Banners remind us
of veterans’ service

First of all, I’m not a letter writer, nor am I a citizen of Hartford. I would just like to say I was very saddened by the feelings expressed against banners honoring veterans. My dad served in the Pacific Theater in the Army Air Corp in World War II, one of his brothers served in the Army, and a third in the Navy. I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am, when in summer months, I return to Woodsville, where I grew up, and see dad’s face up there, smiling down, so proud and resplendent in his dress uniform. Beyond dad, is one of my uncle, and beyond him, one of my aunt, who served as an Army nurse. If it were not for their sacrifices, and tens of thousands that were injured or did not come back, we very much might not be here today, to express our views, whether pro or con.

Darryl Zampieri

Grantham

A chance to set the river’s course

Valley residents, organizations and communities have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to weigh in on the management of Wilder and Bellows Falls Dams, which are up for relicensing by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Great River Hydro, a privately owned company, makes electricity and money by using your river. FERC will soon set the rules for these dams for the next 40 years.

FERC must balance habitat and water quality, recreation and cultural resources with power generation. Yes, hydro is a renewable source of energy — water will always flow downhill — but at a cost to the public’s river. In 1979, the US Army Corps of Engineers found that changing water levels caused by the dams were the second only to natural scour in causing riverbank erosion.

Thankfully, the company is proposing a more natural river flow regime than the abrupt ups and downs we see today, but is ignoring erosion. It promises to keep up its recreation areas, but no more — yet, better access is needed. There is no mitigation fund offered to help towns with erosion or new access, or to address climate change by protecting forested headwaters to moderate flooding.

Learn more at crjc.org, or visit your town office or library for the CT River Water Resources Management Plan and Recreation Plan, prepared by local citizens working with the Connecticut River Joint Commissions. Let FERC know what you think. Find out how at ctriver.org/hydropower. Comments can be sent to FERC until May 22.

Adair Mulligan

Hanover

The writer is executive director of the Hanover Conservancy and served for over 20 years as the conservation director of the Connecticut River Joint Commissions.

Pro-life, but for whom?

Once again I am completely baffled why the Republican Party is fighting for right to life for fetuses but will not ban guns to protect our children. Why is a fetus more viable than our precious kids? If you care about sensible gun control, women’s rights and protecting a healthy planet, you need to vote for Democrats. If you support unfair taxes, lust, greed, insurrection, bigotry, bullying , misogyny, felons, then vote Republican!

Sally Prince

New London

Ceasefire, now

I want the end of Hamas. I want the Israeli hostages returned. But I cannot support the slaughter of thousands of innocents, along with the doctors and aid workers attempting to ease the suffering of the survivors, to accomplish these goals. Ceasefire, now.

Barry Wenig

Lebanon