Pittsfield Senior Center
Tuesday, June 17th at 10:30 AM
Come and enjoy a show done by Jody Scalise the Motion Man. He was
founder of the original New England Mime Festival who incorporates
comedy and gymnastics into his act. He was a cast member of the
Emmy winning ABC television show Catch a Rainbow. Hope to see you
here for the free show. If planning on staying for lunch please call
the center at 603-435-8482.
Sanborn Mills Farm
Water-powered Mill Demonstrations and Farm Tours at 10am, 12pm and
2pm
Enjoy a walking tour of Sanborn Mills Farm guided by members of the
staff. With each tour there will be a demonstration of the
water-powered mills. No charge (donations gratefully accepted).
Pittsfield American Legion, Peterson Cram Post 75 Update
Submitted By Daniel M. Ward Commander
On Sunday May 25, members of Peterson Cram Post 75 Pittsfield
American Legion along with citizens of the town gathered at the
Dustin Park War Memorial to honor all war Veterans who made the
ultimate sacrifice.
The ceremony opened with a wonderful rendition of the National
Anthem by Ms. Anitrea Provenchen. Post Chaplin Merrill Vaughn then
delivered the invocation. Post Service Office Reuben Leavitt,
displayed the POW/MIA flag as a reminder of the thousands of
American men and women who are missing in action and unaccounted
for. Post Commander Dan Ward then delivered the Memorial Day
address.
Post 75 Adjutent Scott Ward presented the Gold Star floral basket in
honor of his son Army Specialist Mathew Ward who died while serving
on active duty. Diane Vaughn, wife of Post Chaplin Merrill Vaughn,
also presented a memorial floral basket on behalf of Post 75. This
past year three Post 75 members past away; Edward Cantara,Leo Fraer,
and Royce Elkinds.
Post 75 would like to thank the following organizations and
individuals who were instrumental l in making the Memorial Day
ceremony a success; Rev. David Stasik of the Pittsfield First
Congreational Church for hosting Post 75 members at the Memorial
Church Service and the church’s Dorcus Guild for providing snacks
after the service, Ms. Anitrea Provenchen for singing our National
Anthem, acting Police Chief Jeff Cain and staff, Fire Fighter Rob
Freese for his fine rendition of taps and all of the Pittsfield Fire
Fighters who stood in formation, Scott Ward Post 75 Adjutent and
Mrs. Diane Vaughn for providing the honorary floral baskets, to the
Town Beautification Committee for placing the American flags
throughout the town, to Post 75 Finance Officer John Kost for
setting up the public address system, and the members of Peterson
Cram Post 75 Pittsfield American Legion who came in support of their
comrades’ in arms, Ms. Laurie Houle, and a group of very dedicated
patriots who each Memorial Day take the time to place hundreds of
new American Flags on the graves of every Veteran in the 26
cemeteries and burial locations in and around Pittsfield. Last but
not least to all of the citizens of Pittsfield and surrounding towns
who also took the time to honor the “SOME who gave ALL” for their
country.
At the May 5th Peterson Cram Post 75 meeting District 5 Commander
Gerard Leduc, swore in the following slate of officers for another
1 year term; Commander Daniel M. Ward, Finance Office John Kost,
Service Officer Reuben Leavitt, and Chaplin Merrill Vaughn. Scott
Ward will be sworn in as Adjutant during the June 2nd meeting. Also
on hand and helping with the swearing in all from District 5 were
Todd Connor 1st Vice Commander, Tony Rabba Sergeant of Arms and
Larry Hemphill Chaplin. The Officers of Post 75 thank Commander
Leduc and his team for swearing them all in.
Recent Post 75 American Legion Raffle Winners April & May 2014
April 2014 Winners: $50.00 Clarence Schmidt; $25.00 Arlene Weeks;
$10.00; Susan Bleckman; $10.00; Joe Fuller; $10.00 Sarah Ward.
May 2014 Winners: $50.00 Nicole Ward; $25.00 John Freeze; $10.00
Chris Durkin; $10.00 Susan Bleckman; $10.00 John Nutter
Pittsfield Youth Baseball Association would like to send out a thank
you to the Pittsfield Girl Scouts who recently spent the day at the
Pittsfield Athletic Park completing a playground project. Planned
and led by Delaney Zensky and Mackenzie Desilets, the girls with
many volunteers, completed construction of a play area including a
jungle gym, picnic tables, and a strawberry garden. This project
will be enjoyed by many children for years to come at the Athletic
Park. Thanks again!
