On Sept. 19th, the Grafton County Delegation (the state representatives from Grafton County) authorized refinancing the county’s outstanding bonds at lower interest rates. New bonds were sold Oct. 4. The total savings to county taxpayers will be $875,593. Thank you to the County Commissioners for proposing this action and to the county’s state representatives for its approval. This is smart governing.
State Rep. Richard M. Abel West Lebanon
I find it disheartening reading the negative letters about Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center lately. Even more disheartening is the lack of positive support for D-H, a valuable part of the Upper Valley and the state.
Does anyone consider how the negative press impacts the morale of all the employees who are trying to do their jobs under difficult circumstances? Why am I not reading about D-H delivering more than $17 million in charity care to patients across the region and providing care to thousands of low-income Medicaid patients? It should be noted that New Hampshire has one of the lowest rates of Medicaid reimbursement of any state in the nation. DHMC was recently listed, for the third time, on Becker’s Hospital Review’s “100 Great Hospitals in America.” Shortly thereafter, Consumer Reports ranked it No. 1 in quality and safety in New England compared with other large hospitals, scoring higher than many well-known hospitals.
Nobody likes to hear the news that people may lose their jobs. I ended a 36-year career with a manufacturing company by receiving a “pink slip” myself, so I understand what it feels like. But I also understand that running a large business requires difficult and sometimes unpleasant decisions. I’m sure there isn’t one person in D-H leadership who is doing a happy-dance having to make the recent decisions they’ve had to make. People should be reminded what a vital role DHMC has played in the community for so many years. It is the state’s largest private employer. No one should forget about the lives they’ve saved, jobs they’ve created, the research they’ve done, the difference they’ve made to the local economy and countless other positive impacts. We are fortunate to have a forward thinking world-class hospital in our state. It’s hard to see them going through such tough times. Now is the time to support DHMC for all the wonderful things they’ve done, and will continue to do, for the entire state.
Maureen Hirtle Hooksett, N.H.
“There’s a band out on the highway, they’re high stepping…” into Lebanon. For a few hours Wednesday, fans get “to make America Grateful again.” The Dark Star Orchestra, who recreate Grateful Dead concerts true to the tunings of the date played, takes the Lebanon Opera House stage for their fourth time. Proceeds benefit the Rusty Berrings Skatepark, which helps many youthful skaters.
Their appreciation of the beauty and joy of parabolic flow, their awareness of muscular and expressive progressions, generously proceed from there. With Dark Star Orchestra, it’s another homecoming for a Kimball Union Academy alumnus, Rob Eaton. In DSO, Eaton is devoted to the Bob Weir persona, “playing in the band” with uncanny physical similarity. He’s also a sound engineer and collector who helps to illustrate Grateful Dead fans’ obsession. Eaton, the historian and audiophile, adds sensitive, critical commentaries in This Is All a Dream We Dreamed: An Oral History of the Grateful Dead which, in turn, affects his and the band’s approach to playing different eras.
I recommend Why the Grateful Dead Matter, a set of fun essays by sportswriter Michael Benson to fill in what I have sketched.
I used to love going to DSO shows with Rusty Berrings. It was a common well from which we drew artistic sustenance, closing our gap of 25 years. Enjoy.
Brian Tompkins Norwich
“The Moonlighters” Big Band held a miniseries of concerts on Sept. 18 and 25 at the Hartland Recreation Center.
The band’s goal was to raise funds for the purchase of upgraded sound equipment. Thanks to the generous donations from many kind music lovers, “The Moonlighters” Big Band raised enough money to purchase four microphones. The band is also grateful for the Town of Hartland and its recreation director, John Leonard, for allowing us use of its facility.
It takes a lot of planning to bring together more than a dozen top-notch musicians for two public concerts. “The Moonlighters” is honored to be able to perform music from the swing-to soft rock eras, (and more) and to have dancers and listeners of all ages enjoy this great music. If you would like to dance or listen to the band in the future, please go on our website: themoonlightersbigband.com.
Janet L. Hewes For “The Moonlighters” Big Band Hartland