Letters to the Editor:

To the editor:
We thank County voters for their strong support of Question 2 in the June 8 election. This proposal supported bonds that will bring badly needed funds to our three campuses for energy efficiency improvements to campus buildings. Over 61 percent of County voters said “Yes” to this work.

The vote also supported the work of the University of Maine on off-shore wind development. This research and development work has the potential to bring a major, new green energy business to the State of Maine. This work also enhances teaching at our three colleges in green energy and wind technology. Our collaborative work with the University of Maine will continue.
We will begin work as soon as possible on the variety of energy efficiency projects that the Bond supports. We look forward to bringing jobs to the County and to improving the energy efficiency of our buildings.

To the editor:
As part of the Van Buren Homecoming committee we are seeking your help in a last-minute search to find the Miss Van Burens of days past. As we have precious little time left, we are making this request for information in this public forum. Homecoming Weekend will be the weekend of June 25–27 and many activities will take place at our current Secondary School.
Though the local franchise has a list of the most recent Miss Van Buren’s, it doesn’t appear anyone in the franchise or in town ever compiled a comprehensive list. We are trying to put together a complete list as we’d like to have as many former queens as we can assemble at our Homecoming Weekend.
During Van Buren’s Homecoming weekend, we hope to have as many Queens as we can assemble on our Auditorium stage, talking about events that took place in the year they served as queen.
If anyone has knowledge of prior Miss Van Buren’s please contact Eleanor Varley at 868-5803 or by e-mail at vbbooster1@aol.com

To the editor:
Eleven-year-old Allison Botting of Stacyville was seriously injured on June 2nd when a power line fell on her. She is currently undergoing a series of surgeries at the Shriner’s Hospital in Boston in an attempt to save her leg.
While care at Shriner’s is free, there are other medical costs already associated with this accident, as well as the out-of-pocket expenses for Allison’s family to travel to, and stay, in Boston. To provide much-needed help to Allison’s family, Island Falls Fire and Ambulance is sponsoring a “BBQ & Blues Benefit” on June 26th from 4-9 p.m. at the Island Falls Town Office.
The minimum suggested donation for this event is $10. Food will be prepared and served by volunteers from Island Falls Fire & Ambulance, and local businesses are already donating goods and services to be raffled off; donations for raffle items are still being accepted.
The evening will wrap up with a live performance by Doubletap, “Northern Maine’s Premier Blues Band” whose high-energy performance will keep their fans from sitting too long. For more information on this powerhouse trio, please visit www.DoubletapBlues.com. They have also set up a web page for collecting donations: www.DoubletapBlues.com/allison.php. This is an all-ages event.
For more information, please contact Joseph Levesque III, Ambulance Director for Island Falls Fire & Ambulance at 540-4286 or via e-mail at iffd708@gmail.com.

To the editor:
Thank you for your support of Tim Hortons Camp Day, when more than 3,500 Tim Hortons stores in the United States and Canada donated their entire coffee sales, in addition to funds raised through other Camp Day events and activities, to the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation. This special day raised an unbelievable $9.3 million (U.S.)! We are extremely grateful for the support and generosity of our customers, store owners, staff, special guests and media who participated in Camp Day 2010.
The funds raised on Camp Day this year will help send more than 14,000 deserving children to one of six Tim Horton Children’s Foundation camps – all expenses paid. Each camp offers a wide range of first-class programs and activities that encourage campers to embrace and overcome challenges. The experience is designed to build self-confidence, self-esteem, leadership skills and provides campers with a positive view of their true potential.
On behalf of Tim Hortons, the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation and the thousands of children you have helped send to camp this year thank you very much.

To the editor:
This summer, share the beauty of your community with an inner-city child while enjoying a vacation in your own backyard! Join thousands of volunteer host families throughout 13 Northeastern states and Canada as they open their hearts and homes to New York City children from underprivileged communities through The Fresh Air Fund’s Volunteer Host Family program. In 2010, The Fund celebrates its 134th summer of helping youngsters from New York City enjoy new experiences like swimming in a cool lake and catching fireflies.
“My family is very excited to welcome back our Fresh Air child for a third summer. We get to do all the things we love right here in our community, like swimming and hiking, but with an additional member of the family!” said one host parent. Imagine summertime without making s’mores, playing in the backyard or gazing at the stars. Since 1877, The Fresh Air Fund has provided more than 1.7 million inner-city children with the opportunity to enjoy these simple pleasures.
Fresh Air children on first-time visits to host families are 6 to 12 years old and stay for one to two weeks. In fact, in only takes two weeks of fresh air and simple, summertime fun to help change a child’s life. Learn more by watching The Fund’s new video, entitled “Two Weeks!”
For more information on how you can make summer special for a Fresh Air child, contact me at 926-3557 or The Fresh Air Fund at 800-367-0003. You can also learn more about the Volunteer Host Family program by visiting The Fund’s Web site at www.freshair.org.

