Celebrating Birthdays are: September 22, Gladys Forbes; September
23, Mary Jane Snedeker; September 24, Joe Zahn, Candee Frost;
September 25, Dorcas Chisholm, Elise Aguilera; September 27, Dan
Drew, Sabra Welch; September 28, Sadie-Mae Poulan.
A
Very Happy Birthday to one and all.
Celebrating Anniversaries are: September 23, Norm
and Steph Tuttle; September 27, Royce and Roberta
Elkins.
Best Wishes.
You are invited to share the evening with the
Lighthouse Church Of God, 43 Watson Street, Pittsfield,
on Saturday, September 23, 2010, at 7:00 p.m.
Our
guest speaker is Evangelist Frankie Palermo. Come hear how God
transformed his life, from a life of crime in the Mafia to a Trophy
for the Grace of God.
Bring your friends and family.
Fuel Assistance Community Action Program will be at
the Pittsfield Community Center on October 4, 18, and
25. Please call for appointment at 485-7824.
Sunrise Farmers Market
It
is Pumpkin Time at the Sunrise Farmers’ Market in Pittsfield. We
have an abundance of pumpkins, as well as other goodies, such as
winter squash, corn, and other in season veggies. Don’t forget to
pick up some baked goods from German John’s Bakery, cookies from Nan
and Jan, fresh eggs and more. Also as a reminder to those who have
WIC Farmers’ Market coupons - don’t let them go to waste. Our last
market is October 14th. We look forward to seeing you all.
Suncook Valley Soccer Club Youth
Soccer Day 9/25 at Drakes Field
Come out and enjoy a day with SVSC on Saturday September 25 at
Drakes Field. All teams have home games starting at 9 am and running
into the late afternoon. There will be food, fun and lots of soccer.
Come out and cheer on your local soccer players. This is a free
event. Any questions please e-mail
[email protected]
School Lunch Menus Sept. 27-Oct. 1
PMHS
Monday - Pizza, corn, fruit, milk. Tuesday - Steak subs, veggies,
chips, fruit, milk. Wednesday - BBQ pork, roll, veggies, fruit,
milk. Thursday - Chicken, potato, garden salad, fruit, milk.
Friday - Grilled cheese, tomato soup, veggie sticks, fruit, milk.
PES
Monday - Popcorn chicken, salad, fruit, milk. Tuesday - Burger,
fries, fruit, milk. Wednesday - Ravioli, veggie, dessert, milk.
Thursday - Barbeque chicken, salad, fruit, milk.
CHICHESTER
Monday - Ravioli with meatsauce, cucumber slices with dip, fruit
cocktail, milk. Tuesday - Chicken nuggets, baked fries, carrots
with Ranch Dressing, strawberry cups, milk. Wednesday - Rotini
with meatsauce, garlic bread, green beans, vanilla pudding, milk.
Thursday - Turkey and cheese wrap, pasta salad, pickles, fresh
fruit, milk. Friday - Cheeseburger with roll, onion rings, sliced
carrots, peaches, milk. Snacks will be offered every day between
8 and 10:30 a.m.
If
you have any questions concerning the lunch program, please call
anytime. 798-5651. We offer breakfast for only $1.00 every
morning after the buses arrive. We have cereal, milk, and juice
daily with a variety of hot items a few time a week. Some of the
items are egg and cheese sandwich, waffles with sausage, French
toast, pancakes and much more. Please come and join us.
Pittsfield Area Senior Center Welcomes New Director
The
Pittsfield Area Senior Center of the Community Action Program
Belknap-Merrimack counties, Inc. would like to extend a warm welcome
to our new director, Leslie Vogt. Before joining the Senior
Center, Leslie worked as a partnership specialist for the Bureau of
the Census, library director of Pittsfield’s Josiah Carpenter
Library, and a grant writer/administrator for the Pittsfield School
District and SAU 44 in Northwood, NH.
Leslie moved to Pittsfield in 1985 and enjoys the snowy winters,
vibrant autumn colors and the ease of small town life. You can find
her at the Center from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday through
Friday. Drop in, introduce yourself, have a cup of coffee or
tea, or stay for lunch with a great group of people.
The
Pittsfield Area Senior Center provides many opportunities for
friendship and wellness by playing cards, creating crafts, sharing
meals, transportation to appointments and shopping, short trips with
other seniors, exercise and yoga classes and a variety of engaging
speakers. Please stop in and meet our new Director and experience
some of the wonderful activities we provide for seniors, or give us
a call at 435-8482.
