Celebrating Birthdays aare: February 24, Daniel St. Laurent,
Jr.; February 25, Reynold Chase, Bruce Tibbetts, Tom Huckins;
February 26, Magen Vien; February 28, Irving Gadoury; February
29, Arthur Cressey; March 1, Nicholas Tuttle, Erin Dame, Chris
Briggs.
A Very Happy Birthday to one and all.
Best Wishes to Herb and Ann Emerson who will celebrate their
Wedding Anniversary on February 27th.
Meet the US Senate candidates on Sunday, February 28, 2:00
p.m. at Circle 9, 39 Windymere Drive, Epsom. Sponsored by the
Suncook Valley Republicans.
www.suncookvalleygop.org Free Entry, donations accepted. For
more information, please call 782-4918.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has announced that
Jennifer Sansom, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David W. Sansom of
Pittsfield, NH, a senior majoring in Biomedical Engineering, was
named to the university’s Dean’s List for academic excellence
for the fall 2009 semester.
Snowmobile Poker Run, Saturday February 27th, weather
conditions permitting. If in doubt, log onto our website
at
www.suncookvalleysnoriders.com for any cancellation notice.
The event begins at Barnstead Motorsports, 21 Parade Road in
Barnstead. By sled, follow the R28 Trail North.
Registration is from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Cost is $5.00 per hand.
Prizes for top three hands and other prizes will be awarded.
The club will also be having an end-of-the-year raffle.
Prizes donated: a cord of seasoned wood, a $50 gift certificate
at Osborne Agway and a Snowmobile Preseason Service.
Tickets are $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00 and can be purchased from
members or the night of the drawing which will be held on
Wednesday, April 7th at the last SVSR meeting of the season. For
more information, call 435-8081.
4-H
News
Submitted By Katie Downs, Reporter
Members Trinity Bond, Kayla Corliss, Morgan Huse, and Jordyn
Pinto completed a recycle wool sweaters into felted mittens
Citizenship project recently. This project led by Jr. Leader
Kayla Corliss produced 40 pair of mittens for Barnstead, Epsom,
Loudon and Pittsfield schools. Others helping with this project
were Fern Bond, Mary Corliss, Wendy Corliss, Tara Pinto and
Pamela Clattenburg. Many thanks to Derek Ladd, David and Natalie
Barton for their donations to this project.
The February
meeting was held on Feb. 1st at the Pittsfield Community Center.
Food Show and Public Speaking were held on Feb 6th at Pembroke
Academy.
The signup deadline for basket weaving was Feb 6th.
Senior Winterfest Dinner is on Feb 24. Winterfest Craft Day is
Feb 25th.
Sign ups for Demonstrations, Action Exhibits,
Posters and Photography are due to Pam by Feb. 10th.
Presentation Day is March 6th at Merrimack Valley High School.
Posters and Photography are due to Pam by Feb. 24th. NH 4-H
Night with the Manchester Monarchs is Saturday, March 27th, 7
p.m. at the Verizon Wireless Arena. Adults/$15.00 and
Youth/$12.00.
Call Pam or Sign up at March 1st meeting. 4-H
Camp is being offered at Bryant Pond in Maine at a special 4-H
price. Sign up at March meeting.
Babysitting Course is
scheduled and signups are a the March meeting.
Woodworking
signups at the March meeting are from 6 to 6:40 p.m. in the
Kitchen. This will be the only night for sign ups.
March
meeting is Monday, March 1st with a Aerospace Adventure coming.
Graverobbers Coffeehouse To Host Azure Cross
Central NH’s
Azure Cross will take the stage at GraveRobbers Coffeehouse in
Loudon on Saturday, March 6th at 7 p.m.
