John Giffin's love of computers began early as he tinkered with how to program as a child on his parents' Apple IIe. The 1996 Hartland High School graduate's passion for technology sparked what's become a successful career that's taken him across the globe as a solutions architect for StreamBase, which builds trading systems to analyze and act on real time data for banks and hedge funds. John, 33, earned a bachelor's degree in computer science and engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He met his wife, Monica, while he was in college. The two now live in Massachusetts and…

After 10 years of serving as the fire marshal of the Hartland-Deerfield Fire Authority, Mike Bernardin is a familiar face to some in the community. Here’s your chance to get to know him a little better. Quick bio A 1993 graduate of Hartland High School, Mike, 36, went to Lake Superior State University and earned a degree in fire science. He worked for a short time as a private investigator and as a firefighter in the Upper Peninsula community of Menominee before returning to Hartland. He's married to Michelle and they have two daughters. Life as a private investigator Between 1998 and 1999, …

Mariann Palmateer's devotion to her 11-year-old autistic son, Lewis, led her to a job she didn't initially plan but loves — special education teacher. “It was the best way to be the type of parent I needed to be,” said the 1994 Hartland High School graduate, who initially began as a volunteer at Lewis’ preschool, but later began working there full time and back to school to earn her degree in education. "There are days when I wonder why I did not find some other more lucrative profession, but I always get over it, and come back to school the next day, ready for the fun part of being a teacher…

When Holly Austin purchased an iPod Touch in the Winter of 2009 with the intention of using it to help teach her nursing students at Schoolcraft College, the Hartland resident discovered the apps were either too expensive or cumbersome. So, she created one with help from her husband, Shawn. “I wrote down 200 of the most common medical diagnoses I could think of, and then compiled them into a spreadsheet file. [For example] if I had a patient with pneumonia, from my experience as a nurse what would I be assessing for, and what nursing diagnoses would I properly apply towards the patient’s …

Years ago ago while Doug Gordon was planning for college, he received advice from Hartland High School school counselor Karen Cotton that changed his life forever. “I was going to go to Michigan State, or Central Michigan, or Grand Valley," recalls Doug. "I remember saying that I’d love to play basketball somewhere, but I didn’t feel like I was good enough to play at these big schools, and she asked me if I had considered playing for a smaller, Division 3 school like Kalamazoo College. “If she hadn’t brought that up, I probably would have attended a bigger school and missed out on meeting my …

This week, I've caught up with a fellow a 1993 Hartland High School graduate Jason Reece, who's gone on to start his own business, learn the martial art Muay Thai and settle in Marquette not far from the shores of Lake Superior. After my profile of former Hartland teacher Nancy Flanagan, it seemed appropriate to look up someone who I knew had been in band around the same time that I was. As I spoke with Jason, I realized two things about him: He has a strong work ethic and self-confidence. His work ethic could be traced back to his sophomore year in high school when he began working for his …

My earliest memories of being a band student start when Nancy Flanagan offered my sixth grade class the opportunity to join beginner’s band. Later, we were each taken down to the band room to try out different mouthpieces and decide which instrument we wanted to learn how to play. Looking back, I wonder how many students have gone through that same process of choosing an instrument, learning how to read music, memorizing their finger positions, and playing in their first concert. So, I contacted Nancy to find out a little bit about the history of the band program, her background and what she’…

Ever wonder what happened to your favorite high school teacher or the student who sat behind you all four years of math class? How about that neighbor who lent you his snowblower who has since moved away? Are you someone who grew up in Hartland or once lived here as an adult and would like to share how you're doing with the community today? If you answered yes to any of those questions, this column is for you. As someone who grew up in Hartland but now lives elsewhere, I can appreciate what it feels like to move away from the place that you’ve called home for so long. So to kick things off, …