REMINDER
Please
Join Our
Masonic
Open House
Corinthian Lodge #82
Free &
Accepted Masons
Saturday, October 20
9:00 –
3:00
5 Park
Street, Pittsfield
Have
you ever wanted to know about Freemasonry or had a family member who
was part of the fraternity? Come and visit us to learn more –
all are welcome!
NH Senate and House of Representatives Candidates Forum
Epsom
Public Library
Sunday,
October 28th 2:00pm
Do you
live in Allenstown, Epsom or Pittsfield? Are you concerned
about our roads, schools and taxes? Come and talk with your NH
Senate and House Representative candidates. The decisions
they’ll make will impact all of us every day! The candidates
forum is sponsored by the Friends of the Epsom Public Library and
the Greater Pittsfield Chamber of Commerce.
Don't
miss the 2018 NH Opera Idol Competition presented by Piccola Opera
and Opera New Hampshire. Be a part of the excitement and watch
emerging professional singers compete for $7,000 in cash and prizes.
This is your chance to see the "opera stars of tomorrow" perform
some of opera's most beloved arias. The grand finals concert will be
presented at the Concord City Auditorium at 7:00pm on Saturday,
October 20th. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased at
piccolaopera.net
or operanh.org.
Cattle deserve a blessing
Submitted By Carole Soule
Leanor, a Sicilian donkey from Miles Smith Farm meets Thea at St.
Paul School.
Rev Richard Greenleaf blesses donkey, Eleanor, as Ryder, a
Scottish Highlander yearling, gets in the picture.
Ryder, a
yearling Scottish Highlander heifer from Miles Smith Farm-held by
student Celia, is blessed by the Rev. Richard Greenleaf at St.
Paul's School.
Ryder,
the Scottish Highlander yearling heifer, stands with Mary Bartwell
in front of a statue of St. Paul outside the school chapel.
The
blast of bagpipes cut through the morning mist in front of the 1840s
St. Paul School Chapel as Ryder, a yearling calf, waited to be
blessed as part of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. This was the
sixth year that Miles Smith Farm critters have been blessed by the
priests at St. Paul's School in Concord.
Raised
as a Christian Scientist, today I don't subscribe to any specific
religion, but I do enjoy the sacred music of Christianity whether
sung or played by a bagpiper. For me, “Amazing Grace” seemed
especially apt that morning through the coincidence of a Scottish
instrument serenading my shaggy Scottish Highlander calf.
But St.
Francis was Italian. Born in the 12th century, he became the
Christian Church's patron saint of animals and the environment. Each
October animals are blessed in his name at St. Paul's School (and
elsewhere).
Even
though I'm not Episcopalian, I feel that cattle deserve to be
blessed. They have made human existence so much more viable. For
centuries they pulled plows so that we could plant crops. They
produce the perfect fertilizer (in abundance!) to nourish those
crops. They replicate themselves by giving birth to calves, and they
supply protein to sustain human life.
But
cattle do more than provide meat and milk. Did you know that they
also yield raw material for other products? Hooves and horns are
used in wallpaper and shampoo; bones are used to create glass and
charcoal; hair is used in brushes and air filters; skin is used in
gelatin, emery boards and medicines; fat is used in chewing gum,
candles, ceramics, chalk and deodorant; and milk is in cosmetics and
adhesives. The list of products is long and includes vitamins,
crayons, and matches. Yes, instead of cursing the darkness, you can
light a match – and thank a cow!
Because
cattle make our lives better, both in life and death, I take every
opportunity to honor my livestock. Every year I take at least one
cow to be blessed at St. Paul's. Happily, cows don't have the
capacity to contemplate mortality or ruminate over the meaning of
life. But I know that each day of their lives is precious, and we
try to treat them accordingly.
Carole
Soule is co-owner of Miles Smith Farm, in Loudon, NH. She can be
reached at [email protected].