Azure Cross brings
blues, rock, folk-rock and pop together in a truly original
blend of spirited music. Guitarist and vocalist Pete Lampron has
worked with Nashville session players and opened for national
and regional artists, and he brings his unique vocals and fiery
guitar to the Azure Cross mix. Bassist Tim Vendt expertly
combines tasteful rock, jazz and blues styling to his bass
playing. A veteran performer and bassist, Tim holds the bottom
line in the Azure Cross lineup. Drummer and vocalist Joe
Cadrette is a master of tasteful back beats and percussion.
Azure Cross is a band of Christian musicians, and while their
music covers a gamut of secular, Christian and spiritual music,
and while deeply rooted in their faith, the band strives to play
music for all circumstances. To hear their sound, visit
www.azurecrossband.com.
GraveRobbers is located at Loudon Congregational Church and
doors will open at 6:30. The Coffeehouse will also be serving a
free spaghetti dinner to all patrons beginning at 6:45.
All
Concerts Are FREE, however, we do take a freewill offering for
the artists who play. GraveRobbers Coffeehouse is a fun, safe,
substance-free, positive environment for youth and adults, and
warmly welcomes the community. The coffeehouse is normally open
the first Saturday of every month, featuring a relaxed,
cafe-style setting, good, simple refreshments, and skilled
musical artists of faith playing in all styles. Loudon
Congregational Church and GraveRobbers Coffeehouse is located at
7018 Church Street in Loudon Village.
For more information,
please call the church at 783-9478, or visit
www.loudoncongregational.org and click on the GraveRobbers
Coffeehouse link.
Coming Up At Graverobbers: There will be
no Coffeehouse in April, however The River Band of Concord will
play at 7 PM on May 1. Graverobbers Coffeehouse To Host Azure
Cross.
Check Out What’s New At Josiah Carpenter Library!
The latest
New York Times Bestsellers are on display beside the Main
Circulation desk. Both Fiction and Non-fiction titles are
available for circulation right now. Popular authors in large
print are also on display in the main lobby. While you are at
the library, grab a coffee to go! The coffee is always on at the
library. Coffee Time is supported by The Friends of Josiah
Carpenter Library and your generous donations. Freshly
brewed by the cup, in your choice of flavors. It is well worth
the suggested donation of fifty cents per cup!
The 2010
Printz Honor Books and NH Flume Award winners are available in
the Teen stacks. Teens may sign up now for our Teen Book Club
beginning in April. The “Pizza and Prose” club is for teen
readers only, and will meet once a month, on Thursdays at 6:00
p.m., for pizza and book discussion. Pre-registration is
required.
Both 2009 and 2010 Caldecott and Newbery Medal and
Honor Book winners are on display in the Children’s Room, as are
NH Ladybug Award winning picture books. You can find the best
new young Elementary Nonfiction and young Elementary Science in
our Junior Library Guild display. Browse for other titles on the
new Children’s Catalog Computer, recently donated to the library
by Northeast Delta Dental in Concord, NH.
Following a brief
February break, the Josiah Carpenter Library Preschool Story
Hour resumes Monday, March 1st at 12:30 p.m.
Story Hour will
continue weekly until Memorial Day under the supervision of
Assistant Librarian, Carol Grainger. Mrs. Grainger, who has been
with Josiah Carpenter Library for over twenty years, and
conducts the yearly Summer Reading Programs, will assume the
duties of the Children’s Library beginning March 1st.
Parents
may browse the stacks, enjoy a hot cup from Mother Goose Café
Corner, or visit with each other while their children are on the
story mat, then come back and enjoy the fun with their children
during the simple craft time.
Josiah Carpenter Library
Delivers is a new service offered at the library, in conjunction
with the Meals-On-Wheels program in town.
“Pittsfield
residents may obtain library membership and access the resources
of the library through this program. A letter explaining the
program will be delivered to each Meals-on-wheels client who
lives in Pittsfield at the end of February,” says Judith
MacLellan, Assistant Librarian Adult Services. The program is
slated to begin March 7th. For more information call the library
and ask for Judith MacLellan.
March also brings the Second
Annual Pittsfield Middle-High School Art Gallery Exhibit at
Josiah Carpenter Library, on display beginning Saturday, March
6th and continuing through Saturday, March 27th.
