An immigrant story

My favorite story about the huge contributions immigrant newcomers make to our communities is about the Sithavady family, who came here as refugees from Laos.

Paphanh Sithavady became famous locally for the Thai/Laotian dinners she cooked, sold and donated, raising copious amounts of awareness and money within our community. And not only has she enriched our community, Paphanh sponsored a school back in her home village. So appreciated and beloved did she become here that the town of Lyme named her Citizen of the Year in 2017.

Paphanh died recently at 76, and is being remembered by Lyme, and beyond, with admiration for how she expressed her appreciation for her adopted hometown.

Michael Whitman

Lyme

We’re being watched

Mahmoud Khalil, a permanent resident, green card holder not charged with a crime, is sitting in a Louisiana detention center while the Trump administration tries to deport him without any trial for protesting and supporting a view not shared by the administration.

Ethan Paul Early of Tennessee is sitting in jail on $500,000 bail on a charge of terrorism for telling a friend he was going to burn down one of Elon Musk’s properties. When questioned by police he admitted saying that but had changed his mind and had gotten too wrapped up in politics. He never followed through on his comment.

While the cases are different they both show that if you say or do something to upset the current power structure you pay for it.

Bottom line is, watch what you say or do because Big Brother is watching you.

Paul Albee

Bradford, Vt.

Protect equitable education

The U.S. Congress must reject President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s plans to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and undermine the foundation of public education in this country.

We have witnessed countless attacks on public education at the hands of this president and his administration since he took office. In this most recent attack, nearly 50% of Department of Education employees were unjustly fired in the name of government efficiency. With the significant reduction in staff, the Trump administration has effectively shuttered the agency and gutted its ability to support public schools, compromising our children’s legal right to quality and equitable public education and they are attempting to circumvent our U.S. Congress to do so!

As a former public school teacher, concerned member of this community and an advocate for equitable opportunities in education, I believe these attacks on public education will have devastating long-term consequences for our children, our schools and our country’s future. I urge our members of Congress to invest in public schools and rein in the Trump administration’s attacks on our public education system. Our children’s future depends on it.

Marcia Brown

Cornish

Support peace for Ukraine

After the deplorable spectacle of humiliating the president of Ukraine, staged for Vladimir Putin, any concessions Russia is supposed to make is an illusion. The man in the Kremlin is not afraid of the man in the White House. There will be no lasting peace for the people of Ukraine under this administration. Furthermore, to exclude from negotiations those whom it concerns the most is plain wrong. Please, make your support for Ukraine known and urge your representatives to stand firm in support of a fair and lasting peace.

Ulrike Rainer

Hanover