REMINDER
Pittsfield High School Class of 1984 Reunion
Attention All PHS Class of 1984 members- We are starting to plan for
our 35th High School Reunion!! (next year) Our first meeting
is on Wed., Sept. 19 at 6:30pm at Laurie Deane Vien’s house (132
Ingalls Rd). Please come to the meeting if you’d like to help.
We would like to hear from our classmates with ideas for the
reunion. If you can’t make it to the meeting, feel free to
call Andi Grainger Riel at 435-6346, email at
[email protected]
or find me on Facebook!
In Pursuit Of Ribbons At Hopkinton Fair
Submitted By Carole Soule
The 4H Beef Judge, Luanne Wilson, gives advice to Lilly and
Olivia, both ten-years-old showing their Scottish Highlander
heifers. Both are members of the Highland Rider 4H club in Loudon.
Alana Johnson and her son from Peterborough visit with
Snuff, a two-year-old Scottish Highlander working steer.
Two-year-old working Highlander Steers in the ring with teamster and
author, Carole Soule.
Topper and Stash, six-year-old Scottish Highlander oxen
from Miles Smith Farm, weighed in at almost 3,000 pounds at the
Hopkinton Fair. Smaller working steers, Snuff and Ben, wait to get
on the scale.
“You
may have to take the 4-H heifers home and wait for the proper
paperwork to be completed,” said the veterinarian from Blackwater
Veterinarian Services. “They are missing their rabies-shot
certifications.” This was distressing because my Highland Rider
4-Hers had been preparing for the Hopkinton Fair for months. The
children and their groomed cattle waited patiently while the adults
worked on a solution.
Because
rabies is a deadly disease that can transfer from animals to humans,
proof is required that each critter has been vaccinated.
Our
first load of cattle had arrived with all their paperwork in order.
This year I brought two teams of steers. My white Highlanders,
2-year-old Ben and Snuff, are classified as “working steers” and my
6-year-old black Scottish Highlanders, Topper and Stash, are “oxen.”
That's because age 4 is the cutoff between working steers and oxen.
But age
doesn't determine the class in which the teams will compete-that's
done by weight. For instance, my 2-year-old steers together weigh
1,205 pounds, which means they compete with teams weighing 1,400
pounds or less. Together, Topper and Stash weigh 2,990 pounds, so
they compete with other heavyweights.
I
entered Topper and Stash in the log-scoot event in which teams are
required to pull an empty log sled around a course marked off with
cones. To make the course more challenging, the judge stuck maple
saplings in each cone.
These
big boys have two jobs that they take seriously – pulling logs and
boulders on the farm and eating brush and little trees to keep our
pastures clear.
When we
entered the ring, Stash grabbed the first maple leaf that came
within his reach. Both Topper and Stash snatched at the yummy
foliage, eating their way around the course, toppling cones and
losing points. We came in seventh out of eight teams but seemed to
entertain the audience, earning loud applause for a lively
performance.
We also
brought two Highlander cows named Missy and Sarah along with their
babies, Steve and Henry, to compete in the beef show. There are
dozens of beef cattle breeds, all of which have different
characteristics. For instance, Highlanders are suitable either for
beef or milk production and are smaller and thinner than other
breeds. Herefords, Pinzgauers, and Angus are only raised for beef
and are bigger, fatter animals than the Highlanders. To keep it
fair, classes are separated by breed; Highlanders compete against
Highlanders, Herefords compete against Herefords and so on. Any
cattle not in a designated class compete in a catch-all group called
“All Other Breeds.”
If the
oxen competition is the talent portion of the livestock pageant, the
beef-cattle are in the swimsuit competition. Judges evaluate
“conformation,” which is how closely the cattle conform to the
physical ideal for their breed.
For
example, a cow's udder is evaluated. As with all mammals, the beef
cow's udder is the “milk machine” for their calves, and a good-size
udder with small teats makes nursing easier. Other characteristics
include body length, big hind-quarters (for steaks and roasts), the
“spring of the ribs" (body width) and how the cow walks. The judges
explain their decisions to the audience so if you attend a show, be
sure to listen to their comments.
The
beef cattle and the dairy cattle shows are entirely separate. Dairy
cows are expected to have thin backs but enormous udders (for milk
production), which would not be proper conformation for a beef
animal. To a beef producer like me, dairy cows look all wrong, while
my beefy creatures would not impress a dairyman.
Anyhow,
my 4-H Highlander Riders were relieved when the corrected paperwork
was texted to the veterinarians, and they were allowed to unload
their animals.
In the
4-H beef classes, multiple ribbons rewarded the children for months
of hard work. The 4-H kids come away from the Hopkinton Fair with
happy memories, and back home at Miles Smith Farm, the cattle are
still ruminating on their four days of admiration and gracious
living.
