Conservative thinking
To the editor:
"The best defense against usurpatory government is an assertive citizenry." — William F. Buckley
John Burtis
Derry
Scouts seek new members
To the editor:
It was in 1910 that Scouting was brought to America and about a year ago that Boy Scout Troop 1910 in Londonderry was founded. The troop meets at St. Peter's Episcopal Church on the corner of Peabody Row and Mammoth Road every Thursday night at 7 during the school year. We've had a great first year helping our youth develop strong character, participating citizenship and personal fitness. We started with nine Scouts and now are up to 18, doubling in size. Some of you may have seen us building a monkey bridge behind the Lions Club during Old Home Day. Recently we spent a fantastic week camping at Hidden Valley in Gilmanton Iron Works, N.H. We have a lot of exciting activities planned for this coming year such as biking on Cape Cod, camping in the White Mountains, attending the Nutfield District Camporee and Klondike Derby, going to New York City and camping on Staten Island, caving in New York state, kayaking, canoeing and white-water rafting. Scouting is year-round with lifetime benefits. Please encourage our youth to join Scouting.
For more information about Troop 1910, you can check out our troop Web site at www.troop1910.net.
Brian Williams
Londonderry
Overlay district bad for abutters
To the editor:
Regarding the Londonderry Historical Overlay District — this ordinance is poorly written and poorly thought out. Encouraging commercial use of old homes is destructive.
The original intent of this ordinance was to preserve the 141 historic homes on the Historic Properties Preservation Task Force list. The way this ordinance is written will allow the destruction of old homes and entire neighborhoods. The only historic homes that have been lost or moved were commercially zoned. The Morrison house, The Gilcreast house and the old farm house and barn located where the Elliot Hospital now sits on Buttrick Road. It's ironic the town now wants to turn residential historic homes into commercial properties.
We've been following the development of the HOD ordinance because of our immediate concerns with the development of Twin Gate Farm. We are abutters to this farm and will be greatly affected by a 22-acre commercial property abutting three sides of our property. Every article written has focused solely on Twin Gate Farm when in fact this ordinance is much bigger than just Twin Gate Farm alone. This ordinance, if approved, is going to start with the first 17 of the 141 historic properties identified that have opted into the HOD.
The allowed commercial uses for these historic properties are retail, service establishments, multi-family dwellings, adult day care, restaurants and professional offices. Additional commercial structures can also be built on these properties. Town Planner Tim Thompson stated at the Planning Board meeting that all of the acreage of these properties will be commercial unless the owner of the property decides to subdivide, and then only the land with the old home will be commercial.
Why would they subdivide when it would be more profitable to commercially develop the entire acreage by adding additional commercial structures to them? In the case of Twin Gate, if this ordinance is approved, 22 acres will be developed commercially, and there will be no over-55 housing units on this property. It's not just about Twin Gate Farm. Every one of the 141 historic homes have abutters who will be in the same situation as the Twin Gate Farm abutters and will have no recourse except appealing to Superior Court. As, abutters, we did not buy our home in a commercial zone and we don't believe the town has the right to force this onto the abutters.
The historic property owners have the option of joining the Historic Overlay District to increase their property values. We abutters have no options. Our properties will be worthless! I don't feel comfortable with the Planning Board deciding on a case-by-case basis and making decisions that would diminish my property value. They have their own agenda, and as a non-historic property owner, my agenda is protecting my property value. I hope the residents will join us at the Town Council meeting on Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. to oppose this ordinance.
Dennis and Janet Griffin
Londonderry
Sununu has hurt taxpayers
To the editor:
A recent study from the Government Accountability Office shows an absolutely astounding fact: More than 60 percent of U.S. corporations pay no income tax! This is the result of seven years of George Bush's economic policies that put corporate profits above all else, but Bush hasn't done it alone. John Sununu has helped Bush enact these disastrous economic policies at every turn.
Sununu voted with Bush to protect offshore tax loopholes to help corporations evade paying taxes. He voted for all of Bush's budgets, putting us over $9 trillion in debt. And he even voted against using Iraqi oil profits to pay for reconstruction — they're sitting on a cool $80 billion right now, by the way.
With John Sununu's help, George Bush has succeeded in enacting his entire economic agenda — and look where it's gotten us. If you want to keep going down this road, Sununu is your man. If you want a change in direction, vote for a change.
Al Farnell
Salem
Stephen is a cure
To the editor:
John Stephen is the best choice in the 1st District.
We have all heard the saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Well, in Washington it is broke. When something is broke, we need change. Sending our former Congressman Jeb Bradley back to Washington when he had his chance and did not fix things is not change, it is the same old same old. We need John Stephen in Washington. He demonstrated change at the Department of Health and Human Services. John Stephen managed to provide essential services to our neediest citizens while reducing the welfare rolls and getting people back to work. Incredibly, in doing so he found a way to return $143 million to the taxpayer instead of spending it as most politicians would do if they had the chance. John has taken the pledge against earmarks so that we don't wastefully spend taxpayers' dollars. This is the type of change and the type of leadership we need in the 1st District. Washington is broke and we need John Stephen's help to fix it. John Stephen is the best choice in the 1st District and the only choice that offers real change.
Joe Pasqual
Manchester
Wind power for NH
To the editor:
One of the most frequently debated topics is currently what we can do to solve the energy crisis, as well as combating global warming.
Republicans, including John Sununu, talk constantly about offshore drilling; but the Energy Information Administration contends that offshore drilling will only increase domestic oil production 1.6 percent, so we need to do much more to provide sufficient energy resources and ease energy prices which are hurting working families.
Wind power, on the other hand, could be a major source of clean energy that could also create jobs in New Hampshire. In one year, a 3-megawatt wind turbine produces as much energy is produced locally instead of being imported from foreign countries (70 percent of oil we consume is imported). Also, instead of adding the pollution causing global warming, wind turbines help to cool the atmosphere by turning energy in the atmosphere into electricity. Jeanne Shaheen supports harnessing New Hampshire's energy resources, such as wind power, to help make our state the alternative energy capital of New England. We need a new direction in Washington, we need a new senator; that's why I support Jeanne Shaheen.
Nick Maggio
Atkinson
Stephen a proven leader
To the editor:
John Stephen demonstrated tremendous leadership as the commissioner of Health and Human Services. It takes a tireless leader to run that organization with a billion-dollar budget and its many challenges. He demonstrated his conservative credentials when he returned $143 million to the state budget, instead of spending it as most politicians would have done. John Stephen was the hardest-working state official and has dedicated his career to public service. Our state is a better place to live because of John Stephen. That type of dedication is exactly what we need in Congress today. I urge you to vote for John Stephen in the 1st District congressional race on Sept. 9.
Patricia Taylor
Manchester
