March 2014 Letters to the Editor

Missed Some Great Stuff
Re: "Great Stuff Made Here:" [February 2014] The most obvious one to me is the database of streets correlated with latitude and longitude. The company that built one (of the two major ones) was called Geographic Data Technology, but after a couple acquisitions, it became the TomTom data. Without this data, it would have been much harder for GPS to become the ubiquitous navigation tool we know today. The GDT database was built up by thousands of person-hours of digitizing from maps, mostly done in Lyme, NH, in the 1980s. This is definitely an under-appreciated entrepreneurial accomplishment that can be credited to NH.

David Marston
Nashua

Another Miss
Hopefully at least a few of your readers will find  inexplicable your failure to include the Swenson Granite Company and its granite of New Hampshire products in your list of companies “making iconic things that have in some way defined the Granite State’s unique allure to the world” in your February 14, 2014, issue of NH Magazine. I guess you felt granite buildings, steps, patios, monuments, curbing, statues and the many other granite products made by us from the granite of the Granite State (and other states and countries) used by people all around the United States and the world do not qualify as “iconic things” from NH like frialators, chocolate mice, Badger Balm and all the other products listed in your article. Or maybe it is just our 130 years of doing business here in Concord that disqualified us as being too old to make the cut.

Kurt Swenson, Chairman of the Board
Swenson Granite Company

Great Sculpture Too
WHO KNEW?? that so many prestigious and vibrant companies were producing American-made "stuff" right here in New Hampshire. Finding American-made products gets harder and harder as more companies ship their operations overseas.  We do try to buy American and it's nice to know that some of the items we encounter daily are made right here. Not only are we privileged to have those companies in our own state but many of them are open for tours by the public so we can see how our things are made. Loved that article!

Did you know that "Re-Imagined" is a large, permanent installation of sculptures by Wendy Klemperer [Upfront, February 2014] just over the border in Maine? The Central Maine Botanical Gardens has had several amazing pieces by Ms. Klemperer for at least the past 12 years. There are deer, wild cats, elk, foxes and wolves and as you drive through the woods to the actual gardens you begin to watch for more. She has placed them such that they appear to be almost natural in their settings. It's a real treat to see her work and so I'm looking forward to traveling south to UNH's museum to see more of the genius of Wendy Klemperer.

Pam Dexter
Franconia

Moving Out
Even though I am here in Connecticut, I like reading New Hampshire Magazine very much. The "made in NH" was quite interesting ["Truly Great Stuff Made Here," February 2014].  Sturm, Ruger & Co. moved out in time. Everyone else is following — more are moving out than moving in.

Mary Franklin
Cromwell, Conn.

Sublime Symphony
Two great articles in the February 2014 issue. Diners ["Classic Diners"] are like the mirrors to the soul of a local community, and the absolute best place to eat if you want an alternative to fast-food franchises.

On almost every night of clear, bright skies in Grantham, I'm amazed at the star show compared to eastern Massachusetts and southwest Florida, where we have too much ambient night light to allow the sky to light up ["Romancing the Stars"]. To allow your mind to wander among the thousands of visible stars, and the millions and billions left to your imagination, is to hear the silent orchestration of the sublime symphony of the universe. I think I just heard "Jemi's Valentine" chime in, adding its depth to the chorus. 

Bill Gothorpe
Grantham

Childhood Memories
I especially enjoyed the February issue of NH Magazine. One reason is that I have been interested in astronomy ever since I got my first telescope in the 1950s and spent hours in my back yard in all seasons finding constellations and following the cycles of the planets. A second reason is more personal, namely, that the very same back yard appears in your p. 55 photo from Rock Rimmon in Manchester ["Romancing the Stars," February 2014].

“The Rock” was my and my brother’s playground from early years through high school. We checked the photo carefully and feel sure that we found our house on Joliette Street. All in all, Feb. ’14 was  a very enjoyable issue that was interesting, fun and one that brought back many fond memories. Thanks for your efforts and for the continued quality of NH Magazine.  

Michael Theall
Poland, Ohio

No to Northern Pass
I am so angry I can't see straight! I have to see an ad for the Northern Pass, which is another thorn in my side and I don't even live here all the time! What a bunch of hogwash. NH does fine without this energy and the few temporary jobs this will create. The country needs more solar and wind power and forget wires.

My husband and I bought a place outside Littleton because we loved the area … Franconia, Sugar Hill, Woodstock, Colebrook and the rest. I have taken and would like to continue to take beautiful pictures of NH without having to see the garbage of the Northern Pass making the whole place ugly. Had we known about the Northern Pass, I believe we would have looked harder and maybe found a different retirement spot. What about property values of those that are within eyesight of these towers? What about cancer? I have joined one group and will sign anything needed to stop this horrible and dangerous eyesore from going up. Why should NH have to pay the price of its beautiful countryside, woods, mountains, for which people pay good money to come see and enjoy, for power that is going elsewhere and money to other pockets? If the politicians are agreeing to this, then NH needs a whole new cabinet. 
Gary Long … how much did you get paid? There is something wrong with this whole thing. Stinks big time. Please New Hampshire, stand strong against this horrible thing. Don't get "wooed" to the other side.

Lyn Scott
San Antonio, Texas

Editor's Note: You can read about many issues and points of contention surrounding the proposed Northern Pass Project in the January 2014 cover story "Dividing Lines" by Sam Evans-Brown, the environmental reporter for New Hampshire Public Radio. The story was done in collaboration with NHPR and you can learn even more by visiting nhpr.org for his three-part series.