The
Merrimack County Stamp Collectors will hold its monthly meeting at
the Bow Mills United Methodist Church, 505 South St., Bow, on August
21, beginning at 1 pm. We invite all who are interested in
stamp collecting to attend, share their interest, buy, sell and
trade. Meet other collectors and learn more about their hobby
and enjoy the fellowship of others with varied interests in
Philatelic resources and issues. Gain new insight and
knowledge, sharing news articles and stories abut stamp collecting.
For more information call Dan Day at 603-228-1154.
The
South Pittsfield Friends Church will be open on Sunday, August 12th
with Rev. Henry Frost as the speaker. Service begin at 1:00 pm
and all are welcome. The church will also hold services on
Sunday, August 26th with Pastor Harold Muzzey as the speaker.
The
Epsom Town Committee To Elect Democrats will be hosting a forum of
Democratic Candidates who will be running for election in the
primary (9/6/2018), general election (11/6/2018). Forum will be held
Friday August 10, 2018 from 6 pm to 8 pm, doors open 5:45 pm.
Location is American Legion Post 112, 1044 Short Falls Road, Epsom,
NH 03234.
Candidates who will be speaking are:
Governor race - Molly Kelly and Steve Marchand
Executive Council District 4 - Gray Chynowerth and Garth Courriveau
State
Senate District 17 - Chris Roundy
State
Rep Merrimack District 21 - Miriam Cahill-Yeaton and Mary Frambach
State
Rep Merrimack District 29 - Erin Canterbury
Letter
To The Editor
PITTSFIELD AND EPSOM GET A NEW OPPORTUNITY! For the first time
there will be a Pittsfield Republican challenging incumbent Mike
Brewster for State Rep. to the General Court. During his
tenure as chair of the Pittsfield Select Board, NH native Col. James
C. Allard, Ret., has been invaluable as we pursue positive changes
for the town’s benefit. He volunteers a huge amount of time to
union negotiations that are fair to employees and more in line with
what can be realistically expected of our small town; the CDC which
is working diligently to promote every opportunity for economic
advancement; and numerous other tasks as they arise to those who
serve the town.
Jim can
see where real needs exist and focuses on those needs without the
distraction of any personal agenda. After a lifelong career in
the service, he’s doing everything possible to make his home state
the best it can be and spend a little time simply enjoying his
so-called “retirement” with wife Gail in a historic home on Tilton
Hill. Fortunately, Jim has a lot more time that he wants to
use at the State House as a strong advocate for the specific needs
of Epsom and Pittsfield.
For
those who don’t know Jim, you’ll find him friendly, intelligent,
down to earth, firm and focused in his convictions and respectful to
all. He has the ability to cut through minutia and periphery
distractions that accompany almost all topics that come before us in
small town politics. If you agree that our residents of
Pittsfield and Epsom could use a voice in the State House that knows
how to get things done and bring some real benefits that are
available at the state level, you’d do well to vote for James Allard
for Representative.
Carl
Anderson
Letter
To The Editor
NO TO
TEEN CHALLENGE
Who
could possibly think that Pittsfield couldn’t prove a case of
hardship in a court of law?? Pittsfield is one of the poorest
towns in NH, has one of the highest property tax rates, has one of
the highest rental unit to single family unit ratios per town
population in NH, takes longer to sell property than other NH town,
AND, has a proven depressed real estate market value compared to
other towns. There’s a lower than average number of students
proceeding to college, and an above-average number looking for basic
employment. 40 adult-males would directly compete with this
job-pool. This is fact, not fiction.
I have
nothing against Teen Challenge, but a 40-bed, adult-male facility
inherently requires a certain logistical infrastructure and a
wealthy enough tax base to absorb any costs and real estate
depression values that its presence would create. The town of
Pittsfield simply does not have the infrastructure and already has
depressed real estate values. “The values of the surrounding
properties are not diminished”(a condition of a variance). The
Zoning Board must consider these facts.
Teen
challenge will find their ultimate expansion property within the
state of New Hampshire. Teen Challenge does NOT guarantee a
block of beds for Pittsfield’s adult-male addicts. It does NOT
guarantee a block of beds for Suncook Valley’s adult-male addicts.
It DOES guarantee that 40 of New Hampshire’s adult-male addicts will
be placed here that are “NOT LIMITED TO drugs or alcohol, divorce,
traumas, violence, bullying, peer pressure.”
I wish
Teen Challenge luck but I live the thought “right house, wrong town”
every day of my life. I love my farm, and I love so many
aspects of Pittsfield. Right now, Pittsfield is at the end of
its financial rope and needs solutions not additional strain on the
system.
God
Bless Our Troops,
Rachel
Wood
Pittsfield
Letter
to the Editor
ANOTHER
CHANCE!
There
is at least one more public hearing by the Zoning Board of
Adjustment to hear input from anyone who has something to say on the
matter of Teen Challenge moving from Manchester to the convent on
Fairview Rd., which is for sale.
