Those Celebrating Birthdays are: January 18, David Fogg,
Tasha Giuda; January 20, Mark Riel; January 21, Tanya Hunt-Bravo,
Kaili Riel; January 23, Joshua Bisson; January 24, Therese
Riel.
A Very Happy Birthday To One and All!
The Circle of Home and Family group would like to invite the public
to an introductory class on R.A.D. system (rape, aggression,
defense) for women on January 26th, 6-9 pm at the Pittsfield
Community Center, lower level. This introductory class, taught by
Deputy Michelle Clarke of Merrimack County Sheriff’s Office, is
being offered to teach women how to defend themselves against
aggression. Refreshments will be served.
Please RSVP to Deb Godin at 620-8690.
School Lunch Menus
January 23-27, 2012
PES
Monday
Spanish Cuisine
Beef tacos, Spanish rice, sweet corn, fresh assorted fruit
Tuesday
The Roastery
Baked rotisserie chicken, roasted winter vegetables, mashed
potatoes, honey wheat roll, pears
Wednesday
Northern Italy
Baked beefy mac, garlic wheat roll, Caesar salad, fruit crisp
Thursday
Diner Days
Chicken patty sandwich, oven fries, green peas, jellied cranberries,
chunky applesauce
Friday
Fresh Picks Pizza
Cheese pizza or chef’s topping, veggie sticks/dip, raisins
PMHS
Monday
Spanish Cuisine
Twin beef tacos with the works, Spanish rice, sweet corn, fresh
assorted fruit
Tuesday
The Roastery
Baked rotisserie chicken, roasted winter vegetables, smashed
potatoes, honey wheat roll, cranberry sauce
Wednesday
Northern Italy
Baked beefy mac, garlic wheat roll, Caesar salad, fruit crisp
Thursday
Winter Warmer
Turkey pot pie with biscuit topping, mashed sweet potatoes, sweet
green peas, wheat roll, warmed spiced peaches
Friday
Singapore Sweet!
Sweet and sour pork, vegetable lo mein, spicy green beans, fruit
cocktail
American Legion
Peterson – Cram Post 75
Merrill A. Vaughan, Commander
The American Legion Peterson-Cram Post 75 withheld the first draw of
their monthly raffle drawing and will do a "double draw" of tickets
until the February 5, 2012 meeting. The reason for the non-draw was
that there are some members that have not turned in their tickets
numbers. Now, with the delay, the Post is opening the tickets to the
public. We do have authorization to do this so if you are interested
in obtaining tickets, contact the Post Commander, Merrill Vaughan at
his home phone (435-5207) or his cell phone (344-0264) before
January 24th.
Each ticket donation is $10.00 and a chance to win up to $105.00
each month; the odds of winning depend on the total number of
tickets sold. The one ticket is good for all 12 drawings (monthly
Post meetings). The donations raised are used to support the
American Legion Post’s activities in the community (such as Memorial
Day and Veterans Day activities and providing a scholarship to a
graduating senior from Pittsfield Middle High School); and our
normal operating expenses.
Again, you can contact the Post Commander Merrill Vaughan at his
home phone (435-5207) or his cell phone (344-0264) before January
24th for tickets and information on joining the Post.
Dependency and
Indemnity
Compensation (DIC) Part 1
American Legion
Peterson – Cram Post 75
Merrill Vaughan,
Commander
The following information is provided by John Mullally, Service
Officer of the NEPVA Chapter in the November 2011 edition of Cord
Word. In this issue, he discussed the issue of a benefits for
surviving spouses, dependent children and [in some cases] dependent
parents of deceased veterans. One of these benefits is Dependency
and Indemnity Compensation, or more commonly known as DIC.
DIC is a monthly benefit paid to eligible survivors of a: military
service member who died while on active duty, active duty for
training or inactive duty training; or a veteran whose death
resulted from a service-related injury or disease; or a
veteran whose death resulted from a non service-related injury or
disease, and who was receiving, or was entitled to receive, VA
Compensation for service-connected disability that was rated as
totally disabling, for at least 10 years immediately before death or
since the veteran’s release from active duty and for at least five
years immediately preceding death; or for at least one year
before death if the veterans was a former prisoner of war who died
after September 30, 1999.
