The New
Hampshire Baseball Umpires Association will be offering
certification to anyone interested in umpiring high school baseball
in New Hampshire for Varsity, Junior Varsity, Freshman, and Middle
School. Classes will start at Laconia High School on March 25th at
2pm. Cost is $65. For more information please contact Baseball
Umpire Development Chairman Gary Noyes. 603-455-2714 or
[email protected]
FREE Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Pittsfield has been chosen as one of the communities in New
Hampshire to participate in a Smoke and Carbon Monoxide
distribution, installation and education grant program.
Requirements: 1. Owner-occupied homes only (sorry, no rentals).
2.Children under 6 yrs old and/or adults over 60 yrs old residing in
the home. To sign up for a Home Safety Inspection and Free Smoke and
CO Alarms installed by a volunteer member of the Fire Department
call 435-6807 or email [email protected].
Pittsfield Elementary School is excited to announce that
the “PES Food 4 Kids” pantry is up and running. The pantry is
currently sending eighteen students home with a bag of groceries for
the weekend. PES Food 4 Kids relies solely on donations! Non
perishable items are collected in the front foyer of PES.
We also accept cash donations. Cara Peterson, Marissa MacLellan, and
Michelle Hill accept a very generous donation of $5,000 dollars from
Hannafords. From left to right: Michelle Hill, Farah Lavine, Marissa
MacLellan, Cara Peterson and George Pouder.
From The Farm - Twins Reunited
Submitted By Carole Soule
Lou is on the left, Lucky on the right.
This
week I took four pigs and a heifer to the butcher. Processing
animals that I have spent so much time raising is challenging and
sad, but we also have animals we won’t process; ones that have a
lifetime job on the farm like Lou, a working steer who could spend
his life as a working steer with his buddy, JoJo.
Lou was
born on the farm two years ago to a Scottish Highlander cow named,
Ulani. The day after he was born we moved Ulani and Lou to the
holding pen to make sure they bonded and that Lou, a white bull
calf, was healthy. A day later we found another calf in the field.
Two other cows were due to give birth but neither showed an interest
in this brown heifer. I was puzzled until I realized that Ulani had
given birth to twins.
Twins
can be a problem. Giving birth to one calf is stressful for a cow.
Giving birth to two calves is dangerous and can result in the death
of one or both calves as well as the cow. Apparently, Ulani had no
trouble giving birth to twins but would not accept this second calf
and wouldn’t let it nurse. Most calves don’t like drinking from a
bottle at first but this one was hungry and devoured the bottled
milk we offered her. It was obvious she was a survivor. She had
spent at least one whole day on her own and was still alive. We
named her Lucky.
We gave
her to a farmer who wanted to raise a bottle baby. For two years
Lucky had a great life with two older Highlander cows, some sheep,
and two rams. While the Highlander cows were at the farm, Lucky
ignored the rams. When the farmer sold the two older cows the
barnyard dynamics turned ugly. Without the big cows around,
Lucky turned into a “hater of rams.” She attacked the bigger of the
two rams but the 90-pound ram had no chance against a 400-pound
heifer. Lucky always won and if the farmer had not saved him, would
have killed him.
The
farmer kept the ram and I took Lucky back to Miles Smith Farm where
she is now with her twin brother, Lou. While her brother is a quiet,
submissive steer, Lucky is a feisty heifer who follows me around
licking my coat. I’m not sure what the rest of her story will be.
I’ll try to find a job for her but for now, she has a great life
with twenty-eight other little Highlanders and as long as we keep
the rams away, she’ll be happy.
Carole
Soule is co-owner of Miles Smith Farm, in Loudon, NH, where she
raises and sells beef, pork, lamb, eggs and other local products.
She can be reached at [email protected].
Letter To The Editor
Many
thanks to the Budget Committee members for the effort put forth on
the annual budgets. This is not an easy job. Many long hours are
dedicated to this seemingly thankless process, oftentimes leading to
frustration and, at times, even met with hostility from the public.
Remember... this committee recommends, but it’s up to we the voters
to make the final decision that is best for the community.
That
said (as most of you are probably aware) the Town voted for the
Pittsfield School District (PSD) to conduct this year’s annual
meeting under the rules of SB2, the Official Ballot Law. This means
we will be voting on the 2018-2019 school budgets at the polls on
March 13th. The budget being proposed by the PSD is a little over
10½ million dollars, an increase of $517,000 over last year’s
budget. An informational public hearing and ensuing discussion took
place on January 10th in which there were only approximately 60
people in attendance. The dialog that took place would suggest there
is certainly room for improvement.
I would
urge you, the taxpayer, to attend the deliberative session on
February 8th, 7pm at PES. This is the only venue in which amendments
can be made to the budget. It is my fear that many will blindly vote
NO on the proposed budget, resulting in the automatic adoption of a
default budget which guarantees an increase of close to $100,000.
