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Pittsfield NH News

July 13, 2016

The Suncook Valley Sun News Archive is Maintained by Modern Concepts. We are NOT affliated in any way with the Suncook Valley Sun Newspaper.



 

REMINDER

 

The Pittsfield High School Class Of 1966 50th Class Reunion  will be held in the Pittsfield Congregational Church vestry on July 23rd from 3-6 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. If you can attend call Pete Riel at 603-269-8861.

 


 

HELP NEEDED for Pittsfield Old Home Day

 

Since our theme for Old Home Day is an Olympic one, “Pittsfield Goes for the Gold”, we would like to organize a TORCH RUN.  We need runners!  If anyone is interested in participating in this event on Sat, July 23, we would like to hear from you.  Details are still being worked out.  Please contact ANDI RIEL at 435-6346 or [email protected] to sign up.

 


 

Swim Lesson Sign-ups

Night lessons

July 11- July 22

Daytime Lessons

August 1- 12

Sign up daily in the concession stand.

 


 

Congratulations to Colby Clark, of Pittsfield, who has been named to the Spring 2016 Dean’s List at American International College. Dean’s List students are full-time students with a grade point average between 3.3 and 4.0.

 


 

Pittsfield Old Home Day - Sat, July 23

Dustin Park and Main Street

 

It will be here soon... mark your calendars.  The Old Home Day celebration will start on Friday night, July 22 with an outdoor movie (The Wizard of Oz) sponsored by the Suncook Valley Rotary Club at 8:30pm at Drake Field.  Movie is free - bring your own chairs and blankets.  Refreshments will be available for purchase.  Please note Main Street will be closed on Sat, July 23 from 8am - 2:30pm.

 

Start your day with breakfast at Park St. Baptist Church from 7-10am and then move over to St Stephen’s Church for their Silent Auction and more great food.  The Community Fair will start at 9am in Dustin Park - there will be kids games and crafts, face painter, crafters, community organization booths and music.  A ribbon cutting ceremony to “reopen” the renovated BANDSTAND will be held at 9am.  Be sure to check out the Pittsfield Historical Society - opens at 9:30am.  Jujubee the Clown, balloon artist will be on site at 10:30.

 

Back by popular demand, the CAR SHOW will take place on Main Street (on Saturday, July 23) from 9-12.  No entry fee and the first 60 cars will receive a $5 coupon- good for food purchases at Jitters, Park St. Baptist Church and St Stephen’s Church.  Bring your car and show it off.

 

Whoopie Pie Cookoff - sponsored by the Victory Workers 4-H Club - there is still time to sign up to enter your best batch of whoopie pies.  Bring them to Dustin Park by 9:30am and drop them off at the 4-H booth.  The public will taste and vote for their favorite and CASH prizes ($75, $50, 25) for the top 3 winners.  Call Andi Riel at 435-6346 to register.

 

KIDS OLYMPICS  - come at 10am and compete in the pie eating contest, water balloon toss, sack race, hurdles and some other fun events!!

 

The FANCY FOOTWORK JUMP ROPE TEAM  from Weare, NH will make an appearance at 11am and show us their jump rope tricks and talent.  They may even let people take a chance jump roping!  ....and....UNITED MARTIAL ARTS ACADEMY  will be on site with a Karate Demo.

 

Attention KIDS - get your bikes, wagons, scooters ready for your very own KIDS BIKE Parade at 12:15pm on Main Street.  Decorate your bike anyway you want and join the fun.  Our own Sgt Walter will lead the way on the Segway!

 

The BIG Parade will step off at 1pm sharp.  The theme of the parade is an Olympic one, “Pittsfield Goes For the Gold”.  The possibilities for a float are endless - there’s the Olympic rings; pick a favorite Olympic sport or athlete to spotlight, parade of flags, the Olympics are in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Cheer for USA - Let your imagination run wild and Call Louie Houle at 435-6938 to enter your float.

 

After the parade, the F.B. Argue Recreation Area (aka Town Pool) will be open for swimming and there will be a cookout (burgers and dogs available for purchase).  At Drake Field, the DUCK RACE will happen around 2:30pm - be sure to purchase a duck ($5/each or 3 for $10) by contacting Jay Darrah at 435-6701 or see any Boys Basketball team member.

 

NEW this year - GUNS & HOSES (Police vs Fire) Softball Game at 3pm at Drake Field.  Free admission and concession stand will be available.  Fireworks will end the day at Drake Field at Dusk - around 9:15pm.

 

For more information or if you have questions, or if you would like to help out that day, please contact Louie Houle at 435-6938 or Andi Riel at 435-6346 or [email protected].  We are always looking for suggestions for themes for next year... let us know your thoughts!

