Month: November 2025

We used to be the “Good Guys”

On By TonyIn PoliticsLeave a comment

When “Kill Them All” Meets “Refuse Illegal Orders”

In the last week we’ve watched two stories collide in a way that should make every American deeply uneasy.

On one side, we have reporting that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth allegedly ordered U.S. forces to “kill everybody” on a suspected drug-trafficking boat in the Caribbean. After an initial strike near Trinidad destroyed the vessel on September 2, 2025, two survivors were reportedly seen clinging to the wreckage. According to multiple sources, a second strike was ordered specifically to ensure there were no survivors. 

If that reporting is accurate, this isn’t just a “tough on drugs” policy. It is the deliberate killing of people who are hors de combat—no longer actively engaged in hostilities and no longer a threat. Under international humanitarian law, that is the textbook definition of a war crime.

You can read some of the coverage yourself:

Washington Post: “[Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: ‘Kill them all’]” (paywalled for some) 

Daily Beast: “[Pentagon Pete in Legal Peril Over ‘Kill Them All’ Orders]”  Overview of the strikes: “[2025 United States military strikes on alleged drug traffickers]” 

Hegseth and the Pentagon have tried to explain this away as debris removal or routine targeting in an anti-narcotics campaign. Members of Congress, military lawyers, and human rights experts aren’t buying it. Some have openly said that, if the facts hold, this was murder ordered from the top.

Maggie Goodlander and the “Illegal Orders” Firestorm

Goodlander and five other Democratic lawmakers — all with military or intelligence backgrounds — released a short video reminding U.S. service members of something that has been drilled into them since basic training: you can, and must, refuse illegal orders. 

Their message was simple:

“You must refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution.” 

For stating what every JAG officer teaches and what military law already requires, they’ve been accused of “sedition,” threatened with execution on social media by the President, and now face FBI interviews. 

Some key coverage:

NHPR: “[Goodlander stands by video urging service members to refuse illegal orders]” 

InDepthNH: “[FBI Investigates Goodlander, 5 Dem Lawmakers For Video Telling Troops Not To Obey Illegal Orders]” 

FactCheck.org: “[Experts Say Democratic Video Not ‘Seditious,’ as Trump Claims]” 

Legal experts are nearly unanimous: reminding troops not to commit war crimes is not sedition. It’s literally defending the rule of law.

This Is Exactly What They Were Warning About

When Goodlander and others said, “You have no obligation to follow illegal orders,” many on the right screamed that they were undermining the chain of command.

But look at the Hegseth episode and ask: Isn’t this exactly the scenario they were talking about?

If a Cabinet-level official orders a second strike on two people flailing in the water, that’s not a gray area. That’s not a complicated split-second battlefield call. That’s an order to execute survivors — an order that any reasonably trained professional should recognize as unlawful.

If that’s what happened, then it’s not just Pete Hegseth who may face legal jeopardy. The officers who relayed the order and the personnel who pulled the trigger on that second strike may be exposed as well. “I was just following orders” didn’t work at Nuremberg. It doesn’t work under U.S. military law either.

And that is the heart of Goodlander’s message: obeying an illegal order is its own crime.

Were We Ever the “Good Guys”?

Growing up, many of us were taught that the United States were the “good guys.” We believed — or wanted to believe — that our country tried to do the right thing, even when we fell short.

But you can’t square that self-image with:

A Defense Secretary allegedly saying “kill them all” about a group of suspected traffickers on a small boat.  A second strike launched to finish off survivors who were clearly no longer a threat.  A President who labels lawmakers “traitors” for reminding service members to follow the law, then calls for them to be prosecuted or worse. 

If we accept that as normal, we are not the “good guys” anymore. We’re just another country that talks about freedom while quietly giving the green light to kill whoever is in the way.

Here’s what accountability should look like:

A full, independent investigation into the Caribbean strikes, with all relevant intelligence and targeting data made available to Congress and, as much as possible, the public. Clear legal analysis, made public, explaining how this operation was supposedly lawful — or admitting that it was not. Accountability up and down the chain of command if the facts confirm that survivors were deliberately targeted. That includes the person who gave the order and those who carried it out. Protection, not persecution, for lawmakers who are reminding our troops of their duty not to commit war crimes. They are defending the Constitution, not attacking it.