This is not responsible voting. The budget Committee members are
hard pressed to allow such increases and initially voted against
recommending a budget to the voters. Let’s all do our part, which
includes looking beyond our own desires and esteeming our neighbor
as our self. Part of loving our neighbor(s) is recognizing when the
financial burden is greater than he/she can bear.
Linda
Small
Pittsfield
Budget Blinds® Of Concord Kicks-Off 2018 With A New Identity
Along
with a new emphasis on product innovation and customization, Concord
customers will find the same superior neighborhood service they’ve
come to expect from Budget Blinds.
Budget
Blinds Serving Concord, the local neighborhood window covering
expert backed by the leading provider of custom window coverings in
North America, has launched a new brand identity and expanded
commitment to serving homeowners, businesses and residents in the
region.
According to Kevin Ronald, owner of Budget Blinds of Concord, the
new brand identity includes a new logo and look and feel that
supports the continued efforts to provide the latest trends,
innovative products and unparalleled service in the window covering
space.
“While
our look may be new, our promise to provide the same great style and
service for every budget remains the same, said Ronald. “We’re proud
to be your local window covering expert – we’re in your neighborhood
and continue to deliver the same great service you’ve come to expect
from Budget Blinds. We handle everything from design to installation
right in your own home!”
Kevin
said that two areas of emphasis for Budget Blinds of Concord in 2018
are product customization and design innovation. “Our modern new
logo better reflects our goal of taking Budget Blinds to the next
level this year – in products, design, service and value that
connects with our customers.”
“At the
end of the day, it’s a privilege to support our community and to be
able to directly impact our customers’ lives.”
Local
Budget Blinds Franchisee Unveils New Brand Identity in 2018 Budget
Blinds Serving of Concord is part of Home Franchise Concepts (HFC),
the top-selling family of direct-to-consumer brands in the home
improvement space. In addition to Budget Blinds, HFC includes
Tailored Living® and Concrete Craft®.
Shirin
Behzadi, CEO of Home Franchise Concepts, joined Kevin to unveil the
new Budget Blinds of concord identity earlier this month during
“Evolution of Success,” the 2018 Budget Blinds National Convention
in Dallas.
Budget
Blinds of Concord is one of more than 1,140 individually owned and
operated Budget Blinds franchises nationwide, and one of nearly
1,400 franchises in the Home Franchise Concepts family.
Leaders
with Pittsfield Youth Voice in it Together (PYViiT) of Pittsfield
Listens designed and facilitated a 3-day retreat for fellow youth
leaders January 10-12th. Hosted at the D-Acres Permaculture Farm and
Educational Homestead in Dorchester, NH, this was a ‘train the
trainer’ focus on team building, facilitation and organizing skills,
and social location. This was an awesome start to the PYViiT 6 month
term together, and leaders are excited to bring their leadership on
issues and policies that directly impact them in their education and
their lives. Stay tuned to see what comes next with PYViiT’s
leadership! See more photos and details at
Facebook.com/pittsfieldlistens and on Instragram @pittsfieldlistens
Josiah Carpenter Library February News
Announcing Hoopla - library card-holders can instantly explore,
borrow and enjoy dynamic content on their smartphones, tablets,
computers and televisions!
Beginning February 5, 2018 the library has thousands of movies,
television shows, music albums, eBooks, audiobooks and comics, all
available for mobile and online access through a new partnership
with hoopla digital (hoopladigital.com). Card holders can
download the free hoopla digital mobile app on their Android or IOS
device or visit hoopladigital.com to begin enjoying thousands of
titles from major Hollywood studios, record companies and publishers
available to borrow 24/7, for instant streaming or temporary
downloading to their smartphones, tablets and computers.
Pittsfield’s access to hoopla is made possible through the
generosity of Globe Manufacturing and the Sanderson Fund.
The
Teen Book Worms will gather on Monday February 5th at 5:00pm; they
will enjoy a light supper and discuss These Broken Stars by Amie
Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. The Pittsfield Writer’s Circle
will meet at the library on Monday January 15th at 5:00pm. The
adult book club will meet to discuss Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a
Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance at 10:30 am on Tuesday
February 27th at the Pittsfield Senior Center. Join any of our
ongoing activities whenever you are able!
During
February the 10:00am Thursday preschool story hour will explore
Ground Hog Day, Valentine’s Day (there will be a party on February
8th!) hearts and animals. The afterschool Adventure Club meets
at 3:30pm on Tuesdays and will be creating valentines and unique
animals. The Stay and Play group for toddlers and their
parents/caregivers meets on Tuesday mornings at 10:00am for a brief
story, simple games, movement and time to socialize.
The
Chichester-Epsom-Pittsfield Libraries Memory Café will have fun with
some trivia games and celebrating romance at 2:00pm on Monday
February 12th at the Epsom Public Library. Caregivers and
folks living with memory loss are invited to come and savor
supportive socialization.
The
library will be closed for Presidents Day on February 19th.
