It's not seniors vs. students
Dear Independent,
Steve Samborski claims to have seen "no evidence" to refute his belief that the music program is a "catch basin" for students who cannot qualify for more academic programs. That's a mouthful. I sure don't need to pile on the man when the pile is already mountainous. But he was given a chance to retract his statement, to say that perhaps when speaking in double negatives, a verb jumped the line. He didn't retract, nor did he clarify. He stood by his observation, or lack thereof: He has seen no evidence that music students are not underachievers?
I don't believe he means that, although it's an interpretation - held by many - that invites piling on. It's as irrational as concluding that, conversely, high-achieving students have little interest in music. In its own lack of supporting evidence, it's a dizzying assertion. And Mr. Samborski's refusal to clarify leaves us little recourse but to interpret what he really did mean. Three possibilities come to mind:
1) The study of music has less merit than the study of, say, English literature, algebra, biology, or a foreign language.
2) The performance component of music has less merit than music theory, music history, or music appreciation.
3) Mr. Samborski opposes the construction of a music instruction wing and has attempted to float a sound-bite theory that might catch momentum with like-minded voters.
At the risk of toppling straw men, I'd like to kick around interpretations 1 and 2.
1) Is music more or less valuable than the other academics? That's a debate without end, but many in history have weighed in, including Socrates, da Vinci, Aristotle and Einstein (an underachieving student and gifted violinist). Indeed, the question is itself an exercise in relativity, although there's a good chance that you're listening to music right now - and cannot remember the last time you were called upon to dissect a frog, speak French or name an Enlightenment poet.
2) Is musical performance less important than music theory, appreciation or music history? Speaking from experience (11 years as a music teacher in Maine schools), I have studied all facets of music. Although my strong suit is appreciation (sitting and listening), in college I excelled in theory and composition, which Mr. Samborski seems to value over performance, without offering evidence to support such a contention.
In fact, the musical component that most eluded me was performance, because I lacked the discipline to practice, to improve, to build skill upon skill until I had developed a mastery of an instrument. I defy anyone to give evidence that such a discipline does not contain everything, in a single sustained endeavor, that is crucial to the way humans learn. What of the other benefits of the performance arts: developing confidence, developing fluency, learning a truly universal language, exploring the limitless range of artistic expression within that language, learning to strive individually for perfection while working as a team member - not in competition but in cooperation - toward the attainment of common but very lofty goals... The list of benefits could continue for pages but would inevitably conclude that the discipline of performance is fundamental to learning and fundamental to education.
3) To fund or not to fund the performance wing, that is the question. Everything else is hogwash masquerading as reason. While I personally support the performance wing and its cost, I have no quarrel with those who thoughtfully weigh the benefits and drawbacks and reach a different conclusion. That's democracy. I also honor the unsigned pact we hold with our past generations - that we will educate and nurture our youngsters to the best of our ability and always strive to raise them to a higher standard. Our own education was funded by parents and grandparents and townspeople who never had children in the school system, and I oppose the notion that this or any generation deserves a break from this obligation.
I don't know if Mr. Samborski shares that notion, but I do know this brand of political discourse. Implying that music students are underachievers enables voters to dismiss them as undeserving - despite the fact that no evidence exists to support such a preposterous claim. Then again, the nature of this discourse invites no evidence.
Brand poor people as "lazy," and it's easy to deny them not only doctors, food and shelter but simple human compassion. Brand the needy "welfare cheats," and it's easy to resent them all, lack of evidence notwithstanding. Brand the honest candidate a "liar," the courageous candidate a "coward," the most eloquent candidate "insubstantial." Call the environmentalist an "elitist," the peacemaker "unpatriotic," and one need never provide evidence of a solitary thing. By the same branding, war becomes peace, tyranny freedom and greed a human virtue.
It's a corruption of discourse and a corruption of a noble political process - and it's so easy. You simply plant a seed of doubt: These are children who do not deserve our support. Viable or not, such seeds always take root, especially in societies already grown wild with doubt.
Are children who join the band and chorus underachievers? Of course not. But so what? The seed has been sown, and we can now deny them with a clear conscience.
