REMINDER
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
Merrimack County Stamp Collectors will hold its monthly meeting at
the Bow Mills United Methodist Church, 505 South St., Bow, on
September 18, 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.
How Cattle Become Contenders At The Fair
Submitted By Carole Soule
Letters and numbers are combined to create a unique tattoo
to identify
cattle.
Four-month-old Henry, a Scottish Highlander bull calf, gets his
tattoo
“Your
tattoos are the best we've seen all day,” said the inspecting
veterinarian. We had just unloaded our first group of cattle at the
fairgrounds on the eve of opening day of the 2017 Hopkinton State
Fair. I was so pleased; I'd had paid a tattoo artist thousands of
dollars to ink dragons, phoenixes, flames, etc. into the skin of
each cow, along with gorgeous floral sleeves on their forelegs.
Just
kidding!
These
tattoos are numbers and letters imprinted in each bovine's ear. They
must match the required paperwork that accompanies every animal to
the fair. Ear tags are acceptable, but the vets prefer the tats.
Preparing for the fair starts in the spring when animals are
selected to show. Only certain animals are eligible. For instance,
there are no competitions for steers over 18 months old or for bulls
older than yearlings. There are no restrictions on cows; any age cow
can be shown.
Once the best animals are selected for showing, the next deciding
factor is temperament. Show-animals have to be tied in a barn for
four days while fairgoers pet and ogle them. Children might run
behind a steer, and baby strollers have been known to side-swipe
calves. Livestock chosen for the fair must be calm and controllable;
unflappable in any situation. An animal that is quiet at home might
panic when exposed to swirling skirts, running children or funny
hats. Safety is king, and wrong decisions have been made. Sometimes
unruly cattle are sent home; this is a fair, not a rodeo!
Each critter chosen for the fair must have a rabies shot and a
health certificate at least 30 days before showing. We get our
cattle checked and certified in June at the Merrimack Farm Bureau
Vet Clinic. The number on the certificate must match the animal's
tattoo. Each tattoo is unique and, in our case, the first letters
signifying the herd name are “CAS.” (My initials.) Then comes a
letter that corresponds to the animal's birth year. For instance F =
2017, G = 2018. Then comes a number that signifies the birth order;
1 = first calf born on that farm that year, 2 = second calf born,
and so on. So, Henry, the bull has the tattoo: CASG10, which means
he was the 10th calf born on our farm in 2018.
Calves are tattooed at birth, but we also give each calf an ear tag
with its name and tattoo number. As the calf grows, the tattoo can
become hard to read, so each year we re-tattoo as necessary.
Then comes the Hopkinton Fair on Labor Day weekend. In the
week before the fair, the animals are bathed and clipped to prepare
them for four days of easy-living and super-service. During the fair
the cattle enjoy on-demand feeding and watering and lots of
brushing, while I endure 6 a.m. stall mucking, sawdust hauling and
regular feeding. I only wish there were a section where competitors
could be pampered.
The
Hopkinton Fair is all about the animals so stop by and admire them.
I'll be there, too, but don't look at me. I'm just a disheveled,
hollow-eyed and sleep-deprived servant of my groomed and
spotlessly-clean cattle.
Carole
Soule is co-owner of Miles Smith Farm, in Loudon, N.H.
Pittsfield Beautification Committee Mum Sale
The
Pittsfield Beautification Committee is a non-profit organization
staffed by volunteers who plant and maintain the 2 small and 2 large
gardens in Town. Our only funding comes from your donations.
It was because of our generous supporters that we were able to
create the wonderful gardens at the corners of Catamount and
Broadway and Main and Oak Streets.
If you
would like to continue to support our efforts, we invite you to
visit with us at our annual Mum Sale Fundraiser, to be held on
Saturday, September 8th at the Aranosian Garden, (next to
Jack’s Pizza on Catamount Rd ), from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon.
We will
be selling a variety of colors in 10” pots and 5 gallon pots.
We will also be selling baked goods and perennial plants for fall
planting and yard sale items.