Letter
To The Editor
Select
Board Meeting 10/9/18
Dale
Frizzell was appointed to the Community Development Committee.
We went
over the 2019 budget proposals for the library, emergency
management, housing standards, conservation, elections and
registrations, financial administration and welfare. All are
coming in very close to level funded so maybe a little tweaking, but
I don’t see any huge battles at this point. These departments have
all been operating (and getting the job done) with minimal funding
already.
A few
things for residents to be aware of:
Sewer
lines are being checked October 16 and 17 using “smoke testing.”
If you see or smell smoke, check it out, but it could be the sink or
the stink pipe. The town website has more information.
First
Impressions Forum will be held at the PMHS media center October 17
from 6 to 9 PM. Join us to hear from Tilton and their thoughts
and suggestions of what others think of Pittsfield. Could be
interesting.
Housing
Standards is looking for a member who is not a town employee or
elected official and who DOES own rental property. Call HSA at
435-6773 ext. 21.
Doesn’t
sound like we did much, but we managed to stay busy until almost
10:30 PM.
Carl
Anderson
Public
School Funding Position Statements
Candidates for NH Senate District 17 (Allenstown, Chichester, Epsom,
Loudon , Pembroke, Pittsfield, Strafford, Deerfield, Northwood,
Nottingham, Raymond)
Senator
John Reagan (Republican) and candidate Chris Roundy (Democrat) have
submitted the following statements in response to questions from a
group of Pittsfield citizens concerned about statewide funding for
public education. Both Senator Reagan and Chris Roundy
provided additional information, which is posted on the Facebook
page Suncook Valley Supports Equity in Education.
Letter
I would
suggest the wrong question is being asked. The correct question: How
do we provide the best possible education for our children and for
each child? How do we best afford this education?
Your
first question concerns the adequacy payment amount from the
statewide education property tax. I am introducing a bill to
increase the adequacy amount $9,000 for every NH child attending a
NH public school. (The current amount is about $3,600.)
Secondly you ask how tax rates can be "fair" and equal. This is the
veiled attempt to create an income tax and greatly expand the size,
scope and functions of government. While it is an appealing idea to
equalize and treat everyone fairly we know it is impossible to
control local spending. Local control decides how much each
community devotes to whatever are their priorities.
The
proposed adequacy amount gives each classroom of 20 students
$180,000.00 to spend on that group of twenty students. When a
community adds to that level of spending they are controlling their
own tax rates.
Third,
when the stabilization reduction bill was proposed it was an
immediate return to zero dollars. The compromise was the 25 year
phase in of the reductions. This is a 4% reduction each year, not of
the school budget but of the smaller portion of the stabilization
amount.
Fourth
and last is an idea to change the state constitution. Perhaps
instead we should be looking at the way we teach our children and
how we can better prepare our students
My
vision for education is allowing many different places and methods
adapting to each individual child. Encouraging competition will see
many providers with parents deciding who can best prepare their
children. Organized teacher, and especially administrators
organizations will oppose competition. I wonder why.
Senator
John Reagan
Chair
of Senate Education Committee
Letter
To make
sure that New Hampshire updates its adequacy grants to realistic
levels, we must stop the planned cuts and establish an accurate
statewide cost of educating a student. We know it's more than
$3,636.
To make
school property tax rates fair and equal across the state, the first
step is to re-establish the Building Aid fund and use it to
incentivise regionalization of our smaller school districts.
Next would be to create a fund to reimburse towns under a certain
"equalized property valuation" level for the income they lose for
property that's been placed in current use. The state needs to
reimburse those towns for some portion of the lost revenue.
I would
fight against any cuts to stabilization aid and at a minimum restore
any prior cuts.
Instead
of a Constituional amendment on school funding, I'd prefer to see a
whole cloth rework of the property tax system in which the state
collected 100% of the revenue that would go towards schooling and
then distribute it back to the SAUs on a $ per student basis.
