Josiah Carpenter Library Operating Hours
Starting April 1, 2017 hours of operation will be: Monday &
Wednesday 2:00 pm – 6:30 pm Tuesday & Thursday 10:00- 2:30
pm Friday & Saturday 10:00-1:00 pm
Please
note that the library’s restroom remains unavailable for public use.
VA’s Rule Establishes Presumption Of Service Connection For Diseases
Associated With Exposure To Contaminants In Water Supply At Camp
Lejeune VA to provide disability benefits for related
diseases Submitted Via Merrill Vaughan
WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs’
(VA) regulations to establish presumptions for the service
connection of eight diseases associated with exposure to
contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina,
are now effective.
“Establishing these presumptions is a
demonstration of our commitment to care for those who have served
our nation and have been exposed to harm as a result of that
service,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Dr. David J. Shulkin.
“The Camp Lejeune presumptions will make it easier for those
Veterans to receive the care and benefits they earned.”
The
presumption of service connection applies to active-duty, reserve
and National Guard members who served at Camp Lejeune for a minimum
of 30 days (cumulative) between Aug. 1, 1953, and Dec. 31, 1987, and
are diagnosed with any of the following conditions:
The
area included in this presumption is all of Camp Lejeune and Marine
Corps Air Station New River, including satellite camps and housing
areas.
This
presumption complements the health care already provided for 15
illnesses or conditions as part of the Honoring America’s Veterans
and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012. The Camp Lejeune
Act requires VA to provide health care to Veterans who served at
Camp Lejeune, and to reimburse family members or pay providers for
medical expenses for those who resided there for not fewer than 30
days between Aug. 1, 1953, and Dec. 31, 1987.
Letter To The Editor
Election day 3/14/2017! A little over 400 hardy townspeople fought
their way through the worst storm of the winter in order to do their
duty at the polls. Many towns opted to risk having their results
challenged in court, given some ambiguous language in the law, by
rescheduling voting to another day. But not us! Elections as usual,
weather be damned. Numbers were down slightly, but not enough to
think it made much difference in the results one way or the other.
There
were a few contested races; incumbent Jim Allard defeated Erik
Nilsson for the one year select board seat and incumbent Gerard
LeDuc won the 3 yr seat over challenger Adam Gauthier. Carole
Grainger took the library trustee position, defeating Bill Miskoe.
The
ballot question that would have changed Pittsfield’s town meeting to
an SB2 system of voting narrowly missed the 60% required to pass,
failing by just 9 votes. A separate article on the school ballot for
SB2 did exceed the 60% mark, thereby eliminating the annual school
meeting starting next year, in favor of placing all questions on the
ballot on election day. It should be interesting to see how SB2
works for the school.
The
Victory Workers 4H club provided a huge, delicious and much
appreciated lunch for all the volunteers at the town hall.
Those
are the highlights of a long, challenging day for voters and the
half frozen and snow covered candidates greeting them outside. All
in all, a tough and dedicated group of townspeople. Thanks to
everyone who did their duty.
Carl
Anderson
Pittsfield Players Present, “Eat Your Heart Out”
Some of
the most unusual meals you’ll ever experience will be “served up”
during the comedy play “Eat Your Heart Out” performing at the Scenic
Theatre with night shows on March 24, 25, 31 and April 1 at 7:30 pm
and a 2:00 pm matinee on April 2.
This
witty comedy by Nick Hall examines the complications of human
relationships, taking you to six different Manhattan restaurants.
Tickets
are $15 and are available through TicketLeap or the Scenic box
office, 435-8852. On opening night, a dinner and show deal is
available with three course dinner at Main Street Grill and Bar, 32
Main Street in Pittsfield, and a ticket for the March 24th show
after dinner, both for only $35. Dinner and show can be
reserved by calling the Scenic box office.
Letter To The Editor The Tale of Two Sisters (abridged)
Long
ago two sisters who grew up in Manchester upon marrying moved to the
places of their dreams. Sister one did much research and found Rye
to be the place where they spent lots of money on schools, had
wonderfully expensive homes and many strict rules on land use. The
decision was made and off they went to raise their family as they
saw fit in the place that fulfilled all their expectations.
