Celebrating Birthdays are: March 18, Tessie
Gadwah,
Shane Clark,
Rick Bleckmann;
March 24, Craig
Luksza,
Jessica Locke.
A Very Happy Birthday to one and all.
Kudos to the Town Crew. Winter nearly over and the town is still
here, thanks to
George Bachelder and his dedicated crew. Through a
very harsh winter and an over abundance of snow and ice, he and his
men have kept the town streets, the sidewalks and country roads in
great shape, making for safe conditions for travel wherever anyone
needed to go. “Thanks guys, you are appreciated.”
Pittsfield
Taxpayers OK $9,783,554 Budget
Approximately 150
voters approved a bottom line of $9,783,554 for the school year 2009-2010
Thursday evening at the annual School District Meeting. During debate an
amendment to reduce the figure to $9,615,000 failed.
In a warrant of
seven articles, three involved appropriations. Article V appropriated the
sum of $35,000 to be added to the Pittsfield School District Buildings and
Maintenance Reserve Fund established in March 2004 with a planned
expenditure for a new roof at the high school. Article VI raised “up to”
$20,000to meet the expenses of educating educationally disabled children
with the amount to be funded from the June 30 unreserved fund balance if
available. All three articles passed.
Gary
Colby and
Scott
Brown, retiring
school board members were honored by the body.
School Lunch Menus
March 23-27, 2009
EPSOM
Monday - Spaghetti
with meat sauce, garlic bread, veg., fruit, milk or yogurt tray, egg salad.
Tuesday - Homemade pizza, pickles, fruit, milk or yogurt tray, cheese salad.
Wednesday - Fish sticks, fries, veg., fruit, milk or yogurt tray, salad with
sun butter.
Thursday - Cheesy eggs, hash browns, blueberry bread, fresh
fruit, milk or Yogurt tray, egg salad.
Friday - Tomato soup, mozzarella
cheese sticks, celery sticks, fruit, milk or yogurt tray, cheese salad.
CHICHESTER
Monday -
Chicken nuggets, tater tots, corn, peaches, milk.
Tuesday - Cheese or
pepperoni pizza, veggie, blueberry crisp with topping, milk.
Wednesday -
Baked chicken, mashed potato, gravy, steamed broccoli, cookie bar, milk.
Thursday - Ham & cheese wrap, Caesar salad, pickles, fresh fruit, milk.
Friday - French toast sticks, sausage links, applesauce, fruit, milk.
PMHS
Monday - Early Release
Pizza, corn, fruit, milk. No Salad Bar.
Tuesday - Shepherd’s pie, fruit,
milk.
Wednesday - Pasta, salad, bread, fruit, milk.
Thursday -
Chicken, veggies, fruit, milk.
Friday - BBQ pork, rolls, veggies, fruit,
milk.
PES
Monday - Chicken noodle
bake, veggie, fruit, milk.
Tuesday - Taco salad, lettuce, tomato,
tortilla chips, fruit, milk.
Wednesday - Mac & cheese, veggie, fruit,
milk.
Thursday - Burgers, chips, fruit, milk.
Friday - Pizza, fruit,
milk.
Letter To The Editor
First, I want to congratulate
Elizabeth
Hast for winning, as our Town
Clerk/Tax Collector. She has dedicated 27 years to this position and she
definitely deserves our thanks for all her faithful service.
Secondly, I want to thank all the people who supported me in this race.
I’ve learned a lot and I’ve met a lot of wonderful people, who like me,
believe Pittsfield is a good place
to call home.
I’m proud to be part of this community.
Again, Thank you.
Colleen A. Laro
Letter
Dear Pittsfield
Citizens:
Thank you very much for allowing me the opportunity to serve as
a Planning Board member over this past year. It was an honor. Thanks also to
those who supported me last Tuesday. I wish the Planning Board well in their
deliberations and will be praying for the Lord’s guidance in decisions made.
Sincerely,
Marilyn Roberts
Letter
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for supporting my run
for School Board. Although I ran unopposed, any vote is a vote of
confidence.
I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge
Scott
Brown and Gary Colby
for their service to the
Pittsfield
School District.
Last, but certainly not least, thank you to my father, Art Morse,
who has served this community in many different capacities as committee
member and board member for both the Town and School for the past 25 years.
