Thumbs up to the ShuttleBus-Zoom for making a change to its route to better accommodate elderly riders. Elisabeth Herold, executive director of The Pines, a not-for-profit senior housing facility in Ocean Park, told officials at the transportation agency that the trip can be difficult for senior citizens and those with disabilities, especially if they are carrying groceries or it is snowing or raining. Bus officials responded by changing the Tri-City/Local bus line route to drop passengers off right in front of Shaw’s Supermarket at the Saco Valley Shopping Center starting Oct. 31. It is nice to see organizations working together to ensure all citizens are being served and allowing seniors and those with disabilities to keep their mobility.
Thumbs up to all of the donors who are helping to keep Timber Point undeveloped. Conservation groups had announced recently they were in need of funds to keep the large, virtually undeveloped parcel preserved. Now, the nearly 100-acre parcel will be owned by the public and added to the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge. The Biddeford property includes rocky beaches, wetlands, forests, fields and an island. It is home to rare migratory birds, foxes and deer, and other types of wildlife, and only two homes are located on the parcel. Nearly $2 million was raised from 600 individuals, families, foundations and land trusts to secure the purchase. In addition, $3 million from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund and $200,000 from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will be used to acquire the property. Open space is paramount to Maine’s continuing appeal as a destination for visitors and a home for those who want undeveloped, outdoor space as a part of their daily lives.
Thumbs down to the Town of Sanford for making two employees of the code enforcement office part-time. Many people ”“ and municipalities ”“ are hurting right now, but cutting a person from part-time to full-time only further stagnates the economy, particularly when it’s in addition to the many employees who lost their jobs altogether last year due to budget cuts in Sanford. We heard recently 80 suburban streets in Sanford will not get free fall leaf disposal this season ”“ maybe Sanford could cut leaf removal altogether, with the exception of clearing what’s absolutely necessary, and find other such services that really aren’t necessary so they can put Sanford and other area residents back to work in town. The savings realized by these cuts in the short term will hurt the town in the long term if these workers are not spending due to losing their jobs or losing pay and benefits. Going forward, we hope Sanford makes some serious considerations of services that could be cut before staff is considered.
Thumbs up to all the candidates who came out last week to speak with their constituents. Candidates’ forums were held in Biddeford and Old Orchard Beach last week and allowed voters the chance to meet and hear from their prospective leaders. These forums are an important part of the democratic process and allow both candidates and constituents the opportunity to express their ideas and make their voices heard. As Election Day nears, we hope other candidates will take the opportunity to speak with voters, and voters will take advantage of these forums to learn about the people behind the names on the ballot.
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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 at jtcommunity@journaltribune.com or by dropping your letter off at our Biddeford or Sanford offices.
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