There would obviously need to be some flexibility built-in for
special education costs. Education needs to be a state-wide
concern. The quality of a student's education should not vary
dramatically from town to town and the endless cycle of significant
property tax increases that some towns have been forced into most
stop.
Chris
Roundy
Letter
To The Editor
Public
School Funding Position Statement
I
believe that the first task is to get the legislature to acknowledge
the “Claremont Decision” and recognize that the state has a
responsibility to fund education in the 21st century. This is not a
universally held view under the state house dome. I personally
believe the state is in contempt of court on this issue and should
be held to account. With current budget surpluses adequate funding
models can be achieved and implemented without harm to the rest of
the state budget. I will make it my mission to tell the house and
senate that the views that our state constitution does not involve
education is misguided, unrealistic and antiqued. A well-educated
workforce is the key to the future of our state. Educational
disparities based on finding cannot be allowed to restrict the
development of young people from whatever town, city or village they
happen to inhabit. I believe we must consider new models for NH
schools. We need to look to consolidating high schools to get the
most bang for the dollars invested and other partnerships that
combine our strengths and minimize our deficiencies. But the first
thing is to accept responsibility on a state level.
Sincerely,
J. C.
Allard
Letter
To The Editor
Public
School Funding Position Statement
There's
currently a legislative “committee to study education funding and
the cost of an opportunity for an adequate education” working on
this issue, and I know that the Governor's budget plan is being
developed now. When the budget or a bill is complete, I will read
it, do my best to understand the details and vote appropriately.
If I
return as a committee chair, I will be obliged to vote for the final
budget, but I'm free to vote on critical amendments,
I would
seriously consider a bill to have the state take responsibility for
all special education, including paying for it. Otherwise, I don't
believe school taxes should be equal across the state. Towns have
the authority to control development and minimize (or maximize)
their taxable base; schools have the ability to add or subtract
expense items that are optional in terms of education. Without these
powers, state funding to flatten tax rates is inappropriate.
As an
immediate measure, would you support a moratorium on cuts to
stabilization aid? Would you support restoring the amount that
has been cut since 2015?
No.
Stabilization was never intended to be a permanent supplement to
adequacy aid, which is based on student population and additional
factors that affect how difficult it is to teach them (not speaking
English, qualifying for free or reduced price meals, success at
reading, and I believe special ed.) That's the calculation that
needs to be revised.
Without
the legal language, a constitutional amendment on school funding
should say that the primary responsibility for education funding is
with the community, and the state has full authority to supplement
as it sees fit. I would expect that property poor towns would
receive the bulk of the funding, and am not opposed to including
that in the amendment.
Carol
McGuire
Donna Ward Read Our Plea Last Week
Two
weeks ago, the Pittsfield Historical Society advertised that it was
receptive to receiving new items, large or small, to include in our
new Society Museum to be built next spring. One tremendous result
came from Donna Ward of Exit Reward Realty. She had in her
possession the old book shelves from the Carpenter Library and is
donating them to the Society. They are perfect for our archives room
and will hold our many books on Pittsfield: scrapbooks, year books,
school books, books by Pittsfield authors, town reports, school
reports, directories, genealogies, biographies and newspapers.
She
also has donated three large desks, an early metal sign with the
word “Pittsfield” emblazoned on it, a set of seats from the Scenic
Theater, and an early picture of a baseball team. Thank you so much,
Donna. Hopefully this will stimulate others to do the same.
Sponsors Needed For Camelot
Kentek
Corporation and Martha and Richard Moloy are sponsoring the Pittsfield Players' presentation of CAMELOT at the Scenic Theater on
November 9, 10, 11, 16, and 17 and the Players are grateful to them
for their backing of the show.
However, more sponsors are needed to help defray the costs of rental
of swords
for the knights as well as the training by the Fight Choreographer,
J. D. Lariat,
both of which come to an extra $1000 in costs to stage the show.
