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Pittsfield NH News

November 15, 2017

The Suncook Valley Sun News Archive is Maintained by Modern Concepts. We are NOT affliated in any way with the Suncook Valley Sun Newspaper.



 

Thanksgiving Eve Service

 

Everyone is welcome to join in for a community-wide Thanksgiving Eve service, Wednesday, November 22, 6:30 p.m. at the First Congregational Church, 24 Main Street, Pittsfield. It’s a good way to meditate, count your blessings and give thanks. Special music provided by Linda Stasiak, soloist, and the JuBellation Handbell Choir. Parking and wheelchair accessible entrance are available at the rear of church (Chestnut Street). For more information, call the church office, 435-7471.

 


 

Church Fair Is Coming Saturday

Pittsfield Sue B quilt.jpg

This great handmade quilt is just one of the items on the Dorcas Guild’s Silent Auction table. Don’t miss the Christmas Fair – this Saturday from 9  to 2 at the First Congregational Church, 24 Main Street, Pittsfield.

 

The Christmas Fair and Bake Sale at the First Congregational Church, 24 Main Street, Pittsfield, is happening this coming Saturday, November 18, from 9 to 2. Sponsored by the Dorcas Guild, this fair is the event you won’t want to miss. 

 

The Guild has been busy crafting all those special festive gifts including mittens, hats, aprons, quilted items, ornaments and special gourmet and baked goods. Don’t forget the “Unique Boutique” for outstanding values and the Silent Auction for those special one-of-a-kind gifts. The Silent Auction ends when the fair ends at 2 p.m.; successful bidders will be notified at that time.

 

Bring your friends and neighbors to shop and stay for a great corn chowder and sandwich lunch with homemade pies for dessert. Parking and wheelchair accessible entrance available at rear of church – enter at Chestnut Street or come in through the courtyard entrance on Main Street. For more info, call the church office at 435-7471.

 


 

Pittsfield School Board

11/2/2017

Submitted by Ralph Odell

 

The School Board Meeting opened with public input from several parents expressing concerns of bullying and student behavior. The Board listened to the comments, is committed to follow up, and encouraged any parent with concerns about student progress to bring those to the Board. Later in the meeting the Board was presented with steps in place to address the situation.

 

Administrative reports followed with Danielle Harvey reporting that the school has been asked to make a presentation describing curriculum reform at a National Educational Conference. Derek Hamilton reported that $1,200 of food was damaged due to the recent power outage. Tobi Chasse reviewed Special Education activities and expressed concern that students may be better served if a room is set aside allowing for greater individualized instruction. She also described efforts to enhance family engagement. A College Fair is being planned to allow seniors an opportunity to identify features of various institutions within the state.

 

The meeting continued in Non-Public session to discuss budget preparation. The Board also agreed to address bullying as a priority for the year.

 


 

Pittsfield Area Senior Center

 

On Monday, November 20, from 9:00am to 12:00pm, the Pittsfield Senior Center is having a Holiday Season Bake and Craft sale. This would be a great time to pick up homemade pies, cakes, cookies, and other items for your Thanksgiving gathering and do some Christmas shopping. The donations help support the center with funding for small items the center needs. The Pittsfield Senior Center is located on 74 Main St. Pittsfield; it is in the same building as the Pittsfield Community Center. If you have any questions please call at 435-8482.

 

Are you looking to make a difference in the older adult population? Volunteers are needed to help at the Pittsfield Senior Center. One in six seniors are not getting enough food and it has been proven that these types of programs help prevent this and help seniors to stay living independently in their homes. We need some dependable volunteers that will be willing to serve food, wash dishes, and other tasks. Volunteers make these programs a success! Please consider helping out, we have a wide range of needs. Please call 435-8482 if interested.

 


 

Additional Departments Receive Turnout Gear Through 2017 Globe Gear Giveaway

 

Thanks to Globe and DuPont Protection Solutions (DuPont), two more fire departments are each receiving four new sets of state-of-the-art turnout gear. Since 2012, the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has annually partnered with Globe and DuPont to provide fire departments in need with gear to better protect our nation’s responders. The latest recipients are the Tanglewood (TX) Volunteer Fire Department and the Tuscumbia (MO) Fire Protection District.

