Dear Editor and citizens of Lincoln County:

I have kept my lips sealed long enough. I am a concerned mother of a teen-aged boy that has gone astray by hanging out downtown after school and engaging with others in smoking, etc… He has been told by his parents and officials to “shape up.” He is now going to attend outpatient rehab for his behaviors.

Watch television during any election night news coverage and note that almost as soon as the first visible percentage points of the vote total rolls in, some pundit will opine with authority that the preliminary results are either a humiliating defeat for one side or a sweeping emphatic victory for the other.

I could write a long winded letter about the makeup of the 700 people who voted against Wal-Mart; how the dreaded strip mall from Old Rt. 1 in Damariscotta to Nobleboro came to be; why Hannaford expanded; why Damariscotta Hardware is presently expanding; the addition of Dunkin’ Donuts to the strip along with an office supply store; a dialysis clinic; a new Round Top store; oxygen supply store; Hunts lumber store; DB&T Bank; low income housing, etc…

I suppose living in Nobleboro might not qualify my right to comment; but it seems to me, as a user of US 1, my rights are just as important as the next driver’s.

In response to the article last week about expanding the moose hunt to Lincoln County, I believe there are several important factors that hunters and non-hunters alike need to remember and take into consideration.

In response to Mr. Olsen’s letter claiming that gay marriage is harmful to children: “Think of the Offspring,” (LCN, page 4, 10/8/09) I too, grew up on a farm in Lincoln County, and my parents were also loving, patient, hard working and committed to their children. They also insisted on respect for difference and equality before the law for all the varieties of us.

It is almost up to us. Soon enough the issues will be wrested from the lips of the spin doctors, the smooth talking professional lobbyists and the all-too-earnest volunteers and the time will come for each of us to make our own decisions.

The yes on 1 ads seem to be saying that if gay marriage is recognized by the state it will have to be taught in schools. They seem to be trying to scare us that it will create new gay people- mostly young ones- if they are “taught gay marriage” in school.

One of the great things about Maine government is the citizen’s petition, which allows private citizens to bypass the legislature and present a question directly to the voters at large.

I don’t know why the town of Damariscotta is sending out questionnaires and holding meetings to see how the town wants to go in the future. I think they made it abundantly clear when they let themselves be led around like a puppy dog on a leash by two wealthy women from away.

It is correct to view gay marriage in the context of “perpetuation of the species,” but analyses showing that gay marriage will somehow decrease or denigrate our society’s ability to perpetuate itself show little grasp of real social and economic forces and lead to the wrong conclusion.

I find the television ads about curriculum changes that may happen in Maine if the new law allowing same sex marriage is not stopped very scary.

It is the position of this newspaper that the current same sex marriage debate is a divisive battle of semantics.

While we respect leaders, even those we disagree with, we really think the legislature dropped the ball.

Sen. Olympia Snowe is a small, frail looking woman who looks like she never gets enough sleep or enough to eat.

However, Snowe is a leader worthy of the national stage and as her historic vote on the Senate Finance Committee Oct. 13 shows, she is not afraid to take a position when she has to.