Any
corporation or person who would like to be a sponsor will receive an
ad in the program, free tickets to the show, and special mention at
all five performances.
Anyone
interested in being a sponsor may contact Director Maye Hart at [email protected].
CAMELOT
-Then And Now
Submitted By Maggie Faneuf
CAMELOT, the magical home of King Arthur and the Knights of the
Round Table, is coming once again to Pittsfield when the Pittsfield
Players present the beloved
Lerner and Loewe musical on November 9, 10, and 11, as well as the
following weekend, November 16 and 17 at the Scenic Theater.
According to mythology, King Arthur founded the kingdom of Camelot
and his knights to fight for justice and right, only to see his
ideal crumble when his wife, Guenevere, falls in love with Arthur's favorite knight, Sir
Lancelot.
Director Maye Hart says she chose this musical because "it's a
classic story of good vs. evil, might vs. right, and what can happen
when individual desires destroy the collective good, and I think we
all need to be reminded of that every now and then."
She
also felt that it would be a perfect wrap-up to the Players' 50th
year celebration since "we're reprising a show we've done before.
Plus, it has a strong musical score and story."
The
Players first presented the show in 1988, and Lena Luongo, who
played Morgan LeFay then, says she was "thrilled" to be cast in the
same role again. "It's a small fun role, because Morgan is
mysterious, magical, and mystical." Comparing the two productions,
Lena noted that in 1988 she was much less experienced and just starting out, whereas now she has much more confidence after working
with the Players for several years.
Although Mal Cameron, who's been a Players member since 1973, is not
in the current production, he vividly remembers his role as
Pellinore back then. Working on the path to becoming a director, he
was Assistant Director to Dennis Bunnell, when, unfortunately, the
original Pellinore had to back out of the show for personal
reasons.
Consequently, Dennis put Mal into the role with only a month to
learn the part. Although as Pellinore he had to deal with Horrid,
the dog, and make sure he didn't "misbehave," Mal liked the part because "he didn't have to sing any
songs" and he enjoyed the comedic role.
In the
current production, Ross Morse plays Pellinore, (or "Pelly," as he
is often called by Arthur), a comical, much-loved permanent guest of
Arthur and Guenevere who is most famous for his endless hunt of the Questing
Beast which he is tracking when Arthur first meets him. Ross says he
is enjoying the role because Pellinore is likeable and jovial,
though sometimes misunderstood by people because of his sacrifice to
the "Family Tradition" of chasing the beast.
Tickets
are now on sale and may be obtained by visiting the Players'
website, www.pittsfieldplayers.com and
clicking on Buy Tickets, or by calling 435-8852 for reservations.
Open
Invitation
The
Suncook Valley Rotary Club cordially invites the area residents to
our meeting at Dominick's Restaurant on Wednesday, October 24,
2018. Dinner is served at 6:00 p.m. and our guest speaker for the
evening will be Mr. Larry Berkson at 7:00 p.m. People can come for
dinner or to hear the speaker or both.
Mr.
Berkson will be speaking on the Historical Society's plans for a new
museum and headquarters building. The new building will be located
on the old Washington House lot on Main Street.
Please
join our club for an informative evening.
41.1%
Submitted By John Freeman, Pittsfield Superintendent of Schools
When
our high school students completed our most recent Youth Risk
Behavior Survey in the early spring of 2017, 41.1% said YES to the
question Have you ever used an electronic vapor product?
In the
same survey, 27.2% of our high school students said YES to the
question, "During the past 30 days, how many days did you use an
electronic vapor product?"
What
are these products? Known by many names, including e-cigarettes,
vapes, and by a commercial name Juul, electronic vapor products
provide the user with an aerosol that may deliver nicotine (which is
highly addictive) or THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in
marijuana (which is as addictive as alcohol).
Both of
these substances are especially harmful to normal adolescent brain
development, which continues into their early 20’s. Not
surprisingly, vaping also may harm the user’s lungs.
