Celebrating Birthdays are: December 16, Brett Tiede, Nikolas
Hunter Mewkill; December 17, Jim Darrah; December 19, Peggy
Brooks; December 20, Rich Hillsgrove; December 22, Al MacLellan;
December 23, Joshua Bisson; December 24, Jacob Robbins;
December 25, Jeff Riel; December 26, Brigette Tibbetts;
Christopher Ward; December 28, Hannah Marston, Karmen Bean,
Sonya Butterworth; December 29, Jim Stapleton, Sis Butterworth.
A Very Happy Birthday to one and all.
Celebrating Anniversaries are: December 16, Ed and Chris
Young; December 18, Fred and Elizabeth Hast; December 25, Jim
and Martha Bryant.
Best Wishes.
Reminder
Don’t forget you are cordially invited to, “The Story Of
Christmas” being told through the word, song and the handbell
choir this Saturday, December 19th at 7 p.m. at the First
Congregational Church, 24 Main Street, Pittsfield.
The celebration of the Birth of Jesus will be told through
Bible Readings interespersed with carols and hymns.
Christmas is coming, and the geese are getting fat, and the
TOPS members are getting thinner. What is the solution? We are a
support group that has many things to keep you enthused about
that weight loss. Perhaps it’s only a ¼ of a pound, so what,
That’s a stick of oleo. Perhaps it’s a pound, then it’s 4 sticks
of oleo, and about the same color. That’s what fat looks like.
Sounds like you need a TOPS meeting. Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. at
St. Stephen’s Church Undercroft, Main Street, Pittsfield, NH. We
are non profit. Dues are low, we do not have lecturers to pay,
the meeting is about an hour long, and the time goes by fast.
For more info, please call Pat Smith at 325-5333, or Sandy
Gilmore at 798-5658. We’d love to hear from you. Members,
weigh-in is from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. only, and. Please call
someone to be excused.
Recent graduates of Pittsfield High School are invited to
visit the school on Monday, December 21st. Graduates are invited
to participate in the annual forum for juniors and seniors
during advisory, and to visit classrooms and teachers during the
day. Please notify Leslie Bergevin in the Guidance Office at
435-6701 or by email at
[email protected] if you would like to
participate in the forum and plan to visit the school.
Pittsfield is dressed for the holidays thanks to the very
many organizations and individual volunteers in the town. The
banners are hung and the dam tree is lighted; Dustin Park is
aglow with Christmas tree, wreaths and bandstand. It is such a
pleasure to drive through. Kudos to everyone involved.
Family Movie Night
On December 20, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., seniors at
Pittsfield Middle High School are hosting a movie night at
the high school. All families and interested community members
are welcome to join us for a showing of Elf in the Greenleaf
Auditorium (gym). This is to bring our community and families
together and spend time with one another. There is no admission
charge, but popcorn, candy, hot dogs, drinks, etc. will be on
sale, to raise money for the Booster Club to help out with our
sports teams.
For more information you can contact Pittsfield Middle High
School at 603-435-6701.
School Lunch Menus
December 21-23, 2009
PES
Monday
-
Chicken sandwich, chips, dessert, milk.
Tuesday - Ravioli,
veggie, fruit, milk.
PMHS
Monday
- Pizza, corn, fruit,
milk.
Tuesday - Burgers or hot dogs, chips, pickles, fruit,
milk.
We would like to thank the Student Council for our free
lunch on the 22nd - EVERYONE at school may enjoy their
generosity!
EPSOM
Monday
- Tomato soup, mozzarella
sticks, Goldfish crackers, celery sticks, fruit, milk or yogurt
tray, Sunbutter and jelly with salad.
Tuesday - Shepherd’s
pie, bread and butter, fruit, milk or yogurt tray, Chef’s
choice, salad.
Have a safe and happy holiday recess!
CHICHESTER
Monday
- Homemade cheese or pepperoni pizza,
Caesar salad, fresh fruit, milk.
Tuesday - Hot dog, tater
tots or veggie, applesauce, milk.
Happy Holidays!
Shirley Allen Wins Raffle
Representing the Executive Board of the Pittsfield High School
Alumni Association, Tobi Chassie, President, left, and Paula
Driscoll, Member-At-Large, are shown above following the drawing
of the winning ticket.
Shirley Allen from the class of 1956 won the Pittsfield High
School Alumni Association raffle.
The raffle began during
the Old Home Day festivities in July. Tickets continued to be
sold throughout the summer and fall. The drawing was held on
Friday, November 27, at the alumni basketball games.
The
Alumni Association collected $319 from this fundraising event.
Its members are grateful to everyone who participated. The money
will be used to support its annual scholarship to a graduating
senior and the all-class reunion, scheduled for Old Home Day on
July 17, 2010.
