American Legion Post 88 News
Respectively submitted By Shawn Jones, Commander
Greetings from Loudon Post 88,
Our September meeting has come and gone with 9 members present. Our
guests were District 5 Commander Gerard Leduc and Finance Officer
Tony Rabia.
Cmdr. Leduc introduced himself as the Committee Chairman of the Jr.
Oratorical Contest and the need to reach out to MVMS & HS to try and
find some students who would want to compete for some prize money
and the chance to move on to the state level contests for both the
Junior and Senior Oratorical. He also said that he has personally
visited Wounded Warriors at 45 North in Pittsburgh and said that new
barracks building is almost completed. He was impressed on how well
veterans are doing up there after arriving at camp who are suffering
from PTSD and brain injuries.
I gave a report from the September 14, Eagle Scout Court of Honor
for Alec J. Decato held at MVHS. I presented our newest Eagle Scout
from BS Troop 247 with a check for $175.00 and his membership card
as a life time Eagle Scout. Congratulations to this fine young man
on your accomplishment from all of us at Post 88.
Adjutant Joe Piroso informed us that he has been up to Whitefield,
NH and saw our old M60 A Main Battle Tank at its new location at
Legion Post 41. He said it looks nice in its new location. We might
be getting an invite by Post 41 around Veteran’s Day for a re
dedication ceremony. I will let you know the details as soon as I
get more information and will include that information in the
November Ledger.
First Vice Commander Gary Tasker advised that he and Historian Mike
Moffett had participated in the recent Department Golf Tournament
hosted by the Loudon Country Club. He said the event was well
attended and that they enjoyed a day of golfing together. Thanks to
LCC for hosting this event again this year.
Members voted to expend $250.00 to pay Davis and Towle Insurance for
an employee dishonesty insurance policy. This policy provides the
post insurance coverage for the membership particularly for the
three officers who have access to post funds. Thanks to Sgt. at Arms
Scott Newton for doing the legwork on this.
Our September Commander’s Fund Raffle Winners where as follows. $50
- K. Letalien, $25 - J. Piroso, $10 - J. Sanborn, $10 - R. Smith &
$5 - N. Senechal. Congratulations to our winners this month and
thank you for support our post.
Our current membership renewals for 2015 stands at 51.32% we have a
long way to go in order to reach 100% before December 31st. There
are a number of posts in our district who are ahead of us. Please
remember to mail in your dues payment of just $25 before the
December meeting. Congratulations to Lebanon Post 22 for being the
first post in the state to reach 100% membership.
For any new members who wish to join our post and
have never been in the American Legion we will pay your first year’s
dues for you as our way of saying thank you for joining Post 88.
Please contact a member of the post for a membership sign up card or
contact me directly at [email protected] or 603-496-0204.
We meet again on October 15th at the Loudon Community building at
1900 hrs. We look forward to seeing you there.
Dorcas Guild – September 2014
The September 9 meeting of the Dorcas Guild began with a call to
order and welcome to the 14 members and guest by Vice President
Kathy Bergeron. Audrey Moore read a poem by Harold Mohn entitled
“Change of Seasons.” Freda Jones read, “The Gal in the Glass” and
other interesting tidbits and quotes. All joined in “The Lord’s
Prayer.”
Joan Riel read various pieces of correspondence and sent around a
few cards for signing. Nella Hobson then read the minutes of the
last two meetings, which were both accepted as read. Reny Boyd read
the treasurer’s report, which was accepted.
Diane Vaughan introduced her guest and friend, Jane Osborne, and she
was welcomed by all attendees.
The food basket went to Corine Miller and will go next to Diane,
then Mary Jo Powelson. The apron is with Kathy and will go next to
Reny, then Joan and Mary Jo. The mystery package was won by Gailann
Newton.
As the president, Nancy Fogg, was still fulfilling her duties at the
polls, refreshments were served at this point in the evening.
Delicious peach cobbler and apple cobbler with fresh whipped cream,
along with crackers and cheese, nuts and beverages provided by
Audrey and Freda, were thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Nancy arrived as the discussion of Fellowship Hour began. The Dorcas
Guild will host Fellowship October 19. Celebration cakes the last
Sunday of the month have been discontinued. We agreed to continue to
provide for Fellowship Hour each month the Sunday following our
evening meeting unless previously selected or the Sunday falls on a
special occasion.
We next discussed support of the 225th Anniversary Reception. Nancy
provided an estimated figure for the “Harvest Dinner” on Sunday,
November 16. A motion was made and carried that the Guild donate to
the dinner expenses.
The president thanked the Carpet Selection Committee. Everyone was
pleased with the selection.
Program ideas for 2015 were solicited. Bev Moore will coordinate the
program. Forward any data changes to Nancy.
