Those
Celebrating Birthdays are: August 31, Chris Plante, Chris
Dunne, Andy Hubbard; September 1, Paullette Chagnon; September 2,
Faith Whittier; September 3, Norman Gagnon, Jacob Gray; September 4,
Abigail Mousseau, Sylvia Wallace, Nathan Kennedy; September 5, Tonia
Snedeker, Angie Spradling. A Very Happy Birthday To One and All!
Celebrating Anniversaries are: September 3, Tom and
Ruth Huckins.
Best Wishes!
Volunteer driver wanted
for a local volunteer worker. Ride needed on Tuesday and Wednesday
at 1 pm and return home ride at 4 pm. On Saturdays, it would
be at 10 am and 1 pm.
If you can help this person give of her
time any of these hours to or from, please call Rhonda at 435-7155.
The Pittsfield Senior Center will be holding a Flu Shot
clinic on Wednesday, September 21st from 10 am to noon at the Senior
Center (downstairs).
Early Headstart has a few
openings and will soon be enrolling children under the age of three
and prenatal women. It is free for income eligible families.
For further information, call 435-6611, to jump-start your child’s
learning.
The Suncook Valley Chorale will hold two
non-audition, Open Sing nights for new and current Chorale members
on Monday, September 12th and Monday, September 19th. The
auditions will start at 6:30 pm at the Pleasant View Retirement
Center Theatre, 227 Pleasant Street, Concord. This is a
non-committal opportunity for you to try us out. We welcome
all vocal parts; however, often need more male voices. This
season we will focus on masterpieces from classical to jazz choral
repertoire. Visit our website at
www.svcnh.org or call 774-3751 for more information.
50th Wedding Anniversary Open House Honoring Dick and
Holly Bickford Sunday, September 11th 1-4 pm at
Pittsfield Community Center Bicentennial Room
The
American Red Cross is holding a Blood Drive on Tuesday, September
6th from 3:30 to 8:00 pm at the Pittsfield Elementary School, 34 Bow
Street.
Appointments are encouraged, please call 1-800-Red-Cross
to schedule. However, walk-ins are welcome. Donors this drive
will receive an American Red Cross/Red Sox T-Shirt; a coupon for a
free round of golf in October at participating golf clubs and a
coupon from Monro Muffler/Brake or Tire Warehouse.
How good you
will feel if you take a little time out that day to donate.
Remember, the life you save could be your own or that of a family
member.
VA
Paralympic Program Office Launches Website
For Disabled Veterans To
Encourage Sports Participation Submitted By Merrill A. Vaughan
Vice Commander
American Legion Peterson-Cram Post 75 Pittsfield, NH
03263
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has launched its
Paralympic Program website as part of VA’s ongoing commitment to
support the rehabilitation and recovery of disabled Veterans through
participation in adaptive sports.
“Adaptive sports participation
among disabled Veterans has many proven benefits such as increased
independence, reduced dependency on pain and depression medication
and stress reduction,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K.
Shinseki. “Providing resources for disabled Veterans to participate
or compete in adaptive sports supports the holistic wellness of
Veterans, which is a key component of VA’s Veteran-centric care.”
The website is located at
www.va.gov/adaptivesports.
One of the highlights of the new
website is the “Success Stories” page, which features disabled
Veterans and their stories of how participating in adaptive sports
has positively impacted their lives. Veterans who participate in
adaptive sports at any level, as well as Paralympic competitors, are
encouraged to submit their stories and share their challenges and
triumphs with the entire Veteran community.
The site also
provides users with a comprehensive overview of the benefits of
disabled Veterans participating in adaptive sports, sports by
disability, training allowances, the VA Paralympic Grant Program,
and resources for caregivers and VA clinical personnel.
Another resource is the “Sports Club Finder” feature, a searchable
database developed by U.S. Paralympics that connects disabled
Veterans with local sports programs throughout the country.
“We
are excited about the launch of this new website and all that it
offers to the disabled Veteran community,” said Christopher J.
Nowak, national director, VA Paralympic Program Office. “It is full
of information disabled Veterans, their caregivers, VA clinical
personnel and Veterans Service Organizations will find useful. It
also highlights our partnership with U.S. Paralympics and contains
information on our mission to sustain participation in adaptive
sports among disabled Veterans in local community-based sports
programs.”
