Unsafe for dog to run free
Dear Independent,
Last week my wife and I were taking a walk in York Harbor. As we entered a delightful street, a beautiful short-haired dog evidently on guard duty came bounding at us with a yowl and a woof.
We both love dogs and its fierce approach was taken in stride. After the dog got a little way past us, it turned and began to accompany us in total silence.
I hoped we had acquired a companion for a brief jaunt. As we turned down York Street, the dog disconcerted us by dashing out into oncoming traffic. Around its neck it had a cloth collar and - perhaps - a tag.
We watched nervously as it dodged cars in crossing back to our side of the street. We hoped it would stay with us.
As we strolled down Barrell Lane, I mentioned to my wife that perhaps the dog would stay with us along Fisherman's Walk and then get home safely. But the dog dashed down toward Route 103 and vanished from sight.
It would be lovely for dogs if, unleashed, they could roam freely in safety. But that really isn't in the cards, is it?
We're sure our fleeting companion got home safely to a good meal, a long drink of fresh water and a warm bed. Perhaps one morning when the dog wakes up, it'll find a sturdy leash under its pillow, with its owner's hand firmly gripping the other end.
Warren LeMon
York
All welcome at God's table
Dear Independent,
Lately, there have been letters to the editor written about the importance of attending church on Sunday mornings. I am one of those community members that believe in the importance of attending a house of worship once a week. In my opinion, it is an opportunity for some quality family time and getting one's priorities in order for the up-and-coming week.
I support the "no sports on Sunday morning" movement.
However, one may feel that not all of God's people are welcome at God's table. Why? Not because they are athletes and only choose to attend church during the off-season, but because of whom they are or who they may love.
The recent controversy over a program held at York Public Library is an example of our inability to accept all people for who they may be. There are places that only accept you if you fit a certain criteria.
I have been told that over the past few decades, church attendance in our country has declined. I am sure that our fast-paced modern world has been one reason why less and less people put attending a house of worship as a priority in their lives. There is so much to do and we are so busy. I was there once myself.
If you choose not to go to church because you just can't find that perfect church or that perfect clergyperson - well, that won't happen either. The church is comprised of humans and we humans are far from perfect. One has to remember that the congregation and the worship leaders are human first, Christians second. That fact is even pointed out within the website of one of our local churches. It states, "We assure you that this is not a ‘perfect' church." How refreshingly honest and accurate that statement is.
Religious freedom is one of the many wonderful freedoms of our country. There are a few exemptions, however, because man-made religion often times takes precedent over the Gospel. But that fact and the fact that one may choose to participate in athletics should not deter us from spiritual growth.
So, if you do not attend a house of worship on a regular basis, I encourage you to consider attending church as a New Year's resolution. May I suggest you do as I did and visit the area churches to see what feels like a good fit for you. From what I have witnessed, the choirs, the church schools, the youth group programs and the house of God need you.
In closing, don't let sporting events or man-made religion deter you from an opportunity to know God.
Suzanne Cyr
York
Be part of Feb. 10 caucus
Dear Independent,
The presidential election this year is critical for many reasons: ending the U.S. occupation of Iraq, the environmental crisis and the state of healthcare, to name a few. Democrats are determined to lead the country out of peril and into peace and prosperity.
The first opportunity you, the Maine voter, has to participate in the grassroots workings of democracy is to attend your local caucus. See Seacoast Democrats website for information and links.
Here's how it works:
Registered Democrats (you can register at the caucus) gather at their meeting place (York High School for York residents) on Feb. 10. Supporters for each candidate have a chance to make their case and then the participants gather into groups supporting particular candidates.
Undecided voters also cluster into a group. In order for a particular group to be viable, they must have a certain percentage of the total of all the caucus participants. If they don't have enough people, the group disbands and its members go to another group. Once the groups are settled, the caucus chair figures out how many of the delegates each group - and by extension, each candidate - should win. Delegates must be evenly divided between men and women.
The media reports the "winner" based on the percentage of delegates going to each candidate. This isn't exactly accurate, since it's actually the state convention that decides what delegates go to the national convention, but more often than not, there is a clear statewide winner after the caucuses.
Maine will send 38 delegates to the Democratic National Convention where a presidential and vice presidential candidate will be elected. Those 38 Maine delegates will be elected at the Maine State Convention, which determines not only how the Maine delegation will vote at the National Convention but also hashes out the party platform that establishes where we, as a state, stand on critical issues and what changes we want to see in our newly elected government.
There will be many primaries and caucuses before ours in Maine and there will be projected winners. Do not let that deter you from participating in your local caucus. Whether your candidate "wins" or not, if your group, the people you stand with who support your favored candidate, has sufficient numbers, then your candidate, and more importantly their views, will be represented at the state convention and will ultimately influence the guiding principles and action plan of the Democratic state and national party.
Victoria Simon
York
Support connecting rural areas
Dear Independent,
I am writing to alert you to a critical public safety issue affecting residents of York County - the lack of high-quality wireless coverage in rural areas. As our community gears up for what looks like a long, severe, unpredictable and oftentimes dangerous winter, it is critical that we are able to count on a strong, reliable wireless signal as it is often a primary means of communication during emergency situations.
The month of December has seen numerous snow storms, leaving behind a couple of feet of snow across much of the state. The winter storms have claimed a life in Saco, and they have been bad enough for Gov. John Baldacci to send state workers home early from work.
As a law enforcement official in Maine, I can testify that the lack of high-quality wireless coverage in rural areas is a critical public safety concern in Maine and in states around the country. First responders, firefighters and police officers all depend on reliable coverage to handle emergency situations ranging from natural disasters, car accidents to reports of domestic violence.
In many cases, reliable wireless service can literally mean the difference between life and death, especially at this time of year when severe weather can cause hazardous road conditions and widespread power outages.
