The Suncook Valley Area Lions Club (servicing Pittsfield/Barnstead)
is requesting “Gently Used” items for the upcoming townwide Yard
Sale. Please contact Ed Vien at 731-9321 to make
arrangements for drop off or pick up.
Please join the Pittsfield Historical Society as we host our first
program of 2014. “Town by Town, Watershed by Watershed: Native
Americans in NH” will be presented by John Moody. Mr. Moody is a
Projects Coordinator for the Winter Center for Indigenous
Traditions. He will explore the history of NH’s Abenaki and Penacook
peoples, with a focus on our local community. The presentation will
take place at the Society’s headquarters on Thursday, April 10th at
7 p.m. The headquarters is located on 13 Elm Street in Pittsfield.
This program is made possible by the generous funds of the NH
Humanities Council Program.
The PMHS Athletic Department will be holding a Drake Athletic Field
Committee Meeting at Pittsfield High School on Tuesday, April 15, at
6:00 PM. If you have any questions or would like to join, please
contact the Director of Athletics Jay Darrah at 435-6701 x-1119.
Happy Pups Grooming will be hosting Healthy Heart Veterinary Mobile
service this Saturday, April 12th from 9 AM to 1 PM at 1009 Upper
City Rd., Unit #3, Pittsfield. All are welcome. There will be
discounts available for seniors and EBT cardholders. Come get your
photo done with your pet, 8 AM-12 Noon. Checks or cash only please.
Call 435-9663 (WOOF) for more information.
Suncook Valley Rotary aka Pittsfield Rotary Speaker Series
The Suncook Valley Rotary aka Pittsfield Rotary will host a speaker
on April 16th and the public is invited to attend.
The speaker will present information on the History of Whites Pond
in Pittsfield and structural changes that are needed to maintain the
pond in its current state.
If you are interested in attending, the meeting will begin promptly
at 7pm at the Pittsfield Community Center, lower level.
For more information or if you have any questions,
contact Donna Keeley at [email protected]
Pastor’s Corner
Submitted By Reverend David Stasiak,
First Congregational Church of Pittsfield
An Unknown Author wrote, “Every April, God rewrites the Book of
Genesis.” The word Genesis of course means creation or beginnings.
With the brutal winter that many parts of our country including
those of us in New Hampshire have had to deal with, the sight of
green grass and crocus popping out of the ground can’t come too
soon. We’re all ready for some new beginnings, some new life that
the season of spring brings. The landscape will soon come alive with
new flower buds, new leaves and new growth. Hallelujah! Thank the
Lord!
Interestingly enough, according to the story told in the Book of
Genesis, not long after God creates the majestic and amazing world
we live in He plants a garden of unimaginable beauty. He then
places the humans He created in His own image, namely Adam and Eve,
in that garden to take care of it and enjoy it. You know the rest of
the story. Adam and Eve botch things up by exercising their free
will and get kicked out of the garden that was heaven on earth only
to have to labor and “to work the ground from which he had been
taken.” No doubt God was broken hearted just as we are as parents
when our children suffer for and from doing things we told them not
to do.
The most powerful part of the story though is that God never gave up
on us humans. He planned all along to fix what was broken, to make
what was old, new, and to restore that which was intended. Spring is
a reminder of that because it is the season of spring when Easter
comes. And, Easter of course is when we celebrate the one who said,
“I make all things new,” “I am the resurrection and the life,” “I am
the alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.” The one who the
Apostle Paul was talking about when he said, if anyone is in Christ,
he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
When you are working in your garden this spring, or looking at the
beautiful flowers, or even admiring a rainbow in the sky remember
that God never has and never will give up on us. He will never leave
us nor forsake us. Remember that He is making all things new
including us and some day if we are willing to exercise our free
will to follow His lead through Christ we will experience life in
the garden the way it was originally intended and we will see with
our own eyes the New Heaven and the New Earth.
Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday And Easter Services
At First Congregational Church
The First Congregational Church, 24 Main Street, Pittsfield will
hold a special Palm Sunday service, April 13 at 10 a.m. The worship
service will commemorate the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem with the
distribution of palms. The service will also feature special music
by the Chancel Choir, Linda Bissonnette, organist and Adam Gallant,
trumpeter.
The Maundy Thursday worship service including Holy Communion,
recalling the “Last Supper” of Jesus, will be held Thursday, April
17 at 7 p.m. Special music will be provided by the Chancel Choir and
the JuBellation Handbell Choir.
On Easter Sunday, April 20 at 7 a.m., the customary Sunrise Service
will be held in the Sanctuary with breakfast immediately following
in the Vestry. The traditional Easter worship service will commence
at 10:00 a.m. with music by the Chancel Choir and JuBellation. Come
and worship and join us for breakfast!
Everyone is warmly welcomed at these services as well
as throughout the year. Sunday worship services are at 10:00 a.m.
with children’s Sunday School at 9:50 a.m. Parking and wheelchair
accessible entry are available at rear of church. For more
information, call the church office at: 435-7471 and speak with Rev.
David Stasiak, pastor, or refer to the church’s website:
www.pittsfieldcc.com.
