Most people made some poor choices as they journeyed through life. Some did not have the best diet and lacked good exercise and developed heart disease, obesity and diabetes. Others misused alcohol and developed liver problems. Still others got hooked on cigarettes and developed lung cancer. No stigma was attached and medical attention was readily […]
Letters
Letters to the editor of the Sun Journal.
Posted inLetters, sj-web
A different side to Mike Downing
The recent story that summarized RSU 16 school bus driver Mike Downing, based on a few remarks without the context in which they were said, could not be further from the truth as to who he is. It was a character assassination. Downing has worked for his community for 30-plus years as a bus driver, […]
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Posted inLetters, sj-web
A terrible moral standard
In response to the article published regarding Mike Downing’s termination from RSU 16 (March 28), I am beyond infuriated by the situation. As an alumnus of RSU 16 and an African-American, it is an embarrassment to the local community and state that a bigoted man was allowed to be employed by a school district for […]
Posted inLetters, sj-web
Downing wrong for school board
My husband and I moved to Poland 16 years ago. Our son was seven and our daughter was six. We chose Poland because of RSU 16. We wanted our children to attend a school system where individuality was celebrated and where social consciousness was integrated in an academically rigorous curriculum. RSU 16 exceeded our expectations. […]
Posted inLetters, sj-web
The real welfare abusers
I am fed up with ignorant, bigoted, intolerant individuals who continually bash the Somali (or other immigrant people) and the church groups that bring them here and support them, claiming the immigrants are just welfare abusers. I recently reminded such an individual that there are people who make millions of dollars bringing in drugs, etc., […]
Posted inLetters, sj-web
A dangerous bill
The Maine Legislature is reviewing a bill to zone convicted sexual offenders from living in homes (even their own homes) that are within 750 feet of any school, park, state or municipal garage … or the same distance from any property owned by a local or state government. I am not sure lawmakers meant to […]
Posted inLetters, sj-web
Scents can be offensive
I was encouraged to read in the Sun Journal (April 1) the Washington Post article, “War of the noses: When scents offend.” Hopefully it made a few more people aware of that environmental hazard. Artificial, chemical-based fragrances trigger my cough variant asthma, causing a loud, dry, barking cough which brings disapproving looks from the public […]
Posted inLetters, sj-web
Support for family caregivers
Tuesday, the state Legislature took a first step toward recognizing and honoring a vital part of the state’s health care network — family caregivers. At great personal and financial cost, the estimated 178,000 family caregivers in Maine fill critical gaps in the medical, psychological and emotional care of our neighbors with chronic illnesses or disabilities. […]
Posted inLetters, sj-web
Ranked-choice voting not for me
Ranked-choice voting is not for me, and it shouldn’t be the election methodology anywhere in the state of Maine. The Maine state constitution requires a plurality of votes for a win because it forces the two top contenders to face off in a battle of ideas in a public forum for the benefit of a […]
Posted inLetters, sj-web
Governor's retirement pay
In 2016, when the topic of increasing the future governors’ salary in the state of Maine was discussed, I looked up the information online about governor’s compensation. When I checked that same source again recently, the information had not changed. I found that the pay of a retiring governor is connected to the pay of […]