 


 

You may not know her by name but you may have a relative, a friend or a co-worker tell you about the nurse with the cap at Concord Hospital.  You might have had the pleasure of having her take care of you.  Her name is Paullette Chagnon of Pittsfield, NH.  She was surprised by her co-workers last month in a celebration of her 40 years of employment and then recognized at the Annual Concord Hospital Employee Recognition Banquet.  She began her career as a nurse’s aide in 1975 while in her Junior year at the then Concord Hospital School of Nursing.  Since her graduation in 1977, she has worked as a registered nurse on the same unit and yes, she has worn her cap the entire time.  Paullette is a caregiver at heart and being at the bedside caring for and comforting patients and their families is her greatest accomplishment.  Congratulations Paullette!

 


 

The U10 and U12 Suncook Valley All star teams won their district tournament and moved on to the state tournament.

 

U10 Coached by Stephen Beaulieu; Mike Goyette; and Ed Cassacio

 

U12 Coached by Chip Wagner; Gary Bedell, and John Daniels

 


 

VA Conducts Nation’s Largest Analysis of Veteran Suicide

Submitted Via Merrill Vaughan

 

WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has undertaken the most comprehensive analysis of Veteran suicide rates in the U.S., examining over 55 million Veteran records from 1979 to 2014 from every state in the nation. The effort extends VA’s knowledge from the previous report issued in 2010, which examined  three million  Veteran records from 20 states were available.  Based on the data from 2010, VA estimated the number of Veteran deaths by suicide averaged 22 per day.  The current analysis indicates that in 2014, an average of 20 Veterans a day died from suicide.

 

“One Veteran suicide is one too many, and this collaborative effort provides both updated and comprehensive data that allows us to make better informed decisions on how to prevent this national tragedy,” said VA Under Secretary for Health, Dr. David J. Shulkin. “We as a nation must focus on bringing the number of Veteran suicides to zero.”

 

The  final report will be publicly released later this month.  Key findings of the analysis will include:

 

65% of all Veterans who died from suicide in 2014 were 50 years of age or older.

 

Veterans accounted for 18% of all deaths from suicide among U.S. adults. This is a decrease from 22% in 2010.

 

Since 2001, U.S. adult civilian suicides increased 23%, while Veteran suicides increased 32% in the same time period.  After controlling for age and gender, this makes the risk of suicide 21% greater for Veterans.

 

Since 2001, the rate of suicide among US Veterans who use VA services increased by 8.8%, while the rate of suicide among Veterans who do not use VA services increased by 38.6%.

 

In the same time period, the rate of suicide among male Veterans who use VA services increased 11%, while the rate of suicide increased 35% among male Veterans who do not use VA services.

 

In the same time period, the rate of suicide among female Veterans who use VA services increased 4.6%, while the rate of suicide increased 98% among female Veterans who do not use VA services.

 

Please also see our Suicide Prevention Fact Sheet at the following link: http://www.va.gov/opa/publications/......

 

VA is aggressively undertaking a number of new measures to prevent suicide, including:

 

Ensuring same-day access for Veterans with urgent mental health needs at over 1,000 points of care by the end of calendar year 2016. In fiscal year 2015, more than 1.6 million Veterans received mental health treatment from VA, including at over 150 medical centers, 820 community-based outpatient clinics and  300 Vet Centers that provide readjustment counseling.  Veterans also enter VA health care through the Veterans Crisis Line, VA staff on college and university campuses, or other outreach points.

 

Using predictive modeling to determine which Veterans may be at highest risk of suicide, so providers can intervene early. Veterans in the top 0.1% of risk, who have a 43-fold increased risk of death from suicide within a month, can be identified before clinical signs of suicide are evident in order to save lives before a crisis occurs.

 

Expanding telemental health care by establishing four new regional telemental health hubs across the VA healthcare system.

 

Hiring over 60 new crisis intervention responders for the Veterans Crisis Line. Each responder receives intensive training on a wide variety of topics in crisis intervention, substance use disorders, screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment.

 

Building new collaborations between Veteran programs in VA and those working in community settings, such as Give an Hour, Psych Armor Institute, University of Michigan’s Peer Advisors for Veterans Education Program (PAVE), and the Cohen Veterans Network.

 

Creating stronger inter-agency (e.g. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Department of Defense, National Institutes of Health) and new public-private partnerships (e.g., Johnson & Johnson Healthcare System, Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation, Walgreen’s, and many more) focused on preventing suicide among Veterans.