It's hard to know what would motivate Mr. Samborski to plant that seed. After all, he's an educator himself and, lack of evidence to the contrary, a good man. He claims to stand for the elderly, which is undoubtedly a virtuous stand - every time it's mounted. Speaking as one who's rapidly approaching elderhood, I appreciate his concern. While I also wonder why it seems that the people who most loudly proclaim their concern for us old-timers are so often the same people who send politicians to Washington to cut our assistance, it's still a great comfort to know that, here in York, when we deny our children, we're actually helping our elders.
Hogwash.
Michael Kimball
Cape Neddick
Vote April 5 to protect Ogunquit's resources
Dear Independent,
Recent articles in area papers may leave readers with the impression that protecting the piping plovers is the only concern of citizens who are against the proposed ordinance changes to expand the dog period on Ogunquit's beaches. The proposals for increasing the dog season to more than eight months would certainly pose a risk to these endangered birds during their nesting period. However, many residents are also concerned with protecting and sustaining all of the natural resources this special town offers: the Ogunquit River and estuary, the active clam flats, the beach dunes and the beautiful Main and Marginal Way beaches and walkways.
A number of town ordinances, town commissions, water and beach monitoring and cleanup programs are aimed at keeping Ogunquit's unique places healthy, clean, safe and enjoyable for everyone. There is evidence of river pollution and there are ongoing issues with effectively enforcing the current ordinances. This has resulted in problems with soiled walkways, beach areas and riverbeds, unleashed dogs, dogs in dunes and other prohibited areas and unpleasant citizen and visitor experiences including a recent beach injury.
The proposed changes will give dogs more access without increased enforcement or involvement by other town groups striving to improve and sustain our environment. To preserve our unique community resources, concerned citizens are urged to vote "yes" on Article 25 and "no" on Articles 26 through 28 on April 5.
Diana Joyner
Ogunquit
Students of York are the future
Dear Independent,
On March 18, while watching the York Budget Committee, many thoughts traveled through my mind. Our students were magnificent for their passion and support of York's Music Program and its needs.
There is a children's book written by Barbara Cooney, who lived in Maine, called "Miss Rumphius." She was called the "Lupine Lady." As a child, her goals were to travel, live by the sea and make the world more beautiful. She did this by planting lupine seeds up and down the coast of Maine. Now, Rob Westerberg and his Music Department are doing this for our children. Rob is not out planting lupines, but the seeds that have been planted by Rob and his department are a love to sing and to perform for the York community. This department needs help - they need more room for practice space.
I am a senior citizen who is on a fixed income and I must watch my pennies. At the same time, there is a bigger picture that I must look at. The students of York are our future. I like what I see and I will support their cause as it will only better the town of York.
Mary Jane F. Merrill
York
Put your passion into action
Dear Independent,
The recent public outcry to Mr. Samborski's comments referencing the York music program and its students was uplifting and intense - the power of people in action responding to a cause they believed in! A wrong righted.
What sits less well in my mind are the following: two years ago, despite an amazing effort on the part of music boosters, students, instructors and the School Committee to put front and center the needs of the music program, the performing arts center article was defeated in our town by a mere few hundred votes - ironically the "no" vote happening on the same day the York High School Chamber Singers were actually performing at Carnegie Hall in New York. A few years prior to that, the entire school budget was defeated by a narrow margin and excellent new teachers were lost as cuts were made to accommodate the voting.
My point? Simply this: those citizens who came forward so passionately in response to a statement delivered by a committee member who ran UNOPPOSED (and who clearly states he feels the need to represent and vote in preference to a different demographic than the students and parents represent) will have no one to point a finger at in May unless they remember the basic tenants of a democratically run government. Be aware of the two empty Budget Committee seats. Put your passion into action and take the time to VOTE. Pro or con, it is a horrible example to set to respond so strongly to an errant comment and then not follow up with a trip to the polls May 17 or with a trip to the Town Hall for an absentee ballot. We are all busy, but prioritizing what impacts so many makes a difference. Mark your calendar. Add "VOTE" to your to-do list. Put the date in your computer, your PDA, your Blackberry or your cell phone. Tie a string around your finger. Cut this out and put it on your fridge. But in the end, do the right thing and vote. Students who are 18: register NOW. Vote in May. The needs are there - make your voice heard.
Jean Quinn
York
Waiting for an apology
Dear Independent,
I must respond to Mr. Samborski's remarks at the past two Budget Committee meetings.