Meet Our Members - FF/EMT Eliott Brown
Next up
in the Pittsfield Fire Department’s “Meet our Members” series is
FF/EMT Eliott Brown. Eliott joined the department last summer as a
per diem EMT.
Q: How long have you been a firefighter/EMT? Are you affiliated
with any other departments?
A: I began my time in the fire service in 2005 as an Explorer with
the Bradford Fire Department. In 2007, I received my first EMS
license as an American Red Cross First Responder and then became an
EMT-Basic in 2008. 2009 brought me to my Firefighter I
certification. I continue to volunteer in Bradford, as well as work
full-time for a privately-owned ambulance service.
Q: Why did you become a firefighter/EMT?
A: As so many before me, I joined the fire service because of my
family. My father is a deputy chief in Bradford and my mother is
involved with the Bradford Rescue Squad. Growing up, I loved to go
to the firehouse with my father and, as soon as I could, I began
volunteering. I started with the fire department and got my EMT
certification because it seemed like another good way to help my
town.
Q: What was the best training you attended? What did you take away
from it?
A: The most interesting training I have attended recently was the
Swift Water Rescue Technician Level I class. The course covered
river and swift water dynamics and basic rescue rope systems, as
well as water rescue techniques. From this class I gained a new
found respect for fast moving water, as well as an ability to
further serve my community.
Pittsfield’s All Board/Committee Forum Meets
For The Fourth Time!!
Members
from all official town boards and committees met on Saturday, May
31st for the fourth All Board/Committee Forum.
With background banners that read: “Doing The Same Thing, The Same
Way, With The Same Results Is INSANITY!”, “Nothing Big Comes From
Thinking Small. THINK BIG!” and “Failure Is Not An Option!”, and
informational packets that contained inspirational truths from “The
Magic of Thinking BIG” by David J. Schwartz, Ph.D. attendees sat
down to the first of many ongoing discussions centered around
Pittsfield’s downtown. The questions posed included:
1. How is the downtown actually being utilized?
2. How do these uses relate to the current zoning district map and
zoning ordinance?
3. What are the problems with the downtown?
4. What is needed and wanted in the downtown to revitalize it?
It is envisioned that the end result of these forums will be a plan
for Pittsfield’s future that town officials, boards, committees and
residents will support and strive to accomplish. The forum members
are currently drafting mission and vision statements that once
finalized will be published.
It should be noted that as a result of prior forums on
communications, dialog between boards, committees and town officials
has greatly improved. The way in which the town responded to Rustic
Crust’s crisis is a direct result of these forums. Other outcomes
include: the monthly All Chairmen Meetings that are now being held,
the first ever joint Planning Board/Zoning Board of Adjustment
meeting and the amendment to the zoning ordinance that removed
parking requirements for businesses currently in or moving into
existing buildings.
Things are only going to get better for Pittsfield as all of us
continue to work together! Stay tuned.
First Annual Toast To Our Troops
Please join us, the Blue Star Mothers of NH, on Sunday, July 6, 2014
for our first annual Toast to our Troops at the beautiful LaBelle
Winery ~ 345 Route 101, Amherst, New Hampshire 03031. This will be a
fun filled afternoon of wine tasting with food pairings, raffles and
50/50 drawing. Our own Blue Star Dad and professional voice over
artist Larry F. Murphy will be our master of ceremony.
The event runs from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. Tickets are
$30.00 a piece and can be purchased from our website:
www.bluestarmothersofnh.org for more
information you can contact us at
[email protected]. Tickets
must be purchased before the event. The first 130 ticket holders
will also receive a complimentary wine glassed etched with “Toast to
our Troops” as a thank you for your support.
We have some great raffle items...Salmon Falls Pottery, signed
hockey puck by Jonathan Quick of the L.A. Kings and Coach of the US
Olympic hockey team, gift certificates for dining out at many of our
NH restaurants, cruise tickets for the Mount Washington, just to
name a few.
The mission of Blue Star Mothers of NH is to support our men and
women who are serving our country around the world. Although our
mission will never change, time has come to adjust our focus and
provide greater levels of support for our valued veterans. This can
be done in so many ways – providing meals at local Vet’s Centers,
helping out at our local homeless veteran shelters, getting involved
in local colleges who have set up special educational Veteran
Centers, and the list goes on.
