Alvah Robinson would like to thank everyone that wished him, sent
cards, stopped by and beeped their horns driving by for his birthday
last week! Special thanks to officer McCormack who brought him
cupcakes!
REMINDER
PMHS
Athletic Hall Of Fame
The nomination deadline has been extended to August
1st. If you are interested in submitting a nomination, please go to
the school website or contact Jay Darrah, PMHS Athletic Director, at
[email protected].
Suncook Valley Soccer Club registration is open until
August 1st. Forms can be printed from
facebook.com/suncookvalleysoccer or mypittsfield.com. Forms are also
available at Bell Brothers. Email
[email protected] with
questions.
A benefit Dance is being held on Friday, August 7th,
from 7-11 p.m. at the Epsom Elks to help raise money for medical
expenses for Baby Hayden. Hayden was born with Down Syndrome and a
Congenital Heart Condition (full Atrioventricular Canal Defect) that
will require her in the next month or so to have open heart surgery.
Medical expenses add up quickly even for this hard working family.
Please help out this local family in this difficult time. Mike and
Caitlin (Twomey) Shultz would greatly appreciate it. There will be a
DJ, raffles, appetizers and a cash bar. Tickets are $20 each or $35
for a couple. Please contact Tammy Montambeault for more information
or to purchase tickets
[email protected] or 566-5771.
On July 10, the group paddled Lucas Pond in Northwood. The group
paddles a different lake, pond, river every friday at 6 PM. Everyone
is welcome. Just show up at the launch site. Visit the group’s web
site:
huffnpuff.info. See you this Friday!
Drake Field Playground: Grand Opening Ceremony
Dr. John Freeman, Superintendent of Schools (left), and Mr. Michael
Wolfe, chairman of the Pittsfield School Board, cut the ribbon to
formally open the new Drake Field playground.
On Saturday, July 11, the new Drake Field playground was formally
opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Through a generous donation
from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and monies allocated
from the Drake Field reserve fund, the installation of the
playground was made possible this past spring. The Drake Field
Committee, which is made up of representatives from the teaching
staff, athletic department, school administration, School Board, and
community, researched and selected equipment to be installed at
Drake Field. We are very fortunate to have a new play area for our
children that includes slides, swings, monkey bars, a rock climbing
wall, and workout stations for teenagers and adults. We wish to
extend a warm thank you to the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation,
the Pittsfield School Board, and the Drake Field Committee for
making this possible.
The installation of the playground is just one of many recent
upgrades and renovations to Drake Field. With support from the
Pittsfield School Board, the Drake Field Committee has revitalized
the soccer field with a sprinkler system, scoreboard, and storage
shed. A surveillance system to monitor the soccer field, baseball
field, and playground will also be installed shortly.
Additionally, the basketball court will be moved from its current
location to the tennis court area to increase the visibility of the
playing court and improve the playing surface. This work is in large
part due to the pride that the Pittsfield School District takes in
its athletic programs and service to its community.
VA Urges Congress to Act And Transfer Funds For Veterans’ Care
Submitted Via Merrill Vaughan
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today urged Congress to act
expeditiously and approve its pending request for fiscal year 2015
budget flexibility. The request, formally transmitted on June 23,
seeks the transfer of funds from the Choice Program to continue VA’s
efforts to increase Veterans’ access to care and life-saving
pharmaceuticals.
“It is essential that Congress pass legislation to provide the
requested budget flexibility by the end of July 2015,” Deputy
Secretary Sloan Gibson wrote. “This is necessary to replenish
critical operations funding that VA had to reallocate from other
medical services programs to sustain Care in the Community, after
those funds were depleted. If these program funds are not restored,
VA will face shutting down hospital operations during August 2015.
The letter and full text of the documents submitted to Congress
today are available for download here:
Signed letter to Congress
Putting Veterans First: Legislative Request
Draft Legislation
Choice Act Obligations
Care in Community Overview
Hepatitis C Treatment Summary
Nationally, VA completed more than 56.2 million appointments
between June 1, 2014, and May 31, 2015 – 2.6 million more
appointments than were completed during the same time period in
2013-2014. VA also made more than three million authorizations for
outside care.