To be eligible for DIC as a spouse you must meet one of the
following conditions: 1) have validly married the veteran before
January 1, 1957 or 2) were married to a service member who died on
active duty or 3) married the veteran with 15 years of discharge
from the period of military service which the disease or injury that
caused the veteran’s death began or was aggravated or 4) were
married to the veteran for at least one year or 5) had a child with
the veteran and cohabitated with the veteran continuously
until the veteran’s death or, if separated, was not at fault for the
separation and is not currently married. Note: A surviving
spouse who remarries on or after December 16, 2033, and on or after
attaining age 57, is entitled to continue to receive DIC.
Next week will cover eligibility for surviving children special
allowances.
2011 Christmas Tree Lighting And Children’s Store
(Sponsored By The Greater Pittsfield
Chamber Of
Commerce)
Submitted By
Andi Riel
On Sat., Dec. 3, The Greater Pittsfield Chamber of Commerce kicked
off the Holiday Season by sponsoring the annual Children’s Store and
Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration.
The day started with the P.E.S. PTO sponsored Breakfast with Santa.
Many families enjoyed the delicious breakfast and visited with
Santa. The First Congregational Church hosted a craft fair during
the day too.
The much anticipated, Children’s Store was held at the P.E.S. Gym
from 9 – noon. The Store is for "kids only" to purchase new or
"nearly" new items, mostly priced at 50¢ each. The Store is open to
All Kids ages 16 and younger. Thanks to the tremendous help
of over 65 volunteers (acting as elves, gift wrappers, or crowd
control) close to 200 kids were able to shop for their families.
We are constantly collecting items for The Store all year long. We
desperately need gift bags and items for men. (Some items for
men are work and winter gloves, coffee cups, small tools,
flashlights, current calendars and baseball caps) Please keep us in
mind when you are doing your "after Christmas" shopping and cleaning
out!
The festivities moved to Dustin Park later in the afternoon. Many
Thanks to everyone who helped make the event a huge success.
Samantha and Stacy Locke provided horse and wagon rides, the Joyce
Family provided Holiday music, the Fire Department delivered Santa
via fire truck and he posed for free photos with all the kids. Bob
Legg took the photos and then they were posted on the town website
and could be downloaded. Thanks to Cassidy Kearns for providing the
face painting. PYW sponsored the annual Gingerbread House Display
and Raffle and hot soups and chili could be picked up inside too.
(Thanks to all the cooks who donated food!) Free hot cocoa, cookies,
popcorn and candy canes were provided (thanks to members of the Park
St. Baptist Church, Women of Rotary, CHF, 4-H Club, So. Pittsfield
Com. Club, the Police Department, American Legion and Lions Club).
Many thanks to the Pittsfield Youth Workshop and the Park St.
Baptist Church for allowing people to come inside and warm up. PYW
housed the pictures with Santa, the Gingerbread House display, face
painting, hot food items and decorated wreath contest. The Park St.
Baptist Church housed the cookies, cocoa and popcorn. Thanks to all
the helpers in the kitchen and to those that helped pass out the
treats too.
A decorated wreath contest was held and winner by popular vote was
(#3) Jessica Booth. She won a Holiday Gift Basket donated by Carolyn
Allhiser of Northway Bank.
The Blue Star Mothers joined the celebration, providing stars with
military member’s names to be added to the Tree. Thank you to Lea
Adams for organizing this wonderful tribute. The local brownie and
girl scout troops (thanks Danielle) led everyone in singing many
carols. Thank you to Carol Grainger and Jen Kearns who held Holiday
Story Time at the Josiah Carpenter Library. This was a new event
this year – look for it on the schedule again next year.
At 6 pm, we counted down and the Tree was lit. (Many Thanks to the
"official" tree lighting and decorating committee). Louie Houle,
Bill Provencal, Ed Vien, Dave Hartley, Mark Wallace, Mark Riel, Lea
and Steve Adams and Fuzz Freese string and test all the lights. The
Tree and Park looked very festive – Thank You!
This annual event takes many, many volunteers from local groups,
churches, town departments, family and friends. There are a lot
of things that happen behind the scenes – (especially for The
Store). I’d like to thank my husband, Mark Riel for helping with a
lot of that behind the scenes stuff! Thank you to All who
helped to make it a great day.
