June Fichter, executive director of the Lake Sunapee Protective Association, recently published photographs of green scum streaks on Lake Sunapee and outlined the causes and some of the actions required to prevent more widespread blooms in the future. At about the same time, another published photograph featured an aerial view of Lake Sunapee in the Blodgett’s Landing area, and this image seemed to show widespread green scum on the lake near there. From these images alone it is pretty clear that we have a serious problem with water quality in Lake Sunapee.
One of the most significant culprits fostering development of green scum in the lake is increasing levels of phosphorous compounds in the water. This is the food that nourishes the scum. A major source is runoff flowing to the lake from throughout the watershed, and a potent source of phosphorous-laden runoff is fertilizer. Lawns near the lake are double jeopardy: They tend to have fertilizer applied, which runs to the lake, and lawns do not buffer the water flowing over them into the lake as shrubs and natural vegetation tend to do. Knowing this, I find it quite irritating to see real estate advertisements touting the beauty of lawns that reach the edge of the lake. These ads glorify the property features that are contributing to the destruction of the lake as we know it.
Heroic action is required now to turn this situation around. We all benefit from our lakes, and everyone in the watershed can help by finding ways to decrease the flow of nutrients into the lakes and the streams that feed the lakes. Please do your part to preserve the quality of our lakes.
TIM ELIASSEN
Sunapee
The writer is a Lake Sunapee Protective Association member and volunteer.
Recently, I was discouraged by New Hampshire Executive Councilor Joe Kenney’s vote against funding Planned Parenthood and two other entities that offer health care services that include physicals, cancer screenings and STI testing to many women throughout the state, many of whom are low-income.
Kenney repeatedly said he would vote against Planned Parenthood, so while I was thoroughly disappointed in his vote, I was not at all surprised.
However, I was stunned that the Republicans on the Executive Council voted 4-1 to turn down $27 million in federal funds to help enhance vaccines throughout the Granite State. Ironically, this action was being taken by the council at the same time as the largest breakout in the state was occurring, in Berlin and Gorham, in District 1, which is Kenney’s district.
Unfortunately, this vote by the Executive Council means that New Hampshire is the only state in the nation to turn down the federal funds to help increase vaccinations. This is not a distinction as a state we need.
MIKE CRYANS
Hanover
The writer served on the Executive Council from 2019-2020 and is a candidate for the District 1 seat.
I would like to thank all of the people who organized, promoted and participated in Windsor’s “Great Give-Away” last weekend. We consider it to have been a big success and hope to make it an annual event. Thanks goes to Valley News business writer John Lippman for his wonderful article in the Sunday edition, spreading the idea of reuse throughout the Upper Valley (“A yard sale without the sale,” Oct. 17).
I would also like to make one clarification to the article. The event was referred to as my “brainchild.” While it was my idea to organize some sort of “landfill diversion” event, the idea of residents putting items in front of their own homes came from Rachael Cook, of Thetford. A similar event has taken place in Thetford for the past three years. Thank you, Rachel, and the town of Thetford.
I encourage other communities to try something similar. We saved a lot of useful items from the landfill. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at hgillett@marcvt.org, or the Greater Upper Valley and Southern Windsor/Windham Counties solid waste management districts.
HAM GILLETT
Windsor
The writer is an outreach coordinator with the Greater Upper Valley and South Windsor/Windham Counties solid waste management districts.
My yoga teacher and her family recently drove back to Vermont through eastern Colorado (returning from her father’s funeral) and she said there were Trump flags everywhere, along with flags that said “F— Biden” (they spelled it out). Even I was shocked by the degree of depravity and unpatriotism of these Republicans. She said it was pretty bad trying to explain it to her 8- and 10-year-old kids.
When I was driving the 5 miles home from class recently, there were many drivers behaving insanely: two horrible ones tailgating and speeding behind me, one of whom passed several cars on yellow lines and blind curves, and the vehicle had no rear license plate at all. There were also many speeding pickup trucks coming from the other direction.
The atmosphere in this country is foul, and the vile people who were normally somewhat held in restraint are going nuts. I actually don’t want to go driving anywhere or out to public places at all.
ALICE MORRISON
Newbury, Vt.
Patriots fans should know that WBZ-TV channel 4 from Boston suddenly disappeared from Comcast a few days ago. That means on the Sundays when Channel 3 out of Burlington carries another AFC feed — as it did several weeks ago — then the Pats game would be nowhere to be seen.
What’s going on is unclear, except that Comcast, like other cable companies, is an impenetrable monopoly whose loyalty is to stockholders and not customers. Channel 4 has been the backbone of central New England broadcasting for 75 years. Thousands of us grew up with it and want it back, and now.
DICK MACKAY
Hanover
Editor’s note: According to Comcast, WBZ-TV channel 4 is available to all customers on channel 1194.