Preliminary Results

	PRELIMINARY ELECTION RESULTS - LISBON, ME
	NOVEMBER 3, 2009
	STATE & LOCAL BALLOTING RESULTS
	Ward-1	Ward -2	Total
State Referendum Questions
Ques #1 - Reject same-sex marriage law
YES	1299		1299
NO	660		660
Ques #2 - Decrease Automobile Excise Tax
YES	535		535
NO	1414		1414
Ques #3 - Repeal School Consolidation Laws
YES	730		730
NO	1193		1193
Ques #4 - Voter approval of tax increases
YES	925		925
NO	1013		1013
Ques #5 - Maine Medical Marijuana Act
YES	1078		1078
NO	869		869
Ques #6 - Highway Bond Issue
YES	1204		1204
NO	723		723
Ques #7 - Constitutional Amendment Additional Time to Certify Petitions
YES	791		791
NO	1126		1126
Municipal Results
Town Council - At Large 3 yr
Pomelow, Lori Ann	918	837	1755
Bard, Leon Ernest	743	895	1638
Write Ins
			0
Town Council - Dist#1 3 yr
Lunt, Mark Curtis	989		989
Ganong, Jeffrey Brian	686		686
Write Ins
			0
Town Council - Dist#2 3 yr
Curtis, Gordon Delbert		481	481
Swatsworth-Turmelle, Michelle Frances		335	335
Bowie, Michael Robert		686	686
Garrison, Gregg William		202	202
Write Ins
			0
Budget Advisory Bd - At Large 3 yr
Fellows, Donald (elected)	1451	1551	3002
Write Ins
			0
Budget Adv Bd - Dist #1 3 yr
Write Ins
			0
Budget Advisory Bd - Dist #2  3 yr
Fitzgerald, Dorothy (elected)		1517	1517
Write In
			0
Budget Advisory Bd - Dist #2 1 yr
Write In
			0
School Committee - Two 3 Year Terms
Yergin, Kathi Louise (elected)	1000	1080	2080
Reed, Herbert Leslie (elected)	978	976	1954
Write Ins
			0
School Committee - 1 Yr
Caron, George Paul	1418	1451	2869
Write Ins
			0
Water Commission 3 yr
Wells, Kenneth Richard	678	563	1241
Gurney, James, Jr	913	1096	2009
Write Ins
			0
Municipal Referendum Questions
	Ward-1	Ward-2	Total
Ques 1 - Lisbon Trail System
For the Bond Order-YES	1138	1242	2380
Against the Bond Order -NO	702	723	1425
Ques 2 - New Water Line Route 9/Upland Rd
For the Bond Order - YES	1178	1337	2515
Against the Bond Order - NO	651	601	1252
Absentees Cast:			0
	Ward-1	Ward-2	Total
Total Ballots Cast:	1961	2055	4016
			59%
Registered Voters:	3357	3456	6813
	Ward-1	Ward-2
Wardens:	Sheila Gray	Monique Gayton
Ward Clerks:	Karen Hanlon	Dona Stewart
Registrars:	Gwen Michel	Lorraine Dunn
Election Clerks:	Camille Booker	Helen Baumer
	Connie Doboga	Dorothy Smith
	Janice Jordan	Shirley Ricker
	Elizabeth Sawyer	Andrea Metayer
	Robert Jordan	Katie Dunn
	A True Copy,
Attest:
	Twila D. Lycette, Lifetime CCM
	Certified Municipal Clerk

Town Council's Lack of interest in Dealing with any Controversial Issue.

I wish to address the article that appeared on November 2 regarding my reason for leaving Lisbon.  My phone converstion was in fact recorded by Steve Eldridge with the help of at least one other person.  Mr. Eldridge called it "accidental", then proceded to play it to numerous employees and to at least two town councilors.  He further had someone transcribe the tape!  Sounds like Watergate doesn't it?
My leaving did not relate to this recording as it was done in September 2008 and I left in May 2009.
I left of my own free will, not because of this incident alone.  The list is very long and revolves around both the town manager's actions as well as the town council's lack of interest in dealing with any controversial issue.


Jerry Samson

Conservative News in the News, 'The Fox is in the White House'

Fox News is losing in an NPR Poll, but with the power of the

Internet we can turn that around in a few hours.
If you haven't heard this, the White House is accusing Fox News of
not being a legitimate source of news, calling them biased, etc.
They have tried to block Fox reporters from news conferences, etc.,
NPR has put a survey online for us to voice our opinion. Currently
it is 71% in favor of the White House, because mainly liberals log
on to the NPR website.
If Fox loses this poll you can bet Obama will mention it as support
for his attack on Fox.
Let's show them how we feel about honest conservative news reporting.
To vote log onto:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2009/10/in_white_house_vs_fox_news_war.html

Then ... forward this to everybody !

