Thumbs down to the impending loss of the Garden Street Market in Kennebunk, which is due to be purchased and closed down by Hannaford as it prepares to open a supermarket at the former Stop & Shop site.
While Hannaford should be commended for agreeing to retain the market’s employees, it is still unfortunate to see the downtown grocery store close down. The changeover from the era of corner stores to supermarkets certainly changes the face and feel of a community, at a time when downtown revitalization has become a priority.
Thumbs up to two Sanford High School teams for their hard work and study ”“ all extra-curricular ”“ that led to their participation in the National Ocean Sciences Bowl regional competition at the University of New England Feb. 6. Both teams acquitted themselves well and one of them earned the Sportsmanship Award, which comes with a trip to The University of Maine’s Darling Marine Center in Walpole.
Thumbs up to Biddeford firefighters Derick Ouellette, Ken Thorpe and Lt. David Thorne, who didn’t think twice about running into a burning, smoky building to rescue a 3-week-old infant Feb. 6. While Ouellette was the firefighter who emerged with the baby in his arms, all three should be commended for their efforts. Make that three thumbs up.
Thumbs up to the Southern Maine Sno-Goers snowmobile club on the completion of their “Mousam River Crossing” bridge that was dedicated on Sunday. The club, with the help of grant writer Lee Burnett, was able to get the financial support they needed and also put in the work to get the proper permitting. The bridge is an attractive addition to local trails and will hopefully be properly maintained and not vandalized.
Thumbs up to Thornton Academy Headmaster Carl Stasio for making a point of meeting with the parents of Thornton Academy Middle School students to assure them that the school will remain open. Arundel students make up the majority of the middle school and with the town’s school district considering termination of the contract, parents were concerned. Stasio put their speculation to rest ”“ now it’s up to the RSU 21 school board to figure out the financial future of the district, with or without the TAMS contract.
Thumbs up to the Saco voters who approved the construction of a new fire station. Public safety personnel need the support of the townspeople in order to serve them best. When the fire department cannot even purchase modern trucks because the 1930s station can’t fit them, it’s time to invest in something new.
Thumbs up to County Commissioner Gary Sinden for keeping officials on their toes about how they conduct the county’s business. Sinden believes the budget board held an illegal meeting when a budget proposal was discussed over the telephone ”“ and he made his complaint plain. While some experts contend that the board’s actions probably didn’t constitute an illegal meeting, it’s easy for any board or committee to forget that all the public’s business must be done in public. Sinden and others like him should be commended for reminding them.
Thumbs up to the Arundel Historical Society, and especially Arundel resident Phil Labbe of Labbe Excavating, for their efforts to install a veterans memorial in town. Through all the wars of the past generations, the town has never invested in a monument to those who have served. Labbe’s recent donation of granite pieces and the society’s fundraising efforts are the first steps.
— 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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