Maggie Goodlander’s point was simple: Service members are not required to surrender their moral judgment, their legal obligations, or their oath to the Constitution just because someone powerful barks an order.

If the reports about Pete Hegseth are accurate, then this is precisely the kind of illegal order our troops should refuse.

If we want to be the “good guys” again — or maybe for the first time — we have to prove it. Not with slogans. Not with flag pins. But with the courage to say:

Killing survivors is wrong. Ordering it is a crime. And no one, no matter how high their office, is above the law.

A Heartfelt Goodbye: Honoring My Best Friend Rob

On By TonyIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

I’m trying to find the right words to honor my best friend, Rob. And honestly… I’m not sure words were ever big enough for him. We had the kind of friendship that was built on laughing way too hard at things no one else understood, finishing each other’s sentences, and driving our wives absolutely insane. Which — let’s be honest — was one of our greatest joys. It was messy, hilarious, loyal to the core, and built on the rule that no idea was ever too ridiculous for him to say, “What the hell, let’s give it a try.”

Two men dressed in vintage-style suits with hats, posing playfully in a kitchen decorated with wine bottles in the background.

And I tested that rule. Often.

Rob grew up in New Jersey, I grew up in New York, and somehow we didn’t meet until we were two grown men living in New Hampshire. Maybe it’s for the best — if we had met any earlier, half the Tri-State Area might’ve issued restraining orders. But from the moment we did meet, something clicked. He was the friend I didn’t even know I needed — the brother I got to choose.

He was also a big guy. Over six feet. Built like a former linebacker. And I’m… well… I’m 5’7” if I stand up straight and think confident thoughts.

Whenever I picked him up, I would very deliberately move the passenger seat all the way forward and crank it up as high as it would go so his head would stick halfway out the sunroof. Every single time, he’d shake his head, fold himself in half like a travel-size giant, and say, “Let’s go.” No annoyance. No complaint. Just Rob being Rob — rolling with the nonsense because that’s what friends do.

Two men sitting at a table in a restaurant, raising their glasses in a toast. One man is wearing a captain's hat, while the other is in a white hat. The setting has a cozy ambiance with mirrors and illuminated decor.

And that was our whole friendship: he’d sigh, shake his head… and then get in the car anyway.

Like the time I may have forgotten that my son needed to move back into his dorm in New Hampshire while I was in California. Who did I call? Rob. And because he was the best, he just said, “Yeah, sure,” as if people called him every day to move their children into their college dorm.

Or the time at dinner after his own vow renewal when someone congratulated us on being a “cute couple.” Rob just shrugged reached across and took my hand and said, “Well, it’s not the worst thing we’ve been accused of.”

A group of people smiling and chatting in a cozy indoor setting, with wooden interiors and festive decorations visible in the background.

Then there were the costumes.

One night, he and Becky came to pick us up for dinner and I was standing in the yard dressed as a T-Rex. Full costume. No explanation. Rob jumped out of the car and chased me around the yard. two 50+ year old men running around the front yard laughing. Becky, his wife, said, “Ok boys. time to go. What are you, 8?” Rob just rolled with it and said, “You riding like that, or are you changing?”

Another time they got home from vacation and found me in their front yard dressed as a lawn jockey. He didn’t even ask why. He just muttered, “I really need new friends,” and then laughed until he couldn’t breathe.

I have enough stories to fill a book — but maybe the mystery is better. Maybe the best way to honor him is knowing that everyone has their own version of Rob… and every version is warm, loyal, and filled with laughter.

He taught me how to fly fish. And I will never forgive him for that. He taught me how to relax and laugh at the world. And for that- I’ll always love him.

Last Saturday was his birthday. Our final texts say everything:
Me: “HAPPY BIRTHDAY! YOU ARE THE MOST AMAZING PERSON I KNOW.”
Rob: “Thanks! You must know a lot of dorks!”
Me: “Yeah — but you’re still the best of them.”
Rob: “Thanks? I love you.”
Me: “We deserve each other. Love you too”
Rob: “We must have been evil in a past life.”

That was us. Silly, loving, ridiculous in all the right ways.

Saying goodbye to him at the hospital was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. We had plans. So many plans. And losing him has left a hole I don’t know how to fill.

I will miss him more than words can describe. I will never laugh as hard as I laughed with him — and honestly, I don’t want to. That kind of laughter belongs to Rob.

