As a pediatrician and mother, I urge the Brunswick Town Council to vote in favor of the proposed ordinance to end the sale of flavored tobacco. Despite laws to limit sales to those over 21, we know electronic vaping products still get into the hands of our youth, and we are seeing the effects, including […]
Forecaster letters
Posted inThe Forecaster
Letter: Vaping ban story discredited by flawed source
I have been an advocate in the field of public health for over 20 years. It is one of my passions to put the health and safety of my friends, family, co-workers and acquaintances at the forefront of my work. When I became a mom, it became doubly important to put my daughter’s health and […]
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Letter: Primary elections should be open to all Mainers
When I volunteer to register voters, I have an answer for just about any problem that arises as citizens fill out those little green cards. Don’t have a driver’s license? Use this instead. Nervous about sharing your phone number? No problem, that’s optional. It’s an easy, straightforward process – until we get to “party affiliation.” […]
Posted inThe Forecaster
Letter: Nurse says vaping is smoking and needs to be banned
I read with interest your recent article regarding ending the sale of flavored tobacco products. I am in favor of this idea. It’s smart public health policy. Bangor and Portland have passed local ordinances in favor of banning flavored tobacco products, and I hope Brunswick does the same. I am also watching to see how […]
Posted inThe Forecaster
Letter: Give Maine kids a reason to smile
I have spent 35 years in Maine as a board-certified pediatric dentist, trying to provide dental care to as many children as I could. Too many of these children came to me with dental disease that could have been prevented through solutions like the one proposed by LD 1501: An Act to Protect Oral Health […]
Posted inThe Forecaster
Letter: Tax break is a bad deal for Falmouth
With no members of the public speaking in favor of it at its public hearing, Falmouth’s Town Council has unwisely approved a new tax increment financing (TIF) district for an area along Route 100 in West Falmouth that includes the controversial Homestead Farms and Meadow Winds projects. However, we can still persuade the state to […]
Posted inThe Forecaster
Letter: Maine-built destroyers serve our country well
I commend BIW (Bath Iron Works) and PNS (Portsmouth Naval Shipyard) for their dedication in strengthening and modernizing America’s fleet. The Zumwalt-class destroyers are particularly sleek and beautiful and will add stealth capabilities to the American Navy at a key time in our nation’s collective history. But I’ve always had a visual preference for the […]
Posted inThe Forecaster
Letter: Balentine column not a loss, reader response is
John Balentine’s opinions are no longer published in various editions of The Forecaster. One could rightly argue that not having his “views” from only one side of the political spectrum is a loss to and for the community. However, if truth, compassion, empathy and decency are to be valued in our society as the foundation […]
Posted inThe Forecaster
Letter: Scarborough concerned about Costco parking, but what about The Downs?
After reading the article in The Southern Forecaster concerning the Scarborough Planning Board and Costco over the size of the parking lot I have one thing to say: I can only assume that Costco will go the way Cracker Barrel did years ago and build their store elsewhere. If people are so concerned about parking […]
Posted inThe Forecaster
Letter: Statewide ban on flavored tobacco needed
Teen tobacco use is at a staggering high in our state: 33% of Maine high school students use tobacco products, disproportionately affecting marginalized populations, including low-income communities, LGBTQ individuals and racial and ethnic minorities. We know that flavored tobacco products are highly addictive, incredibly toxic and hook our kids based on years of scientific research. […]