The Maine State Senate has defeated a bill, LD 1438, which would have approved allowing charter schools to operate in Maine, as 40 other states already do.

Charter Schools are public and do not add to the tax burden of either the state or local governments. Not all parents approve of their local public school for their child and charter schools offer another educational choice.

Saturday’s education budget meeting in Windsor set a budget that many will not be able to afford. The end result for each of the eight member towns in the RSU will be a 17.75 percent increase ($2,225,130) in the funds they need to raise in property taxes to pay for the increase in the budget.

In response to Paul’s [Marseglia of Dresden] letter last week about gas and cigarette taxes. I know what you’re saying Paul, but what’s the alternative?

I hear a lot of complaints about taxes but seldom do folks offer solutions. We have to raise money somewhere to keep roads, state parks, schools, etc. operating.

I would like to commend the Transfer station in Nobleboro for now having a place to dispose of ‘flashlight’ batteries; small batteries that used to go in the general garbage and get burned, thereby putting a lot of cadmium and other chemicals into the atmosphere (see http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1525/is_n6_v78/ai_14263165/).

The Alna Volunteer Fire Department would like to encourage all Alna residents to attend the Public Hearing scheduled for Wednesday, June 24, at the Alna Meeting House at 7 p.m.

It’s about time someone stood up and told the state where the bear went through the buckwheat.

Prompt any local official; any selectmen, or school board member, any firefighter or Code Enforcement Officer, and they will likely wax poetic about the burden of un-funded mandates rolling down from above.

I would like to thank those who voted for me in the June 9 election. I am aware of the responsibilities I am facing and the trust you have shown in me. I am looking forward to working with you all for the next three years.

It was Winston Churchill who said, “The best argument against Democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter.”

It wasn’t the first dollar I ever earned but it was close to it. For 35 years I hoarded it away in a scrapbook with never a thought of it being spent, at least until this week.

This summer marks a triumph for our town. Lincoln Academy’s Climate Action Club has spent the year campaigning to reduce the use of plastic bags in Damariscotta. We developed a plan in which reusable bags would be sold in local stores. Now our vision has come to fruition. The bags are coming.

On May 23, a successful town-wide road clean-up was accomplished in Jefferson. Many, many thanks to all the volunteers who helped with the effort.

Harold Benner will be missed.

On Thurs., June 4, a tragic, yet totally avoidable accident claimed the life of Harold Benner within a short distance of his home. He was driving responsibly, as he always did, and fell victim to someone driving on the wrong side of the Rt. 235, most likely at excessive speed.

The battle has been joined. Already we hear that the health insurance industry is investing massively in a public relations campaign to defeat inclusion of any government sponsored component in upcoming health care legislation. Even the “Swift Boat” team is resurrecting itself to join the fight.

The story goes that legendary Lakota Sioux war chief Crazy Horse would ride into battle encouraging his warriors with the war cry “Hoka hey” which, in the context of battle, translates into the cheerful slogan: “This is a good day to die.”