 

Homemade mask for Flu Season

In case we run out of masks during the N1H1 flu season

Here is a ‘homemade’ mask you can make yourself

It is even compatible with the wearing of glasses

 

One thing though ---

 

MAKE SURE YOUR MASK IS CLEAN!!!!!!! ! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This about sums it up

Vote

 

Wednesday Night Town Council Agenda

AGENDA
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2009
LISBON TOWN OFFICE
7:00 P.M.

1. CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE TO FLAG

2. ROLL CALL
___Councilor Bowie ___Councilor Henry ___Councilor Mason
___Councilor Cote ___Councilor Larochelle ___Councilor Wells
___Councilor Crafts
Town Clerk reading of meeting rules

3. PUBLIC HEARING
A. General Assistance Maximums
B. Amendments to the Shoreland Zoning Ordinance
C. Special Entertainment Permit for the Slovak Catholic Association
D. Special Entertainment Permit for the Coombs Mountfort Post 158

4. CONSENT AGENDA
2009-157 ORDER A. Liquor License & Special Entertainment for Slovak Catholic Association
B. Liquor License & Special Entertainment for Coombs Mountfort Post 158

5. COUNCIL ORDERS, RESOLUTIONS, & ORDINANCES
2009-158 ORDER – Adoption of General Assistance Maximums
2009-159 ORDINANCE – Amendments to the Shoreland Zoning Ordinance (First Reading)
2009-160 ORDER – Sewer Department Identity Theft Prevention Program
2009-161 ORDER – CDBG Planning Grant: ADA -504 Self Evaluation approval
2009-162 ORDINANCE –Amendment to Administration Ordinance, Boards & Commissions (First Reading)
2009-163 ORDER – Snow Chiefs Snowmobile Purchase
2009-164 ORDER – Certificates of Settlements

6. OTHER BUSINESS
A. Discuss Property Maintenance Ordinance
B. Town Manager’s Report

7. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

8. APPOINTMENTS
2009-165 ORDER – Library Governing Board (1Reappointment)

9. COUNCILOR COMMUNICATIONS

10. EXECUTIVE SESSION
2009-166 ORDER 1 MRSA § 405 (6) (C) Acquisition of real property or economic development to discuss
Campus Ave. Building

11. ADJOURNMENT

2009-167 ORDER to Adjourn

Ordinance Amending Chapter 70, Zoning, of the Code Ordinances

1

An Ordinance Amending Chapter 70, Zoning, of the Code of Ordinances
Lisbon, Maine

Amend Sec. 70-5.(b)(4), (Nonconforming uses, lots and structures) as
follows;

(4) Change of Use. An existing nonconforming use may be changed to

another nonconforming use provided that (a) the proposed use has no

greater adverse impact on the subject and adjacent properties and

resources than the former use; as determined by the Planning Board

and (b) applicable performance standards contained in Article VI of the

Chapter and Chapter 62, Site Plan Review. The determination of no

greater adverse impact shall be made according to criteria listed below.

a. That the proposed use is of the same character or less noxious

than the current nonconforming use.

b. That the proposed use will not create a traffic hazard nor increase

an existing traffic hazard; and

c. That the amount of parking required to meet the minimum

requirements for the proposed use exists on the site or will be

otherwise provided in accordance with this Chapter.

d. That the amount of noise, odors, vibrations, smoke, dust and air

discharges of the proposed use shall be equal to or less than the

present use; and

e. That the hours of operation of the proposed use will be compatible

with the existing, surrounding land uses; and

f. That the proposed use will not increase the adverse impact

on surrounding properties.

g. Additionally, in the shoreland zone, the Planning Board shall

require written documentation from the applicant, regarding

the probable effects on public health and safety, erosion and

sedimentation, water quality, fish and wildlife habitat,

vegetative cover, visual and actual points of public access to

waters, natural beauty, floodplain management,

archaeological and historic resources, and functionally waterdepended

uses.

2

Amend Sec. 70-262., Areas, by adding a new subsection (b)(9) as follows:

(a) The resource protection district includes areas in which development would

adversely affect water quality, productive habitat, biotic systems, or scenic and

natural values.

(b) This district shall include:

(1) Freshwater wetlands and areas within 250 feet, horizontal distance, of the

upland edge of freshwater wetlands as depicted on the Official Zoning Map.

