Beyond the South End

By Ted Sylvester

 

To expand or not to expand that is the question.

 

(This column was probably written in the mid to late 70s because I was the patient he talks about at the end and that is when I undertook that particular treatment. As the Owls Head airport has recently undergone some new construction I thought these views might be interesting to review.)

 

The current runway resurfacing project at Knox County airport has raised the hairs on the backs of necks of Owls Head town officials, and according to them, more than a few residents in the area of the airport from both Owls Head and South Thomaston.

You will remember last year when Owls Head spent $1,500 to hire Portland attorney Barnett Shur to fight proposed extension of airport runways, which the county commissioners claimed they were not planning to do anyway. The whole thing started when a master plan of the airport was contracted (a requirement in order to be eligible for federal monies) which proposed the extension of runways over a period of years. After considerable discussion from both sides, a joint statement was issued to the effect that “no extensions of runways will be sought in the near term and therefore have laid to rest the uncertainty which has prevailed in Owls Head….”

All was quiet until the present work on runway resurfacing began. When workmen started dumping fill from the project at the end of the runway, extension was under way. Town officials and town attorney Barry Faber said they received numerous calls on the matter from citizens.

Faber said he wrote a letter to the commission seeking an explanation and was assured that there was no runway extension planned; but that fill was being placed at the runway end to construct a buffer zone to comply with FAA regulations. This area will be filled and grassed over, Faber said he was told. The town attorney has been in contact with Shur on the matter and is prepared to move ahead with efforts to seek an injunction to halt the project if, in fact, a runway extension is installed. Faber said he requested a letter from the county stating the intent of a buffer zone as was explained to him; and when he receives the assurance in writing he believes the matter will be dropped.

As a sidelight to the whole situation, Owls Head first selectman James Thomas, long an ardent opponent of any airport expansion, expressed pleasure over a recent Civil Aeronautics Board decision to remove Rockland from the certificate of Delta Airlines.

Thomas said the area was being adequately served by Downeast Airlines. “We have jets 60 miles up the road (Bangor) so why do we need a big airport here?” was his observation.”

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We had the opportunity to learn of the first-hand experience of a Rockland native, and now a resident of Hartford, Conn., on the subject of acupuncture treatments she had taken.

Webster said that acupuncture is “A puncturing of bodily tissue, as for the relief of pain.” Our acquaintance sought out this treatment when cortisone injections failed to relieve the pain in an injured thumb, and when medical treatment did not cure a pinched nerve in her neck.

The first question usually asked about acupuncture is “how much does it cost?” followed closely with “does it hurt?” and “does it work?” The person we talked with took treatments three times a week for a total of eight 20-minute treatments. The cost for the initial treatment was $50. The other treatments were $35 for each visit. The answer to the next two questions was “no” and “yes,” respectively.

The patient had as many as 15 needles inserted at one time at various locations on her hand and arm (for the thumb) and in the back of her neck (for the pinched nerve). Once the very thin and flexible needles of varying lengths are inserted, electrodes are fastened to them which send a “tingling” sensation throughout the treated area. Once the needles are inserted there is no pain, according to our friend.

After the eight treatments, our friend proclaimed absolutely no pain in the area of the pinched nerve, but noted there was still some pain with the thumb which could require additional treatments.

The Rockland native said the two female Chinese doctors (both M.D.s) operate acupuncture clinics at Hartford, Conn. and Springfield, Massachusetts, with a steady flow of patients at both locations. Many of the patients suffer from arthritis, with some claims of immediate relief from pain following acupuncture treatments. The pain usually re-curs we were told.

(A note: The pinched nerve I had was one of the reasons for my recurring migraine headaches. Age and a certain period all women go through finally cured them. As for the thumb, I did eventually require tunnel-syndrome surgery. Today that thumb is a little twisted with arthritis and will sometimes ache, but it is very usable most of the time.)