To learn more about the Greater Pittsfield Chamber of Commerce,
please visit our website at
www.pittsfieldchamber.org
or to volunteer to help next year or make arrangements for any
donations, call Andi Riel at 435-6346 or email
[email protected].
Happy New Year to all!
Free Income Tax Preparation Thru The Pittsfield Area Senior Center
Beginning January 31st appointments for Volunteer Income Tax
Assistance (VITA) will be available thru the Pittsfield Area Senior
Center. Tax preparation will take place on Tuesdays from 10:00 am to
1:00 pm, and evening sessions will be held on Wednesdays from 6:00
to 9:00 pm. Tax preparation will take place at the Pittsfield Youth
Workshop, located in the Masonic Hall on Park Street.
Taxpayers of all ages, with low and moderate incomes (not to include
the self employed) can work with IRS certified tax preparers who
will help you get all of the credits and deductions you are eligible
for—and with direct deposit, a refund can be in your bank account
within 14 days. VITA counselors will prepare and e-file your tax
return free of charge.
If you would like to sign up for an appointment please call the
Senior Center at 435-8482. It’s your money, file for it and keep it!
Suncook Valley Chorale
The Suncook Valley Chorale brings ‘Hallelujah and all that Jazz’ to
the First Congregational Church at 177 North Main Street Concord, NH
for Saturday, January 21st at 7 pm and Sunday, January 22nd at 3 pm.
Tickets are $15 for general admission and $12 for seniors and
students. Scott Lounsbury will be conducting accompanied by Connie
LaRosa at the piano. For more information please visit
www.svcnh.org
SVC will hold two non-audition, open sing nights for new and current
chorale members on Monday, January 30th and Monday, February 6th.
The auditions will start 7 pm at the Pleasant View Retirement Center
Theatre, 227 Pleasant Street, Concord. This is a non-committal
opportunity for you to try us out.
Letter To The Editor
To the good citizens of Pittsfield:
Some people play softball, some people watch football. I, on the
other hand, play politics and go to selectmen meetings and Planning
Board public hearings for my entertainment.
The real big meeting is February 1, 2012. The public hearing on the
proposed budget. At 7:00 pm at the Pittsfield Middle High School
Lecture Hall. This is where the political season starts in
Pittsfield.
We are about to make some big changes in Pittsfield. I feel there
needs to be a three pronged approach: 1) Reduce the tax rate of
$30.66 per thousand. We will start this process at the public
hearing on the budget. 2) Reassess the town. We are screwing many
people when they try to sell their home with a high assessment and a
high tax rate. Give these people justice; Article 38 of the NH
Constitution. 3) Improve our education system while reducing costs.
Maybe consolidate two schools into one.
Folks this is 2012; everyone step it up a notch. Get to this
meeting. I wasn’t planning on doing this all alone.
Dan Schroth Piermarocchi
Letter To The Editor
Dear Pittsfield citizens:
In regards to Proposed Amendment No. 3, I have attended three public
hearings and one work session with department heads. After all
public input and discussion, the majority of the public was against
Proposed Amendment No. 3.
At the third public hearing, January 5, 2012, the Planning Board
took a vote on Proposed Amendment No. 3 and voted against it,
defeating it. I believe this was good judgment on the Board’s part.
Before I left the public hearing I asked the Board if this meant it
would not be on the ballot. I was informed by the board that it was
over and would not be on the ballot.
Much to my surprise, four days later, I was told that the Planning
Board was having an emergency meeting to change one member’s vote.
The Board tried to hold this meeting January 12, 2012, which was
deemed illegal and ceased.
This same type of zoning amendment to define frontage for Class V
roads or better has been on the ballot I believe three times in the
last eight years.
I would think that this board should stand behind their vote on
January 5, 2012 and the majority of the voters the last three times
it has been on the ballot! I have the tapes.
Concerned Taxpayer
Matt St. George
Lester Baker, Pro-Point Restoration, LLC, was the program for the
January 11 meeting of the Pittsfield Rotary Club. The guest of Stan
Bailey, Mr. Baker told of his company’s plans for the Union Block in
Pittsfield. The motto of Pro-Point Restoration, LLC, is "Preserving
Our Past, Rebuilding Our Future" and Mr. Baker’s vision for the
Union Block holds much promise for Pittsfield’s future.
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