November Letters

A Valuable Curriculum

Your excellent article in the September issue about the fond memories Phillips Exeter Academy graduates cherish about their time spent there begs an important question: Why?

The answer is significant for American education. Exeter, as much as any secondary school in the United States, provides students with “value education” — religion, philosophy, and mental health. The 1966 Abington versus Schemp U.S. Supreme Court decision on the teaching of religion in public schools allows all public schools to teach about world religions.

All secondary schools in the United States — public and private — should copy Exeter’s curriculum.
Edward T. O’Donnell
Hanover

Poland is Plymouth

Is there some reason why PLYMOUTH was not mentioned in your recent article on the TV show being shot here in Plymouth? We are all excited about the show, the publicity and were happy to see in article in New Hampshire Magazine on the upcoming series. However, nowhere in the article does it mention that Poland is Plymouth!

We believe this series may contribute to our tourism and that those tourists will want to see the diner and downtown Plymouth where it was shot. If you write another article on the series, please do write that the setting is in Plymouth!
Lou Alice Avellino
Board member, Main Street Plymouth Inc.

Old Favorites and New Ideas

I am writing to let you know how much I enjoy your magazine. I live in Dover and enjoy many of your articles, especially your “SAM Awards” for the best architectural firm in the state. They have beautiful, unique designs and deserve an issue of your magazine devoted to their designs.

I am also writing with some new ideas from the Seacoast. There is a new boat cruise that just started this year called Cocheco River Tours Out of Dover. It was wonderful! We saw lots of blue herons, seals and even a few eagles. Kevin Quigley owns the boat and gave a great ride and knew a lot of history of the area, which was very interesting. It is well worth a trip to the Seacoast for his cruise. He is also doing some fall foliage cruises this year as well.

I have also printed out a few new additions to the Seacoast. This area is my favorite area of New Hampshire. There is just so much to do here, restaurants, theatres, boat cruises, etc. The Seacoast is just great! Keep up the good work with your magazine.
P. Benjamin
Dover

Rynborn Blues

Enjoying my afternoon cup of coffee and reading the latest issue of New Hampshire Magazine, I have found a serious mistake! One page 65 you announce that the Rynborn has relocated from Antrim to Peterborough. On the contrary! The Rynborn is now in Keene, and we Keenites couldn’t be more delighted! Please make the appropriate correction to the inaccurate information!
Cindy Rodenhauser
Monadnock Economic Development Corporation
Keene

Pure Poetry

Your article [NH Escapes, August 2003], reminds me of a poem that I wrote a couple of years after I took up diving.

Undersea world

I don the armor that keeps me safe
in a world I don’t belong,
I will monitor every breath I take,
not knowing for how long.
A silent stillness awaits me
to engulf my very being,
a mystic translucent kingdom,
only believing in the seeing.
The realm that I will enter

a voyeur I’ll become,
a witness to God’s creations
in a space only visited by some.
As I visit this world beyond my norm
my mind begins to expand,
to wonder at the amazing life
that abounds in this strange land.
Mysterious magical creatures
floating above and below,
barely noticing my existence,
as on my way I go.
The cares that I brought with me

seem some how less profound,
as I journey through this kingdom,
inner peace, it seems I’ve found.
I labor now to take my breath
my trip is at its end,
the only possession I will retain
is the peace I have within.
When purpose is in question
and reason starts to cease
of all the lessons I’ve learned there
I will remember the Peace.
Merwin Tirrell
Alstead

Stick it to Us

I was very disappointed with your “Living in the Sticks” article [September 2003]. I did the log and stickwork in both homes featured. The Meredith home has 153 full trees in it. My son-in-law and I found, cut, fabricated, and installed all of them. We were integral in the design and worked with the true architect and the project developer. The architect mentioned had nothing to do with either project, and appears to be getting the credit.

This work is challenging and difficult, and many people that should have been mentioned were not.

We have two similar projects ongoing, one being filmed for a future documentary, on Merrymeeting Lake in New Durham. Accuracy is critical. Thank you for your time.
Mark C. Smith
Smith Timber Framing
Madbury

Editor’s note: It turns out that a number of people took great pride in the work they did on the Adirondack homes in that issue. Here’s a list of contributors’ names and trades that could have been included: architects Battle Associates and Paul Maggi; site work by Andrews Construction, Campton; countertops by Rumford Stone, Concord; interior details by K. Amanda Goddard and Rick Page; mason Vincent Miner; designer Karen LaFlamme; custom furniture by Steve Winchester; stained glass by Sam Adams; stonework by Hayden Hillgrove, Sandwich; fireplace by Grey Stone Masonry, Gilford; special woods by R.P. Williams Lumber, Briston; windows by Bob Glassett; project management by Scott’s Estates Management, Lakes Region.

Correction: Our September issue story “Grape Expectations” gave the impression that there is only one winery in New Hampshire using local grapes. In fact, Jewell Towne Vineyards of South Hampton also produces a variety of wines from locally grown grapes and is the winner of numerous international medals for its wines.

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