PORTLAND-LIVERPOOL CONNECTION

I enjoyed your review of the McCarthys’ CD in last week’s Phoenix (see "Nashville North," Jan. 28, by Sam Pfeifle). I have their first CD and have seen them a few times in concert in and around Portland and have always been impressed and entertained by their musicianship, originality, and general on-stage excitement.

I feel you hit it right on the head with your comments after having attended the Big Easy CD-release party on Saturday, January 29th (you printed the 28th, but that’s all right.) A packed house watched and heard them run through songs from both albums, as well as some of their other favorites. Although you didn’t mention much about Dale Holden, the mainly-lead singer, guitarist, banjo picker, and pedal-steel player is to me an equal fourth part of such a great team of "brothers"! The highlight of the evening was the appearance of the closing band, "The Guv’nors," who were advertised as a Beatles tribute band. The stage was set with authentic Vox amps, Ludwig drums in grey pearl (a la Ringo), Beatle violin bass, a selection of 6- and 12-string Rickenbackers, and the George Harrison Gretsch Country Gentleman. When the band was introduced, on stage came . . . yep . . . the McCarthys, suitably suited in black suits with white shirts and black ties and Beatle boots. They strapped on their instruments and did a 75-minute, note-perfect, solo-perfect set of Beatles songs. Everyone was dancing and singing along as these guys did the Beatles proud! Having grown up in England and played in bands at the same time as the Beatles, I feel somewhat qualified to judge, but then so can millions of people from all around the world. These guys have not only done their homework, but they must have practiced long and hard to get the songs down to perfection. And that Tim Emery can certainly play that guitar. What a great show! I really hope they get enough publicity and exposure around the community so they can continue to entertain all of us lucky enough to hear them.

Peter Gauci

Scarborough

SUNBURNT BALDACCI

Thank you, Lance Tapley, for your determination to uncover and share the truth about the Maine Legislature’s recently approved tax cut (see "Who Pays for the Tax Cuts," Jan. 28). Yes, we may feel overtaxed in Maine, but I think our governor would be hard pressed to find many Mainers willing to deny critical services to our less fortunate neighbors in order to pocket a few more dollars each year. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that he has bothered to ask. When draconian cuts to DHHS are buried in a 711-page budget that a large number of legislators admit they haven’t even looked at closely, I don’t feel well represented. The Maine I know is filled with caring, generous individuals who are willing to sacrifice in the best interest of the community. We may not have a lot but we’ll share what we have. And we don’t need a tax cut that unfairly burdens our ill, elderly, or disabled neighbors. Let’s remind our governor that we deserve to be consulted on these kinds of decisions. And while we’re at it, maybe pass the sunscreen. It seems Baldacci’s beginning to look a bit Red.

Tessy Seward

Portland

NO SUNDAY HUNTING

I’ve been trying to find an address to email the powers that be in Maine State government to voice my opinion on Sunday hunting, but as a novice computer user I didn’t have much luck. I did, however, run across your article and totally agree with your point of view (see "Sunday, Orange Sunday?," Jan. 21, by Alex Irvine), as does my husband. We own 80-plus acres in Buxton and will post our land if this passes.

Fall is such a lovely time of the year, and Sundays are the only day during the hunting season that we feel safe to go into the woods with our young grandchildren to look at the Beaver Dam and all that nature has to offer. Last winter, however, someone trapped the Beavers without our permission and blood-stained snow is all that was left.

My husband is a hunter , so our objections do not come from an anti-hunting point of view. Thank you for your article and for providing a forum for me to express our opinions.

Rita Landry

Buxton

CORRECTION

It has been brought to my attention (see "Stalwart," Jan. 28, by Alex Irvine) that actually the vote when I was elected Mayor the first time was 6-3 (Bernstein, MacWilliams and Ron Dorler). The fifth vote was newly elected Barb Wood — not Peter O’Donnell, who was the sixth vote. The shift from five to four, women, changed when Barb Wood got elected so we had Pam Plumb, Linda Abromson, Esther Clenott, Barb Wood, and myself. My apologies, but recollection of the facts so long ago can sometimes be fuzzy as are the recollections about my age.

Cheryl Leeman

Portland