It seems that Mr. Samborski put his mouth in motion before his brain was in gear. To say music is a "catch all" leads me to believe music should end up in a landfill somewhere. We have trash pickup in the town of York to carry off our unwanted items. There are thrift shops all around for a variety of unwanted items. Mr. Samborski, where would you suggest the music students and their instruments go?
Mr. Samborski, have you ever watched the Rose Bowl Parade on TV? Where do you suppose all those many college band members came from, from places like York?
Wouldn't it be a tribute to York if someday one of our music students ends up performing with the Boston Pops, Boston Symphony, the Metropolitan Opera, a jazz band or a military band?
Mr. Samborski, at the March 18, 2008, Budget Committee meeting you made the statement that fixed-income people could not afford anymore taxes, that the new arts wing total cost was going to be $3 million. Then you suggest in your speech of building a new high school for $10 to $20 million. What would that maneuver do to the taxes? Let's pay off the middle school debt first.
When I was growing up and I made underhanded remarks or insulted someone, my mother was very quick to make me apologize to that individual. Mr. Samborski, didn't your mother do the same with you?
We, the townspeople and students, are waiting.
Anna J. Woodward
York
Response to York's Wild Kingdom article
Dear Independent,
I was so excited to read about Oscar Plotkin and his desire to turn the 200 acres encompassing the Wild Kingdom into whatever is best for the town of York.
I love the idea of a swimming pool and hockey rink going into the York's Wild Kingdom area. Outdoor recreation is a great thing for the children and the families of York. But please also consider indoor recreation that can be used in the colder winter months or even on those too hot to be outside or rainy days. As a mother of two young children I have struggled this winter to find fun indoor places for us to play and expend energy. Portsmouth has a great, small, indoor gym in Rumble Tumble, but their weekend hours make it almost impossible to use. And not many parents want to go, or can afford to go, to Jokers or Chuck-E-Cheese just to have a place for kids to run around and be active.
With so much space in the Wild Kingdom area, we have such an opportunity to address a real community need - a place for families and children to have fun, get exercise and be together - all year round. Ideally, I'd love to have all, or at least a few, of the following: an indoor and outdoor swimming pool; a large indoor playground; an outdoor playground; an indoor and outdoor skating rink. I also love the idea of an aquarium. We've spent many Saturday and Sunday mornings at the Seacoast Science Center learning about our local fish, but it would be even better to have something larger. An amphitheater and indoor music hall also sound wonderful.
York is such a wonderful family-friendly town, but I am very disappointed in the lack of things to do with kids. Besides the beach and the zoo, which I hope will stay, in the summer months I find myself constantly looking for, and traveling to find, fun places to take my kids. What a perfect piece of property and perfect location to make York an even better destination for families - both residents and visitors.
Laura Young
Cape Neddick
Budget Committee is irrelevant
Dear Independent,
Really, folks, is a town committee any more irrelevant than this current edition of the Budget Committee? After reading some of the committee members' feeble rationale for their negative votes on the current Town Hall proposal, one has to wonder if some of the members either spent the last decade meditating in a cave on Mount Agamenticus or they just transplanted their minds here a week ago last Thursday. Apparently they have not realized that their two-pronged argument of "we want the Town Hall on Route 1 and we want a mega-complex to include police, fire, municipal services and the clam warden" was settled by the voters they purport to represent, nearly a decade ago.
York voters in 1999, following the state-mandated "Growth Management Law," adopted a new Comprehensive Plan, which noted, among other things, that: 1.) Recommend a new Town Hall be constructed within York Village proper to "retain the small town image," and 2.) Recommend new public safety complex be constructed with direct access to Route 1.
These two provisions were further reinforced by the voters when they later handily rejected the proposed Green/Lifvergren Taj Mahal complex, to be located in a former muskrat marsh across from York Corner Garden on Route 1. Following the guidance of the Comp Plan, a process mandated by law, the voters next authorized the purchase of six acres, within the Village, to construct a new Town Hall.
Evidently, some members of the Budget Committee have conveniently forgotten their oath of office, namely to follow the law and correct legal procedures, necessitated by a vote of their fellow citizens. Nothing in their oath of office, or state and local law, gives a committee member the right to ignore or oppose the vote of the people, but merely to address whether or not the current proposal is economically and functionally realistic.
