A new wine and cheese shop, My Wine-y Sister, opens tomorrow. The shop is on the ground floor of the Atlantic House (home of Blue Sky). There will be an open house beginning at 2 pm and after this weekend, shop hours will be 2-8 pm Wednesday through Sunday (perhaps an effort to keep us shack wacky Mainers from our morning libations? heh.)....
Speaking of Blue Sky, Lydia Shire is featured in a video in the on-line version of Gourmet. Blue Sky is featured in this month's print edition of Gourmet (no on-line link).
And, there's been an enormous kerfluffle in town, caused by remarks made by a York Budget Committee member. To justify a vote against funding the $1.5 million music wing, the committee member said "I see no evidence to make me not believe that the music program and the band program, as fine as they are, are somewhat of a catch basin for students who cannot qualify to get into more 'academic' programs," he said at the meeting, adding " ... I am of a personal belief that musicians should be chosen on a meritocratic basis, and consequently not everyone in the school should deserve taking music programs forthwith." (emphasis is mine).
The committee member refused to apologize for the remark (although he did apologize for giving offense) and judging by the letters to the editor, most of the town is (justifiably) ticked off. Music programs in so many places have been cut by systems trying to deal with the impact of the No Child Left Behind requirements. It's nice to see the village support a commitment to not let that happen here (the Budget Committee vote was 5-2 in support and based solely upon anecdotal evidence, public support is now 90% for the music wing and 100% against branding the program a catch-all).
Not for nothin', the committee member in question is from away and has a degree from Hahvahd. In Education. Sheesh.
UPDATE: The Portsmouth Herald isn't going to let this die down. Yesterday, an editorial. Today, a top of the fold article quoting a lot of indignant folks, but not the budget committee member.
I'll join the kerfluffle by saying, "what an asshat." FIght for the music and art programs!
Posted by: Marie | March 14, 2008 at 07:15 AM
Dittoing Marie. Total asshat comment from an asshat.
Sincerely,
The Band Geek
Posted by: Bucknutz | March 14, 2008 at 02:11 PM