 

Many of these efforts were catalyzed by VA’s February 2016 Preventing Veteran Suicide—A Call to Action summit, which focused on improving mental health care access for Veterans across the nation and increasing resources for the VA Suicide Prevention Program.

 

Suicide is an issue that affects all Americans.  Recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data reported in April 2016  that from 1999 through 2014 (the most recent year with data available from CDC), suicide rates increased 24 % in the general population for both males and females.

 

VA has implemented comprehensive, broad ranging suicide prevention initiatives, including a toll-free Veterans Crisis Line, placement of Suicide Prevention Coordinators at all VA Medical Centers and large outpatient facilities, and improvements in case management and tracking.  Immediate help is available at www.VeteransCrisisLine.net or by calling the Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 (press 1) or texting 838255.

 

For guidance on safe ways to communicate, please visit www.ReportingOnSuicide.Org

 


 

Letter

 

The  Pittsfield  Economic  Development  Committee  And  Board  Of  Selectmen  Would  Like  Your  Feedback!

 

At the July 5th Board of Selectmen (BOS) meeting the Economic Development Committee (EDC) recommended to members that the following goals and objectives be adopted as a community mission statement, to be  used as a general guideline when considering future enhancement projects to Pittsfield.

 

1. Tax Rate Stabilization

 

2. Economic Development

 

3. Town Image

 

4. Neighborhood Stabilization

 

5. In Accordance with the Master Plan, Town Codes & Regulations After much discussion, it was agreed that the mission statement be adjusted to state:

 

 Each Project Will Be Weighed on Its Own Merit in Accordance with the Master Plan, Town Codes & Regulations The EDC and BOS wants your feedback. If you would like to add your voice to the discussion please attend this gathering on July 19th, 7pm at the Town Hall.

 

Thank You,

Ted Mitchell, Chairman

Economic Development Committee

 


 

Wild Edibles With Naturalist Russ Cohen

 

Join published, local wild foods enthusiast, Russ Cohen, for an educational walk in the woods along the shore of Wild Goose Pond to learn about and identify wild, edible plants! The workshop will begin with an introduction that covers guidelines for safe and environmentally-responsible foraging. The walk takes place at Graylag Cabins, a beautiful property where 50-70 native medicinal and edible plants flourish! Pending favorable weather conditions, several species of edible mushrooms may be encountered as well.

 

The walk will be held on July 24th 2016, from 1-4pm at Graylag Cabins, 320 Clough Rd, Pittsfield, NH, 03263.

 


 

Statement By Secretary Of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald On The Commission On Care Report

Submitted Via Merrill Vaughan

 

WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald released the following statement on the Commission on Care final report.

 

The report is available here.

“On behalf of the Nation’s 22 million Veterans and the Department of Veterans Affairs, I thank the members of the Commission on Care for their hard work over the past year. The Commission has produced a wide-ranging set of recommendations on reforming the Veterans Health Administration, and VA looks forward to reviewing and considering these recommendations as we ensure that we remain true to our mission to serve and honor the men and women who are America’s Veterans.

 

“While we will examine the report closely over the coming weeks and respond in a more detailed fashion, I am pleased to see that many of their recommendations are in line with our MyVA efforts to transform the VA into a Veteran-centric organization. Necessary transformational progress has been under way for the past two years, increasing access to health care and improving the Veteran experience of VA. This past March, VA set a new record for completed appointments: 5.3 million inside VA, 730,000 more than in March 2014. We also issued twice as many authorizations for care in the community than in March 2014. Clinical workload is up 11 percent in the past two years. Nearly 97 percent of appointments are now completed within 30 days of the Veteran’s preferred date; 22 percent are same-day appointments; average wait times are five days for primary care, six days for specialty care, and two days for mental health care. Nearly 90 percent of Veterans surveyed say they are “satisfied or completely satisfied” with the timeliness of their appointments.

 

“However, until all Veterans say they are satisfied, I won’t be satisfied. Nobody at VA will be satisfied. But our progress so far proves that VA’s current leadership, direction, and momentum can produce the necessary transformation, as VA has already demonstrated in reducing the backlog of disability compensation claims by 90 percent since 2013.

 

“We know we can’t complete the job without help from our partners. For that reason, I look forward to continuing to work with Congress, Veteran advocates, and Veterans themselves to identify further ways to improve VA.

 

“There are some things that can be done right now to help us continue our progress. Congress must act on our proposals to consolidate our Community Care programs, modernize and reform the claims appeals process, and pass the bi-partisan Veterans First Act. The window of opportunity is closing fast, but if Congress acts before leaving town this month, 2016 will be the year the nation turned the corner for Veterans.