(2) Floodplains. Floodplains along rivers, defined by the 100 year floodplain

as designated on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA)

Flood Insurance Rate Maps or Flood Hazard Boundary Maps, or the flood

of record or in the absence of these, by soil types identified as recent

floodplain soils.

(3) Slopes. Areas having sustained slopes greater than 25 percent, or

unstable soil subject to slumping, mass movement, or severe erosion,

when these areas are two acres or more in size.

(4) Water supply. Town water supply protection.

(5) Wildlife habitat. Significant wildlife habitat.

(6) Scenic areas. Natural sites of significant scenic or aesthetic value.

(7) Natural areas. Areas designated by federal, state or town governments as

significant natural areas to be protected from development.

(8) Other areas depicted on the Official Zoning Map.

(9) Areas of two (2) or more contiguous acres supporting wetland

vegetation and hydric soils, which are not part of a freshwater

wetland as defined, and which are not surficially connected to a

water body during the period of normal high water.

Amend Sec. 70-612., (Roads and driveways) as follows:

The following standards shall apply to the construction of roads and/or driveways

and drainage systems, culverts and other related features within the shoreland

zone:

(1) Roads and driveways shall be set back at least 75 feet, horizontal

distance, from the normal high-water line of water bodies, tributary

streams, or the upland edge of a wetland unless no reasonable

alternative exists as determined by the planning board. If no other

reasonable alternative exists, the planning board may reduce the road

and/or driveway setback requirement to no less than 50 feet, horizontal

distance, upon clear showing by the applicant that appropriate techniques

will be used to prevent sedimentation of the water body, tributary stream

3

or wetland. Such techniques may include, but are not limited to, the

installation of settling basins, and/or the effective use of additional ditch

relief culverts and turnouts placed so as to avoid sedimentation of the

water body, tributary stream, or wetland. On slopes of greater than 20

percent the road and/or driveway setback shall be increased by ten feet,

horizontal distance, for each five percent increase in slope above 20

percent. This subsection shall not apply to approaches to water crossings

or to roads or driveways that provide access to permitted structures

and/or facilities located nearer to the shoreline due to an operational

necessity, excluding temporary docks for recreational uses. Roads

and driveways providing access to permitted structures within the

setback area shall comply fully with the requirements of this

subsection except for that portion of the road or driveway necessary

for direct access to the structure.

Amend Sec. 70-732. (Clearing or Removal of Vegetation for Activities Other
Than Timber Harvesting) as follows:

(2) Except in areas as described in subsection (1) of this section, and except

to allow for the development of permitted uses, within a strip of land

extending 75 feet, horizontal distance, from any other water body,

tributary stream or the upland edge of a freshwater wetland, a buffer strip

of vegetation shall be preserved as follows:

a. There shall be no cleared opening greater than 250 square feet in

the forest canopy (or other existing woody vegetation if a forest

canopy is not present) as measured from the outer limits of the

tree or shrub crown. However, a footpath not to exceed ten six

feet in width as measured between tree trunks and/or shrub stems

is permitted provided a cleared line of sight to the water through

the buffer strip is not created.

b. Selective cutting of trees within the buffer strip is permitted

provided that a well-distributed stand of trees and other natural

vegetation is maintained. For the purposes of this section a welldistributed

stand of trees shall be defined as maintaining a

minimum rating score of 16 per 25-foot by 50-foot (1250 square

feet) rectangular area as determined by the following rating

system:

10.23.09 JAM

Think and Represent ALL People of this town, not just a certain few

Voters need to take a hard look at the current candidates for Town Council.  Any candidate with an affiliation to David Brooks should think long and hard about that person.  Mr. Brooks and Town manager Eldridge tapped the phone of former Assessor Jerry Samson.  Mr. Samson was called to Eldridge’s office and they played the tape for him.  Shortly after Mr. Samson resigned.  Is this what we want for our Town, a Gestapo police chief working in tandem with the Town manager Eldridge.  We need candidates that will stand up to the Police Department hierarchy and treat all employees and others fairly, not subject them to harassment by Brooks et al.  Please consider voting for Ms. Michelle Swatsworth-Turmelle, Mark Lunt and Leon Bard as council members that will think for themselves and represent ALL people of this town, not just a certain few.  Thanks for you consideration.

A Very Concerned Lisbon Citizen

VOTE for YOUR values

Seems like Dale Crafts hasn't learned that being elected to public office means that sometimes you have to think before you speak.

He like to portray himself as having Christian values, then goes and says something like this to someone he doesn't even know?

Is this the type of person we want representing us?

Tomorrow, use your head and your heart when you go into that voting booth, and make sure your vote represents YOUR values.

