Pittsfield High School Class of 1984 Reunion
Attention All PHS Class of 1984 members- We are starting to plan for
our 35th High School Reunion!! (next year) Our first meeting
is on Wed., Sept. 19 at 6:30pm at Laurie Deane Vien’s house (132
Ingalls Rd). Please come to the meeting if you’d like to help.
We would like to hear from our classmates with ideas for the
reunion. If you can’t make it to the meeting, feel free to
call Andi Grainger Riel at 435-6346, email at
[email protected]
or find me on Facebook!
The
South Pittsfield Friends Church will be open on Sunday, August 26th
with Pastor Harold Muzzey as the speaker. Services begins at
1:00 pm and all are welcome. There will be no service on
Sunday, August 19th.
Pittsfield Old Home Day 2018
“Once
Upon a Time, Favorite Fairytales”
Remember Saturday, July 14 – It was Old Home Day in Pittsfield and
from all accounts, it was a GREAT DAY! The theme of the day
was “Once Upon a Time, Favorite Fairytales” and there were awesome
floats of lots of different fairytales and fun activities
throughout the day. The weather cooperated- which always makes
it easier to have a good time! Many THANKS are due to lots of
groups, organizations, businesses and individuals that make this
event possible.
Thank
you to the Suncook Valley Rotary Club for sponsoring a free outdoor
movie, “Beauty and the Beast” at Drake Field on Friday night, July
13. There was a good turnout and a wonderful way to kickoff
Old Home Day!
Thank
you to the Beautification Committee, especially Carole & Paul
Richardson for placing the American Flags around town – they
certainly make the town look beautiful and festive.
The
Park St. Baptist Church served a delicious breakfast on Saturday
morning to start the day – Thank you to all the cooks. The
Community Fair at Dustin Park was bustling with vendors and local
organization booths. The free craft table for kids and Bubbles
Station was manned by Tara, Amber, Jocelyn and Joey Ash and
Carol Grainger. THANK YOU to all of you. A special Thank
you to Stacey & Noah Wittenberg for their behind the scenes help in
getting the craft projects organized. Thank you to Theresa Chase,
KathyTraynor, Beverly Drolet, and Stan Bailey for all your help in
setting up the park, craft tables and games. Special thanks to
Kelli Webber and Matt Jones for your help with the Cotton Candy
sales!
Jujubee, the Clown provided balloon “art” for the kids – free!
Thanks to the Suncook Valley Area Lion Club members and Tina and
Roger Metcalf for manning the Carnival Games – from what I
heard, they were a big hit and the kids had a great time!
Thank you to Globe by MSA for donating the games. Thank you to
St. Stephen’s Church for holding their Silent Auction and Sidewalk
Café. Thank you to Tricky Dick’s Magic Show for wowing the
kids (and adults) with your magic tricks!
Thanks
to Don Smith for providing music at Dustin Park and to the
Historical Society for opening their doors and sharing their
fabulous collection of Pittsfield Memorabilia. Thank you to
Tula the Unicorn and her princess for spending some time at Old Home
Day. Thank you to the United Martial Arts Academy of Epsom for
a fabulous karate demonstration. The Little Red Wagon Theatre troupe
performed a fun fairytale themed play – thank you for coming to
Pittsfield again.
Many
thanks to all the Car Show participants. Thank you to the
residents and businesses of Main Street for your cooperation with
the street being closed. We had a great turnout of classic,
hot rod, and vintage vehicles and BIG trucks for the car show and
all enjoyed the music of Jackie Lee. Thank you to Sanels,
Heritage Hardware of Northwood, O’Reilly’s Auto Parts, TC’s Garage,
Bell Brothers and Traditional Speed & Custom for donating raffle
prizes. Thanks to Alden and Eli English for organizing and running
the car show.
The
annual cook-off was “Bread of Any Kind.” Thank you to all the
participants- All the entries were delicious! The winners, by
popular vote were: 1st - Noah Wittenberg (Banana, #7); 2nd-
TIED- Robyn Ladd (Chocolate Zucchini, #5) and Susan Bleckmann
(Tuscan Sun Dried Tomato Artisan, #4) and 3rd- Tracey Huyck (Carrot
pineapple, #11) A very special Thank You to the Victory
Workers 4-H Club for organizing and manning the booth.
Thanks
to all the kids that participated in the Bike Parade and a huge
Special thanks to Rick Walter for coming back to town and leading
the parade. Thanks to our judges- they had a tough time
choosing the winners.
