Deb Sayer

As a resident of Limerick, I'm no stranger to traveling long distances to find affordable care. With rising inflation and a shrinking network of services, it is more important than ever to have organizations like Planned Parenthood that offer family planning services, cancer screenings and wellness exams to all Mainers regardless of their ability to pay.

A recent letter expressed anger about the Christmas/holiday “problem” (“ Happy holidays? Bah humbug! ” Dec. 19).

Donald Trump roundly criticized China for all of its real or apparent misdeeds, and his outrageous campaign statement was to impose tariffs on China.

The juxtaposition of two local guest columnists (Stephen Heinz of Cumberland Foreside and Laura Fralich of New Gloucester) in the Dec. 29 Opinion section couldn't have been better. The Heinz piece first: “ Are we just talking to ourselves in these pages? ,” followed by Fralich's “ Do not give up on your neighbors ,” gave well-written responses for those of us struggling with our about-to-be national leadership.

Is JD Vance really the president-elect's right-hand man? Some things to consider about the incoming Trump impact:

An old woman who lives in the West End Sees neighborhood walks as a godsend. But when ice isn't cleared With bad falls to be feared, She cusses neighbors to no end.

Chemicals should be proven safe before being introduced into our communities. Thank you for the report of the disposal of toxic foam from Brunswick incinerators in poor neighborhoods far from here.

Can a president-elect simply speak a new federal agency into being? President-elect Trump apparently, like a dictator, believes he can, and that agency is the Department of Government Efficiency. No president can simply do this, but if anyone has said so to Trump he apparently isn't listening.

I concur with Dr. Sarah Alvarez regarding the superior care one receives from a direct primary care practice (“ More Mainers should consider direct primary care ,” Dec. 30).

I was sitting in a coffee shop yesterday when a couple with two young children came in to warm up. They placed their order and sat near me. Suddenly, there was a piercing shriek from the boy, who was probably 5 or 6 years old. There was nothing apparent to cause this outburst, which ended just as abruptly as it began. The mother moved in closer and spoke to him. He calmed down. Then, a few minutes later, their orders came and he began banging his head against the back of the wooden bench. The mother reached over and he stopped. Then his father came over and asked him if he could kiss him, which he did, on the top of his head. All was quiet then.