The Beautification
Committee wonders if you have all noticed the beautiful pear
(non-producing) trees in full blossom all around Rite-Aid.
Surely a site to behold.
The Freese Brothers Big Band will join with the
group Performers Who Care in a benefit concert
for The Payson Cancer Center’s Lend Me A Hand
Fund on Friday, May 7, at the Concord
Auditorium. The concert, called Swinging For A
Cause, will raise money to help cancer patients
with out-of-pocket expenses such as gas,
co-pays, and many other non-reimbursable
expenses that crop up during treatment. The Lend
A Hand Fund was set up a few years ago by the
Performers Who Care, a group of local performers
from the Pittsfield Players, Concord Community
Players, and Sandcastle Productions, and is
supported through various shows that the group
has staged in the Concord area. Members of the
group for this performance include Angelo and
Jean Gentile, Jane and Bob Skoog, Maye Hart,
Anne D’Orio, Steve Winnett, and Kelly Kinhan,
all talented singers who will swing the night
away with the Freese Brothers Big Band. Tickets
for the concert, which starts at 7:30 p.m., are
$20 per person, $15 for seniors and students,
and you can purchase them at Concord Hospital,
Caring Gifts, Ballard’s, and Strings ‘n Things,
or call 228-1226 to reserve your seats.
Josiah Carpenter Library Presents Storytelling
By Nanny Rosebud
“I Love You More Than
Salt” is the title of a program of storytelling
at Josiah Carpenter Library. Nanny Rosebud is
scheduled for Thursday, May 13th at 4:00 pm. A
generous serving of fables, fairy tales, legends
and lore for the school aged crowd will be
served up with salty popcorn and salt-free
juice. So reserve the date on your calendar
today!
Make A Splash This Summer At Josiah
Carpenter Library
Children’s Summer Reading
Program registration begins June 1st. Children’s
Librarian, Carol Grainger and Circulation
Assistant, Annmarie Waterhouse, are holding
registration throughout the month of June for
the Josiah Carpenter Library Make A Splash
Summer Reading Program. The program for school
age children in kindergarten through sixth
grade, will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursdays,
at the library, beginning July 8th.
Important
Preschool Story
Hour Announcement
Josiah
Carpenter Library Preschool Story Hour, with
Children’s Librarian, Carol Grainger, will be
concluding for the season with the last session
to be held Monday, May 24th at 12:30 pm.
Preschool Story Hour will resume again after
Labor Day. Exact date and time to be announced
(There is no Story Hour when school is closed).
Pittsfield Fire Dept.
On April 29, 2010 at
4:30 a.m., the Pittsfield Fire Department
responded to 73 Jenness Pond Road in their town
for a reported structure fire.
Upon their arrival, firefighters found
an attached rear shed fully involved in
fire. Occupants were awoken in the early
morning hours to smoke filling the
structure and exited immediately.
NH State Fire Marshal J. William Degnan,
Fire Chief Gary Johnson and Police Chief Robert
Wharem report that the investigation into the
origin and cause of the fire has been completed.
The fire originated in the exterior wall between
an attached ell and an attached woodshed in the
rear of the dwelling. The official cause of the
fire is undetermined but is most likely
associated with an operating woodstove in the
attached ell.
State Fire Marshal Degnan
reminds all citizens to use extreme care when
using solid fuel burning appliances. In addition
to making sure that the appliances are installed
properly, it is important that they are properly
and continually cleaned and maintained.
Letter
In last week’s Sun, Dan Schroth asked
people to go to Planning Board meetings to tell
the board what they could or could not support
in the zoning revision that the Central New
Hampshire Regional Planning Commission is
preparing. I went to Planning Board meetings for
seven years, but the board never listened to me
- ever.
If you tell the Planning Board what
they want to hear, then they will listen to you
attentively. If you tell them what they do not
want to hear, then they will ignore you, they
will insult you, and, if you are a town
official, they may charge you with an ethics
violation.
Voters who think that the Regional
Planning Commission are independent experts
should look at Matt Monahan. He has already said
that the proposal will be whatever the
Pittsfield Planning Board wants. That is why Mr.
Schroth likes it. The Regional Planning
Commission was hired as a smokescreen.
Mr.
