At the heart of every YMCA are the staff members and volunteers who make a difference, who exemplify the Y’s core values, caring, respect, responsibility and honesty. The CLC YMCA has volunteers in its walls every day making a difference. I would like to recognize some of those volunteers.

This is the first time I felt so much empathy for someone falsely accused of a crime. Karl Tarbox was asked to drive this person home from the Montsweag Roadhouse one and half years ago on Halloween eve, because she had too much to drink.

If 9/11 had never happened, it is possible that the last great American nightmare, our last national “remember where you were moment,” would be the school shootings at Columbine High School in April 1999.

First came school consolidation, which was a good idea but then the economy tanked. Now comes a portion of what I have been advocating for years, eg., transfer all 43 students in Somerville to Windsor. Close or even sell this school; find a buyer or a host of other uses for it. It won’t cost more to maintain either way.

I am writing my first letter to the LCN because I am extremely concerned about the upcoming Bristol Town meeting and decisions that will be made there, especially those that greatly impact the children of our town. Many members of the budget committee feel we need to continue to cut teachers and increase class sizes, despite the recommendations of the school committee and administration.

Like a schoolyard bully, the state just keeps picking on the smallest kids on the playground.

I wish I had called the LCN to take a picture of the sea of Dunkin’ Donut cups that were all over the side of the Poor Farm Rd. It is a disgrace to see trash on the sides of our roads.

To the Editor:

We all knew it would just be a matter of time before the topic of same sex marriage moved to the front burner again.

To the Editor:

On Monday, March 1 Miles Memorial Hospital League begins a new era. This is the opening day for our new Thrift Shop/Rummage Sale at the Wheeler Building, 114 Church St. Damariscotta.

To the Editor:

If your reporter John Maguire correctly quoted Lincoln County Commissioner Lynn Orne in a story about a Southport suicide, Ms. Orne needs some education.

No case is harder to accept than the homicide of an innocent child killed at the hands of an adult caregiver. Unfortunately today there are simply too many of these cases. That is why I have spoken out against the Governor’s proposal to cut state support for our regional Child Abuse and Neglect Councils.

To the Editor:

I oppose the construction of any of the three proposed Bypass alternatives for the following reasons:

a. The Dollar Cost of building any of the Bypass Alternatives: The approximate $100 million would be better spent on repairing existing roads and bridges.

While Congress works to address key energy and climate challenges facing our nation, news out of Washington suggests some lawmakers are once again looking for an easy out of making the serious decisions and taking the bold actions necessary to create a new clean energy economy. This leaves me feeling uneasy.

To the Editor:

Regarding the commentary “Should the state or federal government manage our recreational fisheries” by Rep. Leila Percy that ran in the 2/11/10 edition, I think some clarification is in order.