Thumbs down to the ebbing support for Biddeford’s Franco-American festival, which will be noticeable this year with the disappearance of the downtown Block Party and fireworks. La Kermesse remains a unique and ambitious festival, and the organizers deserve great credit for the hard work and creativity they bring to the annual effort (starting June 24 at St. Louis Field). The hope is that once the economy rebounds, sponsors will see the value of supporting the tradition of opening the celebration in downtown Biddeford.
Thumbs up to the administration and City Council in Saco for producing a budget for the coming year that is barely more than the current budget. If taxes don’t go up this year, city government will deserve some of the credit. To keep the budget in line, the city plans only a minimal increase in the capital projects fund and will dip deeply into its fund balance.
Thumbs up to the EPA’s funding for the cleanup of blighted industrial sites, and local plans to take advantage of the brownfield program. In Sanford, for instance, money will be used for a community-wide survey of potential sites, and to clean up the site of the old Sanford Mill on Washington Street and the nearby site of the former Aerofab plant.
Thumbs up to a pilot project at Willard School in Sanford, which will segregate two sixth grade classes according to sex. With all the boys in one classroom and all the girls in another, it is hoped that teachers can raise girls’ confidence in math and science and encourage boys in reading, writing and social studies.
Thumbs up to Kennebunk selectmen for taking a more formal approach to board meetings, and setting reasonable time limits on speaking. For every speaker who gets annoyed when the clock runs out, there will be dozens giving silent thanks.
Thumbs up to Sanford’s annual Cleanup Day and the scores of volunteers who swept sidewalks and filled trash bags with litter last week. They were rewarded by the satisfaction of a job well done and some quite pleasant outdoor weather.
Thumbs up to Kennebunkport’s proposal to established timed parking for certain parking spaces in Dock Square. The proposed time limit is an overly generous three hours, but even that will encourage a bit of turnover in the congested area.
Thumbs up to a plan to establish a community garden in West Kennebunk, where residents and non-residents can rent a 10-by-10-foot plot to grow vegetables, flowers and herbs. It’s the perfect time to get started.
Thumbnails is a Monday feature of the Journal Tribune’s opinion pages. If you want to respond, feel free to write to the Readers’ Forum via e-mail (cityeditor@gwi.net) or by dropping your letter off at our Biddeford or Sanford offices.
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