A Concerned Citizen

We Asked Rep. Dale Crafts For A Comment For The Community

Dear Rep. Crafts:



Would you care to make a statement for the readers about how this occurred? See attached referencing Portland Press Herald October 21,2009 page B4.



Thanks.

Here is his response

First, I would like to respond to the reason for the apology. As I watch in this country and state, the attack on free market capitalism, I get very upset and angry. My first year in the Maine State Legislature and it still amazes me that we continue to drive business into over regulation. Into such excessive regulation, that businesses are forced out of state, overseas, or even worse, out of business.

 

There is an on going debate over water extraction in the state of Maine and I have been bombarded with email from an extremist group. Their message to me has been "save our water and stop Nestle Corp., the owner of Poland Spring. It became very tiresome to say the least. When I received an email invitation from Jamilla EL-Shafei to come and listen to Terri Swier talk about her 8 year battle with Nestle Corporation in her home state of Michigan, I became very angry feeling again toward anti-capitalism. Here’s a quote from Terri Swier:

 

"I am coming to Maine to tell my story because I do not want your community to have to experience what folks in Michigan have had to endure during the eight years of battle with the Nestle Corporation. It is better to say No to Nestle and not let them in,"

 I responded with out putting much thought into my email back to Jamilla EL-Shafei except the thought that Maine did not need anyone coming to speak that had any anti-capitalist sentiment whatsoever. Several weeks later, I received an email demanding an apology.  Ms. El-Shafei was very upset that I would suggest that she should go back to where she came from. The email from her also went on to say that I had assumed she was from the Middle East based on her name.  As I thought back to my initial email, I saw how she may have misconstrued my message in that way.  I did not have any idea where she was from and was simply frustrated with the policies of the group that she was representing. I never meant to insult her ethnicity in any way.

My unprofessional response was another matter. I owed Jamilla El-Shafei and Terri Swier an apology simply because they do have a right to speak about and fight for what they feel is right just as I still have a right to disagree.  That is still one of the freedoms that we as Americans hold dear that has made this great country what it is.

 

Rep. Dale Crafts

Town of Lisbon Water Referendum

The Lisbon Board of Water commissioners is asking for your support on the referendum question to secure funding for the Route 9 Upland Road project.  Both of these roads have been scheduled for major construction over the next two years.  Once the two projects have been completed there is a five-year moratorium on any new construction within these roads.  There is a very strong need to secure an alternate transmission line for water between Lisbon and Lisbon Falls.  This project will provide that transmission line to provide an addional way of sending water to Lisbon Falls and at the same time help the Route 9 residents with their contamination problems.  This project would also provide water to any future expansion in the Upland Road area.

The project will include a 12-inch main from Barker Brook to Route 9 and from Route 9 to Frost Hill Avenue with a short piece to connect onto Wing Street.

Costs are distributed as follows:

                        Municipal pays for:  Route 9 & Wing Street

                        Water Department pays for:  Upland Road

We understand that water costs associated with this project will increase your water rates.  We also believe that the benefits to customers associated with this project far outweigh the costs, which will be distributed over the next 25 to 30 years.  The Lisbon Water Department rates are currently 6^th lowest in the State.

Thank you for your consideration, and we ask for your support.

Lisbon Water Department

Questions: please call Bill Bauer @ 353-2780

Congratulations to Lisbon Field Hockey

LISBON REC FIELD HOCKEY TEAM ENDS THEIR SEASON UNBEATEN! 10-0-2   LISBON BEAT WINTHROP THURSDAY NIGHT 2-1 AFTER DRAWING 0-0 earlier this season. 
 
Coaches Julie Wescott and Becky Belmore 
 
http://www.timesrecord.com/articles/2009/10/23/sports/doc4ae1d76210d47787789226.txt

Halloween turning into Lay Off Season for Some

BREAKING NEWS: BIW to lay off 191 temporarily

By Seth Koenig, Times Record Staff

Published:

Friday, October 30, 2009 2:06 PM EDT

BATH  — Bath Iron Works plans to temporarily lay off 191 shipbuilders in nine trades. A shipyard spokesman said the company notified the labor union of the job cuts today, and that the affected workers’ last day is slated to be Nov. 13.

The list of affected trades is as follows: two crane operators, 44 electricians, 10 insulators, 22 preservation technicians, 46 pipefitters, five stage builders, 23 shipfitters, 32 tinsmiths and seven yard riggers. Read More>>

Lisbon Hosting Internet Safety Presentation‏

Lisbon - Detective Bernie McAllister and School Resource Officer Renee Bernard from the Lisbon Police Department will be hosting a FREE presentation concerning Internet Safety on Monday, November 16th in the Computer Lab at Lisbon Community School from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  Some of the areas to be covered include the various social networking sites; Myspace, Facebook, Skype, and You Tube.  Present local data and other information concerning crimes occurring locally will be discussed during the presentation.  Handouts will be available and videos will be shown.   Parents are encouraged to participate and to ask questions during the presentation.