 

“In the meantime, as we review the recommendations of the Commission, we will continue to look for other ways to build on the progress we’ve made to date and ensure we are doing everything possible to faithfully serve those who have served this country.”

 


 

Pittsfield’s Old Home Day Bike Parade

Pittsfield’s Old Home Day Bike Parade is scheduled for Saturday, July 23 at 12:15.   All kids are encouraged to take part in the parade.  In honor of this year’s summer Olympics, this year’s Old Home Day Theme is “Pittsfield Goes for Gold”.  Simply deck out your bike, trike or wagon with an Olympic theme and join us on Main Street in front of Dustin’s Park.  There’s no cost to enter and you may just end up taking home a prize!  Hope to see you there!!

 


 

Josiah Carpenter Library Monthly News ~ July 2016

 

New Art Exhibit: “Photos by Nina” featuring a variety of interesting photos by local Ash Street group member Nina M Rados Josiah Teen Book Worms: Discussing “I am Princess “X” by Cherie Priest on Thursday, July 7th between 7-8:30 pm at the library SRP Preschool- 1st grade 10:00- 11:30 am July 7th – Fueling your engine – PES July 14 – Science & Math of Sports- Dustin Park July 21- Olympic Games- Dustin Park July 28- Games around the World – Dustin Park Aug 4- Extreme sports- Dustin Park SRP Parks & Recreation 2nd-6th grade 9:30-10:30 am July 20- Olympic Games July 27-Science of Sports-balancing August 3- Games around the world

 

SRP- Pittsfield Youth Workshop 5th- 12th grade 1-3 pm “Creating stories for the Web” July 13, 20, 27, Aug 3, 10

 

July 19th 12:30 pm 1,2,3 Cook “The Essential breakfast” cooking with quinoa at the Pittsfield Senior Center ~ a lively presentation on how to cook with the latest nutritional grain product; a complete protein without the cholesterol, high fats or guilty conscience! Join us for this new and fun filled adventure. Lunch is offered prior to the program for $2.00.

 

Mini Technology tutorials offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays by appointment. The library has Windows 7 installed on all its public access computers!

 

Library Board of Trustees Meeting -Wednesday, July 20th at 7 p.m. Closed session at 6:30 p.m.

 

Read Meet & Talk Join us for an exciting book discussion on “Circling the Sun” by Paula McLain The book club meets at the Pittsfield Senior Community Center Tuesday, July 26th at 10:30. Stay for a leisurely lunch afterward.

 


 

St Stephen’s Silent Auction And Sidewalk Café

 

St Stephen’s Silent Auction and Sidewalk Café is part of Pittsfield’s Old Home Day festivities.  Plan on lunch at our outdoor café featuring pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs and lots of yummy baked goods. We have an amazing collection of items this year including antique furniture, jewelry, vintage toys, doll house furniture, oil painting, quilts, home décor, pottery and so much more.  For example, we have a lovely Governor Winthrop mahogany secretary desk, a Windsor chair and a wooden shoe rack taken  from a Massachusetts shoe factory over a century ago! There’s something for everyone, so please stop in and place your bid either Friday night, July 22, 4-7 PM or Saturday, July 23,  8-2:30. Check out photos of silent auction items on our website www.ststephenspittsfieldnh.org.

 


 

The Friday Night Kayak Group meet  Friday July 1, 2016 with over a dozen kayaks paddling on the Suncook River and Big River in Center Barnstead. The group is open to everyone and meets at different local kayaking sites every Friday at 6 PM during June, July and August. The paddling trips last just over an hour and are always in the Northwood to Barnstead area. Simply show up at this week’s Friday night’s location. Visit our web site at huffnpuff.info for information and location of the next trip and put yourself on our email list. You can also call Paul Oman at 435 -7199 for more information.

 


 

Selectman’s Overview

Submitted By Carl Anderson

7 /5/16 Meeting

 

Department heads gave their monthly reports, nothing unexpected came up, which I’d say is a good thing. Certainly appears all deparments are running smoothly.

 

The Fire Chief has four potential ‘per diem’ employees that will help his efforts to keep overtime at a minimum. Two new firefighter volunteers were approved by the BOS. We strongly encourage anyone interested in volunteering for the Fire Dept to contact Chief Pszonowsky.

 

The EDC came to us with a list of goals and objectives they wanted formalized by the BOS. We suggested an additional item for the list, and while the goals all seem admirable, we feel the public should have an opportunity to express their feelings as well. This will happen in a forum situation.

