Public deserves a solution to Daily Times Building standoff: Letters

Public deserves a solution to Daily Times Building standoff

July 19 − To the Editor:

Today I found myself at the intersection of Pleasant and State Streets.  It was the first time I saw the city installed barricades wrapping the corner; the site of the 2017 fire that destroyed the then home of the State Street Saloon and an adjoining building since demolished.

I don't know Peter Floros, the owner of the Daily Times building and I've never dealt with the Historic District Commission, which has denied Mr. Floros' request to demolish the historic building. It seems that in the five-plus years that have passed since the fire, the city and Mr. Floros could have come to some agreement. It makes one wonder if this has become personal, if both sides are still actively seeking a resolution.

A recent letter to this page from Bob Graham may have mapped out a path to compromise.  Mr. Graham proposed "If the facade of the Daily Times Building can't be saved, I'd suggest a new facade be built duplicating the original.  Everything behind either the saved or rebuilt facade could be demolished and replaced with 100% new design and construction." Mr. Graham thinks it could be a win/win for both sides.  Seacoast residents would also be winners to see this corner in our beloved downtown area be made whole. It's time.

Bess Mosley

Portsmouth

Trump thought nothing of death threats against VP Pence

July 22 − To the Editor:

President Obama endorsed his Vice President to be President. President Biden endorsed his Vice President to be President. Donald Trump thought nothing of the fact that his terroristic supporters wanted to kill his Vice President to prevent him from doing his Constitutional duty on Jan 6, 2021.

Eric Kane

Exeter

Beware of fake Adderall pills laced with fentanyl, meth

July 21 − To the Editor:

There are times when I feel overwhelmed by the warnings shared by friends, Tiktok, TV, our newspapers etc. Heat advisory, flood warning, measles outbreak, skin cancer…. With all these warnings it can be hard to decide how best to live while avoiding real peril, and imminent danger.

Friday I was notified that NH recently had a record-breaking seizure of tens-of-thousands of fake Adderall pills laced with fentanyl or meth. By Saturday, we on the seacoast of NH had lost two boys to this sudden flare, or blaze, imbedded within an epidemic. As this risk is real and immediate, we must get the word out. I implore you to share this warning to help make sure that the information does not get lost, overlooked, or swept under the rug. For the safety of our community, I hope that you all will share this warning as the threat is indisputable, and the loss is all too real.

Elisa Bolton

Worried and saddened community member, bereft parent

Rye

US must do more to address humanitarian crisis in Gaza

July 18 − To the Editor:

For the past two scorching Wednesday afternoons, I have stood with others of like mind, outside the offices of Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Representative Chris Pappas, holding a banner calling for a just and sustainable peace in the Middle East.

It has been extremely uncomfortable for us, but we have plenty of safe water for drinking, bathing, and washing dishes and clothes. Whereas it is recommended that women drink 2.7 liters and men 3.7 liters of water per day to prevent dehydration, each person in Gaza is only getting 3 liters of water per day for all uses. Water supplies have been cut off due to Israel’s refusal to sell to Gaza, and the lack of electricity to pump it due to bombing. People are forced to drink brackish and contaminated water. Children are the most vulnerable, many more dying of diarrhea and other related diseases than normal.

There is a humanitarian crisis in the Middle East that we, as privileged citizens of the U.S., should not ignore. What will we tell our grandchildren we did in this crisis? We must hold our elected representatives accountable for their actions regarding this issue. Thus far, billions of dollars of military aid has been sent to Israel, and far too little humanitarian assistance has been sent to Gaza. Please contact your representatives and tell them how important to you the lives of all human beings are, including those in Gaza, and ask them to act to save lives.

Mary J. Tyler

Stratham

Trump's tactics reminiscent of Joseph McCarthy

July 23 − To the Editor:

Defaming lies, character assassination, and fear mongering as strategies are not new to our body politic. In 1950, Joseph McCarthy, senator from Wisconsin, defamed and ruined many fellow Americans by casting them as communists, dangerous agitators, and unAmerican.

Today, Donald Trump employs similar tactics to vilify those who disagree with him as unAmerican and declare them enemies to our nation. Lie infested, fear mongering and incendiary rhetoric is meant simply to provoke and intimidate, not inspire guidance or leadership.

The admonition of Margaret Chase Smith, senator from Maine, might prove salient today as it did in confronting McCarthy. She asked her fellow Republicans not to ride to political victory on the “Four horsemen of Calumny-Fear, Ignorance, Bigotry and Smear”.

Calumny, defined as misrepresentations maliciously calculated to harm another’s reputation, should be a filter in today’s political arena to not only clarify truth, but also to assess character.

Kenneth Cohen

Kensington

Helping NH homeowners save on energy efficiency upgrades

July 22 − To the Editor:

It might be summertime, but many experts argue that now is the most advantageous of year to upgrade your old heating equipment to a new, high-efficiency heating system that will contribute toward financial savings and improved comfort once the weather turns chilly again. New Hampshire homeowners can save on their home heating system upgrades thanks to the Granite State Saves with Oil Rebate Program.

This incentive program has been instrumental in helping more NH homeowners upgrade to more efficient heating systems, providing immediate savings and encouraging a shift toward reducing our collective carbon footprint. The Granite State Saves with Oil program offers a $500 rebate on the purchase of a new oil furnace or boiler, and a $300 rebate on the purchase of a new oil tank.

Beyond the immediate financial incentives, high-efficiency heating systems provide substantial long-term savings in general. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, homeowners can save up to 30% on their energy bills by upgrading to high-efficiency systems. High-efficiency heating systems also require less maintenance, reducing the likelihood of costly repairs, and since they emit less carbon, they align with our state’s commitment to a more sustainable future. All told, New Hampshire homeowners have saved $653,500 thanks to the usage of ultra-low sulfur heating oil in new high-efficiency heating systems and equipment rebates since 2019.

It’s clear that the Granite State Saves with Oil Rebate Program has made it easier for homeowners to transition to high-efficiency heating systems. Readers can learn more about rebate programs for high-efficiency heating equipment installations and all their benefits at CleanOilHeatNH.com .

Joseph Sculley

Energy Marketers Association of New Hampshire

Send your letters to opinion@seacoastonline.com

Please keep letters to 250 words or less. Submissions must include the writer’s first and last names, city or town and a daytime telephone number (which is for verification purposes only and will not be published). Send letters or commentaries to opinion@seacoastonline.com . Letters from Seacoast-area writers addressing local topics will be given priority for publication.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Public deserves a solution to Daily Times Building standoff: Letters