The Pittsfield Historical Society will hold its Annual Meeting on
January 14. It will be at 7:00 PM at the Society’s headquarters at
13 Elm St.
You are invited to a reception for graduates of PMHS on January 7,
2014 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. in the Pittsfield Middle High School Media
Center.
This will be a wonderful time to visit with your former students!!
What a great opportunity to talk with them about what they have
been doing since graduating from PMHS!
Light refreshments will be served.
The American Legion Peterson-Cram Post 75 will hold their first
meeting in 2014 on January 6, at 7:30 pm at the Post Home, 3 Loudon
Rd, Pittsfield. All members are urged to attend. This will be a
busy year for us so, come on out and get involved and be a part of
a great team. Some of the items on the are 1) upcoming
nominations of officers for (2014-2015, 2) our annual Memorial Day
Observance (held on Sunday, May 25), and 3) our ideas for new
fundraiser. If you are a veteran and want to join, or
you have any questions concerning the Peterson-Cram Post, contact
the Post Commander, Dan Ward at 603-496-0848.
VA To Expand Benefits For Traumatic Brain Injury
Adds Five Illnesses Related to Service-Connected TBI
Submitted By Merrill Vaughan, Past Commander, American Legion
Peterson-Cram Post 75
Some Veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) who are diagnosed
with any of five other ailments will have an easier path to receive
additional disability pay under new regulations developed by the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
The new regulation, which takes effect 30 days from today, impacts
some Veterans living with TBI who also have Parkinson’s disease,
certain types of dementia, depression, unprovoked seizures or
certain diseases of the hypothalamus and pituitary glands.
“We decide Veterans’ disability claims based on the best science
available,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “As
scientific knowledge advances, VA will expand its programs to ensure
Veterans receive the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve.”
This regulation stems from a report of the National Academy of
Sciences, Institute of Medicine (IOM) regarding the association
between TBI and the five diagnosable illnesses. The IOM report,
Gulf War and Health, Volume 7: Long-Term Consequences of Traumatic
Brain Injury, found “sufficient evidence” to link moderate or severe
levels of TBI with the five ailments.
The new regulations, printed in the Federal Register, say that if
certain Veterans with service-connected TBI also have one of the
five illnesses, then the second illness will also be considered as
service connected for the calculation of VA disability compensation.
Eligibility for expanded benefits will depend upon the severity of
the TBI and the time between the injury causing the TBI and the
onset of the second illness. However, Veterans can still file a
claim to establish direct service-connection for these ailments even
if they do not meet the time and severity standards in the new
regulation.
Veterans who have questions or who wish to file new
disability claims may use the eBenefits website, available at
www.eBenefits.va.gov/ebenefits.
Servicemembers who are within 180 days of discharge
may also file a pre-discharge claim for TBI online through the
VA-DoD eBenefits portal at
www.eBenefits.va.gov/ebenefits.
The published final rule will be available Dec. 17 at
http://www.regulations.gov.
Information about VA and DoD programs for brain
injury and related research is available at
www.dvbic.org.
Information about VA’s programs for Gulf War Veterans
is available at
www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/gulfwar/hazard...
Embrace The New Year At The Pittsfield Area Senior Center
One of the foundations of happiness is a full and independent life,
and on January 15th the Center has two wellness events to support
pleasurable and healthful living. Beginning at 9:00 am The Center
for Active Living and Healthy Community at Plymouth State University
will start conducting balance testing for people aged 65-79 years.
The testing is part of a community outreach research project, and
participants will learn about their personal balance skills.
Then, at 12:30pm the Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association
will present Making It a Little Easier: Resources to Maximize
Independence. Maintaining independence is important, and over time
daily tasks like walking, getting dressed or preparing food can be
more difficult. When this happens we are often faced with difficult
decisions. To help support thoughtful decisions, the Nurses’
Association will discuss resources to assist you in maximizing your
independence. Please call the senior center (435-8482) to make a
reservation for either (or both!) events.
The weekly art class with instructor Larry Frates will change its
day of the week to Monday at 12:30 pm starting January 6th.
Each class is conducted as a drawing or painting unit focusing on a
specific theme. Classes include a warm up exercise, a technique
demonstration and studio time. Tuition for each art class is $10.00
and includes materials.
On Tuesday January 21st, 10:00 AM to Noon, the Senior Center will
host a presentation about the Affordable Care Act (aka Obama care).
