Cows
and Porcupine Quills
Submitted By Carole Soule
The
quills were firmly stuck in Zeena’s face as we loaded her in the
stock trailer for the trip home. Zeena was in one of our remote
Barnstead pastures when she was attacked by a porcupine. We had to
get her home where we had the tools to remove the over 30 quills
plastered on her face.
How did
she get all those quills? Would a porcupine attack a cow? Not
likely. More likely is that Zeena, fascinated by a waddling
porcupine, got too close to the beast and it whacked her with it’s
tail. Cattle are curious creatures. Lie flat on the ground in a
pasture with cows and within minutes they will be standing around
sniffing your head and feet. They won’t hurt you or step on you,
they’ll just sniff and wonder what this being on the ground is.
That’s the thing. Most livestock will go out of their way NOT to
step on a person. A friend of mine fell down while loading domestic
deer into a stock trailer. She was lying directly in the path of 15
escaping deer, but not one hoof stepped on her. The dear leaped and
scrambled to avoid stepping on the human lying on the ground in
their path.
Even
though Zeena wouldn’t step on the porcupine she encountered, she did
get close enough to get a face full of quills. Once we got her back
to the farm we put her in the “squeeze chute” which would hold her
securely while we plucked the quills from her face. The squeeze
chute does just that, it squeezes. It gently holds the animal to
keep her from thrashing and a head lock holds her head steady so we
could remove the quills. If you’ve ever had a dog (cats seem to be
too smart for this) with quills in her face you know the routine.
Keep the animal steady and quiet while removing the quills. It’s
got to be painful for the critter, but has to be done.
Zeena’s
face is quill free, for now. Hopefully she learned her lesson and
won’t repeat, but who knows. I’ve met dogs who repeatedly collect
quills. Bet you know of some too. Maybe next time Zeena will
encounter a skunk which might be unpleasant but won’t be painful.
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].
Free
Screening Of Documentary On Voting Rights In Barnstead
Submitted By Heather Carter
View a
free special screening on Friday, August 4th of the documentary
“Selma: The Bridge to the Ballot,” the true story of the 1965
Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights march.
The
film will be screened at 7pm at the Oscar Foss Memorial Library in
Barnstead.
Narrated by Academy Award-winning actress Octavia Spencer, the
documentary tells a story not touched on by the Hollywood feature –
the true story of the forgotten heroes of the fight for voting
rights, the courageous students and teachers in Selma, Alabama, who
stood up against injustice despite facing intimidation, violence,
and arrest.
By
organizing and marching, these activists achieved one of the most
significant victories of the civil rights era – passage of the
Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Despite
this victory, only about six in 10 eligible citizens exercised their
right to vote in the 2012 presidential election. That means
approximately 90 million voters did not cast ballots. Voter turnout
dropped to a 72-year low in 2014. This documentary is an important
reminder of the hard-won rights too often taken for granted.
After
the film will be a general, non-partisan discussion about current
voting issues including questions of fraud, recent voting laws,
voting rights, and voter turnout. An open exchange of ideas is
encouraged.
Calling
All Young Democrats And Progressives!
Have
you thought about becoming more active in politics lately? Have you
been wondering what you can do and if there’s a place for you? Come
to the Barnstead Town Hall on Monday, August 7th to hear two great
speakers at this month’s meeting of the Tri-Town Democrats of
Barnstead, Gilmanton, and Alton.
Kayla
Montgomery is the New Hampshire Young Democrats’ VP of Political
Affairs. A New Hampshire native and UNH graduate, she’s been working
in NH policy, politics, and advocacy for about 8 years. Kayla will
be discussing the role that the Young Dems play in the state,
progress in recruiting and electing young Democrats for public
office, and upcoming activities for young Democrats that engage
youth in political action.
Mo
Baxley is best known in NH for leading the efforts to pass NH’s gay
rights and marriage equality laws and has been a powerful
progressive voice in New Hampshire politics. Mo was a member of
Bernie Sanders’ NH Steering Committee and she is now the 2nd
Vice-Chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party. She will be
discussing the importance of advancing progressive values in the
Democratic Party and how progressive activism is enacting change in
today’s political climate.
The
guest speakers will be followed by action items and community
organizing.
The
meeting will be held at the Barnstead Town Hall at 108 South
Barnstead Road in Barnstead. Come for socializing and potluck any
time between 6:15 pm and 6:30 pm. The meeting runs from 6:30 pm to
8:00pm.
The
meeting is open to any and all residents of Barnstead, Alton, and
Gilmanton who consider themselves moderate, liberal, or progressive
Democrats or like-minded Independents. Refreshments to share are
encouraged but not required. For more information, email
[email protected] or
visit the “Barnstead, Alton, and Gilmanton Democrats” Facebook page.
Robert
“Buzzy” Foss
Robert
“Buzzy” Foss’, 66, of Center Barnstead, life ended at 12:15 AM,
Monday July 24th, in much the same way he had lived- quietly, with
his wife of 43 years by his side.
A
Pittsfield native, he was born April 19, 1951, the eldest son of
John and Jeanette Foss. Nicknamed “Buzzy” by his dad early on, he
is almost unrecognized by any other name except “Pappy” (by his
grandchildren). He attended Pittsfield schools and worked nights
and weekends as a member of a select group of ‘river rats’ at
Suncook Leather Tannery in Pittsfield where he learned the value of
hard work and the dollar, toggling hides on piecework.
Upon
graduating high school Buzzy enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves.
After boot camp, he went to work for Arthur Hurd at Clark’s Grain
Store which began a career in the livestock feed business. In 1973
he married ‘the girl next door,’ Christine Anderson. The couple
built a home near Valley Dam in Ctr. Barnstead with the help of
Buzzy’s father, where they raised their son and daughter and have
lived ever since.
When
Arthur sold Clark’s, Buzzy went to work for Horse Hill Feeds in
Rochester. In 1994, again with the help of dad, friends, and
neighbors, Buzzy built his own feed store on the same land as their
house on Oxbow Rd. With a wealth of knowledge and a willingness to
share it, he ran the store alone until Chris was able to join him
there full time. A visit to the grain store was as much a social
event as a shopping trip, and the always affable Buzzy had a loyal
legion of customers. He was one of those rare people who didn’t
have an enemy in the world, and was the epitome of a small
businessman, working at least six and often seven days a week.
Aside from taking his kids to agricultural fairs back when they
were showing steers in 4H, he didn’t take a vacation in the 23 years
he ran Valley Dam Feed. The closest he came to leisure time was
tending the huge garden the couple grew ‘up back.’ He closed the
store in May due to rapidly declining health and was under the 24
hour care of Chris for his last days. A good man, gone too soon.
Buzzy
was predeceased by his parents, a sister Peggy, and a brother Dan.
He is survived by his wife Chris; daughter Laura and husband Dylan
McDermott and their children Liadan, Avery, and Brody, of Canaan;
son Russell and wife Alicia and children Maddison, J.R., and
Kendall, of Alton; brother Peter and partner Kelly Chisholm of
Barnstead; Aunt Sylvia Doucette of Pittsfield; loving cousins,
nieces and nephews, and countless friends.
At
Buzzy’s request there will be no services, preferring to be
remembered as he was, a fixture at Valley Dam Feed. The family asks
that anyone who wishes to make a contribution in his memory to
please consider donating to Victory Workers 4H Club, 615 Dowboro
Rd., Pittsfield 03263, or Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Assoc.
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