Y basketball builds lasting friendships

Shauna Strattonmeier’s recent contribution to The Weekly, “Basketball an opportunity at Bangor’s oldest league (Nov. 12),” is well done and captures the very essence of the game.

She and David Hamel mention key concepts of the sports: tradition, teamwork, character development, sportsmanship, positive self-image, mutual respect of others, individual and team values, coordination, code of conduct, healthy competition, critical thinking, responsibility, commitment, hard work, team dynamics, advanced team play, skill enhancement, temperament perspective, self-identity, friendships.

These concepts go hand in hand with many of the Y’s philosophies as well.

Such ideals and such a program are valuable. Having played basketball on three continents, I can attest to this. Especially important to me in my later years are the longstanding friendships and memories of playing the game on various levels. I still remain in contact with teammates and coaches I had 50 years ago.

Bill Sawtell

Brownville

State needs $50 bounty for coyotes

I just read that hunters spend $200 million dollars a year in Maine. Yet the fish and game department again spends no money to improve the deer herd.

There is a reason hunters see no deer, there is none.

We should take $1 million and put it into a coyote bounty for five years. If there was a $50 bounty on coyotes, we could double the take of these for five years and relieve the stress on the deer herd. I don’t think anyone wants to see them eliminated but we must do some improvement on the deer herd if you want to sell licenses.

The $50 would give you a tank of gas and some grocery money. It’s time sportsman started sending e-mails and letters to the state officials. We put them in their jobs, they should work for us.

Ken Robinson

Springfield

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