 

The Tanglewood Volunteer Fire Department is located in Lexington, TX. Its 16 firefighters serve a population of 1,500 residents over 48 square miles and also provide mutual aid to three neighboring departments for structural fires, grass fires, and vehicle accidents. The department is predominantly self-funded and relies heavily on grants and donations for their equipment, repairs, upgrades, and daily operations, which leaves no funding for new or updated gear. One-third of their personnel have only wildland personal protective equipment (PPE), and the rest of the firefighters are outfitted with structural PPE that is over 10 years old and not compliant with current recommended safety standards. One-third of their personnel have only wildland personal protective equipment (PPE), and only 10 of their 16 firefighters are outfitted with structural PPE that is over 10 years old.

 

“Our goal as a volunteer fire department is to continue to grow, train, and improve our capabilities for our community,” said First Assistant Chief Guy Hall. “Our department will greatly benefit from the gear provided by Globe by giving a few of our firefighters up-to-date gear to grant better protection on fires, thus allowing them to be safer and more effective when protecting our community.”

 

The Tuscumbia Fire Protection District (TFPD) is located in the middle of Miller County, MO, and protects 55 square miles with a population of 1,100 permanent residents. In addition to providing mutual aid to surrounding departments, the TFPD sees an influx of over 1,000 transient residents who come into the district to work at the area nursing home, court house, and school. They also have three daycare centers, five major churches, and the county health center in their service area, along with a service station that has 7,000 gallons worth of fuel storage. Two major state highways run through the district, which makes it a major thoroughfare for Fort Leonard Wood Army Post and Whiteman Air Force Base.

 

The TFPD successfully applied for an Assistance to Firefighters Grant to obtain 10 new sets of PPE. However, that was over 10 years ago and now their gear is outdated and considered obsolete according to recommended safety standards. “Receiving this gear will greatly benefit us as well as the citizens we serve and the several other fire departments for which we provide mutual aid,” said TFPD Training Officer Jeremy Phillips.

 

Additional awards through the Globe Gear Giveaway will be made throughout 2017. A total of 52 sets of gear will be distributed to 13 departments in need. Globe also provided NVFC memberships to the first 500 applicants. Stay tuned to the NVFC web site, Dispatch newsletter, and Facebook page, as well as the Globe Facebook page, for additional information and announcements regarding the Globe Gear Giveaway.

 


 

The Pressing Party

Submitted By Carole Soule

Pittsfield GrindingApples-1.jpg

 

Pittsfield Apples1-1.jpg

 

At the pressing party, each person took three to four-minute “shifts” turning the crank that ground the apples into mush. Six bushels of apples waiting to be ground sat on the picnic table; there was a lot of grinding to do. After the grinding comes the pressing which squeezes the apples into cider. One more step, straining, and the DIY (Do It Yourself) cider was ready for sipping.

 

The centerpiece of this operation was a manual cider press worked by three, or more people. One person cranked, another fed in the apples and a third pushed the apples into the grinder to turn them into mush. Once the small bucket was filled with apple mush two people, using a board for leverage, turned a screw to compress the apple mush extracting the cider which was then strained through cheesecloth and poured into gallon jugs ready to drink. The work looked hard (I just watched and took pictures) but the cider was sweet and golden.

 

There was an abundance of apples this year, for most farms. Unfortunately, a micro hailstorm hit one orchard, Hackleboro Orchard in Canterbury, in the spring. This storm missed neighboring orchards but hit Hackleboro hard, damaging apples and pears. It’s odd how one orchard can lose its crop to weather and another, just minutes away, escapes harm. If your apple trees escaped damage this year you might want to try DIY cider.

 

Do you know the difference between apple cider and apple juice? Apple cider is made from apples that have been pressed into raw juice. It takes about 1/3 bushel of apples to make one gallon of cider that must be refrigerated. Cider ferments over time and can turn into “hard cider,” which is alcoholic. Apple juice has been made into a concentrate, then water is added back to it, and it is pasteurized so it can’t ferment. Pasteurization makes apple juice shelf stable and available unrefrigerated year-round.

