Help the Homeless in Lebanon
I do not support the prospect of Lebanon passing a city ordinance that will, in effect, make homelessness a crime. Adopting a police response to this social problem is nonsense.
A better approach is to designate an acceptable area for an encampment, provide portable toilets and trash barrels, and have the Police Department monitor the situation. The empty lot near Hannaford’s supermarket in West Lebanon is a suitable encampment area in my opinion — it is very visible, near shopping and restaurants and easy to monitor. If Lebanon adopts an ordinance, it would simply push this social problem to other communities without such laws. As a community, let’s spend our time and energy figuring out a way to solve the problem, not criminalize it. Homelessness is not a crime.
Shawn Donovan
Lebanon
A Valuable Civics Lesson
It was my privilege to attend the Memorial Day program at Canaan Elementary School on May 27. The program was presented by the fourth-grade students of Linda Landry and Lois Wilson. I was impressed by how the students understood that their freedoms and rights came with a price. This realization promoted gratitude and respect for all the veterans present that day.
It was evident that the students had worked very hard to learn their parts, but at the same time they truly understood how their part fit into the whole picture. It was a great civics lesson for us all. Often it is said that there is not enough civics taught in schools today. One had only to attend this program to see that at Canaan Elementary, civics gets a starring role. In preparation for the program, students bring pictures of relatives and friends who have served and put them on a wall of remembrance. It is heart-warming to see adults and students stop and look at all the pictures. They see friends, relatives and other members of the community. This is truly a community-building event for our four towns.
When I was teaching at CES, I would invite students from Dartmouth to visit when we were studying different countries. It was an eye-opening experience for our students to meet people from other parts of the world, and the Dartmouth students realized how they are ambassadors for their countries. It makes a huge difference when talking about a country and students can say they remember meeting someone from that country. People become real to the students. This was similar when the students got to meet veterans who served our country. It was a learning experience.
Again, I want to thank Mrs. Landry and Mrs. Wilson for giving their students and all the students this outstanding experience. I am sure the other community members who were present feel the same.
Susan M. Frost
Grafton
Voters Are Right to Be Anxious
A recent headline said “Voter Anxiety Evident”; that should be no surprise. If Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton become the major party candidates, this election will be a national disaster. It’s as though as a joke someone chose the two least attractive and least competent public figures and told the voters these are your only options.
On one side an egotistical clown and would-be fascist. On the other a robotic tool of the established powers who has never had an original thought in her life. What they have in common is a sense of entitlement and self-interest that precludes any thought of what happens to the rest of us. To imagine either of them as president is seriously depressing.
Some people say I should vote for one because the other would be worse. Sorry, but I’m not giving my vote of approval to someone who is wrong on every important issue, and that includes both of them. I honestly don’t know which of them is likely to do more damage. My vote will be for someone who I think would actually be good for the country. I don’t call that wasting my vote.
There is something wrong with an electoral process that eliminates all but two candidates who are universally disliked.
Clifford Cary
Lebanon
Excellent Service, Indeed
How wonderful to see John McGovern highlighted in Rebecca Perkins Hanissian’s article, “Hungry for Help” in the June edition of Enterprise. I am an unabashed John McGovern groupie, having first had him serve me several years ago at the Tip Top Cafe.
I would put John up against great servers in Boston and New York as he exemplifies the traits necessary for any great restaurant. His demeanor is neither overly distant, nor overly friendly. He knows everything about the menu being presented and has a deep knowledge of wines and can make wonderful suggestions when asked. John never misses a beat, making dining a distinct pleasure whether I am dining with a dear lady friend, my husband, or we have brought friends for a lovely dinner for four. John exemplifies the server who takes his job as a profession. The wonderful Bates from Downton Abbey exemplified impeccable service, as does John for our day and time. Would that we had more John McGoverns running around here and everywhere.
I have followed John wherever he worked, always ask to be seated at his table and am a bit downcast whenever he is not working; not that other servers are not fine, but John is well worth following from restaurant to restaurant. What a treasure!
Karen Blum
Grantham
Headline
How appropriate that the self-righteous words of one Jennifer Taylor of Norwich appear in the Valley News the very day following Memorial Day: “In a just world, this ‘hate crime for career advancement’ strategy would get these soulless bigots not only an expulsion but prison time.” This so-called “just world” that Ms. Taylor envisions is the very one that countless hundreds of thousands of American soldiers have given their lives to prevent. Prison time for expressing one’s opinion, indeed! I wonder what shoe size Ms. Taylor wears. I would be pleased to present her with a pair of jackboots and a swastika, so that she can at least look the part she wishes to play. Or perhaps to get a sample of the kind of “just world” she advocates, perhaps she could spend a few months living in Iran or North Korea.
John M. Wilson
Hanover