Sad day for La Kermesse

To the editor:

What a sad day for La Kermesse parade-goers Friday.  Okay, they cut the block party and the fireworks and we were all looking forward to the parade.  The parade?  The short story is the parade was a undisputable flop.  Where were our local marching bands? Were they replaced with a horse drawn hearse?

 Please, tell me that funding and or planning hasn’t become so uncreative or unimaginative.  The event lacked color, creativity and class (no disrespect to any uniformed participants).  Even the parade mascot, a frog, appeared to be having lean times in its faded, ill-fitting costume.  Honestly, I’ve never seen a parade end the way this one did...was I being punked?  The time for a fresh approach to community-building events is needed or Biddeford will become associated with yet another Merc-like debacle, a thoroughly botched Franco-American heritage festival.

Diane Lambert

Saco

Voters need more notification

To the editor:

In Ron Morton’s Letter to the Editor (June 25), he points out only 784 of 12,500 voters participated in the Saco RSU 23 at the polls. This vote was 100 times the turnout of the emergency preparedness seminar a few weeks back, and an excellent seminar thanks to the efforts of Steve Boucouvalas. Why so few in attendance at these community events?  

 I submit it is not an apathetic electorate, nor did Mr. Morton in his letter. Prior to the vote, I remember two references in the Courier prior to the vote: one, RSU 23 budget article; the second, a Letter to the Editor promoting a “no” vote. Were those two sentences our public notice on this vote? 

Why wasn’t notice broadcast on TATV (TWC Channel 3) on this important referendum? Our city automated traffic sign was parked at Young School promoting summer recreation program sign-ups, not the RSU 23 vote.  Half, two-thirds, maybe all of Saco’s residents drove by that sign over the few days preceding the vote. Why are most elections so poorly noticed? I submit Mr. Morton should address those questions internally to our city of Saco staff charged with administering our voting processes.

Based on my residence in other communities around the nation, our elections staff is dropping the proverbial ball on notification. Utilizing all resources including a large prominent notice in the Courier, TATV public service announcement and traffic sign messages should be in place seven to 10 days prior to any election. I personally would like to thank Mr. Morton as he provided more information about the RSU 23 vote, election results, and future hearings and next vote, than all communications from our elections office this year.

Al Minthorn

Ward 5 resident

Thanks for Cash Family Race Day

To the editor:

We would like to thank all the sponsors, volunteers and friends who helped make our 2009 fifth annual Captain Christopher S. Cash Family Race Day a great success. 

Our total participants in the 5K Run, 2.5 Mile Walk and Kids Fun Run numbered 476 this year.

All proceeds go to a scholarship in our son’s memory, “The Captain Christopher Scott Cash Memorial Scholarship,” which benefits graduating senior student athletes from Old Orchard Beach High School and Thornton Academy.

 The 10 scholarship recipients to date are: Cassandra North, Kaylee Godan, Ashlee MacDonald, Ashley Hibbard, Courtney Rague, Cady Keonigs, Dylan Moulton, Thomas Letourneau, Nicole Robilliard and Emily McPherson.

Nancy and Robert Kelley

Old Orchard Beach