A Letter To Our Senators Dear Senators Collins and Snowe:

For some years I have watched your actions and priorities with a keen understanding of the necessity to stand strong or compromise when resulting legislation will achieve all or part of your convictions of the best for our country.

You have been doing a fine job in most instances.

I note from today's paper you are opposed to opening up the oil drilling up north. This is a very environmentally safe and economically important development for the US. The Alaska drilling now has shown that our oil drilling and development specialists are good shepherds of our lands and now, even more so than 25 years ago when Alaska was first developed, their care and concerns will probably cause less damage to theland in the 21st century. The argument we hear always is that they will not help our oil supply for many years. While this may be somewhat true, we are planning for the future with this and oil will always be a necessity.

Of course it will not ever make us oil independent; but by increasing our own controlled supplies and working hard, as you all are to develop alternate energy sources, will alleviate some of our need to cater to the middle east. Oil companies, knowing we have this supply coming on line later, can plan ahead to spend American money on this continent and hire hundreds of employees to fill these jobs in North America instead of overseas. Making more efficient gas mileage cars will also help but only marginally. Better local rail service would also be helpful.

Regards Iraq, I am disturbed by the ?? "peace movement" group, most of whom are those that belittle everything a Republican administration does as "wrong headed" and "for the rich."

You and I and even most Democrats, though they seldom admit it, know George Bush wants war only as a last resort and that we must contain or remove Saddam;yet they continue to repeat the clich "Bush wants War,"a dangerous statement which only helps make the rest of our allies believe they know something special. This makes the "war threat" which our administration is using to depose Saddam much less effective.

It really is close to becoming "aid and comfort to the enemy" and cuts deeply into the understanding that we here in the U.S. are strongly behind our country in trying to protect us and the world from this despot and deadly killer of so many of the good people of Iraq who have not supported him.

And in closing I must mention the only time I felt you were extremely wrong was when you failed to vote to impeach that draft dodging, Vietnam peace marcher activist, Bill Clinton, who was the worst possible role model our country could have ever had to encourage our children to be morally upright and honest when he treated his wife and family so despicably and lied regularly to the press, to us as citizens, and under oath in a court of law; and then as a final blow pardoned cronies and wanted crooks overseas and at home.

A concerned citizen and combat veteran of WW II, George A. Jones

Wiscasset

Washington Peace Rally Misrepresented And Trivialized Dear Editor:

I'm writing in the hope that this letter might make clear the purpose and size of Saturday's peace rally and march in Washington, D.C. One of Maine's leading newspapers grossly misrepresented the size of the gathering and the participation of Maine citizens, thereby trivializing the event and their involvement.

One thousand Mainers braved zero temperatures to take a 12-hour bus ride to Washington, D.C. last Friday night. They joined there, in the bright winter sun of Saturday morning, with over 300,000 others from all over this nation to protest this country's headlong rush to war with Iraq. It was an inspiriting gathering -- friendly, polite, upbeat.

Why then did the Maine Sunday Telegram and the Portland Press Herald misrepresent this event? Why did they report 400 Mainers attended when the number was 1,000? I am outraged that the Telegram reported in the front page headline, 30,000 march in Washington...'' when the number was three times that. Why didn't it say THREE TO FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND rallied in the capital instead of tens of thousands. Why did it quote the Washington police for figures when they are notorious for underestimating crowds. Why did this same article state that peace rallies world wide drew hundreds or fewer, when one in London drew hundreds of thousands and was described Saturday by a member of Parliament as the largest peace demonstration in British history?

The rally was held to help express the views of millions nation-wide that a pre-emptive war with Iraq, or any pre-emptive war is immoral, especially if it costs the lives of thousands of innocent civilians. Further, it expressed the view that war with Iraq is about oil. Does anyone seriously believe we would be doing what we are doing if Iraq did not have oil? We tolerate, or have tolerated, other countries with nuclear arms and other weapons of mass destruction, never suggesting a pre-emptive strike. So why Iraq? If our new age strategy is to wage "clean'' war by intensive bombing in order to reduce casualties among our soldiers on the ground, then it is indeed immoral. Excessive bombing of civilians in World War II (on both sides) and in Vietnam did not break the will of those people bombed and was thus ineffective despite incredible suffering.

The rally highlighted these and many other reasons to stop this headlong rush to attack Iraq. The rally was just the beginning of our awakening to the dangerous path that this nation is taking.

Val Thompson

Edgecomb

Bridge Builder Needed Dear Editor:

At last week's Wiscasset School Committee budget workshops, we seem to have taken steps backwards.

Our school committee members reacted to the recent comments and attitudes of members of the board of selectmen concerning the school budget. A deja vu of 20 years ago, one board pitted against the other. The recent progress of respect and support of each board's effort to present a budget that reflects quality education and town services for the lowest possible cost to taxpayers seems to have given way to the pointing of fingers and criticism of each other once again.