The service project for 2014 included the quilt for Cabaret for a
Cure. The executive board voted during the summer for the Guild to
pay for the quilting. Bring in your ideas for a service project for
2015. A suggestion was made to consider stuffed animals for local
police and fire departments.
Our Christmas Fair will be November 22. Audrey, Gailann, Gloria
Biron, and Nancy will meet to discuss last year’s volunteers for the
luncheon. The Craft Fair will be December 6. Joan Riel will prepare
the contracts; table rent will remain at $15. Nella and Bev Murdough
will assist with the Craft Fair.
Next month’s meeting will be held October 14 with hostesses Joan,
Diane, and Evelyn Sheehy Richard. This is the last call for service
project items – diapers (size 5 diapers needed), wipes and
blankets.
Anniversary Concert
First Congregational Church, 24 Main Street, Pittsfield, will begin
celebrating its 225th anniversary with a “Through the Years” musical
concert. This unique musical experience is scheduled for Friday,
October 17, 7-8 p.m. in the newly renovated sanctuary. Musical
selections offered by the Chancel Choir and the JuBellation Handbell
Choir will illustrate the changes to worship music and
congregational participation back to 1789, when the church was first
organized. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend this
fascinating, educational, free concert presentation. Light
refreshments will be served. Parking and wheelchair accessible entry
available at rear of church. For more information, call the church
office at 435-7471.
Home At Last
Submitted By Laura Okrent
Last week a small plain brown box appeared in the mailbox, mailed
from Altoona, Iowa. Thinking it was strange, because I knew no one
in Iowa, I was sorely perplexed. The contents of the box turned out
to be a high school class ring. Who would have thought that after 50
years lost a high school ring would appear; a ring from the class of
1959, from Stuyvesant High School in the heart of New York City.
That is what happened to Fred Okrent. When questioned he explained
that a while ago he received an email from the Town Office giving
him the name Robert Linacre along with a phone number and e-mail.
Fred contacted him and provided address information so that the ring
could be shipped.
Robert indicated that after his mother passed away, he was going
through her things and found the ring. He had no idea how it came
into her possession. With only the name of the school, the class
year and the initials FMO engraved inside the ring, his research
took him to the school first. The yearbook for the class of ’59
contained only one person with the initials FO. From there he turned
to Google, which sent him to the Pittsfield Fire Department. There
they told him that Fred was a retired firefighter and referred him
to the Town Office, since he had worked there, and that led to the
e-mail from the Town Office.
Fred wasn’t sure yet if this was real or something else. When he
opened the box and saw the ring, his mind was flooded with memories.
All the thoughts of those high school years so long ago, the times
he had, the people he knew and the many years that had passed since
then. He could remember exactly where he had left the ring; on the
shelf after washing his hands at the building he worked in. Come to
find out Robert’s wife had worked in that building. Although not
sure, the ring must have gotten delivered to her and then landed
somehow in her things.
Fred was awestruck at the concern, dedication and sincere tenacity
of Robert, someone he didn’t know, to follow the leads he found to
get this emblem of times gone by back to its original owner. By the
way, Robert had lived in the Hudson Valley area at the time and
moved to Iowa to be near his children.
Victory Workers 4-H Club
What Is It? Who Can Join?
Submitted By Derek Ladd, Reporter
Victory Workers 4-H Club is an organization for boys and girls: ages
5-7 are considered Cloverbuds and ages 8 – 18 are members. Our club
is a youth educational program of the UNH Cooperative Extension
serving the greater Pittsfield area and is starting its 73rd year.
Serving officers this past year were: President Katie Downs from
Gilmanton-Loudon, Vice President Kayla Corliss from Barnstead,
Secretary Jennie Ordway from Chichester-Barnstead, Treasurer Nathan
Huse from Barnstead and Reporter Derek Ladd from Epsom. There are
no club dues or uniforms required. The 4-H emblem is a four-leaf
clover with an “H” in every leaf. The letters stand for HEAD, HEART,
HANDS AND HEALTH, the foundation of all 4-H programs. 4-Her’s “Learn
by Doing”. Projects include Arts & Crafts, Quilting, Childcare,
Forestry, Fishing, Cooking, Food Preservation, Gardening,
Photography, Woodworking, Cake Decorating, Basketry, Knitting &
Crocheting, Fashion, Dairy, Horse, Sheep, Dogs, Goats, Rabbits,
Chickens, Swine, Steers, Health and Safety to name just a few of the
most popular. Project work is done under the direction of volunteer
4-H leaders or individually under the guidance of a parent. Members
have opportunities to participate in county events such as public
speaking, food show, demonstration day, fashion revue, clothing and
textile exhibit, chef challenge, records and resumes, fair
competitions and attend 4-H camp, teen conference and Jr. leaders.
