Thumbs up to York County government on its improved rating by Standard & Poors. The county got an uptick in its rating about a year and a half ago, and now, it’s at AA ”“ a full point increase. Ratings are important as they signify the organization, business or government’s financial health. Having a good rating ”“ like having a good credit score ”“ improves the interest rates available when the entity borrows money ”“ and its borrowing ability.
This is great news since the county had some difficulty several years ago. After having its budget in the red, the county’s rating was downgraded to A- at the end of 2006. It took several years to restore the good rating, and if County Manager Greg Zinser gets his way, it will only continue to improve. He said recently, “The ultimate goal is AAA.”
Thumbs down to the ice storm and late-week snow that caused thousand in Maine ”“ and more across the U.S. ”“ to be left without power on Christmas. The frigid temperatures last week made for cold homes for those waiting for their power to be restored and difficult travel for people go to and from holiday celebrations last week.
Thumbs up to the Town of Lebanon for hiring Raymond Parent, a long-time former fire chief in Sanford and in Biddeford, to be its interim rescue chief. In recent articles in the Journal Tribune, selectmen have said there are some paperwork and financial issues at the department. The rescue chief and assistant rescue chief, Samantha Cole and her husband Jason Cole, respectively, recently resigned from their posts, and it’s clear that some organizing and better financial management needs to take place. We hope Parent can get things in order and get the rescue department functioning well for the future.
Thumbs up to Alan Young for donating money in memory of his friend to help keep Biddeford residents warm this winter. Young, of Massachusetts, used to travel to Maine for work along with his co-worker, the late Chuck Boisvert of Biddeford. The pair would travel around the state together a couple of times a month, visiting customers and making cold calls. During some of those trips, they stopped at the A1 Diner in Gardiner, which became a favorite spot for the men. The road trips stopped in 2012, when Boisvert became ill and had to leave his job. Last January, Young visited Boisvert at his home, and the two took a trip back to their favorite lunch spot, where Young, a collector of vintage signs, purchased one from the diner’s owner. A few months later, he sold it and gave half the proceeds ”“ $100 ”“ to his friend. Boisvert died in August. Then, earlier this month, Young visited Boisvert’s widow, who gave him her husband’s wallet. Inside was a picture of Boisvert and the $100 bill. Young in turn decided to donate the money to the City of Biddeford’s heating fund. This story is inspiring, and we hope others will memorialize their friends and loved ones in a way that makes a difference.
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Thumbnails is a Monday feature of the Journal Tribune’s opinion pages. If you want to respond, feel free to write to the Readers’ Forum via email at jtcommunity@journaltribune.com or by dropping your letter off at our Biddeford office.
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