 FMI and reservations contact Officer Renee Bernard by calling 353-3030 or email rbernard@lisbonschoolsme.org

Crafters Wanted

Lisbon - Are you looking to join in a craft fair this season, and sell some of your homemade items?  Well we have the holiday fair for you.  The Lisbon Boosters will be having their annual Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday, December 5, 2009 at the Lisbon High School.  If you are interested in reserving a table, please email Kathi Yergin at kril62@yahoo.com or by calling 207-577-3061.  Tables are $30 for an 8ft table, or you can bring your own table for $25.  We hope you can enjoy us for this holiday event.

Middle School Fund Raiser For Camp Kieve

Click to enlarge

Water Line Bond Issue

  For most of the 33 years I served on the Lisbon Water Commission,we delayed action on the proposed second connection between the wells in Lisbon and Lisbon Falls Village,due to the impact on user fees resulting from high construction costs and interest rates. Improvements  made during those years planned for this project with large mains on Upland and Wing Sts.  Voters now have the opportunity to take advantage of shared construction costs,stimulus monies and low interest rates to meet this goal.

      Presently the water supply to Lisbon Falls is dependent on almost a mile of cement-asbestos  main installed about 65 years ago, and it's useful life is subject to question. On the other hand, the cast-iron pipe in much of Lisbon Falls is 100 years old and still giving reliable service.

     As a resident of Lisbon for 80 years ,with many happy memories, I will always be interested in seeming the town prosper and progress. Accordingly ,I hope to see passage of this measure.

 

David.F.Hale

http://www.timesrecord.com/articles/2009/10/26/opinion/commentaries/doc4ae5ddc82ebac311576475.txtHere is the link: 

Mills’ ruling misleads Maine voters

By Fritz Spencer

Published:

Monday, October 26, 2009 2:07 PM EDT

We have all seen a courtroom drama in which a well-groomed defendant takes the witness stand, with a lamb-like expression of innocence. Having followed the story from the beginning, we know the defendant to be the real culprit.

Under a blistering cross-examination, he begins to fidget. The prosecutor digs in, leveling accusation after bitter accusation. Then, true to our prediction, his façade of composure crumbles, and in a rage, he blurts out the truth, “Yes, I did it!”

Alas, real trials lack this element of drama. Modern trials require endless hours of tedious preparation in order to ensure an impartial finding of the facts. The nature of judicial proof requires that the whole story is presented meticulously by both sides, then scrutinized by an impartial and unbiased jury.

If an expert takes the witness stand, his or her testimony can be impeached by showing that the expert has a personal or professional interest in the outcome of the trial. For example, no one should trust an expert who testifies about a product manufactured or sold by his own organization.

When Maine Attorney General Janet Mills stated that the same-sex marriage law will have no effect on schools in Maine, she was being less than candid. Most people in Maine are not aware that her brother, state Sen. Peter Mills, voted in favor of the law, or that her sister, Dora Anne Mills, Maine director of public health, gave a perfunctory donation of $50 to the No on 1 cause.

Moreover, Janet Mills testified at the hearing on the same-sex marriage bill at the Civic Center in Augusta in April.

But what is worse, by far, is that the Office of the Maine Attorney General, which is headed by Mills, promotes the normalization of homosexuality in the public schools through so-called “civil rights teams.” These teams were founded by Stephen Wessler, who received a “Great Pioneer Award” from Equality Maine, the state’s largest homosexual rights group. Wessler also testified at the Civic Center in favor of homosexual marriage.

So while Mills is claiming that same-sex marriage will have no effect on school curricula, civil rights teams from her own office are already in the schools advancing the normalization of homosexuality. This was hardly telling the whole story.

Mills also stated that no law requires the teaching of homosexual marriage in the schools. This is a misleading half-truth.

The whole truth is that no law prevents the teaching of homosexual marriage in school. Thus, the new law gives the sanction of law to the institution of homosexual marriage; and parents will no longer have any grounds on which to challenge the teaching of same-sex marriage in the public schools.

Nor it is even correct to state, as Janet Mills did, that current Maine law makes no reference to the teaching of marriage. In point of fact, Maine law requires the teaching of chastity, which Webster’s dictionary defines as “abstinence from impermissible sexual indulgence.” For the writers of this law, this clearly meant sex outside of marriage. Nowhere was it ever written in Maine law that children are to be taught that marriage is between a man and a woman, for the simple fact that Mainers of an early generation never foresaw the day when people could contemplate the absurdity of “marriage” between two people of the same sex.