4-H encourages youth to take responsibility and provides members
opportunities to learn life skills like decision making, goal
setting, time and money management, record keeping and organization.
Our club spent a total of 78 ½ hours on community service project
this past year to include the garden at BCEP with both spring and
fall care, a food drive for the Pittsfield food pantry and a second
with items split between Epsom, Chichester, Loudon and Barnstead,
community tennis lead by our youth and the Old Home Day cook off
booth in Pittsfield are a few.
We had 39 members taking on a leadership role at one time or another
during the year in such things as Citizenship, Cake Decorating,
Crafts, Heritage Arts, Woodworking, Community Service, Sewing, Foods
and Animal Science. Our meetings run by the youth are the first
Monday of each month October – June at the Pittsfield Community
Center from 6:45 – 8:15pm. Each meeting includes a business meeting
followed by an educational program or activity of general interest.
Parents are encouraged to stay at the meetings as 4-H is a family
event.
The first meeting of the new year is Monday October 6. New members
will enroll at this time. Our main fundraiser supporting camp
scholarships, club programs and activities is selling 4-H Candy
Bars. Members will be selling the bars from October to November
while supplies last. They sell for $1.00 each and come in Almond,
Crisp, Carmel, Dark Chocolate and Milk Chocolate. For further
information contact organizational leaders Pamela Clattenburg
269-3200, Melissa Babcock 496-3928, Mark Riel 435-6346, Corine
Miller 435-8497 or Carolyn Davis 736-9003.
Loudon Center Freewill Baptist Church
235th Birthday Celebration
On Sunday, Sept. 24th, we celebrated our 235th Birthday, with a
celebration of prayer, music & fellowship. Over 100 members and
guests enjoyed a wonderful assortment of refreshments. Deacon Henry
A. Welsh led the celebration off by reading a congratulations letter
from Governor Maggie Hassan. After the beautiful cake was cut by
Reverend John M. Young, our current pastor, Reverend Dale Edwards,
Head of the American Baptist Churches of Vermont & New Hampshire and
Reverend James Smith, Placement Consultant for the ABC, and pastor
of Belmont Baptist Church presented Deacon Henry A. Welch with a
plaque honoring the church for its 235 years of service and
fellowship. Lively entertainment was provided by Middle River Gospel
Group of Springfield, VT, A Joyful Noyes, of Athens VT, Ms. Amanda
Stickney of Manchester, NH and Mr. Don Smith of Epsom, NH.
Looking ahead in this year of celebration, we are swiftly moving
towards our Annual Craft/Vendor Fair and Bake Sale to be held on
Saturday Oct. 25th, from 8:00 AM to 2:00PM. We continue to enjoy our
Monthly Fellowship Suppers and Concerts on the 3rd Saturday of each
month. This fall and winter we are blessed to have a great schedule
including on Oct. 18th, Carolyn Hutton and the country gospel group
“Drowned Valley”, Nov. 15th, Diana & Harold Muzzey with the “Home
Folks, and on Jan 17th, Mr. Don Smith. The Suppers are free, though
a “Love Offering” will be taken. Sunday Worship Services are held at
9:30 AM. We welcome all friends and visitors.
Suncook Senior Center Has Relocated To Epsom
The Suncook Senior Center has moved from Allenstown to the Epsom
Bible Church at 398 Black Hall Road, Epsom, NH. The senior center,
and the participants, are thrilled that the Church has generously
chosen to share their lovely facility.
The Center is open Monday thru Thursday 8:00am to 2:00pm, and Friday
8:00am to 1:00pm. Regular activities include the Bone Builders
exercise program, gentle yoga, line dancing, quilting, a craft
group, poetry club, monthly birthday celebrations, bingo, cribbage
and a wide variety of friendly card games. Lunch is served Monday
thru Thursday at 11:30am; a suggested donation of $2.00 is requested
for lunch.
During October special activities include:
Wednesday, October 15th at 11:30 am: Servicelink Medicare Question
and Answer Session. Medicare counselor Anita Oelfke will be
available to talk and answer your questions.
Monday, October 20th at 9:30 am come and watch the movie The Man who
Knew Too Much (1956). In this Alfred Hitchcock classic a
vacationing British businessman and his family find themselves in
great danger when they witness the murder of a French secret agent.
Join us and you will be entered in a raffle for a free lunch gift
certificate!
Wednesday, October 21st at 9:15am: Klunk Tournament. Come and enjoy
this fun card game! Refreshments provided by Soap Bubble
Laundromat, Pembroke, NH.
Friday, October 27th at 10:00 am Susan Jutras, coordinator of the
Community Action Program’s Volunteer Driver Program, will conduct
driver safety training. The program will cover safe driving
practices along with defensive driving techniques, which is
wonderful information for all drivers.
