Editor,
I am frankly flummoxed by Diane Davidson's editorial about excessive traffic at the East End Beach car/truck ferry loading facility. I am an engineer on the Maine Narrow Gauge RR and cross Cutter Street six times a day with a train, several days a week, and have never noticed any "overload" at this landing. Considering all the other better uses of Portland waterfront, it is hard to imagine where this modest ferry traffic at East End Beach could be relocated without disruption to someone else's "backyard."
This seems to be a classic case of NIMBY, so I suggest the Friends of the Eastern Promenade just get on with life and live with it. The traffic through there seems pretty steady for the past three years I've observed it, so I don't see this as a "growing" problem. The Friends do many great things for our city, but this effort to move the ferry won't be one of them.
It seems to me the only place the ferry dock could relocate would be up the Fore River somewhere, which would increase operating costs for the ferry, and thus transportation rates for the Islanders (farther to travel, more fuel, more labor cost).  That doesn't seem a very neighborly thing to do.
Let's get on with more serious issues, if there are any. Like the terrible possibility I heard of today that Shelley may not be back this summer with her hot dog and lemonade stand at East End Beach. Now that's serious!

Donovan Gray
Portland

Editor, (and Thank You in advance, if you do publish)
Bob Higgins' most recent column ("You ARE the 1 percent," May 17) brings great opportunity to draw a "connect-the-dots" picture, going from A to B to C and so on onto F. Rather than to come down so hard on Non and No-Show Voters in the most recent School Budget Election how about putting the accountability, (call it blame if you want), to lie right at heart and center of the Perpetuator, the City of Portland. A, for "Apathy", connected to B, "Buffoons","Babysitter", ________ or fill in your own blank, C, "Cash Cow of the City",________or fill in your own blank, D, "Demographic Disregard","Distrust"?,_________ or fill in your own blank, E, do we even have an E? and finally the infamous F,________, I'll fill in the blank but keep it to myself.
Mr. Higgins' piece clearly shows resounding Voter Apathy for what my guess would be "just one more local 'supposed' beneficial solution that the City is touting"; Buffoons, speak for itself, Babysitter is questionable to the actual ability of the Schools' functioning these days; Cash Cow of the City, for how long now has almost every major issue facing the City been deflected to the illegitimate outcry to rally the troops for "our Children's Future", while at the same time ignoring that the Futures of yesterday's and yesteryears Children ARE HERE NOW, TODAY! My "future" Grandchildren from the same old tired recitation of 20 years ago ARE HERE TODAY! (Isn't that called the despised term, "Rhetoric"?); Demographic Disregard, when again the City continues to just look at the straight numbers, as they did with entering the Resettlement Program to pick up some cash without regard to any "special needs" that would be filling the School System as it becomes the Great Babysitter; disregard for "Cultural" diversity impact, etc.. ...
People fleeing their homeland to escape Human Rights Violations and Atrocities aren't going to go rushing out to make any waves about the awesome Educational opportunity that they perceive their Children to be getting. (I know this, My own Mother was a full Korean Immigrant that didn't speak English when she came here and for years after). "FINALLY", there, there's the only "F" that I can give you, here; and I could go on and on right now, but I can't.

Audrey Spence
Portland

Editor,

It is amazing to read the number of disingenuous comments (Legislative Committee re Tar Sands Moratorium) that John Quinn, executive director of the New England Petroleum Council, can manage to roll into one statement.
It is true that the City of Portland did not pass a ban on the purchase of fuel that would come from refineries processing tar sands. What Mr. Quinn failed to mention is that a much more specific and stronger recommendation has just passed committee that would ban tar sands coming into Portland harbor or piped alongside Sebago Lake. This stronger language will be voted upon by the full City Council in the days ahead.
It is true that the U.S. State Department findings re tar sands shipment did make the assessment that tar sands is similar in character to conventional crude. But what Mr. Quinn did not add was that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found the State Department's analysis deficient in several major areas and has suggested a return to the drawing board on the issue. Also, Mr. Quinn did not note that over one million citizen statements critical of the State Department report have been filed.
Recently the Obama Administration has announced that judgment on the Keystone XL pipeline will be delayed until the fall of this year and possibly into 2015 due to the necessity for further study. In this regard, the Maine Legislative Committee is in step with the national sentiment by asking for additional information from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection concerning risks associated with transporting tar sands. I see these delays as incremental victories giving us all more time to educate ourselves about tar sands and its dangers to our local health and the health of the planet.

Sincerely,

Nicole d'Entremont
Peaks Island
Maine

Editor,
A historic Greek revival duplex at 127-129 Park St. in Portland has recently lost some of its defining exterior detail to theft. The house is one of two extant in the city that feature richly carved and scrolled window head trims, a creative modification of Greek-inspired detail possibly unique to Portland. The other house remaining house with this detail is at 8 Sherbrooke St. on Munjoy Hill. The Park Street window caps had been taken down for paint removal, and one was temporarily displayed on the wall of the upstairs dining room of Bintliff's Cafe on Portland Street. According to Bintliff's owner Joe Catoggio, he took the piece down for cleaning recently. It was sitting on the floor leaning against a counter when a familiar customer noticed it and asked if they were going to throw it out. Employees thought the man was joking, but he suddenly left, scooping up the massive pine piece and shouldering it as he hurried out. He hasn't returned since.
The loss of this trim, estimated value $2,000, is a severe setback to property owner Steve Whittier, who is trying to bring the Park Street property into compliance with Portland's Historic Preservation ordinance. FMI please contact Steve Whittier (879-6081) or Joe Catoggio (774-0005).

Tony Taylor
(author of Worcester's Architectural Neighborhoods (1976), Fitchburg Building Traditions (1985), etc.)
Buxton