I am very proud to be called his son.
Thank you.
Ross Morse
Pittsfield
Northway Bank’s “Give a Gift, Get a Gift”:
A Thousand
Reasons to Say Thanks!
When the final tally came in last month, Richard D, Olson, Northway
Bank’s Senior Vice president of Consumer and Small Business Banking could
only marvel at how successful the bank’s “Give a Gift, Get a Gift” program
really was. “With all that was happening in the economy and the
holiday rush at our Banking Centers, we didn’t realize just how generous our
customers and employees had been. Our business customers were thrilled at
the results as we gave away over 1,000 coupon books!”
The holiday gift program, run in partnership with “Toys for Tots” and in
association with over a dozen local non-profit organizations including
“Angels and Elves” in the Mount Washington Valley and the Plymouth & Campton
Fire Department’s “Operation Santa,” gained added momentum from coupon
incentives donated by a plethora of local businesses, including The Gourmet
Food Barn, Belmont; Plymouth Furniture Company, Plymouth; Ashland Lumber,
Ashland; Van Heusen Outlet, Tilton; Four Your Paws Only, No. Conway; Sunset
Hill House, Sugar Hill; Cherry Blossom, Littleton; Berlin Bowling Center,
Berlin; and Indian Mound Golf Club, Center Ossipee, among many others.
“The bonus discounts really spurred donations of unwrapped toys at our
banking centers; we were very fortunate to have such generous partners,”
Olson
said, “People really responded to our call, but the real winners were the
kids and their families. And we helped give a boost to the local economy as
well, so this was truly a win-win situation. As a local bank with
strong community ties, we saw “Give a Gift, get a Gift” as Northway’s
personal “Thank You” to a generous people of
New Hampshire.”
“Give a Gift…” was part of Northway’s continuing
community focus efforts to better serve the needs of its New Hampshire
markets; other initiative include monthly small business recognition and
Bank at Work programs. For more information about Northway’s community
giving and related retail and small business programs, visit
www.northwaybank.com
online or call 1-800 -442-6666.
Northway Bank proudly serves the financial needs of consumer, small
business, and commercial customers throughout North and
Central New Hampshire. As a local business with 18 banking
centers, 225 associates, and a full range of banking and investment
solutions, we strive to support customers, businesses, and communities as
they work to achieve more rewarding and financially secure futures.
What’s Up at PYW?
By
Paula Driscoll
This year’s Winterfest has
come and gone, leaving all of us at PYW feeling a little sad. After a week
of trips and activities, we are all regrouping and recounting the wonderful
experiences had by all. The youth have gone back to school and the work week
is back to normal.
Our first trip started on Sunday, February 22nd, when
we loaded up in a bright blue National Guard bus full of PYW youth
participants, families and friends from the community and headed to the
Verizon Wireless Arena to watch the Manchester Monarchs Ice Hockey team take
on the Hartford Wolfpack. It was a great game even if we lost (only by one).
The ride home was also something to remember with rain turning to snow.
Thanks to Craig, our bus driver, we
all made it home without any problems.
Monday was drop-in from 2-6 p.m.
with many fun activities and games.
Tuesday, we all climbed aboard the
National Guard bus again, and took a trip to Gunstock Mountain Resort
for a day of snow tubing. It was a windy but beautiful sunny day.
Wednesday we held a Guitar Hero tournament. It’s really amazing how fast the
youth can move their fingers.
Thursday, we hosted Drop-In from 2-6 p.m.
and then a dance at the PMHS from 7-10 p.m. With music provided by Gemini
Entertainment, the PMHS gymnasium was filled with dancers and non-dancers
alike, all of which appeared to be having loads of fun. The PYW youth board,
with help from volunteers, set up the PYW store outside the gym and
provided concessions to all in attendance. It was a very successful, and a
very enjoyable evening.
The week was ended with a trip to Everett Arena
in Concord for an afternoon of ice skating.
Oddly, I expected (and I believe a few others did as well) for it to be a
little less cold in the ice skating rink, which I admit now, was a less than
intelligent expectation on my part. We skated, ate at
Wendy’s, and came home satisfied.
Between the trips and
Drop-Ins the Winterfest week proved to be a week of fun and excitement.
