The following article appeared on Record Enterprise on March 30, 2006.

Letters To The Editor - Gifford seeks to intimidate

To the editor:

It appears the North American Training Lodge is going to great lengths to try and get the residents of Groton to table the Interim Growth Ordinance that will delay the lodge from coming into our town.

In today's mail, I received a packet from the North American Training Lodge. In this packet of three papers, their was information about the training lodge (their purpose, officers, and information about the positive (?) economic impact it will have).

The last paper was a statement that they want us to send to our selectmen stating that we do not want our tax dollars used for this purpose and this legal battle.

First of all, the remarks they made against the Concerned Citizens For Regional Impact appear very inflammatory. This was paper #2. They first stated the CCFRI is not registered in the state of N.H., which it is!

They stated "the CCFRI has remained an anonymous group bent on destroying businesses that it opposes in N.H. at any cost." The CCFRI came to us at our request for advice and direction. Barry Schuster, is not the Groton town attorney, we never stated he was. He is the lawyer with much experience in these matters that is retained by the CCFRI.

They further state that "... why are they so interested in wasting taxpayers' money on an Interim Growth Ordinance that does not meet the intent of the law ..." Mr. Gifford, president of the N A T L ... I ask you why do you think that we will be wasting taxpayers' money?? Isn't that a little presumptuous of you, sir?

Your letters appear to be trying to intimidate the residents of Groton. I tell you, sir ... it is not working! And by the way, some people think there is a connection between NATL (the North American Training Lodge) and the word "National"... I don' t think patriotism has anything to do with this lodge ... it appears to have more to do with making money. NATL ... Not At This Location!!

Dr. Stephen and Linda Falchetta
Groton