World leadership today requires commitment to multinational collaboration because we face global challenges that affect all nations and, in addition, they are existential, threatening our survival. After World War 2, the United States was a leader in founding the post-war international legal and governance structure: the United Nations System, a democratic framework of international law […]
As a longtime volunteer for The Beacon (The Andover Beacon), I want to express my sadness to see The Beacon come to an end. I could see the “writing on the wall” over the last couple years, though. Times have changed, and the cost of printing a newspaper has become exorbitant! I want to thank […]
Town Meeting this year went just fine, pretty much. The budget passed, residents spoke their collective piece. The Select Board, Moderator, Supervisors of the Checklist, and other Town officers and volunteers all made it easy for voters to participate in our annual March festivities. One comment: there was much talk about the state of the […]
With large increases in property taxes everyone is correct in wanting to know why and to take action to lower them. The big target is public education and I urge everyone to learn about the true reason for increased property taxes — how the State has downshifted costs continuously to towns and cities and then […]
As a 65-year-old woman, I’ve lived through many political crises in this country — but I have never seen an attack on our democracy like this. In the past, there was bipartisan opposition to lawlessness. Today, the guardrails are being dismantled before our eyes, and we must sound the alarm. We have never had a […]
A reader kindly pointed out a mistake I made in a recent article about the merger between grocery titans, Kroeger and Albertsons. I stated that local Market Basket and Hannaford’s stores are owned by these giants; that is not so. I should have said that Shaw’s and Star Market are owned by Albertsons, while Hannaford […]
At Town Meeting on March 11, Andover folks will have the opportunity to vote on a warrant article concerning education and our taxpayer dollars, titled Property Taxes for Private Education: A Call for Responsible Use. The Education Freedom Account program (School Vouchers) is funded by our taxpayer dollars. It is run by an out-of-state agency, […]
ANDOVER — Sixty-five Andover residents petition through a Warrant Article for accountability and transparency to assure New Hampshire taxpayers that our tax dollars that fund the Education Freedom Accounts (vouchers) are “spent wisely and delivering results.” Taxpayers are also deeply concerned that the voucher program is spiraling out of control. In its first year, when […]
WILMOT — I support Jonathan Schwartz for a second three-year term on the Wilmot Board of Selectmen. In addition to his excellent work during his first term on the selectboard, Jonathan actively supports an array of organizations in town. He loves Wilmot and clearly understands that building community requires energy, engagement, and enthusiasm. You’ll see […]
ANDOVER — In February’s issue of The Beacon, Representative Deborah Aylward listed her priorities for the upcoming legislative session. I have questions about some of them and hope that she will take the time to answer them in a future column. In HB 148, how would protections be afforded to those with various conditions called […]