Despite this, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently signaled its intent to cap the Universal Service Fund (USF) "very soon" - and could do so any day. Maine's rural wireless carriers estimate that a cap would cost Maine about $2 million per year, jeopardizing the construction of dozens of new sites. This would compromise public safety resources and further put us at a disadvantage during winter storms.
To this end, I support Connecting Rural America, an effort aimed to ensure that rural residents across the country have equal access to a strong, reliable wireless network. I urge you to visit http://www.connectingruralamerica.org/ to learn more and to take a stand for rural America.
Sincerely,
Maurice Ouellette
York County Sheriff
YCSA thanks community
Dear Independent,
The York Community Service Association would like to offer our heartfelt thanks for the generosity shown by the community during our Holiday Gift Basket Program held annually at Thanksgiving and Christmas. This year we provided baskets to over 140 families at each holiday.
I would like to extend a special thanks to Stacey Kerrigan once again for her assistance with this program; Dan Donnell and Ray Fernald for their help in collecting over 1,000 boxes, and the many dedicated and truly generous volunteers who offer their time and labor to collect, sort, fill and deliver the baskets at both Thanksgiving and Christmas. I would also like to thank Tom Whalen of the York Community Food Pantry for all his help collecting and delivering food to the church.
I also want to recognize the following for collecting food or gift cards: First Parish Church, York Street Baptist Church, St. Christopher's Church, Union Congregational Church, York Senior Center, York Middle School, Village Elementary School, Coastal Ridge Elementary School, Brixham Montessori School (providing the giving tree at the York Public Library), Century 21 Atlantic Realty, Ocean National Bank, Lynn Osgood and Linda Dunn's Junior Girl Scout Troop for constructing 150 Christmas stockings and Mrs. Green's Kindergarten class for the books.
A special thank you to St. Christopher's for once again allowing us the use of the lower church hall to assemble and distribute the boxes.
And lastly, the citizens in the town of York who without their generosity York Community Services Holiday Food/Gift Basket Program would not be the success it is providing a meal and gifts during the holiday season.
With so many organizations and businesses participating, if you are not listed you are still thought of and thanked with heartfelt gratitude.
Lorna Ryan
Family Service Director
YCSA
What is the Democratic Caucus?
Dear Independent,
With Maine's Democratic Caucuses on Feb. 10 just around the corner, as chair of the York County Democratic Committee, I've received many questions about just how this sometimes confusing method of selecting a presidential nominee for our party actually works. In an attempt to make the process more understandable and encourage as many Maine Democrats to let their voice be heard, I've composed the following Q&A:
What determines the process of how each state participates in the nomination process?
The procedure for nominating Presidential candidates is not spelled out in the Constitution of the United States. The procedure is usually a mix of national party rules, state party rules, and state laws, which is what it is here in Maine. Our state's elections laws are spelled out in the Maine Election Code (Title 21-A M.R.S.A. Section 311-315).
Who chooses a party's candidate for president?
Presidential candidates are chosen in the summer of the presidential election year when political parties in the U.S. conduct their national conventions according to the rules of the national parties. The attendees at the national conventions represent their states' chosen party candidates. The first candidate to reach a majority of delegate votes at the national convention becomes the party's candidate. For Democrats, if there is no majority after the first vote of the convention, there are additional ballots accompanied by a "brokering" process until a nominee is selected. In modern times, the Democrats have usually achieved a majority on the first ballot.
Who chooses these national convention attendees?
In order to choose the national convention delegates, the states hold state party caucuses/conventions, or primaries, or a combination of the two, according to the rules of the national and state parties.
Who chooses these state and national convention delegates in Maine?
Along with 8 other states, Maine has a caucus system, although in 1996 and 2000 Maine experimented with holding a primary instead of a caucus. So, in Maine, YOU help choose each party's Presidential candidate by caucusing with your neighbors and electing delegates who are pledged to support your candidate at the State Convention where they will elect National Delegates to the National Convention. In 2008, Maine is allocated 34 delegates to the Democratic National Convention out of a total of approximately 4,400 delegates; 24 will be selected based on the presidential preferences of delegates to the state convention; 10 are called unpledged delegates or so called "Super Delegates" and include individuals such as our Democratic Congressmen, our Democratic Governor, and the leadership of the Maine Democratic Party.
What will happen at my town or city's Democratic Caucus in Maine on Feb. 10?
You will complete an attendance form. A Caucus Chair and Secretary will be elected. Municipal Committee business will be conducted. Speakers will talk on behalf of candidates. The Presidential Balloting/Convention Delegate Election will begin. The chair will announce the number of eligible Democrats present and the number of State Delegates to be elected. You and other attendees will physically divide by precinct (if your town/city has precincts). You and other attendees will physically form groups according to your Presidential preference. The presidential candidate's share of the State Delegates to be elected is calculated. The State Delegates are elected
Why should I attend?
Although participating in a presidential caucus can seem confusing or intimidating, it is actually an exciting, community-building experience. I encourage all York County Democrats to attend their municipal caucuses and play their part in electing a Democratic president in 2008. You will have a great time engaging with your friends and neighbors on civic matters of importance to all of us.
OK, I'm going! How do I find out more?
You can find out the location for your municipality's caucus by calling the Maine Democratic Party at 622-6233 or by visiting http://www.mainedems.org/.
See you there!
Maxine Adams, Chair
York County Democratic Committee
A forgotten thank-you
Dear Independent,
I'm sorry to say that I actually forgot to thank someone for helping out at the Moquin Family's Festival of Trees this year.
A big thank-you to Rosie Lent, who helped with dismantling Christmas trees and with cleanup efforts. We couldn't have done it without you!
Sincerely,
Janalee Moquin
York
