Meaningful Opportunity

To the editor:

A baby is born addicted to drugs. She survives the painful withdrawal process and goes home with Mom. Three months later she is hospitalized and her Mom is charged with neglect.

An 8-year-old girl is very quiet and is a good student. She loves to read and do crafts. She is in foster care.

A 14-year-old boy who is very outgoing and loves the Red Sox. He lived with his Dad, but his Dad is now incarcerated. There were no family connections that could provide him an appropriate home or foster families available so he is living in a group home.

Would you be interested in volunteering to be a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) and getting to know a child like this? Our volunteers receive a comprehensive training and then are asked if they would like to advocate for a child who has been the victim of abuse and/or neglect. Our volunteers meet with the child at least once a month. With support from the staff at CASA, our volunteers stand up and represent the best interest of the child in court proceedings. We ask that our advocates volunteer with the child for the time they are involved with court. While that time varies widely, the average time is two years.

We need more CASAs statewide, but have a critical need in the North Country. We are hoping to start out next training in late May. Candidates must complete an application. Then we will meet with you to discuss further and complete various criminal checks. If you are interested in more information, please call me at 752-9670 or email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Applications and further information can also be found on our website www.casanh.org

Jen Buteau

CASA of New Hampshire

To the editor:
“Gun violence.” I have been hearing those two words together for years. The emphasis is being put on the wrong word.  Violence is the problem.  
The excessive use of pesticides, herbicides, and petroleum based fertilizer, dilbit and oil “spills,” chemical spills, pollution from fossil fuels, chemical explosions, fracking solutions, plastics leeching toxins into our food and personal care products, nuclear “accidents,” and financial disaster are poisoning our air, our water, our food, our economy.  Our freedom to move unhindered in public spaces, to gather and to speak is being legislated away. Our police departments have devolved into an adversarial paramilitary.  Safety nets to prevent starvation and death for the less fortunate are being stripped away.    
This is the violence that needs to be regulated.
Melinda Coyle
Center Conway

To the editor:

I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiments regarding a Farmers Market in North Conway. I agree with the Conway Daily Sun's views and those expressed by Eric Rollnick.

I would just like to add that should the Conway selectpersons be truly concerned with local merchants being hurt then why would they put their stamp of approval first on a Walmart then on a Super Walmart? There exists very few businesses today that do more harm to a local economy than Walmart. I believe most would find their business practices shocking. "Walmart, The High Cost of Low Price," would go a long way to enlighten the powers that be.

Supporting local farmers supports local businesses, the environment, and good health.
Eat Well, Be Well.

Nicole Nordlund

Madison

To the editor:

It was a nice spring day recently when I visited Kennett High School's athletic complex, Gary Millen Field. I had never been since its construction and dedication but what a marvelous facility combining the traditions of football with the grace of track and field!

I never knew Coach Millen but his success and popularity helped bequeath my (new) alma mater with a superb venue to cheer on the gridiron Eagles! Coach Karl "The Crusher" Seidenstuecker would be extremely pleased with the great bleachers and if you'd ever sat on the banking at the old field, on a gray November afternoon, your butt would appreciate them also!

I was a football spectator but the new track, wow! A huge improvement over the grass on which I competed! As a consequence, I always enjoyed Fryeburg's all-weather and Laconia's cinder tracks! Kudos to everyone involved in bringing such a modern up-to-date track to the new high school! Hindsight being 20/20, such a cool, responsive track combined with Coach Don Trimble's methods could have produced a few state records if not many personal bests "back in the day."

Were this writer's physical attributes up to snuff, I'd break out my Adidas cleats for a few laps! Alas not, so over to the Mineral Springs Café for another spectacular buffet lunch! Chef Mattei and sous chef Remillard's team of budding cooks outdid themselves once again! The proferrings were superb, ranging from pan-seared tilapia Florentine, delicate yet tasty salmon cakes with lemon dill clam sauce, triple meat chili with black bean and other less traditional legumes, extra large scalloped potatoes with thinly sliced ham, chef carved steak teriyaki, a beef stroganoff that complimented perfectly cooked herbed ziti, steamed broccoli tossed with roasted garlic and butter, green tea gingered brown rice, and peach chipotle barbecue chicken! This writer joyfully sampled everything and begrudgingly have to admit that my fav was the chicken — zing! Did I mention dessert? Peanut butter-based frosted chocolate cake and an individual Oreo crumb crust chocolate cheesecake baked in a cupcake tin topped with fresh made whipped cream! Groovy! Whew, am I full! Think I'll go walk a couple laps around the track!

Once again this writer uncovered some of the long term quality investments made by our community in facilities and opportunities for our children, nieces, nephews and grandkids as well as ourselves, the taxpayers! Come out and cheer on our athletes while taking pride in a sports facility any school would like to call their own! Visit the Mineral Springs for the buffet (I think there's only one left this school year) or try it for lunch during the week! Ah the Café, the Flavor Springs Café! See ya!

Evan M. Lucy, Class of '75

Conway