To the editor:

In July 2010 the Disability Rights Center vs. Maine Department of Education lawsuit work group submitted a report for a corrective action plan concerning the education of blind children. It is also well documented in The Resolve Report 2009 mandated by the previous legislature that visually disabled students are not being taught what they need to learn. Federal law mandates that these student must receive an appropriate and free education. There are many blind children in Aroostook County who are not getting an education here in 2012.

To the editor:

It has been my privilege and honor to serve as the volunteer head coach of the Special Olympics Aroostook Snow Dogs basketball team. When I embarked on this journey on Nov. 5, 2011 by welcoming 25 athletes to our first practice, I underestimated what a positive and life-altering experience this would be. In the three short months since we started our season, these fine athletes have exhibited the utmost in dedication, commitment to excellence, sportsmanship, and teamwork, all with bright smiles on their faces! They have represented themselves, their families and communities extremely well, and I am so proud to be their coach.

By Leslie Gervais

February is National Teen Dating Violence and Prevention Awareness Month, and it is critical that we take the time to remember that domestic abuse and violence is not just a problem for adults. One in three adolescents in the U.S. will be a victim of physical, emotional or sexual abuse from a dating partner. Sadly, 80 percent of girls who have been physically abused in their intimate relationships continue to date their abuser. Two thirds of teens involved in an abusive relationship never tell anyone.

I know I have spent a lot of time writing about the Internet, and I apologize to those of you who, for whatever reason, do not use computers for genealogical work. Depending on how you view it, of course, the good news is that there will probably always be some resources that will not be digitized. And it will still be decades before most of the old records make it online, so it is important not to let your “hands-on” detective skills slip. Collecting memories is one of the most critical skills to keep fresh.

Knitting groups are quite popular on college campuses, a trend explained by one of my young customers in this way; “Knitting gets me off my computer.” I would have preferred to hear, “Knitting is a practical and beautiful outlet for my creative energy”, but age has taught me to focus on the result, while ignoring the motive. Nonetheless, I was thrilled to hear this acknowledgement by a 20-year-old that, perhaps, life shouldn’t orbit the twin planets of Facebook and YouTube and that the manual dexterity unique to humans can be used for something other than texting. Toss me a bone and I’ll run with it.

To the editor:

I’m positive that Michael Puleo, the first official basketball coach for our Special Olympics basketball team, would be very proud of the legacy that has taken place since he formed this team. It has been a spectacular year for the Snow Dogs, the team that represents Aroostook County in the Special Olympics Basketball Program.

To the editor:

In response to Joan Theriault’s recent letter, I must agree with her. We are not a huge city with a vast population of people eager to serve the city government and the headaches which that choice can hold. Farmers and businesses have good and bad years. Private citizens might have good years with a mixture of many unexpected crises hovering in the background like possible job loss or a serious family illness, or both, and that could make them fall behind on their tax bill. This is life and it does not give us the right to make these people second class citizens.