We owe these men and women so much. Anything that we can do for
them is warmly accepted and greatly appreciated.
Letter To The Editor
With the US Senate campaign in NH kicking into gear, I hope people
are informing themselves about the candidates and thinking for
themselves about the choices before us.
There has been alot of talk about Scott Brown’s entry to the race,
before he entered, as he entered, and after he entered. The news
overflows with it. They love him. All this talk from whom? The
pundits, the analysts, and the elite Washington establishment. It’s
the same crow that keeps on electing our Congress with is 12%
approval rating. In other words, Brown is the typical politician
with all the shiny bells and whistles and a few big name
endorsements. Is that all we want in a senator now, just a slick
talking guy with good looks?
Now, I don’t like to get in any one person’s box completely, but I
do like it when I see a politician who is straight talking and
unashamed of his core conservative beliefs. I’ve looked at the
candidates, and I see that in former Senator Bob Smith. He
represents the values of NH that made this state so great, that
caused so many to move here int he last few decades.
I want to encourage you to do your own homework, please, don’t just
go with the one who grabs the most headlines. And if you haven’t
yet, register to vote. We are blessed in this country to have a say
in our government and to be able to vote, take advantage of it.
Sincerely,
Willie Matras
Host Families Needed For Pittsfield
Foreign Exchange Students
Anabeel from Bangladesh, Hend from Egypt, and Uly from Uzbekistan
are all hoping to find local families in the Pittsfield School
District to host them for the next school year. They would to
arrive in late August and spend the school year as part of a host
family. These remarkable young ladies are all scholarship winners,
earning this opportunity over tens of thousands of other teens.
They have excellent English skills, are hard working students, and
are community volunteers. Host families are needed by the end of
June to secure a place for these girls at Pittsfield Middle High
School for the next school year. Won’t you consider hosting one of
them?
Uly, age 15, volunteers at an orphanage, loves the environment, and
hopes to be an aerospace engineer someday. She loves animals,
volleyball, crafts, children, photography, volunteer work, and
swimming. She wants to be part of our community next year and help
our children learn about other places in the world.
Anabeel, age 16, considers herself a “foodie”, and loves to cook,
bake, and try new foods. She also loves pets, is a dedicated
community volunteer, enjoys running and track and field. She placed
in the top 75 in the Bangladesh National Spelling Bee, and hopes to
run a major international company someday and give back to the
community.
Hend, age 16, loves horseback riding, tennis, community service, and
cooking. She also speaks French, and has competed at international
tennis tournaments. Hend loves family and can’t wait to be a part
of one here in America for the school year.
PAX exchange students are covered by comprehensive
medical insurance and have their own spending money for incidentals.
All types of families, including retirees, parents with young
children or teenagers, single parents, and young couples make great
hosts. If you want more information, call Kris Hales, the PAX Lakes
Region Community Coordinator, at (603) 269-7760, email
[email protected] or visit
www.pax.org.
Floral Park Cemetery Trustees Update
The bad news for the community is that the Floral Park Cemetery
Association has run out of funds needed for the continued upkeep of
the cemetery. With interest rates at an all time low, the “Trust
Funds” are also at an all time low in interest returns. The only
other source of revenue available is the sale of lots and they have
been almost non-existent. Our Superintendant has done a remarkable
job for many years, mowing, trimming and repairing minor problems.
The Town of Pittsfield has Never had to contribute any amount to
this yearly expense, but there are no funds this year to pay him.
The Trustees have been trying to develop a plan but have been at a
loss to come up with anything.
We are going to be forced to no longer have water available, as the
cost has continued to rise and it must be shut off. Citizens are
going to have to bring their own water in order to water plants,
etc. We are going to have the forested land on the River Road end of
the property cleaned out, but this falls far short of the necessary
funds needed. We are going to negotiate with the Town and are going
to try to form some agreement regarding a budget line in the Town
Budget and merge funds for maintenance purposes in the future. This
is going to have to be completed before next year as this years
budget is set.
Many other towns are facing these same problems. Some smaller
cemeteries have already made agreements with their town. Most city
Cemeteries have had budgeted funds for cemetery maintenance for many
years. NH Statutes require that a town have a “Town Cemetery”. The
town recently took over responsibility of all the small cemeteries
in town and elected a “Board of Cemetery Trustees”, but there are no
burial spaces in any of said cemeteries. Back in the late 1940’s the
“Pittsfield Cemetery Association was “Chartered” as a private
cemetery association and had its own “Board of Trustees”. Even
though no citizen was ever denied a burial plot, it still does not
comply with State Statutes. The Floral Park Board of “Trustees” will
continue to work together with Pittsfield’s Board of Selectman and
develop an up -to- date plan for the continued care and
memorializing of Pittsfield’s citizens who needed or need a final
resting place. We will keep you updated!
