Lexington Minuteman
Thursday, June 12, 2003

Letter: Glad to have park listed

A momentous event happened to Lexington on May 29. The renowned National Trust for Historic Preservation designated our town, along with the Minute Man National Historical Park and the other surrounding towns of Bedford, Concord and Lincoln, as one of the 11 most endangered historic places in America. The National Trust, a non-profit organization, was created by Congress to preserve the country's important historic places.

It cited ongoing expansion of Massport's Hanscom civilian airport, which abuts the park, as threatening this unique historic area. Unfortunately, but not unpredictably, Massport is responding with an escalation of its usual arrogant denial of the problem, deliberate twisting of facts, and outrageous insistence that aviation has the right to reign supreme over all other considerations. The angry comments coming from Massport in response to the "most endangered" designation by the National Trust would be laughable if they weren't being made by a powerful state agency that has craftily worked over the years to pit city vs. suburbs and exert the power of the aviation industry.

Massachusetts needs to do better. And it can. Leaving it up to Massport won't do it. Working together in a broader coalition to solve an indisputable problem can result in an airport that serves Greater Boston without decimating one of Greater Boston's treasures. Are our local, state and federal governments up to it? Let us hope so. It is vitally important to future generations of Americans to preserve this hallowed place.

Kay Tiffany
Reed Street, Lexington

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Lexington Minuteman
Thursday, June 12, 2003

Letter: Story was buried in paper

I had the pleasure of attending a very exciting press conference on May 29 held on the banks of the Concord River next to the Old North Bridge. The National Trust for Historic Preservation designated Minute Man National Historical Park and the surrounding historic towns as one of the 11 most endangered historic places in the country, because of continuing Hanscom civilian airport expansion. Historian David McCullough spoke, along with Congressman Marty Meehan and former Gov. Mike Dukakis.

Unfortunately those reading the Lexington Minuteman might have missed the importance of this event to the town, for the story was buried on page 11 and failed to report that the town's historic sites were designated as endangered, along with the Minute Man Park. In addition, the paper ran a cartoon mocking local activists. It appears as if national organizations take the very real threat to the preservation of this unique area more seriously than our local newspapers.

Stewart Kennedy
Liberty Avenue, Lexington
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Lexington Minuteman
June 19, 2003

Cartoon offends many readers

The choice of the Granlund cartoon to represent the editorial response to the Hanscom expansion issue in the Minuteman on Thursday June 5 was both unfortunate and disappointing, angering many of your subscribers.

To portray all those who picket for the preservation of our historic areas and our historic towns in the Hanscom Field expansion disagreement as raving elders was a tremendous affront to all who believe that we need and should preserve these areas for now and for the generations to come. In particular, this cartoon smacks of ageism at its worst.

As a so-called "Picket Coordinator" for the anti-Hanscom expansion groups, ShhAir and Save Our Heritage, I can tell you that the picketers whom I have been contacting and scheduling have been across all age groups - mothers with toddlers, mothers whose children are in school, fathers who take turns in the late afternoons, early mornings or after dinner and are sometimes accompanied by teenagers. We have a number of women and men who live and work in the town and find time in their work schedules to picket for an hour and finally, there are the men and women who are retired or who are no longer working for whatever reason.

I have yet to see or hear of any confrontation that ended in an ugly shouting match as portrayed in Mr. Granlund's cartoon. Picketers quietly hold signs and hand our leaflets to those who wish to accept them. Occasionally, questions are asked and discussions begin, but they do not become screaming encounters.

Had he bothered to contact anyone or to attend any of the many hearings where the audiences reflect the entire spectrum of citizens of the four towns, perhaps he could have done a better job. The editor could have done a better job in screening the cartoon, as well. We can hope that a fairer and more accurate portrayal of the fight against the expansion at Hanscom Field will be evident in future issues of the Minuteman.

Jane Gharibian
ShhAir Volunteer
Save Our Heritage Volunteer
Cary Avenue

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Copyright by TownOnline.com and Herald Interactive Advertising Systems ==========
**NOTICE: In accordance with 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.** ==========