There is an old saying that goes something like, “As Maine goes, so goes the nation.” In truth, the old saying is probably something more like, “As (proudly insert home state here) goes, so goes the nation,” but we here in Maine can rightly feel that ours is a unique window on national leadership.

From Nov. 24, 2008, through Jan. 5, 2009, the organization known as The Friends of Fort Edgecomb (FOFE) has been much in the news. Let me provide some explanation and clarification of this organization’s mission and goals.

Those of use who have been around the block a few times can remember an almost extinct dinosaur called “customer service”. A decades-old company (Sears) built their reputation and therefore, their business on this same work ethic.

I understand, from recent letter writers to LCN, that you take a meat cleaver approach to letters whose contents you do not agree with.

Joined by the anti-war and anti-Bush liberal print and TV media, the Democrats promoted and extolled the belief that the reason why the USA invaded Iraq was Saddam’s WMDs. Not true! The real issue was and is the threat posed by Syria, Iran and Al Qaeda as manifested by the murder of over 3000 US citizens on 9/11.

An update regarding the issues facing Maine from Augusta.

To the Editor:

It has been roughly 17 days since the 15-inch storm we got here in Waldoboro. What is the town waiting for to get these sidewalks clear?

On Sat., Jan. 10 while dropping wood at a friend’s house, I discovered a second level deck door open about two feet. Thinking the owners could possible be at camp, it was either blown open when left unlatched or it could have been a break-in… which, as I thought later, could still have been in progress!

As the Legislature prepares to act on the Fiscal Year 2009 supplemental budget and begins serious deliberations on the next biennial budget, it is a good time to think about how some of the proposed budget reductions will affect health care in our community.

To the Editor:

On Jan. 27, in accordance with the School Consolidation Law proposed by Governor Baldacci and passed by the Legislature, the voters of School Union 74, along with the voters of School Union 49, and the Town of Jefferson will go to the polls to vote on whether or not they wish their school district to become part of a combined Alternative Organizational Structure.

After attending another meeting by the Newcastle Land Use Ordinance Committee, to see the proposed changes to the ordinance it is obvious that the townspeople and landowners do not want this, as written. However, I feel our voice is falling on deaf ears.

Too much of what was being debated was simply one person imposing his or her values and interests over someone else’s values and interests.

Eivend Boe makes a case for a National Health Service, paid for by taxation and administered by the Government. However one or two points seem to have escaped his notice.

To the Editor:

The year 2008 has gone and it is a time to reflect on the 118 animals that were seized or released to the Lincoln County Animal Shelter. All now have new and loving homes. Robert Todte, of Target in Topsham, Mark Gimbel of Gimbel’s in Boothbay Harbor, and Simpson’s Fish Market in Wiscasset, all helped to provide financial assistance for the care of the Shelter animals.

I would like to take this opportunity to extend my appreciation to the Rotary and Lions clubs for their recent recognition of my volunteer work. While I accept this recognition with gratitude, I also would like to accept it on behalf of those hundreds of volunteers who work tirelessly in anonymity to serve Lincoln County residents.