Schroth says that voting against the Regional
Planning Commission next March will waste the
$17,500 that the selectmen paid them last fall.
Mr. Schroth insults the voters; just paying for
something does not give it merit. The selectmen
wasted this money when they spent it. Last year,
the Planning Board promised to review the
citizen proposal, which was FREE, and the
selectmen hired the Regional Planning Commission
as an excuse to break that promise.
The
selectmen knew that they were wasting the money
when they spent it. TheRegional Planning
Commission had wanted this job for almost 10
years, but the Town had refused to hire them.
Hiring the Regional Planning Commission last
fall was a ruse, a boondoggle, and a perfect
example of why Pittsfield taxes are high.
Jim Pritchard
Pittsfield
[email protected]
Where Are They Now?
My name is Kristen Patterson, a graduate and
Foss Scholar of the class of 2008. I am
currently finishing up my sophomore year at UNH
where I am majoring in Occupational Therapy, and
have a minor in Communication Sciences and
Disorders. I really enjoy attending the many
Wildcat sporting events held here on campus.
Among other things, I am a member of Project
Sunshine and Christian Impact, as well as a
volunteer for the Therapeutic Riding Program. In
a few years I hope to graduate with my Masters
and begin work in the healthcare field. Go
Wildcats!
The Pittsfield Players
Present
Doubt, A
Parable by John Patrick Shanley
Is it a sin
to be simple? Sister James loves her teaching
job. She is enthusiastic about shaping young
minds. She encourages the imaginations,
ruminations and excitations of the youth around
her. She wouldn’t want to do anything else. That
is, until she is asked to choose sides.
Sister James does not want a complicated life.
She is content to walk in and out of her days
without conflict, rumor or drama to muddy her
pristine vision of the world. She is happy to
have questions answered, mysteries solved and
honesty to prevail. When doubt takes hold of
Sister James it may change the very person she
is and cloud her days forever.
Don’t miss
this stunning show brought to life by The
Pittsfield Players, directed by Mal Cameron and
starring; Marie Klinedinst, Brendan Berube,
Sarah E. Rogers, and Denise Richardson. The show
is approximately an hour and half and there will
be a question and answer period, by the cast and
director, following the performance. The
audience will be encouraged to ask questions
about the story and the performance of it, as
well as general theatre questions.
“Doubt, A
Parable,” written by Pulitzer Prize and Tony
Award winning author John Patrick Shanley will
be presented by The Pittsfield Players May 7, 8,
14 and 15 at 8 PM and May 9 at 2 PM at the
Scenic Theatre, 6 Depot Street, Pittsfield.
Tickets, $12, are available online at
www.pittsfieldplayers.com, by phone
reservation, (603) 435-8852 or at the box office
at the times and dates of the performances.
Shinseki Announces VA Cutting Insurance Premiums
for Families
Submitted By Merrill A.
Vaughan
Commander, American Legion
Peterson-Cram Post 75
Secretary of Veterans
Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced recently that
military personnel insuring their families under
the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI)
program, which is administered by the Department
of Veterans Affairs, will have reduced
out-of-pocket expenses beginning July 1.
“VA
hopes these reductions will allow more military
personnel to obtain affordable life insurance
coverage for their spouses, particularly in
these difficult economic times,” said Shinseki.
“Without insurance protection, life after the
loss of a spouse can be not only challenging
emotionally, but can place a severe financial
strain on a family.”
Family SGLI (FSGLI)
monthly premium rates will be reduced for all
age groups by an average of 8 percent. The new
rates are based on revised estimates for the
cost of the program. This is the third time that
premiums have been reduced since the FSGLI
program began in November 2001. Spousal premiums
were previously reduced for all age groups in
2003 and 2006.
FSGLI coverage provides life
insurance protection to military personnel for
their spouses and children. Children are
automatically insured for $10,000, with no
premiums charged.
Based on the coverage of
service members, spouses may be insured for up
to $100,000. Military personnel pay age-based
premiums for spousal coverage - the
older the spouse, the higher the premium rate.
The premium reduction ensures FSGLI remains
highly competitive compared to commercial
insurers.
FSGLI coverage is available in
increments of $10,000. The current and revised
monthly premium rates per $10,000 of insurance,
along with other information, are available on
the Internet at
www.insurance.va.gov.
