TOPS NH #38
New Year’s parties, dressing up, you continue to let it all
show. Now about those resolutions, time you forgave yourself for
your past, and take each day, one day at a time. Treat yourself
as you would treat that best friend, and attend a Take Off
Pounds Meeting, held Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.
We meet at St. Stephen’s Undercroft, Main Street,
Pittsfield, NH. Feel free to call Pat Smith, 435-5333, or Sandy
Gilmore, 798-5658. We would love to see or hear from you. Out
TOPS club, as all, are non-profit. We try and make the meetings
interesting, and remember its your life, so why
prolong it, and take off some weight now.
A Christmas Memory
By Art Morse
Mom always lived Christmas the whole year
round. Come September or October and every purchase became a
potential Christmas present. Socks, underwear, 5 lbs. of sugar
all sat waiting to be wrapped if they weren’t needed before
December 25.
We always had a night before gift to open. When it was just
the three of us, my sister and I would convince Mom to let us
open one gift. As we had families, that one gift became a set of
new PJs to wear Christmas night. We continue this practice with
our grandchildren.
As a kid, we lived in an apartment house on Broadway (where
Turnaround Eclipse is Now), and before we had a chance to play
with our gifts we were off to Nana’s. Nana and Papa lived in a
duplex where the P&M parking lot is now. When we had children
the Christmas Day traveling got more complex. We had our
Christmas then off to Big Nana’s (my grandmother), Little Nana’s
(my mother) and down to my wife’s parents.
I don’t remember the presents of these times past as much as
I remember the wonderful times with family, extended family and
sometimes at Mom’s complete strangers. Merry Christmas and God
bless you everyone.
What’s Up at PYW?
By: Paula Driscoll, PYW Program Director
Hello
Pittsfield! Much has been happening at PYW despite the tons of
snow and cold temperatures. We are in full swing for the winter
season, and I wanted to extend a hello to all of you, recap some
of the memorable moments from the last couple of months, and let
you know about the many exciting activities and trips we have
coming up in the next couple of months.
In November, the youth traveled to the Christa McAuliffe
Planetarium with a stop at the Steeplegate Mall. If you haven’t
been to the Planetarium in the last couple of years you need to
check it out again. They have a lot of new exhibits and
activities for all ages. Then it was time to prepare for our
Thanksgiving Family Dinner. We had almost 80 members of the
community enjoying conversation, a trivia quiz, a “find the most
words” game, sharing what we were thankful for, and had a
delicious turkey dinner with all the fixings. We want to thank
Danis Supermarket, P & M Market, Paul Metcalf, Carl and Siobhan
Plummer, Dominick’s, Duane Family Farm, Pat and Paul Nickerson,
and the Powers family for their generous donations. We also want
to thank Pam Alexander, Jane Johnson and all the youth that
helped set-up, cook, and clean up. We couldn’t do it without
you!
On December 5th during the Pittsfield’s Tree Lighting
Ceremony we opened our doors to the public to show off the eight
gingerbread houses that the youth made from scratch, served warm
food (with donations going to the Pittsfield Food Pantry), and
most importantly had pictures with Santa! We want to thank Rite
Aide for the donation of candy and to Jack’s Pizza for the gift
cards that were awarded to the youth with the most creative
gingerbread houses.
Also in December, we started offering even more
opportunities for youth in grades 6-12. Every Monday, since the
beginning of December, Tammy Colby has volunteered her time to
help the youth with arts and crafts. On Tuesday’s, Mr. Mitchell,
PMHS art teacher, has come in to help us design and create a
mural. Wednesdays we have Cooking Club – the youth decide on a
healthy meal, prepare it, serve it, eat it and finish by
cleaning-up. Thursday we have guitar lessons and on Fridays we
will be teaching and playing different board and card games.
Drop-in hours are Monday through Friday from 3:00 – 6:00pm.
Brace yourselves… Winterfest is coming! There will be a lot
of PYW activities planned for that week such as snow tubing at
Pats Peak Ski Area, a dance (rumor is that someone from WJYY
will be the DJ), a Monarchs game, and much more. Watch for the
schedule. We will be having sign-ups for trips on Thursday,
February 11th from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Please stop by during
this time or call PYW at 435-8272 to reserve your spot on any of
the trips and/or for more information about Winterfest.
We
wish you all a safe and happy holiday! PYW will be closed
December 23rd till January 4th.
The Pittsfield Youth Workshop is a nonprofit youth
organization committed to providing programs and services that
empower youth by helping them to develop useful skills,
self-esteem, and meaningful friendships - by involving them in
activities that are interesting, challenging, and healthy
avenues to self discovery.
Dorcas Guild
Submitted By Joan Riel
The Dorcas Guild of the First
Congregational Church in Pittsfield met the evening of December
8th for its annual Christmas Meeting. Nella Hobson read an
appropriate Biblical Reading, followed by all joining in the
Lord’s Prayer.
Peggy Jacobs conducted the meeting when the Secretary gave
her report and read correspondence. The Treasurer gave her
financial report showing the current balance and income from the
two fairs. Many, many Christmas cards were circulated for
signing to be mailed. The Mystery Package brought by Kathy
Bergeron was won by Reny Boyd.
