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Pittsfield NH News

September 12, 2018

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

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

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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.

 

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Alana Johnson and her son from Peterborough visit with Snuff, a two-year-old Scottish Highlander working steer.

 

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Two-year-old working Highlander Steers in the ring with teamster and author, Carole Soule.

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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

Pittsfield TOPS IIa.jpg

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.

 


 

Pittsfield Rotary.jpg

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.

 


 

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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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