Pastor
Dave Stasiak of the First Congregational Church provided the
invocation before the parade – thank you for joining us on Old Home
Day. Thank you to Kathy Kelley for singing the National Anthem
–it was beautiful! A big thank you to Stan Bailey for
providing announcing duties for the parade.
We’d
also like to THANK Granite Image for providing all the flyers,
posters and program printing for the day. THANK YOU to the
SUNCOOK VALLEY SUN for printing all of our articles, ads and the
day’s schedule. Thanks, also to Clayton Wood, Bill Provencal
and the Website Committee for posting all the events and information
for the day and to all the Local Businesses that posted flyers and
posters for us.
Congratulations to Gef Freese and Rob Freese on being named
Pittsfield’s Citizens of the Year! THANK YOU for your
continued support and involvement in our community. Thank you
to all the past Citizens of the Year that joined us at your special
seating area to view the parade. Thank you to Paul and David from
Flowers for All Seasons for your wonderful donation.
THANK
YOU TO ALL who participated in the Parade. A Huge THANK YOU to
NH Motor Speedway for the use of their “People Movers” and to Tyler
Booth for hauling them. They worked perfectly for the band to
ride in and perform in the parade. Thank you to Jimmy Webber
for hauling our Old Home Day Committee float! Many thanks to
all the Police and Fire Departments that joined the parade!
PARADE
WINNERS!
Youth
Division:
1st-
Pittsfield Youth Workshop
2nd-
F.B. Argue Recreation Area
3rd -
Victory Workers 4-H Club
Open
Division
1st –
Joy Church
2nd
–Pittsfield Players
3rd –
Concord Christian Academy
Thank
you to the Chichester Police Explorers and all those that helped the
Police Department with traffic duty before and during the parade.
Thank you to Bill & Linda Provencal and Tina & Roger Metcalf for
your help with the parade lineup.
The
afternoon activities were free swim at the F.B. Argue Recreation
Area (thank you Parks and Rec) along with a cookout of burgers and
hot dogs. The annual Duck Derby was held at the Town
Pool/Beach area and the winner was Liz Six. Thank you to Heidi Hall
and the PMHS Girls Basketball team for organizing the Duck Race.
The Battle of the Badges Softball game was held at Drake Field.
Thanks to Jay Darrah for organizing the game. Congratulations
to the Police team on their Softball game win.
The day
ended with a fabulous FIREWORKS show by Atlas. A Huge THANK
YOU to all the donors that made this show possible. Thanks to
PMHS for the use of Drake Field and the Old Home Day Committee would
especially like to THANK Joe Darrah and his helpers (Dominic Brooks,
Tyler Booth, Tyler Darrah, Noah MacGlashing, Jacob Whittier and
Tommy Williams) for cleaning up the firework debris on Sunday
morning. It is very much appreciated by the whole committee!
The Old
Home Day Committee would like to THANK the Pittsfield Police, Fire
and Highway Department; Parks and Recreation Committee, Cara Hayes
and the many extra volunteers that helped at any of the events.
A lot of planning and work goes into this day and it takes a lot of
people to make things happen…..so, THANK YOU to all!!!
We hope
everyone enjoyed the day – We would love to hear any suggestions or
comments on the day’s events. Please feel free to call Andi
Riel at 435-6346 or Louie Houle at 435-6938 or email at
[email protected].
Concord
Regional VNA Holds Loss After Addiction Discussion Group In Concord
Concord
Regional VNA holds Loss After Addiction Discussion Group for anyone
adjusting to the death of a loved one to addiction on Wednesday,
September 19 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Concord Regional VNA Hospice
House, 240 Pleasant Street in Concord. Loss After Addiction is held
on the third Wednesday of each month at the same time.
Pre-registration is not required. For more information, please call
(603) 224-4093 or (800) 924-8620, ext. 2828 or e-mail
[email protected].
Helpful
Tips From The BCEP Transfer Station
Needles, Needles on the floor, needles, needles stick me no more –
ALL needles must be placed in a hard-plastic covered container (i.e.
detergent bottle), lid taped and marked “SHARPS” and BROUGHT IN TO
THE OFFICE.
Medical
Waste – IV tubing, IV bags, catheters, personal hygiene products,
prophylactics, are considered “Infectious Waste” and should be
disposed of in the garbage, NOT placed in the plastic.
Prescription medicines should be taken to your local police
department for proper disposal by law enforcement officials.
