Celebrating Birthdays are: November 26, Susan Bleckmann, Jordan
Paggi; November 27, Katrina Giuda, Mike Zahn; November 29,
Brianne Boivin, Bill Boudreau; November 30, Bonnie Deane, Craig
Wood;
A Very Happy Birthday To One And All.
Best Wishes to Russ and Joan Kimball who will celebrate
their Wedding Anniversary on November 30th.
TOPS NH #38
Ever think that you cheated on your daily intake of food?
Well stop punishing yourself, try and think of something better
like an apple for that jelly donut, or about the small bag or
two of chips, next time try and crunch on a stalk of celery. If
you still need a little self esteem, or perhaps someone to call
for support, why not try a Take Off Pounds Sensibly meeting on
that chilly night instead of that ice cream, cookies and milk.
We meet every Tuesday evening at 6:30, and weigh in is at
5:30-6:15. St. Stephen’s Church, Main Street in Pittsfield is
where we meet. We are a non-profit organization. For further
information, please call Pat at 435-5333 or Sandy at 798-5658.
Winners in the November Drawing at the Peterson-Cram Legion
Post No. 75 were: #105, Henry Stapleton, $50; #320,
Clifford Gray, $25; #286, Arlene Weeks, $10; #187, Sandra
Osborne, $10; #186, Jill Metcalf, $10.
OPEN HOUSE
At
THE KENNEDY HOUSE
Gift Baskets And
More
90 Shackford Corner Road
Center Barnstead, NH
Friday, November 27th
Thru
Sunday, December 6th
9:00 AM
- 5:00 PM
Nancy Boyd Kennedy
269-3421
5th Sunday Celebration
Gloria Beachy (from Chichester) will be giving a Christmas
Concert at Park Street Baptist Church on Sunday, November 29th
at 6:00 p.m. Gloria will be performing some of her own songs, as
well as leading us in praise and worship and Christmas carols.
There will be refreshments following. Everyone is welcome! No
cost, but a love offering will be taken.
A new mailing address for Albert Riel:
NH Veteran’s Home,
Tarr South, #107, 139 Winter Street, Tilton, NH 03276.
Mark your calendars now for Saturday,
December 5th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The First
Congregational Church in Pittsfield will be
hosting their Annual Craft Fair, featuring
several area artisans who will offer you a great
variety of crafts, handwork, baked goods,
Christmas greens and much, much more.
Taylor Kiss, Grade 10, who received High
Honors was omitted from the PMHS Honor
Roll, 1st Quarter.
The Pittsfield Players Present A Rented
Christmas
Add the Pittsfield Players to your
festivities on Saturday, December 5! The
Pittsfield Players are presenting “The Rented
Christmas” at the Scenic Theatre, 6 Depot Street
at 8 PM FREE! So, you have time to visit the
Pittsfield Elementary School’s Breakfast with
Santa, followed by the Chamber of Commerce’s
Children’s Store from 9 a.m. -noon; go out and
do some Christmas shopping at the Toy Box and
Epsom Central School’s Santa’s Workshop and
other area craft fairs, then return for the Tree
Lighting and Christmas Caroling in Dustin Park
at 5 PM and finally, sit back and enjoy yourself
at the Scenic Theatre at 8 p.m. for “The Rented
Christmas” presented by the Pittsfield Players.
“The Rented Christmas” is a heartwarming tale of
a man who wants just a little bit more for
Christmas this year and decides he can rent all
the comforts of homestyle Christmas until he
discovers his feelings get in the way and he
ends up with more than he bargained for.
Tickets for “The Rented Christmas” are
available this weekend at the Scenic Theatre on
6 Depot Street, Pittsfield from 10:30 a.m. to
noon. Though the performance is FREE, you must
have a ticket to view the performance as seats
are limited. The Pittsfield Players encourage
you to bring a non-perishable food or toiletry
item, including paper towels and individually
wrapped toilet paper rolls in exchange for your
ticket. The items will be delivered to the
Pittsfield Food Pantry. Tickets are also
available at the box office a half hour before
the times of the performances. Besides the
December 5 performance at 8pm; “The Rented
Christmas” will be performed, Friday, December 4
at 8 PM and Sunday, December 6 at 2 p.m. For
more information, please call 435-8852 or visit
www.pittsfieldplayers.com.
