REMINDER
BCEP
Change of Hours
Effective January 1, 2018 B.C.E.P. Solid Waste will have new hours
of operation:
Tuesday
– Saturday 8:00AM – 4:00PM
Scales
close at 3:45PM
Closed
Sundays and Mondays
This is
a last call for anyone in the region who wants to participate in the
American Legion Peterson-Cram Post 75 Turkey raffle and all the
trimmings. All money and tickets MUST be turned in by December
14, 2017 for the drawing on December 16th. Contact Post 75
Adjutant, Merrill Vaughan at either his home phone (435-5207) or his
cell (603) 340-1375 if you have any questions or if you want to
participate in the drawing.
Letter To The Editor
Although Dan Schroth is petitioning “to advise and beg the selectmen
to remove the position of building inspector,” Dan’s letter in last
week’s Sun made clear that Dan’s complaint is with the current
building inspector himself and not with the position that Dan’s
petition supposedly seeks to remove.
In last
week’s Sun, Dan wrote, “What I meant to say was the Building
Inspector is a building contractor in town. He bids against his
competitors. If he loses the bid, he gets to inspect his
competition’s work.” Dan’s clear innuendo is that the building
inspector enforces the state building code selectively. If the
building inspector does enforce the state building code selectively,
then Dan can bring examples of selective enforcement to the board of
selectmen to remove the building inspector for cause. But so far,
Dan has stated no actual examples of selective enforcement and has
not sought removal for cause. Dan has just made innuendo.
I have
an open mind and am eager to hear Dan’s examples of selective
enforcement if he can actually cite any. But Dan’s failure to cite
any examples of selective enforcement so far suggests that he has no
examples, and vague and unsupported accusations and innuendo will do
little for me except to suggest that Dan may be hiding a different
reason for wanting to get rid of the current building inspector.
Jim
Pritchard
Men’s Christmas Shopping Day
Are you
behind on Christmas Shopping? Do you dread crowded stores during the
Holiday season? Do you always get the wrong gift or the wrong size
and color?
Come
and join us on Saturday, December 16th, from 10 am to 2pm. The team
at the Sanctuary Bodyworks and Sauna will be happy to give you a
tour, assist and advise you in picking the perfect Christmas present
for that special someone in your life. We offer gift certificates
for Skin Care, Therapeutic Massage and Sauna Therapy, in addition to
beauty, healthy living and self-care products. Hot Stone Massage
gift certificates will be 20% off. Light refreshments and
complimentary gift-wrapping included. We are located at 175
Barnstead Rd, in Pittsfield, at the end of route 107.
Donna
Keeley presented the Paul Harris Fellowship to Past President Lynn
Marston at the December 6 meeting of the Suncook Valley Rotary Club.
In becoming a Paul Harris Fellow, Lynn joins a remarkable company of
persons throughout the world, all recognized for their devotion to
the ideal of goodwill, peace and understanding. It is the goal
of Rotarians the world over, and one that Lynn clearly shares.
From The Farm - Weaning The Calves
Submitted By Carole Soule
It’s weaning time on the farm, that special time of year
when we are kept up all night by the mooing of the cows calling to
their calves. The eight Highlander calves we’re weaning have been
eating grass and hay for months and while they like to nurse they
don’t have to. We try to plan all the births in the spring so that
we can wean the babies six months later, in the fall.
Our
cattle are raised for beef but dairy operations work differently.
Dairy calves are born all year and are weaned shortly after birth.
The main purpose of a dairy cow is to produce milk. By weaning the
calf, milk can be collected from the cow. Dairy cows are typically
milked twice a day, twelve hours apart. Some backyard farms with one
or two cows let the calf nurse once a day then the farmer milks the
cow the other time. This allows the farmer to “take a break” from
twice a day milking.
We
don’t milk our cows, except in an emergency, but we do wean them at
six months for a couple of reasons. Most of the moms are pregnant so
instead of nursing, energy can go into nourishing the fetus. We also
keep the calves together so they get their fair share of food. In a
herd of large cows, the smallest critters are often kept from the
best food by the bigger more aggressive cattle so it’s important to
keep them separate.
Another
reason is “socialization.” We’ve watched the calves grow and frolic
all summer but now it’s time to handle them to get them used to
people. Each calf is haltered and tied securely to a solid object.
