Celebrating Birthdays are: May 13, Melissa Mayhew; May 14, Scott
Grandmaison, Nick Liouzis; May 15, Timothy Roode; May 16, Mini
Plante; May 17, Jeremy Grandmaison, Richard Munn, Barbara Raney;
May 18, Mikey Bender, Nathan Riel.
A Very Happy Birthday to one and all.
Best Wishes to Fern and Jim Bond who will celebrate their
Wedding Anniversary on May 18th.
Kudos from the Pittsfield Beautification Committee to Gene and
Veronica Specyalski for their “Tender Loving Care” of the lawn
area and the raised floral planter at the Route 28/Old Concord
Road intersection.
The Christian Home Educators of New Hampshire will hold their
annual convention on May 22nd and 23rd at the Radisson Hotel
(700 Elm Street, Manchester, NH 03101).
Featured speakers include Steve
Demme, Founder of Math-U-See, Becky Cooke, HSLDA’s High School
Coordinator, and Garrett Lear, NH’s Patriot Pastor. For
information on these workshops and more, please visit
www.chenh.org
Pittsfield Main Street is a little bit lonelier these days with
the closing of Zoya’s. Much missed will be a vibrant coffee
stop, really good omelets, soup, salads and sandwiches. Good
thoughts and wishes are extended to owners Zoya and Larry.
Pittsfield Beautification Committee To Participate In Town Wide
Yard Sale
On June 6th, the Pittsfield Beautification Committee will be
participating in the Town Wide Yard Sale. The proceeds
from this sale will be used to buy plants for the 5 areas around
Pittsfield that we “beautify” each year, as well as 5 large
flower planters on sidewalks located in downtown Pittsfield. We
are a very small group of individuals and we need your help. If
you are doing spring cleaning, and have any items to donate for
this sale, we would be grateful if you would keep our group in
mind. We are also requesting food items since we always have a
food sale during this event, and of course monetary
contributions would be greatly appreciated. If you have
any questions or items to donate please call Theresa Riel at
435-6952. We are always looking for new members to join our
committee so that we can continue to make downtown Pittsfield
colorful, green and welcoming.
TOPS NH #38
TOPS NH #38 has much to offer, like SRD, State Recognition Day.
It is a time when all of the TOPS members in the state, along
with the field staff behind us, recognize all of the year’s
accomplishments. It also recognizes all of the KOPS have done
to Keep Off Pounds Sensibly for the past year or years. We have
members in our group who have in access of 18 years of keeping
off their weight, and come to meetings weekly to support the
TOPS members. SRD is a great time to meet others, and enjoy, or
meet friends who will influence us for the rest of our lives. We
have been very fortunate, for the past few years we have met in
Concord, at the Grappone Center, at the Marriott, and had a
great show of members, and great food prepared for TOPS in mind.
We meet locally, weekly at the St. Stephen’s Church, in the
Undercroft, on Main Street, in Pittsfield at 6:30 p.m. TOPS is a
nonprofit organization. Feel free to call Pat at 435-5333, or
Sandy at 798-5658.
School Lunch Menus
May 18-22, 2009
PES
Monday -
Grilled cheese sandwich, veggie, fruit, milk.
Tuesday -
Baked Chicken, salad, dessert, milk.
Wednesday -
Ravioli, veggie, fruit, milk.
Thursday -
Cheeseburger, chips, fruit, milk.
Friday -
Pizza, fruit, milk.
EPSOM
Monday -
Mini pancakes with syrup, bacon, celery sticks, fresh fruit,
milk or yogurt tray, tuna salad.
Tuesday -
Spaghetti with meatsauce, garlic bread, veg., fruit, milk or
yogurt tray, Caesar salad.
Wednesday -
Fish sticks, onion rings, cole slaw, fruit, milk or yogurt tray,
ham salad.
Thursday -
Early Release Day -
Lunchable, ham and cheese, crackers, pickles, carrot sticks,
fresh fruit or yogurt tray, no salad.
Friday -
Shepherd’s pie, bread and butter, fruit, milk or yogurt tray,
egg salad.
Book Review
By Sophia Sarte, Grade 2, With Makayla Emerson, Grade 4,
Pittsfield
Elementary School
Zoom! by Robert Munsch
Lauretta needed a new wheelchair so her mom asked if she would
like one that goes 15 m.p.h. She got a ticket for going over the
speed limit. She said it was too slow. So she got her a monster
wheelchair. Yeah!
I would recommend this book because it is good, and it is funny.
But you should never go over the speed limit.
Pittsfield Brownie Troop 10524
Pittsfield Brownie Troop 10524 enjoyed the fruits of their labor
when they used their profits from selling Girl Scout Cookies to
have a Noah’s Ark Party. The girls each stuffed and dressed an
animal of their choice and had a wonderful time doing it!
