Opinions (Continued from Page D) ernments each month.” Worse yet, the auditors report that someone in the town office gave them false information (“material misstatements”) on at least three separate occasions. The town manager has some explaining to do. When I talk about these issues at public meetings, I am ridiculed, booed at and told to “move out of town” if I don’t like it. Efforts to remove me from the Finance Committee began long before I even had a chance to look at the books. It’s become so strange that my healthy professional skepticism (20 years experience as a nationally-recognized investigative reporter) has morphed into actual suspicion about where the money is really going. We clearly have critical fiscal problems in Casco. I don’t like it one bit, and I’m not going anywhere until this mess is cleaned up. Nothing short of an independent forensic audit will shake loose the truth. Help me get to the bottom of what’s going on by getting involved in the process. Call the town office (627-4515) and request a copy of the latest Annual Report. Be sure to get the “Management and Opinion Letters,” too. That’s where the truly damning information can be found. Then join us at the annual town meeting in June and cast your ballots to lower your taxes and raise Casco’s standards of accounting. Jeannine Oren Casco Finance Committee member
Ski patrol
Imperfect
To The Editor: We are imperfect people living in an imperfect world. It seems to me that we must make every attempt to bring about a better world. In our little corner of this world called Casco, each one of us must build up our community. We need to recognize those gifts, which enhance the best in our neighbors. Unfortunately at this time, we are failing to see the good in what we have as a community. A person’s opinion should be valued and not attacked simply because it doesn’t mesh with our way of thinking. We need to be more tolerant and less harsh in our everyday encounters with our neighbors. I believe that the people of Casco wish to have a caring, sensitive and forward-looking community. Each of us must do his or her part to bring about a respectful, engaged and positive atmosphere. On another note, I wish to state again my admiration for Dave Morton, our town manager. As a public servant, he has always given his all to the well-being of Casco. He is truly an administrator and leader par excellence. I am thankful for his leadership and the caring manner he has demonstrated in serving us. Ronald J. Hawkes Casco
To The Editor: Kudos to the Shawnee Peak Student Ski Patrol for their excellent performance at Sugarloaf. To The Editor: During a recent illness, it became very clear to me how fortunate those of us are, who use the services of the Bridgton Buying and Hospital. I experienced an Offering incredible group of doctors, US Coins nurses and staff that work there. Gold & Silver I especially want to sing the Bullion praises of a group of doctors I call my fabulous five champions. 142 Main Street My list begins with Conway, NH 603-447-3611 Metal Detectors Emergency Room Dr. Joseph
Bridgton Hospital
TFCD
• Tree Removal • House Lot Clearing • Pruning • Brush Mowing
• We Buy Standing Timber • Crane Work • Firewood TFCD53 25 Years Experience - Fully Insured
Friendly Riders
To The Editor: Winter is over, and I would like to say “thank you” to a lot of people who helped the Harrison Friendly Riders Snowmobile Club. First, to the landowners. Thank you for letting us use your land as part of our trail system. We have almost 40 miles of trails and most of it crosses private land. If you have any questions or problems, please do not hesitate to call me. Second, to the local businesses, which supported us by buying an advertisement as part of our trail map and sponsoring a class at our annual radar run. Third, to the small army that helps me get the trails ready with bush cutting and bridge repairs. Thanks to Searles Excavation and Mark Doucette and Sons for donating hours of equipment time. Fourth, thanks to Stacy Worster, Jason Baker and Chris Searles for spending hours in the groomer fixing the trails after a busy weekend or a snowstorm. Thanks to my wife, Nancy, for riding with me for 10 or 12 hours at a time. Thanks to the people who came and helped when the groomer broke down or got stuck, always at 3 o’clock in the morning. Our machine spent almost 200 hours grooming trails this year. And thanks