Batteries -it is a good habit to place a piece of tape over the
receptacle of the alkaline battery before disposing. Often the
battery is still discharging and if it should come in contact with
something metal it could start a fire. Rechargeable, Lithium
and Nickel-Cadmium batteries should be brought to the office for
packaging out to a certified recycling processor.
Containers filled with food – in all instances (plastic, tin,
glass), when food is still in the container; dispose of these in the
garbage. Food particles distribute contamination throughout the
bales of product. It would be very helpful if you
rinsed out your containers prior to disposal. This helps us with a
higher quality product for sale in the marketplace, which helps to
off-set the cost of recycling.
Paint
Cans– If EMPTY and DRY, check the bottom of the container, plastic
bottoms dispose of in the garbage, metal bottoms place in the tin
cans. AGAIN, ONLY IF EMPTY AND DRY OF ALL LIQUID.
Safety
Upgrades are taking place throughout the facility. Please take
a moment to familiarize yourself with the changes. As always
feel free to speak to a staff member with any concerns or
suggestions you may have to improve the flow and efficiencies at
your facility. We’re all in this together!
To save
on wait time – Sort, Sort, Sort at home FIRST – the more people
pre-sort, the shorter the wait time for everybody. Reminder, if you
do not separate all your recyclables from your kitchen garbage, you
must weigh it in and pay $0.10 per pound for disposal.
Agritourism Keeps The Dream Alive
A young
visitor from the UK visits with Curious Bleu, a six-year-old
Scottish Highlander Steer.
Nick
Newlin and Joanne Flynn of Nicolo Whimsey stayed at the farm
and took a cart ride with Red, a six-year-old Scottish Highlander
steer.
Topper
and Stash, a pair of working Oxen, give Honeymoon visitors a ride on
a stoneboat.
We had two hours to get the farmhouse apartment ready for our next
guests. Husband Bruce vacuumed while I made the beds and took out
the recycling. Meanwhile, farm chores waited while we folded towels
and scrubbed toilets. These indoor tasks were necessary because they
allow us to do what we love: Farm.
Housework is not what we want to do. Raising cattle is.
Unfortunately, meat sales do not entirely cover our expenses, so we
remodeled and beautified half of our farmhouse and listed it on
AirBNB for visitors to rent for a farm experience. Families from as
far as Australia and as near as Nashua have stayed with us. Tazzy,
the porch pig, has welcomed them with grunts. Curious Bleu, a
Scottish Highlander steer, has given rides to little cowgirls and
cowboys. The pigs have nibbled children's shoes. Visitors become
“farmers for the day” and take home farm memories to non-farm lives.
Each
visitor brings their unique perspective to the farm. I loved
practicing my rusty German with a family from Göttingen, Germany.
Misty and her daughter from Rye, N.H., helped our 4H club, the
Highland Riders, bathe their cows. The magic of hosting included
welcoming Nicolo Wimsey (http://www.nicolowhimsey.com/)
and his wife Joanne, artists who entertain children with poetry,
juggling, and comedy. All of these guests renew my sense of
amazement and wonder for the farm. Their graciousness is
overwhelming, and each leaves a bit of joy and wonder when they
check out.
Along
with the memories, visitors leave more than they can know – income
to help us farm. We also host birthday parties, family days and
other events; anything to attract visitors to the farm. We also host
birthday parties, family days, and other activities on the farm but
these events don't always fit with farm operations. We exclude
cattle from our best fields to protect city feet from little
“surprises” hidden in the grass. We mow fields that would be better
left for grazing. Events aren't always the best use of land, but
they open the farm to those who may never have met a cow.
We also go to farmers markets and maintain our own farm store, where
we sell our meat and Miles Smith Farm merchandise. I teach a course
in Sustainable Agriculture at N.H. Institute of Technology. The
sustaining revenue trickles in.
When I
started farming, I didn't know I would also be an event coordinator,
shopkeeper and college instructor. I want to keep cattle on the
farm. I want to train working oxen and riding cows. I want to raise
grass-fed beef and pastured pork. I want to eat what I raise, and I
want to raise the happiest fat cattle possible. Out of all these
desires, and out of all the blood, sweat and tears that Bruce and I
have poured into this place, the farm and its survival have taken on
enormous importance. We love the farm and the farming life.
Agritourism is powered by curiosity about where food comes from and
helps keep us “living the dream,” and sharing slices of it with our
guests. The dream is threatened by so many enemies – such as severe
weather, debt, mechanical breakdowns, feed costs and high production
costs. But small farms also have many friends – namely people who
find a farmer they trust and buy from them.
