REMINDER
The
Pittsfield Historical Society will hold its annual meeting on
January 10, 2017 at the Society headquarters at 13 Elm St. The
meeting will start at 7:00 PM.
REMINDER
Casting
call for 40th and final year of the Dove Singers. Singers, techies
and musicians, among other roles, are needed. First rehearsal is at
Emmanuel Baptist Church, 14 Mammoth Road, Manchester, on Monday,
January 9th at 7 p.m. Open to all, just bring yourself. www.dovesingers.org
REMINDER
Due to
unforeseen circumstances, the January meeting for the American
Legion Peterson-Cram Post 75 is cancelled. The next scheduled
meeting will be on February 6, 2017 at 7:30 pm in the Post Home, 3
Loudon Rd. More information for the meeting will be plans for the
upcoming year.
If you
are new to the area and looking to join our organization, you can
still do so. If you have any questions, please, feel free to
contact me the Post First Vice Commander at 603-344-0264.
Letter To The Editor
The
Pittsfield Board of Selectman would like to thank Bill Miskoe for
his gift of two properties which he purchased in cash from the town
in October.
After
demolishing portions of the buildings that were considered beyond
rehabbing and doing a lot line adjustment, all at his own expense,
he tendered the deeds to us last week. The first parcel abuts the
library and is merged with that property. It will allow off-street
parking and includes a post and beam barn which can now be used or
removed, at the library’s discretion. The second parcel includes the
3-story mansard roof building and the land where a multi-family home
previously stood.
The
Select Board is now free to resell or rehab the properties as we
proceed with the next stage in the process. We congratulate Bill for
his imaginative project which kicks off the anticipated resurrection
of this highly visible property overlooking our Main St., in the
direction we believe to be in the best long term interests of the
town.
Thanks
again Bill, for your ‘get ‘er done’ attitude, generosity, and
unconditional gifts.
Carl
Anderson
Dorcas Guild
The
December meeting of the Dorcas Guild of the First Congregational
Church of Pittsfield, which was the annual Christmas Pot Luck and
Gift Exchange, began with a welcome to the 15 attendees by President
Mary Jo Powelson. Peggy Jacobs began a time of devotions and all
joined in “The Lord’s Prayer.” The group then enjoyed a delicious
meal of varying selections.
Diane
Vaughan reported on various cards sent for Christmas as well as for
the sick, shut-in and bereaved. The November 2016 minutes were
approved as written as was the treasurer’s report. The success of
our Christmas Fair was discussed.
The
food basket will go from Corine Miller to Gailann Newton in January.
The mystery package will be brought by Nella Hobson in January.
Program books will also be distributed.
The
Nominating Committee consisting of Peggy Jacobs and Linda Towle
brought the following slate of officers, which was accepted:
President, Mary Jo Powelson; Vice Presidents: Kathy Bergeron and
Nancy Fogg; Recording Secretary: Nella Hobson; Corresponding
Secretary: Diane Vaughan; Treasurer: Bev Murdough.
The
president noted that SouperFest, hosted by the Concord Coalition to
End Homelessness, will be held March 17 at the Rundlett Junior High
in Concord. The church is being asked to make some baked goods.
While
we enjoyed dessert, we had our gift exchange with many lovely gifts
exchanged. Next month’s meeting will be held January 10, 2017 at
6:30 p.m., with hostesses Mary Jo and Nella. Wednesday meetings will
be suspended until February 1, 2017.
The Sanctuary Bodyworks And Sauna Celebrates Its First Anniversary!
Saturday, January 14th, 2017, the Sanctuary Bodyworks and Sauna is
inviting you to celebrate their first anniversary from 10am to 2pm.
Come and meet our team, Jan Lesieur, Esthetician, Nathalie Snyder,
licensed Massage Therapist, and Dr Liz Kennedy, Chiropractor. Learn
how Sauna Therapy can help you achieve your health goals for 2017,
sample Green First products, and enter your name to win exciting
prizes.