For more information, visit the website
www.va.gov/adaptivesports or send an email to
[email protected].
Bonina-Carter
Lisa Carter and Brett Bonina were married May 30th at Elbow Beach
Resort in Bermuda. The Rev. Charlie Frank performed the double-ring
ceremony. The bride was given in marriage by her fathers and
mothers.
Jennifer Carter of Concord, sister of the bride, was
maid of honor. Alycia Ostreicher of Milford, Mass., sister of the
groom; Heather Scanlan of Nelson, cousin of the bride; Danielle
Pratt of Whitinsville, Mass.; and Holly Farricy of Millis, Mass.,
were bridesmaids.
Nate Mullen of Framingham, Mass., was best man.
Brian Bonina of Bellingham, Mass., brother of the groom; Jake
Ostreicher of Milford, Mass., brother-in-law of the groom; Raymond
Shehata of Framingham, Mass.; and Steven Cyr of Uxbridge, Mass.,
were groomsmen.
The bride, daughter of William and Sharon Carter
of Blackstone, Mass., and Jeffrey and Kimberly Casey of Pittsfield,
earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from Bryant
University. She is a bid manager at GTECH Corp. in Providence, R.I.
The groom, son of John and Paula Bonina of Bellingham, Mass., is
pursuing a degree in construction management from New England
Institute of Technology. He is an architectural associate at
Aharonian & Associates Architects in Smithfield, R.I.
The couple
took a wedding cruise on the Norwegian Dawn as part of their
destination wedding and lives in Woonsocket, R.I.
Letter
Sometime during the night of August 8th someone went around the
downtown area, including the PYW, pulling plants and vegetables out
of the ground and threw them around. It is truly sad that someone
would destroy what makes our town look beautiful. Many adults and
youth spent time and hard work to make this town look nice and the
actions of one or a few destroyed that.
At the PYW the vegetable
plants were pulled out of the boxes and thrown around. These
vegetables were planted by the youth and would have been used for
cooking projects.
Even though during the night someone did this
destruction, there were two men who noticed the plants at PYW in the
morning and took time out of their day to replant them the best they
could to try and save them. I would like to thank Jeremy
Everson and Casey Brown for thinking of the PYW and replanting the
plants that were destroyed. It was very kind of you to see that it
needed to be done and do it.
Jennifer Cole
Calling
All Girls In Grades K-12 In Pittsfield And Chichester!
What a
wonderful year to join Girl Scouts! 2012 marks an important
anniversary in scouting. We will be 100 years old.
Did you know that you can be a girl scout without
being in a traditional “troop?” You can join
as a scout on many different pathways: travel,
series, camp, event, or even virtual???
Come and learn more on September
18th at Pittsfield Community Center from 6-7 pm. Register for a
troop or other pathway and find out all the opportunities that girl
scouting has to offer you. For more information please call Danielle
at 435-7001.
Operation Makeover Honors First Air Force Recipient
Reprinted by
permission from Ho'okele Photo And Story By DC Smith, Navy Region
Hawaii Public Affairs
Sophie
Topouzoglou, a 12-year-old cancer patient and daughter of Senior
Master Sgt. Terry Topouzoglou, Superintendent of 535th Airlift
Squadron, Pacific Air Forces, receives an Operation Makeover award
from Stanley Lum, executive director of Armed Services YMCA
(ASYMCA), during a ceremony July 14 at Hickam Sea Breeze. Sophie is
the first Air Force recipient of the program.
Operation Makeover honored its first Air Force recipient
during a
ceremony held July 14 at the Hickam Seabreeze.
Sophie Topouzoglou,
age 12, daughter of Senior Master Sgt. Terry Topouzoglou,
superintendent of 535 Airlift Squadron, Pacific Air Forces, (PACAF),
received the award. Stanley Lum, executive director of Armed
Services YMCA (ASYMCA) of Honolulu, presented Sophie with the award.
Sophie inspired so many people with her “can do attitude,” her
father said. He explained that programs such as this help lift the
spirits of people who face challenging circumstances and also raise
awareness throughout the community.
He recalled the serious
medical condition that Sophie fought and won and how she inspired
others. “Watching Sophie take on this fight with so much courage and
grace has not only inspired us as a family, but complete strangers
who reached out to us to say how her attitude has shaped their
outlook on life and family,” Topouzoglou said.