Why
does such food taste so good? Maybe because it's organic or
grass-fed or just-picked, and perhaps because it springs from a
labor of love and is supported by so many who appreciate farms as
much as we do.
Letter
To The Editor
Select
Board Meeting 8/14/18
Road
agent, George Batchelder, came in to discuss traffic control issues
that should be addressed in a more comprehensive, condensed,
enforceable ordinance. A letter to a resident regarding illegal
diversion of rainwater runoff will go out tomorrow. Any
changes to road grades or water control must be approved by the BOS
and this law will be enforced.
Additionally, it should be noted that Pittsfield passed a storage
container (trailers included) ordinance at town meeting over 25
years ago which we must enforce when called upon. Call the town
office for details. A second notice of violation was sent to
an offender, with enforcement action to follow if the trailers
aren’t removed.
Acting
Police Chief Collins introduced us to two full time officer
candidates, Roman Kelly and Austin Bannister. We made them
employment offers conditional on passing the academy starting in
January. We’re within one full time position of having a full
staff, although some are still unable to patrol on their own until
fully trained. Third party oral boards will be conducted this
Thursday, then by the Board of Selectmen on Monday the 20th to
select a permanent Police Chief. We have five qualified
candidates and look forward to hearing what each of them has to
say.
A
letter to each abutting town will go out to try to coordinate
perambulation of lines which we’re supposed to do every five years.
Walking town lines between select boards has been a requirement,
often neglected, since town governments were formed.
Town
administrator Cara Hayes was offered a three year “status quo”
employment contract. She agreed to serve the town until Dec.
23, 2021 with no increases of any kind. We are fortunate to have
such a dedicated, knowledgeable employee who also waived her last
contract raise.
Carl
Anderson
EXIT
Reward Realty First Annual Client Appreciation Event
EXIT
Reward Realty agent Lyn Ward (l) and owner/broker Donna Ward (r).
On June
26th, Donna Ward and EXIT Reward Realty held their first Annual
Client Appreciation Event with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats at
Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. Over 180 past and current
clients were invited for a fun night of baseball, food and prizes.
The honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch of the night
was given, without hesitation, to Larry Berkson. Donna chose
Larry to do the honors stating, “Larry was a driving force behind
our opening EXIT Reward Realty in 2005. He provided us office
space alongside his property management company in which he owned
with Walt and Mike Purtell. Together, they listed a total of
30 properties with us over our first 4 years. Anyone who knows
Larry, is aware of his love for baseball!”
Donna
and her EXIT Reward Realty Team would like to thank Don McLelland
from Supreme Lending for providing the raffle prizes, gift
certificates to the Common Man. She would also like to extend a big
THANK YOU to all who attended. If you could not make it or if
we missed you, we hope you can join us next time. Please make
sure our office has your current email address and contact
information. Visit our Facebook page to see more pictures of
the event and to stay informed on the current real estate market.
EXIT
Reward Realty is located at 79 High Street in Pittsfield and serves
the Central NH and Lakes Region area.
The
60th Class Reunion for Pittsfield High School Class of 1958 was held
recently at the Red Blazer in Concord. Members attending (L to R
front row) were Carol Trautwig Nichols, Saco, Me; Corine Kimball
Miller, Pittsfield; Richard Bickford, Ctr. Barnstead; Nancy Towle
Garland, Merrimack; Judy Genest Curtis, Manchaug, Ma. & Leesburg,
Fl; Marilyn Bickford Stevens, Alton. L to R Back Row- John Drew IV,
Spanaway, Wa.; Norman Tuttle, Barnstead; James Buatti, Pittsfield;
Annie Ruth Tarbox Holmes, Meredith; Roberta Knowlton Lacoy,
Pittsfield; Annette Bilodeau, Pittsfield; Brenda Zinn Joziatis,
Concord; Patricia Stearns Bergevin, Epsom; Rodney Boyd, Ctr.
Barnstead.
Members
are holding hand crafted wooden creations by classmate Paul
Bartlett, Englewood, Fl.
The
Quest For A New Headquarters For The Pittsfield Historical Society
Submitted By Larry Berkson
It is
no secret that the Pittsfield Historical Society has been seeking
new quarters. Some have asked why. From outward appearances this
might seem understandable. However, there are many reasons. In the
first place, when the present building was purchased, it was thought
too small but was all that was available. The group that revived the
Society at the time thought it would only be temporary and replaced
within a decade or so.
It has
now been over two decades and the Society is in desperate need of
larger and more efficient quarters. Presently, the archives space is
overflowing with documents, pictures, newspapers and other ephemera.