last to the people, who register their sleds and joined the club in Harrison. It costs a lot of money to keep the trails in good condition. Our used Tucker cost the club $60,000, and we used about 800 gallons of fuel this season. Lastly, to the people who ride the trails and are not a club member, join a club. It does not have to be ours, but one where you ride the most. We do not ask or get any money from the town. Henry Hudson, Jr. Trailmaster Harrison Friendly Riders
LePage editorial
who won’t fight back. Does that sound familiar? When the media gets together and picks on one person, are you not creating the same scenario as you just said? That is just what is happening to Paul LePage. The media is constantly waiting for him to do or say something wrong and they go after him. This is a form of media bullying. How much bullying has the NAACP done over the years? The leader of the NAACP was bullying Governor LePage because he would not meet with him immediately on Martin Luther King Day. How much did the mainstream media bully Governor LePage for that remark when he told President Obama to “go to hell.” The media was relentless in bullying him. This, in my opinion, is a way that Governor LePage was telling the media that they were not going to bully him in making the wrong decisions — that he has made his decision and he will stand by it. Let’s not forget that when Governor Baldacci was in office, he took a stimulus package and look what happened. No one knew it had strings attached to it. It prevented Governor Baldacci to make cuts in the welfare system because of the strings attached to it. That is why, in my opinion, he did what he said. So, let’s not make Governor LePage the bully here. He is the victim of the mainstream media to label him as such. Richard E. Cross Naples Editor’s note: It is The News’ policy that editorials carry the initials of the writer. In this case, the author was Staff Writer Gail Geraghty — G.G. Secondly, Mr. Cross in his letter referred to Geraghty’s writing as an “article.” Items appearing under the heading “Viewpoints” in our Opinion Section are “editorials” generated by staff writers. This letter was edited to comply with our 600-word count policy. — W.R. (Wayne Rivet, Editor).
when Gov. Paul LePage has stopped putting his foot into his mouth? Answer: We can’t tell, because it hasn’t happened yet. My recollection of Maine’s governors goes all the way back to Horace Hildreth and, for the life of me, I can’t remember any previous governor acting in such a patently arrogant, offensive manner. To paraphrase Dale Carnegie, LePage’s approach to governance could be titled, “How to Lose Friends and Antagonize People.” Therefore, kudos to The Bridgton News for your April 7 editorial, which criticized our governor for what he is: a garden-variety bully. Clearly, he is used to dealing with dissent by firing anyone who disagrees with him, but he’s rapidly discovering that he can’t fire the state legislature, or the 62% of the electorate who voted for somebody else. It remains debatable, however, whether that fact will cause him to change his ways. No sooner had he returned from his Jamaican vacation than he started blaming the legislature for the ineffectiveness of his first 100 days. Like most bullies, he seems incapable of conceiving that his own belligerent actions might possibly be at fault. So onward he charges — the proverbial bull in a china shop. Some weeks ago, I wrote a letter to the editor criticizing LePage for his crude, vulgar statements. At that time, I considered him nothing more than an obnoxious boor with a penchant for saying really stupid things. Since then, however, his actions suggest that he is something far more dangerous: a dyed-in-the-wool tyrant. For example, consider his objection to banning the dangerous chemical additive bisphenol-A, suggesting it was like an estrogen that could cause women “to grow little beards.” Not only did he betray his appalling ignorance of basic high school science, but he clearly valued the profits of Chinese plasticbottle manufacturers more than the health of Maine’s children.