The
first 15 people to attend will be entered in a special raffle to win
our grand prize, a full spa package including a custom facial, a one
hour Therapeutic Massage, a pedicure, and Sauna session (valued
$250). A second raffle will be held at the end of the event for the
second prize, an express combo massage/facial and Sauna therapy
session (valued at $140) and a third prize of Sauna Therapy for two
(valued at $70).
Additionally we are offering 20% across the board on all products.
This is an event you do not want to miss!
Pittsfield School Board
December
15, 2016
Submitted By Ralph Odell
The
meeting began with a summary of several events by Danielle Harvey,
Dean of Instruction. She presented results of the fall Parent
Teacher conferences with 89% of the PES and 84% of the PMHS parents
participating. She also shared video clips of various school
activities. These are available on facebook and I encourage everyone
to check them out.
Derek
Hamilton, Dean of Operations reported on a recent fire inspection of
the school buildings and is waiting a final report. Technology is
changing rapidly and the District Technology Team has been reviewing
the Districts plan to assure it is appropriate for our students’
needs.
Efforts
to insure that each student’s needs are being met was the topic
presented by Donna LeMay. Students at PES who are not reading on
pace have been identified and intervention procedures have been
implemented. She also is participating in a training session that
will allow her to provide the best practices to support students
with dyslexia.
Due to
redesigning the curricula, opportunities to present the work
frequently occur. Jessica Bickford and Anne Banks along with
students will be making a presentation at the 2017 At-Risk Youth
National Forum in South Carolina. The Center of Secondary School
Redesign has invited the School to attend a national meeting and
make a presentation in February.
The
budget and upcoming presentation to the Budget Committee was the
first topic of Dr. Freeman’s discussion. He also addressed
modifications to the Alternative Credit Option Policy and a policy
that insures that all students will have access to school-provided
meals. Additional administrative issues were discussed.
Citizens are always welcome to sit in at any of the bimonthly
meetings.
Hope
you had a safe and joyous Holiday Season.
Richard C. Foss In Memoriam
Submitted By John J. Freeman, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools, Pittsfield
As we
approach the year’s end, media outlets have begun to publish lists
of notable individuals – former athletes and entertainers, for
example – who have passed away during the preceding year. If we
were to publish such an annual list for Pittsfield, we’d be reminded
of many who have contributed greatly to our community in a wide
variety of ways.
Absent
such a list for Pittsfield, I’d like to take a moment to remember a
loyal friend of Pittsfield’s young people and Pittsfield’s schools,
Richard C. Foss. As many know, Richard was born and raised in
Pittsfield; he attended Pittsfield High School; we lost Richard on
August 15 of last year at age 90.
In
2007, Richard provided a gift to the town of $1,000,000. This
generous gift initiated the Foss Family Scholarship, a scholarship
program offered to graduates of Pittsfield High School to support
students as they pursue post-secondary education, be it traditional
college, trade school, or other formal vocational opportunity.
The
first awards of Foss Family Scholarships were made in June of 2008.
As of June of 2016, total of 232 scholarships have been awarded to
Pittsfield graduates; many awards have been granted to returning
applicants, distinguishing this opportunity from many others which
provide awards for graduating seniors only.
All
told, $329,000 has been awarded to our graduates in the first nine
years of Foss Family Scholarships. Last June, twenty awardees were
granted $38,000 to continue their post-secondary studies. What a
wonderful legacy Richard Foss has provided to the youth of
Pittsfield!
What is
probably unknown to many is the fact that Richard has supported a
number of additional initiatives to the benefit of Pittsfield
students, including strong support for the Summer Academy program,
which offers middle high school students exciting and novel learning
opportunities during the summer months.
Richard’s generosity, kindness, community spirit, and interest in
the future of our students, schools, and town serve as an
inspiration to me. Richard’s passing represents the loss of a
valued friend of our students, schools, and community. I miss
Richard and remember him with fondness and appreciation.
(N.B.:
tax-deductible donations to the Foss Scholarship program will
support Pittsfield students and may be forwarded to the Foss Family
Scholarship Fund, c/o Town of Pittsfield, Town Hall, Pittsfield NH
03263)
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