Never having been restrained before, most resist. They will pull
back, flip in the air, jump straight up with all four feet off the
ground, flop on the ground, run back and forth and kick. It’s best
they take out their frustrations on a post and not me. Each calf can
weigh 150 to 300 pounds and in mid-flight, an airborne calf can be
dangerous.
After a
few hours of being tied most calves settle down. Cattle are pretty
lazy and once they realize they are not going to be hurt they start
to explore. I walk between the calves petting them and calling them
by name at feeding time. Some will come over and sniff and lick me.
Now is the time I learn about each personality. Every calf has a
name tag so I can remember which calves lick and which ones kick.
Based on their personalities this is also when the calves get their
jobs. Some will grow up to be mothers, some to be working steers or
ambassadors and some will be in the beef program.
Right
now, I’m not thinking of their future jobs but I am having fun with
the “weaners” as we call them. Soon we’ll be leading them all over
the farm. Stop by if you want to get to know these cuties and join
in the fun. There is nothing so joyous as a pen of weaned
Highlanders looking for attention.
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].
Kids’ Theater Workshop Auditions For Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jr.
The
Pittsfield Players will hold auditions for their 2018 Kids’ Theater
Workshop production of Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jr. at The Scenic
Theatre, 6 Depot St. in Pittsfield on Sunday and Monday, December 17
and 18 at 4 pm both days. Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jr. takes us
back to the 1920’s, the Jazz Age, when flappers were in style and
bobbed haircuts were the rage. The show has 8 major roles, 7
featured roles and many parts for the ensemble as a whole. There’s
lots of acting, singing and dancing, and tons of fun to be had in
this year’s Kids’ Theater Workshop.
Those
auditioning will be taught a song from the show and asked to sing in
a group and, if they wish, as a solo. They’ll also learn a few
simple dance steps and be asked to read from the script. . If you
are interested in working behind the scenes on the show, please come
to the auditions to sign up for tech crew.
The
Kids’ Theater Workshop is a program by kids for kids ages 8 to 18,
and participants not only perform on stage but also work behind the
scenes, learning about set design and construction, set painting,
stage managing, stage lighting and sound and costumes and make-up.
The group rehearses two days a week after school and on Saturdays
and then performs the show at two matinees for local schools and
three evening shows for the general public. This year, the shows
will be performed February 20 through 24, with a set strike and cast
party on Sunday, February 25. For further information, contact
director Maye Hart at [email protected].
Letter To The Editor
VILLAGE
DISTRICT AND PITTSFIELD AQUEDUCT PURCHASE- A BAD IDEA!
We, the
undersigned, are occasionally required by law as members of
the Select Board to put our signatures on notices and documents that
we are in direct opposition to. Such is the case with the
establishment of a Village Water District, the calling for a Special
Meeting of the voters domiciled within said ‘Village District,’ and
any other document that would, at first glance, appear that we favor
these concepts.
Please
consider this our public personal repudiation of both the idea of
creating a ‘Village District’ in any form, regardless of boundaries,
as well as our opposition to the idea that the Town of Pittsfield
would be well served by purchasing Pittsfield Aqueduct Company.
Space
limitations will not allow us to counter virtually every claim being
put before the public by the ‘Pittsfield Aqueduct Committee.’ We
feel it is critical for all registered voters in the Town of
Pittsfield to attend the meeting to be held Sat., Dec. 16, at the
Pittsfield Elementary School at 10 AM to hear the truth about the
long term ramifications of moving forward with creating a Village
District and further massive expenditures to purchase the Aqueduct
Company.
Every
registered voter in Pittsfield, whether you’re on town water or not,
would be affected if a Village District were to be formed and
consequently we have made sure everyone registered will get a vote.
We are signing this ‘letter to the editor’ personally and not as an
official document of the Select Board of Pittsfield.
Jim
Allard,
Carole
Richardson,
Jim
Adams,
Carl
Anderson
Candlelight Christmas Eve
Join
your friends and neighbors and bring the whole family to a wonderful
traditional candlelight service Sunday, December 24, Christmas Eve,
7 p.m., at the First Congregational Church, 24 Main St., Pittsfield.