As
always, thank you for your support !
Letter
To The Editor
The
reason they sent us to school was so we could find the truth. A few
weeks back my brother, Mike Schroth, took me to a Ron Paul Institute
Conference in D.C. Here is what I learned.
Gold
doesn't go up, the dollar goes down. In 1915 a dollar was worth
1/20th of an ounce of gold. Now it is worth 1/1250th of an ounce.
I have
been wondering why my ice cream got belittled and my Hershey bar
got, like, half the size!
The
corporations run the government. How else would they get a tax break
while our deficit is a trillion dollars a year? Now remember, James
Bond could stuff a million dollars in $100.00 bills in a briefcase.
So now if you had a football field stuffed flat with $100.00 bills,
it would be 12', yes, twelve feet tall. A trillion dollars.
I had
trouble with the media and war topic. I've always read and used the
media, and I respect journalists. They were saying, there are things
that don't get reported on, like special ops military. Ours are in
Yemen, according to speaker Colonel McGreagor.
So, on
the way home, my brother and his friends had me listen to Alice's
Restaurant by Arlo Guthrie and RT Russian TV. Things ain't always
what they seem.
Dan the
Stoneman
Letter
To The Editor
Selectboard meeting, 8/28/2018
Highlights of a four hour meeting; Acting Police Chief Collins was
offered a 3 year contract which he will respond to by 9/4/18.
We had eight applicants with many great candidates, but Joe has
every quality we want in a Chief. In addition, he came to our
rescue when we found ourselves with two weeks to replace Chief Cain
and in 90 days has virtually rebuilt our distressed department. I
hope to be able to report his acceptance next week.
Alexandria Police Chief Donald Sullivan was hired as a part time
patrolman to augment our now well-rounded force.
A
vacant full time Firefighter/EMT position was filled with Eric
Nilsson. Chief Pszonowsky recommended this hire based on
Eric’s exceptional performance as a volunteer and part-time
employee. We are glad to have another Pittsfield resident
full-time on the Fire Dept.
A
request to have a sewer bill reduced due to outdoor water use that
in turn inflates this assessment was denied for lack of specifics.
Residents on municipal water should be advised that it is possible
to have outdoor use metered separately so that it is deducted from
the sewer bill, at your own cost of purchase and installation.
Loudon
responded to our request for walking our adjacent town line
(perambulation) in mid-September. Epsom also responded and
their selectboard will be suggesting dates. This is one obligation
of the select board that I could put in the “enjoyable” column.
Last
but not least- PLEASE take time to vote Tuesday, September 11, at
the town hall for the State Primary and the proposed union contract.
The select board supports it unanimously and I urge voters to do the
same. We have made great progress in reforming all departments
and this contract is a key ingredient.
Carl
Anderson
Concord
Coach
Peter
James from the Abbot-Downing Historical Society will do a multimedia
presentation on Abbot & Downing and their world famous Concord
Coaches on September 12, 2018, at the Pittsfield Historical
Society, 13 Elm Street at 7pm. The program will feature
photographs of Concord Coaches and some of the many other types of
horse drawn motorized vehicles in 100 years that the company was in
business in Concord, NH A special feature will be photographs
. and descriptions of the coaches still remaining in New
Hampshire. The presentation will end with a question and
answer session.
The
Historical Society Committee Begins Its Work To Locate A New
Headquarters
Submitted By Larry Berkson
The
first task of the Building Search Committee of the Pittsfield
Historical Society was to develop a ranking of desired features of a
new headquarters. Among those in the “very high importance” category
were: relatively low and future maintenance costs, fire safety
issues, handicap access, and a substantial increase in size. Among
those in the “high” category were meeting room availability and
parking. Those in the “medium importance” category were location and
storage.
