In response to Donna Fowler-Greenwood’s letter to the editor in last Saturday’s paper (“The Clothes Pile Is Too High”): You are correct, the donation room in our White River Junction store is overwhelming and yes, it does require attention.
It is my top priority as the newly named executive director to solve this. What is the plan? Through a partnership with the Tuck School, we are studying the ebb and flow of our donations (much more in the spring than in the winter), looking at how we sort items and examining our operational efficiency. Working with our dedicated staff members, we will find solutions to this problem and invest the resources necessary to redesign our processes.
Listen relies on the generosity of Upper Valley donors for its success, and we are proud that every dollar raised through our thrift store sales stays in the community to help our neighbors in need. Because of those sales last year, we were able to serve 28,000 community dinners, provide $200,000 in fuel and rent assistance, and 300 summer camp scholarships.
We offer vouchers for those who can’t afford to shop, deliver holiday baskets, provide financial coaching, stock a food pantry, and operate a world-class teen center. I feel so fortunate to be a part of this tremendous organization and eager to do what’s necessary to keep it a vibrant resource for all of us in the years ahead.
Kyle FisherCornish
In the Aug. 16 Valley News there was a front-page article headlined “D-H Again Finishes with Deficit.” The article had a negative tone, mentioning that a “flash flood of red ink swept over Dartmouth-Hitchcock,” although there are also some potentially positive results shown in the article.
While the details of revenues and expenses can be very complicated, using figures from the article, there appear to be some possible successes hiding in plain sight. If the total number of discharges increased by 4.3 percent over the previous year, the total days of care increased by 1.6 percent, and the surgical cases increased by 10.2 percent, while net revenue decreased, might these be seen as signs of increased efficiency? It could also mean that the patients receiving these services paid less than the previous year. The decline in emergency visits by 1.7 percent over the previous year, which might have contributed to the reduced revenue, could also be due to improved prevention services and increased access to primary care, resulting in less need by patients to resort to more expensive emergency services.
Given the complexity of revenue and expense figures, they can be difficult to interpret, but it appears that the article intended to accentuate the negative to give a more eye-catching theme and headline, while not discussing potentially positive aspects. It would have been useful and informative to provide a more balanced view and more fully discuss both sides of the picture.
While deficits are not something to celebrate, we need to consider the work Dartmouth-Hitchcock does for our community and not only whether it is in the black. Since the deficit of $12.2 million for the year is less than 1 percent of the $1.35 billion in net revenue from patient services reported in the article, this may not be so bad if it is considered as temporary, and within the context of Dartmouth-Hitchcock striving to reduce costs for patients.
Alan SchnurLebanon
The scientifically erroneous letter to the editor, “Climate Change Is Not No. 1 Issue,” Valley News, Aug. 15 by John E. Yocom, was rebutted two days later in an excellent and scientifically accurate letter, “Recognize Facts on Climate Change,” by John S. Winn, Aug. 18.
The answer to “How important is climate change?” is the same as the answer to “How important is maintaining a livable Earth?” For me, for my children, for all the world’s children, and for all future life on this planet, there is nothing more important than assuring the health of our planet’s life-support system. And that includes doing what’s necessary to regulate the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, the Earth’s primary temperature-control system, so that it maintains the planet’s temperature within healthy limits. And this means not playing games, through ignorance or politics.
Climate change deniers who approach the subject of climate change without making an investment of time to understand the science behind it, or just plain not caring about the future beyond one’s own life, are like frogs in a pot — enjoying the heat for the moment — until it’s too late to get out.
Out of the pot — now!
Charles McKennaWilder
Climate change is an undeniable reality and constitutes the most important issue facing the world today. We are witnessing the sixth mass global extinction of plants and animals; the prospective loss of coastal areas to rising sea levels; and the leading edge of mass migrations of human populations fleeing previously arable areas. This constitutes an unprecedented, interacting set of environmental, economic and security crises.
And yet, some continue to deny both science and reality; see the Aug. 15 Valley News Forum letter, “Climate Change is Not No.1 Issue.”
