I am not over-afflicted with an urban mentality, and am grateful to have left the sidewalks of Noo Yawk behind me, but I do earnestly ask the Lebanon City Council and urban planners to think of those of us foolish enough to have moved to a largely rural area without having learned to drive.
Imagine the wistful look on my face as I emerged triumphantly from the Mascoma Greenway into the parking lot of the Price Chopper along the Miracle Mile and saw the enticing aspect of the soon-to-be operational Listen headquarters and store, just across the road.
And yet how would I reach it? It seems somehow wrong that my only safe option will be to catch an Advance Transit bus to the Kilton Library and then transfer to one returning to Lebanon so I can get off right in front of the House of Joy in an unsquashed condition.
And further imagine my face as the Dartmouth Coach, which I’d caught in Hanover, pulled into the Lebanon bus depot on its way to Boston, and I realized that I could have walked from my apartment to said depot if only crosswalks had been painted to link the two curb cutouts clearly made for human feet to traverse.
I remain spry, now in the flowering of my mature years, and like walking, and it seems wrong and cruel that so many places I could reach on my own two feet are, but for a sidewalk or a designated crossing place, presently inaccessible to pedestrians.
As Abigail Adams might have said, “Remember the Walkers, and be more generous and favorable to them …”
Sarah Crysl Akhtar
Lebanon
It is my pleasure to endorse attorney Marcie Hornick for the position of Grafton County attorney in the September Democratic primary, and again in the November general election.
Hornick has many years of successful trial experience. She regularly appeared before me when I was the supervisory trial judge in Grafton County Superior Court. She tried cases before juries, negotiated plea agreements and collaborated with other Drug Court members to make the Grafton County Drug Court a success. She has positive working relationships with the agencies, elected officials and law enforcement departments in New Hampshire and in Grafton County, critical to performing the duties of county attorney. She has the management skills required for the position, gained by her experience as managing director of the Littleton Public Defender Office.
She possesses all the skills and the experience to fill the position with integrity, intelligence, professionalism and excellent judgment. Her personal qualities, her devotion to the law, and her experience, qualify her to assume the responsibilities of the office on day one as an outstanding Grafton County attorney.
Jean K. Burling
Cornish
The brief about Melania Trump’s parents taking their oath of citizenship (“First Lady’s Parents Are Sworn in as U.S. Citizens,” Aug. 19) was missing a key element of the story: President Donald Trump’s in-laws gained citizenship through so-called chain migration, a process that Trump has repeatedly and vehemently opposed.
A bit ironic, I’d say.
I actually think Melania’s parents are more than welcome to be citizens, but so are those people who are being denied citizenship under Trump’s anti-chain-migration policies. It’s also worthy to note that Stephen Miller, the architect of Trump’s anti-immigration plans, is himself one who benefited from chain migration a century ago. If interested, search online for the eloquent piece written by Miller’s uncle, David Glosser, pointing out Miller’s hypocrisy on this same issue.
Steven Thomas
Woodstock
I was elated to read “Young Voters Look to Next Generation: Many Americans Believe They Should Be in Charge (July 31).
Perhaps our young people can change things by voting in young representatives, and specifically voting out the old (dare I say almost deadwood). For example: Patrick Leahy, Bernie Sanders, Mitch McConnell, Nancy Pelosi, Diane Feinstein, Chuck Schumer, Chuck Grassley and John McCain, to name a few.
It is time for them to go. It is time for term limits: two terms for senators, five for representatives.
Marcella Logue
Enfield
I cannot say enough for the wonderful teamwork that brought together the Thetford Hill Fair and Judy’s Walk on July 28. Having two simultaneous town events demonstrated what all communities in the Upper Valley strive for: supporting good causes so that people can come together and enjoy our beautiful settings.
Judy’s Walk was able to collect more than $1,000, which will be donated to Meals on Wheels, a program run by the Bugbee Senior Center, and also the Floyd Dexter Fund, which provides local residents aid in transportation, food, heat, shelter and other basic needs.
I would especially like to thank the many businesses that contributed to making this event such a success, particularly Pompanoosuc Mills, Wilson Tire, Miller Auto, Margaritas and Farm-Way. So many others also contributed, proving once again how generous and caring the Upper Valley community is.
My wife, Judy Ozahowski, passed away in July 2015 from metastatic melanoma, but she will forever be remembered by the hundreds of children she taught during her 28 years at Thetford Academy, and by her friends, family and many others throughout the Upper Valley community.
Thank you.
Tom Ozahowski
Thetford