Those Celebrating Birthdays are: May 9, Scott Ward, Joshua
Labrecque; May 10, Adam Ward; May 11, Nathan Brown, Chris Ward; May
12, Mike Taylor, Timothy Mineau; May 13, Melissa Mayhew, Eileen
Manteau; May 14, Scott Grandmaison, Nick Liouzis; May 15, Timothy
Roode.
A Very Happy Birthday To One and All!
Celebrating Anniversaries are: May 8, Don and Barbara Raney; May 12,
Daniel and Sheila Ward.
Best Wishes!
Belated Congratulations to David and Tara Ash, who celebrated their
anniversary on May 7th.
Pittsfield High School Class of 1972 is planning a 40th reunion this
summer. Please contact Louie Houle at 435-6938 or Deb (Riel) Mulkhey
at 783-4576 to update your contact information so we can send you
details.
Attention
Seniors of Pittsfield
We, at the Senior Center, will be having a bake sale in the Center
on Thursday, May 10th, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Come and buy some goodies
and help the seniors on short trips!
Seniors Committee
School Lunch Menus
May 14 - 18, 2012
PES
Monday
All American
Homemade shepherd’s pie, sweet corn, garlic roll, fresh assorted
fruit
Tuesday
Fresh Picks
Chicken nuggets, seasoned rice, garden salad with baby
spinach and bacon, wheat roll, orange wedges
Wednesday
Italian Street
FestBaked rotini with meat sauce, wheat garlic bread,
green beans, applesauce
Thursday
Let’s Talk Turkey
Turkey and gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet peas and
carrots, wheat roll, fruit crisp
Friday
Fresh Picks Pizza
Cheese pizza or chef’s topping, carrot sticks,
fresh Mac apple
PMHS
Monday
Hot Diggity Dog
Chili dog with cheese on a wheat bun, seasoned rice,
sweet corn, fresh Mac apple
Tuesday
Fresh Picks
Tossed to order spinach salad with chicken and bacon,
roasted potatoes, wheat roll, orange wedges
Wednesday
Italian Street
FestBaked rotini with meat sauce, wheat garlic bread,
green beans, applesauce
Thursday
Let’s Talk Turkey
Roasted turkey, sweet potatoes, wheat dinner roll,
peas and carrots, fruit crisp
Friday
Fiesta Friday
Cheese quesadilla, homemade corn chowder, salsa,
peaches
"Old Time Rules Will Prevail: The Fiddle Contest In
New Hampshire
and New England"
Adam Boyce of West Windsor, VT will be presenting "Old Time Rules
Will Prevail: The Fiddle Contest in New Hampshire and New England"
on Thursday, May 10th at 7:00 pm at the Scenic Theater located at 6
Depot Street, Pittsfield NH. This presentation is presented by the
Pittsfield Historical Society with support from the NH Humanities
Council. The program is free and open to all.
Fiddle contests evolved from being endurance events to playing a set
number of tunes judged by certain specific criteria. Whether large
or small, fiddle contests tried to show who was the "best," as well
as preserve old-time fiddling and raise money for local
organizations. In recent years, the fiddle contest has declined
significantly in New Hampshire and New England due to cultural
changes and financial viability. The greatest legacies of the fiddle
contest are the recordings made during live competition, a sampling
of which are played during the presentation, along with some live
fiddling by the presenter.About the Presenter
Adam Boyce of West Windsor, a 10th generation Vermonter and fiddler
in his own right, has been giving talks throughout Vermont and New
Hampshire since 2002. He has been involved with nearly every aspect
of fiddle contests in New England since 1994, including judge, piano
backup, as well as competitor. He was the 2000 Vermont division
champion at the Northeast Fiddlers contest in Barre, Vermont, and
has placed in nearly every New England state.
Adam is also an Eastern style square dance caller who fiddles and
calls simultaneously, and also plays piano backup for other fiddlers
throughout Vermont and New Hampshire.
A composer of over 100 fiddle tunes, you can also find Adam listed
as a Juried Artist with the Vermont Arts Council, specializing in
Yankee Humor.
A traditional dance historian, Adam gives another lecture on contra
and square dancing history in Vermont and New Hampshire, and also
presents a living history portrayal of "The Old Country Fiddler,"
Charles Ross Taggart (1871-1953), a traveling musician and humorist
from Vermont who entertained widely on lyceum and Chautauqua
circuits for over 40 years, starting in 1895.
