I was appalled to read in the Valley News that Timothy Martin, former administrator of The Woodlands, had been terminated with many innuendos regarding his behavior with staff women (“Parties dispute fired administrator’s claims: Former head of nursing home alleges termination was unfair,” June 11).
I had first met Martin when helping an aged veteran with no family who was at Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital after a fall. Martin did not know the man, but stepped in during the Christmas season by visiting, shepherding his care and researching community resources. He visited when the hospital staff and most patients were at their homes.
Martin was terminated and his career crushed by publicity from APD and in the Valley News, and innuendos in the community and across the internet. Understand that professional personnel people handle cases like this daily, in private, and avoid public judgment. Martin was crucified and left with little opportunity to work.
While I and the public have no detailed knowledge, it would appear that Martin had habits very similar to former Vice President Joe Biden of hugging and touching, which now are verboten. Biden will run for president and Martin may never work in a meaningful job for the rest of his life. He deserves a public trial to confront APD, The Woodlands and the Valley News with their improper actions.
HARVEY BAZARIAN
Hartford
In Claremont recently, Stevens High School ran up the rainbow flag in recognition of Pride month. At the City Council meeting the next day, Mayor Charlene Lovett declared June 15 Pride Day in the city, and in a little ceremony at about lunchtime the following day, the city put out small Pride flag in the gazebo on Broad Street Park.
At about that same time, the school district was taking down the Pride flag outside of Stevens, having been harassed endlessly by a slew of telephone calls from irate religious parents.
That’s the very height of hypocrisy, coming from the same religious residents who shout down my objections to the city’s annual religious holiday displays in Broad Street Park and insist that the displays continue to be shown.
I’m not sure what Claremont gains by continually trying to live as if the year were 1955, but I’ll keep pointing out hypocrisy and double standards wherever I see them. Or, as I am frequently told with regards to Claremont’s holiday displays, if you don’t like the Pride flag, simply don’t look at it.
SAMUEL KILLAY
Claremont
Do those of you who live in Vermont and pay taxes in Vermont realize that your Public Utility Commission and your legislators are lining up Vermont to be a net-zero state for all new residences and all new commercial buildings for 2030?
Who set this absurd net-zero intent and why? In 10 years, all new residences will need to be net-zero by law. In 10 years, all new commercial structures will need to be net-zero by law. The Public Utility Commission and legislators are advancing this state into high building construction costs and into significant reductions in the tax revenue base (that is already down) as many businesses and many home builders will elect not to go down the road of net-zero high cost.
It is no wonder that young people are abandoning this state, and why the tax rolls are down. No one can afford to live in Vermont.
DOUGLAS DULAC
Windsor
Abortion is and has become a major issue throughout the U.S., and probably will end up being settled by the Supreme Court. We as a nation guarantee life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and, through several laws, statutes and regulations, protect those guarantees. But the question remains as to when life begins.
For centuries it has been accepted that life ends when there is no pulse, no heartbeat. The heart has stopped. So would it not make sense that life begins when there is a heartbeat?
BRUCE ST. PETER
Grantham
Shame on U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., for supporting the murder of unborn children through abortion. Abortion is not a choice for women. Taking birth control pills or using other means of contraception is the woman’s choice and right.
If the woman refuses by choosing not to use birth control and gets pregnant, than her rights or choice are terminated because science has proven that a life begins with a heartbeat, just as a life ends with no heartbeat.
You talk about President Donald Trump ignoring the science that proves global warming, yet you ignore the science proving life in the womb.
JEAN LIEPOLD
Grantham
Once again we hear a war of words between President Donald Trump and a Democrat.
The “dummy” Democrat says Trump’s a danger and so on. Boring!
Seriously, if Democrats want to gain votes with the non-liberals, try a little name-calling on your own. Maybe a reference to “Capt. Bone Spurs.” Not an option? Then figure on another term from the cesspool.
DANIEL MOORE
Grafton