To the editor:
The Marissa E. Lloyd Sunshine Fund came about in 2008 after the sudden passing of 7 year old Marissa Lloyd. Marissa was a very caring and honest second-grader who loved to help others in need. Marissa, is known by many with just the mention of her name, Marissa had a very big heart and always had a smile on her face. Her kindness and sharing could be seen in her big brown eyes which were always full of excitement.
Our mission with her fund is to continue Marissa’s dream in helping young children by realizing that they have a recognizable voice and have the right to use it. Children were given the choice to choose one of Audrey Penn’s books from her “Kissing Hand” series.
Last year over half the class chose “Chester and The Big Bad Bully”, board member Lynn Greenier, who also is a Woodland school teacher, touched based with the students about bullying letting them know that bullying can happen anywhere and by anyone. It could be another child, an uncle, an aunt, a neighbor, or even a parent. Children have the right to use their voice when being bullied by telling a trusted adult. Bullying is never the child’s fault and is something that should be stopped immediately. It is important for children to know that their voice is one of the most powerful tools they have … and not to be afraid to use it. The book provides positive strategy for dealing with bullies.
All of the books from the “Kissing Hand” series have a life lesson, that we hope children will carry with them throughout their lives. This year the top pick was “Chester the Raccoon and The Acorn Full of Memories”, about a young squirrel that dies in an accident never to return to school. The book is written to help children of a young age deal with death of a friend by teaching them to make memories. This book has a life lesson that no child should have to experience however, many do every day.
This year the fund collaborated with author, Audrey Penn and she graciously autographed each book for all the students. We have already received many thank you letters from the children stating that they would take care of and treasure these books forever.
The fund also gave away the first Sunshine Citizenship Awards to five second-graders at Hilltop Elementary who were voted on by their peers. The criteria required was based upon good manners, respectful, takes care of school property, kind on the playground and classroom. The children were given ballots and told how important their voice is and that it matters. The winners were recipients of a certificate and a “Chester the Raccoon” animal which is the character the books are based upon.
This year thanks to the generosity of the community the fund was able to expand the book giveaway and handed out over 120 books to second-graders at Caribou, New Sweden, Connor and Woodland. Once again we cannot say thank you enough to the community for all the support given the past few years. If you would like to donate please make checks payable to Marissa E. Lloyd Sunshine Fund, County Federal Credit Union, 82 Bennett Drive, Caribou Maine 04736. Visit us at http://marissasunshinefund.org

To the editor:
In light of recent articles which have been written, I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank Kathy Corey for her many years of dedicated service to the Washburn Memorial Library. In the past 10 years Kathy has established many new programs and received many grants to benefit the citizens of Washburn and the surrounding communities. Some of the programs which she has started include monthly storytimes, a summer reading program for children, a fall reading program, and a middle school book discussion group which has included some overnighters and pizza parties. For adults she started a reminisce group where adults wrote about their lives, a knitting group, and had people signed up for a quilting group which was to start this summer.
She has also received the following grants: grants for new public computers, a $5,000 grant from the MBNA Foundation for books, a grant for 82 children’s books from the Libra Foundation, a grant for Women, Work and Community, and a $450 grant from the Rudman Foundation for last year’s reading program. Kathy was also asked to join the Maine Student Book Award Committee and that has allowed Washburn to get materials for free. She did much of this committee work on her own time in order to save the town money.
Kathy has always been on the lookout for ways to stretch her budget in order to replace aging computers, to buy the latest books, or to get prizes for the children’s programs. She has done this by organizing a supper/auction, compiling a library cookbook to sell, and finding ways to get prizes donated. She has always tried to find ways to motivate children to read and to get adults to make use of the library. She has hosted many parties in honor of favorite authors and characters such as Dr. Seuss and Arthur. She has also had a float in the Washburn August Festival parade for many years to showcase the summer reading program participants.
Recently, Kathy held a party at the library in honor of its 60th anniversary. Another thing she has done over the years is to invite local authors to the library for book signings. Through the years Kathy has been there to lend a helping hand to students after school whether it be help with homework or other struggles they were facing. She has been very helpful to adults as well when they’ve been looking for certain books or subjects.
Kathy, your accomplishments have benefited my family as well as many others throughout Washburn, Wade and Perham. Hold your head high and be proud of your many achievements! May God richly bless you.