The nominating committee brought in a slate for a vote.
Elected were President, Peggy Jacobs; Vice President, Kathy
Bergeron; Secretary, Joan Riel; Treasurer, Reny Boyd. The
Yearbooks for 2010 were updated and new projects were selected
for each meeting in the coming year.
After the meeting a Christmas Party was held with exchange
of gifts. The food, as always at Christmas was exceptional
and plentiful including all kinds of holiday treats, thanks to
Reny Boyd and her helpers. It was thirty-five years ago that
Reny and her neighbor, Bernie Donovan, hosted the Dorcas
Christmas party for the first time at Reny’s gaily decorated
home. As they years passed and the Guild grew in number, Reny’s
home was too small and she then hosted the party at the church,
with all the same foods and specialties that everyone grew to
love each year. This year, however, at the close of the evening
it was voted to make it a Pot Luck Christmas Party next year.
Hopefully, it will still include Reny’s “Charlie Brown”
Christmas Tree with an ornament for each one attending.
The next meeting will be held at the church on January 12th.
This will be the annual Birthday Party meeting. Members are
asked to bring a wrapped paperback or hard cover book for
exchange. Hostesses will be Nancy Fogg and Elsie Morse.
Christmas Memory
2004 was to be our first Christmas without the eight of us
together. Our eldest son, Dan, was away and still in training
for his first deployment to Afghanistan with the United States
Air Force. I had spent the entire pre-holiday season with
“leaky” eyes every time I was confronted with that fact. “Get a
grip!” I told myself, “Most families’ kids spend Christmas
somewhere else eventually.” But it was war time.
Intending to make the holiday as normal as possible, my
parents joined us for dinner the eve of Christmas Eve. After a
night of giving gifts, eating, and listening to carols, we
settled Grandma and Grandpa into Dan’s room and all went to bed.
It must have been an hour later when we were awakened by the
horrifying shrill of the smoke alarms. Making our way quickly
down the stairs, wondering what was going on; loud laughter
greeted us at the bottom step. Robby, Dan’s best friend and U.S.
Marine, had picked him up that night at Logan Airport and snuck
him into the house to surprise us. As I screamed with relief and
laughter, we gratefully began a Christmas holiday all together
once more.
This Christmas, remember our troops and support their
families who “watch their backs” while they serve our country in
foreign lands. The largest deployment ever of National Guard
troops has begun to leave NH and will continue through 2010. You
can offer support by helping those at home, our Blue Star
Families, with offers to shovel, invitations to dinner,
occasional childcare, or just be an ear or shoulder to a lonely
heart. Always remember them in your prayers.
Christmas isn’t about dollars, cents, and sales. It is “Love
thy neighbor” and ideally celebrated throughout the year.
Christmas blessings to you in the Name of my Savior, Jesus,
Whose birth we celebrate this Holy Season.
Lea Adams
Pittsfield Players To Hold Auditions
The Pittsfield Players will be holding Additional Auditions
for “Hot Bed Hotel”,Tuesday, December 29 at 7 PM at the Scenic
Theatre, 6 Depot Street, Pittsfield. For more info please call
435-8852 or email
[email protected]. Directed by John Charron.
Additional info can be found online at pittsfieldplayers.com
Obituaries
Rose Valentine (Waning) Boomhower
Pittsfield - Rose Valentine
(Waning) Boomhower, 88, formerly of Bradford,
died Friday, December 11, 2009, in the Epsom
Health Care Center in Epsom, NH. She was the
wife of the late Clayton A. Boomhower.
Born in Haverhill on February 14, 1921, she
was the daughter of the late Frank and Emma (Fernackes)
Waning. She was a graduate of Haverhill High
School. Rose had resided in Bradford and
Danville, NH, for many years before moving to
Pittsfield, NH in 1997.
Rose was employed at Lucent Technologies,
Inc. in North Andover for many years before her
retirement in 1982. She had also once worked at
the Knipe Shoe Manufacturing Co. in the Ward
Hill section of Haverhill for several years. She
was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of
America and the Communication Workers of
America, AFL-CIO.
Rose enjoyed spending time with her family,
especially her grandchildren. They have many
fond memories of times spent together. She had a
love for animals, especially her Black Labs that
she truly enjoyed being with. When Rose was a
young girl she helped raise German Shepherds for
the U.S. Army. She also enjoyed gardening.
She is survived by her daughter and
son-in-law, Maureen E. and Bradford Greeley of
Pittsfield, NH; two grandsons, Daniel E. Greeley
of Pittsfield, NH, and Michael P. and his wife,
Amy Greeley of Newfields, NH; two
great-granddaughters, Amber B. Greeley and
Brittany R. Lessard both of Newfields, NH; a
sister, Arlene Rogers of Deerfield, NH; three
step-daughters; and many nieces and nephews.
She was also pre-deceased by several
brothers and sisters.
Rose’s funeral service was held on
Wednesday, December 16, in the Linnehan-Grondin
Funeral Home, Bradford, MA.
Contributions may be made in her memory to
the Salvation Army, 147 Berkeley St., Boston, MA
02116.
Interment was held in the Elmwood Cemetery,
Bradford, MA.
For more information and to send online
condolences, please visit
www.linnehanfuneralhomes.com.