Victory Workers 4-H Club 73rd Year Closing
As the
Victory Workers 4-H Club year come to an end, members have been very
active completing Merrimack County Fashion Review. Members who
participated were: Reagan Ellsworth, Alyssa & Olivia LaValley, Vera
Littlefield, Lia McDermott, Owen Mahanes, Kristen Therrien, Abigail
& Anna Giuda, Sophie Worster. Members who were selected as County
winners going on to State level were: Trinity Bond, Anna Giuda and
Sophie Worster. Merrimack County Garden Clinic was held at Duanes
Family Farm with Jr. Leaders Derek Ladd and Nathan Huse. Those
attending were Austin Ladd, Owen & Avery Mahanes, Abigail
Whittenberg and Abigail Giuda along with 27 other county members. A
GREAT BIG THANKS to Tami and Rick for providing this great
educational garden experience. As a Community Service the club
completes the BCEP garden spring planting and cleanup those
attending were: Derek and Austin Ladd, Parker Clark, Trinity Bond,
Vera Littlefield, Taylor and Keagan Huse. Next time you’re at the
Dump, Check it out! State Activities Day held at UNH an event that
members who have outstanding projects are selected at County to
represent us against others throughout the State. This year those
representing our club and County were for Photography Sophie
Worster of Loudon, Poster was Anna Giuda of Barnstead,
Demonstrations were Trinity Bond of Loudon, Matthew Therrien of
Loudon & Hana Testerman of Chichester, Action Exhibit: Jay Downs &
Harrison Worster from Loudon, Holly & Hana Testerman from
Chichester, Jordyn Pinto from Pittsfield, Anna Giuda of Barnstead
and Griffin Worster of Loudon. In (sewing) Fashion Review: Gwen
West & Anna Giuda from Barnstead, Trinity Bond & Sophie Worster of
Loudon and for Fashion Selection: Sophie Worster of Loudon.
A June Family Fun Day planned by the club officers was a Luau, held
at Mark & Andi Riel’s. A great day to celebrate another successful
year. Many members passed in their completed 4-H Records
which will be judge at County in July. Signed up for summer
classes, community service projects and events. Many members will
be attending Barry Conservation Camp, Teen Conference @ UNH and four
of our older members, Trinity Bond, Nathaniel Huse, Derek Ladd and
Jordyn Pinto will be attending the National 4-H Citizenship Focus
Washington Conference using Washington DC as a living classroom.
Old Home Day Committee is hard at work on our club float, members
are finishing up with their woodworking projects, crocheting and rug
braiding. Summer classes are beginning with ceramics, quilting,
baskets, felting, cake decorating, food preservation and gardening.
Members will be at Barnstead’s Farm day on July 25th, at Veggies
Galore, on North Barnstead Road. The club will be selling lunch and
have animal exhibits. Thanks to Joanne & Tom Locke for this event.
Join us on Saturday, August 1st for the Pittsfield Balloon Rally
our club will be parking cars at the Atlantic Traders on Barnstead
Road in Pittsfield, Help support our clubs educational programs by
parking in our lot so close to the event.
Hopkinton State Fair, September 4th through 7th At the fair, you can
visit the Ruth Kimball exhibit hall to view our many completed
projects on display. Watch our animal science members care and show
their animals. Support Junior Leaders by having a meal at the
Chicken Barbeque. Support the Merrimack County Leaders Association
by eating at the 4-H Country Kitchen or Ice Cream Parlor. Our club
mans the Country Kitchen on Saturday September 5th from 1pm to 8pm
and are always looking for friends and families to help. You need to
be age 12 and over, if under 16 you need an adult to buddy up with.
For more information please call our leader Pamela Clattenburg @
269-3200. 4-H is always in need of volunteers and if Victory
Workers shift does not work for you than please feel free to call
our County Agent, Debbie Cheever @ 796-2151.
Our club meeting will start again this fall with NEW ENROLLMENTS
for the upcoming year. We will meet on Monday, October 5th. At the
Pittsfield Community Center at 6:45. Cloverbuds ages 5-7 and Members
are ages 8-19. The Victory Workers 4-H Club serves the greater
Pittsfield area, with members from Gilmanton, Barnstead, Alton,
Pittsfield, Chichester, Epsom, Loudon and Allenstown. If you would
like more information about our club please contact one of our
leaders. Pamela Clattenburg @ 269-3200, Melissa Babcock
@ 496-3928, Mark Riel @ 435-6346, Corine Miller @ 435-8497 or
Carolyn Davis @ 736-9003.
Pittsfield PD Officer Darrah with his niece Payton leads the
Pittsfield Old Home Day parade, stopping to pay respect while
Stephanie Joyce sings the National Anthem.
Letter
To the good citizens of Pittsfield,
Old Home Day was a good time. I started with breakfast at the
Baptist Church and made it through the parade.
