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.

There has been so much talk about the swine flu in the media lately. To add to the stress I recently learned that Governor Baldacci has the authority to order that all Mainers be vaccinated.

A rainy day and I have to go to the transfer station because my bag was full of lobster shells and I couldn’t wait until Friday. I do want to say now the people that use the Bristol transfer station are very aware of things going to trash. When you drive in, you never know what awaits you.

The Commission on Governmental Ethics and Elections Practices on Oct. 1 ordered an investigation of Stand For Marriage Maine Political Action Committee and its primary funder, the National Organization For Marriage (NOM).

It may be legally correct for the Great Salt Bay Sanitary District Board of Trustees to dispose of district property as they see fit.

The Damariscotta River Association bids farewell to our Director of Lands and Stewardship of six years, Steven Hufnagel.

This November’s State Ballot will include Question 3 (Citizen Initiative): “Do you want to repeal the 2007 law on school district consolidation and restore the laws previously in effect?”

State issues

Public hearings to be held on Comprehensive Land Use Plan

The Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC) has scheduled three public hearings regarding its proposed Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

Domestic violence educators often talk about the importance of the community’s response as a critical and valuable tool to help end intimate partner violence. Collective voices stating clearly, “Violent behavior in a relationship is never acceptable,” is not only the right action, it is a necessary one.

I hope more citizens are having better luck than we are with the new digital TV antenna system. I also wonder how our seniors are faring with this problem.

On behalf of Damariscotta’s Board of Selectmen, it is my pleasure to welcome our recently elected selectman, David Atwater, to the Board. As many in the community know, David has well served our town as the Damariscotta Planning Advisory Committee (DPAC) Chairman for the past two years. As DPAC’s first Chairman, he was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the Committee and its early successes.