This is
a drug, alcohol and “other life challenge” rehabilitation facility
for males only, ages 18 to 25, currently operating with
approximately 26 beds in Manchester, that wants to expand to 40 beds
and relocate to Pittsfield. Those being rehabilitated can come
from all over the northeast, New York, New Jersey, and from as far
away as California. This facility has no medical staff in
attendance and is manned in large part by prior “graduates” of the
two-year program.
This is
not a correctional institute and anyone is free to leave at any
time. As a faith-based facility, licensing and government
oversight is not required. Teen Challenge has requested a
Variance from the Zoning Ordinance that would allow a use that is
implicitly not allowed in the Suburban zone.
After
hearings from the public have been completed, the Zoning Board of
Adjustment must deliberate and decide whether to grant or deny the
request to allow this 40-bed drug and alcohol, etc., rehab facility
to relocate in Pittsfield. Anyone who has property value
concerns, information, questions or statements they would like the
Zoning Board to consider, can be heard this Thursday evening, August
9, at 7 PM downstairs in the PMHS lecture room.
Jim
Adams
Letter
To our
Northwood neighbor:
In
response to the letter criticizing our majority elected
representative, Carol McGuire, we would like to respond that we are
pleased with her service to our town. In her many years of service,
Carol has been engaging and helpful, informative and transparent,
timely, available and neighborly.
“Engaging and helpful” in that she drafted legislation of concern to
us and facilitated the opportunity for us to testify on its behalf
at the legislative committee hearing.
“Informative and transparent” is exemplified by her weekly letters
and explanations of why she voted the way she did. We do not
regularly see any other representatives and senators located in the
Suncook Valley Sun distribution areas doing that except at election
time.
”Timely, available and neighborly” describes her character. She
answers questions and calls. She will share a recipe like your next
door neighbor. She is approachable and not aloof.
I am
glad that she and Dan moved to the area because New Hampshire is a
Free State: “Live free or die, death is not the worst of evils.”
Gen. John Stark.
When it
comes to her stating her personal preference to expand school
choice, we believe that she is representing ALL her constituents and
not only the public education sector. Seems to us that “pro-choice”
is only abhorent when it does not suit your personal preference.
Join us
in re-electing Carol McGuire in November for the NH House.
Steve
and Lea Adams
Pittsfield
From
The Farm - Benson, The Wonder Dog
Submitted By Carole Soule
A
border collie.
Sheep
can be haltered and led but the sheep we tried to load were not
haltered.
Benson, the border collie, was hot in pursuit of a ewe, his canine
hormones taking over. Border collies are bred, born and trained to
herd sheep, following the commands of their owner. Unfortunately, on
that day Benson decided to herd the sheep his own way; AWAY from the
waiting stock trailer instead of into it. Nancy, the sheep owner,
and I watched as Benson unhelpfully chased the sheep away toward the
road, doing exactly the opposite of what was needed.
Earlier that morning, at 4 o'clock, I had put together a snack for
the road, heated up a cup of decaf, and drove the heavy-duty pickup
truck and 16-foot stock trailer to Nancy's house in Sanbornton,
about 20 miles north of my farm, to pick up three sheep. The sheep
were culls from Nancy's herd. She has a calm, friendly flock of
sheep and these three delinquents did not fit in. I was picking them
up on my way to North Haverhill, N.H., where they were to be
processed into ground lamb. The processor wanted them at the plant
at 7 a.m., hence the super-early departure.
We raise cattle and pigs, but not sheep. For one thing, sheep need
excellent fencing, which we don't have. A pack of coyotes lives in
the forest that abuts the farm, and sheep is their favorite dish.
The cattle are equipped with horns and hooves to protect their young
from attack, but sheep can only run to escape; a weak defense
against a pack of hungry coyotes.
Rather
than raise sheep as food-for-coyotes, instead we buy sheep from
other local farmers who have better fencing, and on this day I
arrived at Nancy's at 5 a.m. to load the three delinquent sheep. I
backed the trailer up to the sheep's stall, and we set up metal
stock panels between the stall and the trailer to form a chute.
That's when Nancy left to get her dog Benson, who usually is an
excellent herder.
When Benson was too afraid to go into the stall with the sheep, I
should have known he would be no help today. We pushed Benson out of
the pen and forgot about him. Using grain, Nancy lured the
sheep into the trailer. Watching from the sidelines, Benson decided
it was time to address his irrational fear of sheep. He leaped into
the trailer, and before we could close the trailer door or count to
three, he had chased out all three sheep.
Then the dog, with his canine instincts activated with me yelling
uselessly at him to desist, chased the sheep around the yard. Once
we got him under control and locked inside the house, we tried again
to load the sheep.
What is the best way, sans defective herding dog, to capture sheep?
With another sheep, of course! Again using grain, Nancy enlisted the
help of one of her socially reliable sheep, which led the
delinquents back into their stall, then into the trailer.
