Letters: ‘Cogent,’ public spaces, and fog

Cogent newspaper

To the editor:

I read virtually every word of the April issue of The Working Waterfront and am so impressed with the quality and pith of the contents. It bespeaks the breadth and depth of Maine life more cogently than any publication I’ve read—indigenous ones—since I’ve lived and worked here, which is closing in on 75 years.

Thank you and keep on truckin’! I also want to mention a book I just received, The 1619 Project, having seen its author interviewed. The subject is slavery and her direct connection to the slave trade and its ties to her African-American family.

Natalie Smith
Phippsburg

 

In praise of public spaces

To the editor

Thanks for touting public spaces (“The radical idea of public parks,” Rock Bound, April issue). Camden’s amphitheater and Harbor Park, indeed, are noteworthy, especially for recurring Maine visitors such as we are.

Your mention of Frederick Law Olmstead reminded me that he rode horse back through Texas in 1853, reporting about the frontier for The New York Times. Would that he had designed a public space or two here.

We do enjoy your state, particularly Rockland and the St. George peninsula.

John De La Garza
Austin, Texas

 

Foggy question

To the editor:

I liked your article on fog (“Fog happens—here’s how,” April issue), however you did not mention a fourth type of fog. In Waldoboro, and I am sure other places away from the coast, we have what we call “ground fog” or “land fog.” It occurs at night in the lower or damp places.

I expect it is a type of radiation fog. It would only happen at night after the air would cool down and could be a bother if one did not expect it. It only seems to happen in the summer time.

I like the publication, keep them coming!

Edwin Benner
York

 

Our first people

To the editor:

Thank you for the beautiful and informative photo essay by Leslie Bowman in your April issue (“The Passamaquoddy’s ties to water”). I suspect many of your readers were not aware of the shameful water quality issues at Sipayik that have been festering in recent years.

Our indigenous neighbors are an important part of this amazing Maine coast and I would enjoy more articles about them in future issues.

After all, they are our First Nations.

Paul Forman
Albion

 

The Working Waterfront welcomes letters to the editor. Please send them to editor Tom Groening at tgroening@islandinstitute.org with LTE in the subject line. Letters should be about 300 words and address issues that the newspaper covers. We also print longer opinion pieces, but please clear them first with the editor.