The
Centers for Disease Control warn us that “some e-cigarettes are made
to look like regular cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Some
resemble pens, USB sticks, and other everyday items.” So they can be
very challenging to identify. Use can be difficult to detect,
as the usual odors associated with burning tobacco or cannabis are
not present.
In
addition to the health risks, use of an electronic vapor product is
not permitted in our Pittsfield schools or on school grounds,
including Drake Field. And, yes, a number of students have
violated this ban in the new school year and have received school
suspensions as a result.
To
learn more about the risks that our Pittsfield high schoolers are
taking and to learn more about electronic vapor product use, you are
invited to two special events, organized by Stand Up, Pittsfield!
and PMHS Health Educator James Cobern:
• Youth
Risk Behavior Survey – presentation of most recent survey of our
high school students
o 6:00
p.m., Wednesday, October 24, PMHS Media Center
•
Vaping Info Meeting and Forum – presented in collaboration with
Breathe NH
o 7:00
p.m., Tuesday, November 27, PMHS Lecture Hall
For our
middle high school students, we’ll be hosting presentations by
Merrimack County Juvenile Services over the next few weeks.
So, parents, be sure to ask your students what they learn in the
upcoming presentations.
In
Memory Of Cleon V. Riel Sr.
To
everyone who has supported us following the death of Cleon V. Riel,
Sr:
We
would like to express our sincere thanks and appreciation. Your many
acts of kindness and sympathy continue to be a great comfort to us
in our time of sorrow. We especially wish to thank the Still Oaks
Funeral & Memorial Home, Matthew and Katie Roan showed us such
compassion and support throughout this very difficult time.
The
family of Cleon V. Riel, Sr.
Friends
Of The Josiah Carpenter Library Taking Poinsettia Orders
The
Friends of the Josiah Carpenter Library annual poinsettia sale
offers red, white, or marble poinsettia plants for gift giving or
display purposes. Plants may be ordered by using the form
found on the library web site, by coming into the library, or by
purchasing at Election Day in Town Hall.
The
plants, grown by Ledgeview Greenhouses in Loudon, NH, may be ordered
through Wednesday, November 6th, 2018. The plants will be available
for pick up at the Josiah Carpenter Library, 41 Main St., beginning
on Wednesday, December 5, 2018.
Plants
are available in three colors and in four different sizes; 6.5 inch
pot with 1 plant for $11.00; 7.5 inch pot with two plants for
$17.50; 8.5 inch pot with 3 plant for $20.25 and 10 inch pot
with 4 plants for $25.00, please call the library at 435-8406.
Election Day Raffle
The
Friends of the Josiah Carpenter Library are sponsoring a raffle
whose items have been generously donated by fourteen local
businesses. The prizes include a unique hand-made decorative item
that reflects the basket’s Thanksgiving theme. The basket will also
include $40.00 dollars of scratch off tickets sponsored by the
Friends group. Chances to win this valuable basket will be available
at the library and at Town Hall on Election Day, November 6, 2018.
Prices of the tickets are one for $1.00 and six for $5.00. The
winner will be drawn on Wednesday, November 7th, 2018 and the winner
notified by phone.
Our
thanks to the following local businesses for the donated prizes;
Bell Brothers, Cindy’s Hair Salon, Danis Market, Dunkin' Donuts,
Granite State Motors, Jack’s Pizza, Local NH Products, Main St.
Grill, Paul Provencal Auto Services, Ping Garden, Pittsfield Family
Dental Center, Professional Physical Therapy, Sanctuary Spa, and
Sanel’s Auto Parts. The Friends Raffle Committee welcomes any other
local business that they may not have been contacted to call the
library at 435-8406 if they wish to add a prize to this special
basket.
Thank
you to the local business community for their support of the Friends
of the Josiah Carpenter Library.