Players’ Kids’ Theater Workshop Hard At Work Rehearsing Thoroughly
Modern Millie, Jr.
The
Pittsfield Players’ Kids’ Theater Workshop is currently in rehearsal
for this season’s presentation of Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jr. The
show will run at the Scenic Theatre on Thursday, Friday and
Saturday, February 22, 23 and 24, at 7:30 pm each evening. In
addition, there will be two matinee performances on Tuesday and
Wednesday, February 20 and 21, at 12:30 pm for local schools and
home schoolers, so that kids might see their peers on stage and
develop an interest in theater. Participants in the Kids’ Theater
Workshop range in age from 8 to 18, and they learn all aspects of
theater both on stage and behind the scenes. Tickets for the evening
shows are $8 for kids under 12 and $12 for adults and can be
reserved by calling 435-8852. If you are interested in bringing a
class or group of kids to the matinees, at a reduced price, contact
director Maye Hart at [email protected].
Filled
with fun flappers, dashing leading men and a villainess audiences
will love to hate, Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr. is a clever
adaptation of the six-time-Tony-Award-winning Best Musical and the
Academy Award-winning film. It’s 1922 in New York City, and a young
Millie Dillmount has just moved to the Big Apple in search of a new
life. Her grand plan is to find a job as a secretary for a
wealthy man and then marry him. However, her plan goes completely
awry. Millie’s wealthy boss is slow in proposing marriage, and the
man she actually falls in love with doesn’t have a dime to his name
– or so he tells her. What’s a small town girl to do?
The
cast includes Emma Molloy as the irrepressible Millie, Christopher
Dudley as Jimmy, the basically broke man-about-town, and Joe Garcia
as Trevor Graydon, Millie’s new boss who she’s determined to marry.
Alex Keyes plays Mrs. Meers, the proprietress of the Priscilla
Hotel, who also runs a very shady business on the side. Cecily
Schultz plays Miss Dorothy Brown, who actually wants to be poor, and
Spencer Griffin and Benjamin Marcotte play Mrs. Meers’ Chinese
henchmen, Bun Foo and Ching Ho. The girls at the Priscilla Hotel are
played by Wanda Anderson (Gloria), April Keyes (Alice), Faith
Griffin (Rita), Trinity Morse (Ruth), Kaylyn John-Zensky (Cora),
Annelissa Marcotte (Lucille) and Camryn Melvin (Ethel Peas).
Ensemble members include Jace Michaud, Ethan Smith, Christopher
Tedcastle, Joe Molloy, Abraham Marcotte, Johnny Anderson, Carly
Griffin, Mabel Johnson, Michaela St. George, Izabelle Cote, Anna
Vyce, Lexie Booker, Sydney Provencal, Alivia Duffy, Addy Shonyo,
Lillian Mooney, Addison Clark, and Damonica and Olivia Charles.
Don’t
miss these incredibly talented kids on stage in this wonderful Kids’
Theater Workshop and reserve your seats now!
School District Budget Voting
Submitted By The Pittsfield School Board
Pittsfield voters are strongly encouraged to join the deliberative
session of the annual school district meeting at 7:00 p.m. on
Thursday, February 8, at the Pittsfield Elementary School for
explanation, discussion, debate, and amendments to the proposed
operating budget and warrant articles.
The two
key articles include:
•
Article IV: collective bargaining agreement with teachers’
union
o Since
the defeat of the previous proposed agreement, Pittsfield teachers
have been working without a contract this year; the proposed
one-year agreement will cost an estimated $99,885 or a tax impact of
$.37/thousand.
•
Article V: school district operating budget
o The
proposed budget includes no new positions or programs; due to
increased cost of various obligations, the current version of the
proposed budget includes an increase of $303,490 or a tax impact of
$1.15/thousand.
The
Board had originally developed a budget that was $92,500 greater
than the current version; however, the Budget Committee recommended
a reduction of this amount. The Board has since voted to
support the Budget Committee’s recommendation and thanks the
Committee for its thorough review of the proposed budget.
Voters
are encouraged to visit the school district website –
pittsfieldnhschools.org – to find proposed budget information.
Reading school budget data can be confusing; good understanding of
the budget has been hampered by misinformation being circulated in
the community. School Board members and the district
administration are available to answer budget questions:
• Mike
Wolfe, School Board Chair:
[email protected]
• Bea
Douglas, School Board Vice-Chair:
[email protected]
• Linda
Freese, School Board Member:
[email protected]
• Ted
Mitchell, School Board Member:
[email protected]
• Ralph
Odell, School Board Member:
[email protected]
• John
Freeman, Superintendent of Schools:
[email protected]
Pittsfield voters are asked to support our students, teachers, and
schools with your participation in the deliberative session and to
vote in favor of our collective bargaining agreement and proposed
school district budget. Our chlidren’s futures depend on the
strong educational foundation provided by our Pittsfield schools.
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