Volunteers from the Pittsfield Area Senior Center enjoyed a
trip on the Mount Washington. Visit us in the function room of the
Pittsfield Community Center, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday through
Friday - We know how to have fun!
Pittsfield Historical Society 9 September
Meeting Robert Moulton, Presenter Early Pittsfield Education
These records contain nuggets of insight, scandal, advice, local
funding philosophy, spirit and accomplishment.
1771 - John Cram’s corn crib on Factory Hill is the first recorded
Pittsfield School. It is better than home school or no school.
His
daughter is the teacher and students have to pay subscription ($).
1773 - The first “district” school is build next to
Quaker cemetery.
During its 170 year history: Tom Kirby is the first master (and his
sister is reported to be a witch); Students rebel against a later
teacher and chase him out of town; students try to pull away
the back posts and roll it down the mountain.
The
old school house is repaired and moved four different times finally
ending on Catamount Mountain. Henry Ford tries to buy it but the
town wouldn’t sell.
1800’s - Pittsfield now has 10 independent districts: #1Upper City,
#2 Ring’s Corner, #3 White, #4 Brick (Legion Hall), #5Town
(Community Center), #6 Harvey Road, #7 Dowboro, #8 Mountain, #9
Tilton Hill, and - #10 Jenness Pond. Some of these buildings
still stand in various capacities.
1844 - In this town report a Mr. Randall speaks against consolidate
and says, “In-town children should get a better education because
services are cheaper”, notes that “none of the early school board
has children in school, and in general the community is not
interested in education.”
He
continues by writing about instructional success. “Some
(students) have, in a measure, failed partially perhaps from faults
within themselves, and largely from a lack of proper support and
encouragement on the part of parents who are sometimes too ready to
lend a willing ear to the frivolous complaints of childhood with
regard to courses of discipline which are meant, and which would in
the end, be in the best interests of the child.”
In
regard to maintaining discipline, Randall says, “Parents would do
well to remember that the task (parenting) is not a light one, but a
matter requiring unusual discretion and tact to keep good order,
health and spirit of 50 children for 20 or 30 weeks a year.
1826 - Dartmouth College sends Mr. Blanchard to start a secondary
school and is rejected. Instead he founds Pembroke Academy.
Mr.
Niles then comes from Dartmouth and starts a subscription
institution ($).
1830 - James Joy provides land, and with John Berry’s strong
support, a public secondary school is constructed. The proctors
usually come from Dartmouth or Amherst college for a year or two.
Some interesting proctors are: E.J. Sherman - (Mayor of Lowell);
Lewis Clark (Supreme Court Justice); and Daniel K. Foster (stayed 40
years and prepared students for Dartmouth).
1885 - Total school budget is $2,000
In
District 3 there 43% absenteeism.
In
District #4 Ella Dow teaches 51 pupils. Ms. Dow is described as an
“institution of the charitable sort”. The report includes an
interesting comment about her examinations. “The examinations of
this school are witnessed by a larger number of visitors than those
of any other school in town. Whether this is due more to the
attractiveness of the teacher and the exercises, or to a genuine
parental interest in the school may not be essential. It is
commendable for any cause.”
In
District #5 there are problems. At the end of the term the teacher
nearly beats the students out the door.
In
District #6 the school has room for 48 student, stuffs in at least
63 and has a register of 89. “A farmer wouldn’t so crowd his
animals.”
In
district #9 each student gets 1/4th cord of wood to split.
1889 - The Park Street brick building is constructed. From these
schools come some excellent graduates:
Dr.
Edgar Carr - Most famous of the Civil War Surgeons. John Berry -
Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. Enoch Eastman -
Governor of Wisconsin. John Swett - Founder of the California
School System. James Joy - Railroad magnate. Walter Sanborn -
Judge of the U.S. District Court. John Newell - Mayor of
Manchester. John Cate French - Founder of the N.H. Fire Insurance
Co.. E.P. Sanderson - Manufacturer and Benefactor. J.F.
Drake - CEO Gulf Oil Corp. 1901 - The district schools (except
Brick) are finally consolidated. 1905 - Pittsfield joins with
Pembroke in a Supervisory Union. It is the first of several
different unions. 1910 - Governor Tuttle donates an elementary
school in memory of his daughter Hattie.