Carole
Soule is co-owner of Miles Smith Farm in Loudon, N.H. She can be
reached at [email protected].
Letter To The Editor
Select
Board Meeting 9/4/2018
Great
news! “Acting” Police Chief Joe Collins signed a three-year contract
with the BOS to serve Pittsfield as Chief until Sept. of 2021.
His contract is on our website and available at the town office for
review by anyone, but in brief he will be a 32-hour non-union
employee and as such we agreed he will receive 80% of the total
compensation package that a 40-hour chief would likely command.
Most of the town’s savings will come in not paying approximately
$26,000 a year into a retirement program which a full-time chief
would get. We can rest easy as we’re back to 24/7/365 patrol
coverage, almost entirely with Pittsfield officers.
Fire
Chief Pszonowsky is putting an annual physical in place to assess
fitness for duty for all full-time fire dept. employees.
Anyone who can’t pass their physical and therefore cannot perform
their job properly will be let go. For the safety of those
employees as well as residents that expect emergencies to be handled
by physically fit responders, we feel this policy is long overdue.
Larry
Konopka donated free hardwood floor refinishing for the Town Hall
meeting room and the police station. Thanks Larry!
Jim
Allard will attend next Wed. library trustees meeting to convey the
select board’s thoughts on moving forward in some manner with the
“barn lot” next to the library. This is one area of town that
seems to go nowhere, for numerous reasons despite the best
intentions of many people, and the BOS agrees we must give it a
push.
It will
be primary election day AND voting day on the union contract when
this paper first comes available Tuesday the 11th. PLEASE take
a few minutes and vote at the town hall which is open until 7PM.
Carl
Anderson
TOPS News
Left to right- Beth Odell, Linda Johnson, Sandy Gilmore,
Pearl Demyanovich, Pat Smith, Joyce Pearson.
Our
TOPS chapter recently celebrated weight loss milestones for
some of our members. Pearl Demyanovich reattained her status
as a KOPS (Keep Off Pounds Sensibly) by reaching her weight goal,
through her diligence and hard work.Pearl is an encouragement to
everyone each week. She received a fern plant and a gift.
Congratulations, Pearl.
We also
celebrated TOPS Royalty for June. Each month we recognize the
top weight losers of the month. Certificates are given to the three
top losers, and blue flowers are given to those with honorable
mention. Our chapter is available to any visitors who would
like to know about TOPS. We meet at The Joy Church 55
Barnstead Rd. Pittsfield. If you have questions, call Pat
435-5333 or Beth 435 7397.
The Historical Society’s Pursuit Of The Washington House Lot For Its
New Headquarters
Submitted By Larry Berkson
As
mentioned previously, both the Beautification Committee and Dan the
Stone Man approved the idea of building the Society’s new
headquarters on the Washington House Lot. The idea was then
officially placed before the select board. According to law, the
Board held two public meetings and obtained input from the public
about the possible sale of the lot to the Society.
In the
meantime the committee got to work on designing the building. After
computing the needs of the Society, it was determined that the
building would be two floors, a ground floor level with Oak Street,
and a finished basement floor accessible from Main Street. Its
overall dimensions would be 30′ x 80′. It would contain a 22′ x 30′
archives room and a 15′ x 30′ meeting room. The remaining space,
approximately 1,275 square feet on the main floor and 2,100 on the
lower floor, would be for museum displays. Sketches were drawn and
revised several times. Paul Richardson and Benjamin Polozotti
volunteered a tremendous amount of time in developing the
blueprints.
Plans
were submitted to the Planning Board but were deemed inadequate.
Among the specific requirements which needed to be addressed were:
light radius on exterior lights, a landscape plan, a certified
survey, a topographical map, a water runoff plan, and a plan showing
bumpers at the end of parking spaces.
In
response to these requirements Mark Sargent volunteered to survey
the lot and Ben Polozotti agreed to work on the other requirements.
The
committee invited three specialists to their regular Tuesday evening
meetings to present proposals for heating the new building: Bill
Twombly, Thomas Harrington, and Rick Davis. Split systems which
would provide both heating and air conditioning were a topic of
focus. The other option explored was gas fired hot water systems.
Radiant floor heating was also discussed.
Chris
Ward and Pat Heffernan volunteered to help with designing and cost
estimates for electrical requirements of the building. Dennis Gray
agreed to develop a price for the foundation work. An estimate for
spraying the foundation was obtained.
Prices
were obtained for roofing. In particular the committee sought
information on metal designer roofs which look like asphalt
shingles. Estimates were obtained on siding the building. Presently
the committee is working to obtain estimates on the cost of framing
the building, windows, doors, etc., and using solar panels to
provide electricity A driveway permit has been obtained from the
Public Works Department.