 

While at the meeting, the EDC outlined a concept/project for town owned property on Main St. that they would like to undertake using funds set aside years ago for this type of endeavor. Additional funding would come from private individual(s) and grants.

 

The proposal sounds like a worthy cause with the potential for much good for Pittsfield. The BOS is, however, looking for absolute assurance that project funding will NOT be borne by the taxpayers. The EDC will confirm expected revenue and present those assurances to us. We look forward to their getting the project underway.

 

We closed on property at 11 Watson St., returning over $52,000 to the town coffer and getting the property back on the tax roll. Speaking of taxes, this year’s lien of unpaid taxes is DOWN over $131,000 from 2015, due in large part to strict adherence to the tax deeding process by the Select Board, Administration, and the Tax Collector.

 

Except in the most extreme hardships, we feel the fairest for all taxpayers is to hold all taxpayers accountable. This is not a particularly pleasant part of our jobs. The result, however, speaks for itself.

 

Public statements were made by Gerard, Carole and Carl with regards to misinformation and false accusations being circulated relative to the revised Access Policy for the Town Hall.

 

First, there has been restricted admittance to the Selectman’s office (administration) since 2007 when that BOS made it an offense to enter without permission.

 

Second, it was not this Board that installed the unwelcoming locked, bullet-proof door; it was in fact, the previous Board that spent the considerable sum it took to buy and install it. All we have done is dig out a clipboard and a pen so that all traffic in and out of the Selectman’s Office can be documented. This is extremely common practice throughout the private sector, and whereas we are asking our employees for more output with less staff, we must run the office more efficiently. It is also critical that sensitive documents be kept secure.

 

Lastly, it was also the previous BOS that approved the purchase of a surveillance system for the police department that could accommodate the town hall as well. We are simply putting that investment into actual use.

 

Most of all, the Board is NOT trying to intimidate the public and we are confident that your experience at the Town Hall will be an improvement over the past, despite the need for these additions.

 


 

Suncook Valley Area Lions Club donation of $300.00 presented to Ruth Strickhart  of the Pittsfield Food Pantry by Lions President Larry Williams and VP Ed Vien. If you would like to donate to the food Pantry please contact Ruth.

 


Obituaries


 

Ralph W Brewster

Ralph W Brewster, 93, passed away on the evening of June 28, 2016 at Exeter Hospital peacefully of natural causes. Ralph Brewster was born in Pittsfield NH on August 23 1922, the fourth son of Ralph and Ruthena Winifred (Cass) Brewster. Ralph attended local schools and during his senior year of high school was voted “Best Looking,” “Most Flirtatious,” and “Neatest.”

 

Ralph graduated from Pittsfield High School in 1940. In November 1949 he enlisted in the New Hampshire National Guard, becoming a member of the 197th Coast Artillery, the first and oldest anti-air craft unit in the United States Army. When the 197th  was called into Federal Service on September 16, 1940 he and his two brothers Carroll and Paul were sent to Camp Hulen in Palacio Texas for training. His specialty was a radar operator. He later qualified as a 2nd class gunner.

 

While in route to the Philippine Islands his ship, the Anthony Sawgraves, was torpedoed and he and all aboard were forced to swim 500 yards before being rescued by a British Freighter. Ralph was later discharged holding the rank of sergeant at Fort Devens Massachusetts on July 29, 1945. During his term he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense Service Medal and the Asiatic Pacific Theater Campaign Ribbon.

 

After leaving the Service he attended and graduated from the New Hampshire School of Accounting and Finance in Manchester. He was elected treasurer of his class in the fall of 1945. Subsequently he had a number of occupations involving real estate, sales and tax accounting and retail furniture sales.

 

On June 25, 1952 he married Joyce Herndon of Barnstead. The couple had five children; John D., Michael A., Carol A., Clinton D., and Christine M.

 

Ralph had been very interested in politics throughout his life. He was the town clerk 1948-51 and served as a member of the town budget committee during 1957-59. In 1961 he was a representative to the General Court and while there authored a bill related to eminent domain. That year he was elected to the Pittsfield School Board and served as its chairperson in 1962.

 

Ralph took up health studies and spent the later years working with the political community to shape health studies and services, consistently working to educate the general public on health matters and even corresponded with the political community, including presidents all the way from JFK to the GW Bush era.

 

Ralph is survived by his children (listed above) and his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

 

Services were held at the Pittsfield Congregational Church on Tuesday, July 12. Graveside services for family and friends followed at the Floral Park Cemetery in Pittsfield.

 

The Waters Funeral Home, David Pollard, Directors, are assisting the family with arrangements.

 


 


 

 











 

 

 

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