Parks And Recreation News
The
Pittsfield Parks and Recreation Committee met on Monday night,
September 13, 2010. Watch for up coming information on Harvest Fest
to be held in Dustin Park on October 16, 2010, from 1-3:30. Ski
program signups to be held at the Pittsfield Community Center on
October 19, 2010, at 6:00, and basketball signups to be held at the
Pittsfield Community Center on October 30, 2010, from 8 a.m.- 1 p.m.
Solo Handbell Concert
Kathie Fink will present “Legacy,” a solo handbell concert and
tribute to her father, Larry Fink Sr. and the Fink Family Handbell
Ringers at 7 p.m. Saturday, October 2 at Faith Community Bible
Church, 334 North Village Rd, Loudon. She will be accompanied on the
piano by her friend Linda Maloney.
The
free concert will include TV clips from 1963-65 of the Fink family
and historical interviews with Larry and his wife, Wilma. Kathie
Fink began ringing handbells with her family when she was nine years
old. Today she is a founding member and current ringer of Sonos
Handbell Ensemble in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Come laugh at the early television recordings, be moved by Kathie’s
solo ringing musicality, and refresh your spirit with the timeless
classics of the faith. An offering will be taken. For questions
about this concert, contact Sue Chamberlin at 491-8358. For more
information about Kathie’s tour go to
www.kathiefink.com.
Pittsfield Girl Scouts Submitted By Danielle John-Zensky
Are
you ready for a great year? Girl Scouts is an organization that is
“committed to building girls of courage, confidence, and character,
who make the world a better place,” and you can be part of the fun.
If you know a girl in Kindergarten through 12th grade please
consider joining us. We are especially in need of Daisy aged girls
(Kindergarten and 1st grade) and a leader and co-leader for this age
group. Daisies learn about the Girl Scout Law, participate in fun
activities, work with the older girls, sing songs, do crafts, learn
and grow. We also have a Brownie troop (2nd - 3rd grade) and an
active Junior troop (4th - 5th grade). There are also opportunities
for older girls to help in leadership roles within the existing
troops.
Please look for our sign-up table during the cook out at
the Elementary School Open House on September 23rd, or come to the
community center on Sunday October 2 between 5-6 p.m. to find out
more information or to sign up. Call Danielle at 435-7001 for more
information. Look for us on facebook under the name “Pittsfield Girl
Scouts” to see some pictures of the fun!
Pittsfield Chamber of Commerce Business Showcase
Don’t Forget to
Stop into The Greater Pittsfield Chamber of Commerce Business
Showcase on Saturday, September 25, 2010, from 10:00-2:00 at the
Pittsfield Elementary School Gymnasium. Come meet your local
business people, pick up samples, enter to win a Grand Prize Drawing
of a 1 year family pool pass for 4 at the Red Roof Inn, or 1st Prize
of $100 CASH, or 2nd Prize of $50 CASH. Free Admission. Concessions.
For more information visit our website at www.
pittsfieldchamber.org, call Lyn at 435-7170 or email:
[email protected].
VA
Continues To Ensure And Protect Servicemembers’, Survivors’
Life
Insurance Benefits VA Takes A Hard Look At SGLI/VGLI Program
WASHINGTON (September 14, 2010) - The Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) has reviewed the account administered by Prudential that
includes Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and Veterans’
Group Life Insurance (VGLI) programs to ensure beneficiaries are
protected, being treated fairly, and accorded the utmost care and
respect. VA is also ensuring that benefits are delivered in a
transparent way that clearly outlines all available options.
Since 1965, VA has successfully delivered life insurance benefits to
survivors of our Nation’s Servicemembers and Veterans.
“The most
important thing we can do is ensure that beneficiaries have options
that are clear, competitive, and come at no personal cost during a
time of emotional stress,” said Veterans Affairs Chief of Staff John
R. Gingrich. “Providing clear and concise options for the
beneficiary is a top priority.”
VA will continue to provide a
full explanation of terms up-front, increase clarity of options and
more actively promote current financial counseling to assist in
decision making. These efforts will further enhance the transparency
that will continue to ensure confidence in this important program.
The department will provide better clarity of payment options by
using new documents that ask the beneficiary to choose one payment
option, including a lump sum check, or a lump sum Alliance Account
(retained asset account) that allows beneficiaries the option to
immediately write a check for the entire payment or any lesser
amount. VA will also continue to offer the option for payment in 36
monthly installments.
