The
Northwood CrankPullers Snowmobile Club will be hosting a Snowmobile
Safety Course for ages 12-15 at the Lake Shore Farm (275 Jenness
Pond Rd, Northwood) on Saturday, December 2nd from 8 am to 3 pm.
Lunch will be provided. To register, contact Jeremy DeTrude @
603-833-7063 (no charge for course but donations are always
welcome). Space is limited so call early. And as always, we
really appreciate our landowners and are always looking for new
members. www.northwoodcrankpullers.com
Letter To The Editor
The
Pittsfield Board of Selectmen recently voted “to rescind
administration of zoning ordinances from the office of the building
inspector effective November 1st.” This vote makes the board of
selectmen the zoning administrator in some situations.
The
selectmen’s vote is curious. I have attended almost all meetings of
the zoning board of adjustment (ZBA) for 14 years, and I have been
an unpaid volunteer working in the zoning office for a year and
half. None of the five selectmen has attended ZBA meetings regularly
or even sporadically. None of the five selectmen has worked in the
zoning office. By contrast, the building inspector was on the ZBA
for several years, and he has several years’ experience in zoning
administration.
Since
the building inspector assumed the administrative responsibilities
of former zoning secretary Dee Fritz--a board of selectmen
employee--the zoning office has made substantial improvements.
Applicants get more help with their applications, the zoning office
processes applications very quickly, the office keeps full
electronic copies of all applications, and the office forwards the
electronic copies to ZBA members promptly. But despite the building
inspector’s experience and the improvements made under his
leadership, and despite the board of selectmen’s almost complete
lack of experience, “The board [of selectmen] feels it can develop
more effective and efficient systems to enhance customer service.”
This
goal seems unlikely to happen. Zoning administration by a committee
that has almost no on-committee experience and that must give
24-hour public notice before every meeting is likely to be tedious,
inefficient, and chaotic. Zoning administration will be better and
fairer if a person with experience does it.
Jim
Pritchard
Letter
To The Editor
Oh,
give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures
forever.” Psalm 107:1
You may
ask yourself, “How can God be good when there is so much evil in the
world?” You may even find it difficult to be thankful with all the
pain, sickness, sorrow and suffering.
As the
thief on the cross appropriately put it, “we receive the due reward
of our deeds.”
You
see, Scripture tells us that all have sinned and come short of God’s
standard (Romans 3:23) with the wages of sin being death (Romans
6:23). From the time Adam and Eve “did eat of the apple” we have
been condemned (eternally separated from our Creator). This is the
bad news.
Now for
the good news…
God has
revealed throughout the pages of Scripture His perfect plan of
redemption. Jesus Christ is our Passover Lamb. He came to earth (in
the form of a man) to do the will of the Father. He lived a perfect
(sinless) life, died on Calvary to pay the penalty for our sin, and
rose from the grave in three days, overcoming death. He is the
resurrection, and the life: he that believes in Him, though he were
dead, yet shall he live (John 11:25). If you believe this you have
been eternally reconciled to your Heavenly Father through the blood
of His Son (Jesus Christ), nevermore to be separated.
“Our
forefathers had it right when they proclaimed, “Whereas it is the
duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God,
to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly
implore His protection, aid and favors…”
Thank
you, Lord, for dealing lovingly with us, withholding what we deserve
and giving what we don’t deserve. This is where grace and mercy
meet!
Eternally Grateful,
Linda
Small
Letter To The Editor
To The
Editor:
I
attended the 14 Nov. Select Board meeting and learned that
Pittsfield is not a town that respects the goals and intentions of
people who donate for the good of the town.
In 2016
I made a proposal to the Select Board to provide land for an
addition to the Carpenter Library. I made it entirely clear that
my primary objective was to benefit the library.
The
town accepted my proposal and I did all that I stated I would.
I purchased two lots, demolished some structures and realigned
the boundaries to create two conforming lots. I donated one to the
library and the other to the town.
The lot
donated to the town would be sold for redevelopment. With the
expectation that any such development would not hinder the library’s
ability to use its lot.
It
didn’t work out that way. Selectman Carl Anderson is promoting a
proposal that will build back some of the structure which
was demolished to allow space and access for a library addition.
The construction which will occur if the proposal is accepted, will
work against this.