Instead of water-boarding both the town manager and the vice-chairman of the Board of Selectmen over prior decisions, which are neither legally nor procedurally any of the committee's business, the committee should have addressed its true mandate; i.e., does the proposal address the town's immediate and future needs; is the proposal cost-effective, and does the proposed structure represent historic York Village or Mud Flap, Alabama? I would strongly suggest that committee members return to the present rather than dwelling in the past, rehashing old arguments long legally laid to rest by the very voters they purport to represent.
Ronald N. Nowell
Chairman, F.O.T.O.B.
Cape Neddick
Committee recommends Town Hall plan
Dear Independent,
After about 80 years of thinking about it, the Board of Selectmen has placed a proposal for the building of a new Town Hall on the May ballot. Over the years, committees have been formed, they've reported and their findings have been endorsed by the board. As a result, our Comprehensive Plan now states that the eventual replacement of our Town Hall should be located in the village so that, along with the post office and library, it "contributes to defining the center of our community." Over the past decade, several boards have offered up alternatives, but until 2006, none had been supported with our vote.
As a reminder, the current Town Hall is very overcrowded and inefficient, is not accessible to residents with disabilities, and does not meet current building safety codes. There is insufficient parking with no ready options to add more, as the town does not own the land around the building.
Two years ago, the board found available land in the village, and in support of the plan, the voters agreed by a decisive margin to buy it and fund the design of a building. With that endorsement and guidance from the voters, the board formed a new Municipal Building Committee to follow the plan and design a municipal building for the new site.
We believe that our committee, with the guidance of SMRT's skilled architects, has produced a plan which will provide a fully accessible and efficiently laid out building that will incorporate more town departments at one location, provide an appropriate storage vault for sensitive documents, and meet current building codes for public buildings. It will be Silver LEEDS certified for long-term high energy efficiency, and will meet the town's needs for decades. Yet, it will be small enough to retain and augment the current park-like setting of this great piece of land, further complimenting our current historic Town Green. The proposed budget for this project will also provide 130 new parking spaces for the village and a storm drainage system that will greatly reduce the flooding issues we have seen in the downtown area over recent years.
Approval of this project would add about $40 per year to the bill of a tax payer with a property assessed at $350,000. This increase would decline slightly each year for the life of the 20-year bond. We believe that this project, which has been supported by the Tax Task Force, the Capital Planning Committee and the Board of Selectmen, would greatly benefit all of the people of York for many decades after it has been paid for.
Municipal Building Committee
York
State tobacco tax increase is positive
Dear Independent,
There are many, many reasons to be in favor to an increase in the Maine Tobacco Tax right now. Here are just a few.
Raising the price of cigarettes significantly reduces the burden on the health care system because of its impact on smoking rates. A tax increase of $1 would lead to 16,400 fewer smokers in Maine.
Every youth who doesn't start smoking saves the health care system about $16,000 in lifetime health costs.
A $1 increase per pack would generate additional new cigarette tax revenue to $64.3 million and save the healthcare system $238.2 million dollars over the long-term. (Data compiled by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Washington, D.C.)
Using cigarette tax revenue to pay for much needed health programs is a natural fit, given the costs that tobacco use imposes on the health care system.
With a $1 increase to the cigarette tax, 50 cents of the new tax revenues should be dedicated to the Maine Tobacco Helpline. Past experience has shown that in the week following the last tax increase there was a four-fold increase in the volume of callers. The Maine Helpline will need to accommodate all those who decide to quit for their health.
I think the state should consider equalizing and increasing the tax on tobacco products and help protect Maine's most vulnerable populations from the health effects associated with tobacco use.
Sincerely,
Mary Cook
South Berwick
Have you heard the latest?
Dear Independent,
A group of three older ladies were heard talking:
First Lady: "Did you know they are planning to put another pharmacy (we used to call them drug stores) at the corner of Route 1 and 91 in York?"
Second Lady: "That means three on that corner, and I hear it's because York has an increasingly aging population."
Her friend says, "That's a good joke. We'll all be dead before we can use all those facilities, and it will look like a strip mall - and in wetlands."
"Wow!"
Then another one said, "I go to the pharmacy in the hospital where I get served quickly without being tempted by such a multitude of things in the giant chain stores that I really don't need."
