I am so very tired of the people who have such little character and pride in themselves and their community that they drive along the road and throw the remnants of their meals, lives, disappointments or basic lack of civility onto the roads that they use to get to their destination.

I live on the Empire Road in Poland. It seems to be some kind of thruway. My husband, who is suffering from cancer, walks the 200-foot driveway every morning to pick up the paper and has to stop and gather up fast-food wrappers, soda bottles, beer cans and every other piece of detritus of uncaring people just to keep our property looking decent. We expected more when we moved here to retire.

I thought you folks wanted people to come to this state. Now I wonder.

Everyone is nice on the surface, but then the same people we probably hire or are told to respect for their great ethics foul our yard on a daily basis.

I was taught good manners in my home. Perhaps Mainers don’t teach manners anywhere — home or school. Perhaps people should stop blaming the teachers.

Ellie Leight, Poland