Let us put aside for a moment the problem of increased crime in our state. We hear daily of the plague of robberies, drug deals and domestic assaults. Let us even put aside the backlog of unsolved homicides and missing persons in the Office of the Maine Attorney General.

If the attorney general chooses to take time away from prosecuting murders and bank robberies to promote marriage between homosexuals, she may do so.

But she still has an obligation to tell the complete story of how the law came to be, who is really behind the law, and what it will do to our schools. If a witness in a court of law is required to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, how much more is this required of an attorney general?

Fritz Spencer is the editor of  The Record of the Christian Civic League of Maine.

I'm Tired

I'm Tired by Robert A. Hall

Robert A. Hall

is a Marine Vietnam veteran who served five terms in the Massachusetts

state

senate. He blogs at www.tartanmarine.blogspot.com

I'll be 63

soon. Except for one semester in college when jobs were scarce, and a

six-month

period when I was between jobs, but job-hunting every day, I've worked,

hard,

since I was 18. Despite some health challenges, I still put in 50-hour

weeks,

and haven't called in sick in seven or eight years. I make a good

salary, but I

didn't inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I am.

Given the

economy, there's no retirement in sight, and I'm tired. Very tired.

I'm tired of being told that I have to

"spread the wealth around" to people who don't have my work ethic.

I'm tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by

force

if necessary, and give it to people too lazy or stupid to earn it.

I'm tired of being told that I have to pay more

taxes to "keep people in their homes." Sure, if they lost their jobs

or got sick, I'm willing to help. But if they bought McMansions at

three times

the price of our paid-off, $250,000 condo, on one-third of my salary,

then let

the leftwing Congresscritters who passed Fannie and Freddie and the

Community Reinvestment

Act that created the bubble help them-with their own money.

I'm tired of being told how bad America is by

leftwing millionaires like Michael Moore, George Soros and Hollywood

entertainers who live in luxury because of the opportunities America

offers. In

thirty years, if they get their way, the United States will have the

religious

freedom and women's rights of Saudi Arabia, the economy of Zimbabwe, the

freedom of the press of China, the crime and violence of Mexico, the

tolerance

for Gay people of Iran, and the freedom of speech of Venezuela. Won't

multiculturalism be beautiful?

I'm tired of being told that Islam is a

"Religion of Peace," when every day I can read dozens of stories of

Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for their family

"honor;" of Muslims rioting over some slight offense; of Muslims

murdering Christian and Jews because they aren't "believers;" of

Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape

victims to

death for "adultery;" of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little

girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur'an and Shari'a law

tells them

to.

I believe "a man should be judged by the

content of his character, not by the color of his skin." I'm tired of

being told that "race doesn't matter" in the post-racial world of

President Obama, when it's all that matters in affirmative action jobs,

lower

college admission and graduation standards for minorities (harming them

the

most), government contract set-asides, tolerance for the ghetto culture

of

violence and fatherless children that hurts minorities more than

anyone, and in

the appointment of US Senators from Illinois. I think it's very cool

that we

have a black president and that a black child is doing her homework at

the desk

where Lincoln wrote the emancipation proclamation. I just wish the black

president was Condi Rice, or someone who believes more in freedom and

the

individual and less in an all-knowing government.

I'm tired of a news media that thinks Bush's

fundraising and inaugural expenses were obscene, but that think

Obama's, at

triple the cost, were wonderful. That thinks Bush exercising daily was

a waste

of presidential time, but Obama exercising is a great example for the

public to

control weight and stress, that picked over every line of Bush's

military

records, but never demanded that Kerry release his, that slammed Palin

with two

years as governor for being too inexperienced for VP, but touted Obama

with

three years as senator as potentially the best president ever.

Wonder why people are dropping their

subscriptions or switching to Fox News? Get a clue. I didn't vote for

Bush in

2000, but the media and Kerry drove me to his camp in 2004.

I'm tired of being told that out of

"tolerance for other cultures" we must let Saudi Arabia use our oil

money to fund mosques and madrassa Islamic schools to preach hate in

America,

while no American group is allowed to fund a church, synagogue or

religious

school in Saudi Arabia to teach love and tolerance.

I'm tired of being told I must lower my living

standard to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to debate. My

wife

and I live in a two-bedroom apartment and carpool together five miles

to our

jobs. We also own a three-bedroom condo where our daughter and

granddaughter

live. Our carbon footprint is about 5% of Al Gore's, and if you're

greener than

Gore, you're green enough.

