Thumbs up to Sanford High School Principal Al Young, Assistant Principal Doug Roberts and School Resource Officer Mike Gordon for their smooth handling of the unfortunate stabbing incident at the school Thursday.

Gordon and the administrators should be commended for adhering to emergency response procedures that helped them maintain calm and control after one student allegedly stabbed another in a bathroom.

Thumbs up to the Saco Historic Preservation Commission’s decision to get an opinion from the Maine Historic Preservation Commission on the historic value of the former Bay View Convent property. It’s a big decision to say whether the building is historic or not, especially since developers say it will take an exorbitant amount of money to make it inhabitable again. The commission is making the right move to get a second opinion.

Thumbs up to the teachers and other organizers involved in the York County Regional Fine Arts Program, which allows talented students to learn more about their area of interest from professional artists. Fine arts instruction is limited in public schools and is always subject to budget cuts. This program provides an opportunity for students who may be considering a career in the arts to learn more about their subject area and further develop their skills.

Thumbs down to the decision to double the rent at the building used by Sanford Maine Stage Theater. New owner Bill Plante has said expenses associated with the mortgage and upgrades he plans to make are the reason behind the increase. While it’s clear that work does need to be done to the building, surely Plante must realize that by funding it all at once he may be forcing the theater out. An increase to the rent is understandable, but doubling it is just excessive and may deprive the community of a creative outlet.

Thumbs up to the Biddeford City Council for their decision to place a moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries until the state Legislature makes its ruling about dispensary guidelines. This is a wise move that will prevent any wrangling that could occur if a dispensary is approved by the city under different rules than those that will be handed down from the state.

Thumbs up to all the Interact Club and Rotary volunteers who participated in the annual fundraiser, the televised Rotary Auction, March 21. All those who purchased items in the auction and the businesses who contributed should also be commended for being part of this community effort that will benefit local projects. A special congratulations is in order for Jerry Lapierre, building manager for the community center, who was honored during the auction with a Paul Harris Fellowship. Lapierre’s community service includes work with the Westbrook Skating Rink, The Community Bicycle Center and Trek Across America.

— Thumbnails is a Monday feature of the Journal Tribune’s opinion pages. If you would like to respond, please write the Reader’s Forum via e-mail at jtcommunity@journaltribune.com or by dropping your letter off at our Biddeford or Sanford offices.



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