Remembering Pearl Harbor
To the editor:
So on Dec. 7, 1941 at 7:55 a.m., Japan’s military staged a sneak attack on the Hawaiian islands at Pearl Harbor and also striking America’s military installations, at the Schofield Barracks, the airfields at Hicham, Wheeler, Kaneohe Bay and Bellows; killing 2,403 service people and wounding 1,178. The attack launched America into World War II. Battle Ship Row was devastated. The U.S.S. Arizona was sunk and its crew entombed within it and the U.S.S. Oklahoma lost 429 men.
Please join American Legion, Henry B. Pratt, Jr. Post 15 and Caribou VFW members and their Auxiliaries for a ceremony at the Fort Street Bridge in Caribou on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 9 a.m. as we honor these soldiers that paid the ultimate price and our veterans.
God bless our troops, God bless America.
Bob Huston, commander
Shelley O’Rourke, publicity
American Legion
Henry B. Pratt, Jr.
Post 15, Caribou
Such a sweet deal!
To the editor:
This is a response to an editorial by Phil Cyr, containing no rhetoric, ideology or suppositions — just the facts.
I retired at full retirement age from RSU 39 in September of 2009 after 36 years of teaching. I currently pay $1,200 a month for my wife and I to maintain the health insurance we received from the school system. In the four-plus years I have been retired, my net pension income has gone down $276 per month.
What a deal! Do the math folks. Where will this trend put me in 10 years? Right where I am, working at Irving Farms.
David Martin, Caribou
Editor’s note: This letter was intended for last week’s addition but was left out due to our error.
‘Cadillac’ teacher benefits
To the editor:
Several retired teachers (or their spouse) replied in the Nov. 27 Aroostook Republican about my Nov. 20 letter stating that Caribou can no longer afford the cost incurred by our school department. They “corrected” me in saying they don’t get paid any vacations or holidays. Call it what you will but the fact remains teachers are paid what most would consider a full year’s wage to work 180 days, which equals 36 five-day weeks, leaving the equivalent of 16 weeks off from work per year.
In my letter I stated that my impression is teachers get two months’ paid vacation per year. I guess I was wrong, it actually figures out to over three months off from work per year.
My comment was in response to the teachers wanting more pay to work a couple more days per year. Teachers are currently paid between $30,000 and $55,000 to work only 180 days per year. Wanting more money to work a couple extra days sounds like more than Caribou taxpayers can afford.
The Aroostook Republican of Nov. 27 has an article about the school’s pending budget and how the health insurance cost is going up $260,000, possibly at taxpayers’ expense. President Obama’s health insurance plan is designed to increase the cost of health insurance for everyone in order to cover those who have not had insurance. So do I understand this correctly, Caribou citizens, many without health insurance, are faced with increasing property taxes to pay for the teachers to continue enjoying their “Cadillac” health insurance, is this correct? Does that sound fair to the taxpayer?
If everyone with health insurance in the country is expected to pay more for their health insurance per Mr. Obama, why do the citizens of Caribou have to pick up any of the teacher’s increase? Most people have to pick up the entire increase themselves, why not the teachers?
The point of my letters is that Caribou can no longer afford to pay what the teachers’ union is asking. With decreasing student enrollment, it makes no sense to keep asking the taxpayers to pay more every year. Teachers will just have to adapt as most Caribou citizens already have.
Phil Cyr, Caribou
Thanks to caregivers
To the editor:
In the United States, approximately 42 million adults provide what is called “unpaid” care, yet many do not consider themselves to be caregivers. A lot of these individuals are struggling with the daily responsibilities of being a caregiver. A new study shows that nearly three in ten people who are taking care of someone say their life has changed because of caregiving. Many caregivers admit that things like their social life or their ability to make time for themselves has drastically changed. They might consider visiting www.aarp.org/caregiving to connect with help, information and with others with the same experience.
As we get together for the holidays now and in the weeks ahead, this is a wonderful time to acknowledge the critical role caregivers play in our lives. AARP has developed the “Thanks Project” to send love and gratitude to those caring for a loved one. Visit thanksproject.org to thank your favorite caregiver. I’m thanking mine: without my daughter to help me, my life at 90 would be very different and I’m grateful every day for all she does.
Jane Magnus
AARP volunteer, Windham