Perhaps if the selectmen have concerns and questions they should meet with the school committee and get answers. In the recent past, First Selectman Ben Rines and the board of selectmen made an effort to communicate with the School Committee and went so far as to support them in thebudget process. The positive tone of those meetings is gone -- once again.

At the suggestion of meeting withthe selectmen, school committee members bristled, being reluctant as they remembered the joint meeting on the boiler account issue.

But someone needs to step up to defuse the negative atmosphere, mend the bridges between the boards, whatever is needed to have our two boards work together once again! They all are our town leaders.

Judy Flanagan

Wiscasset

In Celebration Of Alan Staying Here

Editor's Note:The following remarks are in response to this newspaper's request for comments from school staff members on the five-year extension of Superintendent of Schools Alan Hawkins's contract. The following is a sample of the response we received. Our thanks to everyone who took the time to write.

He's wonderful -- a very, very sympathetic person. He's been a real source of strength to me.

The students see him as a really involved superintendent. When U.S. Rep. Tom Allen came to the high school, the student council members asked Mr. Hawkins to come and sit with them at the front of the room.

Deb Pooler

Wiscasset High School

He is committed not only to our schools, but to our community.

Judy Flanagan

Wiscasset Primary School

He's passionate about kids, appreciates teachers, and believes in public education and community. We are fortunate that he is here.

Don Chase

Wiscasset Middle School

I have never worked with a sharper superintendent. Alan Hawkins has a solid sense of himself, smiles a lot, genuinely likes people, and knows how to get them to work together. Having been a middle school principal is an extra bonus for us at the middle school.

I couldn't be happier that the School Committee has offered him a five year contract. We're lucky to have him and he's lucky to be part of a community like Wiscasset.

Sue Lippert

Wiscasset Middle School

Alan has a true appreciation of the benefits of music education in our school system and he has been very supportive of my music program at the primary school.

Not only does Alan take time to attend the students' performances, but also visits them during music class and encourages their efforts.

Carl Drury

Wiscasset Primary School

I was thrilled when I heard that our school superintendent, Alan Hawkins, had been offered and accepted a five year contract. Mr. Hawkins' knowledge, expertise, management and sense of humor have all contributed to his strong and caring leadership style for the Wiscasset School System.

We are very fortunate to have him working with us.

Linda Bleile, principal

Wiscasset Middle School

I have three children in the school, grades k, 7th and 11th. This year was the first year any of my kids have come home talking about the superintendent of schools. My kindergartner adores that man. They go to his office for story time, he comes to them for story time, she talks about him a lot. I think this should show the community what we have got, and how involved he is with OUR children.

I have been with the system for 17 years and I have not seen anyone like this guy. He is an all around WONDERFUL person.

Cheryl Thayer

Wiscasset Primary School

I am very excited at the arrival of the new superintendent, Alan Hawkins. In the short time that he has been here, he has made a concerted effort to get to know the schools, the students, and the faculty. It is obvious that he cares very much about the students in this school system and that he trusts and supports those that work here.

Last week he attended a physics class while the students were demonstrating a Rube Goldberg project. His presence means a lot to the students and faculty and I hope that Wiscasset is lucky enough to keep him here for a long time.

Laurie Hall

Wiscasset High School

As a teacher at Wiscasset High School, I appreciate his hands-on style. He has visited our science class several times this year.

He runs professional meetings and listens. Come visit and you will hear many good things about our new superintendent.

Chris Riser

Wiscasset High School

I think it's wonderful news for teachers, students and community members. Alan has brought to this position an incredible enthusiasm, an unwavering commitment to our kids, and tremendous experience as an educator.

He works very hard for this community and its children and, as a parent and a teacher, I am thrilled to know that Wiscasset has asked him to stick around!

He has quickly become a part of our schools: he visits with teachers, speaks with the kids, and helps out in innumerable ways. In fact, I must recount one of the most lasting impressions that he has left on some of my students. When the middle school cafeteria staff were short-handed during lunch one day, Alan donned an apron and began washing dishes like a pro. This left the staff and students knowing that he was here to support us, not to dictate to us, and that he would do whatever it takes to lend a hand.

Deb Taylor

Wiscasset High School and

Wiscasset Middle School

As a special ed staff member here at the primary school, I have been very impressed with Mr. Hawkins' caring way with staff and children. He greets them by name when he sees them and the children all know who he is!

Our Christmas visit to his office was a definite highlight. I look forward to working with him for many years!

Lise Potter

Wiscasset Primary School

Alan Hawkins is the first superintendent in a long time who has been physically visible in our school and has taken an interest in all aspects of the schools. He takes a genuine interest in staff and the children.

I have been very impressed in his ability to attend most school functions and his ability to praise and recognize the staff for the work that they are doing each day with the children. Education will go a long way with this man. He is invested in the system.

Sandra Pye

Wiscasset Primary School

Since when does a superintendent spend all afternoon on the soccer field during homecoming? What a pleasure it was to visit with him for the day.

I knew he'd break the record.

Diane Hammond

Wiscasset High School