Pittsfield Food Pantry Serves Spaghetti Dinner
The Pittsfield Food Pantry is holding a spaghetti and meatball
dinner and bake sale to benefit its outreach to the community. All
ages will enjoy the tasty meal of spaghetti and meatballs, salad,
dessert (including homemade pies), and beverages, which will be
served at the First Congregational Church, 24 Main Street,
Pittsfield, Saturday, February 21, 5-7 p.m.
A monetary donation is requested. Baked goods will also be offered
for sale. Parking and wheelchair accessible entry located at back of
church. For more information, contact the Food Pantry at 435-6773.
Counting Every Veteran On The
Way To Ending Homelessness
VA Leaders Join Community Partners And Volunteers In Nation-wide
Homeless Count
Submitted By Merrill Vaughan,Chaplain
American Legion Peterson-Cram Post 75
Pittsfield
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald is taking a
firsthand look at the issue of homelessness among Veterans by
participating in this year’s Point-in-Time (PIT) Count in Los
Angeles, California. The PIT Count typically takes place in
locations around the country during the month of January.
Secretary McDonald remains committed to the goal of eliminating
Veteran homelessness. The January 2014 PIT Count revealed that
49,993 Veterans were homeless on a single night representing a
33-percent decline in homelessness among Veterans since 2010. In FY
2014 alone, through VA’s various homeless programs, more than 72,000
Veterans and their family members were placed in permanent housing
or prevented from becoming homeless.
“There is no question that the goal to end Veteran homelessness is
within reach, and we remain laser-focused on it,” said Secretary
McDonald. “Ending Veteran homelessness in America is more than
hitting a number, it’s about helping communities put a system in
place that can house every Veteran experiencing homelessness today
and prevent it in the future. I am so heartened that over 440
mayors, governors, county executives and other local officials have
joined us and are committed to ending Veteran homelessness in their
communities. We will continue our work until all Veterans have a
place to call home.”
By estimating the number of homeless Veterans, the PIT Count gauges
progress in achieving President Obama and VA’s goal of ending
Veteran homelessness by the end of 2015. Annual data from the PIT
Count also assists VA staff and partner agencies in targeting
homeless resources where they are needed most.
VA has a wide range of programs that prevent and end homelessness
among Veterans, including health care, housing solutions, job
training and education. Also since 2010 there has been nearly
43-percent reduction in unsheltered homeless Veterans.
As part of VA’s continued commitment to ending Veteran homelessness,
Secretary McDonald, has directed his senior VA leaders to take part
in this year’s count in cities across the United States and learn
how the organizations they lead can continue to support VA’s efforts
to end Veteran homelessness. Twenty senior VA leaders will
participate in PIT counts everywhere from New York to California to
places in between.
The PIT Count is led by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) each year to estimate the number of Americans,
including Veterans, who are homeless.
As a result of VA’s work with HUD, as well as the United States
Interagency Council on Homelessness and other federal, state and
local partners, significant progress has been made since VA’s
initiative to end Veteran homelessness began in 2010.
More information about VA’s homeless programs is
available at
www.va.gov/homeless. Veterans who are
homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless should contact
their local VA Medical Center and ask to speak to a homeless
coordinator.
Master Plan Update
Submitted By Ralph Odell
The Master Plan Committee is actively discussing issues related to
the direction and growth of Pittsfield. A Town- Wide survey has been
completed and this is extremely helpful to see what you feel
Pittsfield should be like in the future. Your help is greatly
appreciated. The results can be obtained by looking at the Town
Web-Site.
The Master Plan is composed of several chapters. We have worked on
three: demographics, transportation, and housing. Drafts will soon
be available online and a public hearing is planned for the spring.
Demographics are based upon recent census data. Information related
to Pittsfield and surrounding towns is compiled and examined to see
how Pittsfield has changed and compares to other communities. Data
for the transportation chapter was compiled by Central New Hampshire
Regional Planning Commission and it identifies road conditions,
traffic counts, accidents etc. Housing provides obvious needs of the
residents as well as a general visual impression plus the base for
property taxes in Pittsfield. The committee has visited several
senior housing opportunities and is investigating housing trends.
The recent US census (2010) indicates that the number of senior
citizens is increasing.
Pittsfield Age
Distribution:
Age |
2000 |
2010 |
Change |
<5 |
269 |
272 |
3 |
5-19 |
843 |
782 |
-61 |
20-34 |
742 |
778 |
36 |
35-54 |
1277 |
1284 |
7 |
55-64 |
457 |
516 |
59 |
65+ |
354 |
474 |
120 |
NH Office of Energy and Planning 2010.
Recent publications indicate that by 2025 one in three homes in NH
will be occupied by a senior citizen. Pittsfield shows a trend
similar to other communities in the state.
If you are a senior citizen in town, have a family member or friend
who are senior citizens, are there changes that need to be made to
allow you to enjoy living in Pittsfield? Are there services,
activities, housing, or other needs that should be added or
expanded? Do you see this age distribution having an impact,
positive or negative in the Town and how?
We would like your help again. Please send along your thoughts to
our committee either by email-
[email protected] or send a
note to the committee c/o the Town Hall, 85 Main St.
