U.S. should be climate change leader

To the editor,

In response to the Guest Column by retired pastor Tom White (Kennebunk Post July 29, 2022), all I can say is we need expert advice on climate change, not the musings of someone who has a 48-year-old degree in environmental science. I do not have the scientific knowledge to refute the Rev. White’s assumptions re: chemicals. I do question, however, his comments on global warming.

In recent years scientists have referred to climate change rather than global warming. As they have learned more about these phenomena, they have found it more accurate to say climate change. This is because we are experiencing unusual, often harmful events that are out of the ordinary.

The pastor’s reports of record snow in Alaska, record heat in the U.S. and Europe and a cold winter in South America may be examples of climate change. Other examples are catastrophic fires in the west of our country, dangerous droughts and lack of water in the southwest (eg. the Colorado River), and stronger, more frequent hurricanes and tornadoes.

As for chiding China and India, these countries are aware of and are taking some action. The U.S. should be the leader in combating climate change – since the industrial revolution, we have contributed far more emissions than other countries. Meanwhile, China is leading the world in producing solar energy, an opportunity we are missing. We need to hear from scientific experts on these threats to life on earth and what we can do about them.

Victoria Adams
Kennebunk

Elderly housing needed in Kennebunkport

To the editor,

The town of Kennebunkport is finally thinking about building a new town hall on the 87 acre Village Parcel property it purchased four years ago. While a new town hall is sorely needed, so is some form of elderly housing.

Kennebunkport has one of the oldest year around populations in the state and it has no elderly housing so once residents reach an age where they can no longer stay in their homes, they must leave the town many of them have lived in for years if not their entire lives.

The majority of the Village Parcel is zoned Free Enterprise and eldercare facilities are a conditional use which includes a number of options including 55-plus, independent or assisted living and nursing homes. It also allows densities that make it feasible to develop. At a time when affordable housing in non-existent in town, there are limited options for seniors, especially widows who either can’t afford to keep their homes or can’t live alone. As property values rise so do taxes, insurance, energy costs and upkeep. There are also wait times at many nearby elderly facilities.

The Village Parcel is suitably located in the center of town and would provide easy access to sidewalks and other amenities and hopefully medical facilities.

It’s time for the selectmen/woman, Growth Planning Committee and Planning Board to get together and address the needs of a large percentage of our population, let them know how you feel about this.

Bill Case

Kennebunkport