School Lunch Menus
Nov. 30-Dec. 4, 2009
PMHS
Monday
- Pizza, veggies, fruit, milk.
Tuesday - Meatball subs, garden salad, bread,
fruit, milk.
Wednesday - Chicken nuggets,
fries, veggies, fruit, milk.
Thursday - Pork
dinner, potato and gravy, carrots, fruit, milk.
Friday - Mac and cheese, ham, green beans, corn
bread, fruit, milk.
CHICHESTER
Monday
-
French bread pizza, cucumber slices with dip,
fruit cocktail, milk.
Tuesday - Chicken
nuggets, French fries, carrots, chocolate cake,
milk.
Wednesday - Spaghetti with meatsauce,
garlic bread, green beans, sliced peaches, milk.
Thursday - Toasted cheese sandwich, tomato
soup, veggie sticks, vanilla pudding, milk.
Friday - Hot dog with roll, baked beans or
veggie, fresh fruit, milk.
Winter Wonderland Luncheon
You and your friends are invited
to Winter Wonderland Luncheon on Thursday, December 10, 2009,
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. $15.00 inclusive at the Red Blazer
Restaurant and Pub, 72 Manchester Street, Concord. 224-4101.
Christmas Sing-a-Long with Mim leading.
Speaker: TBA.
Reservations by December 2. Cancellations are required. Please
call Maddy at 485-4303 or Barbara at 798-5976.
Sponsored by
Concord Women’s Connection and Stonecroft Ministries
(non-profit) www.Stonecroft.org
Letter
To The Good Citizens Of Pittsfield,
The Pittsfield
Food Pantry wishes to say “Thank You” for making our Spaghetti
Supper a huge success.
Many people put in long, hard hours of
planning and work to make it a success. There are too many to
name them all. You can be sure they were thanked.
You, the
people of Pittsfield came to supper and we hope enjoyed a good
meal of spaghetti, salad, beverage and homemade desserts.
The
proceeds will help the pantry to help our needy neighbors have a
full stomach for the holidays.
As you know, we are not
connected to the Town or any organization. We depend solely on
donations of food and money.
Again, Thank you.
Volunteers
at the Pittsfield Food Pantry
Letter To The Editor
To The Good Citizens Of Pittsfield:
In reference to November 17 Concord Monitor “Police Chief Bucks
Budget Cuts.” Thank you to the Selectboard for taking our
property tax problem seriously.
It’s true that the Police
Department came to you for an 8% increase in these difficult
times, then it appears our Police Chief is out of touch with the
financial challenges the average taxpayer is facing. For
instance in my household the money we were able to save this
summer will just about cover the fall tax bill.
Work is slow
for a stonemason in the winter, and we usually get by with
savings from the previous summer. Since the spring of 2009 we
have kept busy but paying jobs are scarce. I think this is the
new world order, everyone needs to adapt, including the Police
Department.
Dan Schroth
Pittsfield
Pittsfield Historical Society Ensures The Washington House’s
Place In Pittsfield’s Story
Boston Celtics star Bob Cousy, Gilmanton’s author Grace
Metallious, and the wife of poet Robert Frost were among the
visitors who graced the halls of the historic Washington House
many years ago, according to Therese Riel, who helped run the
family hotel for 20 years. Mrs. Riel was guest speaker at a
recent meeting of the Pittsfield Historical Society, and offered
some historical and amusing anecdotes about the building that
her parents, Raoul and Yvonne Drouin, purchased in 1952 from
Homer Cotton.
“Coon” Drolet told her that the Stillsons had
owned the hotel prior to Cotton, and Fred Avery, an insurance
rep with John Hancock, told her that someone in his family had
also owned the hotel at one time.
The hotel had a dining
room, cocktail lounge, banquet room and a large apartment where
the Drouins lived. There were 40 guest rooms, some large enough
to accommodate 4 double beds; some rooms had floor boards that
measured 32 inches wide and 28 feet long. The only items sent
out to be laundered were the linens; Mrs. Riel did all of the
washing for the resident guests, towels, barcloths, tablecloths,
etc. She did all of the supply ordering and all of the
bookkeeping.