To the editor:
This week some seniors with Medicare Part D will be receiving a $250 check in the mail. This rebate is the beginning of a gradual closing of the Medicare Part D coverage gap, or “doughnut hole,” where people with Part D coverage have to pay 100 percent of their drug costs.
As part of the new health care law, people who fall into the doughnut hole this year will receive a $250 rebate. In 2011, people with Part D coverage will receive a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs and a 7 percent discount on generic drugs while they’re in the doughnut hole. These discounts will gradually increase each year until the doughnut hole is completely closed in 2020.
People with Part D coverage who hit the gap this year won’t have to apply for the $250 rebate check; it will automatically be mailed to their home address. However, there are a few things people should know.
First, it is a good idea to keep the receipts when buying prescriptions. If you or someone you know thinks they have reached the doughnut hole but have not received a check, it is helpful to have the receipts for proof.
Second, we urge seniors to watch out for scams. If someone offers to get the check for you sooner, for a fee, report them to the police or Attorney General.
And lastly, AARP has developed a “Doughnut Hole Calculator” to help consumers delay or avoid falling into the doughnut hole and also save money on prescription drugs. To use the free calculator, go to www.aarp.org/doughnuthole
AARP looks forward to helping Mainers understand what the new health care law means to them.

To the editor:
Paul LePage and I have become friends. I went down to Waterville on election night and we had breakfast together Wednesday morning. We were both raised Franco Americans speaking French. We are both Catholic. We both believe that hard work is the mark of a man. We both understand struggles.
He took on six gubernatorial candidates who spent a total of $4,353,00 and swamped them, spending only $191,000 with Les Otten over $ 2,000,000. That isn’t supposed to be possible. No reporter, editor, columnist or political professional ever hinted he could win so overwhelmingly.
He ran his campaign out of his house while continuing to run Marden’s and Waterville (as Mayor). Don’t ask me how he did it. His home has clocks and as far as I could see he has a twenty-four hour day the same as the rest of us.
This may seem miraculous, but it’s not so surprising when you look at his life story. He survived as a homeless 12-year-old living on the streets of Lewiston, living hand-to-mouth shining shoes, and finding shelter where and when he could. Winters don’t get as cold in Lewiston as they do in Cyr Plantation, but they are still Maine winters. I know what it’s like to work out doors at age 12 with my father on the farm, but I can’t imagine how a kid could survive that kind of life. Can you?
But survival wasn’t enough for Paul. He learned English by age 13, graduated from high school and worked his way through college as a short-order cook and bartender. After he got his masters of business administration, he didn’t go looking for a safe corporate job with benefits and a regular salary. He started his own business specializing in rescuing and turning around failing businesses.
Mickey Marden didn’t hire him just to run a well-established business. He hired him to manage the expansion of Marden’s while his three Marden sons specialized in bargain-hunting for inventory. Paul rose to that challenge as well. He more than doubled the number of stores and number of employees in 14 years. You can thank Paul for the three Mardens stores in Aroostook County.
Paul ran as a Republican in Democratic Waterville and won. He won a second time by a landslide. In 2008 with Obama at the head of the ticket and the Republican Party headed for the dumpster, the Democrats went after him with everything they had, registering 1,900 Colby students in the final 24 hours. He won again.
The Waterville Sentinel, a very liberal paper, endorsed Paul in 2008 pointing out that he cut taxes 13 percent, increased the city’s cash reserve by 1,000 percent, and upped its credit rating two notches.
He did all that while increasing, not cutting, services. If he hadn’t done these things, nobody would have believed that it was even possible. I haven’t heard of anything like this in any other Maine town or city.
Whether you believe in miracles or not, you have to believe that Paul LePage has a steel backbone, energy, determination, and know-how.
The facts are simple. We face a billion-dollar budget short-fall. The voters everywhere in The County and the rest of Maine rejected tax increases. Cuts will have to be made. Paul LePage’s record shows he knows how to cut expenses without cutting vital services. No one else has done this. It will take guts to face the hard choices ahead of us. Paul LePage’s whole life, from age 11 on, shows that he has what it takes.
Please consider my friend Paul LePage for Governor.

common sense
To the editor:
I want to thank all the citizens of Caribou who voted in support of the city charter commission and also for voting on the school budget and maintaining the status quo. You have to be commended for the common sense you’ve expressed and for also standing up for what you think is right. Isn’t that a great feeling? You wont be disappointed I’m sure.

Maine has the fourth highest recycling rate in the United States. Only Minnesota, Washington and New Jersey rate higher than Maine as reported by the Council of State Governments.
Maine citizens should be proud of this effort, however, we still have room for improvement. Our landfills are costly to operate and rapidly filling. Construction and demolition debris use the largest percentage of space at our landfills.
Three Aroostook County legislators serve on the 13-person Joint Standing Committee of Natural Resources; Rep. Bernard Ayotte, Rep. John Martin, and myself. We have been meeting this summer to consider issues facing our landfills and will make recommendations for the next Legislature to consider.
Rep. Peter Edgecomb can be reached at home, 132 Baird Road, Caribou ME 04736; by home phone, 496-3188; by legislative phone, 287-1440; or via e-mail at pedgecom@maine.rr.com

