A great store

To the editor:

We are the proud grandparents of a new addition to the family, Lila, who flew to Maine from Maryland for her first Thanksgiving.

We needed a high chair and a “pack and play” to make our home infant friendly, once again.

The Kidz Clothesline, a consignment shop on Stanwood Street, was suggested to us by a friend for having an extensive inventory and great people working there.

Mandy, owner of the shop, and Darlene, who works there, are both caring and knowledgeable grandmothers. In fact, Mandy’s grandson was holding court in a high chair when we visited.

Mandy and Darlene understood our needs exactly. They were both wonderful to work with and generous. We were amazed and soon understood why the shop was so busy.

They have a wonderful and full inventory, and everything was well organized and very clean. Being there had us almost wishing we could start all over.

When we do need something for one of our grandchildren, Kidz Clothesline will be our first stop from now on.

It’s so important to support local businesses, and this one provides a wonderful service with such warmth and good cheer.

Prentiss Weiss
Brunswick

Thanks for votes

To the editor:

I want to express my thanks to the 5,617 voters who supported my campaign for Cumberland County commissioner, and my theme of thoughtful, moderate governance.

We received a respectable 45 percent of the vote. I am particularly humbled by the 85 percent vote of support in Gray from those who know me so well after my years of service to its citizens.

It was interesting to see that more voters in Brunswick left their ballots blank than voted for either candidate. Perhaps I was unsuccessful at getting out my message to its residents that I believe someone independent of party connections can be well-suited to bring reform, moderation and teamwork to government.

In any case, I congratulate Commissioner- Elect Gorden. I am confident that he will serve the public responsibly and competently.

Mark Grover
Gray

Bravo for Bouchard

To the editor:

What a great commentary by Jim Bouchard in the Friday, Dec. 2, edition (“Where is this ‘unbridled’ capitalism?”).

That was one of the most well thought-out, direct and clearly expressed responses that I have ever read in this paper.

I have to agree wholeheartedly with Mr. Bouchard that the system we currently operate under, rather than being unbridled capitalism, is more of a European socialist model. We haven’t operated under a truly capitalist system since Franklin Delano Roosevelt was president, and one could argue that it goes as far back as 1913, when Woodrow Wilson established the Federal Reserve Bank.

The current system of crony capitalism is so muddled and distorted by federal and state government intervention, whereby politicians attempt to manipulate the minutiae of the market place, that it’s almost laughable to call it capitalism.

An example of this is the real estate bubble that burst in 2007, and the subsequent subprime mess that has plagued the country. This was brought about by the politicians in Washington, forcing banks to lend to people who had no business getting a loan in the first place (the Community Reinvestment Act), in the name of affordable housing.

Without the government meddling, the mortgage mess would have never happened. This is just one of many examples of politicians and not the marketplace trying to pick winners and losers. Solar and wind power also fall into this category.

The more government intervention we have, the less liberty and freedom we will have. It is individual liberty and freedom coupled and our capitalist system that have made this country great, and if we want to remain great, then we must restore liberty and freedom to their rightful place. Kudos to Mr. Bouchard.

God bless America.

Chris Cloutier
West Bath

Accountability lacking

To the editor:

We are told that we have had four town councilors — which might barely be legal or might clearly be not — sitting in an unpublicized meeting staring down (in silence) a group of railroad neighborhood residents while the Brunswick town manager tells them what it would be wise not to do (“Private audience: Brown, 4 councilors attend closed-door meeting with rail depot foes,” Nov. 30).

But it was not an attempt to bully anybody.

The councilors profess that their silence during the meeting satisfies some criterion of non-attendance. Legal opinion other than the town’s own congenial representation suggests that it does not.

Similar controversies have arisen before. What could they be thinking?

Over the past few years, the council has attracted attention to its obstinate indifference to the will of its constituents (my letter to the editor, “Peeved by polite input,” May 10, 2010) and particularly to its willingness to skirt the boundaries of its own statutes and Maine law on a startling number of occasions, from the appointment process for the town manager through the massive charity allotment to interstate developers and the curious processes involved in the location of the prospective police station.

Others have noted their mysterious proceedings (DeWitt Kimball’s letter to the editor, “Where do you stand?,” Nov. 29).

On one occasion that a referendum has been proposed, sufficient support materialized that the council was compelled to back down in the face of embarrassing repudiation. They did, however, prevail in the end without the need for popular support.

It is a pity that only a few “representatives” are accessible at each election and, even more a pity that the people do not have the opportunity to consider the return of a town meeting.

And why not?

Edmund R. Peay
Brunswick

A job well done

To the editor:

Brunswick’s historic Lincoln Street has been recently renovated with entirely new systems, including water, sewer, pavement, granite curbs, esplanades and handsome sidewalks made with paving stones.

The work took place over the summer and early fall. Many thanks are due to John Foster, town engineer and director of the Brunswick Public Works Department, as well as all those involved in making the decision and completing the work.

The workers did a beautiful job, and the result is a source of great pride for the town, the neighborhood of northwest Brunswick, the residents of Lincoln Street, and us personally.

Well done, and thanks to all involved with this excellent outcome.

Robert and Cristle Judd

Brunswick