Many of their out-of-town guests were the
owners, bosses and employees of the several shoe shops in town,
as well as the tannery, Globe Mfg., the weaving factory and
Watson’s Lumber. Often they would stay at the hotel from Monday
thru Friday noon.
“One of the ways we made money was to make
a couple of hundred sandwiches on Saturday mornings,” said Mrs.
Riel. Coffee was made in an urn that held 150 cups. Saturday
workers included those at the Tannery and Universal Label.
Every bed in the house would be booked during such events as the
Deerfield Fair, the annual dogsled races and deer hunting
season. “It was nothing for me to cook or use two cases (about
30 doz.) of eggs from the Smith Farm on the Ridge, plus bacon,
ham, sausage and pan fries (potatoes from Howard Welch,
Barnstead),” she said. “At Thanksgiving we would make 50-100
meat pies (tourtiere) and more for new Year’s. On Friday I would
make 30-40 salmon pies with a creamed egg sauce.”
Mrs. Riel
spoke of how she would collect $2 a week from each of the male
residents (single females weren’t allowed) and “when they needed
socks, T-shirts, underwear or whatever I would go to Barney’s
and get it for them.” She also was in charge of their savings,
and would go to the bank and open joint accounts so she could
deposit or withdraw funds for them. One entrusted her with
$42,000 in cash.
Among the workers at the hotel were men who
faced a winter when construction jobs were slow, or those who
just offered to “give us a free hand”: Harvey, Mickey and Ernest
Locke, Brush Riel, Mrs. Riel’s brother, Paul, Ann Emerson, Baldi
Blatner, Min Genest, Jake Nerbonne, Bill Meyers, Maurice Chagnon,
Harry Whitcomb, Albert Ordway. “Whoever came downstairs and
wanted a drink upstairs would have to carry a case of beer
upstairs. Normy Plant and Terry Chagnon were always willing,”
she said.
“We had a lot of the local town business back
then; Pittsfield was a booming little town at one time,” said
Mrs. Riel. One of the biggest changes that occurred while the
Drouin family owned the Washington House was the rerouting of
Route 28. “That cut our transient business almost completely."
Refreshments were served following the program.
Greater Pittsfield Chamber Of Commerce Holds Successful Business
After Hours
The Greater Pittsfield Chamber of Commerce was
excited to hold yet another successful Business After Hours. The
event was sponsored by Lisa Wickman who is an Independent
Longaberger Consultant. She opened her home on 455 Goboro Road
in Epsom to all of the Chamber Members providing a wonderful and
comforting setting to network our businesses.
Light
refreshments were provided by Lisa. She had shrimp, meatballs,
scallops as well as brownies, cookies, chocolate covered
pretzels, all of which were delicious! A grand prize drawing was
held for a Longaberger basket as well as 2 gift certificates!
Everyone walked away a winner!!!
A tour of Lisa’s home was
given. We were able to see a wide selection of some of the
baskets Longaberger has had over the years. We were also invited
to put a beautiful ornament on her tree to decorate it for the
upcoming holiday season! The ornaments were also from
Longaberger and made out of pewter.
After the tour, we
received a brief explanation about the Longaberger products.
This company has everything! They have baskets, silverware,
dishware, glasses, stands and so much more! All of these items
would make for a great holiday gift! She even has a website that
offers discounts on many different items. You can check it out
at
longaberger.com/lisawickman.
Lisa specializes
in home parties. You can receive free gifts just by hosting a
party within your home. This is another great way to get gifts
for people without having to deal with the hassle of traffic and
busy stores! Plus this is a gift that last forever and will be
loved by all who receive it!
The Members that attended were
able to interact with one another and had the opportunity to
learn about the individual businesses and the services they
offer. Everyone had a wonderful time! To learn more about this
event and others you can visit The Greater Pittsfield Chamber of
Commerce web site at
www.pittsfieldchamber.org.
