Are you
thinking ahead to the holidays? They will be on us soon! Maybe you
have relatives or friends visiting that you haven’t seen for some
time. You want to look your best and even shed some pounds.
Consider joining TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) to help you reach
that goal. You will receive a friendly welcome, support and
tips on healthy eating. Our chapter meets Tuesday 6:30 at The
Joy Church 55 Barnstead Rd. Pittsfield. We would love to have you
join us. For questions, call Beth 435-7397.
Lost Bicycle at the Carpenter Library
Are you
missing a bicycle? If yes, call the library at 435-8406!
A lovely blue adult cruiser has been outside the library since about
October 29th. The Pittsfield Police Department does not have any
reports of a missing bike. If unclaimed, the library will work to
find the bicycle a good home.
Wanted By The Pittsfield Historical Society
A
reasonably new computer. Our main computer has crashed and we are
looking for one to replace it. If anyone can help, please call Larry
Berkson at 798-3984 or e-mail him at
[email protected].
About Step by Step Home for Children with Special Needs
Step by Step Home for Children with Special Needs, located
in Kumasi, Ghana, West Africa, was founded in 2014, by Mike and
Connie Stainsby of Epsom, New Hampshire. At the tender age of
60, with nothing more than a word from God and a go in their hearts,
they sold everything, picked up, and transferred their lives, to
help the disabled and abandoned children of Africa.
Their
message has always been to provide a home, a hope, and a future, for
these precious children of Africa. At this time Mike and Connie have
been providing for 3 Special Needs Children: Joyce, Michael, and
Obeng, each with their own set of unique disabilities. Mike and
Connie spend their days tending to the needs of these children while
continuously looking for “the more.” They are currently in the
process of expanding into a larger home that will accommodate up to
15 children with special needs. The hope is to open the expanded
facility by January 2019.
The
systems to care for these children in Africa is broken. If not for
people like Mike and Connie, these children with special needs would
be left abandoned, with little hope for survival. These children
want nothing more than to be loved. They would be blessed, if you
would come along side, learn more about their children, and see how
you can help. Their immediate need is for capital to complete
construction of the facility. They need $17,000 to finish the
project. Beyond that, they will need donations for operating
expenses, as they grow. Your donation to sponsor these children
would be a blessing.
To
learn more about, "Step By Step Home for Children with Special
Needs," please visit their website at:
www.stepbystepworldwide.com,
or find them on Facebook at:
https://web.facebook.com/stepbystepworldwide.org/
Citizens Bank Contrubutes To Historical Society Building Fund
The
Pittsfield Historical Society sincerely thanks Citizens Bank on Main
for contributing to its building fund. The bank, acquired from First
New Hampshire Bank, opened its doors on April 1, 1996 and has been a
vital part of the community ever since. Its seven employees
are under the management of Rebecca Britenriker. In addition to
regular banking services it has a Financial Advisor and provides
financial literary classes.
The
bank is a known for its annual barbecue held in its parking lot
during customer appreciation week in June.
A
Living Link To Our Farming Heritage
Submitted By Carole Soule
Curious
Bleu, a Scottish Highlander Steer, gave rides to young cowboys and
girls on Farm Day at Miles Smith Farm.
Visitors on the hay ride fed carrots to the Miles Smith Farm herd of
Scottish Highlander cattle.
Topper
and Stash, Scottish Highlander oxen, pulled a sled (normally used to
haul stones) carrying young riders around the barnyard on Miles
Smith Farm Day in October.
Young
cowgirls and boys waited patiently in line for a ride on one of our
shaggy Scottish Highlanders. Curious Bleu, a red Highlander steer,
was kept busy during the annual Miles Smith Farm Day on Oct. 6. The
sky may have been overcast, but the mood was sunny as little future
farmers rode a steer, took a hayride, fed carrots to cattle, or
snuggled with the goats, the sheep, and a donkey.
The
parking lot was full as more than 1,000 people (little and big)
hiked around the farm to visit with the animals and eat grass-fed
hot dogs and hamburgers. Few of our visitors live on farms, but many
of them cherish some connection to farming. One man told me about
helping bale hay on his grandfather's farm. Another talked about
feeding chickens while being menaced by a rooster. A woman praised
her grandmother's cooking which included fresh ham, raised and cured
right there on her farm. One teenager told me she'd been coming to
our farm for years and remembered riding Curious Bleu when she was 8
years old; a lifetime ago for one that young one.
Farming
is part of our DNA. Unless you subsist by hunting and gathering, you
depend on agriculture. “No farms, no food” is true enough, but “no
farms” also means no beer, no whiskey, no leather, and no cotton.
Humans have a strong connection to agriculture; one we try to remind
our visitors of every year during Farm Day.
