Local elections and national opinions: Letters

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Local elections and national opinions: Letters

Choose Kittery School Committee member who shares your values

Feb. 12 − To the Editor:

Dear Kittery Residents,

On March 11 , there will be a special election for an open seat for the school committee. This election will be held at the town hall (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) . Absentee ballots are available now at the town hall. There are three candidates running for this seat and I encourage you to learn about them on March 6 at 6 pm at a candidates’ night, hosted by Traip Academy.

As a longtime Kittery educator, I am proud of our schools! Guiding our work is the “Vision 2030 statement.” This Vision, and these core beliefs, form the foundation for decision making around curriculum, instruction and assessment, teacher professional development, enrichment and support programs, and resource allocation in our schools. Before voting on March 11, please take time to reflect on these core beliefs and consider how you can support them by choosing a strong school committee candidate. It is more important than ever to participate in local elections that center around our community’s values and priorities for our children.

CORE BELIEF 1- Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, & Social Justice. The Kittery School District is a community that respects, values, and welcomes all individuals. We strive to create a sense of belonging for all community members by seeking diversity, pursuing equity, and celebrating the value of the many different lived experiences among us.

CORE BELIEF 2 – Relationships and Community. We believe in the importance of building strong, positive relationships within our school, our community, our country, and our world. Using local and global resources, we aim to provide students with engaging and connected learning opportunities.

CORE BELIEF 3- Curriculum & Instruction. We believe in a curriculum that is personally relevant to students and reflects diver perspectives and experiences. Through innovation and adaptability, we strive to empower students to develop a sense of identity, empathy, and thoughtful local and global citizenship.

CORE BELIEF 4-Whole Child. We believe it is our responsibility to meet the academic and social-emotional needs of all students. We foster and practice resilience, flexibility, a growth mindset, and empathy so that all students feel valued.

CORE BELIEF 5 – Transferable Skills We believe in structuring an educational environment that reflects the growth mindset a prepares students for success beyond K-12. We involve students in the development and direction of their own education.

Katie Peternell

Kittery, Maine

Letter to the editor

Peter Somssich: Candidate for vice chair Portsmouth Democratic Committee

Feb, 13 — To the Editor:

The Portsmouth Democrats will hold an election caucus on Feb. 20, 6:30 p.m. by Zoom to elect the officers of the committee for the next two years.  I am running for the position of vice-chair because I want to reactivate our committee and engage with our Portsmouth community. This is especially needed after the election of Donald Trump.  We need to put up resistance against policies that attack our American values, but also just because he won the election, we cannot let the new President ***** the joy and fun out of our own lives. 

I have political experience with Democratic committees in both a Republican town and a Democratic city. I moved to Portsmouth 25 years ago from Amherst (NH), where I served 4 years as party chair.  After moving to Portsmouth, I served on the Democratic committee, including 4 years as its chair and served as State Representative for 6 years.  Because the current committee was not organizing any significant events in 2024 (an election year), I joined with 5 others to form the Portsmouth Democratic Outreach Committee and helped to organize 4 events in addition to the monthly Democratic Roundtable and “Coffee and Dems” gatherings.  We will need that kind of energy in our committee during the next 2 years.

If you are a registered Democratic voter in Portsmouth, you can register to vote and/or run for office by sending an email to: *****@*****.tld .

If you have questions please contact me: tel. 603-436-5382 or *****@*****.tld

Peter Somssich

Portsmouth

The world sees our hypocrisy

Feb. 13 − To the Editor:

Trump says he is going to “acquire” Gaza. Not buy Gaza but acquire it (either idea is criminal regardless) because it is a demolition site. Why is it a demolition site? Because Biden sent every weapon imaginable—short of a nuclear bomb—to destroy Gaza and kill as many ************ children and civilians as possible without any serious stipulations on use of those weapons.

