The Aug. 30 headline, “EpiPen Maker To Release Generic Drug,” didn’t convey the full picture. The drug involved, epinephrine (that’s where the Epi comes from) is a natural hormone the adrenal gland releases in emergencies, and has been around in generic form for decades.
The EpiPen is a prepackaged epinephrine in a sterile syringe/needle combo, for immediate use in life-threatening emergencies such as a wasp sting in a person (often a child) who has gone into shock after a previous sting and recovered (they don’t always). The drug/syringe/needle is actually inexpensive to produce, but when a person needs it, it can save your life. That’s what’s being paid for, not the cost of the drug itself. How much is a life-saving injection worth? You got it!
N. David Charkes, M.D.West Fairlee
We of the Upper Valley are blessed by a wealth of fine live musical offerings that inspire us and enrich our lives. But many of us find even more rewarding the experience of being actually inside the music, contributing our sound to it. Lucky us — our area offers many opportunities to play and sing in amateur ensembles.
One of these is the Upper Valley Music Center’s Chamber Orchestra. We are expanding our group and looking for more musicians to join us, especially those playing violin or viola. For our Nov. 20 concert, we’re preparing Brahms’s beautiful Variations on a Themeby Haydn, as well as Beethoven’s high-spirited Symphony No. 8. Our rehearsals are Wednesdays from 7 to 9 p.m., beginning tonight at the Upper Valley Music Center (63 Hanover St., Lebanon; the orange building), but thereafter at our spacious new rehearsal space at the Lebanon Middle School off Route 4, east of downtown Lebanon.
Players with intermediate/advanced ensemble experience are urged to call 603-448-1642 for more information and to register. There are no auditions.
So if you’ve been intending to dust off that violin or viola and want to be challenged and delighted by playing with other music-lovers, consider joining the Upper Valley Music Center’s Chamber Orchestra. If you’re tempted but not sure, you are welcome to attend two rehearsals for free to check us out.
Judith Pond Norwich
Unless you are a political junkie as I am, loving this past crazy year, you might have missed CNN’s Jake Tapper — and that is too bad.
I had given up on CNN (The Clinton News Network) because of their relentless Democrat/liberal bias. But then by chance I caught Jake Tapper (CNN, 9 a.m. Sunday.) Here was something different: a true newsman, establishing balance, yet becoming tough on all. I love that! He is respectful of his high-powered guests and gives them time to establish their points without interruption, and then he goes for the jugular.
Tapper, a Dartmouth College graduate, is very smart, speaks concisely and clearly and makes you want to hear more. There is a terrific Q and A on him in the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine this fall. Tapper is on the cover.
Winifred Anthony StearnsHanover
Enfield voters in Grafton District 10 are once again fortunate to have an excellent and well-qualified candidate willing to represent us in the New Hampshire Legislature. His name is Roger Dontonville, a 23-year resident of our town.
I asked Dontonville, who recently retired after nearly a quarter of a century as a grammar school teacher, what ideas he could bring to Concord. Without hesitation, he stated that his years of experience as a teacher showed him that a strong educational system is the first step in combating the opioid crisis that is affecting New Hampshire children at a younger and younger age. He intends to do whatever he can to strengthen that system.
Dontonville has many other innovative ideas when it comes to education, all of which convinced me that we should vote for him in the Democratic primary on Tuesday.
Nancy ScovnerEnfield
I had the privilege of attending a local event in White River Junction that was part of “International Overdose Awareness Day.” It was a candlelight vigil in Lyman Point Park on Aug. 31. The love, support and concern of all who attended could be seen and felt; it was an amazing event. I was overcome with emotion as I listened to the survivors of this disease as they told their honest and open recounting of their struggles with addiction and their climb back to their “new normal.” I was filled with heartbreak and hope as I listened and watched. It is through understanding and acceptance that we are able to help those afflicted with the disease of addiction. And if this event is any indication, it appears that we are all closer as a community and country to nearing this goal. The stigma is melting away. There are people who care and want to help. Please ask for help!
A very heartfelt “Thank You” to the organizers and cornerstones of this important event: Scott MacDonald, Jennifer Lamoureux, Police Chief Phil Kasten and countless others.
Cathy Ayres Enfield