Final arguments to buy Coast Guard land, praise for roundabout pilot and more: Letters
Buying Coast Guard land will put New Castle in control of its future use
May 4 — To the Editor:
I read an opinion piece from the Portsmouth Herald a few days ago commenting on the town of New Castle plan to purchase the Coast Guard residential property, if approved by voters. The piece was negative on the purchase because of the required outlay/bonding [stated at $5-5.5M] for purchase and lack of use plan post-purchase. While I sympathize with the author on these issues, there is more to be considered.
The first concern is what happens if New Castle does not purchase the property. If the site is acquired by a private individual or developer, the view for residents would likely be lost/contested, an out-of-place residence or residences could be built that clash with New Castle’s quaint and picturesque architecture, and the historic setting would be lost to the developer.
Secondly, this is a once in a generation opportunity to acquire a historically significant and conveniently located public space with a beautiful setting. The nearly 1-acre grassy property is right next door to historic Walbach Tower with it’s War of 1812 origins and views to Fort Constitution and the Lighthouse. It is across the street from the New Castle beach access. The waterfront view is out to the Gulf of Maine, Isles of Shoals, Wood Island Life Saving Station, Whaleback Lighthouse, approaches to Portsmouth Harbor, and across the river to Kittery and its historic forts. The setting is priceless.
As to eventual use, if purchased by New Castle, a committee of residents will be tasked with planning its use, which could include retaining it as a public space, selling all or part of it with development controls in place, or some combination. The point is that New Castle would get to control what use the site is put to, instead of leaving it up to a potentially self-serving developer. Yes, the resulting use plan is not known, but the options are still there for New Castle residents to decide on with less deadline pressure, versus having little say in the outcome and maybe having to spend significant sums on legal challenges to private development plans.
Financially, the deal for New Castle is not as bad as portrayed in the opinion piece. New Castle has agreed with the Coast Guard on a $5M purchase price [probably below market value], and has been offered a $1M donations toward purchase, and another $0.5M donation recently, leaving just $3.5M to fund via a bond. No matter what use the property is put to, this represents a substantial bargain for New Castle on a priceless piece of historic and view-rich property.
Randy Bryan
New Castle
Trial roundabout a step in the right direction in Portsmouth
April 30 — To the Editor:
I write in support of the trial roundabout at the intersection of Bartlett and Thornton streets in Portsmouth.
Some of those who travel our streets seem to prioritize the speed of their transit over the safety of our neighborhoods; I've had two cars struck while parked in front of my house in the past two and a halfyears - one of the collisions resulted in a total loss.
My residence at the intersection offers consistent observation and initial results at the roundabout are what I hoped for — many vehicles are slowing down and negotiating the intersection in a more controlled manner than the previous, not-frequently-adhered to, arrangement.
Portsmouth has many traffic-calming challenges, but this is a step in the right direction.
Bill Davis
Bartlett Street
Portsmouth
Southern Maine Fish and Game Club needs to respect neighbors
April 23 — To the Editor:
I am an Eliot resident concerned about the local gun range on Slate Hill Road operated by the Southern Maine Fish and Game Club (SMFGC) near our house.
For years the community has been dealing with constant gunfire and worsening noise pollution from the range, affecting hundreds of nearby homes. Previous efforts by the community to work with SMFGC and the town have yielded no material action from the club.
On Saturday, April 15, a tire/brush fire started at the range due to a stray bullet igniting dry tinder (as I understand). This fire quickly spread to a pile of tires, which then consumed 6.9 acres of forest and brush, much of the land not owned by the club. I was in my backyard when the fire started, I noticed the shooting had stopped (odd for a Saturday) and then saw heavy black smoke. I called the police, the Fire Department was already responding. (Thanks!) It was a multi-alarm fire.
We and numerous neighbors have reached out to SMFGC and the town on multiple occasions citing excessive noise, shooting afterhours, and most recently the fire. We asked them to consider implementing noise mitigation, adjusting operating hours (8 a.m. to sunset 365 days/year), and inquired about future fire prevention efforts. They aren’t willing to make any adjustments. The range operators don't seem interested in being "good neighbors."