Sister
two, desiring elbow room, dreamed of having a piece of land in the
country. So 40 years ago that sister and her husband found a piece
of affordable land in the small rural community of Pittsfield. They
came to this unique town because it offered opportunity to put down
deep roots, build a homestead and teach their children to appreciate
the land and all it has to offer. All worked long and hard in their
beautiful country setting building home and muscle. It has fulfilled
many of their expectations except one-TAXES.
TAXES
are more burdensome than anyone would have imagined 40 years ago. It
hardly seems possible that one household must spend so much of its
hard earned income this way.
I am
encouraged by the new opportunities SB2 will offer and possibly
lighten our burden in time or at least hold it in check. Thank you
for voting yes on SB2, a step in the right direction. This year it
passed for the school, next year for the town.
Most
sincerely, Sharon Matras
Pastor’s Corner Submitted By David Harper, the church on
River Road
Someone
has said that “whatever you love the most controls you the most.”
Another way to put it is like this: Whatever it is that we think we
are controlling is actually the thing/person/circumstance that is
controlling us. Take, for instance, family. You love your family,
and perhaps you’d describe your love toward them as devotion. That’s
a good thing. In large part, this love dictates our actions toward
them. It motivates us to get up and go to work everyday, to treat
them kindly, to buy them gifts, to maintain a good relationship with
them. But this love can easily turn to fear if we begin to believe
that these are the things that hold our family together. When fear
becomes our motivation, control becomes our behavior. We are then
trying to earn love by working hard, treating them kindly, buying
things that they want, and structuring our idea of a good
relationship.
The
truth about fear is that it’s never about others. Whatever fear
motivates us to do it does for our own benefit. In other words, if
fear is driving my actions toward my family, it is because I’m
afraid of what I might lose, and I’m not loving them for who they
are. Instead, I’m “loving” them for how they make me feel – for the
security I derive from a stable relationship, for the good feeling I
get when they enjoy a gift, for the appreciation I receive for
working hard and providing for them. Fear causes my love to be
conditional and selfish. If I love the idea of a perfect family more
than I love the imperfect people who make up that family, I will
eventually destroy it.
I used
the example of family because it’s a struggle close to my own heart.
But this truth can be applied to anything we value in life. We were
made by God to love and to be loved, to be worshipers, so it’s only
natural that we tend toward this. The problem is that though we were
made to worship him, we have a million substitutes for God that we
somehow think are better and more worthy. Our insecurity causes us
to worship the idea of a perfect thing, instead of what God has
already provided. We reject the unconditional love of a good Father
because we can’t understand how he can be any different than we are.
Then we project this identity onto God as an excuse for disbelieving
him.
“But
God showed his love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us.” The good news is that we don’t have to live in fear.
Jesus has made the way for God to be pleased with us because of what
he did, not what we can do. In a life made right by God through
Jesus there is no shame or fear, only forgiveness and unconditional
love that will transform your life. Your life can tell a different
story – a story of freedom from fear!
Loudon American Legion Post #88 Commander Shawn Jones presented an
award and check to Annora Brown (12) at the Legion Post in Loudon
after Annora won the local Oratorical Contest Competition on March
11. Laura’s studies take place through the Lighthouse Home School
Cooperative and the Faith Community Bible Church in Loudon. Annora
will next compete in the statewide competition at St. Anselm College
on April 1 and a chance to move on to the nationals.
Pittsfield Senior Center News
The
Pittsfield Senior Center’s Tai Chi class for seniors is beginning
again on Wednesday, April 5, from 1:00pm-2:00pm in the Bicentennial
Room of the Pittsfield Community Center.
This
class will continue for the next several Wednesdays. Senior safe Tai
Chi provides relaxation, concentration, flexibility, balance, and
strength through slow moving meditative moves. The cost is $5.00 per
visit.