Spaghetti Supper Planned To Benefit Food
Pantry
The Food Pantry is sometimes not high
on the list of needs during the summer months,
but the demand is still there. In fact more so,
since children are out of school and more meals
need to be made than during the school months.
The First Congregational Church of Pittsfield on
South Main Street will host a spaghetti supper
to benefit the pantry Saturday, June 5 from 5-7
p.m.
This event will coincide with the Town
Wide Sale so spend the day visiting the sale’s
many sites and then come and relax with
spaghetti, salad, dessert and beverage. Drop
your cash donation in the container and benefit
the Pittsfield Food Pantry. What could be a more
satisfying end to a perfect day.
Letter To The Editor
In celebration of
Visiting Nurse Association Week beginning May
10, Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association
would like to recognize and thank our skilled
nurses, therapists, social workers, home health
aides, homemakers, support staff, and
volunteers. They provide exceptional homecare
services, hospice care, community health
services, personal health services, maternal
child health services and pediatric services to
our patients and community.
From helping
relieve the stress and anxiety of a new mother
following her hospital discharge, assisting
patients in regaining their independence
following surgery, to caring for patients who
are terminally ill, our outstanding staff
strives to provide the very best quality of
care.
Our staff is often noted for their
special commitment by patients and families. One
patient remarked on a recent satisfaction survey
about home care, “When I had mobility issues,
they addressed the issues completely and
effectively. They had a very personable and
professional attitude.” A family member remarked
on a recent satisfaction survey about hospice
care, “My husband was treated with great respect
at home and at Hospice House. The nurses were
all very friendly, kind, and caring.”
Thank
you to our caregivers and to all of the staff at
Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association. You
should be extremely proud of your work and
accomplishments.
Mary B. DeVeau,
President/CEO
Richard Holden,
Chair, Board
of Trustees
Concord Regional Visiting Nurse
Association
Letter To The Editor
To The Good Citizens Of
Pittsfield:
Can’t help responding to Jim
Pritchard’s Letter To The Suncook Sun, April
28th.
Jim wants you to believe he cares about
the size of our property tax bill.
That’s a
bunch of crock. Jim wants you to believe the
rights of an abutter have been violated.
Another bunch of crock. What Jim fails to
recognize is that the Town of Pittsfield has
changed.
The Town no longer tramples on the
rights of the property owner.
From the Select
Board, the Zoning Board, and the Planning Board.
They have been protecting our property rights
and to my knowledge, have not used their
position to harm a fellow citizen. Jim, what
more could we ask for?
Dan Schroth
Piermarocchi
Series of Community Forums Planned
Two
upcoming community forums will explore youth
perceptions of alcohol use, depression, sexual
behavior and drug abuse within Pittsfield.
Residents will go over the results of the 2009
Youth Risk Behavior Survey and have the
opportunity to discuss how our community can
better support local youth. The forums are
scheduled May 17th and May 24th, food will be
served at 5:30 pm. The event will run from 6-8
pm and feature representatives from the school,
youth, police department, healthcare, youth
services and prevention professionals. Bring
your questions and get informed about what is
going on in the community.
Previous
community forums have resulted in implementing
the Project Alert curriculum for 7th and 8th
graders at Pittsfield Middle High School, the
creation of the Safe Homes pledge network and
attracted funding for a part-time staff person
to organize community prevention efforts. Also,
thanks to an anonymous donor, Anne Cote’s health
classes now have new materials, the police have
bolstered their prevention efforts with Fatal
Vision goggles and new prevention projects and
speakers have been secured for the
prom/graduation season.
To Whomever Stole from the Estate of Ken
Piaseczny:
We
made arrangements to leave some items until
spring at our old property. My dad has been
working to get everything picked up and moved
out. Between April 19th and May 1st the
following items were STOLEN: One 12' aluminum
flat-bottomed boat, a job tank with Gasboy pump
(goes in the back of a pickup for fuel), and a
metal drum with copper tubing. The first
two items were heavy and had to be loaded by
more than one person. It appears they were
interrupted as a bin with my dads chains was
moved to the back of the property and they had
put a large tarp in it also. I hope you are
satisfied with yourselves. These items were to
be sold so we could pay bills as Ken didn't have
life insurance and I am trying to get used to my
sole income supporting a household. It
makes me sick that someone could think that just
because no one is around it is ok to take
anything you want. You can return these items to
the site if you have any morals at all. If
anyone has information call the Pittsfield
Police at 435-7535.
