Published: 5/26/2023 6:13:18 AM
Modified: 5/26/2023 6:13:03 AM
The success of the Lebanese Science Olympiad was a team effort
As the coach of the Lebanon High School Science Olympiad team, I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation, on behalf of our students, to the stakeholders in our community who have been so important to our success. The Byrne Foundation, Bio X Cell, Geokon, Mascoma Bank and Ulisses Diversified Holdings have contributed to our teams at various points over the last eight years.
This year, Lebanon High School placed first and second at the state championships held in April at Saint Anselm College and was able to send a team of 15 high school students from Lebanon, Grantham and Plainfield to the state championships in Wichita, Kan. thanks to the support of our sponsors. Representing our community and the state of New Hampshire at this national competition is an impressive accomplishment for our students and our school district — one that will inspire generations of Lebanon students to come.
At a recent neighborhood gathering, I had the opportunity to catch up with some alumni from our program. Many of them have completed undergraduate work and are working in industry or in graduate programs related to science, medicine, or engineering. Everyone agreed that Science Olympiad was one of the most formative, rewarding and memorable experiences they had as young students. Our community’s support for the Science Olympiad has made it a rich tradition, influencing an increasing number of young people.
John Tietjen
Lebanon
John Tietjen is a science teacher at Lebanon High School and coach of the Lebanon High School Science Olympiad program, now in its eighth year.
Hartford lacks money for housing
Hartford Selectboard potentially misses out on millions of dollars in low-interest grants and loans (state and federal) for housing investment: Northern Border Regional Commission and “Vermont’s 10%.”
I have worked hard to remedy this situation privately, but there is a Selectboard leadership vacuum. This represents a huge cost to both Hartford businesses and citizens.
I might get my head turned (again) for talking about it publicly — I accept that — but I believe you deserve transparency. The Selectboard has a responsibility to seize every positive opportunity to improve investment and housing development in Hartford. Our complacency can result in millions of dollars in potentially lost opportunities, and for what?
Selectboard exists to serve people.
Write to selectboard@hartford-vt.org or Selectboard Chairman Mike Hoyt to ask for guidance, clarification and accountability.
Rocket
White River Junction
Member of the Hartford Selectboard
Hands off my Medicare and Social Security
I just don’t get it. A government that can’t seem to pay its bills, mostly due to overspending, is ready to default on its obligations.
We’ve heard that Social Security and Medicare will be affected. These should be untouchable. Each of them is not an entitlement program! I paid into Social Security for 50 years and paid a premium (every month) for my Medicare coverage (not to mention what I paid during my working life).
For a long time, our government managed to spend more than it took in. It is time for the Government to take a good look at where it can limit spending. If it was a business, it would be closed.
Social Security, which we have been paying for all those years, is not a cash cow for our elected leaders to draw from whenever they need “extra” funds. They’ve been doing it for too long, which I’m guessing they had no intention of paying back (even after writing “POS”).
John M. Fragnella
Tunbridge