Accident victim’s family

finds ‘unbelievable’ support from community

To the editor:

We’d like to express our sincere gratitude for all the community support these past couple of weeks since the passing of Steve. 

We had no idea of the number of lives Steve had impacted in his short time with us. We are truly amazed at the number of people we’ve spoken with since the May 8 accident. The people who have made calls, dropped off food and flowers have simply been unbelievable. 

We appreciate all the love and support from our families, friends, community and others we simply don’t even know who have expressed their sympathy as well.

To those of you who have donated to “Project Graduation Class 2010,” I recently found out that the money would go toward the “Class of 2011” and this year is already paid in full. So I would like to put the money toward a tree and possibly a bench in “Memorial Park” behind the high school on Sawyer Road 

We’ve also made a purchase for a keepsake for the “Class of 2010.” Thank you to those of you who have contributed to Project Graduation Class of 2010, the Scarborough Fire Department and the New England Donor Bank Organization on Steve’s behalf, he would truly be honored.

We’d like to give a special thank you to Justin Michaud, Dick Michaud, Patricia Conant, Dwayne Hopkins, Nancy McAdams and all the ladies from Portland High School, Scarborough Hannaford, Scarborough Fire Department Engine 7, St. Maximilian Church and Barbara Bush Children’s Inpatient Hospital for all you’ve done to help with the passing of Steve and the celebration of his life.

Heartfelt thanks to the many friends and peers of Steve’s for their continued support and the many thoughtful things they’ve done and all the hard work they put into memorializing the accident site and the High School.

Also we’d like to thank everyone for the continued support for one of Steve’s best friends, Kevin Grondin, and his family.

Again, thank you all for helping us to celebrate the life of our “country boy” Steven Michael Delano.

Cindy, Mark and Scott Delano

Scarborough

New school budget

is ‘simply not enough’

To the editor:

Three weeks ago, only 6 percent of voters turned out to vote on a budget that eliminated 30 school positions, most of them teachers. 

I was one of many who begrudgingly voted to approve the budget, despite the fact it would profoundly weaken Scarborough’s education system. And like many, I also voted that the budget was too low. 

I did it to send a message to a town council and school committee that appear more concerned about keeping the tax rate low than exercising leadership and safeguarding the very resource that attracted many residents to move to Scarborough in the first place.

I do not happily vote for higher taxes and larger government, clearly the cut in state education funds requires belt tightening, but in an era of epidemic childhood obesity, is it wise to cut gym teachers? 

At a time when our cookie cutter education system is designed for a rigid set of academic skills, do we have to cut special education teachers who are vital to helping students who learn differently?

Our town is a patchwork of neighborhoods, ages and incomes and as a result we seem to struggle to find common ground and a shared vision for our community.

So what kind of community do we want to be? We are spending more than $2.23 million to develop Haigis Parkway and more on other road improvements.

Other towns are raising taxes by as much as 7 percent to protect their resources. The school budget we will vote on next Tuesday – with only $100,000 added from the one defeated three weeks ago – will boost taxes by about 3.9 percent as it eliminates about 28 school positions. It’s simply not enough. Education should always trump roadways. 

On Tuesday, I will vote against the school budget.

Christine Kukka

Scarborough

Candidate Paul LePage

is ‘ready for day one’

To the editor:

Last November I heard someone say, “Paul LePage doesn’t have a chance of winning, but he’d make a great governor.”

 I thought, “Who is Paul LePage?” His website says, “The right man for Maine.”

I learned that at 11 years old Paul left home speaking only French and lived on the streets of Lewiston until he was 13. From a dysfunctional family of 18 living on welfare, Paul understands first hand generational poverty and the “degrading” welfare system. He advocates a tiered welfare reform plan, which is both workable and smart. 

LePage has come a long way since then. After college, he co-owned a private consultancy firm and then worked for Sappi Paper. Currently, as general manager of Marden’s stores, Paul has opened eight new locations and he currently employs more than 1,000 Mainers. He understands Maine’s business climate. 

But that’s not all. He has been elected mayor of Waterville three times. 

Paul LePage’s governing experience is impressive. Waterville, a Democratic stronghold, is both George Mitchell’s and Ed Muskie’s hometown. With a 100 percent Democrat town council over the past six years, LePage has not cut any services and yet has lowered property taxes 13 percent, increased the rainy day fund to $10 million and improved the city’s bond rating. 

How? He simply says, “I take it to the people.” Ideas that are unpopular in the boardroom go directly to the citizens. If they agree with him, citizens make phone calls. No shady back room deals. 

On Tuesday, June 8, voters have an important choice to make. After looking at the field, we have concluded that Paul LePage is indeed “The right man for Maine.” With his governing and business experience, he is ready for day one. 

Steve and Heather Sirocki

Scarborough