Maine Public Radio was once a lovely oasis in the desert of soul-numbing programming provided by most other radio stations and many of us gladly supported it with our membership dollars. Over the years, that oasis has gradually become shrunken by program changes. The latest changes seem to indicate that the management has given up on its mission of providing high-quality alternative radio, and is now aiming to become more like the other commercial stations. Carleton Brown Baileyville

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Just as Maine Public Radio has done away with live programming from the Met, now they have done away with afternoons with Victor Hathaway.

For the past five years I have listened faithfully to Hathaway’s program. I loved the manner in which Victor introduced pieces, shared something about the composer or the music. Victor knew us, he cared about his audience and we knew he knew who we were. We received real customer service in the way Victor fashioned his programs.

Now Victor has been replaced by national talk programs – more talk radio to talk to us so we don’t have to think, just be talked to.

MPR and its new policies of “ratings” reminds me of the “Wal-Mart-ing” of America. Feed everyone the same merchandise or talk programming. Do away with small retailers or the quirky music programs like live opera or Victor Hathaway. Just be concerned with quantity of items sold or ratings not with the uniqueness of your customers or quality of your offerings. Karna Olsson Orono