Cheers to Carrabassett Valley Academy. At first an offshoot of the Sugarloaf Ski Club, the academy was more or less formed in 1969 to “help racers and freestylers sharpen their skills for competitive skiing.” So while Mainers cheer the performances of Olympic medalists with ties to the Pine Tree State — including Seth Wescott and Bode Miller — they should also be cheering the staff and founders of this visionary Maine school, which has made Sugarloaf Mountain a classroom for champions.

At last count the school, now known to locals as CVA, has had an important hand in coaching and teaching of 11 Olympians. Three of them have produced six medals: the first, a bronze earned by Sharon Petzold in Freestyle Ballet during the 1992 games in Albertville, France.

Both Mainers and those “from away” have called CVA home, but all Mainers can be proud of the school, its athletes and the direct connection it provides us to the talent, skill and hard work displayed on the slopes of the Winter Games and many other high-profile competitions.

Jeers to the Watson father-son duo of Brunswick. 

Byron Watson, chairman of the Brunswick School Board, recently sent House Speaker Hannah Pingree an e-mail praising her for being gorgeous. And, oh by the way, could she please see what she can do to reduce the cuts in state aid to the Brunswick School System?

Praising Pingree’s appearance is not appropriate business correspondence, no matter how artfully Watson may have phrased the compliment. And it wasn’t artful.

Pingree handled the communication beautifully, by dismissing it as not credible. It was an appropriately professional response.

Other legislators have criticized Watson’s e-mail as offensive and disrespectful, but Watson has defended his actions, saying he’s being unfairly criticized by “elitist” politicians.

What makes Watson’s actions all the more unbelievable is that his father, W. David Watson, lost his seat as vice chairman of the Brunswick Town Council in 2007 (although he remains on the council) for sending an inappropriate e-mail to a public official that contained images of bare-breasted women. Surely, Byron Watson is wise enough to have learned the lesson of his father. He is, after all, chairing the town’s school board.

Brunswick voters might ask, would this be tolerated among the student body or faculty?

Cheers to Boy Scouts everywhere, who recently celebrated their 100-year anniversary.

On Wednesday, Gov. John Baldacci welcomed Scouts from the Pine Tree Council and Katahdin Area Council to the State House to celebrate. They are part of some 14,000 Scouts active in Maine, all of whom contribute to their communities while enjoying a strong tradition of camaraderie.

Girl Scouts are preparing to celebrate their own 100-year anniversary in 2012.

We wish all Scouts continuing adventures and accomplishments.

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