The massive public reaction to the tragic deaths of three black teens at the hand of white police officers has led to a national call for use of body cameras to record and prevent any future mistreatment of suspects.

As we gather to celebrate the Christmas holiday this week, each according to our own customs, we take a minute to savor the Christmas spirit.

I feel a need to respond to letter writer Craig Elliott’s rant in the Dec.18 edition where he ironically accuses Susan van Alsenoy of racism for her altogether proper denunciation of the virulent racism that is rampant in many urban police departments. (“Disgusting and racist” Page 4)

As we celebrate Christmas, and later New Year’s Eve, I would hope all would take a moment to also celebrate and remember our young men and women serving all over the world.

As we approach New Year’s Day, we find ourselves thinking about resolutions.

The most common resolutions seem to focus on our bodies. Lose weight. Quit smoking. Exercise more. Admirable goals all.

Before we descend headlong into the Christmas season, we would be remiss if we did not take a moment to mark the 73rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, coming up this Sunday, Dec. 7.

Once again it is my great privilege to thank and recognize the members of the Miles League and the St. Andrews Auxiliary for their dedication and hard work in support of our organizations.

This has been one of the best Thanksgivings of my life and it was not because the turkey came out moist or the family got along.

I have read a lot of post election analysis over the last two weeks. Many pundits who clearly haven’t liked Governor LePage over the last four years have written pieces that express befuddlement as to how he got re-elected. There is one fact which has gotten very little attention and that is that our current governor got the highest vote total for that office in Maine history (291,937).

As we sift through the rubble of last week’s election, two things are apparent to us.

The hysteria sweeping the country about Ebola is completely unwarranted. It’s just bald, unknowing fear. Ebola is almost as difficult to contract as AIDS, and for the same reason.

We’re off to a great start with thousands of homes without power due to our first winter storm of the year. Hats off to Central Maine Power crews for doing the very best job they could restoring power.

We are just about to hit prime time for the retail season and as we do, we urge you to remember our local businesses.

We have days on our calendar, and rightfully so, that specify times to honor certain groups of people.