Scott
Brown from the Paige Insurance Agency proudly donates $2000 to
the Pittsfield Players. Checks for $1000 from Union Mutual Insurance
Company with a matching check from Paige Insurance Agency are
accepted by President Maye Hart and Treasurer Carol Neveux of the
Pittsfield Players.
From The Farm: My Steer Was Shot
Submitted By Carole Soule
A minié bullet, similar to this one, was lodged under the
skin of a steer.
Photo
from:
http://www.historynet.com/minie-bal
The
bullet was lodged under the steer’s skin for at least six months. It
was a bullet, called a minié, from a Civil War era rifle-musket that
didn’t kill the animal. The butcher found the bullet when the steer
was processed. He must have been shot in the Fall during hunting
season.
Hunting
season starts in mid-September with waterfowl, followed by deer and
ends in mid-December with turkey. There are strict rules each hunter
must follow to acquire a license to hunt in New Hampshire. Hunters
perform a service by harvesting deer so the remaining animals have
enough food found in the wild to survive. Too many deer and not
enough forage means starvation.
All the
hunters I know eat the animals they shoot. A hunter knows what good
meat tastes like and many buy grassfed beef when they run out of
venison. I love responsible hunters. Even so, mistakes are made and
domestic livestock as well as people are occasionally shot.
I’ve
heard of farmers painting the word “COW” on their bovines to alert
the less-observant hunters that this is a domestic animal and not
part of the wild kingdom. While I’ve never lost a critter during
hunting season, my steer had been hit by a minié bullet from a Civil
War-era musket-rifle
I found
a picture of the type of bullet online where I learned that unlike a
smoothbore-loading musket or shotgun which is hard to aim and not
accurate, the soft-lead minié ball expands to fit the rifling of the
barrel giving it greater accuracy. The muzzle-loading rifle bullet
was named after its co-developer, Claude-Étienne Minié.
“The
rifle-musket and minié bullet together changed the face of warfare
forever. For the first time in history, infantrymen could aim their
weapons at a target a fair distance away and actually have a chance
of hitting it. Ninety percent of the soldiers in the Civil War were
killed by the rifle-musket and the minié bullet,”
http://www.historynet.com/minie-bal.
Thankfully my steer did not become a casualty of a Civil War-era
weapon. I image the bullet bounced off a rock or tree with so little
impact it felt more like a bee sting when it hit the steer and
lodged under his skin. I have great respect for hunters; this was
probably an accident.
We
don’t close our farm to hunters but I do expect them to avoid
shooting my livestock. It would take an awfully long time to paint
the word, “Cow,” on all my critters.
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].
Central
New Hampshire VNA & Hospice Helps With Fall Prevention
Every
year, millions of seniors are seen in Emergency Rooms and
physician’s offices because they’ve taken a tumble. Sometimes
the injuries are severe, like broken hips or dislocated joints, and
sometimes we can see some horrific bruising. And sometimes a
fall is more than a broken bone or a bruise – common complications
include pneumonia, urinary tract infections, congestive heart
failure, venous thromboembolism, arrhythmia, poor pain management
and pressure sores. So we want to do absolutely everything we
can to avoid nasty spills in the first place.
Many
falls can be eliminated with a little planning. As caregivers
and home health providers, we are aware of this and actively work
toward preventing falls for our patients. But you also can help, in
your own home or that of an aging parent or loved one.
Whether
you are a senior or helping to care for one, the first thing to
realize in fall prevention is the importance of removing tripping
hazards. Number one among these? Area rugs. It is
so easy for the rug to slip out from underneath a walker. Feet
can get tangled up. Rugs can bunch creating a tripping hazard.
If possible, area rugs should be removed. If there is one that
is a particular favorite, try to have it placed in an area of low
traffic.
Electric cords and extension cords create the same potential
accident situations. Always run the cords around the outside
of the room and not in heavily trafficked areas or maybe find a
wireless solution.
Another
obstacle fairly common in many homes is clutter. Same as above
– massive tripping hazards. Try to keep walking areas clear.
Pets.
Well, who can live without her cat or dog for company? But
perhaps some obedience training can help. Try teaching the dog
not to jump, and to always follow the owner (heel), even in the home
and especially on stairs. This is good advice for staying in
or for walking the dog. (PS – while walking outside, watch
carefully for cracks in the sidewalk that are just ready to grab the
toe of your shoe!) And make sure the dog sits still and waits
for the food bowl before diving in.
Low
toilet seats for older knees can be a problem. This one is
easily remedied. The purchase of a raised toilet seat attached
to the porcelain seat can work wonders. Some are just seats,
while others have hand rails that help greatly with raising and
lowering the body. The cost runs anywhere between $15 and $50,
so a simple and affordable investment in you or your loved one’s
long-term health.
Lighting can cause issues too. Try to keep walking areas well
lit. Steep stairs, slopey driveways and unstable tables and
chairs can also be treacherous. Just pay attention, replace
what you can and be aware of the danger.