A Certified Marketplace Assister will explain how to apply for
health insurance through the new healthcare insurance exchange
systems. There will be a question and answer session, and a chance
to schedule appointments to receive individual assistance.
People who have Medicare are not affected by the Affordable Care
Act, but all other adults who do not currently have health insurance
are encouraged to attend this information gathering session.
The Josiah Carpenter Library and the Senior Center are sponsoring a
book club that will meet at the center on Tuesday January 28th at
10:30 AM. The club will discuss The Lobster Chronicles: Life on a
Very Small Island by Linda Greenlaw. This true story describes
Linda’s decision to move back home to a tiny Maine island after 17
years at sea. But, the lobsters refuse to crawl into the traps she
and her father have painstakingly set, fellow islanders draw her
into bizarre intrigues, and the eligible bachelors prove even more
elusive than the lobsters. Visit the Library or the
Senior Center to pick up a copy of the book, and then join us for
the discussion!
2013 Pittsfield Community Impact Awards!
Congratulations to all the nominees and awardees of the 2nd Annual
Community Impact Awards! It was a packed house for Awards Night at
The Scenic Theater on Thursday Dec. 19th, with a joyful post
ceremony celebration at Jitters Cafe. Thank you to all the people
who joined to celebrate- you all helped make this year’s Awards
Night such a special evening of celebration!
Community Impact Awards recognize individuals, groups and
organizations that have made a positive impact in Pittsfield in
2013. There were over 80 nominations received for the 15 categories-
a reminder of all the incredible people and incredible happenings in
the Pittsfield community!
This year’s finalists are:
Youth Group- Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD)
Community Event- Pittsfield Old Home Day, organized by the Old Home
Day Committee Business- Globe Manufacturing
Neighbor- Cheryl Brown
Coach- James Zensky
Local Civic Group- The Beautification Committee
Individual Student Grades K-5- Jillian Hurd
Individual Student Grades 6-8- Emily Thompson
Individual Student Grades 9-12- Colby Clark
Outstanding Individual- Ruth Strickhart
School Administrator- Dr. Sarah Rollins
Local Government Individual- Lenny Dean
PES Teacher or Staff Member- Kathy Mahanes
PMHS Teacher or Staff Member- Sarah Carri
Volunteer of the Year- Ted Mitchell
See photos from Awards Night, taken by Photographer
Bob Legg, at
http://boblegg.jalbum.net/Pittsfield%20Listens%202013/
A special thanks to everyone who helped make the 2nd Annual
Pittsfield Community Impact Awards such a success. To name a few:
Photographer Bob Legg; Jen Cole, Ross Morse, Deb Godin and Susan
Bradley of the Pittsfield Listens Steering Committee; Cassidy
Kearns, Beverly Drolet, Lori Tobi, Jeremy Everson and Jen Cole on
the Awards Night Committee to choose the finalists; The Pittsfield
Players for use of the Scenic Theater; Jitters Cafe for your fine
catering and sharing in your new space for the post awards ceremony
celebration; The Suncook Valley Sun, The Town Hall, Pittsfield
Middle High School, Pittsfield Post Office and Jack’s Pizza for
helping to advertise about Awards Night and distribute nomination
forms; and a big thank you to the Nellie Mae Education Foundation
for their generous support of Pittsfield Listens.
To learn more about Pittsfield Listens or to sign up
for the email list, go to
www.pittsfieldlistens.org,
facebook.com/pittsfieldlistens, or contact Molly at
[email protected] or
603-312-6980.
Loudon Center Freewill Baptist Church News
Please note our new service time as 9:30 am starting on Sunday,
January 5, 2014
Saturday, January 18, 2014 please join us for a potluck supper at 6
pm followed by a free concert at 7 pm by the Dump Run Band from
Gilmanton, NH. Please join us with your family and friends for a fun
filled evening for all ages!
Please mark your calendars for Monday January 20, 2014 at 7 pm for a
FREE public presentation on child/teen trafficking. A representative
of LOVE146 will be presenting on this very important topic. This is
happening right here in NH and everybody needs to be made aware.
Please share this date/time with everyone you know, including: law
enforcement, healthcare workers, educators, social workers, etc. A
freewill offering will be collected for LOVE146. Refreshments will
be served. For more information call Rev. Linda Overall at
603.875.5822 or Stephanie Gagne at 603.568.5080. You can also check
out LOVE146 online.
