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What Are You Afraid Of?

On Feb. 27, I attended an informational meeting at the Community Center to learn about the APT facility that will be coming to Guilford. I was greatly saddened by the rude and angry interruptions that our fellow residents expressed throughout the evening. APT Foundation CEO Lynne Madden came prepared and shared the story of her work and how important this clinic would be for the shoreline area. But most of the crowd seemed to have already made up their minds that this business should not come to our town, and they booed and hissed and badgered the speaker and our Board of Selectmen.

Location was a concern for many people, but I believe that the parties involved carefully explored all the properties available and discussed their needs with the town before spending two million dollars on the current site.

So much misinformation gets spread through social media and other formats that many rational and sane people get caught up in the hysteria of “Not In My Back Yard.” What are you really afraid of? Let us respect each other and our neighbors. Let us have compassion and support for the clients who need these facilities and not create harmful and inaccurate stereotypes about the people APT serves. These are our neighbors. They live next door.

Mary Strieff

Guilford