Obituaries
Robert
“Bob” A. Hardy
Bob
Hardy, of Concord NH (83) born in Rochester, NH on December 3, 1934,
passed away on October 9, 2018 after a long battle with COPD. He was
predeceased by his mother, Yvonne (Boudreau) Flanders, his father,
Edmund Hardy, his brother Edgar Hardy, and niece Debra Hardy.
Bob
graduated from Spaulding High School in Rochester and soon
thereafter joined the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division where he
served two years.
Bob was
a hard worker and devoted 24 years to the A&P grocery chain,
starting as a bag boy and eventually becoming a manager. He later
owned his own grocery store in Pittsfield, NH. After retirement, he
worked as a toll booth attendant for the State of NH for 10 years.
Bob is
survived by his devoted wife of 59 years, Margaret, and three
children: Veronica Hardy of Henniker NH; son Mark Hardy and his wife
Diane of Nottingham, NH; and son Keith Hardy and his wife Tammy of
N. Myrtle Beach, SC. He also leaves behind his granddaughters,
Ashley Hardy of Boston, MA, Meg Johnston of Henniker NH, Caitlin
Joyce of N. Myrtle Beach, SC and grandson, Matthew Hardy of Phoenix,
AZ. He is also survived by his brother, Joseph Hardy and his wife
Gemma of Barrington NH, as well as nieces and nephews.
A
memorial service was held on Tuesday, October 16 at the N.H.
Veterans’ Cemetary in Boscawen NH. In lieu of flowers, donations may
be made to the Concord Regional Visiting Nurses’ Association.
Doris
Y. Bedell
Doris
Y. Bedell, 76 of Pittsburg, died at her home peacefully, surrounded
by her loving family.
She was
born in Pittsfield, February 20, 1942, the daughter of Edward J. and
Yvonne (Champagne) Cameron. She was the Co-Proprietor of the Spruce
Cone Cabins and Camground with her husband of many years, Gary C.
Bedell.
Doris
enjoyed cooking, traveling, and especially helping people. She was
always a woman of strength and compassion.
She is
survived by her husband Gary; three daughters, Dawn Foss, Heidi
Smith, Penny Bedell, and her son Gary S. Bedell; ten grandchildren
and eleven great grandchildren who are blessed beyond measure to
have had her. She was pre-deaceased by two sisters, Dorothy Leduc
and Teresa Silva; four brothers, Dean, Donald, Daniel, and Richard
Cameron; also a great granddaughter, Anna. She also leaves behind
many nieces and nephews.
A
Graveside Service will be held in the Floral Park Cemetery,
Pittsfield October 21st at 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations in
her memory may be made to a charity of one’s choice. The Waters
Funeral Home, David Pollard Director, is assisting with
arrangements.
William
(Bill) Allen St. Laurent
William
(Bill) Allen St. Laurent, 58, of Boscawen passed away suddenly on
October, 10 2018.
Bill
was born on December 29, 1959 in Ipswich Massachusetts to his
parents William St. Laurent and Evlyn (Patterson) St. Laurent. He
attended public schools and Whitter Vocational Tech until he moved
to New Hampshire to start his family.
Bill
was an avid out-doors-man and loved hunting, fishing and
snowmobiling. Bill enjoyed watching the New England Patriots and
Nascar racing.
He is
survived by his partner Jody Welch, his former spouses Darlene St.
Laurent and Debra St. Laurent; his children, Danielle St. Laurent
and her partner Clark Thorne, Dina (Tim) Beaulieu, and William St.
Laurent and his partner Britney Folwer; sisters, Patricia (Troy)
Powers and Andrea (Scott) Huffman; Grandchildren Layla, Stella,
Weston, and Atlas; His Faithful companion, his dog, Cody.
He is
preceded by his parents, William St. Laurent and Evlyn (Patterson)
St. Laurent.
A
celebration of life will be held at Alans of Boscawen on October 27,
2018 from 1-5pm. Fond Memories and expressions of sympathy may be
share at www.bennettfuneralhome.com.
|