But
even some of our farm-connected visitors forgot that farming can be
messy! Clothing, especially footwear, takes a licking when the rains
come and mud prevails. Ours is a working farm, and when it rains,
all that good earth turns to mud. And beyond the barnyard, the
ground is rough, and there's manure everywhere. We clean up between
chores, but ours is not a “showcase” farm. With 100 chores and only
time to do 50 of them, prioritization can leave some “housekeeping”
for later.
We try
to warn folks of the muddy and rough footing, but some visitors
still wore sparkling white sneakers or skimpy sandals. Baby
strollers tended to get mired. Yet no one complained. (Thanks!)
Besides
cow-riding, the oxen demonstration was popular. My team of black
Highlanders, Topper and Stash, dragged delighted little riders
around the yard on a stone boat (a flat sled traditionally used to
transport rocks.) Our mini-donkey, Eleanor, and her sheep and goat
companions made lots of new friends.
New and
old customers (bless them) dropped into our farm store and purchased
grass-fed beef as well as pastured pork and lamb. Some ordered a
locally-raised turkey for their Thanksgiving feasts. Others enjoyed
free grilled beef hot dogs and hamburgers cooked by the Highlander
Rider 4H Club. This good time was made possible with help from
volunteers and sponsorship from local businesses.
We
rejoice when visitors embrace the human connection to farming.
Especially when they can see past the mud and manure to appreciate a
wholesome, humane, small-scale operation like ours. We like to think
of Miles Smith Farm as a living link between a time dominated by
impersonal corporate agribusiness and the small family farms that
built America. If that notion appeals to you, and you like the idea
of eating food raised thoughtfully by folks who will look you in the
eye, keep on buying locally-raised food. You also might want to buy
a good pair of rubber boots – the next Farm Day will be here before
you know it!
Carole
Soule is co-owner of Miles Smith Farm, in Loudon, N.H. She can be
reached at [email protected].
Letter
To The Editor
To the
Editor,
My
thanks to the voters of Pittsfield and Epsom who supported my
candidacy for 21st District representative. I am honored and humbled
by your vote and by the many expressions of good will as the
campaign unfolded.
I
intend to be the best representative I possibly can for every
citizen in our District. Everyone deserves and may expect my
commitment to Epsom and Pittsfield.
I would
also like to thank every other candidate in this campaign. Your
ideas, goals, and efforts contributed to a quality election season
and will, no doubt, make the Suncook Valley a better place to live.
It was a privilege to campaign with you.
Sincerely,
J. C.
Allard
St
Stephen’s Holly Fair
It’s
that time again! St. Stephen's Episcopal Church will hold its annual
Holly Fair on Saturday, November 17, 2018, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00
p.m. at 50 Main St., Pittsfield.
Parishioners have been working overtime to fill the undercroft with
lots of goodies. Are there any little girls on your shopping list?
If so, check out the Crafts table for American Girl doll clothes.
How about some decorations for your home that will last through the
winter? Our birch reindeer are a favorite. If you love yard sales,
you’ll enjoy sorting through our Christmas Remix table of “lightly
loved” items. Get there early and you may be lucky enough to walk
away with one of several pairs of adult ice skates that have been
barely used.
And
when it’s time for lunch, no need to hurry home. Have a seat at our
St. Stephen’s Café where you’ll find the best home-cooked dishes in
the area. Soups - corn chowder, roasted tomato, and squash.
Sandwiches - meatball and introducing the new Manna-a taste of
heaven! How about some Canadian Chop Suey? Don’t forget our homemade
desserts - Indian pudding, GrapeNut custard, and chocolate cake. And
if you want to bring home a treat for your family, be sure to visit
our Bake Sale table with all of your favorite cookies, cakes and
pies.
Remember, proceeds from the fair go towards our local food pantries
so while you are checking off names on your Christmas list you are
also helping your neighbors. See you there!
Camelot
knights Sir Lionel (Jeff Long), Sir Sagramore (Kiefer Archambault),
and Sir Dinadan (Coy McCarty) are guarding the castle at The Scenic
Theatre as The Pittsfield Players present the musical Camelot this
Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $18 per person. For
reservations, call 435-8852, or visit the Players' website at
http://www.pittsfieldplayers.com.
Don't miss this wonderful show!
Megan
Augusta Joins Local Real Estate Agency
EXIT
Reward Realty of Pittsfield is proud to announce that Megan Augusta
has joined their office as a REALTOR. Megan has been
representing sellers and buyers since 2011 and proudly specializes
in representing first time home buyers.
“We are
pleased to welcome Megan to our office. Her experience and
knowledge is a welcome addition to our close knit group.” Said Donna
Ward, owner of EXIT Reward Realty.