For more information, contact Harry Vogt by phone at 603-435-7993,
by email at
[email protected] or
contact the presenter Adam Boyce, 1076 Rush Meadow RD, Reading, VT
05062-9767, (802) 484-7719,
[email protected]
Senior U.S. Education Official Visits Pittsfield Middle High To
Discuss School Improvement
U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Jason Snyder visited Pittsfield
Middle High School on Tuesday, May 1st. Pittsfield is using School
Improvement Grant funds to turn around the school and to improve
student achievement. Since 2009, the state of New Hampshire has
received more than $13 million in SIG awards.
Letter
To all Pittsfield Residents and those interested in upholding the NH
State Constitution:
The 2006 amendment to the New Hampshire State Constitution put a
rule into law that any town of a population of over 3,000 should
have their own resident member of the House of Representative in the
State House. The town of Pittsfield, according to the 2010 census,
has a population of 4,106. Therefore, we should have our own
representative to the General Court of NH.
The new redistricting plan submitted by our current legislature does
not adhere to this law, and give Pittsfield it’s own representative.
(Other communities in Merrimack County being denied a local
district, include Concord Wards 4, 5, 6, and 7, Henniker, Hopkinton,
Loudon, New London, and Pembroke). As of the last election,
Pittsfield is included in District 8, represented by 3 residents of
Epsom and one from Allenstown.
The new redistricting plan continues to join Pittsfield with Epsom
(information on the new map and districts is very difficult to find
on the web). Since all these representatives live outside of
Pittsfield, to keep their seats, Pittsfield, needs to continue to be
joined to Epsom. This is a clear case of gerrymandering the
districts to advantage a particular political party or
representatives. Unfortunately, it is just these representatives who
are responsible for defining the districts.
Sources: "Under a successful 2006 ballot initiative, any town of
3,000 citizens or more is guaranteed a resident member in the House
of Representatives, "… When the population of any town or ward,
according to the last federal census, is within a reasonable
deviation from the ideal population for one or more representative
seats, the town or ward shall have its own district of one or more
representative seats."
http://www.ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Redistricting_in_New_Hampshire
Census data prepared by NH Office of Energy and Planning, Mar. 22,
2011
Mary Ellen Moran-Siudut
Pittsfield
PYBA board members Tony Scopa (l) and Darrell Wages (r) hang new
signs at the Pittsfield Youth Park. If you’d like to support
Pittsfield youth baseball and softball by purchasing advertising at
the park, call Glenn Amnott at 435-7905.
Greater Pittsfield Chamber Of Commerce Business After Hours Event
The Greater Pittsfield Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Business
After Hours event on Tuesday, May, 15th from 6-8 pm. The event will
be sponsored by and held at Concord Hospital Rehabilitation Services
located at Concord Hospital Medical Offices, East 1990 Dover Road in
Epsom, N.H.
During the first hour of the event, refreshments will be served on
the second floor of the building in a shared waiting area of
Rehabilitation Services and Concord Hospital Medical Group-Epsom
Family Medicine.
The second hour will be dedicated to allowing chamber members the
opportunity to participate in several wellness stations located
throughout the second floor. The wellness stations are represented
by Rehabilitation Services and will include: a posture screening
including neck strength/endurance testing; a healthy hands
screening; incontinence prevention tactics; lower back pain
prevention for every day tasks; balance screening to reduce falls
risk; and education on concussion prevention and awareness.
Chamber members will also have the opportunity to learn about the
services Rehabilitation Services provides including: evidence-based
treatment approach for a multitude of impairments (general
orthopedic conditions; women’s and men’s health issues;
incontinence; lymphedema; vestibular disorders; oncology related
issues; orthosis fabrication (custom shoe inserts); and hand
therapy. In addition, Chamber members can visit table displays
representing Riverbend Community Mental Health, Concord Hospital
Nutrition and Diabetes Management and Concord Hospital Trust
Business Partners in Health.
The Epsom Family Medicine team including three new providers will
also be present at the event. Epsom Family Medicine provides
comprehensive, individualized medical care for the entire family
including family medicine, obstetrics, pediatrics, gynecologic and
geriatrics care. Selecting a primary care provider is an important
step towards maintaining your health and wellness.
