Celebrating Birthdays are: January 7, Ardra Cate, Christina Cornell; January 8, Christine Dunne; January 9, Barbara Smith, Kelly Blackey; January 11, Jay Hubbard, Anthony Bender; January 12, Lurene Riel.
A Very Happy Birthday to one and all.
 

Best Wishes to William and Diane Brooks who will celebrate their Wedding Anniversary on January 11th.
 

There will be an American Red Cross Blood Drive  held on Tuesday, January 13th at the Pittsfield Elementary School on Bow Street from 3 to 8 p.m. sponsored by the local Parent Teacher’s Organization. Child care will be provided.

The Red Cross is offering a special this month - “Give A Pint - Get A Pound” of free Dunkin’ Donuts Coffee when you help save lives by donating blood. The need is constant - the gratification is instant! Please consider coming and giving blood at a time of year when needs are generally high and the supplies are often low. In the new year “Be A Cheerful Giver.”
 

The Pittsfield Historical Society’s Annual Meeting will be held Tuesday, January 13, 2009, 7 p.m. at the Society Headquarters on Elm Street.
 

Pittsfield Area Senior Center

May we cut a slice of Birthday Cake for you?
Happy Birthday Party to be held on January 15th.
Is January your birth month?
Invite your friends and celebrate with other January babes!
Good food and great people equal a great gathering and fun.
A scrumptious dinner and fabulous dessert is planned.
How many candles will we need? 
We know at least 96!
RSVP deadline January 7, 2009.
Call 435-8482 for reservations.
Mystery Dining & Trips

On the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month the rural transportation bus takes us out to dinner or on a short trip.  Roseanne is the mystery dining and monthly trip organizer. She is gathering ideas for where you would like to go. Call and leave a message for her with your ideas or talk to her on the bus.

Cost for transportation is between $2 and $5 depending on the destination! 

We have two trips in the making for January. We will go on the one that there is the most interest.

One trip is to the New Hampshire Museum of NH History. Admission is $4.50 per person unless we have enough people for a group rate ($3.50). OR the other option is to take a tour of the NH State House.  Transportation cost is $3.00.  The tours are about 1-11/2 hours long.  If we have time we will go over to the Prison Store to see what kind of items are available for sale. First filled trip is the one that goes.  Talk with Roseanne and make your reservation.  Bag lunch, transportation and admission to the museum will be  $9.50. Payment at time of reservation is required. NO REFUNDS

Wed., Jan. 7
10:00 a.m. - Practicing Culinary Arts!
Making your own Pasta!

Thurs., Jan. 8
10:00 a.m. -  Bingo

Fri., Jan. 9
11:00 a.m. -  Yoga  Starts The 16th

Mon., Jan.12
10:00 a.m. - Bingo

Tues., Jan. 13
10:00 a.m. - Crafts Jewelry
10:00 a.m. - Easy Bridge Lessons!

Wed., Jan. 14
10:00 a.m. - Cribbage
12:30 p.m. - Mystery Dinner

The winter session of Yoga instructed by Tom Sherman begins January 16, 2009, 11:00 a.m.

Seated YOGA is a slow gentle exercise that helps develop and maintain flexibility, mobility and balance.  Our core group of 15 people will be glad to tell you how YOGA has improved their lives.  First time participants are required to complete a Pre-Test questionnaire and obtain a doctor’s permission form to participate.

School Lunch Menus
Jan. 12-16, 2009
 

EPSOM
Monday - Beef & cheese fajitas, tossed salad, salsa, fruit, milk or yogurt tray, Chef’s choice salad.
Tuesday - Chicken noodle casserole, dinner rolls, veg., fruit, milk or yogurt tray, chicken salad.
Wednesday - Cheeseburger, rice, bread & butter, veg., fruit, milk or yogurt tray, no salad.
Thursday - Early Release - Hot dogs with roll, baked beans, veg., fruit, milk or yogurt tray, chicken salad.
Friday - Mini Course - Bag Lunch - Chicken salad roll, chips, baby peeled carrots, fruit, milk, no salad.
 

CHICHESTER
Monday - Taco boat with lettuce, tomato & cheese, salsa, brown rice, veggie, fruit cocktail, milk.
Tuesday - Toasted cheese sandwich, sliced cucumbers or carrots with Ranch dip, applesauce, milk.
Wednesday - Spaghetti with meatsauce, green beans, garlic bread, pears, milk.
Thursday - Fish sticks, mashed potatoes, peas, apple slices with cinnamon, milk.
Friday - Hot dog with roll, pasta salad or veggies, pears, milk.
 

Letter To The Editor

To The Good Citizens of Pittsfield And Especially The Newly Registered Voters Of Pittsfield:

On Monday, December 29th Thomas Hitchcock and myself presented Scott, a member of the School Board with the signed petition, to get the question of SB2 on the ballot.

Many thanks to the voters in November who took the time to visit the SB2  Information Bench. The petition had 68 signatures. Thanks for not making me beg too much.

Here’s the plan:
1. Level fund the town
2. Level fund the school
(If the School Board proposes a 50 cent increase in our tax rate. I will propose an amended budget that decreases our tax rate by 50 cents. This may help me get voters to their school district meeting.)
3. Approve the Planning Board’s Proposals to allow more uses in more areas, thereby increasing the potential for more employment opportunities, and to restore some of our  rights.
4. Repeat this scenario for five years.