Floral Park Cemetery “Board of Trustees”: David Pollard, President
; Cara Marston, Treasurer ; Henry Stapleton; Michael Towle; Louis
Houle; Stanley Bailey; John Kost; Frances Marston
Sage 3rd Annual Summer Wellness And Artisan Fair
Saturday, June 21 10:00AM-4:00PM
Sage Wellness Center and Spa is honored to offer you this
extraordinary line up of talented and wholehearted presenters for
our 3rd annual event!
New this year! Wholesome and delicious food, being served right in
our parking lot by “The Farm Concession”. Skip & Amy are committed
to keeping it real, by creating menus based on ingredients from
local farms and resources. We met them at the Deerfield Fair last
fall and just had to have them join us! They’ll be on hand preparing
fresh hand tossed salads, sandwiches, wraps, treats, smoothies and
beverages. We’re sure you will be delighted!
We have gifted mediums, Susan Morgan of Mystic Dream Center, June
Evans, Author of “Love After Life”. Both Susan and June offer
consultations concerning deceased loved ones as well as assisting
you to connect with your guides and angels. Ruby Alphen, offering
insightful Tarot Readings. Bruce Frazier, Psychic Healer, who uses
rare and ancient Crystals to deepen your healing experience. Diane
Marie Gallant, Reiki & Melchizedek Master, Diane blends many aspects
of these two powerful yet, gentle techniques. Both Bruce and Diane
are “hands on” healers. We’re confident that you will be impressed
by their abilities.
Aura Photography with Paula Lipinski, Paula’s work was very popular
at our Fall Fair. She’ll provide an explanation of your unique photo
as well as recommendations for your health and wellbeing.
Jillian Libby of the Wild Bean, offering wonderful handmade soaps,
salves, spritzers and fresh potted herbs. Claire Bentley, deeply
knowledgeable in healing with the elements will be presenting
precious stones and essential oils for purchase. Debbie Austin,
jeweler lovely hand crafted earrings and jewelry and Susan Steele of
Mobility Healthcare.
Please, mark your calendars and join us! By all means, bring your
appetite, questions, curiosity and mostly your desire to experience
a magical day of celebrating community, healing and friendship. We
look forward to seeing you!
Please call us with any questions 603-435-7711 or
email
[email protected]
Obituaries
Dennis Edward Fox
Dennis Edward Fox, 62 of Leavitt Road, died suddenly Tuesday, June
3, 2014 at Concord Hospital. He was born in Exeter on May 14, 1952
the son of Pauline Fox and the late Paul B. Fox. He was predeceased
by his son Dennis Paul Fox. He is survived by wife of 41 years,
Jacqueline Fox; daughter, Jennifer Violette and son-in-law Richard
Violette; grandson, Gavin Violette; mother, Pauline Fox; brothers
and sisters, Judy Fox, Paul Fox, Diane Burley, Kenneth Fox and
Michael Fox; and extended family of many nieces and nephews; and
also “thought of as a daughter”, Wendy Moses and granddaughter
Whitney Moses.
Dennis loved his family and friends. He was “famous” for being a
homebody, never failed to extend a helping hand, restoring cars, a
talented furniture maker, playing his guitar and listening to
country music. His love for planting flowers and starting up the
pool for the season was an important part of his home; surrounded
with beauty and the swimming pool he couldn’t get enough of. He was
an avid lover of “old cars” and was known for tinkering in his
garage. To see the smile on his face when spending time with his
grandson was just simply priceless. His face always lit up with a
happiness we all hadn’t seen in a long time; lil’ man Gavin who made
his days more complete from the moment he was born.
Dennis served in the U.S. Coast Guard and went on to become a
successful businessman, including, automotive repair and auto body
restoration. Many years of being self-employed and also working 18
years at Spaulding Youth Center, Northfield.
A celebration of his life was held on Monday, June 9, 2014;
graveside at Floral Park Cemetery; officiating Pastor Mark Rivera,
of Bethany Church-Raymond.
Bennett Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Messages of condolence may be offered at
www.bennettfuneral.com
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