Cunningham for Bowdoinham Select Board
I am writing in support of Wendy Cunningham for the Board of Selectmen in Bowdoinham. I have known Wendy personally for over 35 years here in Bowdoinham. Wendy previously served on the Board of Selectmen, including 2 years as Board Chair. She has a commonsense approach to solving problems, especially listening, taking into consideration all options being presented, to bring consensus and positive results for the benefit of our town. Her experience from her prior business career and non-profit board experience were an asset in the past and will continue to serve the Board well in the future. Please join me in voting for Wendy Cunningham for Board of Selectman in this election.
Martha Cushing,
Bowdoinham
Reasons for hope – and actionA recent Times Record story told us four acres of clams died across several bays this summer, likely due to high temperatures and an algal bloom further triggered by heavy rains washing lawn fertilizer into the bay. The almost daily news of climate’s impact on our coastal communities can be mind-numbing.But the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act is cause for celebration – and hope. Along with the passage of the CHIPS and Infrastructure Acts, which had bipartisan support, it shows that Congress CAN take real action on combating climate change and its impacts. Now there are funds available to take additional actions to reduce fossil fuel use. There is help for Mainers to better insulate their homes from cold snaps and heat waves, replace gas appliances with electric, shift from oil furnaces and air conditioners to heat pumps that also cool, and install solar panels. There are funds to help businesses upgrade facilities, make R&D technology investments, and will mean more jobs for building renewable energy infrastructure.This is great progress. But it will only get us part of the way toward the goal of reaching net zero by 2050, necessary to keep global temperatures low enough to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. There is much more we can and must do, and there is still time. On a national level putting a price on carbon would make a huge difference. Here in Maine, we need to accelerate the collective effort to implement Maine’s nationally recognized climate action plan in state policies, our communities and our homes. Ask candidates for state office what they will do to further this vital effort. And vote like the climate depends on it.Conserving our local fishing and farming economies and all we love about our special part of Maine is clearly worth it. We see examples every day of communities taking positive action. There is plenty of reason for hope.So, let’s celebrate these interim successes and recommit ourselves to working with hopefulness for a better future. We can do this. And we must!Barbara Vickery,Richmond
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