To the editor,
The U.S. Mint has issued the first of 2013 and 16th overall in the America the Beautiful quarters program. It is a follow up to the state quarters program.
The newest quarter is a tribute to New Hampshire. It is the White Mountain National Forest quarter. The quarter shows a very familiar scene. It is Mt. Chocorua. I believe the scene shows the mountain as seen from Sandwich.
It is a beautiful coin, which I expect many collectors will want.
It is very disappointing that none of the banks in Laconia are getting them. I would like to know why.
I have made inquiries at every bank in the city and the only response from tellers is that they don't know.
Gordon D. King
Laconia

To the editor,
This February, New Beginnings would like to invite the community to join us in taking a stand against teen dating violence. February has been designated as National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month since 2010, and this provides an excellent opportunity for us as a community to call awareness to the specific ways intimate partner violence affects teens.
Statistics collected by the National Resource Center for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month are alarmingly high. Nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner in a single year. One in three girls in the U.S. is a victim of physical, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner, a figure that far exceeds rates of other types of youth violence. One quarter of high school girls have been victims of physical or sexual abuse or sexual assault committed by an intimate or dating partner.
In addition to the pervasiveness of abuse among teens, there are several research findings that illustrate why a focus on teens is so important. About 72 percent of eighth and ninth grade students are dating. Violent behavior often begins between the ages of 12 and 18. Young women ages of 16-24 experience the highest rate of intimate partner violence, almost triple the national average. The severity of intimate partner violence is often greater in cases where the pattern of abuse was established in adolescence.
These numbers are even more problematic considering the lack of awareness and education of dating violence. 81% of parents believe teen dating violence is not an issue or admit that they don't know if it is an issue. While 82 percent of parents feel confident that they could recognize the signs if their child was experiencing dating violence, a majority of parents could not correctly identify all the warning signs of abuse.
The good news is that we all can play a role in preventing teen dating violence. Three of the essential things adults can do are: learn more about teen dating violence, model healthy relationships and talk to teens in our lives about abuse and healthy relationships. As with all efforts to protect our teens, it is important that adults start the conversation rather than waiting for teens to come to us. Start young and keep the conversation age-appropriate. Teens have a crucial role to play, too. They can promote healthy relationships among their peers, learn techniques for safe, effective bystander intervention, and join New Beginnings' Youth Advisory Board to help raise awareness of dating violence.
New Beginnings serves all of Belknap County and is devoted to ending domestic and sexual violence and stalking through education, prevention, and services to those whose lives have been affected by violence. We offer educational workshops for teens and adults about teen dating violence. These presentations are free-of-charge and can be adapted for teen, professional, and parent audiences. If you are interested in having New Beginnings present to a group of teens or adults, call (603)528-6511.
If you think you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship call 1-866-644-3574 to speak with a trained advocate. There is no minimum age to call a crisis line. Services are free, confidential, and available 24/7.
Kitty Kiefer
New Beginnings
Laconia

To the editor,
A conundrum has arisen in the Inter-Lakes School District that I just can't figure out, no matter how many meetings I attend or questions I ask. In full disclosure, however, I admit that I'm not great with numbers and formulas.
The proposed budget, if everything is passed at the Annual District meeting on Wednesday, March 6, includes $138,609 for the Support Staff agreement, $562,761 of operating budget increases and $499,319 of operating revenue decreases, for a net assessment increase of $1,200,689. No, that's not even the conundrum — when has the school budget ever not included big increases, despite declining enrollment?
What has me most bothered right now is the page in the packet entitled, "WHAT DOES THIS BUDGET MEAN FOR MY TAX BILL?" Evidently, it is projected, that for every $250,000 of property value owned in Meredith, the school taxes will increase by $197.24. For the same property in Center Harbor, the tax bill will go down by $27.57 and folks in Sandwich will see a decrease of $124.95 for every $250,000 assessment.
In looking through the last 15 years of annual reports, I can't find a time when the residents of only one town paid for all of the increases — there have been various combinations of two towns paying up and one getting a decrease, but the burden has never been put on one town. You're welcome, Sandwich and Center Harbor! This begs the questions, "Why?" and "If there is a surplus returned to the towns at the end of the year, will it all go to Meredith?" I bet not.
Also, a big concern is Article 7 on the School District Warrant: "To see if the District will vote to authorize, indefinitely until rescinded, to retain year-end unassigned general funds ...at 2.5 percent of the current fiscal year's net assessment..." This means that if there is a surplus, this year more than $400,000, it can be put into a fund balance, collected indefinitely and used in the future to pay for emergencies or reduce the tax rate.
I think that is one scary idea. it would probably be fine if we were a one town district, because towns retain general funds all the time, but it could create a real unfair balance within a school cooperative, especially for the timing of future returned money to reduce a tax rate. The Inter-Lakes School District has Expendable Trust Funds already in place for emergencies, wish list encumbrances already come out of end of year surplus funds, and usually something left over has annually been given back to taxpayers. We don't need Article 7.
Please come to the meeting on March 6 at 7 p.m. in the I-LHS gym for information and voting, and also to welcome our new superintendent and say goodbye to long time board member Jack Carty!
Karen Sticht
Meredith

To the editor,
It is time to support the President in his battles for social justice and his efforts to help the middle class. We need to contact our senators and representatives and call for a vote. The president needs our help!
We need an immigration policy that will get eleven million people paying taxes to the United States and get them contributing to our society. President Bush and President Obama agree on this issue. Let's get it passed!
It is time for sensible gun laws. There are several issues that need to be voted on as soon as possible. Congress is having an undeserved ten day vacation. We need to tell them we want a vote on the gun issues!
The president has a reasonable plan to get America back to work by increasing manufacturing jobs and repairing infrastructure. Tell Congress we want action!
Nine dollars is a reasonable minimum wage. It would put the income for a 40-hour week over the poverty line. It would encourage people to choose work rather than handouts. It would give people hope for a better life.
The president needs our help! Take the time to send the e-mails and make the calls to our senators and representatives. Perhaps you could talk to them in person at their local offices. Tell then we want votes on these issues. Remember the opposition may be very loud but there are more of us. We are the majority and we need to make our voices heard!
Paul Bonneville
Lochmere (Tilton)