The Suncook Senior Center is operated by the Elder Services
Department of Community Action Program, Belknap Merrimack Counties,
Inc. Please stop in to visit! If you have any questions please
call the center at 485-4254.
Letter To The Editor
To The Editor:
I have just read Carole Richardson’s letter regarding fund raising
for fencing around Floral Park Cemetery.
This subject raises grave concerns.
Seems to me that there is a monumental divide here regarding the
needs of Floral Park.
From one side I hear Ms. Richardson being delighted that the fence
people have contributed over $18,000 for a spiffy new fence.
From another I hear the cemetery trustees telling the town that the
maintenance fund is broke; that the water has been turned off and
because the long time custodial guy won’t get paid next year, the
town should take on the maintenance.
And I hear that the fence people are being revved up to again
contribute towards replacing “rusty old fencing” with more spiffy
new stuff.
All this causes me to wonder why the cemetery needs a fence at all.
Those already in don’t need a fence to keep them there. And while
there are people dying to get into Floral Park, a fence won’t keep
them out. The gates are always open.
So I ask why the fence types and the maintenance trustees don’t get
together and work out which is more important - a new fence or a
well maintained cemetery.
As a taxpayer, I am devoted to paying only for stuff that benefits
the people in town who are still alive.
Best Regards,
Bill Miskoe
Letter To The Editor
To the good citizens of Pittsfield,
I was going to skip voting day at the Town Hall. I mean, it was only
the Primary Election and not the real thing.
Well, about a week before, Mike Brewster called me up and b------ me
out for not getting involved in the State. I told him I did not have
the resources to spend my time in Concord, and some things you just
have to do alone.
Anyway, over the weekend I made an old barn board sign with white
paint that said, “I like Mike.”
My reasoning was Mike is my friend and in politics, when you are
running, it gives you a warm feeling when someone supports you, or
you get a kind word.
Monday came, we repaired an old stonewall on Lower Loudon Ridge that
a logger had disrespected. Tuesday came and I was ready for a rest.
I got to the Town Hall early. I noticed our new police chief Jeff
Cain had not put up caution tape to keep us corralled. He was hired
by committee, like Rob Martin, our fire chief, and Mike Williams,
our new town administrator.
My point is, I’m impressed with all three. Thank you, Chief Cain for
not trying to pen us in. We would just get out by mid-morning.
Anyway, spending the day at the Town Hall just reinforces how much I
love the people in Pittsfield.
All the good will.
All the good words.
All the good people.
Dan Schroth Piermarocchi
Pittsfield Agriculture Commission
General Interest Meeting October 16th
NH RSA 674:44-e states: “An agricultural Commission may be
established… for the proper recognition, promotion, enhancement,
encouragement, use, management, and protection of agriculture and
agricultural resources, tangible or intangible, that are valued for
their economic, aesthetic, cultural, historic, or community
significance within their natural, built, or cultural contexts.”
Folks, interested in supporting and participating in developing a
Pittsfield Agricultural Commission should join us on October 16th at
7:00 pm at The Pittsfield Youth Workshop (PYW) on Park Street
(behind Dustin Park). We’ll discuss what an agriculture commission
does, and assess folk’s interests and level of engagement. The
meeting will be facilitated to engage everybody in dialogue.
There will be an optional potluck at 6:30 pm. Please bring your own
dishes and flatware. Hope to see you there!
You can contact me if you have any questions: Ray
Conner
[email protected] or call (772)
341-1850.
Globe Manufacturing Company Reminds Residents:
Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives!
Working smoke alarms can make a life-saving difference in a fire.
That’s the message behind this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign,
“Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives: Test Yours Every Month!”
Along with firefighters and safety advocates nationwide, Globe
Manufacturing Company is joining forces with the nonprofit National
Fire Protection Association (NFPA) during Fire Prevention Week,
October 5-11, to remind local residents about the importance of
having working smoke alarms in the home and testing them monthly.
According to the latest NFPA research, working smoke alarms cut the
chance of dying in a fire in half. Meanwhile, almost two-thirds of
home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms
or no working smoke alarms.
“In a fire, seconds count,” said Rob Freese, Senior VP of
Manufacturing. “Roughly half of home fire deaths result from fires
reported at night between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most people are
asleep. Home smoke alarms can alert people to a fire before it
spreads, giving everyone enough time to get out.”
This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign includes the following
smoke alarm messages:
• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate
sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the
basement.
• Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. This way, when
one sounds, they all do.
• Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button.
• Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or sooner if
they don’t respond properly.
• Make sure everyone in the home knows the sound of the smoke alarm
and understands what to do when they hear it.
To learn more about smoke alarms and “Working Smoke
Alarms Saves Lives,” visit NFPA’s web site at
www.firepreventionweek.org. For Pittsfield
public notices and other town resources, visit
www.pittsfield-nh.com.
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