There will be an American Red Cross Blood Drive  held on Tuesday, January 13th at the Pittsfield Elementary School on Bow Street from 3 to 8 p.m. sponsored by the local Parent Teacher’s Organization. Child care will be provided.
The Red Cross is offering a special this month - “Give A Pint - Get A Pound” of free Dunkin’ Donuts Coffee when you help save lives by donating blood. The need is constant - the gratification is instant! Please consider coming and giving blood at a time of year when needs are generally high and the supplies are often low. In the new year “Be A Cheerful Giver.”
 

Letter

In response to the letter from “Name Withheld” on 12/24/2008, I would like to present an opposing viewpoint. As with many of my neighbors, I was without power during the ice storm and found myself making frequent runs for generator gasoline. I bought gas from the Blueberry Station several times during the outage. At one time, the station ran out of regular gas and had only premium available. This situation was likely due to increased demand combined with weather related delays in shipping. The Blueberry Station chose to sell the premium gas at the regular gas price. I know this to be true and have a receipt to prove it. In the middle of this difficult time, Blueberry Station stepped up and served the very community they do business in and they deserve proper respect for their actions.

As far as gas prices in general, we have all seen a wild fluctuation in the last few months. One station does not stand out above another to me, and I travel all over New England on a regular basis.

The real “Food for Thought” here is accuracy, and the willingness to have your name printed along with your statements.

Name NOT withheld by request.

Bruce Jakubauskas
Center Barnstead

OHRV Snowmobile Safety Class

The Suncook Valley Sno-Riders will be hosting a snowmobile safety course on Saturday, January 17, 2009, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Pittsfield Community Center downstairs in the cafeteria area. The course is free to all participants.
The day of class, a parent must come inside with their child between 7:30 a.m. and 7:50 a.m. to fill out paperwork. Students must be 12 years old (or older) by the end of the riding season in order to enroll. Parents can sit in on the class if they like, but not mandatory. Lunch will be provided. To sign up give Dana Elliott a call at 435-5074.

Letter

During President elect Obama’s election campaign the foundation word was “change” and he often said “Take back America”. But he didn’t tell us who had America.

Lee Iacoca recently asked the question, “Where is the outrage?” referring to what is happening in Washington. Unfortunately he didn’t offer any plan to express the public outrage.

Andrew Bacevich, author of “The Limits of Power” describes his version of what is happening in Washington. “The chief remaining function of Congress is to ensure the reelection of its members best achieved by shameless gerrymandering, doling out prodigious amounts of political pork, and seeing to the protection of certain vested interests.” He goes on to say, “The U.S. has become a one-party state, with the legislative branch permanently controlled by our Incumbent’s Party.”

What can you - the individual citizen - do to take back America? Yes, you can vote and that is crucial but in many cases you would be reelecting members of the Incumbent’s Party. More is required to make a difference. You have to express yourself in writing. How many of you have ever written to your elected Representative and to your two Senators? Have you ever written a letter to the editor of your newspaper? If you haven’t, you are part of the problem. Your silence is, in my opinion, aiding and abetting the corruption in Washington.

We are beginning a new year. Make 2009 the year that you get involved. Let your elected officials know who you are and that you expecct leadership, not followship. You’ll feel good when you receive a reply. You will also feel good to see your letter published in your local paper.

Get involved if you want to see real change in Washington.

William A. Johnson
Ctr Barnstead
 

Missions Trip to the Philippines

By Judy Gower
Pastor of Center Barnstead Christian Church, Brian Gower and his wife Judy recently returned from the Philippines. Flying for 28 hours seems like a long time….only because it is!! We spent lots of hours in the air and many hours in airports, and going through tight security in several airports. But it was all worth it once we arrived in the beautiful country of the Philippines. We were asked to come and teach the Pilipino students as well as students from numerous Asian countries at the Word of Life Bible Institute in Laguna, Philippines. We left cool fall temperatures and arrived in stifling hot humid muggy weather (that they were calling their winter!) The poverty is evident as soon as we exited the airport. We arrived around midnight and it appeared as if it should have been much earlier when I saw hundreds of families mulling about with small children and families just visiting with neighbors and friends. This is very typical for this culture. I kept thinking these children need to get to bed….but with so many people sleeping in one room, no electricity, little food and no money these families do everything together…even late into the night.

