Dear Editor:

School Bus Driver Appreciation Day is Friday, Oct 19 and we would like to thank the Alna, Westport and Wiscasset bus drivers for a job well done.

The safety of all our children are in the hands of these superb drivers for 175 days of the year come snow, rain, sleet or hail.  We would like to salute them for their time, patience, extreme flexibility and for great team work.

What a great group of people to work with. Thanks for all you do and again.

Happy School Bus Driver Appreciation Day!

John Merry

Supervisor of Transportation

Editor's Note: a copy of this letter was sent to the newspaper.

To Governor John Baldacci:

Governor Baldacci, Governor Baldacci, Wherefore art thou Governor Baldacci? I'm sure that you are well aware of the raging controversy going on in the town of Wiscasset and surrounding towns concerning a proposed 735 megawatt coal gasification power plant and diesel oil refinery. In fact, (correct me if I am misinformed) I understand that the sponsors of this proposal made a presentation directly to you in your office.

I, my family, and many of my friends who helped send you to Congress and to two terms as Governor of this great state of Maine, are appalled by the deafening silence emanating from your office. Given your avowed pledge to make Maine the "greenest state" in the nation, and given your position on mercury pollution, how can you remain hidden behind your desk, totally silent on a matter of such urgency not only to the 20,000 constituents in Wiscasset and surrounding towns, but to the entire state of Maine.

How can you continue to ignore the potential plight of the lobster fishermen whose industry is vital to the economy of Maine, and whose industry in the Sheepscot and Back River would be utterly destroyed by Mr. Houldin's plans.

I am surprised that you did not tell Mr. Houldin to take his dirty coal plant and global warming CO2 emissions back to wherever he and his investors, who would hope to profit at Maine's expense, hail from. Frankly, I yearn for the good old days when the likes of Mr, Houldin would have been tarred and feathered and run out of town on a rail.

I am enclosing two documents for your information and edification. One is from the Back River Alliance and the other is a letter to the editor of the Wiscasset Newspaper. A copy of this letter is also being sent to several newspapers throughout the state.

I, and at least 20,000 others, respectfully await your personal response.

Very Truly Yours,

Morton R. Mendes

Westport Island

Dear Editor:

In these troubled times I find that it often helps to put things into perspective if one can find a bit of humor in an otherwise humorless situation. That said, I submit the following:

The following telephone conversation was recorded by a Wiscasset friend of mine who forwarded it to me. I thought you would get a "kick" out of it. I certainly did.

Caller: "Is this Mr. So and So?"

Friend: "Yes."

Caller: "I represent the folks at Twin River Energy. May I take a few minutes of your time to talk about their proposed coal gasification power plant and diesel oil refinery facility in Wiscasset?"

Friend: "Sure, but may I ask you a few questions first?"

Caller: "Of course, go ahead."

Friend: "Are you representing the same folks from a Connecticut outfit called National RE/sources whose president, Joe Cotter and his `boy scout' front man Scott Houldin rode in to town a few years ago on a big white horse with all kinds of plans and promises about how they would save Wiscasset and restore its tax base?"

Caller: "Well, I don't know anything about that.

Friend: "Well, Let me enlighten you. You really should know about this before you make any more calls."

Caller: "OK. Thanks, go ahead."

Friend: "A few years ago these National whatever people convinced the town of Wiscasset to sell them the former Mason Station with grandiose promises to clean up the toxic wastes on the site and to turn the Mason Station into a complex having fancy restaurants, boutiques, even a hotel and maybe even a cooking school. On top of that, they promised to build a 239-slip full service marina and to build luxury homes and condos on the remaining property. This project would go a long way to restore the tax revenues that had been eroded by the closing of the Maine Yankee nuclear power plant, which for years had provided Wiscasset property owners with pretty much of a free ride. `Vunderbar,' we said. Let's go for it."

Caller: "Yes, I did hear something like that from another person I called. But I was told by Twin Rivers not to discuss such matters. Then what happened?"