 

I took home a gallon of cider from this “pressing party” and I also took home two bags the apple mush/pulp to feed to my pigs. The bags from three pressings fed fifteen of my pigs who someday will be bacon. Can you imagine sipping hard cider while munching on a BLT where the B (bacon) is from an apple fed pig?

 

Not everyone has a press to make cider but it’s worth looking for one, especially if you have an apple tree in your backyard. Don’t waste those backyard apples; make cider and let it ferment into hard cider if that suits you, then give the apple pulp to a hog or cattle farmer to feed his critters. You’ll love your DIY cider and the hogs will love the pulp.

 

Carole Soule is co-owner of Miles Smith Farm, in Loudon, NH, where she raises and sells beef, pork, lamb, eggs and other local products. She can be reached at [email protected].

 


 

Letter To The Editor

 

To the good citizens of Pittsfield,

The Town of Pittsfield received our petition on October 26, 2017.

To be decided at Town Meeting 2018. Are you in favor to advise and beg the seletmen to remove the position of building inspector? Instead, form a committee to come up with something that does not discourage investment in Pittsfield and tries to help people.

 

God save the people.

 

I am really surprised at the cross section of voters that signed this petition. I don’t think I’m out on the fringe this time. People recognize that the way this position was written, it did not include: 1. a conflict of interest clause; 2. any certification,; 3. review #1 and #2.

 

The Town will vote on what many of us see as the biggest problem in town at the Saturday meeting in March. I hope we can make it that long.

 

Dan the Stoneman

 


 

Notes From Windy Hollow

Vivian Lee Dion, Contributing Writer

A nearby drive to Pittsfield is fruitful. 

 

My calendar has notations of things promised, places to go, and of course, doctor appointments.  I spent one day visiting and keeping a watchful eye on Emery, a friend’s husband, while his wife was away at a conference.  Emery has early stages of Alzheimer’s and loves to putter around the yard. The abundance of autumn leaves keeps him busy.  At noon, we had a delicious lunch of homemade soup with ham sandwiches. I was happy to help, but I realized the demanding responsibilities of someone with memory problems. It is not easy.  

 

The next day, my calendar was marked, “Get ready for company.” House cleaning, grocery shopping, and other things made the day fly by. I was up at four in the morning baking a cake, and all I could think of having a bear attracted to the smell of the baking cake.  Guess my imagination got the better of me because I envisioned seeing the black bear come crashing through the picture window. Luckily, nothing happened. 

 

The Mah-Jongg players were fun, and the game is quite challenging. Our ages range from late sixties to early nineties, yet we enjoy getting together, chatting, and playing the game.  It’s not just the game of Mah-Jongg that we love; it’s the connection, conversation, and support of friends.  We talk about family, health, friends, and ourselves.  My vanilla bean cake served with chocolate ice cream was a big hit.  But, when they left in the afternoon, my recliner was calling me, and a little nap did wonders.   

 

 When the week-end finally rolled around I was ready for a short ride.  Who says the Sunday ride is a thing of the past?  It was just what I needed to get out of the house, see the remaining foliage, and be with my husband and son.  We headed south on Route 28 and was pleasantly surprised that the road work in Barnstead is completed.  What a perfect job on that long sloping curve.  The road now has an easy turning lane, a wide expansive, unencumbered roadside view, and new guardrails.  Looks like traffic will go smoothly in that stretch of highway, thanks to the DOT crew. 

 

We ended up taking Upper City Road which is a right on Route 28 in Pittsfield. The numerous fields, farms, and woodlands bring back memories of my grandparents’ house in Chester, New Hampshire. They lived on a dirt road, and sometimes sat at the kitchen table watching cars come up a long hill before turning into their drive.  They knew company would arrive within minutes.