A blue monster character embraces a green frog character, both wearing costumes. The setting appears cozy, with wooden backgrounds.

I love you, buddy. Thank you for being the friend I didn’t know I needed, the one who said “yes” to everything, the one who never hesitated to climb into a too-small car seat with his head sticking out the sunroof.

We must have been evil in a past life — because this life, with you in it, was pretty damn wonderful.

Op-Ed: Rebuttal to Gov. Ayotte: Billboards Don’t Fix Schools, Grow an Economy, or Build a Future

On By TonyIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s press release about running ads in NYC inviting businesses to move to New Hampshire is posted at the end of this op-ed.

By Rep. DAVID PREECE, D-Manchester

Governor Kelly Ayotte wants the country to believe New Hampshire is thriving under her watch. But no billboard truck rolling through Manhattan—or Manchester, for that matter—can hide the simple truth: Ayotte has spent her term defunding the very foundations that make a state worth moving to in the first place.

Ayotte touts “economic opportunity,” yet she cut state support for public schools, forcing local property taxpayers to shoulder even more of the burden. New Hampshire homeowners—especially in cities like Manchester, Nashua, and Rochester—are already paying some of the highest property taxes in the nation. Under Ayotte’s budgets, that pressure only worsens. A state that refuses to adequately fund its own children’s education doesn’t become a magnet for innovation; it becomes a cautionary tale.

She boasts about “freedom” while presiding over some of the lowest investments in culture and the arts in the country—slashing grants that drive tourism, downtown revitalization, and the creative industries that power modern economies. Arts and culture are not luxuries; they are economic engines. Ayotte cut them anyway.

As for economic development, New Hampshire has fallen behind its neighbors because Ayotte dismantled programs that help small businesses expand, attract workforce talent, and modernize infrastructure. Instead, she pours her energy into political theater—billboard stunts that insult entire cities but do nothing to address New Hampshire’s real challenges: sky-high housing costs, a shrinking workforce, unaffordable child care, and gridlocked transportation systems.

Calling New York City “communist” from the comfort of a billboard is easy. Fixing New Hampshire’s housing crisis is hard.
Mocking another state’s mayor is easy. Building a 21st-century economy takes work.

Ayotte chooses the former every time.

While she rents flashy trucks in Manhattan, Granite Staters struggle with rising energy costs that are among the highest in the country. Families brace for another year of inadequate school funding—despite court rulings declaring our current system unconstitutional. Workers leave the state because child care is either unavailable or unaffordable. Businesses can’t expand because employees have nowhere to live.

If Ayotte actually cared about economic opportunity, she would stop strangling public services and start investing in them. She’d fund the arts instead of gutting them. She’d strengthen public education instead of undermining it. She’d support small businesses by backing real, structural economic development—not gimmicks designed to score Fox News airtime.

And if she really cared about Granite Staters, she would stand up to the reckless tariffs imposed by her ally Donald Trump—tariffs that are actively driving up costs for New Hampshire manufacturers, farmers, and small businesses.

But she won’t. Because Ayotte’s politics are performative, not productive.
She governs by spectacle, not substance.

New Hampshire doesn’t need a governor obsessed with billboards.
We need a leader willing to fund our schools, invest in our communities, and build long-term prosperity—not tear it down for national political points.

Kelly Ayotte may think New Hampshire is her prop.
But Granite Staters deserve more than a prop governor.

Rep. David Preece

Below is Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s press release


Announcing the campaign, Governor Ayotte said, “My message to business owners in New York City is this: Come to New Hampshire. We’ll help your business make the switch, and you’ll keep more of your hard-earned money!”
Ayotte campaign spokesman John Corbett added, “New York can experiment with socialism — New Hampshire will stick with lower taxes and more freedom with Governor Ayotte in the corner office. Anyone seeking freedom from Mamdani’s disastrous policies is welcome to join us in the Granite State.”
Under Governor Ayotte’s leadership, New Hampshire is the #1 state in the nation for economic opportunity, taxpayer return on investment, child wellbeing, and public safety, and has been recognized as the most competitive tax structure in the Northeast.
The following ads are running in New York City today:

🗽 The GOP Isn’t Afraid Mamdani Will Fail — They’re Terrified He’ll Succeed

On By TonyIn economy, PoliticsLeave a comment

Let’s be honest: the GOP’s latest panic attack over the newly elected mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, has nothing to do with fear of failure. They’re not afraid he’ll run the city into the ground.

