It is with grave concern for our state that I have read the articles on the proposed Calais casino, concern at the statistics that more people in the United States are interested in grambling than sports or the arts, concern that the trend is where there is one casino, 60 soon follow.

The things that I value about our state are its natural resources and feeling of family and independent community values. I also respect the dignity and struggle of the Passamaquoddy tribe and wonder who will benefit from this casino atmosphere. Having been in Reno, I have experienced the neon and, to me, plastic environment endorsing the philosophy of overnight wealth. If the casino flies, the community is faced with related problems of addictive behaviors, prostitution, crime; whether it remains in flight or later crashes to earth, how have tribal values and traditions been carried on and what is the message for the future.

Truly there is a need for economic development in this area of our state. My concern is that citizens and legislators think in a long-term fashion about our state enhancing its strengths of natural resources and strong community values and not in a manner of “desperate” economic need hinted at within the articles I have read. Cynthia Esty-Kendall Glenburn