We drove over 2 hours to reach our destination and within 6 hours were dressed and ready to speak at a Singles and Professions conference for our first class. We were not sure what time zone we were supposed to be in but they are actually 11 hours ahead of our eastern time zone…add that to the fact we had only slept for 5 hours in two days and we must have looked a little weary!!

We were plunged into classes immediately and soon adjusted to the busy schedule. The first week Brian was teaching 7 or 8 hours a day. Brian was to teach 30 credit hours in two weeks and was another guest lecturer teaching those two weeks as well from China. What a lot of information those dear students had to process. One North American man speaking with a Bostonian accent and a Chinese Professor from Dallas Seminary with a strong Chinese accent teaching students from all over Asia… a very interesting situation.

I taught 10 hours to the ladies in the second and third class. I enjoyed these dear girls starting at the first session. I learned so much from them and their gracious hospitality; I wanted to bring each and every one of them home!!

We had an opportunity to attend two rugby games, teams from Guam and Philippines were playing for national championships…..very interesting, but very different from the sports I am accustomed too!!

I had an opportunity to go to the “Market” with an experienced shopper. Market is so much different than what we experience here.  The market involves exchanging money into the peso and bartering for prices at the perspective booths of merchandise. It was a delightful experience for me, I love to shop and the shopping trip helped me to see the Pilipino people in their world, in their everyday life.

We both realize what a great privilege we have to go to the mission field and proclaim the truths of Christ gospel and teach students from every walk of life. But we were most humbled by the gracious hospitality of these very precious people. Many have very little by our standards, and yet seem much happier and content with their lives then we as ‘Americans’. They have time to visit, play and enjoy their families, without rushing. They are industrious and make ‘do’ with much less than we would call acceptable. They work at jobs that might seem less than desirable. And yet, a wonderful connection was enjoyed with them, realizing that it is not ‘stuff’ that makes life, it is developing a relationship with God Himself and sharing Him.

New Tunes, New Venue; The Brooks Young Band Rocks The Renovated Barnstead Church

Saturday January 31st from 8-10 P.M. the Brooks Young Band will perform at the Barnstead Church, in NH, a newly renovated music venue. Fender endorsed artist Brooks Young and his band will be one of the first to play at Barnstead’s new hot spot. They will be playing songs from their new CD entitled “Back on the Ground” as well as old rock and blues favorites. The CD will be available for purchase at the show, and if you’re lucky enough you might be able the snag an autograph.

The Brooks Young Band is a local favorite that tours often, playing Boston and New York City shows frequently. You can even find them playing at New York City’s famous Kenny’s Castaways, which has housed Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and Blondie over the years. The band has even earned gigs opening up for B.B. King, most recently at the Capital Center for the Arts in May 2008.

Event tickets are available at the Barnstead Country Store Box Office (603) 269-3000, located at 107 Main St in Center Barnstead, NH.

The Barnstead Church 96 Maple St. Barnstead, NH 03225
www.barnsteadchurch.com
www.brooksyoungband.com

For further information, contact
Brooks Young
(603) 369-8533
[email protected]
 

Mr. Finethy Graduates Clemson University

On December 18, 2008, David Curtis Finethy graduated from Clemson University, Clemson, S.C., with a Bachelor of Science degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism, with a major emphasis in Professional Golf Management.

Attending graduation exercises were his parents, Dean L. Finethy Jr. of Ft. Meyers, Florida, Bebe and Richard Burt of Wolfeboro, NH, his grandparents, Dean and Patricia Finethy of Barnstead, NH, and his girlfriend, Laura Webber of Aiken, S.C.

David attended Kingswood Regional High School during his freshman and sophomore years and was a member of the golf team. He worked at Kingswood Country Club for five years and received the McDonough  Scholarship dedicated to employees of NH golf courses. Mr. Finethy moved to Jacksonville, FL, and attended the prestigious Bolls School, graduating in 2004.

David was a member of the NH Junior USGA League, Northern, F.L. League, and the Eastern Regional Amateur League.

During his studies at Clemson, David served three apprenticeships. First at Lake Winnipesaukee Country Club in New Durham for three months, second at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Oregon, for six months, and his final apprenticeship was teaching golf at “Golf Made Simple” golf schools in Florida for seven months.

After a graduation trip to Poland, David will pursue his career as a member of the PGA of America. His proud family including his grandparents, Carol Pearson of Wolfeboro, NH, and Fred Blackstock of Concord, NH, wish David continued success health, and happiness as a golf professional.