Friend: "Why, mostly nothing. The unsightly smoke stacks were torn down. Two houses have been built but not sold.. There is no marina. The Hinkley Company that was to have run it pulled out of the deal. There are no condos, no hotel, no boutiques, no restaurants, no cooking school. Even all of the toxic material in the Mason Station has not been removed. In fact, if you drive through the area, it looks a desert with a big ugly power plant on it."

Caller: "Gee, no wonder almost everybody that I have called so far has asked "How can I have any faith in what they are promising in the light of their past performance?' "

Friend: "I attended two public hearings where this project was discussed. The Twin River people put on quite a dog and pony show. Most of the citizens who talked were dead set against it. They had some awfully convincing arguments about what would happen to the quality of our air and our water and what a 230 ft. monster looming on our horizon would do to our town image. They were concerned about the effect on the lobster industry and the wormers, what with 400 x 70 ft. coal barges running up and down our beautiful Sheepscot and/or Back River every day. They were concerned with potential spills, pollutants, truck and rail traffic, noise, odors, lights, security. Mr. Houldin either didn't have any answer or if he did, it was totally unsatisfactory. He couldn't even tell us where some 8 million to 12 million gallons of water was to come from. Can you imagine investors planning to invest $1.5 billion and not know about this vital ingredient in the formula?"

Caller: "OK. Let's get down to business. Twin Rivers will guarantee you lower taxes, and cheaper electricity. What's more we will even throw in a week of luxury living free in the new condos or hotel once they are built."

Friend: "Hold on there, sonny. Yes, there will be some tax revenues for Wiscasset to possibly lower taxes, but what about the loss of value to our houses and the loss of revenues from local businesses that go out of business as Wiscasset changes from Maine's `Prettiest Village' to Maine's `Grittiest Village.?"

Caller: "Let's talk about jobs. Twin Rivers will provide some 700 jobs during construction and 200 permanent jobs thereafter. How about them apples?"

Friend: "No doubt there will be jobs during the construction period, but most of them will be filled by experts brought in from away, and as for permanent jobs, Mr. Houldin has admitted that most of them will be highly technical, unlikely to be filled by Wiscasset residents. This sounds to me like another empty promise."

Caller: "Let's talk about cheaper electricity. Twin Rivers says it can produce electricity for as low as $.02 per kilowatt."

Friend: "Yeah and I know of a gas station just outside of town where you can still buy gasoline for 87 cents a gallon. Trouble is they are always out of gas. Experts tell me that the cost of electricity in similar coal gasification plants is more like 6 to 11 cents a kilowatt."

Caller: "Look. Give me a break. I'm just a paid professional telephone solicitor. I get paid by the number of calls I make. And I've already spent entirely too much time on this one call."

Friend: "Fair enough. But just a few more things. There is this Back River Alliance that is putting out some very interesting and apparently reliable information. They have a web site, www.backriveralliance.org . The web site is loaded with dynamite statistics and facts detailing the havoc that the Twin River project will bring to Wiscasset and the entire surrounding area. You can learn all about numerous proposals all over the U.S. that have been cancelled or rejected."

Caller: "Sorry, I've got to hang up."

Friend: "That's too bad. I still haven't told you about the industrial park fiasco. That one is a humdinger that cost Wiscasset close to $2 million with zero, ziltch to show for the money. Maybe you can call me back some other time and I'll give you the full story on that empty promise.

"Please give Mr. Houldin a message from me. I was born and raised in Wiscasset as were most of my friends. We did not just fall off a turnip truck. Most of us can even read and write and all of us have been across the Bath bridge more than once. Mr. Houldin's promises hold no more water than an eye dropper. In fact, at a public hearing on Westport Island, when asked if he would guarantee his statements, he said `NO.' This was recorded on the tapes that he refuses to return to a Mr. Jack Swanton who was given permission to tape the hearing. Now these incriminating tapes have been destroyed. Mr. Houldin has promised to replace them, but like his other promises, this has yet to occur.