That woke me up! How can our small town cope with these giants jousting on our doorsteps? How should we steer our course toward conservation and our desire to stay small, save our environment and develop a firm plan for the future? We don't have to look like every other town. With careful planning we can be the best Maine small town, where people will come because we have fought for what we believe in.
We may be small, but together we can stop this Goliath!
Cynthia Raymond
York
Support new Town Hall plan
Dear Independent,
I am writing to support a "yes" vote on the new York Town Hall.
Without doubt, a new building is needed to replace the present overcrowded and outmoded facility. Our town employees do not have the space to perform their functions - on our behalf - with any real degree of ease or efficiency. That is clear.
The only real question is where a new town hall should be built and what it should look like. To this voter, the present plan is excellent and worthy of townwide support. The design reflects a beautiful edifice, a perfect complement to our long colonial history. I expect that when built, it will take a place of honor in the center of York Village - a source of pride for York's citizens and evocative of praise by our visitors. My understanding is that the present design calls for materials and layout that will last well into the future, while providing a comfortable atmosphere that is conducive to productivity by those who work in our behalf. Therefore, we do not need any further delay; we do not need further site searches. We have already authorized the purchase of the site by our vote last year and we have an excellent answer to the problem right at hand.
I heartily urge the voters of York to say "Yes" to the Town Hall question on this May's ballot.
James H. Gambrill
York Beach
Hard-working, less-rewarded people
Dear Independent,
The tributes bestowed on various actors, performers, so-called musicians and moviemakers such as Academy Awards, Grammy, Oscar, Emmy, etc., honor themselves, often for their negative lifestyles, rather than for doing important work.
I grew up in a time and area where people who should have been honored - then and now - never were. I am referring to all the immigrant Italian men who did such very hard work on the railroads, granite quarries (a much-prized gray granite called Mile Square Granite) and extensive sanitary and stormwater sewage jobs for miles around my neighborhood, this last under the aegis of the National Recovery Act. All this was going on around me, giving me the opportunity to observe how hard people worked. Not to exclude women and homemakers who also put in long tedious hours and some of whom could do the hardest work as well, I refer to men because they were the ones I saw working around me in the jobs mentioned previously.
Our home in Yonkers, N.Y., was located adjoining some vacant lots of ours, those next to a few acres of Westchester County land and the last next to land of the Putnam Division of the New York Central Railroad, near Bryn Mawr Park station. I had special friends of the section crew, consisting of eight men including the foreman. I used to know them all by name. It was always fascinating to see the work they did. One project for them was to upgrade the existing rails, that is, to replace those in service with new rails that were bigger and heavier. It is hard to believe now, even though I saw it, but the eight men picked up each new and old rail one at a time with four wooden crosspieces having tongs hanging underneath them, two men at a crossbar. While doing that they also had to step over rails in place, and various appurtenances thereto, as well as time their work to the train schedules so as not to interrupt the traffic. This was in the days of commuter trains and many unscheduled freights. There was but a single track all along the line, with few sidings.
I would like to include a mention of the little engine that couldn't with Heywood Broun (pronounced Broon at his request) aboard the train's one passenger car. The engine was an antique steam engine, V&T Locomotive #21 "J.W. Bowker," built in 1875, that was operable and had steam up but could not negotiate the steepest grade on the Putnam Division, that grade being just below and south of us and near to the Mile Square Road grade crossing. A standard-of-the-line steam engine was connected to the rear of the passenger car to give a little push when needed. At the appointed time in the afternoon, which had been announced in the local newspaper, the train appeared with its passengers at the open windows, and we waved at them. Heywood Broun was especially prominent. He was a writer and columnist. I used to read his daily column, "It Seems to Me," in the evening World Telegram my father always brought home when he returned on the commuter train.
Willard Faith
York Harbor
Thanks for support from MDA
Dear Independent,
As chairperson of MDA's Shamrocks Against Dystrophy, I want to take a moment to thank businesses and patrons in the York area for their generous participation in our 2008 campaign. I'm delighted to say that this year's fundraising efforts were a great success.
Those little green and gold Shamrocks mobiles sold by local businesses help support MDA's vital programs of research, health care services and public education right here in York and across the country.
On behalf of all the individuals and families coping with muscle-wasting diseases, I send a big warm "thank you" to York residents - you've certainly put a smile in these Irish eyes!
Sincerely,
Maureen McGovern
MDA
