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Epsom NH News
September 10, 2008
The
Suncook Valley
Sun News Archive is Maintained by Modern Concepts. We are NOT affliated in any way with the Suncook Valley Sun Newspaper.
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Enjoying another aspect of the wrap-up of the
Summer
Reading Program at the Epsom Library is
Carson Dail
scooping up helpings of the make-your-own
sundae table.
Epsom Summer Reading participants enjoy
helping musician Steve Blunt with the motions
to the alligator song.
Are We Looking For You?
We are if you were in the Class of 1959 at Pittsfield
High School! It has been 50 years since some of us have
seen each other.
A group is forming to plan for our big 50th Class
reunion. If you would like to join this group, come to
the Pittsfield Community Center on Main Street (the old
Town Hall) on September 24th at 7:00 p.m. Hope to see
you there.
Ivy Green Rebekah Lodge #36 is hosting a Family Game
Night for all ages at the Odd Fellows Hall on Short
Falls Road, Saturday, September 13th from 6:30-9:30 pm.
There will be a mystery auction, and baked goods for
sale. Snacks and drinks will be available. Plan to come
and join the fun and bring your favorite game! For info
call Vickie at 736-4707.
Jessica Farley, daughter of Pembroke resident Robert
Farley, was named to the Dean’s List at Ithaca
College’s, Ithaca, N.Y., School of Health Sciences and
Human Performance for the spring 2008 term. To qualify
for this academic honor, students must attain a minimum
grade point average of 3.5 and complete a minimum of 15
credit hours, of which at least 12 are graded. A grade
of D or F or an incomplete in a course automatically
disqualifies a student from the dean’s list, regardless
of the overall GPA attained that semester.
Letter
Some Just Don’t Get It!
I can’t imagine what made me think of this experience
which occurred in September of 1967 while walking south
on North Main St. from my office intending to take a
coffee break at what was the old J.C. Penny store. As I
neared the entrance, I observed two middle age people
walking north. One, a female, was carrying a rather
large note book. The other, a male, was supporting a
very large video camera on his right shoulder. For some
reason I observed the two increase their walking speed
to almost double time. At a point when the distance
between us was 5-6 feet, the female asked if I would
take a minute to answer a few questions. I agreed. The
first question was: -Are you a Democrat or Republican?
The camera zoomed in a bit closer. My response was that
I was a Christian which prompted the female to notify me
that I misunderstood the question. I responded, with a
smile, informing her that she without question, had
misunderstood the answer.
Jim Breagy
Epsom, NH
Concord/Epsom Elks Lodge 1210
Country Jamboree & Chicken Barbeque to Help Tornado
Victims
The Concord Epsom Elks Lodge 1210 is sponsoring a
Country Jamboree & Chicken Barbeque to benefit our
neighbors in the towns of Barnstead, Deerfield, Epsom,
Northwood and Pittsfield.
The event will be held on Saturday, September 20, 2008,
from 3 p.m. until midnight at The Concord/Epsom Elks
Lodge, 1210 Old Mill Rd., Epsom, NH 03234 (Formally the
Old Mill Restaurant on Route 28).
This is a 21+ event with a cash bar. Tickets are $10.00.
There will be raffles, door prizes and surprises.
If you or your business would like to volunteer, make a
donation for prizes, make a monetary donation or help in
any way, please contact Kenneth Rudolph at the
Concord/Epsom Elks Lodge 1210 at 603-736-8941.
Concord/Epsom Elks Lodge 1210, a nonprofit organization
that will serve the people and communities through
benevolent programs, demonstrating that Elks Care and
Elks Share.
Epsom Police Notes
The following is a summary of calls made by the Epsom
Police Department for August 18-31, 2008. It is compiled
from information provided by the Department.
Complaints Included: Civil, 10; Juvenile, 2; Suspicious
Activity, 5; Animal, 6; Motor Vehicle, 10; Phone
Harassment, 2; Noise, 1.
Assists Included: Agency With Service Of Paperwork, 2;
Fire Department, 2; Subject With Well Being Checks, 2;
Suspicious Vehicle, 1; Rescue Squad, 6; Agency With
Investigation, 8; Agency With Arrest, 3; Other PDs, 2;
Disabled Motorists, 5.
