This week's Tele-Talk question is: Should Fryeburg charge to canoe and kayak on the Saco?

Call 356-2550 all day Saturday and Sunday and leave your comments on our machine. You may fax your response to 356-8360 or send E-mail to DailySun@mountwashingtonvalley.com. Results will be published Tuesday.

I have thought in the past that the Conway selectmen had some pretty dumb suggestions and opinions but the Fryeburg selectmen have to take first place in that department, at least for now. I can see some merit in a voluntary donation but I suspect that any regulation would cost far more to enforce than would ever be collected. What next, charging to tube on the Saco, go rafting, peeing while in the water? It would appear that the town fathers of our neighbor to the east would benefit from a weekend retreat with a shrink. I sense that there are many residents of that Maine town who would take up a collection for that purpose so that the taxpayers would not be overly burdened for this weekend of help.No, they definitely should not charge to canoe and kayak on the Saco. The only place they are considering charging is at Canal Bridge. That entire area is a town park, owned by the Town of Fryeburg and under the supervision of the Fryeburg Parks Committee. It's the Saco River Recreational Council that is really behind this stupid idea. It's all about money and not the best interest of the Town of Fryeburg. The council has been trying for years now to do this. Each new board of selectmen is faced with this issue. The council is just like childrenif they don't get their way, they cry and cry and go back again and again until they get what they want. They have absolutely no authority at Canal Bridge. There would not be any way to have checks and balances as far as the money is concerned and it would create a big liability on the town. Money isn't everything. Our residents and people going through our town would like to enjoy the town beach and the picnic area or at least they would like to if they could get to them. Maybe then it's time to limit the entire area to residents only and passers-by who come through town wanting to picnic and enjoy the beauty of that area. It's time for the liveries to buy their own piece of land and run their commercial ventures from it and not infringe on town property. Vendors have tried doing business on that property and the selectmen have run them outthen why are the liveries allowed to do the same thing? There was never a problem until the liveries and, may I add, from other towns and states, started using that park for commercial purposes. The State of Maine has some money into that area in helping to build the canoe launch but it's the town that owns the property. The selectmen do have the final say. I would hope they would use their common sense and stop allowing the town to subsidize these commercial ventures in our park. It does nothing but creates problems for everyone concerned. And by the way, it would be a good idea to invite all three selectmen to your council meetings. You show your true colors when you don't!Something needs to be done to help with the costs of cleanup, rescue and patrols on the Saco River. I have grown up enjoying the river and still do, I also work at a busy canoe launch in the summer months and enjoy swimming and boating on the Saco. What I see coming and going on that river is a shame, to say the least. We need to gain some control in educating boaters and campers, making them pay and be a little responsible if they want to continue to use the river in the future. I will no longer canoe or kayak on the river in Fryeburg on weekends because it is not fun or safe at times for families and adults. We need to take back control and show these people if they want to use this river they need to respect it and help with the costs of cleanup and patrols. Michelle B.Absolutely ridiculous. With the price of gasoline, no tourist is going to come here. It's insanity. The person who came up with that idea should be shot.Sounds to me like it's an awful lot like having to pay to use our national forest. This is Pete from Intervale.If Fryeburg charges for use of the river in Maine, it will just make more of them come to North Conway's First Bridge and use the already overused river through Conway, along with the canoe liveries who launch hundreds during the summer at that put in. Perhaps we should charge the canoe liveries that use the river from North Conway to Conway $10 per canoe and kayak, and use their money to clean the garbage and beer cans left behind by the foul-mouthed weekend drunks. Fat chance of that ever happening in Maine or New Hampshire. Paul from North Conway.Of all the absurd ideas I've ever heard of. First Conway, mortgaging our whole future, destroying the area with development, and now Fryeburg wants to charge people to canoe down the river. It's pretty ridiculous. They're going to kill their bread and butter. Those tourists from Massachusetts who come up and get drunk and everybody complains about are the ones who keep the economy moving up here. We've got to cater to them, as much as we don't like it, as much as many of us are from there. We've still got to realize that they come up here and they spend all this money. You start charging for that river and they're going to find another stretch of river to go to. First you sell the river, the water under the town, and it's going to run dry someday, and you'll be begging for water, and now you're going to sell the river and you're going to cause all these cottage industries that cater to these canoeists, to fold up. I say it's ridiculous.Absolutely not. The national forest charges us to take a walk in the woods. Fryeburg's going to charge us to canoe and kayak down the river. What's next, taxing us for the air we breathe? What are you going to do, tap into our blood next as well? Selectmenwhy don't you just recall all these selectmen like they should in Brownfield?Yes, I'm a canoeist and I think it's a disgrace to charge anybody to use a river that both Maine and New Hampshire pay taxes through the state and local, and I just think it's a disgrace. It should never, ever pass either for parking or for canoeing. I think it's a disgrace that they're even talking about this.Anyone who is in favor of imposing a charge to canoe or kayak on the Saco should be put away in an institution for the rest of their lives.I do not believe Fryeburg should charge to canoe or kayak on the Saco. I think it's a free thing that's still left for families to do, and especially lower-income families. They can still go out and enjoy the day with their families. I think that's why we pay taxes, and that should come out of taxes, part of our law enforcement fees.No, you shouldn't charge. If the charge goes through, you should take off "live free" on your number plates.I don't think people should have to pay to kayak or canoe on the Saco. Paying a small fee, like $5 a day to park is reasonable, though, if it will go toward trash disposal and river rescues. But if people want to spend the day outside enjoying nature, let's not give them a reason not to. This is a long-time "canoer" in Ossipee.No. This is a really stupid idea. The best way to finance river patrols is to tax the profits from legalized hash houses, bordellos and gambling casinos. Bong up, get down and roll the dice. This is Dave in North Conway.