thumb”¢nail (thum’nail’)
…2. anything quite small or brief,
as a small drawing or short essay
Thumbs up to all of those who took time to reflect upon and celebrate Independence Day this past Friday. The holiday weekend is a time to take part in festive parades, be awed by fireworks displays and embrace the summer season. It’s also a time to remember the bravery of this country’s founders and all of those who have fought to preserve democracy over the centuries, from the battlefields to the halls of Congress. The struggle for freedom never ends, and we would all do well to take this holiday as a reminder to rededicate ourselves to the ideals of individual freedoms and the democratic process.
Thumbs down to the York County Commissioners for taking a public vote last week without stating what the vote was actually about. The board came out of a lengthy executive session last Wednesday to vote unanimously to adopt a course of action recommended by the county manager. The public, however, has no idea what that course of action entails, and despite the advice of the county attorney to keep it secret, we feel this omission is a breach of the public’s right to know. If the decision is “confidential until a written decision is rendered,” as County Manager Greg Zinser told the Journal Thursday, then a vote should have been taken after the written decision was complete and available to the public. We agree with Maine Press Association attorney Michael Mahoney that the final action after an executive session should include at least some detail, so the public knows what was discussed and what was voted upon. It is our hope that the action approved by this vote will be made public very soon so that commissioners can adhere to their obligation to perform their work for the citizenry in public view.
Thumbs up to the Saco businesses that passed the test when Saco Police conducted an alcohol compliance sting on Friday, June 27. Police sent around adults who are over 18 but under 21 and asked them to attempt to purchase alcohol. Oftentimes, cashiers will fail this test and sell to a minor, but this time all of them asked for ID, and that’s a testament to good enforcement of the law. The more dedicated cashiers are to checking for ID, the fewer underage people will be purchasing alcohol and getting into the trouble often associated with underage drinking. Combined with strong enforcement of laws prohibiting older people from buying for minors and hosting drinking parties for minors, these checks are a great tool to keep liquor out of young people’s hands.
Thumbs up to the Full Plates, Full Potential group, which is bringing together stakeholders statewide to combat child hunger. Sen. Justin Alfond was in York County last week to meet with the Partners for a Hunger Free York County and discuss a long-term plan for cutting down on youth hunger. Among their suggestions is increasing use of the summer meal programs, via legislation and promotion among communities and daycares; and changing the perception of food programs to remove the social stigma for older students. Some success has already been found, with attendance at free meals programs increasing and a vegetable garden effort taking root. We hope the group has success working as a statewide effort and keeps little bellies full when those children’s parents cannot.
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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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