I feel compelled to respond to the Jan. 21 column by Erik Steele titled, “Healthy community is spelled ‘Penjajawoc.'”

Dr. Steele quoted most of his information from testimony presented by Bangor Area Citizens Organized for Responsible Development and Maine Audubon at hearings conducted by the Board of Environmental Protection over the past year. However, certain points presented as fact by BACORD and Maine Audubon were proven to be speculation, regarding what birds inhabit the Penjajawoc area or would be endangered by the Widewaters project.

A beaver dam located between the old railroad bed and upstream from the development site created the marsh. The beavers have depleted the materials in the area and abandoned the dam. The dam has deteriorated, causing the marsh to shrink to the original brook.

The fields adjacent to the site are hayfields, not pasture land, and weren’t proven to be a nesting area. Those fields are mowed up to twice a year and always have been, hardly providing a good place for nesting.

The only way this development will change the marsh forever is that landowners there will be able to see a building. This is private property and the landowners have agreed to post it “no trespassing” and it will remain so.

What Dr. Steele is prescribing for good health could be illegal. His statement, “take two trips to the Penjajawoc Marsh and call me in the morning,” could get someone arrested. The landowners will protect the marsh.

Cindy DeBeck

Newburgh