Thumbs up to Kennebunk selectmen for approving $515,000 for improvements to Alfred Road. Discussions about investing in the road began last summer and residents have been waiting for the work to be done.
Once it is, safety and traffic movement will be improved, which would improve the town, not only for year-round residents, but for the tourist season as well.
Thumbs up to Mayor Joanne Twomey and Biddeford High School Principal Britton Wolfe for organizing a candlelight vigil against violence, at the high school last Monday. The two should be commended for making the effort to take a stand against racism and violence in response to an alleged racially-motivated attack on a man in Biddeford Jan. 15. This display, at which anti-hate speakers and community leaders spoke out to say that Biddeford will not be defined by such crimes, sets a good example for our young and adult residents alike.
Thumbs up to the master plan committee in Biddeford for its efforts to gather input from the community as it formulates a strategy to revitalize the city’s’ downtown. The proposals of a parking garage and making the downtown more bike and pedestrian- friendly are all exciting prospects. We hope the city accepts this proactive approach and takes the steps necessary to help the downtown thrive in coming years.
Thumbs down to the Wells selectmen for rejecting the appeal of boat owner John Ellis, who had to remove his boat from a “large boat” mooring this fall. According to reports, it was not Ellis’ fault that he was awarded a large boat mooring ”“ it was due to an error made by the former harbormaster. Ellis based his livelihood on the approval he received to moor a larger boat ”“ quitting his job to start a whale-watching venture ”“ and now has had to pull his boat from the water. Certainly, the board had to take fairness into account, as others have been on the large boat mooring waiting list for years as well, but some compromise should have been made for Ellis, considering the circumstances.
Thumbs up to Sanford Superintendent of Schools Elizabeth “Betsy” St. Cyr, who will retire June 30, for all her years of service to the district. St. Cyr has served Sanford students since 1972, whether as superintendent or overseeing special education, ESL and Title I programs. In her short time at the helm in Sanford, St. Cyr oversaw the district’s effort to get a technical school and has overseen the development of several important planning procedures for the district’s future. Her leadership has taken Sanford schools in a positive direction and the next superintendent will need to be up to the task of continuing that work.
Ӣ Ӣ Ӣ
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.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
