We are writing in response to the article regarding the proposal to build a church on Greensboro Road in Hanover (“Christ Redeemer Downsizes Church Plans,” Jan. 12). The article focuses on the fact that this proposal is smaller than the church’s prior proposal, but we think it is important to provide some context for readers to understand just how large this project will be in the midst of a residential neighborhood.
The article states that the proposed church will be 13,400 square feet, when in reality that is only the footprint of the building. The building will have two levels, and the total square footage of space in the building is 21,250, plus another roughly 1,800 square feet of porches and roof overhangs. For comparison purposes, the Wellspring Church on Route 10 across from Sachem Field has a footprint of 11,571 square feet and total square footage of 13,364 square feet. In other words, the proposed church is 15 percent larger in footprint and 70 percent larger in total square footage than Wellspring.
Also of note is the 134-space lighted parking lot that is proposed — slightly larger than the recently renovated parking lot at the Ray School. The parking lot and driveways will cover over one acre of land.
The residents of the Greensboro Road neighborhood are obviously very concerned about the impact a development of this size will have on our neighborhood. The size and scale of the building, and the attendant massive, lighted parking lot, are not at all in keeping with the residential character of our neighborhood. Other impacts, such as noise, traffic, wetlands, wildlife and more are also of great concern.
The first step in the town process will be a Planning Board hearing, now scheduled for Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. We encourage all Hanover residents who are interested in preserving the residential characteristics of their neighborhoods to come to the meeting to learn more about the proposal.
Lara and Jeff Acker
Hanover
I wish that President Donald Trump could sit in my job for a week or two.
As a member of an admissions committee, I have the privilege of screening and interviewing applicants to medical school. Many applicants came to the U.S. as immigrants or as of children of immigrants. Many of these applicants did not speak English on arrival to the U.S. but within a short time, they are scoring in the top 10 percent of students in our academic institutions. Many have parents with no higher education or even secondary education, yet through their unbelievable work ethic, these applicants are now viable candidates for medical school.
These immigrants and children of immigrants are from Mexico, Africa, Southeast Asia, China, Caribbean islands and elsewhere. These are the countries that President Trump has maligned, yet these students represent what the U.S. is all about — opportunity through education, drive and hard work. I doubt that Mr. Trump could go to any country where he does not speak the language and succeed in its educational system as these immigrants are succeeding here. Let’s face it, he can barely handle the English language.
I can only hope that when Mr. Trump has his heart attack (or any medical condition) and a wonderful physician of immigrant roots saves his life, maybe he’ll regret his disparaging and hurtful remarks. But then again, seeing this man’s arrogance and narcissism, I don’t hold out much hope.
William Rosen, M.D.
Hanover
Marc A. Thiessen’s column, “DACA Deal Sacrificed for Political Points,” (Jan. 18), shows he is either delusional or assumes his readers to be incredibly stupid.
Theissen describes as “extraordinary” President Donald Trump’s offer during the Jan. 9 meeting to “take the heat” regarding a comprehensive immigration reform bill. Be real. Trump has never taken the heat for anything, instead claiming credit, whether deserved or not, for what goes well while blaming (or threatening to sue) others for what goes wrong.
Trump had taken the unusual step of opening the Jan. 9 meeting to the press. He was obviously grandstanding for the media during the meeting. He promised to sign whatever deal a bipartisan group of senators brought to him. However, when a bipartisan proposal was brought to him two days later, he completely rejected it while ranting about immigrants from “s—hole countries.”
Sen. Dick Durbin’s publicizing of Trump’s vile comments is appropriate. As citizens, we have a right to know when our president is behaving badly.
To their credit, Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham and Jeff Flake have supported Durbin’s claims.
On the other hand, Sens. Tom Cotton and David Perdue, as well as Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, have lied in support of Trump’s reprehensible behavior.
This is another in the long list of despicable actions by Trump, and the rather unbelievable refusal of most Republican officials to question his behavior.
Phil Robertson
Woodstock
So, a local kid attending a blue-blood prep school in Concord is convicted of a very serious sex crime against a younger student as part of an unofficial annual senior year ritual. He appeals and appeals, going through multiple lawyers over three years expounding endless defenses and, as revealed in the Valley News, (“Labrie’s Attorney Won’t Represent Him Before N.H. Supreme Court,” Jan. 18) received “more than $100,000 to fund his defense” from “prominent members of the St. Paul’s community.” Does any one else find this outrageous? No wonder our prisons are filled with poor minorities who have no “prominent members” of their “community” to come to their defense.
What a great system we have. St. Paul’s should, once again, be proud of its “traditions.”
John Ring
Norwich