VA Announces Single Regional Framework
Under MyVA Initiative
Internal Organizations to Realign Their Existing Structures
Submitted By Merrill Vaughan,Chaplain
American Legion Peterson-Cram Post 75
Pittsfield
Washington – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced
that it is taking the first steps under the MyVA initiative to
realign its many organizational maps into one map with five regions
to better serve Veterans.
The new regions under the MyVA alignment will allow VA to begin the
process of integrating disparate organizational boundaries into a
single regional framework to enhance internal coordination.
“We want every Veteran to have a seamless, integrated, and
responsive VA customer service experience every time. This regional
alignment is the first step in empowering Veterans to interact with
one VA – MyVA,” said Secretary Robert McDonald. “Ultimately, this
reform will improve the Veteran experience by enabling Veterans to
more easily navigate VA and access their earned care and benefits.”
VA’s new regional design utilizes state boundaries to divide the
country into five regions. Each organization within VA will begin
work to ensure their structures are aligned within this framework by
the end of June 2015.
Veterans are already seeing the impacts of changes made through the
MyVA initiative. For example, at the suggestion of VA employees, the
Department has made improvements to VA call center operations, to
allow call center agents to suspend or resume certain benefit
payments at the request of the Veteran, which eliminates additional
steps typically required of Veterans. Also at the suggestion of
employees, VA is working towards piloting improved signage in
certain facilities, to make sure Veterans know where they are going
and that directions are easy to follow.
Additional VA efforts are currently underway to define the next
steps to transform the Department into one that is more centered on
the Veteran.
Background on MyVA
Launched on September 2, 2014, MyVA is an initiative which will
reorient VA around Veteran needs and empower employees to assist
them in delivering excellent customer service to improve the Veteran
experience. It is the largest department-wide transformation in VA’s
history and will be a product of ideas and insights shared by
Veterans, employees, members of Congress, VSOs, and other
stakeholders.
The first phase of MyVA has included creating the task force and
building the team to support the mission and an organizational
change of this breadth. MyVA is focused on five areas of
improvement:
1) Improving the Veteran experience
2) Improving the employee experience so they can better serve
Veterans
3) Improving internal support services
4) Establishing a culture of continuous improvement, and
5) Enhancing strategic partnerships.
[ The Regional Map can be see at:
http://www.va.gov/opa/publications/docs/myva-5-regions-map.pdf ]
Drake Field Play Ground - Community Forum
A donation from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation has made it
possible for new playground equipment to be added to Drake Field.
The Drake Field Committee, which includes parents, coaches,
administrators, and School Board members, has taken the lead on this
project in collaboration with the School Board.
On February 5 at 5:45 PM the committee will share a brief
presentationin the media center (library) of PMHS with the School
Board that details the recommended contractor, location, and
equipment. Following the presentation the School Board will host a
public forum, during which community members will have the
opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback.
Barbershoppers Announce Singing Valentines
The Concord Coachmen Barbershop Chorus announces booking
opportunities for the 2015 “Singing Valentines” program. Several
quartets, members of the Concord Coachmen, have been perfecting
their harmony skills to deliver this ever popular Valentine’s Day
surprise.
This year, quartets will travel throughout the Concord and
Manchester area, pouring out sweet, tender love songs in close
harmony. The unforgettable memory needs to be booked ahead by the
donor, and will be delivered this year on Friday February 13th, for
Valentines Day! Although deliveries are often made to Sweethearts at
work, home or in local restaurants, families also enjoy surprising
mothers or favorite relatives particularly those alone or in nursing
homes. The popularity of the unique presentation makes it prudent to
book early.
Singing Valentines Chairman Lannie Wood anticipates another
successful year of “pleasing Sweethearts.” “Imagine,” Wood states:
“from out of the blue, four men dressed in quartet style, bearing a
beautiful rose appear at your Sweetheart’s home or workplace for
this great Valentine gift!”
Anyone wishing to book a quartet to sing to Your Valentine or
require more information should call: (603) 608-9768 Concord or
483-8295 Manchester.
Josiah Carpenter Library February Events
Preschool Story Hour February themes of Ground hog day, Valentines
and a Dr. Seuss birthday celebration and more! Thursdays with Mrs.
Grainger February 5, 12, 19 @ 10:00-11:00 in the Children’s room
Story snack & craft
Maker Program Explore the children’s room again! After school
program on Tuesdays February 3, 10, 24 @ 3:30 – 4:30.
Origami paper folding and Stamp Art
Eager Readers Young reader’s book club ages K-5th grade will read
books together; write reviews; have fun with book reports Thursdays
February 5, 12, 26 @ 4:00- 5:00 pm
Josiah Teen Book Worms Discussing “Guitar Notes by Mary Amato (2012)
Thursday February 5th between 7-8:30 pm at the library
Library Open House Tuesday February 17th 4-7 pm Revisit the
Children’s room and view a stunning display of 57 new Libri
Foundation grant children’s books, including 20 new math and science
books
Monday February 16th Library Closed in observance of President’s Day
Library Board of Trustees Meeting Tuesday, February 17th @ 7 pm
Friends of the Library meeting, Wednesday, February 18th @ 6:30 pm
Pittsfield Writer’s Circle Thursday, February 19th @ 7 pm
Read Meet & Talk Tuesday February 24th Join us for an exciting
discussion of “The Wives of Los Alamos” by TaraShea Nesbit (2014) at
the Pittsfield Senior Center @ 10:30- Noon. Stay for a leisurely
lunch served by the Community Action Program!
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