To the editor:
    The Fort Fairfield Quality of Place Council is concerned that County residents could lose a terrific educational and entertainment facility. For more than 30 years the Francis Malcolm Science Center in Easton has taught countless children and adults about the Earth, the stars and the universe around us. The unique planetarium conducts a wealth of kid-friendly activities that are fun and educational for people of all ages.

By U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud
(D-Maine)

    Schools should be a safe place for our children to learn and grow. But we’ve all been shaken, especially parents of school age children, by the Newtown school shooting tragedy.

To the editor:
    Once again, we have a beautiful start to the summer and are not allowed to legally ride the trails in the Caribou area. The postings say because the soil is saturated. I beg to differ, we haven't had rain in over two weeks and the area is so dry you can only get a burn permit for small hot dog and marshmallow fires.

By U.S. Sen. Susan Collins
(R-Maine)

    One of the privileges of serving Maine in the United States Senate is the opportunity I have to meet outstanding young people who are devoting part of their lives to community service and making a difference in their schools and communities. Whether we meet in Washington or at home, I always come away from these meetings inspired by their commitment and encouraged about the future of our state and our nation.

To the editor:
    On behalf of the tens of thousands of Americans with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), I would like to take this opportunity to tell your readers about this life-threatening genetic disease. CF is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States, (70,000 worldwide). A defective gene causes the body to produce a faulty protein that leads to abnormally thick, sticky mucus that: clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections, and obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.

To the editor:
    I have attended two public forums on the issue of mining on Bald Mountain in the last year, one at Ashland High School and one at UMPI. Both were essentially infomercials for the mining industry. Environmental risks were explained away with propaganda about technical advances that will assure drinking-quality water will leave the mining site. At the Ashland forum members of the audience were at least allowed to ask questions and express concerns about the environmental risks and the long-term economic impacts. At UMPI the audience was actively discouraged from participating. At the beginning we were told only 30 seconds for questions or comments, but the presenters left virtually no time for audience participation.

    It was mid-April with the usual hints of Spring; streams of meandering snow, lukewarm sun, muted blue sky, and deceitful shimmers of ice that barely skimmed the pavement. My Goldendoodle, Barney, was 4 months old and we were on our way to my office in Presque Isle for his first visit. In my left hand, I held his leash. I had draped his “puppy bag” over my right arm and with some degree of caution, we set off for the garage. Without warning, I found myself flat on my back, the victim of that sneaky, lingering ice that had been lurking in front of the garage doors.

To the editor:
    If you have been following the letters to the editor from Carroll Knox, you know by now that he is clearly against the feral cat TNR program operated by Halfway Home Pet Rescue. [Note: TNR stands for Trap, Neuter, Return/Release/ Relocate.] Knox has cited studies that “prove” TNR is not effective because, when released, feral cats resume their uncontrolled predation of area species. He is correct. There are many studies that draw these conclusions. But he is missing an important fact of these studies – their design.

To the editor:
    The Caribou Ecumenical Food Pantry has just completed its fourth annual Feinstein Challenge Drive. From March 1-April 30, the Pantry collected monetary donations and food items, in accordance with the rules of the Feinstein Challenge. Once again, this drive was a great success.

By Larry Berz

    In 1967, “City on the Edge of Forever” appeared on the original “Star Trek” series. It unforgettably depicted a fascinating, compelling science fiction adventure/romance in which Starship Captain Kirk and First Science Officer Spock hurtle through a strange, ring-like time portal, called “The Guardian”. Their mission: to recover and save an accidentally drug-crazed Dr. McCoy, the ship’s medical officer who, without authorization, beamed down to the planet’s surface.