Other things we did this year were earning badges, had a mother
and daughter tea party, attended a father and daughter dance,
made bags of Christmas decorations to donate to the food pantry,
as well as make new friends, laugh, dance, sing songs, and play
games. We are looking forward to our end of the year dessert
reception and award ceremony on May 31st.
If you would like more information about Girl Scouts in
Pittsfield, or are interested in volunteering, please contact
Danielle John-Zensky at 435-7001.
VA Accepting Applications for Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits
(May 1, 2009) - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
announced today that Veterans can begin submitting applications
on-line for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
“There is no better investment than education,” said Tammy
Duckworth, VA’s assistant secretary for public and
intergovernmental affairs. “The Post-9/11 GI Bill will provide
new opportunities that are essential to our Veterans, our
workforce and our economy.”
Veterans, service members, reservists and National Guard members
with active duty since Sept. 10, 2001, may be eligible for this
benefit.
Veterans will remain eligible for benefits for 15 years from the
date of last discharge or release from a period of active duty
of at least 90 continuous days.
Eligible applicants must have served for an aggregate period of
at least 90 days since Sept. 10, 2001, or served at least 30
continuous days on active duty since Sept. 10, 2001, and
received a discharge for disability.
Benefit payment rates range from
40 percent of the maximum benefit for an person with at least 90
days, but less than 6 months of aggregate service and up to 100
percent of the benefit for people with at least 36 months of
aggregate service or 30 continuous days and a discharge due to a
service connected disability. Prospective beneficiaries may
apply on-line through the GI Bill Web site at
www.GIBILL.VA.gov.
Qualified Veterans will receive a “Certification of Eligibility”
as well as additional information regarding benefits they may
qualify for under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which will become
effective on Aug. 1, 2009.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill, passed by Congress last year, is the most
extensive educational assistance program authorized since the
original GI Bill was signed into law in 1944. It provides
eligible applicants with tuition payments to assist them in
getting a college education.
For many participants, it also provides a housing allowance and
a stipend for books and supplies.
Information about the new program
and VA’s other educational benefits can be obtained through www.
GIBILL.VA.gov <http://www.gibill.va.gov/>
or by calling 1-888-GIBILL1 (1-888-442-4551).
Letter To The Editor
The Kubat family would like to extend a sincere thank you to all
of our friends, family and the wonderful people in Pittsfield
and surrounding communities.
We cannot explain how much the cards, visits, phone calls,
dinners, prayers and overwhelming kindness has meant to us.
The way the people in this community came together to help us
during this unfortunate accident makes us proud to call it home.
We will never forget all of the kindness and thoughtful acts
that were done for us. We hope to be able to do the same for
others in their time of need. Thank you.
Mark and Jen Kubat
Pittsfield, NH
The Revolutionary War
Yonder lie the Tories and Redcoats . . . “They are ours or Molly
Stark sleeps a widow tonight !” (Spoken by General John Stark at
the Battle of Bennington, VT). The Pittsfield Historical Society
will be presenting a program on the Revolutionary War at its
monthly meeting at 7 pm, May 16th at the Society building on Elm
Street. The program will be presented by CW2 Tom Graham, New
Hampshire National Guard Historian. Mr Graham will discuss three
major battles of the War and the New Hampshire connection.
Everyone is welcome to attend this presentation.
New Acquisitions At Pittsfield’s Carpenter Library
The Friends of the Josiah Carpenter Library were recently in the
position to acquire a wide variety of DVDs as part of a closing
sale. These 50+ DVDs range in interest from Children’s to
Science Fiction, Western’s, and Classics and they will certainly
enhance the library’s collection.
In addition to the new DVDs, new books will be added to the
Children’s Collection, as part of a generous grant from Rotary
of Pittsfield. Rotary has once again funded The Friends’
“Books for Babies” program. This year, “Open the Barn
Door” by Christopher Santoro, will be sent to all the newborns
of Pittsfield. The Friends would like to sincerely thank Rotary
for the grant and their support of the library and literacy in
general.
On June 6, 2009, The Friends will be holding their annual book
sale, as part of the Townwide Yard Sale. Be sure to drop
in and pick up some wonderful summer reading material, for those
lazy afternoons sitting by the pool or on the beach. We
will host the sale inside the library beginning at 8 a.m.
The Friends are also helping support this year’s Summer Reading
Program at the Carpenter Library. This program is free to
all children and will begin mid-June.
Pittsfield/Barnstead Lions Club
To All Former Pittsfield-Barnstead Lions Club Members and
Interested new members:
The Pittsfield/Barnstead Lions Club has been in existence since
01/24/1954, and has served the community well since that time.
With membership at an all time low-, the opportunity here exists
for you to:
“Hone” your Leadership abilities.
Bring this Club back to Life.
Be a low profile HERO.
Provide miracles to and for your many neighbors.
Help – lead - by example – Have fun doing it!!