Our “No Mo Meth” campaign had a lot of support. I passed out around
fifty packets of information telling about the dangers and
ingredients of crystal meth. It’s kind of like smoking rat poison, I
guess.
Anyway, the Pittsfield Police have been stepping it up this summer.
Unfortunately they may be prosecuting pot dealers also.
This is unacceptable. The meth is the problem, not the pot. To
clarify, this idea we will be protesting the prosecution of any
pot-related crime on 4/20/2016 at 4:20 PM at Dustin Park in front of
our Veterans Memorial.
We have tried to legalize grass in Pittsfield through Town Meeting -
tabled.
We have sent the honorable Mike Brewster to the State House with the
Pumpkin Bill (treating marijuana almost like a pumpkin). Maggie
Hassan said forget it.
The time has come to protest with liberty and justice for all.
Dan Schroth Piermarocchi
From Under the Desk Of “Interim Wingate”
OR – A Day in the Life of a T.A.
First up: a detective story. So the Town Clerk, the Excellent Erica,
sends tax notices. We’re all supposed to send them back with a
check. But sometimes, they come back undeliverable and the taxes
don’t get paid. Then, Erica starts “the process,” taking the
property for taxes.
For some years, a lot in town was taxed to the “Estate of Olin
Davis.” Notices were sent care of “Kenneth R. Davis,” to an address
in Weare. Then they started coming back. So Erica and Cara, She Who
Runs The Place, began to dig. In the 1940 Census (yes, they looked
back that far), Olin and wife are listed with a bunch of children,
including Kenneth then age 4. It turns out that Olin died in 1973.
And we understand Kenneth, bless him, died in 2012. Research at all
ten county probate courts turned up no “Estate of Olin Davis;” no
estate for Kenneth, either, nor his other 6 or 7 siblings. Sooo,
nothing.
It’s a nice, two acre lot, downtown. It would be a shame if some
heir, some relative were to miss out. So local detectives – go to
work. Call Erica or me if you know where we might find some
descendant of Olin Davis.
Got back from lunch on Wednesday and had a message. Caller said she
was “appalled” and “disgusted” that someone had flown a Confederate
flag downtown during Old Home Day. “Junk” and “inebriated people”
were reported. NO CALL BACK NUMBER. No name. Oh well.
Folks from the wastewater treatment plant came in. They’re working
on relining the pipes, among other things. Seems they can unroll a
new lining into old pipes and not dig up the streets. Kinda like an
inverse condom, I understand. Anything to save money.
Fella came in to see Erica. Got a notice about his dog and was none
too happy about having to pay a 25 buck penalty for registering real
reeal late. I love dogs. I have two. Brittany spaniels. Cost me
fifteen-fifty (one’s fixed; other’s still broken). But then, I
register them on time.
Dan Schroth Piermarocchi came in. Told me about his “no mo meth”
campaign sign. I told him the other side of his sign, which read,
“Mo Weed,” didn’t go over too big with the parents at Old Home Day.
He wants to legalize “grass.” Hell, I got it growin’ all over my
yard. He’s welcome to as much as he wants!
There’s more, but you’ll just have to wait.
Letter To The Editor
Separation of Church and State
In the last 50 years there has been a movement to remove all public
religious expressions and references to the Christian faith on any
government property in the name of “Separation of Church and State.”
That phrase was actually originally used by President Jefferson in a
letter he had written to the Danbury, CT Baptist Association
reassuring them that the government would not interfere in their
religious affairs. In other words, the state can’t tell you how to
do church or how to interpret the Bible. That phrase is not even in
the Constitution, but has been turned inside out and exploited by
revisionists. The Constitution doesn’t inhibit public displays of
faith.
The first Amendment states: Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
Looking at this objectively it seems like the Court has actually
violated the Constitution rather than upheld it in most cases since
the 1960s.
When kids are told they can’t pray or mention God at their
graduations that isn’t allowing the free exercise of religion which
is actually unconstitutional and not what the founders meant.
Since when is a kid praying equated to congress making a law? I
think we need to be honest with ourselves and see this for what it
is. Christianity is being silenced. If that were not the case, then
why would the Court be trying to be so “Constitutional?” There are
so many other areas where the Constitution is being steamrolled. How
about the separation of powers? Or the amnesty given to millions of
illegals by the stroke of a pen? America doesn’t have to be in the
shape that it’s in, we can be great again, but only if we remember
Who made it great. God blessed America, will America bless Him?