"A long time ago my grandfather told me `Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.' Tell Mr. Houldin to get back on his horse. Point it East or to whatever direction will take him out of town and take his snake oil medicine with him. Until now we have had no poisonous snakes in the state of Maine."

Morton R Mendes

Westport Island

Dear Editor,

Sometime between the removal of the ships Hesper and Luther Little, which were in Wiscasset harbor from 1932 to 1998, and the arrival of the smooth-talking boys from Greenwich, Connecticut (wearing $280 Gucci loafers with no socks) the town seems to have lost its heart and soul.

Born of a rich seafaring history and always guarding is working waterfront, Wiscasset is about to throw all that aside for empty promises from a group that has already gotten nearly $1 million in local tax incentives and federal grants.

Now again they come to you to change your ordinances so that they can build a 25-story structure. If approved, National RE/sources (a.k.a. Twin River) gets the opportunity to apply for and receive a federal grant worth millions under some obscure program.

In return, we get 22 pounds of mercury (the most in Maine), destruction of the lobster industry and tourism, death of the working waterfront, the smell of coal and chemicals, coal dust, light pollution, noise, traffic, and certainly more children with asthma, cancer, kidney disorders, leukemia and learning disorders.

The Bible says that we are stewards of the earth. If you believe that, then the people of Wiscasset and the midcoast region must respect that stewardship and practice it. We must protect our waterways, protect against adding carbon dioxide to the sky, protect against further global warming and protect our children from disease. Simply put, our job is to protect the entire region for future generations.

Let us regain our heart and soul. Let us keep our working waterfront, lobster, clamming and worming industries, and let us keep clean air for our children.

Say no to National RE/sources and the Twin River project until we get some real answers: answers about mercury, carbon dioxide, noise, where 10 million gallons of water is coming from, how the coal will be shipped, and whether they can and will burn garbage from out of state. National RE/sources and Twin River know the answers, but they are not telling us.

Stan Lane

Westport Island

Dear Editor:

Anybody find the words "coal-gasification" or electrical co-generation" in the 230' stack proposed ordinance? Non-specific terminology is an open license to steal your vote in the name of lower property taxes. How about reducing ridiculous spending!

Much intelligent information has been provided regarding the detrimental effects of coal-gasification. Little or none has been provided for the trash incineration, which qualifies as well compliant with the 230' stack proposed ordinance. Best comprehend the wording.

With a general nationwide real estate value downturn of 20 percent - try a 60 percent downturn with trashification in your town.

For the 1,000 registered voters who never exercise their right - you hold the key to saving the commercial area of this town, as well as our neighbors.

Your vote "no" is valuable; apply it to build a lifeline for the regional future.

Prior Morrell

Wiscasset

P.S. Red's Eats may be able to offer fly-ash flavored lobster rolls on the menu if the ordinance passes.

To the townspeople/taxpayers of Wiscasset:

I urge you to vote "yes" for the good of Wiscasset, our state and the future of our children, and here is why.

I grew up in Wiscasset and intend to grow old here as well. I was born about the same time Maine Yankee was coming to be, so you could say I was here for the glory years or that I was along with many of you who benefited from the economic growth that had occurred at that time and still are.

I am married and have two children that are currently enrolled in our Wiscasset school system. My two children are enough reason for me to be voting "yes" to provide a possible economic future for them to grow into here in our small town. Without economic growth where do our children go, out of state? Let's provide them that chance for betterment in our town, in our state.

Wiscasset is and has been a power plant town for quite some time. We have been left with an infrastructure of power lines and switchyards from our two previous power generating plants (Mason Station and Maine Yankee). I see this as a great opportunity for attracting another generating facility such as the one being presented to us. I also see this as an opportunity to re-establish our tax base to take care and maintain the infrastructure that we have grown accustom to over the years, with our community and the communities around us.

Let's remember by voting "yes" you are giving the project (Twin River Energy) presented to us (Town of Wiscasset) the ability to move forward in the permitting process at local, state and federal levels. By voting "yes" you will be saying that you would like to see this project go forward. There are some questions and answers that still have to be figured out and I believe they can be throughout the permitting process.

