarded the Outstanding Leader award. These ladies have committed their time and energy to supporting young girls of our area in growing to be the best they can be. Thank-you to all who donated, whether it was your time or your support!
Gundalow Service Team
York
A blessing from the flood
Dear Independent,Sometimes a disaster can be a blessing. I have a story about the recent flooding in York County.
My name is Holly Roberts and I live in Wells. On Mother's Day morning I woke up to water flooding my two-bedroom finished basement. In the week to come, my family and I began the cleanup. Two or three days into the cleanup mess, a lot of mold and mildew began happening. My 21-year-old son, Tyler Brock, had been helping and came down with severe cold symptoms. By Tuesday, May 23, Tyler was so ill that he went to Urgent Care in Wells. Tyler was diagnosed with severe pneumonia in his left lung and admitted into York Hospital. After two days in the hospital it was discovered that, yes, Tyler did have pneumonia but he also had a tumor growing in his lung. Doctors made the immediate decision to transport Tyler to Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Mass.
It was determined that Tyler had a cancerous tumor that had been growing for a very long time. As a child, Tyler was always pretty healthy with the exception of colds and he would always have a terrible cough with the colds. Occasionally when he would cough he would spit a tiny bit of blood. The primary care physician told Tyler and I during one of his visits that coughing the blood was due to winter dry air and/or coughing too hard. Regrettably, as a Mom, I accepted and trusted the doctor's explanation. I have since learned that was a symptom of the tumor.
On Friday, June 2, Tyler had to have his entire left lung removed as well as lymphnoids. By the time the tumor was discovered the damage was irreversible to him and we waited surgeon was confident that the entire tumor was removed as well.
While our family spent long days and nights in Boston with Tyler, the mold and mildew completely ruined the entire downstairs of my home. The air quality was not fit to breathe and the well water test came back too contaminated to even wash with. Tyler obviously could not come home to this mess.
I called FEMA. The gentleman on the phone was very kind and helpful. He explained it may take up to 14 days to have an inspector come to the residence, but it took them less than 24 hours to come and inspect. FEMA did provide some financial assistance to remove the damage and mold. I also explained the situation to Mr. Carl Dunbar at Dunbar Water Pumps and Filters. Mr. Dunbar was extremely helpful with getting my water tested and explaining that I will need to have a well drilled to eliminate the contamination completely. Mr. Dunbar also contacted Maine Rep. Ron Collins who called me personally to hear the extraordinary circumstances we were under. Mr. Collins sent a gentleman named Robert Bohlmann from the York County Emergency Management Agency to be sure I had applied for any and all assistance available. I am still waiting on the decision for a loan from the Small Business Administration to hopefully be able to repair my home and drill a well. Tyler is recovering at his sister Sarah's house in North Berwick while we wait for repairs.
What I want people to know from all of this is that I appreciate the flood. Even though I lost a lot of material objects and I have a lot of expenses ahead of me, I am extremely grateful that the flood happened. The flood made my son ill enough that his cancer was discovered and that saved his life. I think it is plain to see why my family and I are grateful and consider the disaster a blessing.
I want to thank everyone who prayed for Tyler and supported our family. It means more than we can express. I would like to extend special thanks to all the doctors and nurses who took such good care of Tyler. Also, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Dunbar for their help and kindness. Appreciation goes to Thomas Legg and David Hill of Wells for taking time out of their busy schedules to do demolition work and clean up my basement.
Thank you to my supervisors and fellow co-workers at The Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce for being my rock.
Sincerely,
Holly Roberts
Wells
Send your letters to the Editor at PO Box 6, York, ME 03909 or via email to editor@yorkindependent.net. Deadline for publication is 12:00 noon on the Monday prior to that week's publication