Don’t fool yourself into thinking these Presidents are different when it comes to caring about human rights. Don’t think that most of our Congressional representatives are proponents of human rights as the vast majority said little when it came to stopping a genocide or acknowledging that Israel is an apartheid state. How many of these “leaders” are speaking up re the Israeli oppression, *******, land grabbing and imprisonment (hostage taking really) of Palestinians that is occurring in the West Bank daily? How many of you are even paying attention? You care about America? Maybe start by caring about other people in the world. Maybe care that our taxpayer dollars are being used to continue oppression. The world sees our hypocrisy. Harris lost in large part because people saw through her hypocrisy as well.

Donna Pare

Stratham

Let your voice be heard in Concord

Feb. 17 − To the Editor:

Let your VOICE be Heard in Concord!

Are you saturated with national news? Local government is important too! Our NH legislators are in their committees right now and are working on LOTS of bills that affect our communities. YOU can have a VOICE in these bills by attending in person OR using an online testimony tool to submit your opposition or your support. Be assured, there is no shortage of bills that you might be interested in. Here’s an important one to practice on right now!

HB 714, passage would ensure NH primaries provide voters access to all candidates regardless of party affiliation. All candidates would be listed on ONE inclusive primary ballot. The top 2 then advance to the general election. This system gives voters more choice, winners have a broader support of the electorate, and it would serve to reduce polarization. This bill is the result of a new Citizens Assembly think tank and lots of research, kudos to them! A single ballot primary would be hugely significant as NH is first in the nation to vote and we want our voice heard across the nation.

Can’t attend on the hearing date? Go remotely with this link! 

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 Here’s info you need: HB 714, House Election Law Committee, Feb 18 at 1pm. I encourage you to use this tool – you’ll love how easy it is and YOUR VOICE WILL BE HEARD Testimonies are accepted all day. Our legislators are elected to respond to what you want … let’s get ON IT!

Cheri Bach

Portsmouth

We the people are the only defense

Feb. 13 − To the Editor:

Please wake up America!  To the Republicans who voted for Trump while not believing he would do what he said he would do – were you fooled?  Did you believe all the lies?  Are you what I call willfully ignorant?  You don’t want to know the truth?  And to the Democrats – are you really paying attention?  Are you reading beyond the legacy media?  Do you realize how intimidated the legacy media is and continues to be?

Congress has bowed to the dictator – given up all its rights set forth in the Constitution, and is no longer functioning.  This is an internal Coup – plan and simple.  The president has NO right to abolish agencies contracted by Congress thru the normal process of governing.  Again and again, laws are being broken and no action or even speaking out is going on by your elected representatives of both parties (with a very few late exceptions).

The Treasury is now controlled by Musk’s “muskrats” as they call themselves. These are kids who think code controls the world and they control code. They have handles like “Bad ****” and are encamped in the Treasury office gleefully rewriting the systems that dispense YOUR tax dollars. ******* research? No. Any health related research? No.FEMA help for disasters? Not any more.  Free press?  Nope – they have bowed to the dictator. The latest is cancelling the AP from the White House because they used the proper name – Gulf of Mexico. They are now going after NPR and PBS who have maintained some independence. For how long?

So far, Trump and Musk have ignored every single judicial order given by the courts.  Even the American Bar has called this out – it’s the death knell of the rule of law.  It’s one more fact that sustains the Coup.

So now having obliterated Congress, Justice and the rule of law at all levels, plus decimated the “4th Estate”, and taken over the Treasury, there is nothing but the army to stop them.  And look who heads the Pentagon.

Add it all up – please!  We are living in a coup – the ******** takeover of our government.  This is not business as usual.  This the most lawless administration in all history.

And did you notice who was the speaker at the press conference in the Oval Office?  Not the President.  Or not the elected President who was silent.  Yes – you got it.  The mastermind of the takeover.  The one whose minions are shutting down everything we depend on for our health and our economic well being.

We need to speak out and speak truth – now.  Check out everything in this letter for yourself.  It’s all out there and more.  We the people are the only defense – and we need to wake up and take action.  NOW!

Linda Cunningham

Portsmouth

Send your letter to *****@*****.tld

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 *****@*****.tld. Letters from Seacoast-area writers addressing local topics will be given priority for publication.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald:

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