Anderson justifies his support for this proposal by saying that it
should occur because it is not specifically prohibited. But if the
Board honours the intention of the donations - benefiting the
Library - this construction is prohibited.
It is
discouraging to watch this attempt to undo what I created for the
town. When others contemplating donations observe how the
town treats such efforts, they may well put their efforts elsewhere.
I am no longer motivated to help Pittsfield, even though I am at a
stage in life when I can.
Once
again - Pittsfield loses. All because Selectman Anderson is
determined to Make Pittsfield Greedy Again.
Bill
Miskoe
Letter
Select
Board meeting 11/14/17
We were
introduced to the newly hired firefighter/emt Joseph Anderson who
replaces Ken White on the department. He strikes us as capable,
enthusiastic and respectful and we welcome him to Pittsfield.
Fred
Endler was appointed to the Community Development Committee.
A $500
contribution to the Floral Park fence fund was accepted with thanks
from Nathan Robinson in memory of his grandfather Dr. Fred Robinson
who is buried here.
Most of
the evening was taken up with the first of two public hearings
relative to a proposal by Jim Gamble to purchase 33 Main St. to
rehab, with one or two businesses on the first floor and two
residential apartments above. Mr. Gamble proposes to restore the
present building adding a wheelchair access to the first floor and
another means of egress at the rear. The second hearing for Mr.
Gamble’s proposal will be at our next meeting 11/28.
A
submission by Larry Berkson to purchase the property, demolish the
building and then deed the land to the Historical Society was
accepted for consideration and submission to the planning board and
conservation commission for their recomendation. Timing may be an
issue, given the requirements for hearings and recomendations
imposed on us by law and policy, as well as bad weather sure to
come. I guess we’ll see how it all shakes out- both proposals have
merit and we will have tough decisions to make.
Carl
Anderson
Letter To The Editor
Planning
Board Public Hearings
On
November 2, the Pittsfield Planning Board had its first public
hearing on the proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance, and the
planning board would like to thank the people who attended the
meeting. Unfortunately, the business of the night kept the public
hearings on the zoning amendments from starting until 9:30 PM. We
apologize to those people who attended the meeting but had to leave
before the public hearings began.
The
planning board has scheduled a second public hearing for Thursday,
November 30, at 7:00 PM at the town hall. To ensure that no delays
happen on November 30, the board will schedule no other business for
the November 30 meeting. The public hearing will start promptly at
7:00 PM.
For the
convenience of people who cannot attend the November 30 meeting, the
planning board will accept written testimony and questions prior to
the meeting. The planning board looks forward to our discussions
regarding these issues. Full copies of the amendments can be found
online at pittsfieldnh.gov or at the town hall.
Clayton
Wood
Pittsfield Planning Board Chair
From The Farm - Power Outage And Generators
Submitted By Carole Soule
Next to
us at the gas pump, a man was filling a container with gas. The guy
in front of us pulled a container from his car and filled that as we
pumped fuel into the generator strapped to our flatbed truck. Two
days after the tree uprooting storm that flattened much of New
Hampshire we were all trying to cope by keeping generators filled
with fuel.
We have
a large generator that kicks in a minute after the power cuts out.
This generator is in a concrete building built into the hillside. It
is so quiet we only see the lights flicker as it takes over powering
the farm during its regular Sunday test run. Test runs are important
to make sure the unit functions in an emergency. One generator in
the neighborhood was not so silent so for four days, while the power
was out, we slept to the purring of what sounded like a loud
lawnmower. The rumble from our neighbor’s generator was a constant
reminder that the power was out.
Our
generator is fueled by a two-hundred-fifty-gallon tank which we had
topped off with diesel the day after the storm. While this generator
kept our farm fences charged, freezer and refrigerator units running
and most importantly, provided water for our livestock, it was not
much help to our remote pastures. The fence at a remote pasture in
Gilmanton, where 18 head of our cattle were still grazing, needed
power. The cattle had already discovered they could escape through
the un-charged wire so it was critical we get power to the fence
energizer which was why we were filling our portable generator that
day at the fuel pumps.