The
second task was to develop a list of buildings available in
Pittsfield which might provide what was needed by the Historical
Society. Twelve properties were found. Arrangements were made to
visit each and they were thoroughly investigated. A 48 page report
was developed for consideration by the Board of Directors. It
included a picture of each property, a sketch of each noting their
dimensions, the cost and renovation costs of each, as well as the
square footage, land area, utilities, and advantages and
disadvantages of each.
Two
rather ideal buildings were rejected because purchasing them would
have a serious negative impact on the community’s tax base. Others
were rejected because they were too small or too large. Yet others
were rejected because they could not be converted for Society use.
After a thorough discussion it was determined that the old Pub
Building on Depot Street and the old Kenteck Building on Elm Street
were the most likely candidates. However both presented concerns for
the Society. The Depot Street property was actually too small and
had a damp basement not useful for storage. The cost of converting
the property at Elm Street was excessively high and when completed
would not really fit the Society’s needs. Further, maintenance and
operating costs would be very high.
Again,
after a thorough discussion it was agreed that none of the sites
were really suitable to the Society’s needs and perhaps a better
approach would be to look for a piece of land upon which a building
could be erected. Among those considered were the lots between
Rustic Crust and the old Weaving Factory building on Barnstead Road,
and between the storage facility and St. George’s Garage on High
Street. Neither was available. Consideration was also given to
purchasing the old Christian Science Reading Room building next to
Society headquarters and tearing it down along with the present
building. However, the result would be like fitting a large foot
into a small shoe and such a building was very unlikely to meet
Planning Board regulations.
Another
possibility explored was the vacant lot created by the fire on Main
Street next to the old Volpe Real Estate building. Considerable work
was undertaken in developing a lists of cost estimates to erect the
building. Adjacent property owners were contacted about cooperation
with the project. However, after innumerable attempts, the attorney
handling the property would not return calls. A person outside of
the Society did make contact but it did not result in communication
with the Society.
The
next possibility considered was tearing down the town owned old
Brook’s house next to the town hall. However, the lot was not deep
enough and additional land behind it was needed. This possibility
was investigated and the price was found to be extremely high.
At this
point, a suggestion was made that the lot where the old Berry-Ring
Store on Main Street, which had been recently been torn down, might
be available. It was owned by the Town. However, it was found that
the house next door had become a part of the vacant lot. Given the
configuration of the property that house would have to be torn down
if the Society were to build where the store once was.
There
was a serious concern among the Society’s Board of Directors about
removing the building. It is a nice looking structure and removing
it would negatively impact the Town’s tax base. Ultimately an
individual made the offer but it was rejected by the Select Board,
deemed not in the best interests of the Town.
In the
meantime the Board of Selectmen had found a buyer for the Brooks
property and it was sold. This left the Society with no real option.
It was then that members of the Board of Selectmen suggested looking
into the town owned Washington House Lot. The committee had
considered the lot but had rejected it because despite its ideal
location and size, and lack of impact on the tax base, a great deal
of work had been devoted by the Beautification Committee in
beautifying the property. It was suggested that approval by the
Committee would be needed before a vote of the Select Board would be
considered.
The
idea was brought before the Beautification Committee which readily
approved the idea. Dan the Stoneman was contacted as well because he
had just devoted a week or more to building a new planter on the
property. He enthusiastically accepted the idea and volunteered to
help build retaining walls and a new planter once the building was
completed. Subsequent events will be discussed in a future edition
of The Sun.
Letter
To The Editor
Scott
Hilliard
Leadership, Integrity, and Honor
I have
had the distinct pleasure of knowing and working with Scott for many
years in positions I have held. One month following the
September 11th terrorist attack, while I was serving as the U.S.
Postal Service District Manager, the nation was once again attacked
by mail containing weaponized anthrax, killing more than ten people
nationwide. Everyone became far more aware of white powder
incidents after the initial attacks, causing a huge increase in 911
calls.
With
Scott’s leadership, the Merrimack County Sheriff’s Office along with
other agencies put together a system to sort out the potential
problems from those incidents that could be explained as
non-threatening. That model was used throughout the state to
bring some sense of normalcy to the lives of our citizens.