After
the two hearings the select board had 14 days to decide whether they
would sell the property to the Society, and under what conditions,
if any. A meeting was held on August 7th for that purpose. The
Society submitted a proposal that it be sold for $1.00. Its
rationale among others was: that it had completed many projects that
vastly improved the town’s beauty, that its projects had made the
town a more interesting place in which to live, there was no tax
impact on the town because no taxes were being paid on the lot
presently, the Society’s present building would be placed back on
the tax rolls, and the Society did not, as in all surrounding
communities, receive any funds for its support from the town.
After a
thorough discussion the board voted to sell the property to the
Society for $1.00 on condition that if the organization ever
dissolved, the property would revert to the town. A second condition
was that the Society make a concerted effort to provide parking
spaces for rent by a nearby landlord. Stay tuned for more about the
project next week.
John Huntington is celebrating a birthday and now officially the
wisest member of the Suncook Valley Rotary Club! Thanks for all your
years of Rotary service and Happy Birthday!
Introducing Hope Counseling Services
Submitted By Weston Martin, LMHC
I
wanted to take a moment and introduce myself as a mental health
therapist offering counseling services here in the Pittsfield area.
I moved to Pittsfield with my wife and family about a year and a
half ago to start a hobby farm. We are enjoying getting more
involved in our local community here through sports and the annual
festivities the town puts on. We are looking forward to
putting down roots and raising a family here. As a result, I opened
Hope Counseling Services in the professional building here in
Pittsfield in May of this year. I am a licensed counselor who
provides counseling for children and teens presenting with various
struggles: ADHD symptoms, anxiety, depression, behavioral issues,
adjusting to divorce, autism spectrum disorders, and more.
I also
work with adult clients to treat mood disorders, anxiety,
depression, and helping folks navigate the side effects of a
loved one’s substance use issues. In addition, I enjoy helping
parents navigate the difficulties of parenting.
I pride
myself on being able to offer quality mental health services in a
personal setting. I accept insurance for several of the main
carriers in the state, and also take some medicaid products.
When
I’m not seeing clients, I enjoy spending time with my wife and our
three children; updating our old farmhouse, hiking, and splitting
wood for our wonderful New England winters. Give me a call or visit
my website for more information.
Thank
You
Pittsfield Area Senior Center
As the
Fall season comes upon us the Pittsfield Area Senior Center, located
on 74 Main St. in the basement of the community center, has a few
special programs going on. Our craft club is starting up again on
September 12, at 10:00 AM. Anyone can participate and there is
usually no cost associated with the projects. This group meets every
Wednesday at 10:00 AM.
If you
are an individual that likes to sew then come to our quilting club,
which meets every Wednesday at 12:30 PM. This fall the club
participants are making individual quilts. There is no cost for this
class and this class is for beginners and experts.
Maybe
crafting and quilting is not what you are interested in, but playing
cards is, then join the group that meets every Wednesday, at 9:30 to
play cribbage. No cost is associated with this function.
September 17 thru September 21, is Senior Center Week. This is the
perfect time to come to the center and see the variety of programs
offered. As seniors, you should start “Building Momentum” for your
new beginning in your retired lives. Your local senior center is a
great place to begin.
On
September 18, 2018 at 10:30 AM, Bill Parker is coming to the center
and doing a live musical performance. Bill performs at many other
venues including other senior centers and senior homes. He is a very
lively performer and enjoyed by all. He plays the harmonica,
keyboard, and sings. The show is free, so please come, enjoy the
show, and stay for lunch. If staying for lunch, please reserve your
spot by calling 435-8482.
On
September 18, at 1:00 PM, the Josiah Carpenter Library and the
Pittsfield Area Senior Center are cohosting the “Gatherer’s Tale” by
the Student Conservation Association (SCA) Interpretive Rangers.
Humans have been gathering wild plants for food and medicine for
thousands of years. Join the Interpretive Rangers to learn about how
the plants in your backyard have been used throughout the centuries!
This program is free, it is open to everyone, and will be over by
2:00 PM.
The
Pittsfield Area Senior Center is having an open house on September
20, 2018 from 9:00 AM-1:00 PM. Come share a meal, look at what the
center offers, to help you build your momentum into retirement.
There will be displays and information on all the different
programs. Bingo is occurring on that day and your first bingo card
will be free for the first game. This offers an opportunity to talk
to other seniors who have been involved with the center for years.
If you have not tried our community meal, at 12:00 PM and it is your
first time, please join us at no cost to you. If planning on eating
please call 435-8482 so the food can be planned accordingly.
The Pittsfield Middle High School class of 1998 came
together to celebrate their 20 year reunion in August at Main Street
Grill and Bar.
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