They’re afraid he’ll prove that a government that actually works for people can still exist in America.

The Same Old Playbook

For decades, the Republican playbook has been the same:

1️⃣ Cut taxes for the ultra-wealthy.

2️⃣ Deregulate everything that keeps corporations from acting like feudal lords.

3️⃣ Tell the rest of us to “work harder” while we foot the bill for their subsidies, bailouts, and golden parachutes.

And when things inevitably collapse under the weight of their greed?

They turn around and blame “socialism.”

What Mamdani Represents

Mamdani represents something fundamentally threatening to them — a government that prioritizes workers, tenants, public transit, and the people who actually make a city function.

If he succeeds, he doesn’t just fix New York — he shatters the myth that progressive leadership is inherently doomed to fail.

If Mamdani can clean up the mess left behind by decades of corporate giveaways, make housing affordable, keep the trains running, and show that a city can be both compassionate and efficient — that’s a blueprint.

And blueprints spread.

The GOP’s Policy Problem

If Mamdani’s policies work, the GOP will have to admit the unthinkable: that they have no working ideas or policies of their own.

They’ve had over a decade to show us their “great new health insurance plan” — and all they’ve offered is the same tired promise, still missing in action.

The only things the modern GOP has consistently delivered are outrage, culture wars, and tax cuts for people who already own more houses than you have pairs of shoes.

The Real Fear

What terrifies them isn’t a failed progressive.

It’s a successful one.

Because success exposes the lie.

Success proves that you can govern with fairness, fund social programs, pay workers, and still have a thriving economy.

It proves that the sky doesn’t fall when people are treated with dignity.

So no, they’re not afraid Mamdani will destroy New York.

They’re afraid he’ll build something better — and that the rest of us will notice.

Breaking news: democracy works.

The GOP just hates when it’s working for everyone else.

Democracy Functions as Intended. MAGA National Devastated.

On By TonyIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

🗳️ Breaking: Democracy Functions as Intended. MAGA Nation Devastated.

Democracy Is Working — Please Remain Calm

Apparently democracy worked this week, and MAGA Nation is furious about it.

In New York City, a democratic-socialist was elected — which sent a shockwave through conservative media. Judging by the online meltdown, you’d think Karl Marx had just been sworn in at City Hall. Spoiler alert: he wasn’t. But I’m fairly certain most of the people screaming about “socialism” couldn’t define it if you spotted them the first five letters.

Then, in Virginia and New Jersey, Democratic women won major elections — and that really seemed to push some folks right over the edge. Suddenly, democracy was “rigged,” “stolen,” or “a sign of the apocalypse.” Funny how that works.

When their candidate wins, it’s all:

“Sit down and take it!”

“Stop being a snowflake!”

But when their candidate loses, it’s:

“THE END IS NIGH! RELEASE THE KRAKEN! PUT UP THE GALLOWS!”

Tell me again how much you love democracy? I guess it’s easy to love when the person looks like you, talks like you, and stands up when they pee.

The lack of basic civic education in this country is honestly terrifying. So much so that the Kentucky Secretary of State had to send out a PSA reminding citizens of two very important facts:

Kentucky wasn’t voting yesterday. (Their elections are next year.) No, you cannot vote for the mayor of New York City.

That’s right. Somewhere in Kentucky, people were trying to figure out how to cast a ballot for an NYC race they have absolutely nothing to do with.

So maybe, before storming the Capitol again, it’s time we all took a deep breath, cracked open a civics textbook, and remembered what democracy actually is: people voting, candidates winning and losing, and government continuing to function — whether you like the results or not.

Democracy worked this week.

Please remain calm.

🗳️ Public Service Announcement

This has been a message from the Department of Elections for People Who Need to Chill Out.

Please consult your nearest high-school civics teacher before posting, tweeting, or constructing homemade gallows.

— Tony Retrosi

Dover, NH — November 2025

Thank You Voters.

On By TonyIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Thank You, Dover

Election Day in Dover was cold, blustery, and classic New England — but that didn’t stop democracy from showing up in full force.

