Thumbs up to State Rep. Megan Rochelo, D-Biddeford, for her efforts to get more people to become organ donors. Rochelo lost her husband, Jason, when he died last year at the age of 35. She has found a little solace in knowing that through his death, he was able to benefit the lives of others through organ and tissue donation. As a result, 15 people have been helped by his donation, she said.
A single donor can benefit as many as 50 people, according to Rochelo, which is why she is leading the charge in Maine to increase the number of donors by sponsoring a bill that would promote awareness of signing up as an organ and tissue donor. The measure would establish the Maine Organ and Tissue Donation Fund and create a check-off box on driver’s license and state identification applications to donate $2 to the Organ Donation Advisory Council, which encourages more Mainers to become organ donors. When there are thousands of people on waiting lists ”“ and 18 of those people are dying each day because they don’t get a transplant in time ”“ more donors are needed. We hope this bill will become law and more Mainers will learn the value of organ donation and sign up to become donors.
Thumbs down to continued thefts of grave markers in the area. Saco Police said early last week that they expected to bring charges soon against an individual who they say stole grave markers from a local cemetery’s storage area and sold them to a scrap dealer in Sanford. Thanks to the dealer, the information was passed on to police, but it’s unfortunate people are stooping to this level at all. Stealing from a cemetery ”“ whether it’s a marker, flowers or even worse ”“ is the lowest of the low. In Wells, hundreds of bronze veterans’ grave markers have disappeared over the years, which prompted the town to research plastic markers this spring. New, plastic flag holders were set to replace the bronze markers that have been stolen from cemeteries around town. We hope the people responsible in these thefts will be brought to justice, and that these thefts will cease to be an issue in the future.
Thumbs up to the University of New England students who hosted seventh-graders from Biddeford Middle School last week to talk about neuroscience and marine science. The students spent time dissecting a sheep’s brain with their college counterparts and got a chance to look at fish at UNE’s Marine Animal Research Center. This kind of collaboration is great for the middle-schoolers, as it introduces them to what colleges have to offer while simultaneously sparking their interest in science, and hopefully, science-related careers.
Thumbs up to Det. Barbara “Amy” Gagne of the Sanford Police Department and Maine State Police Det. Laurie Northrup for their work in apprehending criminals. The two ”“ along with other law enforcement from around the state ”“ were honored last week by U.S. Attorney for Maine Thomas Delahanty II for their work in the field and bringing perpetrators of crimes to justice. Keep up the good work!
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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 email at jtcommunity@journaltribune.com or by dropping your letter off at our Biddeford office.
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