Thank you to the Pittsfield
Parks and Recreation
Committee for sponsoring such a successful week for PYW and the rest of the
Pittsfield Community. Thank you also to the many volunteers who helped at
PYW throughout the week. We are already looking forward to next year’s
Winterfest! As always, feel free to visit PYW during our New Drop-In hours
Monday through Friday from 3-6pm. Keep an eye out for our Spring 09
newsletter with an updated calendar of trips and special events. See you all
soon!
Letter to the Editor
To the people of
Pittsfield,
I wish to thank those of you who voted
for me as the write in candidate for the one year Ethics Committeeman.
I will be fair in my decisions.
For the other winners, I
congratulate you on achieving the ultimate goal of being elected, or in some
cases, re-elected. We all, no matter what position we will fill this year,
will find highs and lows. We may not agree with each other, but in the end
we will do what is best for our Town of Pittsfield.
Again, thank you for your vote
of confidence for me to fill this vital position of responsibility.
Merrill A. Vaughan
Pittsfield
Dorcas Guild
Submitted By
Joan Riel
The Dorcas Guild of the First
Congregational Church in Pittsfield held its March meeting in the
church vestry on the 10th with fourteen members attending. President Peggy Jacobs opened the
meeting and, to accommodate the hostesses, refreshments of Irish soda bread,
pineapple upside down cake and cheese and crackers were served at that time
by Nancy White and Shirley
Bleckmann.
Nancy
read from a book of Shirley’s “God
Always Has a Plan B” after which all joined in prayer.
The Secretary and
Treasurer each gave their reports. Fourteen thinking of you cards were
signed to go to ill, convalescing and away members and friends.
Several
items of business were taken up. Among them the food basket, which is at
Betty MacKay’s and the apron
which is at Mary
Jo Powelson’s.
The Mystery Package was won by
Betty
MacKay.
Pastor
Dave is taking care of follow ups
on the guest book signatures. The Christmas Fair and the Craft Fair are both
on back burners for now until after our Quilt Tea in May. The matter of new
tables was brought up once more and it was decided that perhaps we need to
run it by the Board of Trustees and get their permission before we proceed
any further with it.
Service projects for the coming year were discussed
and it was voted to make the SPCA the number one project for this year.
Plans will be announced as soon as SPCA is contacted and needs are made
known to us. Our second project will be a repeat of last year’s very
successful collection of new or gently used blankets and sweatshirts for the
homeless. Both these projects will run through October, at which time they
will be distributed.
Our Mother’s Day Quilt Tea was discussed at great
length and it has now officially been named “Quilts, Tea and Thee.” Nella Hobson
has done a remarkable job involving publicity, posters, entry forms and much
more (dotting all her Is and crossing all her Ts.) Several items ready for
the gift shop were shown along with many handmade items being worked on by
several, also for the gift shop. A few of the Wednesday work meeting women
have made coasters which will be a favor for each attendee. Nancy Fogg
had prepared and presented a list of everything that will be needed for the
affair, which is shaping up into a very fine program which will be held on
Saturday, May 9th from 2 to 4 p.m. at the First Congregational Church, 24 Main Street in Pittsfield. Many of the
women in our Guild are experienced quilters and will be among those
displaying quilts. This is a tremendous undertaking and it is hoped that it
will draw people from all areas. Watch the Sun for further information in
the coming weeks.
Letter To The Editor
I want to thank all those people who took the time
to vote. Your efforts and commitment to be a part of the annual elections
shows how much you care for our town.
Congratulations to all those who
ran and thanks to all those who took the time out of their busy lives to
help with the election.
I also want to thank all those who voted for me.
I promise to bring the same care and attention to my role as Selectman for
this new term as I have in the past.
Sincerely,
Larry Konopka
TOPS 38, Pittsfield
TOPS 38,
Pittsfield is a
non profit organization, that helps with weight support. TOPS stands for
Take Off Pounds Sensibly.
We meet weekly at
St.
Stephen’s
Church, Main Street,
Pittsfield
on Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. with weigh-in before, at 5:00-6:15 p.m.
Recently we had elections for the year.
The leader is Jen Kearns, Co-Leader is Pat
Smith, Secretary is Sandy
Gilmore,
Treasurer, Jayne
Blodgett,
and Weigh Recorders,
Susie Fife, and
Sue
Beaudoin.