Sincerely,
Willie Matras
National Night Out is coming up fast. It is scheduled for Tuesday
August 4, 2015 from 6-8 at the tennis courts in Drake Field. As
always there will be lots of fun to be had for everyone. It has been
getting bigger every year. Look forward to food, fun, the bouncy
house, kid bike course, Police Displays, Pittsfield Fire and Rescue,
Community Action Groups, PYW, Concord Crime Line, and seeing, and
meeting your neighbors. Anyone with questions about National Night
Out or if you would like to help out feel free to call PPD at
435-7535.
Obituaries
Terry P. Robinson
Terry P. Robinson, 66, of Colby Road, Epsom, passed away July 16th
in Hospice at the Concord Hospital following a long and courageous
battle with pancreatic cancer.
Born in Pittsfield, he attended the Pittsfield schools, graduating
from Pittsfield High School in 1966. Terry attended Plymouth State
College before joining the U.S. Army and after his Vietnam tour of
duty, attended Manpower Training Center, learning his trade in the
printing industry. He was proud to be a small business owner for
over 40 years, operating Granite Image (formerly Pittsfield
Printing) in Epsom with his wife and business partner Denise.
Terry was a Past President of The Lakes Region Corvette Club. He
served Pittsfield as a member of the Pittsfield Zoning Board, on the
Board of Trustees of Trust Funds, and was a Past President of the
Pittsfield Chamber of Commerce. He also was a Charter Member of the
Alliance for Business Growth (BNI) ABG Chapter, Concord, NH. He and
his wife were also past members of the Pittsfield Old Home Day
Committee and the Pittsfield Historical Society. He also
participated in “Pedaling for Payson,” a charitable bicycle ride
sponsored by the Concord Hospital Trust. Supporting this cause was
his personal way of “giving back.”
Terry is survived by his devoted wife Denise (Wood) Robinson of
Epsom, children Christopher and wife Jennifer Johnson of Concord,
Amy and husband Fred Thompson, of Claremont. He was a proud papa to
six grandchildren Carrigan and Gavin of Concord; and Dawson,
Makenna, Chloe and Ryan of Claremont.
He leaves behind his mother Shirley (Smith) Bleckmann of
Pittsfield; two sisters, Peggy Lee Reardon and husband David of
Gloucester, MA and Jodi Alexander of Epsom; brother Douglas and
partner Victor Perea of San Diego, CA; brother-in-law Geoffrey and
wife Eleanor Wood of Saratoga Springs, NY; two nieces, Emily and
Lindsey, three nephews, Kyle, Caleb and Eli, several aunts, uncles
and cousins. He was predeceased by his adopted father William
Robinson and his biological father Albert Riel.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a future date. Donations in
his memory may be made to The Payson Center / Gene Gillis Fund c/o
Concord Hospital 250 Pleasant St. Concord, NH 03301 or to the
Concord Regional Visiting Nurses, 30 Pillsbury St, Concord, NH
03301.
The Waters Funeral Home-Perkins & Pollard Memorial Home is assisting
with arrangements. To sign an online guest book log on to
perkinsandpollard.com
Steven E. Kenney, Sr.
Pittsfield - Mr. Steven E. Kenney, Sr., 75, of Leavitt Road, died
Sunday, July 12, 2015, at the Concord Hospital.
Born in Gardner, MA on February 29, 1940, Steve was the son of
Arthur and Genevieve (Canert) Kenney.
At 17 he joined the US Air Force and was a member of the American
Legion in Laconia. Later Steve worked for Ferro Tech in Bedford,
retiring as a quality control machinist.
He was an avid outdoorsman, lived life to the fullest and was loved
by many.
He is predeceased by his late wife Concetta M. (Amato) Kenney, as
well as siblings, William A. Kenney, Robert F. Kenney, Grace L.
(Kenney) Bernor and Patricia A. (Kenney) Canty.
He is survived by his two sons from his first marriage to Janet
Robinson, Steven E. Kenney Jr. and David J. Kenney; daughter-in-law,
Becky; and his daughter and son-in-law, Sandra (Cardinal) Leger and
Normand. He also leaves grandchildren Michael and Miranda Leger;
great grandson Aiden Leger; and several nieces and nephews.
Family and friends gathered at the Still Oaks Funeral & Memorial
Home in Epsom on Friday, July 17th. A brief service was held,
followed by a reception at the funeral home. Burial with military
honors will took place at Pierce-Dow Cemetery in Standish, ME.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Montachusett
Veterans Outreach Center, Inc, 268 Central Street, Suite A, Gardner,
MA 01440.
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