To the editor:
I just wanted to say to Fort Kent and surrounding areas that I hope that they have good luck getting back on their feet from the floods. We understand that the Governor took a few days of his precious time to come up here and shook a few hands. But there is one thing that bothers me about this whole thing.
Your Federal Government sent FEMA up here in your hour of need. They asked you to make out an application for a loan. All our federal government has done is offer to put you in debt. Most people in Fort Kent somehow work in the woods. They are struggling with fuel prices trying to make ends meet. One thing they did not need is another monthly payment. Ironically, the same Federal Government recently gave salmon fishermen $100,000 tax-free money.
Our Maine people will survive with or without the government. We certainly know when Aroostook County people need help, we don’t get it. It’s time for a change in our Congress people!
Margaret Morin
Westfield
To the editor:
What’s wrong with this picture? An ad in support of Mr. Pelletier for Senate District 35 implies that the other candidate “must have been listening to his leaders in Augusta.” How ironic that this ad is paid for by the Maine Prosperity PAC, an Augusta group. As a Caribou voter, I am offended that this PAC and their candidate would think we wouldn’t see through this smoke and mirrors.
Troy Jackson has my vote. Troy is not afraid to stand up to other Legislators in support of what is good and right for the people of Aroostook. He has served his district with integrity and commitment and I am confident he will continue to serve his Senate District constituents in the same manner.
Join me at the polls on June 10th and cast your vote for our future by casting your vote for Troy Jackson.
Ginette M. Rivard
Caribou
To the editor:
I wanted to let your readers know that the “Loring RampRats” are going to have another reunion back in Caribou, the weekend of July 25-27, 2008. I don’t know if you recall several years back (2002 and 2004) we had previous reunions in Caribou.
The “RampRats” are members of a Web site that is dedicated to the former members for the 42nd Security Police Squadron (or Air Police or Combat Defense squadrons, depending on the timeframe). We are nearly 800 members strong after establishing the site in July of 2001.
Curt Swift
Loring RampRat Administrator
Washington, D.C.
Staying healthy involves drinking plenty of water – some experts still recommend around two quarts a day. To keep up with this hydration regime many people keep a water container handy at work or play. A good water container needs to be easy to clean for good hygiene and constructed of safe materials.
If you have a plastic water bottle, look at the number in the triangle on the bottom to help determine what kind of plastic it is. From a health perspective, some are better than others.
Single-use plastic water or fruit juice containers (usually #1 plastic) are not easily cleaned so they shouldn’t be reused. But repeated-use containers are not always the best choice either. Unfortunately, even some of the most popular, durable, repeated-use containers might be constructed of plastic that contains chemicals that are endocrine disruptors.
There are alternatives to polycarbonate plastic bottles. When it comes to baby bottles, remember the tried and true glass bottles with latex (natural rubber) nipples. Also, inert containers made of glass or stainless steel are options as well. In fact, if you are an outdoor enthusiast where proper hydration is key, you may want to switch to a stainless steel container. Another advantage of these bottles is that they don’t impart taste to the liquid stored and are therefore perfect for your beverage of choice.
In short, when we drink to our health, it’s a good idea to consider not reusing single use plastic bottles, limiting the use of your existing polycarbonate bottles, or switching to stainless steel and using glass for longtime storage of drinks especially fruit juices.
This column was submitted by David McCaskill, an environmental engineer with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.