As I
watched the others fill their containers with gas and we filled our
generator I thought about how lucky we were to have fuel to buy. Our
power was out for four days but there are people in Puerto Rico who
are still powerless after more than forty-five days with limited
fuel to fill their generators. St. Croix, a US Virgin Island, isn’t
doing much better. Telephone poles knocked over by Hurricane Irma
were repaired only to be taken down again two weeks later by
Hurricane Maria. Even with the poles replaced there is a shortage of
transformer boxes used to convert power from the transmission wires
so that homes can use it. Half of St. Croix is still without power,
the hospital is damaged, generators have been running so long
they’ve broken and everyone is waiting for FEMA inspectors and
insurance inspectors. Compared to St. Croix’s trials, our storm
seemed like a breeze.
We did
get power to the electric fence at our remote pasture in Gilmanton
but then the farm generator overheated on Thursday and quit. As we
were working to fix it, thankfully, our power was restored. Most
everyone has power now and we just have to finish cleaning up the
downed trees to get back to normal. I guess it’s time to start
preparing for the next power outage to keep those cows from running
down the highway or worse, having pigs terrorize the neighbors.
After all, good electric fences make good neighbors and quiet
generators make even better neighbors.
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].
Festive Christmas Concert
Plan to
attend the annual Christmas concert coming Friday, December 8, 7
p.m. at the First Congregational Church, 24 Main St., Pittsfield.
This special concert entitled, “Christmas Jubilation,” will feature
the church’s Chancel Choir and the JuBellation Handbell Choir. Add
this fun, festive family event to your holiday celebrations! Parking
and wheelchair accessible entry located at rear of church at
Chestnut Street. For more information, call the church office at
435-7471.
Thanksgiving Eve Service Wednesday
A
community-wide Thanksgiving Eve service will be held, Wednesday,
November 22, 6:30 p.m. at the First Congregational Church, 24 Main
Street, Pittsfield. It’s a good way to think about your blessings
and give thanks. Pastors of First Congregational and Joy Church are
participating. 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.
TOPS News
Left to Right- Sister Claire, Sister Janice, Sister
Denise, Sister Mary
Our
TOPS chapter recently honored the Sisters of Berakah with a meal of
a variety of appetizers. Gift bags were also given to show
our appreciation to them for graciously allowing us meet in their
facility for several years. It has been a great meeting space
for us. We have also enjoyed their hospitality to the chapter
at various times. Beginning Dec. 5, our chapter will be
meeting at the Joy Church, 55 Barnstead Rd. Pittsfield. We
still meet Tuesdays 6:30. If you have questions, call Pat 435-5444
or Beth 435-7397.
Central New Hampshire VNA & Hospice Helps With Holidays
Central
New Hampshire VNA and Hospice will hold celebrations of life in five
different locations on Saturday, December 9th at 11:00 a.m. All are
welcome to attend. The Tree of Memories celebrations provide
an opportunity for people to remember the lives of family, friends
and neighbors by placing an inscribed porcelain dove, a symbol of
serenity, peace and tranquility, on one of five lit trees. A dove
need not be purchased – anyone experiencing the loss of a loved one
can be comforted at one of the commemorations. Services will
be held at the Alton Town Hall, in the lobby of the Medical Arts
Building at Huggins Hospital in Wolfeboro, the Wakefield Town Hall,
the Main Street Building in Ossipee and Moulton Farm in Meredith.
A
moving ceremony will be held at each location. There will be music
and moments of remembrance, devotions, and the placing of inscribed
doves on a lit tree. Those who participate in this poignant ceremony
often experience a deep sense of renewal and a new feeling of unity
and closeness to their loved ones and friends.
Hundreds of doves are requested each year and they stay on the trees
throughout the month of December. The proceeds from the sale of the
doves are used to improve the lives of people living in Lakes Region
communities served by Central New Hampshire VNA and Hospice. To
purchase a dove in the name of a loved one or friend, contact
Central New Hampshire VNA at 800-244-8549. In order to ensure that
your dove will be ready for the ceremony, please do so by December
1st.
Today,
hospice continues to carry out the work of Dame Cicely Mary
Saunders, known as the founder of the modern hospice movement. In
1967 she opened St. Christopher’s Hospital in South London, the
first purpose built hospice. Her work continues on today throughout
the world. Hospice is a special kind of care unlike any other. The
hospice philosophy recognizes that the dying process is a part of
the normal process of living and focuses on enhancing the quality of
remaining life. For more information about the hospice program, go
to
www.centralvna.org.
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