Ms. Allen will receive the original serigraph
of the cupola on Pittsfield Middle High School for winning the
raffle. The serigraph was created and donated by acclaimed
artist William Mitchell, the art teacher at Pittsfield Middle
High School. Check out Mr. Mitchell’s Web site at
www.mitchellserigraphprints.com.
Ladies Aid
Submitted By Joan Riel
The Ladies Aid of the
First Congregational Church in Pittsfield met the afternoon of
December 7th in the church vestry. President, Freda Jones opened
the meeting which began with devotions by Arlene Martin who read
“Life’s Gladness” by Garnett Ann Schultz. This was followed by
“God’s Holy Gift,” read by Freda Jones who received it many
years ago from an elderly aunt. All joined in the Lord’s Prayer.
The Secretary read her minutes of the previous meeting and one
piece of correspondence which was an invitation for an Open
House to be held for Harriet Ames on January 2nd in honor of her
100th birthday. The Treasurer gave her financial report. As is
customary at Christmas time, several money gifts were voted.
While enjoying gingerbread and whipped cream, cookies, crackers
and cheese and fruit, many, many Christmas cards were signed to
be mailed.
At the close of the meeting, forty cloth bags made
at a previous meeting, were filled with assorted candies to be
distributed to seniors nearer Christmas.
The Ladies Aid
doesn’t meet during the winter months so the next meeting won’t
be held until May.
Letter To The Editor
Dear Editor,
The folks at Vintage
Hill would like to extend a warm “thank you” to the Girl Scout
Brownies, Troop 22371 of Barnstead, for the special time they
shared with us last Sunday singing Christmas songs. Not only
does it honor God to selflessly take of your time for others
like you did, but you truly touched the hearts of those whom you
visited and sang to. Thank you very much – you were an absolute
blessing to all of us!
With Much Appreciation,
Our Family
at Vintage Hill, LLC
Shinseki Says VA’s Home Loan Program A“Continued Success”
Submitted By: Merrill A. Vaughan, Commander, American Legion
Peterson-Cram Post 75 Pittsfield, NH
Despite problems in the
nation’s housing market, mortgage loans backed by the Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA) had a lower foreclosure rate than any
other type of home loan in the industry, as of the end of the
last fiscal year.
“The dedication of VA’s loan professionals,
the support of our partners in the mortgage industry and most
importantly, the hard work and sacrifice of our Veterans have
made this possible,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K.
Shinseki. “VA is making good on its promise to help Veterans buy
homes, and Veterans are achieving their dreams.”
Currently,
about 1.3 million active home loans were obtained using VA’s
Home Loan Guaranty Program. The program makes home ownership
more affordable for Veterans, active-duty members, and some
surviving spouses by protecting lenders from loss if the
borrower fails to repay the loan.
More than 90 percent of
VA-guaranteed loans are made without a downpayment. Despite
this, VA has the lowest serious delinquency rate in the
industry, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.
Furthermore, VA’s percentage of loans in foreclosure is the
lowest of all measured loan types-lower even than prime loans,
which require high credit scores and a 20 percent downpayment by
the borrower.
Much of the program’s strength stems from the
efforts of VA employees and loan servicers nationwide, whose
primary mission is to help Veterans stay in their homes, avoid
foreclosure and protect their credit lines from the consequences
of a foreclosure, Shinseki said.
Depending on the situation,
VA’s loan specialists can intervene on a Veteran’s behalf to
help pursue home-retention options such as repayment plans, loan
modifications and forbearance. Additionally, under certain
circumstances, VA can refund a loan, which involves purchasing
the loan from the mortgage company and modifying the terms so
the Veteran can afford the new mortgage payment.
Since 1944,
when home-loan guarantees were offered under the original GI
Bill, through the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, VA has
guaranteed more than 18.7 million home loans worth $1.04
trillion.
To obtain more information about the VA Home Loan
Guaranty Program, Veterans can call VA at 1-877-827-3702.
Information can also be obtained at
http://www.homeloans.va.gov.
Pittsfield Fire and Rescue Service News October 2009
During
the month of October, fifty-five calls for emergency assistance
were received.
Fire and EMS personnel responded to 39
medical emergencies, 1 structure fire, 1 chimney fire, 2 motor
vehicle accidents, 5 service calls, 4 good intent calls, and 3
alarm activations. Four of the calls were simultaneous
responses.
Our appreciation goes to Lt. Nick Abell and
several members who planned and assisted with Fire Prevention
Week programs and our annual Open House. Thank you to
members of the community who joined us and to those who made
contributions.