Megan
was raised in Kingston, NH and has resided in Deerfield, NH since
2007 with her husband and three children. If you are looking
for an agent to help you find a home, reach out to Megan!
EXIT
Reward Realty is a local Real Estate Brokerage located at 79 High
Street in Pittsfield. They have been representing Buyers and Sellers
in the Suncook Valley since 2005.
Church
Fair Is Coming Saturday
This
great handmade quilt and cute sock monkey sailor couple are just two
examples waiting for you on the Dorcas Guild’s Silent Auction table.
Don’t miss the Christmas Fair – this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
First Congregational Church, 24 Main Street, Pittsfield.
The
Christmas Fair and Bake Sale at the First Congregational Church, 24
Main Street, Pittsfield, is happening this coming Saturday, November
17, from 9 to 2. Sponsored by the Dorcas Guild, this fair is the
event you won’t want to miss.
The
Guild has been busy crafting all those special festive gifts
including mittens, hats, aprons, quilted items, ornaments and
special gourmet and baked goods. Don’t forget the “Unique Boutique”
for outstanding values and the “Silent Auction” for those special
one-of-a-kind gifts. The Silent Auction ends when the fair ends at 2
p.m.; successful bidders will be notified at that time.
Bring
your friends and neighbors to shop and stay for a great corn chowder
and sandwich lunch with homemade pies for dessert. Parking and
wheelchair accessible entrance available at rear of church – enter
at Chestnut Street or come in through the courtyard entrance on Main
Street. For more info, call the church office at 435-7471.
Thankfulness At The Carpenter Library
November 1, 2018 was truly momentous. Continental Paving completed
the paving of Main Street outside of the library, and the “library
puddle” (which sometimes resembled a pond or a lake) is gone!
The
library sits at the crest of Main Street; previously due to
obstructions primarily created by the heights of curb cuts for
driveways, water did not flow in either direction. We are very
grateful to George Batchelder and the rest of the crew at the
Highway Department for coordinating all the recent paving projects
throughout Pittsfield. Folks visiting the library are especially
thankful to George for ensuring this portion of Main Street was done
just right!
Obituaries
John
Topouzoglou
Pittsfield - John Topouzoglou, age 88, passed away peacefully on
November 3rd at his daughter’s home in Burlington, MA.
He was
born in Piraeus, Greece, son of the late Andreas and Hariklia
(Bibilos) Topouzoglou. John survived the German occupation of Greece
and worked hard to complete his vocational studies in mechanical
engineering and drafting. He later graduated from Merchant Marine
Engineering School. He served in the Greek army and later in
the Hellenic Merchant Marine. In 1956, at the age of 26, John
immigrated to the United States and proudly became a citizen in
1963. He would say, “I was born in Greece, but America gave me
life!” He owned and operated Tops Garage in Pittsfield for many
years. He was a parishioner and former board member of the
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Concord; and a member of the
Greek Mutual Benefit Association known as PHAROS, Somerville, MA.
John was a Charter Member of the Pittsfield/Barnstead Lions Club and
a 2016 recipient of the Melvin Jones Humanitarian Award. He served
on the board of the Pittsfield Community Development Center and was
a 32nd Degree Mason, and member of the Scottish Rite at
Malden/Wakefield MA and Concord, NH lodges.
He is
survived by his wife of 60 years Efegenia (Rozakis) Topouzoglou of
Pittsfield; his cherished children: Harriet Degou and husband David
of Burlington, MA, Catherine Topouzoglou of Needham, MA, Andrew
Topouzoglou and wife Heather of Derry, NH and Terry Topouzoglou and
his wife Jennifer of New Boston, NH; eight grandchildren: John and
Marie Degou, Sophie, Elena, Andrew and Grace Topouzoglou, and Hannah
and Sam Kingston. Also survived by: his brother Mihali Topouzoglou
and wife Theodora of Somerville, MA, a sister, Panagiota Dimopoulos
and husband Dimitrios of Whitman, MA, brother-in-law, Isithoros
Rozakis who he cherished as a son, and his wife Anthoula of
Somerville, MA, sister-in-law, Irene (Rozakis) Botsolis and the late
Asimakis, beloved cousin Peter Tsourianis and wife Aphrodite of
Somerville, MA, along with many loved nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was predeceased by his son George in 1964 and a sister, Androniki
Kargatzis and husband Kostas.
A
Funeral Service was held Thursday in St. George’s Greek Orthodox
Cathedral, Manchester, NH. Burial followed in Floral Park
Cemetery, Pittsfield. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory
may be made to the Pittsfield High School Alumni Association
(Scholarship Fund), 23 Oneida Street, Pittsfield, NH 03263.
The
Waters Funeral Home, David Pollard, Director, is assisting the
family with arrangements.
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