The service includes beautiful music by the Chancel Choir and the
JuBellation Handbell Choir, scripture lessons, the story of the
first Christmas, the sanctuary shimmering in candlelight and the
singing of “Silent Night.” Include this lovely evening service in
your holiday plans. Parking and wheelchair accessible entry are
available at rear of church at Chestnut Street. For more
information, call the church office at 435-7471.
5 REASONS TO ATTEND THE SPECIAL VILLAGE DISTRICT MEETING
(1)The
vote on whether to create a Village Water District (the purpose of
which is to move forward with procuring Pittsfield Aqueduct Co.)
will affect you, no matter where you live in Pittsfield. It
was for this reason that the Select Board, who are charged with
setting the bounds whether they think a Village District is a good
idea or not, included the entire town within the Village District.
The majority of the Board felt that everyone affected deserves a
vote!
*How
does a Village District affect residents who don’t have municipal
water? One of the “money saving” ideas that has been floated
is to do at least some of the repairs by using our town highway
dept. Do we really want our plow crews digging up frozen water
lines when a storm is coming? Sounds like more employees would
be needed. Another part of the equation is that billing would
be done through the town tax collector’s office. That office
doesn’t have the staff that would be required to take on this added
task, also requiring additional help. Pennichuck pays over
$200,000 in annual real estate tax which we would lose if the
Village District owned their assets- the town would get ZERO!
(2)
A persistent theme from the supporters of purchasing Pittsfield
Aqueduct Co. is that shareholders (the City of Nashua) are only
interested in profiting from us and don’t care anything about
Pittsfield. The truth is that the City of Nashua is prohibited
by the terms of their purchase of the company from taking ANY
dividends or profits from Pittsfield Aqueduct. The NH Public
Utilities Company approved the purchase on water rates that are
based on cost of services ONLY. Furthermore, the scare tactics
being spread claiming that Nashua could, if it needed an infusion of
capital, subdivide and sell land around the Berry Pond watershed,
with impunity, are false. Not only do the purchase terms
prohibit Nashua from taking any profits, the State of NH Dept. of
Environmental Services Drinking Water and Groundwater Bureau and the
Drinking Water Source Protection Program have numerous safeguards in
place that would prevent any such sale of land that could affect the
Berry Pond reservoir. Have you ever been on the wrong side of
the Dept. of Environmental Services? Reportedly it’s not a
place anyone wants to be.
(3)
Assisting Locke Lake Colony during the drought last year is being
painted as a picture of “our” water supply being threatened by a
Barnstead development, because Pennichuck trucked water to
help support our many friends and relatives who live in Locke Lake
Colony. They were under the most severe use restrictions.
Pittsfield? NO restrictions! Why? Because Berry Pond’s
recovery rate of 450,000 gallons a day is 3 times the highest use
days Pittsfield ever sees. Trucking water is not a viable long
term solution to Locke Lakes supply issues and a plan is being
formulated by Pennichuck and the NH DES to tap into reservoirs in
Barnstead.
(4)
Another scare tactic being promulgated is that Pennichuck could
start bottling water and selling it elsewhere. False! Again,
profits couldn’t be taken from such a company; water bottlers must
be licensed by the state, with the first caveat for a license being
no threat to any aquifer; and surface waters such as Berry Pond
must, by their nature, be treated with chemicals, thus rendering it
useless on a bottled water market.
(5)
MONEY! It always comes down to this. Another $200,000 for
engineering on top of the $130,000 + or – that has already been
spent JUST TO BRING THE CONCEPT OF AN EMMINENT DOMAIN FORCED SALE TO
A VOTE! The vote would then be whether to spend $4,000,000+ on
a buyout of Pittsfield Aqueduct! And that assumes no legal costs to
conduct an eminent domain “taking.” Legal costs could easily
turn into hundreds of thousands of dollars- all to buy an entity
that we don’t need with literally no quantifiable evidence that
ratepayers or taxpayers would save a dime. Pittsfield Aqueduct
Company has NEVER, since its inception in the 1800’s, been owned by
the town. In part because Pennichuck is regulated by NH DES and NH
PUC (which a Village District would not be) we go to the tap, turn
it on, and we get good water at a fair price. Why would we
create another town bureaucracy that we literally could never get
rid of, and risk what we’ve got? YOUR VOICE IS NEEDED AT 10 AM SAT.,
DEC. 16 AT P.E.S. TO DECIDE IF WE NEED THIS. PLEASE ATTEND!!!!
