Recently a man in Ohio speared a bear to death after it was lured to a trash bin full of bait in the middle of a clearing. The bait was prepared and placed by a “bear guide” who was paid by the hunter to do so. Killing bears this way is a particularly egregious betrayal and a failure of compassion. It is like luring an innocent child with candy, and does not take any kind of skill.
Bear baiting is banned in Vermont and all but 13 states nationwide. New Hampshire should be ashamed that baiting is still legal despite the pain and cruelty it causes in the name of “sport” — and what real sport involves death? Now, bear baiting guides are back for the September baiting season and barrels of junk food are in our woods.
Bear baiting is not a management tool. It’s an opportunity for a small number of baiting guides to make an easy buck and for so-called hunters to get the “thrill” of killing a living creature. New Hampshire residents, please urge your lawmakers to finally stop this cruel practice once and for all.
Jack Hurley Claremont
There is a primary election on Tuesday. Our current statewide registration is 38 percent independent, or unenrolled, 32 percent Republican and 30 percent Democrat. That means that the independent voter will have the most influence in selecting which candidate wins the primary.
Frank Edelblut (pronounced Edelblue) has the most interesting background of the candidates of either party on the ballot for governor on Tuesday. Independents can take a Republican ballot to vote for him and then change back to unenrolled after they cast their ballot.
Edelblut started his career as a CPA with the accounting firm Price Waterhouse. He then started a company from scratch where employment grew to 800 people. He now works as an “angel investor” providing capital and guidance to small start-up companies.
Edelblut is a first-term state representative from Wilton who understands state laws and the legislative process. His votes follow the New Hampshire Constitution and our Bill of Rights.
He and his wife have seven children who were home schooled. Frank Edelblut is the only candidate for governor who is not a career politician.
Please check out his website. If you believe Frank Edelblut would be a breath of fresh air in the governor’s office, please go to the polls on Tuesday and vote for him.
David Scott Dover, N.H.Roger Masters Hanover
We heard Bernie Sanders speak on Labor Day at Lebanon High School. The man is brilliant, humane and eminently sensible. However, I have a quibble: He did not critique the never-ending wars in which we habitually engaged that, while immensely profitable, serve no end but to make us the object of justifiable rage throughout the world.
Robert Belenky Hanover
The Upper Valley Hawks Special Olympics Team would like to thank those in our community who helped 15 athletes raise $973 at the Irving Oil Fueling Dreams Fundraiser & Awareness event Aug. 27. We were hosted again at two Jake’s locations in Hartford Village and White River Junction. This event is the biggest fundraiser for the Vermont part of our program because all the money raised goes directly to the Upper Valley Hawks. We’d like to thank the owner, Bruce Bergeron, and the managers at each location.
We greatly appreciated support from the Hartford Fire Department and Chief Scott Cooney, and Hartford Police Chief Phil Kasten and his officers. Lastly, a big thank you to Bill Brown and Sara Cooney at the Clerkin Agency. It’s great to work with the people in these departments and businesses — strengthening bonds not just for these events but every day.
Randi Harron West Hartford
When I got to the sports section of the Sept. 4 Sunday Valley News, I first noticed the nice color photos (“Hit Parade”), but as a former football coach in the valley, the first frame seemed a bit odd. I’m curious as to why, with all the good plays that may have happened in the game, the Valley News chose to publish photos of a blatant penalty. I never officiated the game of football, but the Newport player, who it looks like made more than one violation, probably should have been ejected from the game.
With the local season just starting, I hope other Valley players and coaches use this picture as a coaching tool, to eliminate this type of play.
Thomas Dupree Lebanon
I have been the recipient of the largesse of the Upper Valley Haven for about a month now. I am very grateful to all those who donate their time, goods and money to this organization.
Over the past nine months, I have become aware of just how many people access the food pantry. There are 18 of us living at the adult shelter. There are 30 children up to the age of 12 living in the family unit with their parents. Homelessness is a tragic product of a failing economy and circumstances beyond the control of most mortal men. The Upper Valley Haven is a respite from the struggles of finding your next healthy meal or a safe and dry place to sleep.
With these concerns minimized, one can step back and take the time to look for a job, find secure housing and vent some of the frustration that builds in a limited rental housing market. Most of the folks I have met are very grateful for the assistance provided by the Haven and we are aware that this would not happen without the compassion and generosity of the community.
Lee Works White River Junction
I believe a great many high crimes were connected to 9/11: mass murder, bond fraud, insurance fraud, gold theft, insider trading, destruction of evidence, obstruction of justice. The carnage of that day and its aftermath are a national tragedy and disgrace.
Our enemy was not some evil Muslim hiding in a cave. We are our own worst enemy. Fiften years later, our lawless leaders and their willfully blind followers refuse to face reality. But reality is coming to face us nonetheless. The consequences of what we’ve done are inescapable. Everything is broken and coming apart and we’ve brought it upon ourselves. There’s no one else to blame; not the Muslims, not the Russians, not the Chinese. But I’m sure we’ll try to blame them anyway.
Neil Meliment Hanover
I’d like to take a moment to recognize something that is going right in the Upper Valley: Lebanon Recreation and Parks. In an era of increased social fragmentation, Lebanon Recreation and Parks is working to bring people together.
The Raqs Salaam Dance Theater and I were fortunate to perform as part of their Monday Night Concert Series this summer. Everyone was there — young, old, mothers with babies, and many others. And it was free of charge.
Research supports the fact that informal social connection is the No. 1 key to emotional, physical and community health (see the work on social capital by Robert Putnam). I just returned from a trip to Italy, where social connection is foundational. As in Lebanon, Italian communities regularly have large concerts sponsored by the region. They are attended by young, old, mothers with babies, and many others. They are accessible to all. As a result of their strong social connection, traditional Italian communities, even in the U.S., have higher levels of well-being.
I am happy to report that the city of Lebanon is doing its part of create health in our community. Warm and memorable human moments, such as those created by the concerts, bring us together as a community and make us feel like we belong here. As a result, they extend our lives in every way.
Thank you, Krissy Flythe and the team at Lebanon Recreation and Parks for your important work strengthening our community. The Raqs Salaam Dance Theater and I look forward to contributing to this program again next June.
Gina Capossela South Royalton
The Grand Canyon is a World Heritage Site and a climate stabilizer for our generation and generations to come. The Navajo Nation owns lands adjacent to Grand Canyon National Park; it proposes to build a mega-commercial development and tramway at the rim to access the confluence of the Colorado River and the Little Colorado River — 10,000 people per day would ride to the river. They will decide this soon; your comments and concerns can be sent to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell at feedback@ios.doi.gov.
I have hiked, rafted and watched condors in the Grand Canyon and I know its fragile qualities. Stewardship, balanced by the Navajos, the National Park Service and federal government, has provided a healthy environment. A tramway, if approved, would sell out the future of our children and cause climate chaos — floods, erratic storms and unbearable winds.
Joan Hoffmann South Royalton