Pittsfield Middle High School Athletic Department
In Need Of Weight Room Equipment
The Pittsfield Middle High School is in need of some equipment to
help make the weight room as functional and usable as possible for
every student. The PMHS Athletic Department has been revamping the
weight room, turning it from a machine based facility, to a free
weight facility.
Gone are the single exercise machines that were 15 years old and
beginning to become a hazard and in are Olympic weights, benches,
dumbbells, and thanks to a Sanderson Grant a new Squat Rack. But
with the changes we are in need of some pieces of equipment to help
complete the weight room.
What we need:
Olympic Sized Weight Plates – especially lower pound plates, such as
5lbs, 10lbs, & 15lbs. We need these lower weight plates to allow our
students to do small weight increases in their exercise programs.
Molded Dumbbells - all weights
Kettle Balls – all weights and sizes
Heavy Bag: A heavy bag with gloves
If you have any of the listed equipment and are
willing to donate it to the PMHS weight room, please call (435-6701
x1120) or email ([email protected]) Rick Anthony at the high school. We will come pick it up
and all donations will be appreciated by the students and staff at
Pittsfield Middle High School.
Pittsfield Crime Watch News
In response to criminal activities in Pittsfield, NH, our citizens
are now standing up and offering to help our local police force in
combating crime. Crime Watch is NOT to replace our local law
enforcement, but to assist them. Crime is not just in downtown
areas as we all know, and since the police cannot be everywhere at
the same time, it is up to us, the citizens of Pittsfield, NH, to
help them out. Crime Watch volunteers are just that, volunteers, we
receive no payment in kind. How can we help our local law
enforcement?
Some areas that we can help out are helping to direct traffic and
people during large events such as Old Home Day or the Balloon
Rally; to be available during disasters and emergencies; and to
perform checks on local residents when people are gone on vacation
and to help do nightly “door checks” of local businesses. To do
this, we would need to attend a Citizen Patrol Program (CPP).
The Citizen Patrol Program will teach us proper observation skills,
what is legal and not legal and proper communication skills to use
when dealing with the public and law enforcement officials. As with
every other type of business there are administrative details that
need to be followed and if the need is there, we can also help
volunteer our time with the office work.
CRIME WATCH TIP: If you see something suspicious or an actual
crime, DO NOT interfere, call the Pittsfield Police 435-2711 or
9-1-1 and give them all the information (Who, What, When, Where and
possibly How). This information will tell the police how to respond
to the call.
Meet Our Members
Next up in Pittsfield Fire Department’s “Meet Our Members” series is
Firefighter/EMT Howard Hill. Howard joined the department upon
moving to Pittsfield.
Q: How long have you lived in Pittsfield?
A: My wife Krystina and I have lived here for about two years. We
moved to town in 2012 after we got married. In February of this year
we had a little boy, Peyton, who has already been to the firehouse
several times.
Q: How did you get involved in public safety?
A: I have always had a passion to help people. When I graduated high
school in 2009 I looked into the emergency medical field and decided
that was how I could get involved and help in my community. In
addition to being an on-call firefighter/EMT in Pittsfield, I also
work as a per diem staff member. I work per diem shifts for
Northwood Fire-Rescue as a firefighter/EMT and as an EMT for
Tri-Town EMS based out of Pembroke. I am also currently working on
my Bachelor’s of Science degree in healthcare management.
Q: What was the best training you participated in?
A: I have participated in many awesome trainings since I started my
Fire/EMS career in 2009, but I’d have to say one of my favorites has
to be an EMS approach to auto extrication held by New England
Emergency Medical Institute. We got to participate in real time
scenarios and learned a lot about managing motor vehicle injuries as
well as highway safety.
Loudon Center Freewill Baptist Church News
Please join us for our Good Friday Service on Friday, April 18, 2014
at 7 pm. We will be joined by the Gilmanton Community Church as
well. Join us as we journey through the Stations of the Cross.
Please call Rev. Linda Overall for more information at 603-875-5822
Please join us on Easter Sunday at 7 am for our early service
followed by breakfast or our regular 9:30 am service or join us for
all! Everyone is welcome and invited!
Please visit us at the Community Resource Fair on Saturday, April
26, 2014 from 10 am--2 pm. Come learn about resources available for
all ages for residents of Loudon and all surrounding towns. There
will be an activities table set up for the kids. There will be lunch
items available for a small fee. Please call Stephanie at
603-568-5080 for more information on this FREE event.
Join us for Bible study every other Saturday morning along with a
potluck breakfast. We are studying the book of Genesis. Please call
Linda for dates/locations. 603-875-5822
Don’t forget we have a Caregiver’s Support Group the 2nd and 4th
Monday nights at the church at 6 pm. Please call Rev. Linda Overall
for more information 603-875-5822 or Jean Fiske at 603-300-6616.
We want to welcome and invite everyone to join us on Sunday mornings
at 9:30 am as we worship our Lord!
[email protected]
Sen. John Reagan Announces State Senate Reelection Bid
Declines Gubernatorial run and endorses Walt Havenstein
State Senator John Reagan (R-Deerfield) today announced he plans to
run for reelection to the State Senate from District 17. In his
first term in the Senate, Reagan helped pass a balanced budget with
no new taxes that invests in important education and safety net
programs, successfully worked to legislate improvements in
palliative and hospice care, and opposed the implementation of
ObamaCare in New Hampshire.
