Thumbs up to the dedication of the former Thacher Brook Business Park in memory of the late Robert Dodge, who was a longtime economic development director for the City of Biddeford.
Dodge’s contributions to building up a diversity of housing and business in the city were outshined only by his positive attitude and kind demeanor. May this dedication help him to be long remembered.
Thumbs up to all the businesses, individual donors and volunteers who make the Toys for Tots program available to those families that would otherwise have difficulty purchasing gifts for their children this holiday. Collecting so many toys, organizing them and distributing them is an enormous undertaking and the efforts of the Saco Bay Rotary, in particular, should be applauded.
Thumbs up to the Saco city councilors for their decision to send a fire station bond on to the voters. The fire station is certainly too small for today’s trucks and other needs and if a new station can be built without an impact to taxes, it stands a high chance of success.
Thumbs up to the Town of Sanford for pursuing a public urination ordinance. A town of its size ought to have some penalty for this, as many cities do, to discourage the activity. As funds are invested downtown, this will help ensure improvements are not jeopardized by such problems.
Thumbs up to Biddeford’s Great Works Internet company for taking the lead on a proposal for the 3-Ring Binder project, which led to the award of a $25 million grant to expand broadband access in rural Maine. This grant is among the first round of awards being given nationwide from the American Recovering and Reinvestment Act funding that are specifically being allocated for broadband initiatives.
Thumbs up to the Go Green committee at Kennebunkport Consolidated School and the businesses and individuals who have supported their efforts with contributions of money and time. Teaching youth how to live more sustainably is one of the keys to preserving our environment for generations to come.
Thumbs up to the Salvation Army of both Old Orchard Beach and Sanford, for their tireless efforts ”“ particularly in recent frigid cold ”“ to collect money to aid those in need of help this Christmas season and beyond.
Thumbs down to a proposed legislative bill that raises the possibility of allowing the Wells-Ogunquit Community School District to be dissolved. The cost-sharing agreement, which results in a skewed payment for Ogunquit’s small share of the students, should definitely be reconsidered. However, having school departments break apart to become standalone entities goes against all of the cost saving measures recently imposed under Maine’s consolidation law and would be a step backwards. Ogunquit may believe it has other options, but we believe separation is not a good approach for Ogunquit, Wells, or Maine’s taxpayers.
— Thumbnails is a Monday feature of the Journal Tribune’s opinion pages. If you would like to respond, please write the Reader’s Forum via e-mail at jtcommunity@journaltribune.com or by dropping your letter off at our Biddeford or Sanford offices.
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