Thumbs up to all of those who have supported the pink ribbon motorcycle license plate effort so far, and here’s hoping that more people will sign up to get one of the plates so the state’s threshold of 500 commitments can be met and these plates can get on the road. Rep. Meredith Strang Burgess was very successful with the pink ribbon plate for automobiles in 2008, and the plates continue to help raise money for Maine organizations that fight breast cancer, cover preventive care costs for those who cannot afford mammograms and support those who are diagnosed.
Many members of the motorcycling community are supportive of fundraisers to fight cancer, so it makes sense that they’d want to display that support on their bikes with the well-known pink ribbon symbol on their plates. Hopefully, they’ll step up to the plate ”“ pun intended ”“ and make the motorcycle version of the pink ribbon plate a reality before Strang Burgess decides to drop the effort at the end of this year.
Thumbs down to the shooting of a young Rottweiler dog in Waterboro earlier this month ”“ the second such incident in the town this year. Luckily, this time the dog survived with only a broken leg, whereas the unrelated dog shooting in March was fatal. Shooting any animal simply because it is on your property is not an appropriate response; it’s not neighborly or even civilized, and rises to the realm of criminal activity. There’s no defense for shooting a dog unless it’s in the process of attacking someone. The appropriate response is to go indoors and call the animal control officer to file a complaint. That said, these shootings are an unsettling reminder that dogs cannot be allowed to roam unattended. Even those who live in areas they believe to be rural need to keep their dogs under leash or voice control at all times so they can both ensure the pet’s safety and the comfort of their neighbors.
Thumbs up to the efforts to recognize Korean War veterans this past weekend, the 60th anniversary of the end of that war in 1953. Often called the “forgotten war,” the Korean War may not have gotten the attention it deserved on the homefront, but it was certainly a life-changing experience for all involved, and these veterans’ contributions deserve remembrance and respect. On this anniversary, Korean War veterans were recognized locally in both Old Orchard Beach and Sanford, with a flag-raising ceremony on Sunday in OOB and a recognition event hosted by Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1044 in Sanford on Saturday. According to information from the American Battle Monuments Commission, 5.8 million Americans served in the Korean War and 54,246 of them died in service. The war also left 8,200 Americans missing in action, or lost or buried at sea. Those servicemen, and all who suffered as prisoners of war in any American conflict, are also being recognized at a POW event on Aug. 11 hosted by the Sanford AMVETS. We’re glad to see York County supporting our veterans and recognizing the sacrifices they have made in the name of freedom, and we join them in saying, “Thank you.”
Thumbs up to the progress being made in Arundel on plans for a new town hall. The existing structure, long repurposed, is worn out, maxed out and run down. It also fails to meet Americans with Disabilities Act provisions by having most offices on a second floor accessible only by stairs, and gives little privacy to general assistance applicants, as the welfare office is right by the front door. Town employees have long complained about drafty windows, lack of storage space and other concerns, and it’s high time for the town to invest in an improved municipal space. We’re glad to see a preliminary design for a new building now in hand and hope the voters continue to support this project and see it through to completion. Perhaps they can even keep their costs down with some volunteer help if the town residents can come together on this project, like neighboring Dayton did for its new municipal building.
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