We would like to send out a
special Thank You to Lisa Wickman from Longaberger! We
appreciate your offering your wonderful and welcoming home to
allow us to network! If you have not seen these baskets you need
to!! Give Lisa a call and she can tell you all about them
(603)798-3538!
Pittsfield Clothes Closet
We have a large selection of winter
wear for both adults and children, as well as low-priced
Christmas items. Our open hours are Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10
a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
We are located
on Carroll Street in Pittsfield. 603-435-8142.
We will be
closed Thanksgiving week, November 24-28; reopening December
1st.
Letter
To All Pittsfield Residents:
I am writing to
express my complete disgust with our Board of Selectmen and
their “Penny Wise and Pound Foolish” decision to remove over
$100,000 from our police department’s budget. In the over 15
years that I have lived in this town, I have never heard of such
a cut from a single department. It is totally unheard of.
I
can tell you that this is a tragedy for our town, and it is all
instigated by Linda Small who is chairman/woman of the board who
has a well known dislike for our Police Chief. She is also well
known for her micromanagement. What is even more disturbing, is
that she somehow got three other members of the board to go
along with this travesty. To them (Vein, Konopka, Morin) I can
only say, shame on you. Who do you represent? Linda Small, or
the people of this community who elected you?
The Budget
Committee has the power to override the Board of Selectmen and
put the money back into the Police Department budget. I am
asking each and every member of that committee to give this some
very serious thought and please restore the money to our Police
Department. While I am fully aware that times are very tough for
everyone in this very sad economy, we simply cannot make cuts to
our safety. Ladies and gentlemen of the Budget Committee, please
don’t allow this travesty to continue. Put the money back where
it belongs and let’s move forward in a positive manner. Thank
You Kindly For Your Time.
Don Chase
Letter
I am writing today with the sincerest gratitude.
Out of the Attic Thrift Store and Baby Threads have been such a
help to Pittsfield people in need. I get a lot of calls from
people who need “start ups’ for their apartments. Baby Threads
has provided many needed items at no cost.
Ruthie and all the
new volunteers have been wonderful. Some come from as far as
Belmont and Franklin. This is a vital outreach in this area.
Ruthie will be missed, but I’m sure others will step up to help.
Sincerely,
Denise Patterson
Pittsfield
Christmas Tree Lighting & Children’s Store Celebration
Save
the date, SATURDAY, DEC. 5, the Greater Pittsfield Chamber of
Commerce will hold it’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting and
Children’s Store event. Also, the First Congregational
Church will be hosting a craft fair.
The day begins with the
Pittsfield Elementary School PTO sponsored Breakfast with Santa.
Breakfast will be served for $3.00 per person between 8:00-9:30
in the PES Cafeteria. Photos with Santa are $1.00 each.
This is a fund raising event for the PTO.
*** NOTE *** The
Children’s Store will be held on Dec. 5 from 9-12 at the
Pittsfield Elementary School GYM. Volunteer “elves” will
assist shoppers up to the age of 16 in purchasing gifts for
their parents, siblings, teachers or friends. The Store is
open to children only – sorry…no adults allowed. Most of
the items are new or nearly new and can be purchased for $1.00
or less. Some other items may be higher priced.
There is also free gift wrapping available. With this new
location, parents will be able to wait inside and be warm!
Anyone interested in donating items, Christmas wrapping paper or
gift bags, may drop them off to the various donations boxes at
the Pittsfield Post Office, Citizens Bank, Northway Bank or
Mooveez Galore. Monetary donations are also gladly
accepted. Please make checks payable to: Pittsfield
Chamber of Commerce and mail to Pittsfield Chamber of Commerce,
Attn: Children’s Store, P.O. Box 234, Pittsfield, NH
03263.
The Celebration continues at DUSTIN PARK from 4-6 p.m.
The Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration is fun for the whole
family and a great community event. There will be free
horse drawn wagon rides, music, cookies cocoa, popcorn,
candycanes, face painting and caroling. PYW will open
their doors at the Corinthian Lodge to host the Gingerbread
House Display and raffle and again this year, HOT chili,
chowder, and soups will be available for a donation of a canned
or packaged food (or purchased for a few dollars) to benefit our
local Food Pantry. Santa will arrive via Firetruck around
4:15pm. Free pictures with Santa will be available at PYW
(in the Corinthian Lodge, Park St.) Don’t forget to check
out the holiday themed cut out and have your photo taken.
