This is a public call to action to attend the Hanover Planning Board meeting tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall. The Planning Board is expected to make a decision on the building of Dartmouth’s Indoor Practice Facility.
The IPF is a utilitarian warehouse, similar to three stacked Wal-Marts (Wal-Mart is an analogy Dartmouth’s real estate expert used). It is proposed at the end of the Thompson Ice Arena and Boss Tennis Center complex, wedged against a residential neighborhood. Dartmouth’s own study confirms it will cast shadows on surrounding houses that currently enjoy sunlight and sky. It is architecturally lacking, especially the back facing the community. This big box store-like structure is completely out of character, detrimental to Hanover and should not be built.
Community action is needed. We must protect the character and beauty of Hanover. Dartmouth ignored a petition signed by over 150 community members asking it to refrain from building on this site. Neighborhood negotiations with Dartmouth have failed. Dartmouth College’s insensitivity to its neighbors’ concerns has only increased. The problems at Rennie Farm were unforeseen due to lack of disclosure. In this situation, we see problems and want to prevent them, but Dartmouth has been indifferent.
At the last meeting on Nov. 1, Dartmouth admitted the noise from the Thompson Ice Arena was too loud. Dartmouth offered to remediate, but only if the IPF was approved. This type of unethical business shows blatant disrespect for our community. If we do not stop this now, as Dartmouth continues to expand, it will continue to steamroll other neighborhoods with disregard to Hanover’s safety or character. We need to show Dartmouth and the Planning Board that we will defend the harmonious aesthetics of Hanover, hold Dartmouth and the Planning Board to high expectations, and will not tolerate a lack of community partnership. Please attend the Planning Board tonight. This may be the last opportunity to voice your opposition before a decision is made.
Julie Kim Nina Lloyd Anne Wilson Frank Manasek Maureen and Jeff Doyle Hanover
This is in response to the Nov. 20 article, “Undocumented Dartmouth Students Ready to Fight Back Against Trump.” This is the second article the Valley News has published concerning undocumented students at Dartmouth College either upset at being labeled illegal or afraid of possibly being deported under the Trump presidency. These students obviously have resided in the United States for some time. My question is, “Why are they still undocumented?”
Dartmouth College is a prestigious institution. It takes a great deal of knowledge and skill to successfully complete the class curriculums. These students obviously have the talent to succeed, so they should also have the talent to apply and attain United States citizenship.
These students will be valuable assets to this country upon graduation. Instead of waking up to “nightmares,’’ as the Nov. 21 article suggests, they should pursue citizenship and live the American dream as American citizens.
Joe Brulotte White River Junction
No Manifest Destiny in Space
The Nov. 18 Valley News article reporting Stephen Hawking’s speech to the effect that humanity will drive itself to extinction within 1,000 years unless we colonize other planets, provoked in me some contrarian thoughts. I would not argue with so distinguished a man as to the scientific merits of his argument. However, the merits and drawbacks of extraterrestrial colonization need to be considered more widely than he has seen fit to do.
With our track record of war, slavery, genocide and environmental pollution, we are manifestly unfit to colonize other worlds. As to what happens when more technologically advanced humans contact the less advanced, African and Australian natives can bear witness. The reverse, less scientifically developed people trespassing on the turf of the more developed, has not happened often.
In either case, extraterrestrial contact with other species is likely to have bad consequences. If we encounter species weaker than ourselves, we will do them great harm. If we encounter a civilization more advanced than our own, they will in pure self-defense exterminate us at the first opportunity. After all, we intend to do the same to the emerald ash borer, and I cannot say we are wrong to do so.
To compare humanity seeking other worlds to the emerald ash borer is perhaps an extreme point of view, but if we took a good look in the mirror could we blame a just and equitable extraterrestrial society for thinking of us in those terms?
If we can find an environmentally suitable and completely uninhabited planet in the next 1,000 years we should count ourselves more fortunate than we deserve to be.
Vijay Thadani Norwich
Unity Is Endangered
Recently reports appeared in various news outlets of aggressive behavior between college students who support or oppose Donald Trump.
This kind of activity exemplifies two gifts that our president-elect has offered: a magnifying glass and a license. His behavior, language and approach to the issues facing the country have caused divisions to grow and provided those with differing opinions license to express their dissatisfaction in aggressive ways without regard for decency.
Enhancing anger and encouraging violence can only cause further division. It is difficult in this environment to imagine how the United States can become a unified country when hostility results from the new “tools” that Mr. Trump has provided. “Making America Great Again” means achieving unity; anger and violence do not constitute a foundation for unity. Let us hope that we are not in a place in which an external threat is the only thing that can bring us together.
George Sutherland Grantham
A Dance, Not Drugs
In an age where we sadly hear about drugs penetrating our youth culture and the devastating effects on individuals and community, it is refreshing to learn about high school students taking the lead in offering fun, safe alternatives.
Raphael Harriman and Julia Mason, Lebanon High School seniors, partnered with All Together, CCBA, Lebanon Police Department, and Lebanon Recreation & Parks to offer a 9th-12th grade dance, open to all Upper Valley high school students. The dance attracted 340 students, along with adult chaperones, and raised money for the LHS senior class and Lebanon Recreation & Parks. Most importantly, the success of the dance demonstrated that our students do have strong leaders like Raphael and Julia. When given the opportunity to build community among their peers, they are modeling civic leadership as well. It was a pleasure working with them; congratulations on a dance well done.
Paul Coats, director Lebanon Recreation & ParksLebanon