We will hold a yearly banquet on March 31, for the
installation of the officers, which will include our Field Staff. It is a
once a year event, and will be a pot luck supper.
Why not stop in for a meeting, and see
what is going on. Feel free to contact, Pat Smith at
435-5333,
or Sandy
Gilmore
at
798-5658.
We Can’t Help You If We Can’t Find
You!
A reminder From
Pittsfield Fire And Rescue
Don’t play hide-and-seek with your emergency service providers. House
numbers need to be posted, visible from the road, and be clear of
obstructions such as snow banks and icicles. Keeping your house
or business number clear and visible helps emergency responders find you
quickly when help is needed.
For buildings not readily visible from the street, the assigned number needs
to be conspicuously displayed at the point of entry on both sides of the
mailbox. If your mailbox is not located at the point of entry, or
there is no mailbox, the assigned street number should be displayed on a
sign post or by similar means at the point of entry. Numbers should be
at least 3 ½”.
If you reside
in a multi-unit building, number the unit as well. Post your address
and phone number next to the telephone at your home or business.
It is also important to remain on the phone line to provide additional
information, if needed, to the 9-1-1 dispatcher.
If you have any
questions or concerns, please contact us 435-6807
or stop by the station at 33 Catamount Road.
The Town’s Street Numbering System Ordinance is available at Town Hall and
on the Town website at
http://fire.pittsfield-nh.com/pdf/streetnumberingordinance.pdf.
Letter
I want to thank the voters of
Pittsfield
for electing me to the Pittsfield Planning Board.
During the campaign, I
was fortunate to meet many people who believed in me and gave me
encouragement and guidance. They helped me with writing letters, doing
visibility, and the rest that makes an election campaign. I am extremely
grateful to them and to all of the voters of Pittsfield who honored me by allowing me to
serve the town.
Thank you,
Jim Pritchard
Governor’s Road
Pittsfield
Pittsfield Voters Debate Septage
Septage and
its storage and disposal appeared to be most on the minds of Pittsfield
voters as they debated Article 9 at Saturday’s Town Meeting. Septic Disposal
Solutions, LLC sought permission to negotiate with the Selectmen and
consider entering into a long-term land lease in order to continue to
dewater and compost septage. Pointing to a lack of information and public
hearings on the matter led the voters to indefinitely postpone action on the
article.
Two articles
seeking to close Capital Reserve accounts and return fund balances to the
general fund were treated differently. Article 10 passed and closed the Salt
Shed account at $1,125; Article 11 failed and kept the fund balance for the
Town Hall Building of $5,158 in place.
Two other articles seeking to create new Capital
Reserve accounts were treated similarly. Article 12 seeking to create a
Health Insurance Premium Expendable Trust failed; Article 13 to create an
Emergency Appropriations Fund won narrowly.
Other Capital Reserve articles were approached and
weighed using tax impact and impending withdrawal as guidelines. Articles 14
adding $30,000 to the Fire and Rescue Apparatus fund, 15 adding $15,000 to
the Police Cruiser fund, 16 adding $6,845 to the Computer System Renewal and
Replacement Fund, 17 adding $70,000 to the Department of Public Works Dump
Truck fund, and 22 adding $10,000 to the Small Highway Truck fund all
passed. Not receiving additional funding this year were Capital Reserve
funds for Public Works Grader, Public Works Loader, Public Works Backhoe,
Public Works Sidewalk Tractor and Parks and Recreation.
Article 25 allowed the withdrawal of
$2,000 from the Fire Alarm System Capital Reserve for maintenance. Article
29 added $1,000 to the Town Clock Maintenance Fund.
Non-impact articles concerned the
transfer of funds from gifts and fees to the Drug Awareness Trust and the
Ambulance Replacement and Equipment Special Revenue Fund.
Article 27 set the Town’s budget for
2009 at $3,728,640 with an approximate tax impact of twenty cents excluding
warrant articles.
Recall Notice
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announces recall of
1.6 million Maytag refrigerators. Visit fire.pittsfield-nh.com for more
information.