You’ll be able to download it from the town website.
We will
be holding a Decorated Wreath Contest again this year. Everyone
is invited to bring a decorated (anyway you’d like) wreath to
Dustin Park. The wreaths will be displayed and will be judged by
the public. The winner will be announced at 6pm after the Tree
Lighting and will receive a “Surprise Goodie Basket”, donated by
Northway Bank.
Please drop your wreath off by 3:45 p.m. at
Dustin Park and please pick up your wreath by 6:15 p.m. Any
wreaths that are not picked up will be donated to local groups.
Get in the Holiday Spirit and show off your creativity and bring
a wreath. Everyone is welcome. For more information, contact
Andi Riel at 435-6346 or visit the Chamber’s website at
www.pittsfieldchamber.org.
For the second year, the
Christmas Tree Lighting festivities will include the opportunity
to honor our veterans, past, present and future, by placing
stars on the tree prior to the lighting countdown. This is
our way of thanking those who have given some or given all for
the cause of freedom in their service to our country.
Please come out and join the celebration. The highlight of
the Celebration will be everyone gathering around the Christmas
Tree, singing Holiday songs, and counting down to the lighting
of the Tree.
As an added finale, everyone will be asked to
move down the hill (caroling as we go) to DRAKE FIELD for an
awesome FIREWORKS display to usher in the Holiday Season!
For information, please call Andi Riel at 435-6346 or visit the
Chamber’s website
www.pittsfieldchamber.org.
The
First Congregational Church of Pittsfield celebrated its 220th
Anniversary on November 15. A cake decorated with an edible
photograph of the church was cut and served by Margie Lank. The
Dorcas Guild hosted the fellowship hour after the church service
where the cake and other refreshments were served. The Sunday
Service also saw the welcoming of six new members into the
church.
Obituaries
Alfred M. Joyce
Pittsfield - Alfred Merrill Joyce, 80,
died Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, at the Concord Regional Visiting
Nurse Association Hospice House in Concord.
He was the
husband of the late Phyllis Dorothy (Mitchell) Joyce.
He was
born Feb. 10, 1929, in Nashua, son of the late James and Velma (Quint)
Joyce. A lifelong resident of New Hampshire, Mr. Joyce was
employed by the state of New Hampshire Highway Department and
retired in 1991 after more than 25 years of service.
He
enjoyed the outdoors and is remembered as an avid fisherman and
hunter.
He was predeceased by his siblings, Margaret Bagley,
George Howard, Mable Green, Robert Joyce, Lydianne Dodge and
Glenwood Joyce; and his half-brother, Robert Joyce.
He is
survived by three sons, Philip Joyce and Peter Joyce, both of
Pittsfield, and Alfred Joyce of Salt Lake City; two brothers,
Wesley Joyce of New Hampshire and Bernard Joyce Sr. of Florida;
two sisters, Orease Palmacci of Massachusetts and Pearl Garland
of New Hampshire; seven grandchildren; and three
great-grandchildren.
A graveside service was held Saturday,
November 21, 2009, at the Pineground Cemetery, Route 28,
Chichester.
Memorial donations may be made to the Concord
Regional Visiting Nurse Association Hospice House, P.O. Box
1797, Concord 03302.
The Cremation Society of New Hampshire,
King Street, Boscawen, is in charge of the arrangements.
For
more information, log on to
csnh.com.
Lisa A. Smith
Pittsfield - Lisa Ashley Smith, 26, died
Monday, Nov. 16, 2009, at Concord Regional Visiting Nurse
Association Hospice House.
She is survived by her father,
John L. Smith Jr. of Suncook; her mother and stepfather, Tammie
and Jim Fielders of Pittsfield; a sister and brother-in-law,
Jessica and Ricky Devoid II of Concord; two brothers, John and
Elijah Smith of Pittsfield; and two nieces, Brooke and Ashley
Devoid of Concord.
A memorial gathering was held Friday,
November 20, 2009, at the Cremation Society of New Hampshire,
Boscawen.
