Withdrawing from House race

Dear community members,

I regret to announce that I’m withdrawing from the race as the Democratic candidate for the House of Representatives, District 49 (Cushing, Friendship, Union and Warren). After great thought, and despite my truest intentions, I’ve decided I could not fulfill the role in the next two years to the best of my ability as your elected official. Circumstances in my own life have changed recently and at this point in time, I feel that I cannot continue the race as my time and energy needs to be focused towards my career as I continue to pursue a path in public education.

I cannot thank everyone enough for their time and energy from the start of campaign season through the recent primary and during my 2010 campaign! I’ve been overwhelmed by the support and enthusiasm which I’ve received through many interactions and phone calls. Though difficult, I feel that I’ve made the right decision and in doing so, I’m proud to give my support to fellow Independent candidate Jeffrey Evangelos of Friendship. Jeff has incredible drive and a passion to bring forth positive changes to Maine and to our communities. He is a hard working individual who has been active in our communities throughout the years. I am so hopeful that members of our party and our district can put their full support behind Jeff as he campaigns for the House seat in the state Legislature.

Thank you all again, it has been a pleasure to meet you, hear from you and I do hope to one day serve you!

With heartfelt thanks,

Shelby Chadwick
Warren

Restroom request

Yes, it’s nice to move ahead with new inventions now and in the future — but sometimes we could bring back some items of the past. When it comes to public restrooms in many places across the state of Maine when traveling with his or her family — he or she enters the bathroom and you’re ready to leave and the bathroom tissue is out of sight, and the soap machine seems to be empty. Let’s go back a few years and put back the roll of toilet tissue on the wall and the person won’t have to hunt for each piece — and we will be happy.

Gordon Wotton
Thomaston

Help for Humane Society

I write this letter to all the people of Knox County to say thank you for your support that allowed the Humane Society to finally get another building built that now allows the separation of all cats coming in that need to be examined prior to being placed into the general population to be either adopted or to be placed into foster care until such time as a home can be found.

Now that the new building is being used for the purpose it was built for, there is the ongoing problem with equipment that is needed to ensure that all the cats receive the proper treatment and care that is needed, so if you can help in this area please speak to the staff at the shelter in this area.

Now for another area that is in need of ongoing assistance and that is the wish list as it is called and this list does not stop at just what is being requested; it is an ongoing request that must be met every day in order to ensure that all the animals at the shelter receive the proper care and treatment they need until they are either placed in a home or placed in foster care.

The wish list includes: cans of cat and dog food, large rawhide chew bones, rugged dog toys, plastic cat toys, cat treats, dog treats, string cheese, hot dogs, peanut butter, kitten milk replacement, kitten milk bottles, toilet paper, trash bags, Ziploc bags, disposable rubber gloves, liquid hand soap, hand sanitizer, bleach, dish soap, laundry soap, and gift cards to Hannaford’s, Lowe’s, Staples and Walmart.

The wish list is very important and if you see anything that you can get or provide it will be greatly appreciated and the animals will thank you in their own way.

Again, many thanks to all of you who do help in all areas and if any of the animals could say thank you I am sure they would say thank you in their own special way.

And I say thank you one and all from your animal control officer of Thomaston and South Thomaston.

Robert Robinson
Thomaston

Gratitude from Pet Pantry

On behalf of the Penobscot Pet Pantry volunteers and the people they serve, I’d like to thank the local community for their support of our big yard sale on June 16. The weather was good, the crowds kept coming, and, by pulling in $2,000, we far exceeded expectations. I’d especially like to thank the American Legion for the use of their meeting hall for the sale, E.L. Spear for providing aprons to our volunteers, everyone who donated items, and the various merchants and organizations who let us advertise in their yards and windows.

The Penobscot Pet Pantry gathers food and distributes it to needy families once a month from the Camden First Aid Association building, and we wouldn’t exist without the generosity and help of the community. Thank you.

Andrew East
Founder, Penobscot Pet Pantry
Hope

Open letter to Neal Guyer, interim superintendent, RSU 13

For some of us, your email last Thursday stating you were no longer one of the finalists for superintendent was a surprise, as we didn’t know you had applied. For others of us, we have to take full responsibility for talking you into applying. In either case, the district, taxpayers and the school board have benefited tremendously from the leadership you have provided over the past six months.