I want to thank everyone who ran for office, from School Board to City Council. It takes courage, time, and a deep sense of service to put your name on a ballot. Our city is better for the people willing to step up, listen, and lead.

A special thank you to the voters of Ward 3 for your confidence and support. It’s an honor to continue representing you. I don’t take that trust lightly, and I’ll keep showing up — prepared, practical, and ready to work.

And to the volunteers from both parties who stood outside in the cold and wind, holding signs, greeting neighbors, and helping educate voters — you are the heart of our civic spirit. You remind us that local politics can still be respectful, neighborly, and grounded in community.

There’s no rest after Election Day. At City Hall, we’re right back to work — with a workshop tonight to review the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), and a Housing Summit tomorrow as we continue tackling one of Dover’s biggest challenges.

Our best years are ahead of us — and I’m grateful to walk into them with all of you.

— Tony Retrosi

City Councilor, Ward 3

What If Today’s Titans Followed Carnegie’s Legacy?

On By TonyIn economyLeave a comment

What If Modern Billionaires Followed the Carnegie and Rockefeller Playbook?

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, men like Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller reshaped not only industry but society itself. When their business empires matured, they turned their focus toward public good — funding libraries, universities, and foundations that would outlast them by generations.

Historic public library building in Dover, New Hampshire, featuring architectural details and a statue in front.

Now, as the 21st century unfolds, a new class of billionaires — Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and others — command resources that dwarf even those Gilded Age fortunes. It’s worth asking: what would happen if today’s titans of technology took the same long-term, public-minded approach?

Looking Back: How Carnegie and Rockefeller Built a Legacy

Andrew Carnegie believed that “the man who dies rich dies disgraced.” He devoted his fortune to expanding knowledge and opportunity, building over 2,500 public libraries and endowing universities and cultural institutions.

John D. Rockefeller, meanwhile, revolutionized philanthropy through systemic giving: founding the University of Chicago, Rockefeller University, and major foundations that advanced medical research and global public health.

They didn’t just donate — they built infrastructure for human progress.

What That Might Look Like Today

If modern billionaires followed their lead, their “libraries” and “universities” wouldn’t necessarily be buildings of stone and steel. They’d be digital, global, and future-focused.

BillionairePossible Modern Legacy Projects
Elon MuskGlobal renewable energy networks, open-access AI education, interplanetary research institutes
Jeff BezosClimate restoration, affordable space access, global logistics for disaster relief
Bill Gates (already doing this)Public health, sanitation, vaccines, and disease eradication
Mark ZuckerbergOpen educational platforms, equitable internet access
Larry Page & Sergey BrinOpen-source AI safety and ethics institutions

In essence, they could create the public goods of the digital age — tools and knowledge that empower millions, just as Carnegie’s libraries once did.

The Ripple Effects

Even if a fraction of their wealth — say, 10–20% — were directed to long-term public institutions, the results could be staggering:

  • Education: Free, high-quality learning available globally.
  • Health: Major breakthroughs in medicine and disease prevention.
  • Climate: Private investment driving the transition to a sustainable planet.
  • Trust: A rebalancing of the public’s perception of extreme wealth and its purpose.

This kind of philanthropy wouldn’t just give back; it would build forward.

The Challenges of Modern Philanthropy

Of course, today’s world is more complex than Carnegie’s or Rockefeller’s. Modern billionaires operate under intense public scrutiny and global interdependence.

  • Their businesses are still active, blurring the line between philanthropy and corporate strategy.
  • Globalization raises questions: Who should benefit? Which regions?
  • In an era of inequality, public skepticism runs high—people question whether such power can ever be truly altruistic.

For philanthropy to earn lasting legitimacy, it must emphasize transparency, collaboration, and open access rather than control.

A New Age of Public Good?

Imagine if Musk funded a Global Energy Commons, or Bezos launched a Climate Restoration Foundation as ambitious as Amazon itself. Picture open AI universities in every language, accessible to anyone with an internet connection.

If the world’s wealthiest individuals took up this challenge — building institutions, not monuments — their impact could echo for centuries, just as Carnegie’s libraries and Rockefeller’s foundations still do today.

Maybe the next great era of progress won’t come from governments or markets alone, but from a revival of philanthropy with purpose.