Information sources: Rick Skirinka, NH DES Drinking Water Bureau;
Mark Naylor, Director, NH Public Utilities Water Division; Minutes
and recording of Pittsfield Aqueduct Purchase Committee meetings;
Aqueduct Purchase Progress (report) by Fred Okrent; Larry Goodhue,
CEO, CFO and Treasurer, Pennichuck Corp.; Donald Ware, COO,
Pennichuck Corp.
Pittsfield Old Time Trades 2018 Calendar
An early maple syrup wagon pictured on Upper City Road is
described in the 2018 Pittsfield Historical Society calendar along
with several other early trades. Available now for $10.
Several
occupations common in the 1800’s are rarely practiced today.
Pittsfield’s blacksmith shops, carriage builders, stage coach
operators, water and steam powered sawmills, farming, grocery
delivery services, and peddlers wagons are all depicted and
described in the 2018 calendar from the Pittsfield Historical
Society. Included is an overview of the old time trades
written by Larry Berkson along with fourteen vintage photographs
with descriptions.
Calendars can be purchased at the Pittsfield Town offices, the
Josiah Carpenter Library, the Pittsfield Historical Society
headquarters on most Tuesday mornings between 9 am and noon, or by
calling Fuzz Freese at 603-435-7777. Cost is still only $10.
Don’t leave 2017 without one.
Thank You
In
appreciation of such a great event as the tree lighting at Dustin
Park in Pittsfield. In addition, to the tree lighting, Santa, music,
carol singing, horse drawn wagon rides, hot chocolate, cookies,
popcorn, open house at PYW, gingerbread houses, wreaths. All FREE!
Where
else could you bring your family and not spend a fortune?
Thank
you!
“Reny”
Boyd
A Kid
at Heart
The South Pittsfield Community Club held its Christmas Party
this year at Jill Metcalf’s home in South Pittsfield. Good
food, good company, lots of fun, and a Yankee Swap made for a very
merry evening.
Obituaries
Mary Frenette
Pittsfield - Mary Frenette, age 82, of Norris Road
passed away peacefully with her family by her side on December 5,
2017 at Epsom Health Care Center.
She was
born in Concord, NH, the daughter of the late Sarkis and Yexa
(Stevens) Minassian.
She was
predeceased by her husband Arthur J. Frenette, Sr., who passed away
in 2005; and her brother and sisters.
Mary is
survived by her three children, Arthur Frenette, Jr., and his
companion Lynn Labrie of Bath, Laura Foss and her husband Steven of
Pittsfield, and Stephen S. Frenette of Pittsfield; five
granddaughters, five great grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
Visiting Hours and Funeral Services will not be held.
Burial
will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Pittsfield.
The
Waters Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
In lieu
of flowers donations may be made in Mary’s memory to the Alzheimer’s
Association, NH Office, 1 Bedford Farms Drive Suite 105, Bedford, NH
03110.
William Edwin Marland, III
William Edwin Marland, III, 60, of Pittsfield, passed away
unexpectedly at work doing what he loved on Monday, December 4,
2017.
He was
born on April 26, 1957 in Fall River, MA, son of William Edwin
Marland Jr of Wrentham, MA and the late Joyce Ida (Maggiacomo)
Marland. He was a graduate of King Philip Regional High School
Class of 1975 in Wrentham, MA and later attended Fitchburg State
College in Fitchburg, MA.
William
was passionate about his faith, he had a great love for the lord,
his family and his church family. In 1999, he was blessed to be part
of a team working to build their church’s new home at Word of Life
Christian Fellowship in Concord and he couldn’t have been more proud
of that accomplishment. In 2017 William and Claire became members of
Portsmouth Believers Church in Portsmouth, NH and truly enjoyed
their time together traveling there. He was an Eagle Scout and
enjoyed playing hockey during high school. He spent several years as
an Industrial Arts Teacher in Merrimack Valley High and Pittsifeld
High. He had fond memories growing up of his time spent at the
family summer cottage with his grandparents and his cousins Kathy
and David. He was a Master Carpenter by trade and excelled at that
skill and vocation, running his own business, Classic Structures of
Pittsfield, NH. In his off time he enjoyed time with his family,
especially the time with his wife Claire when she made his favorite
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies and Carrot Cake. He loved to relax riding his
motorcycle, golfing or fishing with his dad or anyone else who
wanted to join him. William was a family man and above all else his
family was his world, Sunday dinners and the time with his wife,
children and grandchildren brought him true happiness.