To The Editor: This is in response to G.G. — whom ever you are — and the editorial column entitled, “LePage the Bully.” Who ever it was must have been too embarrassed to sign his or her name at the bottom of the editorial. Well, I am not. The editorial he or she wrote is an embarrassment to anyone that read it. It is an embarrassment to he or she that wrote it. It is one thing when Governor LePage told the NAACP to “kiss my butt” or told President Obama to “go to hell,” but he is not bullying anybody. To say that is him telling what he thinks and that he will not be bullied by media outlets. Just because he was blunt and did not sugar candy coat the issue is not bullying anybody. I believe this is a way he is telling the mainstream media that he will not be bullied by them. He doesn’t care what the media says. He made that perfectly clear on Inauguration Day in his speech. The mainstream media started bullying him from day one, on just about every decision he has made in regarding to balancing this state’s budget. The media are bullies, and the reason is because you can’t bully him around and get away with it. You, G.G. and other media outlets, could not exist if you didn’t do some bullying yourselves, just as you have in To The Editor: this editorial. We all do some Question: How can we tell LETTERS, Page D degree of bullying when we write or say something that offends someone. It’s no big deal unless you make it a big deal, which in this case, you Automotive Repair have. When you dramatize an Member Collision Repair issue and get people to react to Tires • Car & Truck Accessories your editorial it is just another STATE INSPECTIONS form of bullying. Trailer Hitches & Accessories You stated in your editorial Sales & Installations that bullies cannot exist without Dale McDaniel, Owner victims, and they don’t pick Phone: 207-647-8134 Fax: 207-647-4314 on just anyone; they prey on 487 Portland Rd., Bridgton, ME 04009 TF10 those who lack assertiveness,
Gov. LePage
Think Outside the Big Box! Think Home Grown Lumber!
Quality
lumber and flooring products
at the lowest prices! Locally Owned – Visit us to plan your next Green Building project.
DENMARK SELF-STORAGE
Locally Grown and Harvested Premium Wood Products
Center Conway, NH
TF51CD
10' x 10' Unit $50.00 per month
207-452-2157
Shubert. Because of his keen instincts, he had me see Gastroenterologist, Dr. Stuart Eisenberg, who diagnosed my problem and put me in the good hands of Surgeon, Dr. Stephen Olson. After Dr. Olson preformed his magic, Oncologist Dr. Hans Boedecker took over my care. Finally, I ended up with my new Primary Care Physician, Dr. Paul Laband. These talented men, in part, are all responsible for saving my life and restoring my health. I also want to give recognition to the nurses, Lindy, Leslie and Caroline in the oncology room at the clinic. Their expertise and caring for each one of their patients did not go unnoticed. A heartfelt “thank you” to all of you. As a footnote, anyone putting off a colonoscopy because of the dreaded gallon of Trilyte prep mixture that must be ingested, it is not your only choice. Dr. Olson offers an alternative. He suggests a bottle of Miralax mixed in two quarts of Gatorade. Phyllis La Fontaine Harrison
TF12
Letters
The news article didn’t mention the volunteers who have trained and supported them. Kudos, also, to those volunteers and parents who have supported their efforts. And, thanks to Ed Rock and the men and women of Shawnee Peak, who make it all possible. JoAnne Diller North Bridgton
April 21, 2011, The Bridgton News, Page D
603.447.3800
CUSTOM CAR WORKS Custom Auto • Collision • Repairs
TF30
STATE INSPECTIONS
Cars • Commercial • Trucks & Trailers • Motorcycles
GENERAL AUTO REPAIR Latest Diagnostic Tools
A.S.E. Factory-Trained Technician
For all your construction needs… Big or Small TF
400 North Bridgton Road Bridgton, Maine
High Low 7AM Precip Snow 62° 31° 41° .33" ---65° 40° 46° .39" ---59° 37° 37° Trace ---39° 32° 33° .84" ---57° 24° 25° ------45° 23° 25° ------44° 25° 41° 1.42" ---58° 36° 37° .50" ----
207.647.3089
TF16
WHIT BUILDERS
M & S BUILDERS of MAINE, INC.
Excavation/Transportation
Complete Site Work
NEW CONSTRUCTION and REMODELING
Commercial/Residential General Contracting
Foundations • Roads • Driveways Septic Systems • Sand • Gravel • Low Bed Dump Trailers • Tri Axle
207-803-2233
Corner of Otter Pond Rd. & Rte. 302, Bridgton Rob & Steve Whitten
Additions - Garages - Decks Roofing - Windows - Doors Eric Wissmann General Contractor
388 Foxboro Road, Lovell, ME 04051
TF24
Date 4/11 4/12 4/13 4/14 4/15 4/16 4/17 4/18
TF16
Day Mon. Tues. Wed. Thurs. Fri. Sat. Sun. Mon.
Tel: 207-925-2043 Cell: 207-756-5979
MSBuildsGC@aol.com