Responses Included: Alarm Activations, 7; Suspicious
Activity, 1; Missing Person, 1; Accidents, 2; Domestic,
1.
Reports Included: Burglary, 1; Theft Of Vehicle Parts,
1.
Checks Included: Abandoned 911 Calls, 3; Suspicious
Vehicles, 3; Suspicious Activities, 4; Suspicious
Subjects, 5; Abandoned Vehicles, 2; Road Hazards, 2;
Noise, 2.
There were 3 Arrests.
Epsom Historical Society
Each year the Epsom Historical Association offers
special events free to the public. On Sunday, Sept.21,
2008, join the Historical Association in a salute to the
“Live Free or Die” American Hero, General John Stark.
Richard Wright, a member of the NH Society of the Sons
of the American Revolution who has received accolades
for his presentations of NH’s legendary John Stark, will
be entertaining us with his impersonation of General
John Stark. The special event will be held at the
historic Old Epsom Town Hall located on Rte 4 in Epsom.
The presentation will begin at 2 p.m. and will offer
everyone the opportunity to become more familiar with
the man whose words were adopted as our State Motto. For
further information, please contact the Epsom Historical
Association at 736-4571 or email
[email protected]. Also check out our fabulous
web site,
www.epsomhistory.com and consider becoming a member
of the Historical Association. The Epsom Historical
Association Museum is located at the old Epsom Public
Library and is open Wednesdays 7-9 p.m. and Saturdays
from 9-noon.
Are You A Bear Or A Bobcat? What’s Your Carbon Paw
Print?
Submitted By
Eric Orff, Epsom
I have been a life-long hunter, fisherman and
conservationist. As a conservationist I believe in
treading lightly on this earth as I believe most hunters
and anglers believe. And this is nothing new, as
sportsmen, like me, have been in the forefront to
protect and conserve fish and wildlife for a century.
Just as importantly we have protected the habitats that
supports these species. The shores along our rivers and
lakes help keep the waters clean and the forests that
serve as wildlife habitat also help keep our air clean
and remove tons of carbon from the air and replenish our
oxygen supply.
We sportsmen, by nature, are constantly concerned with
our environment and have been for decades. Thanks to our
efforts and funding through license fees and federal
taxes, which we called for, fish and wildlife numbers in
New Hampshire are at levels not seen in over 100 years.
Deer numbers at 80,000 are twice what they were 40 years
ago. Moose numbers are up ten times from fewer than 500
fifty years ago to over 5,000 today. And bear numbers
are up four times from 1,200 bears in the mid 1980’s to
5,000 today. And turkeys went from zero to over 35,000!
And we have helped to permanently protect tens of
thousands of acres across the state not only at the
state level but more importantly at town levels by
pushing for and supporting local conservation issues.
As sportsmen we know how important it is not to squander
these resources and how important it is for us to pass
this wonderful heritage on to our children and
grandchildren. After-all it was this nation’s hunters
and anglers who first pushed for laws and regulations
that helped to protect and restore this natural
heritage. We disdain those within our ranks who may be
game hogs, or worse yet poachers. And it is our license
fees that support the law enforcement efforts needed to
curb such activities.
But what about your carbon foot print? Are you a bear
whose gluttonist behavior would drain every bit of
energy it can from the environment? Bears feed
ravenously just before going into their winter dens
eating over 10,000 calories a day if they can find it.
Of course bears then use up zero calories from the
environment when denned. But I see plenty of people who
gobble up the energy around me year round. To me they
are just squandering our natural resources as did the
market hunters with game a hundred years ago. We need a
conservation shift with energy similar to the awakening
brought on by the sportsmen conservationists like me a
hundred years ago.
I think of myself as more like a bobcat when it comes to
using energy. I use only what is needed to go about my
daily life conserving energy constantly. This is
something I have naturally done for decades; it is not
some new fad for me. For instance when I bought my house
in 1979 I chose a house under construction that had six
inches of insulation in the walls and a foot in the
attic. Even then I added storm windows and doors all
around the house to further conserve energy.