Despite
our best intentions, accidents will happen. Please know there
are resources in your community to help you if you’re at home with
an injury. Central New Hampshire VNA & Hospice provides
professional nursing care, LNA services, and Physical Therapy in the
home. Others provide homemaking, meal preparation,
socialization and pet care. Don’t be afraid to reach out.
The most important thing is to recover, and recover well. We
are here for you.
Pittsfield School Board
February 1, 2018
Submitted By Ralph Odell
The
meeting began with a Site Council request for a modification of the
senior release policy. Modifying the guidelines would allow seniors
in good academic standing greater flexibility to utilize their time.
Secondly, a group of seniors provided a presentation for a senior
trip of white water rafting to Wells Forks Maine, it was approved.
Mrs.
Brown, Director of College and Career Readiness, reported that on
January 17 a program involving several community colleges within NH
offered admission interviews for 17 students. The vast majority of
seniors have now developed opportunities to further their education.
A career exploration hospitality field trip for 17 students to visit
three businesses in Manchester was recently held. To ensure the
promotion of eighth graders into high school a group of a faculty
are monitoring their progress and giving assistance.
Mrs.
Chassie provided updates of Special Education Activities. Extended
year programs are being developed by a group of faculty in
conjunction with parents for appropriate students. Professional
growth and Evaluation Plans are underway evaluating new faculty and
developing plans for professional growth.
Kathy
LeMay reported that the Early Childhood Consortium of Pittsfield is
preparing family resource centers to be placed in the laundromats in
town. These materials will be available to town residents. She also
described efforts to identify struggling students and develop plans
for their success.
Dr.
Freeman presented a series of policy changes reflecting
modifications of state law and school operation. Further discussion
was held concerning the annual audit of the budget and the
deliberative session.
In
summary, the Board meeting characterized student achievement,
increased student learning opportunities, aiding struggling students
and helping students plan for the future. These efforts varied from
preschool to seniors. Teams of faculty throughout the system are
monitoring progress, planning for success, and not letting students
fall through the cracks.
Something New - Central New Hampshire VNA & Hospice Introduces Grief
Support Workshops for Individuals, Youth And Families of All Ages
This
spring Central New Hampshire VNA & Hospice will offer a new series
of workshops for all ages exploring grief and celebrating loved ones
through art, music, and nature. Each workshop will include
several hands-on stations, led by local artists, such as crafting
hand-made books, playing or creating harp melodies, forming clay
pots or luminaries, tying fly-fishing lures, recording a favorite
family story, pressing flowers, or planting seeds in honor of a
loved one.
The
first of these grief workshops will be on Saturday, March 10 from
10am-12pm and is open to all ages. Guiding artists on March 10
will include painter and sculptor Kathryn Field, therapeutic
musician Val May, and gardener and bereavement care coordinator Dan
Kusch.
Children, parents, and grandparents of all ages are encouraged to
attend on your own or to share the experience together - children
and teens under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Future
workshops are scheduled for April 14, May 12 (Celebrating our
Mothers & Grandmothers), and June 16 (Celebrating our Fathers &
Grandfathers). All workshops will be held in Laconia.
You must register first by contacting Dan Kusch, Bereavement Care
Coordinator, at 603-524-8444 or
[email protected]
About
Central New Hampshire VNA & Hospice:
The
Mission of Central New Hampshire VNA & Hospice is “Promoting
dignity, independence, and well-being through the delivery of
quality home health, hospice and community-based care services.”
Central New Hampshire VNA & Hospice has served Lakes Region
communities since 1918 and provides Home Care (nursing and
rehabilitation services in the home); Pediatric Care (direct health
care, education and support services for children and families); and
a comprehensive, team-based Hospice program. Central New
Hampshire VNA & Hospice is a not-for-profit, Medicare-certified
provider of home care and hospice services, licensed by the State of
New Hampshire. The agency is governed by a volunteer Board of
Trustees and supported by private and corporate donations.
Obituaries
Mary
Jean Robertson Fleury
Mary
Jean Robertson Fleury died unexpectedly in her sleep on January
26, 2018 in Belmont, NH at the age 51.
Mary is
survived by her daughters, Justine Melanaphy of Belmont, NH. Alice
Gallant of Keene, NH, Crystal Proulx, Jeremy Robertson of MA, and
Sonya Lelievre of Fitchburg Massachusetts. She is also survived by
her brother, Paul Robertson, of Ludowici, GA, William Robertson of
Colorado Springs, CO, sisters, Tina Robertson of Chelmsford,MA, and
Terry Welch of Woburn, MA.
Mary
considered Billy and Kerryn Morel to be a pair of her best friends
and part of her immediate family... She would give you the shirt off
her back if she thought it would help. Mary also has many Uncles,
Aunts, Cousins, and friends who also survive. She is preceded in
death by her father, Paul D. Robertson, Sr., of Bangor, ME, and her
mother, Estelle Claire Parker, of Lexington, MA.
Mary J.
Robertson Fleury was born on January 14, 1967 in Arlington, MA to
Paul D. and Estelle C. Robertson.
A
memorial service was held February 11, 2018 at Wilkinson-Bean
Funeral home in Laconia NH.
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