The members of the Resilient Hartford Committee want to express our dismay about the race-based harassment and verbal abuse directed at Alicia Barrows, the Hartford Selectboard member who recently resigned because of the threatening phone calls she reported receiving (“Selectboard member resigns seat,” Jan. 26).
Our mandate as a town committee is to foster community resilience, which relies on a shared sense of responsibility for each other. Incidents like this weaken community, and tear at the social fabric we all depend upon. Those of us who volunteer on town boards and committees share a deep concern for the welfare of all residents; no one putting in the time and effort this work involves should be the target of such ugliness. We hope that all Hartford residents will join us in stating clearly and emphatically that we will not tolerate racial slurs, insults, or threats of violence towards any one of us.
MARSHA AUTILIO, KYE COCHRAN, MARCIA GAUVIN, DYLAN KREIS,
FREDERICA GRAHAM,
LEAH MOSENTHAL and LAURA SIMON
Hartford
The writers are the permanent members of the Resilient Hartford Committee.
Congratulations to Hanover High School boys hockey coach Dick Dodds for being recognized as winner of the 2021 American Hockey Coaches Association’s John Mariucci Award for his unique contributions coaching at the secondary school level (“Dodds tapped for top award: Longtime high school hockey coach, alumnus receives national honor,” Jan. 29)
I had a close-up view of how Dodds attained his stature as one of the premier high school hockey coaches in the United States.
He was my assistant coach when I was head coach of the Hanover High boy’s hockey team in the early 1980s. Fifteen years later, I was his assistant coach for a year. In addition, I had two sons who played for Coach Dodds, or “Dobber,” as he is affectionately called by his players.
During these years I was able to observe closely how Dodds chose, coached and mentored his teams. He insisted on a high standards. He made it clear that hard work, dedication to the team’s success, and respect for the rules, referees and opponents were expected for players to have the privilege of wearing the Hanover High School jersey.
He also set a high standard for himself. While fiercely competitive, he never berated referees or disrespected other coaches or teams. He motivated his players by using positive reinforcement, not intimidation or tirades.
In my estimation, what separates Coach Dodds from many other coaches is that he truly cares more about the quality of the players’ experience than the number (more than 530 and counting) of his teams wins.
Former Hanover High players look back on their experience and realize they learned much more than how to back check and make a drop pass. They learned that hard work, integrity and teamwork are necessary to reach important goals in life.
Props to the American Hockey Coaches Association for reminding all of us with connections to the Hanover High School boys hockey program of how fortunate we have been to have Coach Dick “Dobber” Dodds behind the bench for nearly 40 years mentoring and guiding hundreds of young men.
JACK TURCO
Grantham
Sam Eaton is running for Enfield Selectboard. He has owned his own business in Enfield for more than 20 years. During much of this time he has served on the town Budget Committee, as a member and as chairman. He has always held a deep concern for the welfare of the town and particularly its taxpayers, holding down spending while providing for necessary services.
He knows that most Enfield residents like the town the way it is. He will not encourage growth for its own sake, but he will manage growth to improve the lives of residents. He will work to enforce existing laws, regulations and ordinances and see that our public spaces are well maintained, clean and safe. He will respect our historic and cultural resources, protecting the town’s beautiful old buildings and putting them to good use.
He appreciates the profoundly serious challenges facing this Selectboard arising from the pandemic, and the resulting economic hardship affecting many of our residents. He will be realistic in his assessment of the hardship and its impact on town governance.
He has proven his capability to take the proper initiative when necessary while listening to a variety of viewpoints and ideas from our town’s officials and residents. I believe this balance is important when taking on a role that requires effective leadership.
I hope Enfield residents will join me in voting on March 9 for Sam Eaton for Selectboard.
DOUG SMITH
Enfield
I am so glad that Ally Tufenkjian is running for the Hartford Selectboard. She is a person I trust wholeheartedly in this role. She is hardworking, humble and she really cares about people’s needs.
I’ve had many conversations with her about the things that matter most to me and my family, such as hiring a community wellness coordinator who can offer our town better mental health support and crisis response. She always listens deeply, asks smart questions, and knows how to put a plan in motion to get things done. She has shown up consistently to Selectboard meetings to help advocate for the community wellness position and long-term solutions to homelessness in Hartford.
She’s also not afraid to get her hands dirty. For many months at the start of the pandemic, she worked with the Upper Valley Response Team to deliver meals to displaced and unhoused people. And recently, when it came time to relocate temporary living structures for unhoused community members, she showed up to literally do the “heavy lifting” and move them into storage. She’s someone that shows up when you need her.
I fully endorse Ally Tufenkjian for Hartford Selectboard. Knowing that she is running, I’m more confident in the future of Hartford. Please vote for her.
SAMANTHA SHAFER
Wilder
Public schools in New Hampshire are paid for with our property taxes. This is a terrible way to pay for public schools. We want the best for our kids, not schools where the buildings are falling apart or where good teachers move to where they are paid more. Many people cannot afford to buy a home or pay rent because of high property taxes.
We all know there are rich towns and poor towns. Poor towns are known to have “bad schools” and rich towns have “good schools.” I live in a “poor town” where our children need more support and help from the schools. Why? Because we are poor, and although we might want to give our kids vacations, private lessons and nice clothing, we cannot.
Fortunately, our public schools provide a safe place, food, friendship and guidance. We all know that you do not feel like learning when you are hungry, lonely and lost.
My “poor town” is a very special town. It is a community where kids are offered sports programs, holiday activities, parks. Come in the spring and see hundreds of kids playing team sports guided by volunteer parents. I am so proud of the members of my community.
How can we help pay for the public education we need? Some people are trying to pass a bill, HB 20, that would give parents money so that their kids could go to a private school or do home schooling. The real kick is that this new law would likely raise our property taxes. Does this sound crazy? It sounds mean and horrible to me that people would even think of doing something like this.
We do not need this law. It is time that New Hampshire use our tax money to help towns based on what they need. Get over not wanting to help others out. It is time to fix this.
If you can call the people representing you, do so. Do it now. I am tired of being taken advantage of. I hope you are, too.
NANCY JACHIM
Newport, N.H.
It has been said that America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedom, it will be because we destroyed it ourselves.
This almost happened to America on Jan. 6, brought on by more than a dozen Republican politicians and Donald Trump. Trump is gone now, so we need to clean up the rest of the treasonous politicians or this coup will not go away. Our freedom and democracy depend on you. Throw these traitors out of office. Drain the swamp.
ROBERT POLLARD
Enfield
This is in response to Megan McArdle’s syndicated op-ed column, “What if the pandemic never really ‘ends’?” (Feb 4).
In reference to most if not all of her columns, I have a suggestion: Just print her byline and then write, “Oh, my God, we’re all going to die!” Then use the rest of the space for something else.
PETER HALL
Tunbridge