At the end of the evening there will be a $50 raffle towards a
Concord Hospital Center for Health Promotion health or wellness
class.
If you have any questions regarding this event or would like more
information please contact: Melanie Bieniek, DPT, OCS, CLT, Concord
Hospital Rehabilitation Services Manager at 1990 Dover Rd, Epsom NH
03234, phone number 736-6222 x-8735, or by e-mail:
[email protected].
Flying the Flag
Submitted By
Pam Taylor
In these times, where everyone wants to be able to show their
support and patriotism for our country. I’d like to address the
issue of proper flag display. People seem to have lost track of how
to display the flag. Please read the following taken from the US
Code on flag display.
(a) It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise
to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open.
However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be
displayed 24 hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of
darkness.
(b) The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.
(c) The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is
inclement, except when an all weather flag is displayed.
(d) The flag should be displayed on all days, especially on Holidays
(abbreviated, it means all!).
(e) The flag should be displayed daily on or near the main
administration building of every public institution.
(f) The flag should be displayed in or near every polling place on
election days.
(g) The flag should be displayed during school days in or near every
schoolhouse.
Position and manner
a) The flag should not be displayed on a float in a parade except
from a staff, or as provided in subsection (i) of this section.
b) The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back
of a vehicle or of a railroad train or a boat. When the flag is
displayed on a motorcar, the staff shall be fixed firmly to the
chassis or clamped to the right fender.
To put it lightly, our flag is more then just a simple decoration to
line our driveways, stick in a flower pot or on our front lawn. We
disrespect the flag and those who have fought for the freedom the
flag represents when we disregard the proper display. It represents
our country, where we have been and where we are going. It belongs
to no one person over another. It is our flag, it is our ideal, it
is worth our respect.
Maybe if we respect the flag more, we can respect our fellow
Americans more.
Dancing to "Mother Knows Best" Back row: Kalee OBlenes, Elizabeth
Boyd, Caroline Champagne. Front row: Paige Rueffert, Jolene Wood,
Kira Wood, Jade Pescinski.
Dancing to "All or Nothing" Back Row: Kaela Simoneau, Gabby
Bachelder, Alexis Gilbert. Front row: Savannah Godin, Hannah Gagnon,
Brianna Heath, Sydnee Gagnon. Encore Dance presents "Free 2-B Me
n-You" Our 12th year end performance will be held at the Prospect
Mountain High School in Alton on Saturday, May 12th. with shows at
1:00 pm and 4:00 pm. Tickets available at the door.
PMHS Students Active In The Community
Student Council Takes Leading Role
Submitted By Derek Hamilton
Student Council members Jen Tyrell (left) and Maxwell Tuttle
(middle)
present the donations for cancer research to the Gordon
family.
Sisters Sarah (left) and Rebekah Adams plant flowers at the main
entrance
of Pittsfield Middle High School during Earth Day.ong>
As students, staff and community members walk into the main entrance
at Pittsfield Middle High School, they all likely walk over the
large entry mat with a fading image of a panther, a gift of the 1977
Student Council.
The Pittsfield School District is undergoing a comprehensive
redesign which includes the formation of a Site Council, the new
governing body of the school, but its traditional Student Council
remains with a renewed sense of purpose aimed at community
involvement.
The Student Council is made up of 12 students, two student
representatives from each grade level, and is advised by a middle
and high school teacher. The students elected senior Kelsey Wrye and
junior Rebekah Adams as its co-chairs this year, both of whom have
been serving as Student Council members since their freshman year.
They have taken the lead on fundraising, event planning and
community service.
This past year the Student Council has initiated several successful
school-wide and community events including Spirit Week, a Cancer
Benefit and an Earth Day Beautification. Spirit Week is a school
tradition that builds class camaraderie and fosters school spirit
through school dress days, hallway decorating and gym activities
prior to Holiday Break. The week was highlighted by a Can Drive
which collected over 600 non-perishable goods that were donated to
the Pittsfield Food Pantry.