Members have recently participated in many
trainings including: Forcible Entry Techniques;
Pre-planning response; EMS Equipment
Familiarization; Drafting Operations; and a
weekend long EMT Refresher training. Chief
Johnson and several members were active in the
planning and implementation of a Point of
Distribution (POD) drill held in Northwood.
During October, 8 code consultations, 11 follow up
inspections, 2 code inspections, 2 fire inspections, and 3 oil
burner permit inspections were conducted. Sixty Permits to
Kindle a Fire were issued. A monthly Department was held. Annual
pump tests have been conducted on Engine 1, Engine 2 and Tanker
2, with all apparatus passing. Construction on an outdoor fuel
storage shed has been completed with the assistance of the
Merrimack County House of Corrections.
The proposed 2010
budget has been submitted to the Selectboard and Budget
Committee. Should you have questions or concerns regarding the
fire and rescue service proposed budget or to learn more about
the department, please stop by the station or call Chief Johnson
at 435-6807.
Northway Bank Accepts New Hampshire Food
Thanksgiving is always a time when the needs
of those struggling in our community are
amplified and when every item, large or small,
is important at the New Hampshire Food Bank.
To help out this year, Northway issued a grant
to assist with the overwhelming needs in the
community. The bank also challenged its
associates to donate as well. For each
associate donation, Northway fully matched their
contribution. In total, $10,000 was collected
and donated by Northway Bank and its associates
to the New Hampshire Food Bank.
“Especially in a tough
economy as we live in today, we know that community outreach is
so important,” says Bill Woodward, President and CEO of Northway
Bank. “We realize how important it is for everyone to join
together and aid those who need a helping hand in our
community.”
Northway Bank and the New Hampshire Food Bank
also partnered on a variety of additional efforts. All 18
banking centers collected non-perishable food items throughout
the month of November, as well as raffled a Thanksgiving feast.
Over a thousand food items were collected and delivered to the
New Hampshire Food Bank. Also, on Thursday, November 19th in
Plymouth and Tuesday, November 24th in Berlin, the Food Bank
assisted these communities with its Mobile Food Pantry. Northway
associates put in over 45 hours volunteering over both days to
benefit these areas with a service not regularly offered.
A
big ‘thank you’ to all those in the community who brought in
food donations to the banking centers. The response was
overwhelming and continues to show how caring the people of New
Hampshire are.
To
find out more about the New Hampshire Food Bank and how you can
get involved, please visit
www.nhfoodbank.org.
Obituaries
William L. Brennan
William L. Brennan, 72, died
peacefully Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009, in Concord.
He was born in
Denver, the youngest son of Jeanne (Sternenberger) Brennan and
Carl H. Brennan. He grew up on Lake Erie, spending early years
on Kelleys Island and later years on Middle Bass Island, Ohio.
Bill graduated from St. John's Northwest Military Academy,
Delafield, Wis., and proudly served in the U.S. Army and Army
Reserve from 1960 to 1964. He later returned to Ohio, sailing on
the Cleveland Cliffs Victory freighter before working at Ford
Motor Co., retiring in 1988 after working more than 31 years in
the Sandusky, Ohio, plant. In 1990, he and his wife, Marty,
enjoyed the "best of both worlds," living between Middle Bass
Island, Ohio, and Pittsfield.
Bill's passions included
catching, cleaning and cooking Lake Erie perch, turtle trapping,
woodworking, mechanical repair work and listening to Irish
music. First and foremost, however, Bill loved helping others,
regardless of how simple or complex the task.
He was
predeceased by his parents; and two brothers, Michael and
Charles.
He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Martha (Kazanjian)
Brennan of Pittsfield; two sisters, Rose Thrash and her husband,
Clyde, of Columbus, Ohio, and Norma West and her husband, Clint,
of Scottsdale, Ariz.; his loving nieces and nephews, Mike
Brennan and his wife, Fran, Patrick Brennan, Cherie Faetanini
and her husband, Bob, of Sandusky, Ohio, Clay Thrash and Sharon
Miller of Columbus, Ohio, Linda Hayes and her husband, Chet, of
Marco Island, Fla., Laura Nixon and her husband, Shawn, and Jeff
and Carla Windau of Scottsdale, Ariz.; and two daughters, Leslie
Brennan and Julie Brennan, originally from Sandusky, Ohio.
Services and burial will be held in Kelleys Island Cemetery in
the springtime.
Memorial donations may be made to the Lake
Erie Islands Historical Society, P.O. Box 25, Put in Bay, Ohio
43456; or to the Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association
Hospice House, 30 Pillsbury St., Concord 03301.
The
Cremation Society of New Hampshire is in charge of arrangements.
For more information, visit
www.csnh.com.