We need your help as a member, the amount of time that you
commit is what you are able to commit. We will meet at the
Pittsfield Community Center on May 14, at 7:00 PM for one hour.
Please join us at that time.
Personally, I have a strong attachment with the
Pittsfield/Barnstead Lions Club. When the Pittsfield Lions Club
chartered Saddleback Mountain Lions Club in 1973, PDG George
Reed attended our meetings and I became a good friend with him.
I will be a helping hand to help bring the Pittsfield/Barnstead
Lions Club into the future.
Please contact me at 767-9313 if you have any questions.
In service with you,
Ellis Ring, Region 3 Chair
News from American Legion Peterson-Cram Post 75
American Legion Peterson-Cram Post 75 2009- 2010 Officers from
left to right, Dan Ward, Historian; Reuben Levitt, Service
Officer; Bob Moulton, Chaplain/Adjutant; John Kost, Finance
Officer; Scott Ward, Vice Commander; Merrill Vaughan, Commander;
Not shown is Royce Elkins, Judge Advocate and Susan Faretra,
District 5 Sr. Vice Commander.
Photo By: Diane Vaughan
On Monday, May 4, 2009, The American Legion Peterson-Cram Post
75 had their Post Officers for 2009 - 2010 installed by the
District 5 Vice Commander, Susan Faretra. After the
installation, the main part of the meeting was on the upcoming
Memorial Day observance that will be held on May 24, 2009, at 1
p.m. at the Veterans Memorial on Main St. The public is invited
to attend, the annual observance.
On Thursday, May 21, 2009, Post members will start to place the
flags on the veterans’ graves in Floral Park. Those who want to
help should be there no later than 8:45 a.m., with a rain date
of the 22nd. The placement of the flags takes time so any
volunteers are welcome to help out.
Women Veterans
Benefits and Resources Fair
The NH Chapter of the Women Veterans of America is sponsoring a
Benefits and Resources Fair for ALL female veterans.
Are you a woman who served in the military of the United States
of America, the Allied Forces of the United States, Active Duty
US Forces, the US Reserve Forces and has not been dishonorably
discharged or separated from such service in the Armed Forces of
the United States of America? Then you are a veteran.
Come and discover all the Benefits and Resources available to
you:
-
Sign up for benefits.
-
Receive advice and support on anything from finding a job to
treatment for Military Sexual Trauma.
-
Discuss health care & maintenance.
-
Meet other Women Veterans.
To RSVP email
[email protected]
or Call
(603) 724-0484.
Check out our website
www.wvachapter41.org
Letter
To The Citizens Of Pittsfield:
The Selectboard is proud to announce Jim Girard as March’s
Employee of the Month. Jim Girard has been a full time employee
of the Town of Pittsfield for five years. During that time, Jim
has been responsible for a variety of programs. He has been a
constant mentor to the member of the full time staff sharing his
knowledge of EMS and fire fighting with new members and is
always ready to help with any project.
Jim has been in charge of the Fire Department Explorer Post for
the last three years. In his capacity as the program director he
has influenced a number of former Explorers as they became
eligible for membership as volunteer fire fighters.
Jim has accepted the responsibility for vehicle maintenance of
the ambulances and schedules routine service. Jim applies his
skill as an electrician to repair electrical problems with the
vehicles and often saves the Department expensive repairs.
Recently, Jim chaired the new ambulance committee and developed
the specification for the new ambulance that was delivered to
the Town early this year. The unit was delivered with over
$11,000.00 of extras at no cost to the Town. Jim has invested
considerable time into installation of equipment and placing the
unit in service.
Jim’s emergency response skills are exemplary and his
performance reviews demonstrate a consistent dedication to his
profession. We are fortunate to have Jim as an employee and we
appreciate all the services that he provides to our town.
Respectfully Submitted By
Denise Morin
Pittsfield, NH
Letter To The Editor
Editor:
An interesting situation was revealed at the 7 May Planning
Board meeting. Member Jim Pitchard stated that his research of
town records shows that the Planning Board was established by
Town Meeting vote in 1961 as a five member board. Four elected
members, one appointed by the Select Board.
Over the years the board has varied in size between five and
seven members. It has been a seven member board for over ten
years.
However, there is no record available of the town ever having
established anything but a five member body.
This means that the current board is not properly established -
six members have been elected to four positions, which in my
opinion means that none have been legitimately elected. As a
result none of the Board’s actions are legitimate.
It has been proposed that the situation be rectified by having
two members resign. I do not believe that this is an adequate
fix - it leaves four members who are still improperly elected.
And it disenfranchises the people who voted for those who
resign.
Proponents of this approach say that the result five member
board could be then made legitimate by requesting a declaratory
judgment from the Superior Court.
My belief is that a similar type of judgment could be requested
which would simply legitimize the current seven member board. A
board of this size was clearly the intent of the voters who made
no attempt to petition a change prior to the elections of 2008
and 2009.
Best Regards,
Bill Miskoe