Under the
direction of the school’s Art Instructor William Mitchell,
students will display their finest work. An Open House Reception
to meet the Artists will be held on Tuesday, March 16th from
3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and light refreshments will be served. Stop in
at Josiah Carpenter Library and see for yourself what else is
new. Visit our website for the latest up-to-date information
http://www.library.pittsfield-nh.com/
Letter
Hurry Up And Wait
Last March, 682 residents cast
their votes in Pittsfield. Mr. Pritchard ran in the only
contested Planning Board position and won 55% of the total vote
with 9% abstentions (ABS). The Planning Board submitted their
revised Zoning Ordinance, which was split up in 4 Articles and
received an average of only 21% yes votes (5%ABS). Mr. Pritchard
submitted an alternate Citizen Zoning Ordinance Petition and
received 40% yes votes (10%ABS). Clearly more residents were in
favor of the Citizen Ordinance than the Planning Board’s
version.
Did the current Planning Board Majority listen to
last year’s voters during 12 months of meetings and correct the
imperfect ordinance they submitted last year? NO.
Did the
Planning Board include all or any provisions of the Citizen
Zoning Ordinance on their discussion agenda this year since that
ordinance received twice the number of positive votes than their
articles did last year? NO.
Does the Planning Board have
anything for the voters to vote on this year? NO.
This year,
the Planning Board Majority’s message is: Don’t do anything!
Vote NO on everything! Then, wait…
Sorry, but I am not
waiting. I am voting in favor of a 5-member Planning Board, I am
voting against an appointed Planning Board. I am voting in favor
of both the Frontage and Home Occupation definitions. And, I
will vote for Mr. Pritchard for the 3-year Planning Board
position.
God Bless Our Troops,
Rachel Wood
Pittsfield
Letter
To The Citizens Of Pittsfield:
I am compelled to
write this letter after reading Hank Fitzgerald’s letter in the
February 10th Suncook Valley Sun regarding Jim Pritchard and his
“cronies.” I have been a resident of Pittsfield for the past 71
years and I have been called many things, but never referred to
as a “crony.” I am very concerned about all the name calling and
lack of respect for other opinions. Just because you disagree
with someone else does not give you the right to question their
motives and/or actions.
Maurice Wells
Pittsfield, NH
Letter
Dear Pittsfield Voter,
I am writing to ask you
please to vote for me for reelection to the Planning Board. I
was first elected last year to the seat that Fred Hast left to
become a Selectman.
I have devoted myself to getting the
board’s work done thoroughly and fairly. I got safety conditions
put on a land-use application that the NH Dept. of
Transportation said would cause road icing and a danger to the
traveling public. The Planning Board had been inclined to
approve it unconditionally. I persuaded the board to reverse its
policy of excluding public participation from work sessions. I
got a partial refund to an applicant that the board had
mistreated before I was a member. I guided a downtown business
through a site plan exemption, thereby saving the business
considerable expense.
The Planning Board did much less work
than it should have this year. Consequently, I and two others on
the board took initiative and petitioned two zoning amendments
and a corrected resolution to elect the planning board.
I
brought to the Planning Board six years’ experience in the
audience, sometimes as an abutter. That experience taught me
that the board should do much more to treat citizens as citizens
and not subjects. Most people who appear before the Planning
Board do not want to be there.
I have attended all Planning
Board meetings for over two years. Ted Mitchell, also running
for reelection, has attended most meetings for one year. But the
third candidate has attended very few meetings for a long time.
Please consider my attendance and my work on the board in
evaluating my commitment and job performance.
Please honor me
with your vote and allow me to continue serving you.
Thank
you,
Jim Pritchard
Letter
Student Showcase 2010
Dear Parents and Members of
the Pittsfield Community:
You are cordially invited to the
annual Pittsfield Middle High School Student Showcase 2010 on
Wednesday, March 3, 2010, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Displays of
students’ academic and co-curricular achievements will be
highlighted, along with several special events.
