Dartmouth has chosen to close and to build upon some of its most special property, the Hanover Country Club golf course. I wish Dartmouth would be inclined to save at least a nine-hole golf course thus keeping some of this greenway undeveloped.
Was it the college’s intention to make money when creating either its golf course and or the Dartmouth Skiway?
Both venues are exceptional additions to this college and are enjoyed by alumni around the world, not to mention the Upper Valley residents who are perhaps their most frequent visitors. I urge Dartmouth not to make what many see is an enormous strategic faux pas!
Having decided not to write the VN Forum — knowing my non-golfer 50-year Upper Valley resident words would be fruitless — I happened upon and was intrigued by this article on the New Hampshire Bulletin: “How a golf lover’s $3.8 million gift to Dartmouth turned into a yearslong legal dispute.”
“Keeler didn’t name a dollar amount for Dartmouth, choosing instead to leave a percentage of his estate, but he did specify how he wanted the money used: for the ‘sole purpose of upgrading and maintaining its golf course.’ When Dartmouth asked for the flexibility to use the money for other purposes, the family said no.”
“Per their 2005 ‘statement of understanding,’ the college was to send any money it didn’t need to maintain the course to the Robert T. Keeler charitable foundation, a nonprofit that supports children in need. That hasn’t happened. The college closed the Hanover Country Club in 2020, citing financial concerns, and has refused the foundation’s request to return the approximately $3.8 million that remains.”
I knew Bob Keeler, his family and the family whose son is his foundation’s trustee. This benefactor loved his alma mater, was a highly regarded Cincinnati attorney and would not agree with the termination of the course — or from what I read — the potential misuse of his specific trust’s gift.
Maybe a nine-hole course would save the day for all concerned.
Barbara Woodard
Lyme
Democracy still works in Vermont! Two recent news stories demonstrate that the democratic process is alive and well in Vermont.
First, the president of the Vermont State University system has resigned (“VSU president Grewal resigns,” April 15) after the tremendous backlash to his decision to do away with libraries at all five campuses of the system and to downgrade some of the sports programs. And the Board of Trustees put on hold, at least for the time being, the implementation of this crazy idea.
Second, S.3, a bill that proposes banning paramilitary training in Vermont, is poised to become law. After years of state inaction to the terrorizing of the citizens of Pawlet by the Slate Ridge paramilitary training site, this bill will save the people of Vermont from the rampages of such an activity.
Both of these changes are the result of the democratic process of citizen protest and the final action of the state agencies that are still responsive, at least in Vermont, to such political actions. Hallelujah!
Philip Eller
Norwich
I can easily imagine a dialogue taking place at the moment of a birth at a maternity ward in a hospital. Present at this beautiful moment are the mother, father and Mary Doe from a local pro-life group. Mary speaks:
“You are beautiful child that I have kept alive from the moment of conception to today. Without me you might have lost your life at any time during the last nine months.
“To survive from here on you will need your parents and society to protect you, especially when you go to school. Learn how to duck under your desk or run fast at the sound of a gun and jump out of the first school window you can find. Ask Santa for a bullet-proof vest for Christmas.
“You are now on your own and I have to run. My representative who has passed laws preserving you to this point is at the NRA convention today and needs my support. Don’t worry, his prayers and thoughts are with you.”
Bill Sullivan
Lebanon
The good news in “One year until total solar eclipse sweeps US” (Page B6, April 10), is that parts of New Hampshire and Vermont lie in the eclipse path. The bad news is that one will have to travel north as far as Lancaster (in NH) or Montpelier (in VT) to witness even a few seconds of totality. For the maximum duration (3½ minutes), another 50 or so miles will be required. In the Upper Valley, we will witness a partial eclipse with a maximum sun coverage of about 98%. As mentioned in the article, proper eye protection is essential.
Full details on the eclipse can be found at EclipseWise.com/news/2024.html.
Bob Koester
Grantham