Have you heard of RiverCOG?

It’s an acronym for the Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments, which is an association of 17 towns with each represented by its chief elected official. Its mission involves facilitating solutions and planning between the 17 towns, the State of Connecticut, federal agencies, and nonprofits for land use, transportation, agriculture, emergency management, conservation, and economic development.

One of its key goals is to encourage a safe and open venue to discuss shared regional options and projects. Fulfilling this mission had led RiverCOG to launch a new and exciting project titled, GrowSMART. The purpose of GrowSMART is to research how the region can collaborate to attract workers, and retain and grow businesses while also conserving the natural resources that are so vital to the region’s infrastructure, housing values, and tourism industry.

As you drive, walk, or bike around the region in September and October, you will start to notice signs, posters and banners around town such as the one shown to the left or see an advertisements while reading a local newspaper or local online news. The signs or advertisements may ask a question, such as: “Why can’t you find qualified help?” or “Who is going to buy your house”?

Why is RiverCOG asking these questions?

The answer is that its Regional Strategic Economic Growth Committee is working with Ninigret Partners to create a regional economic growth strategy and is seeking your input. RiverCOG invites you to visit the project website at www.GrowSMARTregion.org to learn about its travelling mobile workshop and note dates of the upcoming public forums to which all are welcome

There is also an opportunity at the www.GrowSMARTregion.org website to submit your ideas directly.

Lyme-Old Lyme High School graduates celebrate their success. Photo by Kim Tyler.

Updated 8/20, 2 p.m.  Lyme-Old Lyme High School (LOLHS) has been awarded the 185th spot in Newsweek‘s annual list of America’s Top High Schools, which was published Wednesday.  Newsweek selects the top 500 schools in the country ranking them, “based on a broad range of data to determine which institutions do the best job of preparing students for college.”

The metrics used, which include graduation and college enrollment rates, SAT and ACT scores, AP and IB scores and participation, and teacher-student ratio and dropout rates, are weighted with the highest weighting given to college enrollment and graduation rates respectively.

Out of the 15 schools named to the list in Connecticut, LOLHS came in fifth after three schools in Fairfield County (Weston, Staples at Westport, and Ridgefield) and the Connecticut International Baccalaureate Academy of East Hartford.  Lyme-Old Lyme High School was also the only school located in New London County with the two nearest ones geographically, Daniel Hand High School in Madison and Haddam-Killingworth High School, taking lower positions than LOLHS at #213 and #353 respectively.

Asked his reaction to Newsweek‘s recognition of LOLHS, Region 18 Superintendent Ian Neviaser said, “We are honored to be recognized by Newsweek.  This would not have been possible without the hard work of our dedicated students and staff as well as the ongoing support from our parents, the Board of Education, and the two communities we serve.  While this honor is specific to the high school, we could not achieve at this level without a strong PreK-12 system,” adding, “Congratulations to all involved.”

The top school in the country for the second successive year was Thomas Jefferson High in Alexandria, Va., with schools in New Jersey taking the next four spots, as well as the seventh and ninth positions.  Apart from Virginia, the Top 10 schools were rounded out with schools located in California (#6), Michigan (#8) and Illinois (#10).

Click here to read Newsweek’s full listing of America’s Top High Schools.