I'm tired of being told that drug addicts have

a disease, and I must help support and treat them, and pay for the

damage they

do. Did a giant germ rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff

white

powder up their noses while they tried to fight it off? I don't think

Gay

people choose to be Gay, but I damn sure think druggies chose to take

drugs.

And I'm tired of harassment from cool people treating me like a freak

when I

tell them I never tried marijuana.

I'm tired of illegal aliens being called

"undocumented workers," especially the ones who aren't working, but

are living on welfare or crime. What's next? Calling drug dealers,

"Undocumented Pharmacists"? And, no, I'm not against Hispanics. Most

of them are Catholic and it's been a few hundred years since Catholics

wanted

to kill me for my religion. I'm willing to fast track for citizenship

any

Hispanic person who can speak English, doesn't have a criminal record

and who

is self-supporting without family on welfare, or who serves honorably

for three

years in our military. Those are the citizens we need.

I'm tired of latte liberals and journalists,

who would never wear the uniform of the Republic themselves, or let

their

entitlement-handicapped kids near a recruiting station, trashing our

military.

They and their kids can sit at home, never having to make split-second

decisions under life and death circumstances, and bad mouth better

people then

themselves. Do bad things happen in war? You bet. Do our troops

sometimes

misbehave? Sure. Does this compare with the atrocities that were the

policy of

our enemies for the last fifty years-and still are? Not even close. So

here's

the deal. I'll let myself be subjected to all the humiliation and abuse

that

was heaped on terrorists at Abu Ghraib or Gitmo, and the critics can let

themselves be subject to captivity by the Muslims who tortured and

beheaded

Daniel Pearl in Pakistan, or the Muslims who tortured and murdered

Marine Lt.

Col. William Higgins in Lebanon, or the Muslims who ran the

blood-spattered Al

Qaeda torture rooms our troops found in Iraq, or the Muslims who cut off

the heads of schoolgirls in Indonesia, because the girls were

Christian. Then

we'll compare notes. British and American soldiers are the only troops

in

history that civilians came to for help and handouts, instead of hiding

from in

fear.

I'm tired of people telling me that their party

has a corner on virtue and the other party has a corner on corruption.

Read the

papers-bums are bi-partisan. And I'm tired of people telling me we need

bi-partisanship. I live in Illinois, where the "Illinois Combine" of

Democrats and Republicans has worked together harmoniously to loot the

public

for years. And I notice that the tax cheats in Obama's cabinet are

bi-partisan

as well.

I'm tired of hearing wealthy athletes,

entertainers and politicians of both parties talking about innocent

mistakes,

stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes, when we all know they think their

only

mistake was getting caught. I'm tired of people with a sense of

entitlement,

rich or poor.

Speaking of poor, I'm tired of hearing people

with air-conditioned homes, color TVs and two cars called poor. The

majority of

Americans didn't have that in 1970, but we didn't know we were

"poor." The poverty pimps have to keep changing the definition of

poor to keep the dollars flowing.

I'm real tired of people who don't take

responsibility for their lives and actions. I'm tired of hearing them

blame the

government, or discrimination, or big-whatever for their problems.

Yes, I'm damn tired. But I'm also glad to be

63. Because, mostly, I'm not going to get to see the world these people

are

making. I'm just sorry for my granddaughter.

LEVESQUE CALLS ON MICHAUD TO OPPOSE PELOSI HEALTH BILL

Jason J. Levesque, candidate in Maine’s 2^nd Congressional District, issued the following statement today in response to the new House health bill released this morning by Speaker Nancy Pelosi:

 

I call on Mike Michaud to side with Maine families and oppose the Pelosi health care bill.

A government-run health care program is the wrong approach.  In order to truly reform health care we need to lower the costs so that more Americans can afford coverage. This 1,992-page Pelosi bill does not do this; instead, it grows the size of government at an alarming rate.

The ten year $1-trillion health bill price tag is way too costly. That’s more than four times the total amount spent on the entire Federal budget over the past ten fiscal years. We cannot afford this and it will make health care more expensive.

Maine middle class families will face an even higher tax burden to cover these costs when they’re having a hard enough time making ends meet. And small businesses will bear the burden to the point that many might not be able to stay open or they will have to cut jobs. Mike Michaud already represents a District with one of the highest unemployment rates in the country and this would just be another nail on the coffin of Maine working people.

The Pelosi plan will hurt our Maine senior citizens. It cuts $162-billion from Medicare, which will cause many seniors to lose health care options and specialized coverage. It will also diminish payments to doctors, causing more to leave practice stranding many seniors without a health care provider.