Yes We Can!
Dan Schroth
Pittsfield, NH

My Experience With CASA Of NH

Submitted By Carole Richardson
I recently saw an ad regarding New Hampshire’s CASA 100 Men for 100 Children campaign and wanted to share how I first got involved with CASA. I was driving to work one December morning at my job at the NH State House and heard an ad on the radio, which immediately caught my attention. CASA was in desperate need of individuals who could advocate for abused and neglected children in our court system. As I drove along nearing my destination, a feeling came over me that this would be something that I could possibly be helpful with since I loved children, and wanted to learn more about the court system; and since I knew the legislative process backward and forward, this would be a new year and a new challenge for me. I called CASA that very day and was told that I would need to be interviewed and would be required to take 40 hours of comprehensive training on how to best advocate for children. During these training sessions there were 15 other individuals also interested in advocating for children, and out of the 15 in my “class”, only 2 were men. We did role playing, had presentations from judges, attorneys and even had to write a court report on a case. This all happened 8 years ago, and since I became a CASA I have had 6 challenging but very rewarding cases. Fifty percent of the children CASA serves are male, but only 20% of our 400+ volunteers are men, and that is why CASA has begun the 100 Men for 100 Children campaign.

Being a CASA has probably been one of the most difficult and challenging things I have done in my lifetime of volunteering, but on the other hand it has been the most rewarding. Giving a child a voice in court is in itself very special and rewarding. Judges listen to CASAs because CASAs know the children and what is in their best interest. Many CASAs have full time jobs and others are retired and looking for a rewarding experience to fill in some of their extra hours.

Gentlemen won’t you please join us in reaching our goal of 100 Men for 100 Children by being a voice for a child by calling CASA of New Hampshire at 1-800-626-0622 or visit us on the web at www.casanh.org

Letter to the Editor

Good deeds do not always get applauded. We have many unselfish volunteers in New Hampshire that deserve AN ATTA BOY. Thank You to all those who responded to my call for volunteers.

God Bless everyone that contributed to Knits for Kids, whether you knitted a sweater, gave us yarn or donated postage money. The program is a success because of ALL OF YOU.

If you would like to become part of our group please contact me at 228-8104, [email protected];   I will give you a copy of the pattern, a simple tee shaped sweater.

Jeanne Plourde Concord, NH, Co-ordinator for Knits for Kids.

If anyone in the Pittsfield area has made sweaters that need to be picked up and brought to Concord, or if you need a ride for the  “knit-in”s in Concord, please contact Diane Vaughan 435-5207 or [email protected].  And special thanks to Deanna from Pittsfield who has made 20+ sweaters since Oct.

Diane Vaughan, Pittsfield, Jeanne’s helper

Meet Officer Bob Gauthier of the Pittsfield Police Department

Part-time Officer Bob Gauthier has been in law enforcement for more than thirteen years. Gauthier joined the Pittsfield Police Department because he wanted to make a difference in the community he lives in.

Officer Gauthier has been married for 18 years and has two children. He is a Marine Corps veteran of Desert Storm and enjoys hunting and motorcycling.

The Pittsfield Police Department is proud to have Officer Bob Gauthier as a member of the team that is helping to make the Pittsfield Police a stronger department.

Some Veterans to See Another Travel Reimbursement Increase

Service-disabled and low-income veterans who are reimbursed for travel expenses while receiving care at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities will see an increase in their payments beginning January 9.

A recently passed law allows VA to cut the amount it must withhold from their mileage reimbursement.  The deductible amount will be $3 for each one-way trip and $6 for each round trip -with a calendar cap of $18, or six one-way trips or three round trips, whichever comes first.  The previous deductible was $7.77 for a one-way trip, and $15.54 for a round trip, with a calendar cap of $46.62.

“I’m pleased that we can help veterans living far from VA facilities to access the medical and counseling help they deserve, especially in the current economic climate,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake.  “Together with the increased mileage rate approved last month, we can further reduce the financial hardship some veterans undergo to use our superior health care.”

In November, Peake announced VA’s second increase in the mileage reimbursement rate during 2008, from 28.5 cents to 41.5 cents a mile. 

Service-disabled and low-income veterans are eligible to be reimbursed by VA for the travel costs of receiving health care or counseling at VA facilities.  Veterans traveling for Compensation and Pension examinations also qualify for mileage reimbursement.  VA can waive deductibles if they cause financial hardship.

Letter To The Editor

To The Editor:
This is a time of Great Destiny and a time of Great Peril. It seems that the two are linked. The forces of Good and Evil are in a more open combat for those who are able to discern. Militant  Islam is only seriously confronted by the United States and its allies. Our most consistent ally in United Nations activities is Israel. The only freely elected government in the Mideast is Israel. The only nation in the Mideast with an independent Judiciary is Israel. The only nation in the Mideast with “Women’s Rights” is Israel.

The enemies of Israel are the declared enemies of these United States who have declared a “so called holy war” and issued threats against us and have been able to carry out some acts of terror against us.

There was a sizeable “pro-Hamas” demonstration in Florida just days ago on December 30, which was very alarming. The video is available widely on the internet. Hamas as the terror proxy of Iran should not be allowed to prosper in this country. Less courageous peoples and governments look the other way but we absolutely cannot. The “The Western World” is at stake and in play here and very clearly so on the internet terrorist websites which are not yet shut down. America is very nearly alone and must not waiver.

This is “the Land of the Free” because it is also “the Home of the Brave.” Cowards among us should not be allowed a stronger voice. The least we can do is speak out. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Alan W. Goodwin