Recently there was a news story about a store in Maine with a sign instructing people to place bets on, not if but when, President Elect Barack Obama would be assassinated. The town was outraged, to say the least, and the sign came down.

The sign in the Oak Hill General Store asked customers to place a one dollar bet on the date of Obama’s assassination and it read, “Let’s hope someone wins,” the Portland Press Herald reported. It was called the “Osama Obama Shotgun Pool.”

The Town Council of Standish condemned the sign but some residents defended the storeowner, saying he had a right to free speech, even if in bad taste.

The town has a population of 9,285 people and is located in southwest Maine.

This isn’t a tiny village in the south with limited access to the outside world with most of its residents still thinking it’s 1962. This is a small but certainly not tiny community, by local standards — a short 45 minutes west of Portland.

*****

With a busy shopping time approaching, I wonder how people around here will spend their money this Christmas. The national “average,” of sorts, indicates people are cutting back. I know we have at our house.

With all of the uncertainty of fuel prices, heating costs, food, and the crazy stock market, most of us want to keep our nest eggs as feathered as possible.

And, what about those buyouts?

No one ever offered Hoch Publishing or any other privately-owned business in the area free money after making poor business decisions.

I was disgusted when I read about the buyout of the mortgage banks. It wasn’t enough those officers received “free” money but many boards still gave huge bonuses to their officers. Now, what kind of a deal was that?

Was the U.S. government too naïve and gave them money with no strings attached or did the banks pull a fast one?

Even with the debauchery of dishonest company heads stealing from their own companies, there always seems to be enough money for bonuses and raises.

*****

Enough with the negative. How about some positive news.

What an exciting idea of renovating Marion City Building!

The auditorium is a beautiful facility and should be saved at all costs. Removing the chairs and updating the basement are great ways to reuse the facility. Older buildings like this shouldn’t be discarded because their original uses are no longer needed.

If there was ever a project for the community to support, this would be it. Similar to Marion City Library project, this facility has the potential to serve our community and bring in people to use it.

*****

This Thanksgiving Day, with turmoil in the Middle East, everything going up but our wages, and the uncertainty of anything that has to do with money and the economy, we do have a lot for which to be thankful.

Look around.

We live in wonderful communities with caring, compassionate people. We can safely walk in our neighborhoods. Our children and grandchildren can ride their bikes to school. When there is a need or a cause, our friends and neighbors always rise to the occasion and lend a hand.

What better way to live our days than being a part of caring communities.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving Day!

— susan berg