 

At the Appleview Farm and Ice Cream Parlor on Upper City Road, we saw cars parked along the side of the road, and families enjoying an autumn open house. We stopped, and relaxed on the porch and watched everyone having fun.  Children were playing games, parents gently pushing swings for their little ones, and families standing in line for a free hayride. Then we spent some time picking out pumpkins and apples before heading back to the car. As we continued our ride, we came upon Rollins pond where a couple was leisurely paddling their red canoe.   Later, we took a right on Route 129, then to Province Road, where the autumn foliage was colorful along the roadside.  Returning to Route 28, we were like horses drawn to the barn, and headed home. 

 

Going on roads that we hadn’t traveled, the scenic views, and our harvest of pumpkins and apples certainly made our ride enjoyable. 

 

Vivian Lee Dion of New Durham is a writer and speaker.

 


 

PIttsfield PTO copy.jpg

THANK YOU to all who donated to the Scholastic “All for Books” drive.  We collected just over $630 and were able to distribute 126 vouchers to students who wouldn’t have otherwise had the opportunity to choose/purchase  a new book from the book fair.  PITTSFIELD, you are amazing!  A huge shout out to the local businesses who allowed us to leave collection boxes at their locations for two weeks- Danis Supermarket, White Sage Boutique, Mike’s Meat Shoppe, Jack’s Pizza, Pittsfield Town Hall, and Jitters Cafe. Thank you all for your support of our children’s education.

 


 

Pittsfield Christmas Tree Lighting and Children’s Store Celebration

 

Save the Date, Saturday, Dec. 2 – the Greater Pittsfield Chamber of Commerce will sponsor the annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Children’s Store Celebration.  

 

The day begins with the Pittsfield Elementary School PTO sponsored Breakfast with Santa.  Breakfast will be served for $3.00 per person or 2 for $5.00 between 8:00-9:30am in the PES Cafeteria.  Photos with Santa will be available for $1.00 each.  This is a fundraising event for the PTO.  Then after a hearty breakfast kids can shop at the Children’s Store at the PES Gym from 9:00-noon.  The Victory Workers 4-H Club will be hosting a Cookie Walk at PES during the Children’s Store – parents will have an activity to keep them busy while the kids shop.

 

Volunteer “elves” will assist shoppers up to age 16 in purchasing gifts for their parents, siblings, teachers or friends.  The Store is open to CHILDREN ONLY – sorry, no adults allowed.  Most of the items are new or nearly new and can be purchased for $1.00 or less.  Some items are more expensive.  There is also free gift wrapping available.  

 

Anyone interested in donating items (new or nearly new), Christmas wrapping paper, GIFT BAGS (the wrappers love gift bags), tags or tape may drop them off to the various donation boxes at Pittsfield Post Office, Pittsfield Town Hall, Northway Bank and Epping Well Co.  People always ask what items are needed – the kids like to buy jewelry, picture frames, gloves, socks, hats, “appropriate” coffee mugs, knick-knacks of all kinds, unburned candles, small tools, flashlights, stuffed animals, calendars- those are just some ideas.  We cannot take any clothing or electrical items.

 

Monetary donations are gladly accepted to help defray some of the costs associated with the event.  Please make checks payable to: Greater Pittsfield Chamber of Commerce and mail to Greater Chamber of Commerce, Attn: Children’s Store/Tree Lighting, P.O. Box 234, Pittsfield, NH  03263.

 

The celebration continues at DUSTIN PARK from 4-6pm (on Sat., Dec. 2) The Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration is fun for the whole family and is a great community event.  There will be FREE horse drawn wagon rides, Holiday music by the Joyce Family, cookies, cocoa, popcorn, and candy canes to enjoy.  Inside PYW (Pittsfield Youth Workshop) there will be a Gingerbread House Display and raffle, visit with SANTA (who will arrive via Firetruck around 4pm), Free pictures with Santa and feel free to bring your own camera.  HOT chili, chowder, and soups will be available for a donation of a canned or packaged food (or purchased for a few dollars) to benefit our LOCAL FOOD PANTRY.

 

HOLIDAY STORY TIME from 4-5:30pm at the Park St. Baptist Church basement (beside PYW) – on Sat, Dec. 2 – All ages are welcome to come and enjoy some Holiday stories.