The Mayo Clinic says that Tai Chi is a gentle art form,
which the body adapts to easily; it does not cause sore muscles, and
reduces pain and stiffness. The classes are an hour long, with long
warm-ups and cool downs, and deeper more relaxed breathing. Tai Chi
helps in maintenance, prevention, and improvement of over-all health
therefore improving quality of life.
All age groups are welcome
to participate in this class; it is a slightly more gentle form of
Tai Chi, which is excellent for individuals with health or physical
concerns. For more information or if interested in the class, please
call the center at 435-8482.
The Pittsfield Senior Center is
sponsoring an Easter and Spring flower arrangement class on
Wednesday, April 5, 2017 at 10:00 am. Dana Sansom, a retired
professor of horticulture technology, will be teaching the class.
She has many ideas on how to make seasonal and beautiful flower
groupings using silk and dried flowers. If you have, a small basket
and items that you would like to use you can bring them to the
class. If you would like to bring in real flowers to learn how to
make arrangements Dana will teach you. Otherwise, some items will be
provided. Please call 435-8482 if planning to attend, so the
supplies can be coordinated properly.
What’s
Happening At PYW? Submitted By Sheila DaSilva
In January, a
small group of children from Pittsfield Youth Workshop eagerly set
out to visit with the residents at Vintage Hill Assisted Living in
Pittsfield.
They were warmly greeted to meet in the inviting
spacious great room, that one of the residents, Ella Mae, proudly
stated, her grandson was the architect that designed it!
The
children interacted with many questions and interest about
these residents lives. Arianna asked Rose, a spunky 99 year old
looking forward to her 100th birthday on February 4, what she
attributed to her longevity?, to which Rose replied,” I played
basketball, never drank or smoked, and I still could have a great
time!”
Lilly spoke quietly with one of the newer residents,
Flora, who arrived in May from Vermont. Flora firmly stated she’s
just old enough to vote. When asked of her past and life experience,
she is clear and proud to have always worked very hard on her own.
Flora is very committed to her faith, and states that her church
family holds high value, and is most important to her. Lilly could
see Flora beaming as she spoke and realized how much love it brings
to her life.
Heather and Logan joined in speaking with Barbara,
who has been a resident at Vintage Hill now for three years, and
absolutely loves it there! Barbara said she has made friends there,
they all get to go out on excursions regularly. When asked of fond
memories, she recalls her past with smiles about ice skating as a
young girl, her love for football, basketball and Bingo! Barbara
spoke proudly of her 4 children, especially her son, who works at
Disney!
Savanna spent time with eager Ella’s Mae, who shared
childhood stories, her love for reading, basketball and soccer, and
the color purple! Ella Mae strongly advised that a good education
opens all the Doors!
Alexa listened and observed, she took in all
the questions and responses of all these pleasant ladies, and when
asked her thoughts, she replied, “they have all had different and
interesting lives, and now they share it together here, they’re
a family.”
They all had a great time sharing, and all even
engaged in quite a few rounds of Bingo, which made for much
laughter.
As all said goodbye, the children of PYW voiced how
“cool” they thought the day went, and what they each learned about
these lovely ladies lives. The most positive outcome, was their
desire to return to Vintage Hill again, so it looks like this will
be on our calendar of events in the Future!
Meet
Lakeside (for those who haven’t stayed)Lakeside is our most coveted
lodge at Graylag, perched on a hillside overlooking Wild Goose Pond
in Pittsfield. This cabin is our largest with two stories and a huge
screened-in porch over looking the lake. Upstairs, there is one
small bedroom with a full bed, and large bedroom with 2 full-sized
beds and a twin bed. There is also a full bathroom upstairs.
Downstairs, there is a fully equipped kitchen area in a separate
room that connects to an open layout dining and living room. A new
private “master bedroom” has a queen sized bed with access to the
screened-in porch. Another full bathroom is located on the main
level. A screened porch overlooks the lake with a large table for
dining and playing games, hammocks, lounge chairs and benches.
Sleeps 8-10 comfortably.
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