The tame ewe rejoined her flock, and the three delinquents traveled
away with me. Even with the canine drama, we made it the processor
by 7:30 – late, but not too late.
Livestock handling can be tricky, but I generally know what my
cattle and hogs are thinking. Sheep don't seem all that complicated
either. But I must admit, there's one border collie who's got me
scratching my head.
Carole
Soule is co-owner of Miles Smith Farm, in Loudon, NH. She can be
reached at [email protected].
HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECEIVES TOWN PUMP
Thanks
to the generosity of Larry Collette the Historical Society has
received a wonderful artifact of the town’s history—a very early
town pump. Where it was located has not been learned but it was
definitely used in Pittsfield. It had been stored in the basement of
the building at 34 Main Street for decades until Mr. Collette
acquired it. A hearty thank you is extended to Mr. Collette for his
thoughtful donation.
Letter
To the
good Citizens of NH,
Old
Home Day was a hoot. Congratulations to Rob and GEF Freese for being
chosen Citizens of the Year. They certainly earned this honor.
The
funniest thing happened after the parade on the corner of Elm and
Main. A young boy came up to me and my wagon and pointed to my no mo
meth sign. He said, "you spelled 'math' wrong." I said, "what did
you say?" He repeated a little louder, "you spelled 'math' wrong."
Yup, he was right.
The
most serious thing was when I had a conversation with my
representatives, Carol McGuire and John Reagan. I talked to them
about how pot was my priority issue. The part that really bugs me is
busting young people and searching young people. I think that may be
getting a little better now that we are surrounded by legal weed.
Now,
however, my priority issue is school funding. I want the State to
get their stuff together and tax all property owners the same
property tax rate for the operation of its schools.
How
hard can it be to evaluate all the property and pay the school
districts like $15,000 to $20,000 per student and have an equal
education?
Dan the
Stoneman
What’s
Blossoming At BCEP?
Stan
Bailey, Suncook Valley Rotarian, presents Lisa Stevens, BCEP
Administrator, with a check for $1,000 donation to create a
welcoming garden at the facility entrance.
Thanks
to the generous donation of $1,000 from the Suncook Valley Rotary,
donated compost and mulch from Dirt Doctors in Pembroke, NH, and the
collaborative partnership with the Pittsfield Beautification
Committee, a welcoming garden will begin to come to life at the
entrance to the facility. This will be a living display of civic
pride to all who enter the gates.
It is
with great appreciation and hope that the community’s continued
support of the Suncook Valley Rotary and the Pittsfield
Beautification Committee fosters an ongoing relationship with BCEP
that will grow and flourish for many years to come. Designer, Nick
Penney from the Beautification Committee and Creative Gardening, is
spearheading the project and welcomes all who wish to join in on the
creation. Contact Nick at 988-3152.
NH
First Impressions
Assessing Opportunity In Downtown Pittsfield
The
look and feel of the downtown can influence the decisions of
potential residents, visitors, and businesses. A vibrant downtown
serves as a gathering place, a place for people to dine, shop, and
conduct business. First Impressions is an assessment program that
examines downtown through the eyes of potential residents, visitors,
and businesses, helping communities learn about their opportunities
and empowering them to take steps to improve their downtown.
Pittsfield's Community Development Committee (CDC) has partnered
with the UNH Extension to take part in the NH First Impressions
program. Pittsfield was matched with Tilton, who has a similar
downtown based on a number of criteria, such as size, location,
amenities and natural features. Both communities agreed to
build a team of community volunteers to complete visits to the other
community and report on their findings. The communities have been
assessed in the following areas: Business, Park, Points of Interest,
Public facilities, Sidewalks, Crosswalks and Trails, Streets and
transportation, Waste and recycling, Community Art, Displays and
Signage, Downtown Entrances, Landscaping, Lighting, and Seating
Participants have documented their visit, and are scheduled to
report out and engage with the community to take steps to improve
downtown Pittsfield. The University of New Hampshire Cooperative
Extension provides facilitation, training, a written report, and
follow up support for a year.
A
community forum has been scheduled to share the report findings on
October 17, 2018 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. The anticipated venue for the
forum is the Pittsfield Middle High School Media Center. Follow up
to the forum will include the formation of community-driven action
teams.
Along
with the finding of the visiting team, the Pittsfield Community
Development Committee is encouraging residents to include their own
ideas of how to improve upon our downtown by suggesting your own
ideas.
Residents may choose to use the form located in this week's Sun, or
email suggestions directly to the CDC using
[email protected].
Completed forms may be dropped off at the town hall to be directed
to the CDC.
Downtowns are the heart of New Hampshire's communities. First
Impressions is an innovative assessment program that examines a
downtown through the eyes of potential residents, visitors and
businesses, helping communities to learn about their downtown’s
assets and opportunities for improvement. Most important, the
program provides local residents and business owners the skills to
make their community a vibrant place to live, work, and visit.
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