It is crammed full with the Society’s items for sale. For one person
to move from one corner of the room to another, two or three people
have to stand up and move aside. And there is not room for a
sufficient number of desks for the Tuesday morning volunteers.
Indeed, the Society cannot accept much needed additional volunteers
because of a lack of space.
The
Society’s museum is jam packed with artifacts, to the point of
overflowing and is so crowded that it is difficult to distinguish
one item from another. Many items are piled on top of display cases
for lack of any other place to put them and are susceptible to being
stolen, which has happened in the past.
Further, there is no storage space in the building. The attic is
inaccessible and the basement has a dirt floor with a sump pump and
is damp. As mentioned, the back room is full of items the Society
sells to help support its activities. Other items are stacked in the
entryway so that it is difficult to get to the bathroom and small
closet where supplies are stored.
The
Society has historic items stored throughout the area, some in
places where they are deteriorating because of existing conditions.
Thanks to the largess of Fuzz Freese, two tractor trailers are full
of items, and numerous others are stored in his building on Clark
Street. A railroad baggage cart and many other items are stored on
the third floor of the Town Hall. A miniature doll house built by
Ralph Van Horn is displayed at the Epsom Public Library. Larry
Berkson’s basement is full of important fire apparatus and other
items.
For the
past dozen years or so the Society has only been able to accept very
small items because of a lack of space to put larger ones. There
have been two exceptions. It did accept the 1876 fire wagon and the
1895 hose reel donated by the Fire Department because of their huge
significance to the community. They are in storage and cannot be
regularly displayed.
Over
two years ago, then President Cedric Dustin appointed a committee to
look into the possibility of obtaining new quarters. During the
initial phase several people questioned whether a sufficient amount
of funds could be raised to purchase or erect a new building. After
all, such a project would require more funds than had been expended
on any of its previous projects.
Others
argued that every project undertaken by the Society had been
successful. In its efforts to preserve the history of the community
and enhance its beauty, the Society had erected Frank Lyman Park as
the starting point for the Historic Trail. The cost in materials and
donated labor for these projects exceeded well over $300,000.
Another major project was the General Harrison R. Thyng Memorial
costing well over $100,000. Smaller projects included the Cotton
Mill Bell display on Factory Hill, the Jocky Fogg sign on Factory
Hill, wings on the Veteran’s Monument on Main Street (with the
American Legion), the Gate Mechanism Display near the Dam, the Steam
Pump display on Factory Hill, signs identifying cemeteries
throughout Town, and building markers on houses. Although not a
project of the Society, nearly $500,000 in cash had been raised for
renovating and enlarging Pittsfield Youth Athletic Park.
With
such a track record of success, it was believed that the community
would step up and support the Society’s quest for a new
headquarters. After several meetings and all points of view were
considered, it was decided to proceed. More will be written about
this in subsequent articles.
Obituaries
Marjorie A. (Hames) Rollins
PITTSFIELD- Mrs. Marjorie A. (Hames) Rollins, 86, of
Pittsfield, passed away at the Concord Hospital surrounded by her
loving family on August 12, 2018 after a brief illness.
Born in
Meriden, CT, she was the daughter of the late Robert and Gladys
(Walters) Hames. She was raised and educated in Connecticut
and had been a resident of New Hampshire for the past 45 years.
Prior
to her retirement, she was employed as a packer for Globe
Manufacturing. Marjorie enjoyed knitting, playing bingo and
visiting with friends. She was a very sociable woman known for
her hugs. She also frequented the Community Center in
Pittsfield.
She was
predeceased by her husband, Walter E. Rollins, Sr., her grandson,
Jacob E. Rowell, her granddaughter, Christina Rollins, and her
siblings, Joan Ryder and Robert Hames.
She is
survived by her children: Walter E. Rollins, Jr. of Barnstead,
Cheryl L. McPherson of Pittsfield, Tammy M. Rollins of Pittsfield,
Wayne A. Rollins of Pittsfield, and Michelle L. Avery of Pittsfield.
She was the grandmother to Marissa Whittier and her husband Zachary,
Kristy Rollins and Melvin Elliott, Jr. She was the great
grandmother to Wyatt Whittier.
Calling
Hours will be held on Saturday, August 25th from 1 to 3 P.M. in the
Still Oaks Funeral & Memorial Home 1217 Suncook Valley Highway in
Epsom. Burial will take place at the convenience of the
family. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit
www.stilloaks.com
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