Dear Editor:

After reading the letter sent to you on June 19 from Kenneth Chances concerning the Save St. Andrews Task Force, I felt I had to write to clear up some misconceptions Mr. Chances seems to have about the group.

He accuses the task force of the following: being all pomp and circumstance and in it for the show, of letting the citizens of the area down in major fashion and of being a showboat committee. I strongly disagree!

The task force, headed up by four selectmen from Boothbay, Bothbay Harbor, Edgecomb and Southport and Boothbay's Town Manager were hardworking and dedicated individuals. They, along with many concerned citizens of our communities, established various workgroups and collectively volunteered thousands of hours of time away from their families and their own means of livelihood for the sole purpose of trying to keep St. Andrews alive as a critical access hospital with a 24/7 ER.

A lot was done by the task force in regard to trying to save the hospital and its 24/7 ER.

I know this because I made the effort to educate myself by attending task force meetings or watching them on our local access channel.

I attended community meetings at the elementary school and Lincoln County Healthcare's meeting at the Opera House. I read articles written in your newspaper. I witnessed the hard work of the task force and was impressed by the knowledge, talent and skills they shared in working together for what the community said it wanted and feels it needs.

If Mr. Chances felt the direction the task force was taking wasn't the correct one, where was he to interject his ideas and viewpoints? 

In his suggestion to take the bull by the horns and make necessary changes happen, I say, "Go for it, Mr. Chances." Fight for the outcome you say you want and save St. Andrews with its 24/7 ER.

I'm sure the former Save St. Andrews Hospital Task Force (that disbanded several months ago, turning the reigns over to the newly established Boothbay Region Health & Wellness Foundation) would be elated!

Donna J. Morey

Boothbay Harbor