VA worked with beneficiaries, regulators,
and subject matter experts to determine appropriate improvements to
provide beneficiaries all benefits due under current life insurance
programs to include Alliance Accounts in a secure and timely manner.
“Prudential has agreed to implement these adjustments, and the
department will continue to carefully monitor this program to ensure
that Servicemembers’ and Veterans’ beneficiaries are
well-protected,” said Gingrich.
VA is also taking the following
actions: * All SGLI/VGLI related information, including
frequently asked questions, website information and handbooks will
be modified to clearly and completely explain all aspects of the
Alliance Account and all options available to the beneficiary.
*
VA will require Prudential to conduct a follow up contact with
beneficiaries whose accounts remains open after six months to
confirm the beneficiary understands the terms of the account.
*
VA will clearly designate the source of correspondence by removing
the SGLI seal from all checks, forms, and correspondence and
replacing it to show that it is from Prudential, with the subtitle
of “Office of Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance.”
* VA will
identify additional opportunities to encourage beneficiaries to use
the free financial counseling service.
* VA will, in
coordination with the Department of Defense (DoD), improve support
to Casualty Assistant Officers and Transition Assistance Program
(TAP) Personnel by helping to prepare additional training materials
and instruction.
SGLI provides group life insurance for the
Uniformed Services, such as Servicemembers on active duty, ready
reservists, and members of the National Guard, among others. More
information on the SGLI/VGLI program is also available at
http://www.insurance.va.gov/sglisite/sgli/sgli.htm.
Letter
Pittsfield People: The Planning Board is seeking residents to
fill some Alternate positions. We are authorized to have three and
right now we have only one.
Alternates attend meetings,
participate in the deliberations and when seated to fill a Member
vacancy, vote on applications.
If you are interested in the land
use and zoning process you will find being an Alternate worthwhile.
We have a long history of self-government, and at the local level it
is by voluntary service. Invest in Pittsfield - please offer to
serve as a Planning Board Alternate.
Bill Miskoe, Chairman
Pittsfield Planning Board
Pittsfield Fire Dept. Needs Help With Annual Secret Santa Program
The Pittsfield Fire Department is looking for your help with our
annual Secret Santa Program. This program helps provide toys and
clothes for local children whose families need some extra help
around the holidays. The program is entirely run on donations -
there are no tax dollars funding this. Due to the current economic
situation, donations are down dramatically from previous years.
Any donations people or businesses can make would be gratefully
accepted. No donation is too small - a toy or piece of clothing can
go a long way to help us provide this service to all residents who
may need it. If you would like more information, please call the
Fire Department at 435-6807.
Prescription Take-Back Day September 25th
The Pittsfield Police
are unveiling a new prescription drug take-back box in time for
National Prescription Drug Take-Back day on September 25th. This
initiative seeks to reduce the risk of theft and prescription drug
abuse by getting unused or expired medications out of local medicine
cabinets. In a 2009 survey 26% of local high school kids admitted to
using prescription drugs that were not prescribed to them. Help
improve public safety by taking your expired meds to the take-back
box located at the Pittsfield Police Station. The service is free
and no questions are asked. The box is located in the front entryway
of the police department and is accessible during the hours of 8:00
a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Letter
To The Editor
To The Good Citizens Of Pittsfield: On voting
day I spent most of the day outside the Town Hall talking politics,
stonewalls, and tornado wood benches.
Truth be told the folks who
run the show and volunteer their time, energy and food make our
election days some of my best days in town. This year I came to vote
and work on my own agenda. I feel we as a town need to find ways to
cut energy consumption quickly.
I have already started my own
program. For instance I drive ½ as much as I did last year.
I do
things like work closer to home, or at home, camp at a distant
worksite, make less meetings, and instead of driving around getting
signatures for a petition to repeal the 1988 Zoning Ordinance, I go
to voting day and intercept the voters heading home.
Here are the
reasons I despise zoning:
Zoning was built around the use of the
automobile.
Some people say that if it wasn’t for zoning a pig
farm could open next door.
I read recently that it is
undemocratic and simply wrong to take away the rights of many
to solve the problems created by the few.
I think Pittsfield has
one of the highest tax rates in the state. We should allow
businesses to open everywhere, then folks need not drive to Concord
as much, then folks need not drive to town as much.
Ya get it?
Dan Schroth Piermarocchi
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