As a Maine sportsman, fishing and hunting have always been a part of my life, that’s one of the reasons we live in Eliot. However, the range is affecting our ability to enjoy the outdoors and jeopardizing our safety. A petition to encourage the range operators to take accountability for the impact they have on our community has been signed by many residents. We expect, and deserve, the range to take immediate action or cease operation.
Phil Swanson
Eliot, Maine
Plenty of precedent for elder statesmen in America
April 30 — To the Editor:
In response to Alicia Preston Xanthopoulos' column "Time to talk about age limits for president" I offer this rebuttal.
Though some may think so, I did not personally hear Thomas Jefferson advise that "We should never judge a president by his age, only by his works" as he once did. But I did hear live Ronald Reagan promising Walter Mondale in 1986, "I want you to know that also I will not make age an issue in this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience."
Two years later when admitting he had just turned 75, President Reagan noted " ... but remember that's only 24 Celsius."
In my article "Restoring Culture through Trust and Communication" reporting on my interim presidency of Eastern Maine Community College at age 78 (https://www.higheredjobs.com/Articles/authorBio.cfm?authorID=834&articleID=2615) I assert, "While technology has advanced, the fundamental principles of leadership are timeless."
When what's left of my white hair received that strange look connoting concern with my age, I pointed out I was a year younger than the current U.S. president (Biden) and that much older then the previous one (Trump). Nuf said!
Dr. Wayne M. Burton Ed.D.
Durham
Torbert Macdonald is best candidate for York Board of Selectmen
May 3 — To the Editor:
My dear friend Tolbert Hart Macdonald Jr. is the best and most qualified candidate for York’s Board of Selectmen and Overseer of the Poor. His years of public service with the town of York’s Selectboard, Planning Board, Conservation Commission, and a host of standing committees and public advocacies during the thirty or so years I’ve known him are testimony to his great goodwill. He describes himself as a feminist and affirms me in that proud tradition when he answers the phone from me with, “Semper Fi Grandpa!” He acknowledges my U.S. Marine Corps heritage and our mutual love of family. Inherent in his “always faithful” sentiment is true reverence for the warriors we have had to be to do the right thing for our families, our community, and our country. Semper Fi Torb.
Torbert’s list of public accomplishments include: the consolidation of York’s Zoning Ordinance thirty years ago this month, the first Comprehensive Plan, the preservation of York’s open space and the Agamenticus Wilderness Reserve, co-founding the York Land Trust, and the initialization of fishery studies for the newly recognized federally designated York Wild and Scenic River. Torbert’s dedication to York is evident in the landscape with the highest biodiversity in the state of Maine, which he loves and hopes to continue to preserve. His most recent venture is the promotion of green tourism: outdoor recreation by day, music, and entertainment at night, and local food all the time.
Please join me and vote for Macdonald for York’s Board of Selectmen on May 20.
Glen MacWilliams
York, Maine
It is time for a ban on assault rifles and other gun safety measures
May 3 — To the Editor:
It’s about time New Hampshire changes our archaic and dangerous gun laws! Moms Demand Action must fight to ban assault weapons, ban guns in school zones, expand background checks, ban gun show sales and raise the age limit for gun purchases.
But the Herald and Moms are both still continuing to ignore a crucial fact:
The Second Amendment, as any Originalist must confess, only applies to the need for "a well organized militia" required by the Founding Fathers because America was in a war against the great British Empire and we had no army!! Our militias stopped them at Concord and Lexington, thus the only need for the Second Amendment.
The final, handwritten original of the Bill of Rights as passed by Congress:
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
It’s time for the Herald to press for an assault weapon ban, ban on weapons in school zones and end gun show sales.
Malcolm Odell
Exeter
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Buying Coast Guard land in New Castle's best interest: Letters
