Thumbs up to the Saco City Councilors Leslie Smith and Art Tardif for their stance on helping the Saco Bay Food Pantry. The two councilors are right in their assertion that it would be prudent for the city to waive the $1,200 new construction fee for the pantry’s proposed expansion, but should also be commended for having the foresight to suggest that city money and city workers be kept out of the project. The city should certainly give some special considerations to this important social service entity, but should not get in the habit of directly funding private organizations with taxpayer money.
Thumbs up to the Old Orchard Beach Town Council on its vote to approve the contract with the Animal Welfare Society of Kennebunk for care of stray, lost and surrendered pets. It is a responsibility in a civilized society to offer proper services for the animals in our care and OOB should be commended for listening to its animal activists. The town has made the right decision, not only for homeless pets but for a community that doesn’t want to be overrun with abandoned animals.
Thumbs down to the shortsightedness in Saco that has led to a previously underperforming wind turbine now sitting idle in disrepair over the downtown skyline. After a $200,000 investment to make a statement about “going green,” the city now has to decide whether or not to maintain the turbine or sell it for $135,000. Since it is producing only about $4,000 of electricity per year, due to poor site location that favored political visibility over wind power, the turbine is going to take a very long time to pay itself off. It would serve the city well to remedy this mistake by selling the turbine now, while somebody still wants it.
Thumbs up to the large group of people who participated in Nicole’s Run earlier this month, which benefits Caring Unlimited, York County’s domestic violence agency. The walk is held in memory of Nicole Oliver, who was 24 when she was shot and killed by her husband in their Wells home in July 2007. As we were reminded by the apparent murder-suicide in Hollis last week, domestic violence continues to be a scourge in our homes and agencies like Caring Unlimited should be commended for their efforts to help people out of abusive situations.
Thumbs up to developer Nathan Szanton for his success in completing an apartment complex at Riverdam Mill. The Mill at Saco Falls will house 66 apartment units, offering a reuse of a historical building that has sat largely unused not for lack of potential but for lack of funding. Some of these apartments will be subsidized, while others will be market rate, but all will bring life back into that area of downtown.
— 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 e-mail at jtcommunity@journaltribune.com or by dropping your letter off at our Biddeford or Sanford offices.
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