Mike Michaud should show courage and tell Nancy Pelosi “no deal” on this bad health bill. Politics aside, Mike Michaud should do this for the benefit of Mainers.

Reminiscent of the Alaska Bridge to Nowhere

I have listened to those involved with the proposed new section to the Town
of Lisbon Trails, and hear how wonderful it would be for our town.

They say that one-half of those who walk the trails are from other towns. 

Do those from away spend any money here? 

Do they stop and buy gas? 

Do they shop at Food City, at Rite Aid? 

Do they eat at our restaurants? Do they stop at
Kennebec's (aka Moxie Store)? 

It's nice to have people come and enjoy our town, enjoy Faye
Brown's flower gardens that she, The Green Thumb Gang and Public Works
Department work so hard to plant and maintain. It would be nicer still if
they would spend a little money while here and not just enjoy our lovely
town and trails.

Now to the proposed trail extension. Are you out of your freekin minds? One
point six million dollars for just 2 miles of trail. Crossing the railroad
tracks at least twice? Steep slopes, (how many?), two (2) bridges, one
boardwalk and a concrete under pass under Route 196?! What will happen in
the spring when the Sabbatus River rises and the underpass floods? Think
ahead. Lewiston/Auburn are hoping to have the railroad reopened to those
cities.

 Imagine kids on bikes. They cross School Street now without looking
left or right. They just shoot out and God help you if you're driving fast
and cannot stop. I'm always looking for them and have braked for them more
than once! Do you for one minute think a kid on a bike would care if a train
were coming?

I was not in favor of the trails extension because I care about rising
taxes. Now, seeing the "challenges" I do not think it is a bad idea, I know
it is!

I'm sorry for those who have worked so hard to make this happen, but I
really think this is a bad idea!

Dot Fitzgerald
A Lisbon Very Concerned Citizen.

Restore Integrity, Intelligence,and Transparency in Lisbon

There is a wonderful candidate running for the District 2 council seat.  Her name is Michelle Swatsworth-Turmelle.  Michelle is a very intelligent, thoughtful and honest woman who actually has the best interests of the town at heart.  Her integrity is impressive and she has put in many hours attending council meetings, doing research, and has been the catalyst behind the Town of Lisbon getting bids on insurance policies.     Michelle does not come with ANY baggage, such as a spouse employed with the Police Department, personal relationships with Town employees, and will not interfere with personnel issues that should be handled by a responsible Town Manager.   There have been blatant intrusions pursued by the current councilor running for his seat again.  A call was placed to the Town of Brunswick to interfere with a former town employee’s prospective job with the Town of Brunswick.  Former Town Manager Curtis Lunt phoned Brunswick and straightened out the situation.  This was relayed  to me by the employee herself.  I think the Town has had enough of this unethical behavior and personal relationships that influence government.  Everything should be transparent and Michelle Swatsworth-Turmelle is the candidate that can restore integrity,  intelligence, hard work and cost-saving measures to the Town of Lisbon.


A Concerned Citizen

Town Council District 1 Candidate Mark Lunt

My name is Mark Lunt and I am a candidate for the Lisbon Town Council, District 1, representing Lisbon Village and the surrounding areas.

I have lived in Lisbon since 1992, graduating from Lisbon High in the Class of ’99. I am currently a senior at the University of Southern Maine, with the intention of pursuing a law degree after graduation. I also hold an A+ Certification in computer repair. While putting myself through school I’ve held a variety of jobs, from factory worker at the Knight-Celotex plant in Lisbon Falls to campus reporter to front desk clerk in a seaside resort. These experiences taught me to have empathy and understanding for people from all walks of life. I also learned the importance of customer service and stretching each dollar as far as it will go.

I have served on the Planning Board since the beginning of 2007, which has given me added familiarity with the town, its people, its problems and its potential. Serving on this board has taught me the need for both consensus building and decisive action when the situation warrants it. I hope to bring the skills built here to serve Lisbon on the Council.

Given many of the comments I have heard around town recently, I think it’s clear that the people of Lisbon desire a change in leadership. The previous Council has often appeared arrogant and has singled out certain Town employees for unfair treatment. Lisbon needs leaders who will put the best interests of the town ahead of their personal agendas. If elected I will strive to bring transparency, openness and level-headed thinking back to Lisbon’s government. We have many challenges ahead of us in these uncertain times, but I believe that together we can tackle thorny issues like taxes, road maintenance, economic growth and the eventual need for a new or rebuilt high school. Lisbon is a hidden gem – it’s time to make it shine.

I would appreciate your vote on November 3.

Mark Lunt

Candidate for Town Council

District 1

Lisbon Ward 2

Click to enlarge.