“By cutting spending, balancing the budget, and improving the
state’s business climate, the Senate has helped to spur the state’s
economy and put our neighbors back to work,” said Sen. Reagan. “I
am running for reelection to make certain we continue on the right
path by cutting spending and improving the operation of government.
By reducing regulation and taxation and encouraging government to
act as a partner with our state’s job creators, we can ensure New
Hampshire remains competitive as the best state to do business in
the Northeast.”
Prior to today’s announcement, Senator Reagan had been considered a
possible Republican Candidate for Governor in 2014. Instead, he has
chosen to endorse Alton businessman Walt Havenstein for the state’s
top job.
“Walt has an impressive personal story as a Marine and successful
industrial leader and I believe he will bring the leadership and
experience New Hampshire needs to the Governor’s office,” said
Reagan. “I am grateful to everyone who reached out to me about
running for higher office; the support has been truly humbling.
However, I firmly believe that Walt is the best candidate for the
job and I would encourage those who were supporting me to unite
behind Walt so that together we can elect a Republican Governor this
fall.”
Sen. Reagan currently serves at the Chairman of the Joint
Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules, Vice-Chairman of the
Health, Education & Human Services Committee and is a member of
Executive Departments & Administration. He is in his first term as
a State Senator after serving three terms in the House of
Representatives.
Pittsfield’s Greatest Estate: The Fairview Property
Part V: The Dam Controversy Of 1996
Submitted By Larry Berkson
White’s Pond Dam after State required work in 1996.
Through the years the dam was inspected regularly by the State. In
early July 1996 Road Agent George Bachelder discovered a two by five
foot sinkhole on the left side of the dam and informed the N. H.
Resources Board. The N. H. Department of Transportation filled the
sink hole and the town removed the stop logs at the top of the dam
to reduce the pressure in hopes that the dam would not burst and
flood the Forrest Argue swimming pool below.
Thus began a very unpleasant turn of events. Who owned the dam and
who was to repair it? The 47 residents at Winsunvale claimed that it
was a State problem but the State concluded that the property owners
surrounding the pond owned it and consequently it was their problem.
The State engineer claimed that if the residents did not fix it they
would have to remove the dam and drain the pond. By July 11, the
State had opened a valve and drained most the 36-acre, 10-foot deep
pond. The Department of Environmental Services ordered the abutters
to submit a repair plan by August 10 and have the dam fixed by
October 1 or destroy it. It also placed liens on the property
surrounding the pond.
Richard Hunsberger, representing the defunct Winsunvale Shores
Homeowners Association created by Mr. Foss and an abutter, argued
that the residents were not likely to make repairs. He believed that
the “state should be a big boy about it and say, it’s ours.” He
based his reasoning on the fact that the dam abuts Route #107, the
dam was likely in the state right-of-way, it is on a list of state
ponds, the state requires shore residents to purchase fishing
licenses to fish there and the town uses the pond for fishing
derbies.
After the drain-down, the area became a muddy mess. Homeowners were
enraged. “I think that it is reprehensible,” said Jamie Wrye, an
abutter. “They’re killing acres of aquatic wildlife, and they don’t
care.” Moreover, she could not understand the actions of DES. The
“very agency that is supposed to protect the environment is causing
irreparable damage to it.”
Robert Elliott complained of “the putrid, rotting smell.” Another
major complaint was that the State drained the pond without any
warning to residents and that they received a threatening order,
already filed in the Merrimack County Registry of Deeds, with liens
against their property.
On July 17 about 50 abutters met with State officials to discuss the
problem but no resolution was reached. By the 24th the State decided
that it would not drain the pond entirely. Temporary arrangements
were made for a resident volunteer to operate the release valve and
maintain the water level set by the State.
Controversy continued and abutters considered asking for tax
abatements if their waterfront property was lost. Ultimately the
Winsunvale Shores Homeowners Association hired Joe Carson to plug
some of the leaks on the water side of the dam and place a clay berm
in front of it. Mr. Carson also placed drainage behind the dike.
In 2012 the Winsunvale Shores Homeowners Association corrected five
deficiencies of the dam area as noted by the Department of
Environmental Services. It removed trees and brush from around the
dam and the downstream slope, established grass cover in the area to
prevent erosion, re-mortared the joints between the granite blocks,
filled in the areas of the upstream embankment slope with erosion
materials, and revised and resubmitted the Operations Maintenance
and Response Plan dated 2008.
The stop boards across the top of the dam have not been replaced per
State order so the water in the pond is 2.5 to three feet lower than
when the early owners purchased their waterfront property. As
mentioned in the introduction, the Winsunvale Shores Homeowners
Association is currently working to bring the dam into compliance
with State regulations. The cost will be extensive. Donations to
help ensure that this piece of Pittsfield’s history is not destroyed
may be sent to Winsunvale Shores Homeowners Association, PO Box 395,
Pittsfield, New Hampshire 03263.
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