Making Music With Stitches Luncheon
Thursday, January 9th, 2014 • 11:30-1:30
Red Blazer Restaurant
Special Feature: Carrying the Word with you, with Katharyn Roper;
inspirational speaker: Jean Steber: Somewhere Over the Rainbow!
Reservations by January 6 • Cancellations required
Call Wendy 485-7446 or Barbara 798-5976
Sponsored by: Concord Christian Women’s Connection & Stonecroft
Ministries (non-profit)
www.Stonecroft.org
Letter
Thank you, Ray Duckler, for your positive column in last Monday’s
Concord Monitor. The Pittsfield Listens organization is really
making a difference in our community. Our strength in Pittsfield
comes from so many good people involved in so many organizations who
work for the betterment of our town.
We are blessed with our beautiful downtown, the river which is where
it all started, to the mountains, to the South and East where many
of us call home, and to the North, Upper City Road, which is a
beautiful drive, and for those residents, a beautiful place to live.
Pittsfield has good town government. The Selectmen meet frequently.
They face problems early and head on. We have good and experienced
Town employees. Either we pay them good or they enjoy serving the
good people of Pittsfield. I’d like to think it’s a combination of
both. Our school is changing for the better under the leadership of
John Freeman, superintendent.
I’m hopeful. Pittsfield is on its way up.
I’ve been thinking a lot about Cecile Marrini, a letter writer from
Epsom, who recently left us on our own. She will be missed. She
helped show me why would you just read the paper when you can help
write it?
Dan Schroth Piermarocchi
Obituaries
Wendell Farrar Bennett
Wendell Farrar Bennett, age 97, formerly of Pittsfield, NH, passed
away in Largo Florida on December 19, 2013.
He was born in Leominster, Mass, on September 23, 1916, the son of
Albert G. and Hattie (Farrar) Bennett.
Mr. Bennett was a graduate of Sanborn Seminary in Kingston, NH, and
the University of NH Class of 1938. Mr. Bennett was a Company
Commander of the 342nd Black Hawk Infantry Division serving in the
European Theatre during WWII and retiring from the Army as a Lt.
Col.
Mr. Bennett was an educator all of his life, teaching science in
Southboro, MA, Milton, MA, head of the science department in Natick,
MA, and K-12 in Wayland, MA.
Prior to his retirement to Florida, he and his wife resided on
Boar’s Head, Hampton Beach and Pittsfield, NH.
Mr. Bennett was a Mason and member of the Meridian Lodge in Natick,
MA. He was also a member of the Shrine Temple in Sarasota, FL.
Mr. Bennett was predeceased by his infant son Wendell Farrar Bennett
Jr., his wife of 50 years, Beatrice (Goldthwaite) Bennett, daughter
Constance (Connie) Wolfe, and great grandson, Matthew Ward.
He is survived by his loving wife of 24 years Cleo (Reynolds)
Bennett, of Largo FL, a daughter June Valentyn of Pittsfield, NH, a
sister Barbara Balaska of Bradenton, FL, 10 grandchildren, 30 great
grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren.
A celebration of Mr. Bennett’s life will be planned for the spring.
Memory donations may be made to the Sun Coast Hospice foundation,
5771 Roosevelt Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33760 in memory of Wendell
Bennett.
Arthur David Doucette, Sr.
Arthur David Doucette, Sr. 49, of Pittsfield, died suddenly on
Thursday, December 19, 2013. He was born on March 18, 1964 a son of
Donald D. and Sylvia A Doucette. He attended Pittsfield schools.
He was employed by Weaver Brothers Construction for over 21 years.
He enjoyed motorcycles, hunting, fishing, snowmobiles, mud-trucking,
4 wheeling and cooking.
He was predeceased by his father, Donald D. Doucette.
He is survived by a son, Arthur David Doucette, Jr.; 2 daughters,
Shana Marie Woods and Ashlynn Rose Doucette; 2 step daughters, Lisa
Will and Yvonne Thrasher; a brother, Shawn Michael Doucette; 3
sisters, Doreen A. Wittenberg, Rita Janet Kiley and Donna Marie
Tiede; 3 grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Interment will be held at a later date in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American
Diabetes Assn, Manchester, NH Office, 249 Canal Street, Manchester,
NH 03101.
The Bennett Funeral Home of Concord is in charge of the
arrangements.
Messages of condolences may be offered at
bennettfuneral.com.
|