But here are some of the steps I have taken over the
last five or six years to further reduce my carbon foot
print. While my house was well insulated by today’s
standards with a foot in my attic, I spent a few cool
evenings and a couple hundred dollars doubling the
insulation in my attic. Plus I insulated the floor
joists in my cellar, the cellar walls and even the duct
work carrying the hot air from my furnace. Since I
started this process I have cut the amount of fuel I use
by over half. Oh yes my hot water tank has a nice added
blanket of insulation as well and is kept at just the
right temperature for our household.
I have recycled for decades. While I see many of my
neighbors who have a private company pick up three and
four barrels of trash per week, I separate all my trash
and take it to the local recycling center every couple
of weeks. I know I am recycling upwards of 90 percent by
weight of my trash. Not only that but I personally
collect and recycle over a ton and a half of aluminum
cans each year for the Friends of the Suncook River
supporting this organization with over $1,500 a year
from this program.
All my outside lights as well as my garage lights are on
automatic sensors. These lights only come on when needed
and shut off a few minutes later when activity has
stopped. I drive light too, driving a four cylinder
pickup. And I converted nearly all my lights to compact
fluorescent or regular florescent ones several years
ago. And most of the year you will see our family’s
laundry hanging out in back of the house to dry.
Within the past three year I replaced my original worn
and drafty outside doors with thicker much tighter
fitting ones. And this summer I began to replace my
thirty year old windows with high efficiency ones. And
three years ago I installed a gas stove in my living
room. Now my furnace thermostat is set much lower and I
heat only the rooms we are currently using each winter’s
evening. The unused rooms, such as the spare bedroom,
have been shut off and are heated only when used.
As a sportsmen and conservationist I am constantly
searching for ways to curb my energy use. After all it
was this nation’s hunters and anglers who drove the
culture shift that brought about the abundant fish and
wildlife and pristine habitats common today. I believe
through our conservation ethics we can lead this nation
into a better energy future. We can lead by example in
reducing our energy needs. We can continue to protect
pristine environments, such as the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge, by curbing our energy uses. We can
leave our children a better place to raise their
children and pass on the heritage of hunting, fishing
and conservation. We need to be bobcats.
Alternative Therapy Services Provided to Epsom Health
Care Staff
Shannon Nickerson, Licensed Massage Therapist of
Chichester Massage, gives a massage to a staff member of
Epsom Health Care Center. |
Last week, staff members at Epsom Health Care Center
were given the opportunity to participate in free
alternative therapy services in order to experience for
themselves the benefit of such services, particularly
for patients at the end of life.
Services were provided by the Concord Regional Visiting
Nurse Association Hospice Program. Concord Regional VNA
provides hospice nurses and licensed nursing assistants
to many area nursing homes to assist them in caring for
patients as they near the end of life.
Alternative therapies add comfort at the end of life,
particularly when provided in a peaceful, spa-like room.
By providing these services to caregivers, they are able
to experience for themselves the physical and spiritual
benefits a patient might feel from such therapies.
Last week, 14 staff members received free massage
therapy by Licensed Massage Therapists Shannon
Nickerson, LMT and Kaitlyn Messier, LMT from Chichester
Massage.
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Obituaries
Donna E. Davie
Epsom - Donna E. Davie, 72, of Heartland Place, died Sunday,
Aug. 31, 2008, at Concord Hospital.
Born on May 30, 1936, in Newburyport, Mass., Donna was the
daughter of William and Ida (Welch) Davie.
Because her father was career military, Donna spent much of her
life on Army posts all over the world. But no matter where she
lived, Donna was proud to claim the Boston Red Sox as her
favorite team. She and her parents retired to Epsom in 1972.
Predeceased by her father in 1991, and her mother in 2005, Donna
is survived only by cousins.
Prayer services were held at Still Oaks Funeral & Memorial
Home, Epsom on Thursday, September 4, 2008, with Rev. James
Young officiating.
Burial will be held at a later date at New Rye Cemetery in
Epsom.