See what
Pittsfield students know about sonar sensors, lasers, and
circuits. Find out what a TI-83 calculator can do. Attend a
reading of original student poetry, or view student displays
about World War I. Check out blue prints created by future
architects. These are but a few of the copious exhibitions and
displays of which our students are so proud.
Sport team
sign-ups will be held in the gymnasium. Discover what team
sports are offered at PMHS.
Join us for dinner
sponsored by the Pittsfield Teen Mentoring Program in the
Cafeteria from 4:30-6:30 p.m. for a nominal cost.
Comments on
the redesign plans for our school’s educational mission will be
addressed by Superintendent Dr. John Freeman in the lecture hall
at 6:00 p.m.
The faculty and students at PMHS are working
diligently to organize and present Showcase 2010. We hope
you will be able to attend and share these accomplishments.
Sincerely,
Students, Faculty, and Staff of PMHS
Dorcas Guild
Submitted By Joan Riel
The Dorcas Guild of
the First Congregational Church in Pittsfield held its monthly
meeting the evening of February 9th at the church. The meeting
opened with devotions sent by Gailann Newton and read by Peggy
Jacobs, who also gave a comical reading brought in by Reny Boyd.
All joined in the Lord’s Prayer.
The Secretary gave her
report of the previous meeting, read many items of
correspondence and circulated several cards to be signed
and circulated. The Treasurer gave her financial report.
Nancy Fogg brought in the food basket which was taken by Peggy
Jacobs. Joan Riel took the traveling apron which was brought in
by Elaine Coffey. The Mystery Package brought in by Arlene Weeks
was won by Linda Stasiak.
Leadership for the 2010 Christmas
Fair was discussed and Nancy Fogg and Mary Jo Powelson agreed to
take it on. Likewise, the December Craft Fair was also discussed
and Nella Hobson and Joan Riel offered to handle that one.
Under new business, a $25 donation was made to the Church
Building Fund in loving memory of Harriet Ames. Plans were made
to host the Fellowship Hour on February 28th. New towel sets,
brought in to the meeting were sorted and packed, readied to go
to needy families.
The meeting closed with refreshments by
Peggy Jacobs and her assistants. It was “Banana Split Night” and
each brought in her favorite sauce, giving everyone a great
selection.
The next meeting will be held March 9th with Reny
Boyd and Shirley Bleckmann, hostesses. Members are asked to
bring an item for the Food Pantry and old card fronts such
as birthday, sympathy, etc. for recycling into new cards.
PES
Receives Concord Family YMCA’s Community Service Award
Mike Taylor(l), YMCA After-School and Camps Director, along with
Jim Doremus (r), YMCA Executive Director presents PES Principal
Doug Kilmister (c) with the YMCA Community Service Award.
At its annual business meeting on February 9, the Concord
Family YMCA presented its Community Service award to Pittsfield
Elementary School. The award is given annually to a business or
community organization that upholds the values of the
YMCA–respect, responsibility, caring, and honesty–and partners
with the Y to improve the community.
After-school and Camps
Director, Mike Taylor, and Executive Director, Jim Duremos,
presented the award to PES Principal Doug Kilmister. In
presenting the award, Mr. Taylor said, ”The PES staff and
teachers have gone above and beyond the call of duty to assist
us over the years, in not only growing our program, but in
growing our community. Teachers have volunteered their time to
help out the kYdstop program, assisting students with their
homework, and they have helped us achieve our mission by
reinforcing the character traits daily in the classroom. When
you walk into Pittsfield Elementary School, you can see the
pride and ownership they take in their program."
Letter
Dear Pittsfield Voters,
As many of you already
know, I’m running to remain on the Planning Board.
I want to
reiterate that I was born and raised in Pittsfield (graduating
PHS in 1968).
Though I was absent from the town since 1968,
due to 21 years U.S. Naval Service and a subsequent job in
Virginia, I always wanted to return and make a positive
difference in residents’ lives.