Tina
Piaseczny
Josiah Carpenter Library “Make A Splash” Summer
Reading Program
The Josiah Carpenter Library
invites you and your children to participate in
the 2010 Summer Reading Program, “Make a
Splash!” Our program will begin on July 8th and
continue through to August 12th. The Summer
Reading Program is sponsored by the Children’s
Librarians of New Hampshire and The Friends of
Josiah Carpenter Library.
Registration for
the Summer Reading Program will begin throughout
the month of June at the library. The program is
designed to encourage reading in a relaxed
environment. We will have different themes each
week, which will include story, craft and a
special challenge week. A weekly gathering will
take place on Thursday from 1 to 2 o’clock in
the Children’s Room.
Pre-school age through
six graders can enroll in the program and work
towards earning a small free ice cream which has
been generously donated by Appleview Orchard.
We will conclude our reading program with a
visit from The Wildlife Encounters Traveling Zoo
on August 12th at the Dr. Argue Swimming Pool at
1 p.m. Inclement weather we will be located at
the Pittsfield Community Center.
Obituaries
John Arlyn Mitchell
John Arlyn
Mitchell died peacefully at the CRVNA Hospice House in Concord
on April 23, 2010, with his wife Kimberly Hemeon Mitchell at his
side.
John was born March 22, 1955.
John was the beloved
grand “son” of Richard and Frances Gale Mitchell who raised him
on Bear Hill Road in Chichester until he moved to Loudon 18
years ago.
John attended the Chichester Central School and
Pittsfield High School. He was very proud of obtaining his GED
and attending college. John was an adult tutor and served his
cooperative community as a volunteer. He will be missed by his
choice family and many others.
John leaves, his wife of
Loudon; a sister, Roxanne LaValley of Pittsfield; brothers, Rick
Rowell of Tilton/Franklin, Ronald and Bruce Rowell of Loudon,
Louis Rowell of Tandleman, NC, and Wayne Rowell of Chichester.
Graveside services were held Saturday, May 1, 2010, at the
Leavitt Cemetery, Canterbury Road, Chichester and a Celebration
of his Life followed at the Concord Moose Lodge #1374, Concord,
NH.
Memorial donations maybe made to CRVNA Hospice House, 30
Pillsbury St, Concord, NH 03301 or the Loudon Fire Dept., PO Box
7032, Loudon, NH 03307.
Edith May (Corson) Larson
Born in Pittsfield, New Hampshire
on March 8th, 1937 and departed from this earth on April 28,
2010, after suffering a long illness from COPD.
Edith was the
faithful loving wife of Frederick A. Larson Sr. of Cambridge,
Maine, where they lived and raised 5 lovely children.
She
was pre-deceased by son, Frederick Jr. and survived by 3
daughters, Katherine of Yorktown VA, Linda of Cambridge, ME, and
Melony of Newport News, VA, one son, Carl of Cambridge, ME; 12
grand children; and 24 great grandchildren. She is also survived
by two brothers, Robert of Pittsfield, New Hampshire, and
Forrest.
Edith graduated from Pittsfield High School in 1955,
joined the Navy, and met her Husband Fred. Edith and Fred were
married in 1956. When Fred retired from the Navy in 1973, they
settled on their 200 acre farm in Cambridge, ME, and raised
their children.
Fred and Edith traveled to 29 states in their
motor home and spent many happy summer weeks camping on their
private island in Cobscook Bay, ME.
She will be loved and
missed throughout our eternity by all who know and love her.
Edith never had a harsh word for anyone, no matter how cruel
they were. Edith’s message to everyone is to PLEASE quit
smoking. Fred’s message to his loving wife is “A million thanks
for 54 FAITHFUL and wonderful years.” “Faithful wife and friend,
Loyal companion, we say farewell to you now. You have kept us
warm at night, protected our home and offered us unconditional
love. For this we are thankful and we will remember you
forever.”