Memorial donations may be made to the charity of one's choice.
For more information, log on to
www.petitfuneralhome.com
Priscilla (Schofield) Croft
Epsom - Priscilla (Schofield) Croft, 86, died Saturday, Aug.
30, 2008, at Epsom Manor Health Center following a long illness.
She was raised in Braintree, Mass., the daughter of Walter and
Mildred (Hall) Schofield.
She lived for many years in Norwood, Mass., where she was a
member and deaconess of the First Congregational Church of
Norwood.
She lived in Barnstead for 17 years and was an active member of
the American Legion Post 42 Auxiliary before moving to Epsom.
She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Clarence D. Croft
Jr. of Epsom, and members of her family include a son, Richard
Croft of Bellingham, Mass.; two daughters, Caroline M. Robinson
and Barbara A. Fisher, both of Deerfield; and 12 grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at thePerkins & Pollard Funeral Home
Wednesday, September 3, 2008. The Rev. Tim Patterson, elder of
Epsom Bible Church, officiated.
Burial and committal services were also held Wednesday,
September 3, 2008, at Blue Hills Cemetery in Braintree, Mass.
Memorial donations may be made to American Legion Post 42
Auxiliary, c/o Carol Tiede, 342 S. Barnstead Road, Center
Barnstead 03225.
Mildred Simons
Epsom - Mildred E. (Dudley) Simons, 89, died Monday, Sept.
1, 2008.
Born in Acworth on Feb. 16, 1919, Mrs. Simons was the daughter
of Gale and Emma (Woodard) Dudley.
She lived for many years in both Loudon and Hooksett before
retiring to Epsom in 1997.
Mrs. Simons had worked for 28 years for the State of New
Hampshire as a clerk for a variety of departments.
After her retirement she enjoyed volunteer work at the
Manchester Library and had more leisure time to travel with her
family, read and plant her flower garden.
She was the widow of Harold Simons, who died in 1984, and to
whom she had been married 43 years.
She leaves two sons, Ronald J. Dulude of Abilene, Texas, and
Richard "Joe" Simons and his wife, Carol, of Adams, Ore., and
formerly of Hooksett; five grandchildren, Susan, JoAnne, Gary,
Debbie and Linda; four great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law,
Betty Dudley of Groton, Vt.; and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside services were held privately at Martin's Ferry
Cemetery in Hooksett.
Petit Funeral Home in Pembroke was in charge of arrangements.
John A. LaFreniere, Jr.
John
A. LaFreniere, Jr., 56, of Epsom died September 5, 2008, at his
home after a long and valiant battle with cancer.
John was born in Concord to John A. and Barbara (Loomis)
LaFreniere.
Family members include his wife of 13 years, Kimberly (LaFleur)
LaFreniere of Epsom; his father, John, Sr. of Jaffrey; daughter,
Angie MacIntyre of Hillsborough; son, Andrew of Port Richey,
Florida; and stepdaughter, Shelly French of Hillsborough;
grandchildren, Gabrielle MacIntyre, Monica MacIntyre, Dameon
Wilette, Isaiah Wilette, Jacob Wilette, Cody and Nathan French;
brothers, Bruce of New Ipswich and Charles of Jaffrey; three
nieces and five nephews; one grandniece; and two grandnephews.
He is predeceased by his mother, Barbara and sister, Sharon
Murphy of Fitzwilliam, NH.
In his younger years, John worked at D.D. Bean in Jaffrey and
Peterborough Basket Co. After his move to the Epsom area he
continued his working career for Sam Cooper & Sons of Concord;
Seal Tech in Londonderry and G & S Odd Jobs of Gilmanton.
He enjoyed his trips and adventures with Kim in the Shelburne
area along with his exploration of Antique Car Shows and the
many fairs in New Hampshire. He enjoyed visiting with his family
and friends. He was a quiet man with a deep love of family.
Following cremation, a gathering will be held at the family home
in Epsom to share memories of John’s life on September 14, 2008,
at 2 p.m.
Phaneuf Funeral Home, Manchester-Cremation Society of New
Hampshire is in charge of arrangements.
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