In February the Student Council coordinated a Cancer Benefit in
remembrance of Marion Gordon, the mother of a PMHS graduate and
current student, who plays on the boys’ basketball team. The
students hosted a mid-year Academic Awards Assembly and pep rally
during the school day, prior to a boys’ basketball game in the
evening. Those who made a donation to cancer research received a
pink ribbon and players wore pink socks and head bands during the
game. Several groups made generous contributions including the
Pittsfield Police Association, the PMHS Boosters Club and the
Varsity Club. Jillian Towle, a member of the Student Council,
raffled off a hand-made blanket and donated the proceeds. All
together, more than $1,000 dollars were raised and donated on behalf
of Marion Gordon to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
To celebrate Earth Day this past April, the Student Council
organized its second annual beautification and clean-up of the PES
and PMHS campuses, and downtown Pittsfield. The group worked with
several local organizations to help clean-up Drake Field, Frank
Lyman Park, Centennial Park, Forest B. Argue Pool, Pittsfield Police
Station and the Carpenter Library. More than 200 students and staff
were active in the clean-up and each student who participated earned
two hours of community service.
The Student Council will conclude the school year by hosting an end
of year Academic Awards Assembly and Field Day to celebrate the work
and achievements of the student body throughout the year. Honor Roll
students will be recognized along with others for academic
excellence and exemplary citizenship. One notable award will be the
Bryce Paradise Award, named after its first recipient, and awarded
by the Student Council to a graduating senior who represents the
pillars of safety, respect, responsibility and community.
TOPS News
Submitted By Terrie Azotea
Well, we had Royalty at TOPS this past week. Kudos to those who had
a good weight loss! Royalty is when we give out awards to certain
members who have had a good weight loss the past month. We have it
the first Tuesday of the month and it’s encouraging to see that
others are losing weight.
Looking forward to our walking nights that will be starting up and,
hopefully, the rain is in our favor. It sure has been raining the
past few days and it has been hard to get out and do some walking.
We might just have to put our duck boots and our yellow duck coats
on, get out there and just enjoy it. We are not made of sugar; we
will not melt. But we are sweet!
We have a yard sale in June that we will be getting things together
for. We also would like to welcome two new members who joined this
past week. Good luck on your weight loss journey. We are all about
helping one another and when someone needs a helping hand, we will
try to be there the best that we can.
If anyone is interested in joining us, we meet on Tuesday nights at
the St. Stephen’s Church in Pittsfield at 5:30 pm for weigh in and
at 6:30 for our meeting. We sure are growing in our chapter and it’s
always nice to meet new people, so come on out and check us out. If
you have any questions, please call Laurel Tiede at 269-8721 or Pat
Smith at 435-5333.
"Instead of giving yourself reasons why you can’t, give yourself
reasons why you can."
Hope everyone has a good week and we’ll see you lighter next week!
Letter
From The Desk Of The Selectmen
The Board of Selectmen (BOS) remains united in its on-going effort
to make strides in maximizing the efficiency of town operations
throughout all departments. Much has been accomplished, yet there is
more to be done. The board will not become lax in this endeavor.
Thank you for your overwhelming support!
Administrative Plan:
• The PD Administrative Assistant position has been reduced from
full time to 24 hours per week. New Police Department hours will be
forthcoming from the Chief.
• The Board has capitalized on a cost savings proposal by the Public
Works Superintendant.
• Miscellaneous: The Town Administrator’s salary has been reduced by
5% per his recommendation. Thanks to Paul Skowron for his helpful
gesture! The Welfare Director has offered to temporarily reduce her
hours. Members of the Board of Selectmen have donated $2,400 to
offset police coverage at the Balloon Rally this year. Other Items:
• The Fire Chief has submitted his resignation.
• Avitar Associates has been selected for the town’s assessing needs
beginning in 2012. The Board looks forward to working with this
highly qualified team. Just under $1.4 million worth of 2011
abatements were approved by the Board, decreasing tax revenue by
approximately $40,000.
• The communication policy that was rescinded by the BOS can be
reviewed at the Town Hall or on the website (www.pittsfield-nh.com).
• Many thanks to the Pittsfield Firefighter Association for its
generous donation of materials and labor in the amount of $25,000
for improvements to the fire station.
• Thank you to the Sanderson Fund for a $5,000 donation for the K-9
Program.
• The board has authorized reconstruction to begin on Wildwood
Drive. The majority of funding will come from prior year
encumbrances, therefore not significantly impacting the 2012 budget.
Keeping you informed,
Pittsfield Board of Selectmen
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