Help find lost Mommy/Daddy Doll
Dear Independent,
My name is Ethan and I just moved to the U.S.A. from Germany, where my Mommy and Daddy were stationed. I came to live with my Poppa and Nana while Mommy and Daddy went to Iraq.
Nana and Poppa took me to York's Wild Kingdom and the beach, where I had a lot of fun. I was able to share my fun with my "Mommy/Daddy Doll." Somewhere on the beach or near the Goldenrod, I lost my Mommy/Daddy Doll.
My Mommy and Daddy will not be back from Iraq for over a year, and my doll is all I have to remind me of them. If you find it, could you please return it to the York Police Department?
Thank you.
Ethan
York
Beach not handicapped-accessible
Dear Independent,
For many years, our family enjoyed vacationing at York Beach. We brought our handicapped daughter with us. She was smaller then, and I was younger. Getting her around in a stroller was not a problem.
The youngest of the four, our handicapped daughter is now 43 and I am nearly 80. It has been a long time since our last visit. My wife died in January, so I took the trip with my daughter to revisit a place of happy memories.
The parking lot was full. I asked a patrolling York policeman if there were any handicapped parking places.
"Not many, and they'll all be taken," he said, quickly driving off in search of expired meters to write out $25 parking tickets.
Several motorists grabbed parking spots as I sat waiting for vacationers to leave. Finally I was able to get into one before an agile driver cut me off.
We found no handicapped toilets, anywhere. I saw a little girl waiting in the men's room while her father used a stall. Not wanting to change my daughter into her bathing suit in the men's toilet or in public, I took her to the beach in her shorts. I rolled up my pant legs.
The handicapped ramp to the beach stops at about eight feet. The wheelchair bogged down in the sand, immediately, so I carried my daughter toward the ocean.
At the edge of the area of wet sand, a kindly lady let me set my daughter on a spare beach chair while I went back for the wheelchair. I had to drag the empty wheelchair through the dry sand. The wet sand was harder, so I was able to drag chair and daughter to the surf.
Though she loves to swim, she delighted in having the incoming waves lap at her bare feet and legs.
On the way back, I dragged wheelchair and daughter along the wet sand to a place closer to another ramp. When the chair bogged down in dry sand, I again used someone's beach chair to park her while I dragged the wheelchair up to the token 8 foot concrete ramp, came back and carried my daughter up to the sidewalk.
We went into the Goldenrod to buy candy kisses and tried to visit another shop, but found the aisles too narrow to accommodate a wheelchair.
Throughout our visit, people stared, apparently startled at seeing the rare sight of a handicapped person foolish enough to try to enjoy a visit at York Beach.
Joseph A. Parzych
York Beach visitor
Here's my "What If ..."
Dear Independent,
What if all of us soccer moms decide our time has come and we deserve a few days at a luxury spa? What if the part-time residents who feel they "don't get anything" for their tax dollars say "Yeah, I'd love to spend time at a quasi ‘free' community pool!" What if the hockey parents say "Great! For a few months of the year I won't have to drive to Dover or Exeter." What if all of the concert groupies buy in to a "Ticketmaster-worthy" music venue? Sorry, Inn on the Blues, and all of you other fine establishments that already provide top-notch acts, you can probably think up some other way to entertain your patrons. How about magic tricks?
What if the older population on fixed incomes actually believes that a Stop ‘n Shop in town would be cheaper than Hannaford? (Not! Compare for yourself next time you're in Kennebunk.)
What if everyone in town who takes their child to the beach each day during the summer - for free - decides they are willing to cough up whatever amount of cash to go to a water park whenever they feel the urge? Oh, and not to mention, what if all of the police officers and firefighters in town actually believe they might get a shiny new station right along Route 1. Hmm. Not sure how a developer makes a whole bundle of money on this one, but it sure sounds nice.
So, there. What if all the taxpayers of York jump aboard the "What If" lightrail to a brighter York Beach?
What if we all band together and vote to change our building ordinances and maybe just a few of the wetlands regulations and give the Pied Piper carte-blanche to develop to his heart's content? What if only the projects that are deemed "feasible" are completed and the rest are pooh-poohed? There doesn't seem to be any guarantee in place. What if we open Pandora's Box to any other developer with the promise of a better snake oil? And, what if we just forget about our local builders? After all, they can always go to work at the new shopping plaza and sell their homes to live in rented workforce housing, right?
Speaking of workforce housing, what if the people who move into the proposed 100 units have a child - or two - just waiting to sign up for school? Would the commercial tax revenue offset the additional services the town would be required to provide?
What if we all decide we'd like to see the parking lot at Shorts Sands reduced to virtually nothing in lieu of a swimming pool and a couple of carnival rides that will need constant maintenance and digging out after the next winter storm surge? What if by eliminating downtown parking for a 3,000 car parking lot - basically across town - downtown businesses actually suffer? Think about it, would you park and then wait whatever length of time to be transported to buy some candy and a few souvenirs? What if you have young children? What if it's a rainy day? Personally, I want to park right outside those shops and my guess is so does everyone else! Besides that, I would shop a little longer if I didn't have to think about catching the next train back to the parking lot or carrying shopping bags all over town. Not to mention, what if the town loses all of that parking meter revenue? Sounds like an increase in the mil rate to me!