I do believe that when this project comes to see the light of day that it will be held to the highest of standards (economic and environmental). I am also very confident that concerns about the use of the river can be worked out between parties involved.

As a community we need economic development and this is our opportunity.

Vote "yes" on the ordinance change.

Thank you,

Duane Goud

Concern Citizen/Taxpayer

Chairman, Board of Selectmen

Dear Editor:

It's hard to find a place in town these days where the subject of the proposed power plant isn't being talked about. Some are for it, some against. I've taken my time to make my own decision because I wanted to read up on the subject. The company is making claims of benefits and the opponents are making a lot of accusations. What is the truth? Well, we'll never know unless we give the project the green light to move into permitting so we can find out.

This town has a long history of power plants that were Wiscasset's two largest taxpayers. Most of the services we enjoy today were once funded by Maine Yankee and Mason Station. Now we're stuck with the tab of keeping them going on our own.

Opponents are arguing that this is the wrong town and wrong area for a gasification plant. I'm sorry, but those horses already left the barn. We were host to the state's only nuclear power plant for 30 years. Let's not forget, we are still the state's only host town to a nuclear waste storage facility. We still have massive electric infrastructure not being used to its potential. Wrong town? I can't think of a better one.

I want my children to be able to have better opportunities than their parents. The tax relief alone would help us tremendously to stay in our home and raise our kids. Better job opportunities could not come at a better time in the Midcoast as BIW constantly lives a congressional vote away from closure or significant downsizing. And I know my electricity and heating bills are too high already. I don't see any relief in sight without a major project and more like them on the way.

The way I look at it is we badly need this type of development in Maine and it is inevitable. Why wouldn't Wiscasset want to greatly benefit from the inevitable when our town is the best positioned for this type of use in the entire state? Vote yes!

Sincerely,

William Davenport

Wiscasset

Dear Editor:

My understanding is that, as a taxpayer and voter in this town, I have the input on the taxes going up or down. When voters in town voted on the referendum ballots last June that outcome set the tax rate for our future tax bills.

If I am correct, the voters vote to set the dollar spending amount for each budget item to be allowed to spend. Then the selectmen and department heads allocate how that amount is spent. If this is correct everyone in town who voted those amounts in June really set our tax rate.

If this town is spending more than it's taking in, isn't it the voters responsibility for that when we place a vote, and more so if we chose not to vote.

Referendum ballot style voting was put in place by the majority of townspeople for a reason - making voting more convenient and "less pressured," allowing everyone assistance when voting. Even if you are asked to vote more than once on the same item, you need to vote each and every time. Otherwise your first vote doesn't even count.

Therefore think carefully when you do place a vote and keep in mind you are kind of signing a contract that you are willing to see your taxes increase every time the budgets are passed, as they are now. If you don't want to see your taxes go up, vote to control that spending.

We can't keep blaming the selectmen and the department heads when we as voters are giving them that money in the first place.

It is the voters' responsibility for the budget allowances in town. That's my understanding on how town government works, but I may be misunderstanding this whole process and if so correct and educate me please.

Gertrude Perkins

Wiscasset Taxpayer

To the Editor and Citizen Volunteers:

People can give each other energy. All of the people in the boats and on the docks for Thursday's rally to support the fishing industry and vote down the coal plant made that loud and clear in their chant, "SAY NO TO COAL!" It was so good to see folks there from 15 different communities, united in their vision to keep Maine clean, healthy, and beautiful. This is an issue for all of us that share this special space.

One little boy saw his parent holding up a sign and also wanted to do so. He came to me and wanted to make one. I asked him what he wanted to say, and he replied, "NO COAL PLANTS." I asked him if he could spell. He said "no," but he knew his letters. Although somewhat illegible, one could see it was important for this little boy to be part of something bigger. We are all connected to each other.

Thanks to everyone who took part of their day to support the message. We're all in this together.

Pat Smith

Westport Island