William
is survived by his wife Claire (Miner) Marland of Pittsfield, with
whom he shared 32 years; children, Chris Moody and his significant
other Louise Perrino of Pittsfield, Tessie Vaillancourt and her
husband Alexander, who was better known to William as his #1
son-in-law, of New Durham, Claire Grandmaison and her husband Scotty
of Concord, Kenneth Moody and his significant other LeAnne Silva of
Pittsfield; siblings, Stephen Marland and his wife Bernadette of MA,
Mary Werner and her husband Mark of CA, John Marland and his wife
Janet of MA; grandchildren, Christopher, Zachary, Alyssa, Megan,
Dylan, Lucas, Jessica, Emma, Sophia, Aaron, Alex, Stevanie, Brittni,
Nathanial, Madisyn, Kenny, Annabelle, Emily, Tessie, Kole, Nicholas,
Quinn, Bailey, Jacob, Seth, Jimmy, and Noel; great grandchildren,
Brayden, Leora, Bentley and Asher as well as numerous nieces,
nephews and cousins. Pepere will always be remembered for his
moose-licks, back in the balls and Fe fi fo fum.
A
Celebration of Life was held on Monday, December 11th at the Word of
Life Christian Fellowship, 95 Old Loudon Road, Concord. In lieu of
flowers, donations in his memory may be made to assist Claire in the
coming weeks and months ahead at
https://www.gofundme.com/afterlife-expenses. Assisting the
family with arrangements is the Petit-Roan Funeral Home in Pembroke.
To share a memory or offer a condolence please visit
www.petitroan.com.
Ronald
A. Vien
PITTSFIELD – Ronald A. Vien, 70, of Pittsfield, passed away on
Friday, December 8, 2017 with his family by his side at the CRVNA
Hospice House in Concord.
Born on
February 19, 1947 in Pittsfield, son of the late Alpha “Scuffy” and
Jeannette (Rollins) Vien. He was educated in the local schools and
went on to become a Firefighter/Paramedic working for the Concord
Fire Department for over 21 years, during which time he attended NH
Technical Institute and received an Associate’s degree in general
science with a major in Paramedic science. He also worked for the
Pittsfield Fire Department as training officer and Deputy Fire
Warden. Ronald was also employed by the Pittsfield Water Treatment
Plant for the last 20 years as the superintendent until his
retirement a few months ago.
Mr.
Vien was a member of the Masonic Lodge – Corinthian #82 in
Pittsfield as well as the Horace Chase Lodge #72 in Penacook. He
cherished his time spent being a Pepere’ and spoiling his
grandchildren, fishing or hunting.
Besides
his parents, Ronald was predeceased by two sisters, Brenda Gadwah,
Gloria J. Mullen and two brothers, Richard Vien and Randy Vien.
He is
survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Eleanor (Scott) Vien of
Pittsfield, son Randolph Vien and his wife Michelyn of Pittsfield,
daughter Jeannette Engelmann and her husband Ronald of Pittsfield,
sisters, Linda Turner of Chesapeake, VA, Tina Waddle and her husband
Scott of Pittsfield, brother, Edward Vien and his wife Laurie of
Pittsfield, grandchildren, Matthew and Erich Engelmann of Lee,
Kellie, Jocelyn and Richard Vien of Pittsfield, aunts, Belle Rollins
of Center Barnstead and Marjorie Rollins of Pittsfield as well as
numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Calling
hours will be held on Wednesday, December 13, 2017 from
4:00pm-7:00pm at the Still Oaks Funeral and Memorial Home, 1217
Suncook Valley Highway, Epsom. A Mass of Christian Burial will be
held on Thursday, December 14, 2017 at 10:00am at Our Lady of
Lourdes Church, River Road, Pittsfield, NH. Burial will follow at
Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Pittsfield. In lieu of flowers, donations may
be made in Ronald’s name to CRVNA Hospice Program, 33 Pillsbury
Street, Concord, NH 03301 or to Pittsfield Food Pantry, P. O. Box 3,
Pittsfield, NH 03263. To share a memory or offer a condolence,
please visit www.stilloaks.com
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