 

Get in the Holiday Spirit and DECORATE A WREATH and enter it in the Decorated Wreath Contest – decorate it anyway you’d like- drop it off at PYW (Dustin Park) by 3:45pm (on Sat, Dec. 2) and the public will vote for the best one!  Winner will receive a $50 CASH PRIZE.

 

A raffle for a (fresh) Christmas Tree will be held.  Free -One entry per person.  The winner will be able to choose their tree from the selection the Corinthian Lodge Masons will have available.

 

The Highlight of the Celebration will be everyone gathering around the Christmas Tree, singing Holiday songs and counting down to the Lighting of the TREE.  

 

For more information, please contact Andi Riel at 435-6346 or email [email protected] or visit www.pittsfieldchamber.org.

 


Obituaries


 

Henry Adam Flanders

 

Henry Adam Flanders “Bubba”, 40, Whitefield, NH, died on Sunday October 29, 2017 at his home. 

 

He was born in 1977 in Concord, NH to Henry John Flanders and Suzanne Maura.  He grew up in Pittsfield, graduating from Pittsfield High School.  Henry was a self-employed landscaper and mechanic who enjoyed working on cars in his free time. 

 

He is survived by his fiance, Amanda Hannaford, of Whitefield, NH; a son, Gavin Nason, of Wakefield, NH; a daughter, Amiah Johnson, of Ossipee, NH; mother, Suzanne Maura, of Whitefield NH; father, Henry Flanders, of Loudon NH; two sisters,  Christie Brown, of Deerfield, NH; and Amanda White Burrows of Milton, NH; a brother, James White of Loudon, NH; two nieces, four nephews, six uncles, and two aunts.

 

A Celebration of Henry’s Life was celebrated on Saturday, November 11 at the Pines Community Center, Northfield, NH.  In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make donations to a fund for Drug awareness https://dm2.gofund.me/a29uz-drug-awareness For more information or to share memories and condolences go to www.RossFuneral.com.

 


 

Herman G. Fries

 

PITTSFIELD- Herman Gerhard Fries, 79, of Pittsfield passed away peacefully at his home on November 7, 2017 with his devoted wife, Sheila, by his side.

 

Herm was born in West Peru, ME in 1937 and was the son of Gerhard and Ingeborg Fries.  He grew up in Bridgewater, MA where he attended high school and went on to graduate from New England College.  Herm’s professional career began in the 60’s where he worked for IBM during the formative years of the computer industry.  He would spend his entire career in the computer field working for computer giants such as Digital, RCA, Sperry, and Unisys among others.  His later semi-retirement years were as an independent contractor in the computer department for the Merrimack Valley School District.

 

Herm enjoyed a very active retirement. He cherished family gatherings and watching his four grandchildren compete in a multitude of activities.  He loved getting together for family events, and would never say “No” to any invitation to a dance recital, softball game, football game, soccer game, scout event, or robotics tournament.  

 

He was perhaps best known for his obsession with all things tennis.  He was previously a long-time member at the Concord Racquet Club and Bow Brook Club, and more recently he obtained icon-status at Gilford Hills Tennis & Fitness Club where he was at the epicenter of all league activities. Herm played tennis until his final days and would take on all challengers – recently competing with and against players ranging in ages from 11 to 86.

 

His greatest passion, however, was simply spending time with his beloved wife of 52 years. The pair were married in Bridgewater MA in 1965. They settled in Pittsfield in 1967 and would go on to have three loving children, Lisa (Fries) Albright of Seabrook; Andrew Fries, of Epsom; and Daniel Fries of San Diego CA.

 

Herm is predeceased by his two older brothers, Rudolph and Burkhard Fries of Bridgewater, and his younger sister, Marilene White of Prince Edward Island. Along with his wife and three children, Herm is survived by his two sons-in-law, Joe Jamonte of San Diego and Bob Albright of Seabrook, daughter-in-law Lisa (Grainger) Fries of Epsom and four grandchildren, Emily and Fuller Albright and Nathan and Lucas Fries.

 

Calling Hours were held on Sunday, November 12th in the Still Oaks Funeral & Memorial Home in Epsom. In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be made to the American Heart Association, (http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/).  To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.stilloaks.com

 


 


 

 











 

 

 

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