Goodrich for cooperative board

The New Hampshire Electric Cooperative is holding elections from May 16 to June 13 to fill expiring Board positions. Cooperative members can vote for the candidates by mail or online. Given the importance of focusing on competitive rates, reliable electric power and access to the lightning speed of NHEC’s Broadband, I urge you to vote for John Goodrich. I have known him as a colleague at Weidmann. His value to the Board is enhanced by his executive experience with Weidmann, the largest single high voltage electrical insulation supplier to the needed transformers which step power voltages down for use by NHEC members. John has also served in the past on the Central Vermont Public Service Board which before its sale was the largest utility in neighboring Vermont. John continues to volunteer in local activities such as the Littleton Budget Committee and spearheading the monthly blood donation drive in Littleton each month.

Please join me in returning John Goodrich to the Board where he will keep a sharp eye on rates, reliability and broadband internet access for members.

Manton Copeland

Lyme

Special Needs Support Center stands up for its values

The article entitled “Arts groups see loss of federal grants” (May 16) is yet another example of how the Trump Administration is running its Agenda of Retribution and Intimidation. It’s one thing for the federal government to cease funding non-profits in the future, but is a terrible precedent to start breaking existing contracts. So much for the full trust and faith in our federal government!

Arts groups aren’t the only ones being attacked by Trump. The White River Junction-based Special Needs Support Center (SNSC), which provides individuals with disabilities a variety of programs to assist in creating fulfilling lives, signed a contract last year with the National Endowment of the Arts for $96,500. This contract, which would have assisted SNSC to enhance and expand its programming, was summarily canceled earlier this month. That contract represents 17% of the organization’s total budget.

Nevertheless, SNSC is standing up for “belonging.” As Kendra LaRoche, SNSC’s executive director stated: “We cannot scrub our website of certain words because to do that would be to remove ‘disability’ from what we do. That’s never going to happen. So we are publicly standing up and speaking out for nonprofits, for people with disabilities, for medicaid funding, and belonging.”

Pete Bleyler

West Lebanon

Criticism of criticism

I always look forward to reading the theatre criticisms in the Valley News before or after I have seen the show. I saw “Maytag Virgin” last week, and couldn’t wait to read the review. I was shocked reading the piece. Did we see the same play? I am a season ticket holder to both Northern Stage and Shaker Bridge and have seen many productions. “Maytag Virgin” is one where my mind is still in the play even after I have left the theatre.

After watching the production I was standing on the sidewalk in White River Junction , but my mind was still in the southern town where “Lizzy” and “Jack” lived. To my great surprise both actors were coming down the sidewalk! They recognized me and my wife, as we had been in the front row, and a short chat with them brought me out of my reverie. It was wonderful meeting these two “in person”. Kudos to them and all who put this play together (in just two weeks)! Looking back on all of the plays I have seen in the Upper Valley over the years, there is “Maytag Virgin” … and then all of the rest.

Wim Hart

Canaan

It’s redistribution, not efficiency

A better term for DOGE would be the Department of the Great Redistribution. As cuts continue with little proof of any significant fraud or waste, it is becoming increasingly apparent that DOGE’s actual purpose is to take money from programs that matter to everyday Americans to provide money for tax breaks to the rich.

A sad example is DOGE’s cuts to AmeriCorps. Corps volunteers work for peanuts and a small education grant, serve for terms of up to a year in organizations that help veterans, aid public school programs, man food banks, work in homeless shelters, respond to natural disasters, improve the environment, and assist in other capacities. AmeriCorps is composed of young, idealistic, workers starting their careers with a section of seniors who help the elderly across the nation.

In a Friday night massacre, DOGE terminated 400 million in funding for AmeriCorps. Why? Because DOGE decided that helping nonprofit organizations that serve others is not a core government function.

Over 32000 AmeriCorps volunteers were laid off with negative impacts to over 1,000 community organizations in all 50 states. Examples of organizations reporting adverse impacts include the Squam Lakes Conservation Society and Habitat for Humanity-VT. Not only do organizations and those they serve suffer, AmeriCorps workers also face hardships. They get no severance pay, often cannot collect unemployment, and may not get their full education grant.

There is hope for AmeriCorps. Cuts have been so severe and abrupt that 24 states and Washington, D.C. have initiated a lawsuit to stop DOGE. In New England; Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island joined the original complaint, only New Hampshire did not. Does that mean that Governor Ayotte doesn’t support service organizations or is fearful of challenging Elon Musk even when New Hampshire is adversely affected?

If you are not a billionaire or you won’t become one soon, please pay attention to what is happening. The super rich will keep digging in our pockets until we stop them. Protest cuts that impact you and vote in the next election.

Carl Strombom

Grantham