In closing, I must address
the two petitions on the ballot concerning changes to the zoning
ordinance. There is much merit in them. However, it is jumping
the gun! The majority of Planning Board members wanted
(and voted) to get the Master Plan approved first the Central NH
Regional Planning Commission is currently reviewing and revising
the entire zoning ordinance. When the revised zoning ordinance,
recommended by that commission, is presented to the Planning
Board members, then is the time to fine tune it. To do so prior
to this is piecemeal and will likely complicate the process.
Some would claim it is a delay tactic not approving these
petitions. I view it as common sense not approving them until
the commission presents its recommended revisions to the zoning
ordinance.
The town is paying good money to have the
commission review/revise the zoning ordinance. Let’s not throw
our taxpayer’s money away. We can’t afford it. We should act
responsibly not hastily.
If this makes sense to you. Please
vote NO on the petitions and vote for me for Planning Board on
March 9th.
Sincerely,
Ted Mitchell
Pittsfield, NH
Letter
Pittsfield Voters,
On March 9th please consider
Fred Okrent as a write in vote to fill one of the two Selectmen
openings.
I have known Fred for the past 8 years. Fred moved
to Pittsfield from Beacon, NY because of our climate. He
breathes much better without Sales and Income Taxes.
Fred
loves living in Pittsfield and he participates in many town
activities.
Fred joined the Fire Department soon after
arriving in Pittsfield and has helped many people in town
through his dedicated service.
Fred is the Administrator and
Apartment Inspector for the Housing Standards Board.
I have
been on this Board for many years and I have watched Fred do
what others could not do. He keeps Apartment Inspections on
schedule and his records updated in a very professional manner.
Fred has delivered Santa Claus via Fire Truck to the Christmas
celebration at Dustin Park, sponsored by the Chamber of
Commerce. Fred is always willing to help the Rotary Club with
ongoing projects. You can see him cooking at our Rotary Balloon
Rally.
The best reason to vote for Fred is because he thinks
the problem or job through, before he makes his decision.
A
thinking man with good common sense will keep our Board headed
in the right direction.
Please take time to meet Fred Okrent
at Candidates Night, Monday, March 1st at 7:00 p.m., PMHS
Lecture Hall.
Vote for Fred and keep us out of the Red.
Remember Our Troops,
Stanley Steamer Bailey
Obituaries
Stanley Brian Howlett
Stanley Brian Howlett, 63, of
Pittsfield, NH, died at the Concord Hospital, February 16, 2010.
Stanley was born in Lebanon, NH, on May 17, 1946, the son of
Arthur Lee, Sr. and Sylvia K. (Hammell) Howlett.
Stanley was
raised in Lebanon and Newport. He enjoyed working on the farm
and raising cows, pigs, chickens, ducks and rabbits. He liked
fishing, going to the races, movies and county fairs, visiting,
playing horseshoes and just riding around. He also enjoyed
gardening and setting up flowerbeds. He was employed for many
years at the Pines Restaurant in Newport and had been living in
Pittsfield since 1996.
He is survived by his mother, Sylvia
K. Howlett of Pittsfield, NH; a brother, Peter Howlett of
Warner; two sisters, Theresa Martel of Pittsfield, and Sylvia
Thompson of Lake Cormorant, MS; and several nieces and nephews.
He is predeceased by his father Arthur, Sr. in 1963; his
brothers, Richard in 1976, Arthur, Jr. in 1998, and Sidney L.
Howlett on February 11, 2010.
Funeral Services were on
Saturday, February 20, 2010, at the Newton-Bartlett Funeral Home
in Newport, NH.
Pastor Fred Davis officiated. Burial followed
at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Newport.
Memorial Donations may
be made to the American Diabetes Association NH Affiliate, 249
Canal St., Manchester, NH 03101.
For more information or to
send a condolence, please visit the Newton-Bartlett Funeral Home
at www.newtonbartlett.com