Parents play a major role in their children’s choices about alcohol, tobacco or other drugs. In a recent survey of parents and teens by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, one-third of teen partygoers have been to parties where teens were drinking alcohol, smoking pot, or using cocaine, ecstasy or prescription drugs while a parent was present. By age 17, nearly half (46 percent) of teens have been at such parties where parents were present.
ASAP Coalition members are working together to bring the “Parents Who Host, Lose The Most” public awareness campaign to Aroostook County. The campaign encourages parents and the community to send a unified message that teen alcohol consumption in not acceptable.
Hosting a party where alcohol is available to underage youth is illegal and can pose serious health risks and legal ramifications for everyone involved. Parents should understand that taking away the car keys does not solve all of the problems related to underage drinking. Every day at least six youth under 21 die from non–driving alcohol-related causes, such as drowning and suicide, and sexual activity and delinquent behaviors increase with underage drinking.
Real Life Example – adult supplying alcohol to teens: In 2009, an adult was charged by a local police department with Providing a place for minors to consume alcohol. The adult, who just wanted to throw a little birthday party for the teen, served alcohol to the birthday celebrant and his friends. Unfortunately, the teen drank an excessive amount of alcohol and, in a drunken rage, tore apart a room in the house, assaulted several party goers and threatened to harm himself. What a terrible birthday event, and terrible birthday memory, resulted from this easily preventable incident.
Tips to protect yourself and your teen from harm:
• Adults providing alcohol to underage youth send a mixed message and can only add to a teenager’s confusion about the acceptability of drinking. They are also sending the message to teens that they do not have to obey the law.
• Set boundaries and establish expectations that are fairly enforced.
• Host alcohol-free parties with plenty of fun activities to show you care about their future.
• Refuse to supply alcohol to underage youth or allow drinking in your home or on your property.
• Be at home when your teenager has a party.
• Talk to other parents about not providing alcohol.
• If you are going away for a few days without your teenager, contact your local police department and ask them to monitor your home.
The article was brought to you by ASAP Coalition Alcohol Workgroup Members: Aroostook Chiefs of Police, CADET, Community Voices, Healthy Aroostook, Power of Prevention, & WAGM. For more information about ASAP and its prevention efforts call 521-2408 or go to asapcoalition.com.

What’s underground, used daily by more than half the people of Maine? If you answered groundwater, you’re right! As individuals, we can make choices that will protect our groundwater resources from pollution and over use. Since we don’t see groundwater, it is easy to take it for granted. To get you thinking about this important resource, take this quiz to test your knowledge.
Where does our groundwater come from? A. Rainfall and melting snow. B. Underground rivers.
Where does groundwater flow when it comes out of the ground? A. Groundwater stays underground and does not come to the surface. B. Lakes, rivers, oceans, and streams.
A homeowner near Lewiston uses a well to provide drinking water. From where the water seeped into the ground, about how far did the groundwater travel before entering the well? A. Less than a mile away. B. 5 to 10 miles away. C. 20 miles away D. From Mt. Katahdin or the White Mountains depending on the well location.
How often should you pump out your septic system? A. Once a year. B. At least once every five years. C. When you see wet areas near the leach field. D. When you buy or sell the house.
What can you do to help protect groundwater? A. Recycle used waste oil. B. Limit the use of lawn chemicals. C. Don’t dump any chemicals or other household products on the ground. D. All of the above.
Which well-type is more susceptible to contamination? A. Dug wells B. Drilled wells.
Answers:
A. In Maine, we get about 42 inches of precipitation a year. Some of it evaporates or transpires through plants and never reaches water bodies. The rest runs off the land into lakes, streams, wetlands or rivers, or soaks into the ground to become groundwater.
B. Where the water table meets the land surface, a spring might bubble up or seep from the ground and flow into a lake, stream or the ocean. Groundwater helps keep rivers, streams, and wetlands flowing during dry summer months.
A. Less than a mile away. While there are some areas of the country where groundwater moves long distances underground, in Maine most of the groundwater travels short distances before coming to the surface.
B. Most experts recommend that septic systems be pumped every three to five years. If septic systems aren’t working right, they can contaminate your drinking water.
D. All of the above.
A. Dug wells. A review of statewide water test results reveal that dug wells are about twice as likely to show elevated bacteria counts compared to drilled wells. A dug well may allow surface water to enter through a poorly fitting lid, drilled wells tend to be more protected from direct entry of surface water into the well.
Groundwater is an important resource that needs our protection. Out of sight shouldn’t mean out of mind!
This column was submitted by Marianne DuBois, a geologist with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Land and Water Quality. In Our Back Yard is a regular column of the Maine DEP. E-mail your environmental questions to infodep@maine.gov or send them to In Our Back Yard, Maine DEP, 17 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333.