We all have seen how effective your collaborative and open approach to leadership can be. You have demonstrated the importance of teamwork from your first day as interim superintendent.

You made the budget process our budget process and in doing so created a sense of ownership and commitment to specific long-term district-wide goals that will with time and persistence result in RSU 13 becoming a destination school district.

Over these last few months you have repeatedly asked each of us to examine how we do business and to look for a “better way.” From that approach some very good things have happened: special education services have been reviewed and revamped, consistent district-wide instructional schedules were developed, early intervention services have been improved, and a standards-based reporting system is about to be piloted next year along with a literacy database. All in just six months. Not bad!

Simply said, thank you for your direction and leadership over the past six months. It has set a strong course for the future of RSU 13.

Thank you,

Beth Chamberlin, Tom Forti, Kathy Hollicker, Todd Martin, Mary Alice McLean, Ralph Newbert, Shannon Parker, Larry Schooley, Susan Stilwell, Scott Vaitones and Tom Wright
The RSU 13 Administrative Team

Searching for Sage

On May 23, our beloved dog Sage went missing while we were out of town. Sage is mostly white with brown patches, a Springer/Brittany Spaniel mix, completely blind and almost completely deaf. We are offering a reward for her safe return.

So far this amazingly resilient dog has been extremely difficult to find and everything is more complicated given her special needs. The second week she was tracked to the western slope of Mt. Pleasant in Union/West Rockport, then spotted and tracked at the north end of Wottons Mill Road in Union. Now, she's been spotted by three different people (two at the same time) on Appleton Road in Union (Route 131 North) near the swimming area on Sennebec Pond as recently as early morning on June 21.

Unbelievable as it may seem, we are sure it was her. Since it is so rare to get a sighting, it is essential to act immediately when she is spotted. If you see her, please stop, stay with her, get a hold of her, and call us. She would be very interested in food. She follows the sound of clapping better than a voice. Mornings and evenings she seems to be active.

We are in awe of the dedication and energy of those that have come forward to help. Many others have been touched by imagining what she is going through that even a younger, sighted and hearing dog would find overwhelming. Sage has proven herself to be not as helpless as we feared and even smarter and stronger than any of us could have imagined!

Words fail to express our gratitude. Many people and organizations continue to donate their time and resources — making and hanging posters and signs, placing newspaper advertising, worked social networking, and even more. We thank the businesses and organizations that let us put up "Sage Lost" posters in prominent places. We thank the multitude of landowners that let us search their property, look under their porches and outbuildings, in their barns and comb their fields and woods. Even though we are offering a reward, these people are giving out of the kindness of their hearts. If you are moved to help, email us at: ribeck@midcoast.com (subject line: “Finding Sage”) and we will put you on a notification list. We are not able to answer every email. Please do not go off searching on private property on your own.

While we are sad that all this effort and searching hasn't brought Sage home yet, with this recent sighting, we do know she is alive and not giving up, so we can't either. We have hope that she will appear again soon, and someone will take action to get her and call us immediately — any time day or night, 390-0078 or 785-4165. At some point in the future we will remove the "Lost" posters and hope to let you know she has been found!

Thank you!

Gail and Fred Ribeck
West Rockport

Dance for Good

I would like to thank all the adventurous souls who turned out and danced in support of local nonprofits during the eight weeks of “Nia: Dance for Good” and Meg Sideris of High Mountain Hall in Camden for renting her space to the fundraiser for a song. Together we raised more than $650, every penny of which was donated to: The Community School, Common Journey, Coastal Mountains Land Trust, University College at Rockland, The Rig, New Hope for Women, Camden-Rockport Animal Rescue League, and Merryspring Nature Center.

Meg Barclay
LedgeEnd Studio, Camden

Thank you

I would like to thank everyone who voted for me on June 12 to the Waldoboro Board of Selectmen.

I appreciate this opportunity to be on the selectmen’s board and will do my best in making the right decisions.

Everyone needs the right to express their opinions.

Carl Cunningham
Waldoboro