That letter falsely asserts that allowing atmospheric C02 concentrations to rise will have no measurable effect on global temperatures, the driver of contemporary climate change. In arguing that the relative warming impact of CO2 decreases at increased concentrations, the letter’s author exaggerates a minor aspect of a complex phenomenon, in order to obscure the crucial issue. By increasing concentrations of CO2 (from the preindustrial level of roughly 300 ppm to the current 400 ppm) we have already locked in long-term temperature increases of approximately 1.5 degrees Celsius. If we go further, from 400 to 500 ppm (a relatively modest scenario based on current trends), it would lead to a cumulative temperature increase of roughly 2.5 degrees over preindustrial levels. To put that into perspective, the scientific community has determined that a global temperature increase of even 2 degrees Celsius would be extremely dangerous — sufficient to fundamentally disrupt the relatively stable climate regime that has existed since the close of the last Ice Age.
Adm. John Natham, U.S. Fleet Forces Commander under George W. Bush, asserts: “There are serious risks to doing nothing about climate change. We can pay now or we’re going to pay a whole lot later. The U.S. has a unique opportunity to become energy independent, protect our national security and boost our economy while reducing our carbon footprint. We’ve been a model of success for the rest of the world in the past and now we must lead the way on climate change.”
State Rep. Lee OxenhamPlainfield
I was saddened to learn recently that Dr. Mark Israel would be stepping down as director of DHMC’s Norris Cotton Cancer Center. The good news is that Dr. Israel will remain at the hospital, and he and his wife, Susan, will continue to be active members of our community.
I have had friends and family members treated at the NCCC, all willing to travel distances to receive treatment here knowing of the center’s reputation.
Having served on the Friends of the Norris Cotton Cancer Center’s board for 10 years, I saw the amazing work being done under Mark’s leadership. This includes groundbreaking research and outstanding treatment and patient services.
I have always been convinced that leadership from the top is critical to any successful organization. We have been fortunate to have had Mark at the helm of our cancer center for 15 years.
Thank you, Mark, for all you have done.
Sandra HoehHanover
“I Have What?” I exclaimed to Dr. Sylvie Rudolf at the emergency room of Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital when she announced that I had pneumonia.
No one wants to have a stay in the hospital, especially while on vacation, but if you have to do it, the place to go is Alice Peck Day Memorial.
I live in South Carolina, but visit my sister in Vermont as frequently as I can. On my recent trip I ended up in the emergency room of APD.
After three days of wonderful care, I was on my way to my normal good health, and I would like to thank the doctors, nurses and many others who were so attentive, professional and caring.
If I could give star ratings, APD would definitely get five stars!
I also have to mention that the kitchen at APD has efficient and friendly employees, and great food.
All in all, it was not a terrible experience, though I will say I hope never to repeat it. Thanks again for all your wonderful care.
Shari WaldoSouth Carolina
Children who’ve been abused or neglected need caring adults to speak up for them. That voice could be yours. I’ve been privileged to train as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, a “CASA,” here in New Hampshire. It has been at times challenging and yet always fulfilling to know that I am making a difference for a young person who needs an advocate.
CASA of New Hampshire provides extraordinary support for volunteers. The New London area is a training site for once-weekly sessions from Sept. 14 through Oct. 12. If you’ve ever thought about this meaningful volunteer endeavor, now is the time to act. More information, CASA’s online application and training dates are available at casanh.org. You will make a difference in a child’s life.
Charlene BaxterNew London
In The Wall Street Journal it was written this week that “Donald Trump has to change his stumbling ways by Labor Day or drop out.” Is there something wrong with my thinking or my hearing? If Trump fixes his “stumbling” ways by Labor Day then he’ll be OK?
Forgive the run-on sentence but . . . If Donald Trump somehow straightens out for a day or for a few weeks or even for a moment in time . . . his hatred, vitriol, lies, bullying, inability to say a whole sentence that actually holds together, antagonistic remarks, avoidance of answers to direct questions, passive-aggressive innuendos, fear-mongering, his mightier and richer-than-thou sensibility will all be forgotten and forgiven and then he will be fine to run? Seriously?
Joan EckerQuechee