How To Laugh Through A Tax Audit
Pittsfield Players, from left,
Ernie Bass,
Meghan Ireland,
Kate Mara,
Nate Strong, and
Carole
Neveux
put finishing touches on the comedy “Love, Sex, and the I.R.S.” The play
dates are March 27, 28,
29 and April 3, 4 at the Scenic Theatre. Tickets are available through
TicketLeap at
www.pittsfieldplayers.com or by
calling the theatre at
435-8852 to reserve. In
addition, the box office will be open this Saturday from 2-4 p.m
The First Annual Pittsfield Pizza Palooza
Pie-Off
On Wednesday, March 25th from 5-7 in the PMHS gym, there will be
the first annual Pittsfield Pizza Palooza Pie-Off.
This event is put on
by PLAY, a new non-profit organization created and run by teenagers and
supported by Youth Venture. PLAY’s goal is to ensure that young people can
attend sports camps to improve their athletic skills. PPP Pie-Off is their
first fundraising project, and they hope to have a huge turnout so they can
send lots of kids to camp this summer.
Come down and sample the pizzas of
numerous local pizzerias and vote for which one you think is best. Gift
certificates will be raffled off from each pizza-making establishment, and a
good time will be had by all.
The cost is $5 per person. Children under
five get free admission. Stop by and help pick the winner!
Obituaries
Kenneth
J. Piaseczny
Pittsfield -
Kenneth J. Piaseczny Sr. 45, of Ingalls Road,
died suddenly at the
Concord
Hospital
on March 14th.
He was born in
Manchester, the son of Isadore “Izzy” and
Theresa
Piaseczny,
the first Christmas Baby in
Manchester,
December 25, 1963.
He had been employed by the Fisher Fuel
Co, the Merrill Construction Co. and since 2002, he owned and operated the
Piaseczny Trucking and Home Excavation Co. in
Pittsfield. He
was a 1982 Graduate of Pittsfield Middle High School and was the goalie on
the1981
State
Championship soccer team . He was the current Vice President of the
Suncook Valley Sno-Riders and was a certified Safety Instructor for children
and a certified Trail Groomer. He was a former member of the Pittsfield Fire
Department.
He is survived by
his parents of Pittsfield; his wife, Tina (Clark) Piaseczny of Pittsfield; a
son, Kenneth J. Piaseczny Jr.; and a daughter, Katelyn Piaseczny; both
Pittsfield High students; 2 brothers, James Piaseczny of Merrimack, Stephen
Piaseczny of Barnstead; and a sister, Debra Caldwell of Penacook.
Knowing
Ken would want to help
others in his passing, he was an organ and tissue donor.
Ken was known to many
youth in town as “Big Ken” and was always involved in every activity his
children were involved in.
Visiting Hours will be held on
Wednesday, March 18, 2009,
from 2-4 & 6-8 PM at the Perkins
& Pollard Memorial Home, 60 Main St.
Pittsfield.
A Funeral
Service will be held at the First Congregational Church, Main St.
on Thursday,
March 19, 2009, at
11:00 AM. The
Rev.
David
Stasiak,
Pastor will officiate.
Burial
will be in the spring at the family’s convenience in the Floral Park
Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his
memory should be made to Suncook Valley Sno-Riders, C/O
Dee
Lamere,
14 Rogers Road, Barnstead,
NH 03225 or
to Piaseczny Motor Sports C/O
Tina
Piaseczny,
96 Ingalls Road,
Pittsfield,
NH
03263.
To sign an on line guest book, log on
to
www.perkinsandpollard.com.
Marie
L.
(Mason)
Sydebotham
Pittsfield -
Marie
Lillian
Sydebotham,
94, of Rolling Green, died March 14th at the
Epsom
Manor
Health
Center
following a brief illness.
She
was born in
Maryville, MO,
the daughter of Adolphus and Clara
Mason.
She had lived in
Pittsfield for
the past 30 years. She was the widow of
Glen
Goode and
Winford
Sydebotham.
She is survived by a son Robert Goode Sr. of Center
Barnstead; an adopted daughter and primary care giver Linda Booth of
Chichester; 2 grandsons, Tim Goode and Robert Goode Jr. both of Jamestown,
RI; granddaughters, Theresa Botells and Cathy Devellis, both of Jamestown
and Liz Watson of No. Kingstown,
RI;
several great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
At her request, no visiting hours or services will be
held.
Urn burial will be at
the family’s convenience in the
Riverview
Cemetery, Barnstead.
The Perkins & Pollard Memorial Home in
Pittsfield
is assisting with arrangements.