As a
member of a local Select Board, with an exodus of patrol officers,
followed by the resignation of some of the police leadership team,
the town was in a real dilemma. Scott stepped up to do our
background and polygraph tests for the applicants responding to our
vacancy announcements. He helped with coverage as did the
State Police and our neighboring towns to cover vacant patrol duties
as well as assisting with court issues. He rendered all of
this assistance while staying within his budget.
Scott
Hilliard’s honor and integrity has always been and continues to be
the hallmark of service to our citizens that continues to be his
main focus. Please vote for Scott Hilliard on September 11, 2018.
Jim
Adams
Josiah
Carpenter Library September News
Children’s programs are transitioning to the school year schedule
and we are happy to announce the beginning of a new weekly activity
for children in 3rd thru 6th grade. Creating Adventures Club will
meet on Wednesday from 2:00-3:15pm beginning September 12th, come
and explore building with Legos, making your own robots,
creating stop motion movies, and much more! Story Hour for
preschoolers, families and caregivers will continue on Thursday at
10:00am; and Adventures Club for children in kindergarten thru 3rd
grade will continue on Tuesday from 3:30 – 4:45 pm. Younger children
will be learning about stars and the solar system, and at 7:00pm on
Friday September 21st we’ll have a star gazing session at the Tilton
Hill Ball Field. There will be a couple of telescopes for
people to try out along with star gazing guides and instruction.
The
Teen Book Worms will gather on Tuesday September 11th at
6:30pm; they will enjoy a light supper and discuss Glass Sword by
Victoria Aveyard. The Pittsfield Writer’s Circle will meet at
the library on Tuesday the 25th at 5:00pm. The adult book club
will meet to discuss Code Girls: The untold story of American women
code breakers who helped win WWII by Liza Mundy at 10:30 am on
Tuesday September 25th at the Pittsfield Senior Center.
Everyone is welcome to join our ongoing activities at any time.
On
Monday September 10th at 2:00 pm the Chichester-Epsom-Pittsfield
Libraries Memory Café will enjoy a musical performance of harps and
vocals at the Epsom Public Library. The Concord Regional
Visiting Nurses will describe the benefits of music to stimulate the
retrieval of long-term memories. Local caregivers and folks
living with memory loss are invited to come enjoy music and
conversation in a comfortable setting. Refreshments will be served.
The
Student Conservation Association will present an informative program
about the Cultural History of Foraging Edible Plants at 1:00pm on
Tuesday September 18th at the Pittsfield Senior Center. Come
and learn some ideas for the next time you are exploring outdoors.
Looking
further into fall, on Tuesday October 9th at 1:00 pm the NH Division
of Public Health will offer a Tick Talk at the Pittsfield Senior
Center. Come and learn about the signs and symptoms of
tick-borne diseases, how to prevent bites, and proper tick removal
and disposal.
Separate Ballot Concerning The Pittsfield AFT-NH Union Bargaining
Unit Cost Items
Submitted By Jim Adams
This
year’s primary voting process will also have a single article for
the Town of Pittsfield on a separate ballot concerning the
Pittsfield AFT-NH Union Bargaining Unit cost items.
The
collective bargaining process is very easily explained but far more
complicated to actually negotiate. The previous vote at the
last Town Meeting in March of this year was clear regarding the
issues important to the voters in attendance.
The
voters wanted the employees to contribute to the cost of their
health insurance; they wanted to lower the insurance buy-out portion
of the agreement from 35%; and they wanted the salary step increases
to be performance-based.
The AFT
and Town representatives through the collective bargaining process
addressed these items. The Town employees will begin to pay 2%
of the cost of their health insurance on January 1, 2019, which will
increase to 4% on January 1, 2020, and to 7% on January 1, 2021.
The 35% insurance buy out which has been as high as $10,000 plus per
year will be reduced to $2,500.
For all
present and new employees, except for one, who will receive the 35%
until retirement or moving to another job. This gradual increase in
employee contribution is designed to not have employees lose
$2,000-3,000 from their salaries the first year of the contribution
process.