Illustration of two hands holding a glowing globe, symbolizing global impact and responsibility.
Revitalizing Libraries: A Community Investment

Revitalizing Libraries: A Community Investment

On By TonyIn History, Hope1 Comment

The Magic of Public Libraries

There is something quietly miraculous about a public library. It is a place of possibility, of openness, of hope—a house of doors that swing wide for everyone, not just those who can afford them. A public library invites you in simply because you are curious. Because you want to learn. Because you want to borrow a book, use the computer, attend a talk, or just sit and think.

In an era of paywalls, subscription models, algorithmic gate-keeping, and constant commercial pressure, public libraries remain one of the last bastions of true free access—to knowledge and to community.

When I walk into a library, I think of all those footsteps that have gone before me: children discovering wonder; teens finding a novel; elders paging through newspapers; job-seekers crafting new futures; immigrants learning English; families sharing story time; self-taught learners picking up a new skill.

The architecture matters—the wood shelves, the reading tables, the soft light, the hush punctuated by quiet laughter. But more than the architecture, it’s the ethos: that knowledge is a public good, not a private commodity.

⸻

Why Libraries Matter

• Access doesn’t depend on wealth. Knowledge, ideas, and technology are shared freely.

• Libraries are the living rooms of our cities—neutral ground where everyone belongs.

• From card catalogs to digital databases, libraries evolve to meet the times.

• A library sends a civic message: we believe your mind is worth investing in.

Dover Public Library

Right here in Dover, our library stands as a proud example of what a community can build together.

The Dover Public Library is in the midst of a $7.1 million renovation and expansion. The project includes an expanded children’s spaces, larger meeting rooms, better line of sight and new elevator and stairwells. Truly an investment in accessibility and shared opportunity.

Close-up of a metal beam showing the embossed name 'Carnegie', symbolizing the legacy of public libraries.

I recently toured the renovation site, and it is going to be historically accurate and absolutely beautiful. Just thinking about it gives me chills. Amid the scaffolding and sawdust, I saw a small but powerful symbol of the past—a Carnegie stamp embossed on one of the metal beams. A reminder that this place, built more than a century ago through the vision of a man and a town that shared a belief that knowledge should be free, carries that legacy forward.

Interior view of a library renovation site showing a stone pillar and brick wall, with construction materials and tools in the background.

This renovation isn’t just about bricks and mortar. It’s about vision—the belief that our capacity for learning, for civic life, for shared good, is still worth building for.

Blueprint for the Dover Public Library expansion project, showing site layout and drawings.

A Legacy of Giving: Andrew Carnegie’s Gift

Between 1886 and 1919, Andrew Carnegie funded 1,679 public libraries in the United States, and more than 2,500 worldwide.

Whatever one thinks of his industrial empire, Carnegie recognized that true wealth was not what you owned—but what you gave back. His libraries stood as beacons in small towns and great cities alike, democratizing access to knowledge.

He believed that every person, given the chance, could rise.

⸻

A Question of Priorities

Today, we have billionaires of our own. Men and women who made (or inherited)  their futures. Imagine if even a fraction of the fortunes of Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos went into building the next generation of public libraries, into revitalizing civic learning, into connecting rural America to the digital world.

Instead of launching cars into space, what if we launched communities into opportunity?

An astronaut in a spacesuit is seated in a red convertible with the Earth visible in the background, showcasing a stunning view of the planet from space.

If Carnegie could build thousands of libraries from steel profits a century ago, why can’t today’s titans of industry fund the civic infrastructure of the 21st century—libraries, maker-spaces, literacy programs, and local journalism?

Isn’t it time we did better?

Reaching for the Stars

And perhaps that’s what libraries have always symbolized: the idea that human potential is boundless.

“Every time we think we have measured our capacity to meet a challenge, we look up and we’re reminded that that capacity may well be limitless.

This is a time for American heroes.

We will do what is hard.

We will achieve what is great.

This is a time for American heroes—and we reach for the stars.”

A library is, in its own way, a launchpad. Each book, each story, each conversation sends us further into the universe of ideas. And like all great launches, it begins right here on Earth—in towns like Dover, in rooms filled with shelves, light, and the quiet hum of curiosity.

Let us protect them, expand them, and celebrate them.

Because when we invest in libraries, we are investing in the heroes yet to come.

Rendering of the Dover Public Library showing a renovated and expanded exterior with brick and stone details, large windows, and trees in the foreground.