Thumbs up to the many people who gave their time, money, materials and ideas to help create a memorial for the 26 people ”“ including 20 children ”“ who were killed in a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. in December. The memorial was dreamed up ”“ literally ”“ by Richard Gray, who said he had visions of the memorial in his dreams.
The monument has a stone base with 26 stainless steel angels around, and on the memorial itself, the names of the children who were killed appear in color and were drawn by 7-year-old Jayden Gray. The adults’ names appear in gold. The memorial made a stop at the Old Orchard Beach Fire Station and the Biddeford Fire Station en route to Connecticut the weekend before last. The group bringing the memorial to Newtown planned stops at fire stations along the way.
Thumbs up to everyone who has been a patron at their local farmers market or farm stand this summer ”“ and for those who haven’t, there’s still time. National Farmers Market Week was Aug. 4-10, and Maine’s markets are in full swing, offering up fresh vegetables, fruit and much more. Supporting farmers markets means keeping money in the local economy and supporting jobs in Maine. Many communities in the county have their own farmers markets ”“ or more than one ”“ for a list, visit www.getrealmaine.com ”“ and get to one before they’re gone. While some markets move inside during the cold months, most do close, and this time of year is when the freshest bounty of produce is available.
Thumbs down to the news that Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus has been found in a mosquito pool in Alfred. The disease is dangerous for horses and can be for people, too. This news means people need to be diligent in protecting against mosquito bites, by wearing long pants and long sleeves outdoors, wearing mosquito repellent containing DEET and draining standing water in their yards to prevent mosquitoes from breeding. Symptoms of EEE can include fever, severe headache, vomiting, mental confusion, and can eventually progress to coma, according to the Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At the outset, EEE can feel like the flu, without the respiratory symptoms, so it’s important to be vigilant about symptoms and know that the risk of this disease exists.
Thumbs up to the naming of the dog park in Old Orchard Beach. The park has been named the “K9 Veterans Memorial Park” to honor all war, police and service dogs. Pat Holland, a Veterans Memorial Park Committee member, asked the town council recently to name the dog park, and they agreed. Part of the inspiration for the name, Holland said, was the story of “Sergeant Stubby,” a canine who served in World War I and was named a life-long member of the American Legion. Stubby boosted the morale of soldiers as well as warning them of gas attacks, according to information from the Connecticut Military Department. He also held down a German spy until his unit could complete a capture. During his service, Stubby survived a wound to the leg and being gassed. Holland told the council that dogs like Stubby do not often receive recognition. We’re glad this space will be available to dogs in town and their owners, and that its name reflects the importance of these special animals.
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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 email at jtcommunity@journaltribune.com or by dropping your letter off at our Biddeford office.
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