The AFT
and Town representatives agreed to performance-based step increases.
The process regarding the evaluation system will be negotiated upon
the approval of this article. I believe this agreement will become a
good first step in cost sharing and addressing the voters’ concerns
while at the same time being fair for the employees.
The
point of this column is not to sway voters in one direction or
another. It is meant to explain the complex nature of collective
bargaining, which at the end of the day, needs to be fair to
taxpayers and employees alike.
Primary
Election Day is 9/11/18.
Letter
To the
inhabitants of said towns of Epsom and Pittsfield,
Michael
Brewster is my name. Second term State Representative, incumbent
candidate. Resident of Pittsfield, five generations. I have a
lifetime of helping out the communities with their building needs. I
enjoy repairing old barns.
I'm for
a Constitutional Government.
I'm for
Truthyness in Government.
I'm for
a Government accountable to the citizens.
First
of all, if elected again, I work for you. I will help you with your
State governmental inquiries.
Better
transparency with State funds could mean lower property taxes. All
monies unused in State fund shall go to the "Rainy Day Account."
That is your money/your savings account. Last year's monies went to
the schools in Pittsfield for sidewalks and streets.
I'm for
truthyness with the Room and Rental tax. Truthyness would bring the
towns of Epsom and Pittsfield an extra $130,000 owed to them yearly.
I'm for
an adequate education. To me, every student in the state must be
treated equally. The average cost per pupil in the state during
2016-17, of all the expenditures was $18,200.
I'm for
a marijuana tax with all tax money going to municipalities for
property tax deductions.
I'm for
Children and Family rights, due process, right to a jury trial, the
right to be in a lawful court, not an administrative court that can
make up its own laws.
I'm for
the challenge. I thank the Governor for the return of $5 million
they were schemed out of.
I'm for
veterans. They deserve better from the State.
I'm for
better governess.
I look
forward to serving you again.
Rep.
Michael Brewster
Obituaries
Sidney
Simon Silverman
PITTSFIELD – Sidney Simon Silverman, 80, of Pittsfield, died
Saturday, August 25, 2018 following a lengthy illness surrounded by
his family.
He was
born in Chelsea, MA on March 29, 1938 a son of Morris and Hilda
(Lemberg) Silverman.
He
graduated from Chelsea schools. He then went on to receive his
Bachelor's Degree from the Wentworth Institute in Boston.
Following his academic training, Sidney entered the United States
Air Force working in the Electrical Engineering field and made a
career with the Air Force before retiring in 1980, earning the rank
of Master Sargent.
Following the military, Sidney was employed by Textron, Inc. in
Wilmington, MA and later with Allan Dick, Inc. in Hudson, NH before
retiring.
Sidney
was preceded in death by his wife, Rosalie (Keenan) Silverman and
Rosa (Kaplan) Fournier, daughter who passed away in 2000. He is
survived by 3 sons, Randall Silverman of Derry and Keith Silverman
of Strafford and Robert Kaplan, Ukiah, CA; a sister, Helene Gack and
her husband, Lewis of Andover, MA and several grandchildren and
great grandchildren.
A
funeral service was held on August 29, 2018 at Bennett Funeral Home
in Concord followed by Air Force Military Honors at the New
Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen. Arrangements were
entrusted to the Bennett Funeral Home Of Concord. Online condolences
can be expressed at www.bennettfuneral.com.
Walter
L. Swain
Walter
L. Swain - Athens TN formally of Pittsfield NH passed away August
21st at his home after declining health.
Born
July 20th, 1945 in Pittsfield, NH to Walter H. Swain and Delia
(Myott) Swain.
He is
predeceased by his parents, brothers Dennis and Peter, sister
Marylee, and wife Sandra.
He
leaves a sister Donna, children Jeffrey and Carrie, stepchildren
George and Dallas, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Also his
life partner Cheryl.
Private
family services will be held at a later date.
|