By the way, what if we were actually talking about land OWNED by the "What if" developer?
Here's a thought, what if, come November, you take a drive through Old Orchard Beach, Hampton Beach or better yet, Salisbury Beach, which boast many of the attractions being promised here in York Beach, and check out just how many visitors those towns see during the winter months. (Oh, and don't forget, OOB even has a Triple A ball park that was supposed to bring in BIG revenue to their local economy, but it only created traffic headaches and after a short span of five years became defunct. Oops!)
It seems to me that, so far, the Renaissance of York Beach has been on the right path - let's not schlock it up with random what-ifs.
Juanita Reed
Taxpaying native
Cape Neddick
Toll plan is all wrong
Dear Independent,
In regards to the Maine Turnpike Authority expanding and moving the York Toll Plaza further north: Have they considered the burden this would put on the York Fire Department? A lot of the calls the Fire Department answers to are at the toll plaza for anything from a fender-bender to someone being ill. This would increase their response time along with adding work to the paid and volunteer staff in servicing many more toll booths.
When the MTA mentions what is wrong with the existing toll plaza I feel that with the technology today a curve can be taken out of a highway, a hill heading down towards a toll plaza can be leveled off, old soil can be rejuvenated and a safe plaza and tunnel within the same footprint can be built - or upgraded - for travelers and MTA employees alike.
Barbara Matthews
York
A lot to love at Amore
Dear Independent,
Good morning!
Shame on The York Independent for publishing the letter from a dissatisfied Café Amore customer. It was hardly newsworthy!
Ogunquit's many restaurateurs work hard to provide the most lovely fine dining experiences for Ogunquit's visitors. Café Amore is noted for its excellent food, superb service, and funky décor! Please note the number of Amore fans who find the wait worthwhile. It's an opportunity to enjoy Café's complimentary coffee and chat with other guests!
Enjoy the summer!
Marilyn and Doug Hunter
Ogunquit
Hoffman thanks supporters
Dear Independent,
The past few weeks have been tumultuous, exciting, depressing, uplifting and confusing. As we move to the next legal challenge, I want you to know that I am an active candidate, my signatures have been and continue to be certified and the Hoffman for Senate team is working to keep me on the ballot. Our efforts to gain a hearing before the United States Supreme Court could ultimately result in a historic decision with respect to ballot access and Constitutional rights.
I am continuing to campaign and I need your help. Please pick from this list something that you can do to further my candidacy: Arrange a speaking engagement. Arrange an appearance at an event in your home town. Schedule a house party. Schedule a meet and greet. Contact a potential donor. Recruit additional supporters for the campaign.
Please communicate with the Campaign Manager Lynn Ellis at manager@hoffmanforsenate.us.
I and the voters of Maine are deeply appreciative of your efforts in the past, in the present and especially in the future.
Peace,
Herb Hoffman
Ogunquit
Thanks for support
Dear Independent,
I wanted to thank all the voters that voted in the June 10 Democratic Primary Election. I received 10,758 votes in the bid for York County Register of Probate. As a city councilor here in Biddeford, I think it's important to offer people choices in elections. That is why I am challenging the incumbent.
Feel free to visit my website,http://www.millsofmaine.us/, or contact me with any and all questions at 571-9108.
Now on to November to make a difference and send a strong message with a voice.
Bobby Mills
Biddeford
The art of compromise
Dear Independent,
A voice, something that is necessary for change and growth to occur in any setting. Whether it is a voice to aid someone who is not able to speak or a voice that helps you meet your own needs, it is a human right. In this country we are fortunate we are able to have just that in a democratic society. I believe personally, however, that one must be willing to bring one more thing to the table along with that voice. Be it politics, community or personal expectations, the art of compromise must be part of having a voice to enable change. We all approach a situation from a different vantage point, unable to know for sure the motives that bring others to the same situation. In order for true resolution to occur, willingness to walk away with some, not all, of our intended results must take place.
For service providers it is important to be able to move forward with the ever-changing needs of the people we serve. In these most uncertain times we are seeing the needs of those around us change dramatically. We must all remember that simply because a situation does not affect us, does not mean that it is not paramount in someone else's life. In a community we are no longer individuals. All needs must be considered and prioritized. We rely on our leaders and service providers to help in that task. Food, shelter and warmth come to mind. In our organization I know I speak for all of our staff when I say we are gearing up to help those who need us. We have tremendous resources in the agencies and service providers that exist here. However, we need to think larger in many ways. The ranks of those on fixed incomes, jobless, physically disabled, returning veterans and their families are growing. Caring for the poor or helping those whose paychecks simply will not stretch any further is a difficult charge. Those who work in General Assistance or York Community Service will attest to this. We will need to put our heads together and compromise. We may not be able to meet all the challenges that are ahead, however, if each of us is willing to come to the table, listen with the expectation of accomplishment then much can be done. With this as a community goal we are well on the path to handling what comes our way as a growing and changing community.
Sincerely,
Patricia Martine
York Housing
