John Lewis

To the editor,

Originally I thought that building a new high school on the Parade Road site was a good idea, even to include a middle school, like Meredith. However, I have been consistently against the economic burden.

I believed avoiding demolition costs, and selling the two old properties as is, could have significantly offset the original $45 Million cost, plus $25 million in interest.

Then I saw the new proposal — $75 Million plus interest, taking the total to well over $100 Million!

Most importantly, I saw six to nine new playing fields on the plans, and I became quite alarmed! I thought of the folks at South Down, Leigh Court, and others. I thought of many dear friends who have all died of various forms of cancer — all were golfers. I've studied the pesticide manual; three groups of chemicals make up the term pestisides: fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides — ALL killers!

Applicators are required to wear chemically resistant boots, suits, gloves and hats and respirators. Notices of application must be posted a day or so in advance to warn golfers.

Supervisors and applicators must be licensed by the State.

Pesticides can be sprayed or dry-spread, with or without fertilizers. They can contaminate through groundwater or airborn mist, and the drift can be widely-spread over neighboring areas.

Pesticides can be ingested through the mouth, dermally, through the skin, or inhaled into the lungs, via nose and mouth. I have seen hideous tumors — brain, lung, organ, neck cancers caused by pesticides.

Now I see that 6 to 9 sportsfields are planned to one side of Southdown, and the existing golf course on the other side. Golfers choose to play amongst the pesticides, others and children do not, yet the pesticides may come to them. And what of Leigh Court, nestling in a little valley? Will it become Laconia's Love Canal?

What will the EPA say of allof this?

The joint facilities committee, city council and mayor should not ignore that there may be dire consequences for their ward one friends and neighbors if they charge, like the Light Brigade, into such a decision.

"Into the valley of death rode the 600,

Cannons (pesticides) to the left,

Cannons (pesticides) to the right."

John Lewis

Laconia