“The impact of
this type of an award is definitely positive,” said Lum. He added
that they have given one award per month since the start of the
program, but this will increase as numbers of nominations are
received.
“It is the experience that is most important,” he said.
“We want the recipient to conclude, ‘Wow, someone really cares about
my service to our country and what’s going on in my life enough to
treat me to a time of relaxation and pampering,’” Lum explained.
As the first Air Force recipient, Sophie said she was “surprised and
honored and very appreciative to the ASYMCA and Paul Brown” for the
honor.
Topouzoglou said that his wife was very proactive during
medical treatments and appointments, keeping friends and other
family members updated through social media. Responses grew to a
magnitude she could not have imagined.
“We would not be here if
it wasn’t for the medical staff at Tripler Army Medical Center. In
our opinion, they have offered our family medical attention that is
second to none,” Topouzoglou said.
He also shared his
appreciation for Sophie’s award. “Being recognized for the award
made the family feel fortunate to have such a great support system
filled with friends and family all around the world,” he noted.
“This is all in support of the military family. Our motto is
‘serving those who serve America,’,” Lum said.
Operation Makeover
is a program created by salon owner Paul Brown to show appreciation
to active duty military and their family members. Award recipients
receive various gifts, such as makeovers, dinners, shopping
certificates and hotel stays.
For more information about
Operation Makeover, visit
http://paulbrownhawaii.com/operationmakeover.asp.
For more
information about Armed Services YMCA of Honolulu, visit
http://asymcahi.org.
Editor’s Note: *John and Effie
Topouzoglou would like to extend their heartfelt thanks for all the
support and prayers given to them and their family during Sophie’s
brave fight.
Letter
To The Editor Put The “Lights Back In The Sky”
Pittsfield
Balloon Rally has put the town of Pittsfield, NH on the map.
This event has brought needed revenue into the community, with the
exception of this year. Let’s try to turn this around for next
year. I am starting a petition and submitting this letter to
both the Pittsfield Rotary and the Cemetery Committee to have the
fireworks return for 2012 and hopefully each year after.
The
Pittsfield Rotary had permission over 15 years ago from the Cemetery
Committee, there was never a problem for 15 years and we never
disrespected the cemetery. We had permission from the
community and all the people involved, until this year.
Help me,
Fireworks Bob, put the “Lights back in the Sky” over Pittsfield
Balloon Rally.
We need as many names and addresses as possible.
Send your name and address to: Bob DePoutot, PO Box 81,
Pittsfield, NH 03263.
Thank you for your time, Fireworks
Bob DePoutot
Become
A Volunteer Driver
Within the Mid-State community transportation
region of New Hampshire, access to basic and essential services can
be challenging for residents who are unable to obtain reliable
transportation due to age and disability or other limiting
circumstances. The Community Action Program Belknap-Merrimack
Counties, Inc. Volunteer Driver Program (VDP) augments and works
with existing VDPs operating in and through Belknap and Merrimack
counties to provide expanded access to transportation. Volunteer
drivers provide door-to-door service as well as feeder service to
public transportation services and routes in the region including to
the Rural Transportation System, Concord Area Transit and
Winnipesaukee Transit.
If you have: • A desire to help
someone in the community, • A valid New Hampshire driver’s
license and auto insurance, • Are over 21 years old, and
• Own a dependable vehicle.
You will benefit from the
rewards of volunteering as much as our clients do! You can: •
Set your own hours • Provide as few or as many trips
as you’d like. • Receive mileage reimbursement.
Come in
or send mail to: Susan Jutras, Volunteer Driver Program Coordinator,
Community Action Program Belknap-Merrimack Counties Inc., P.O. Box
1016, 2 Industrial Park Drive Concord, New Hampshire 03302-1016.
If you prefer, you can e-mail her at
[email protected], or call her at 603-224-8043.
Pittsfield Historical Society September Program
Gary Crooker of
Crook’s Books in Wilton will be the featured speaker at the Sept. 8
meeting of the Pittsfield Historical Society at Museum headquarters,
1 Elm Street, at 7 pm.
His talk will center on the history of NH
Old Home Day celebrations and the writing of his book on that
subject, focusing on the fact that Old Home Day is a homegrown
holiday created in NH. He will also present his collection of
Old Home Day ephemera from throughout the state.
Crooker has
served as chairman of the Wilton Old Home Days Committee for the
past 30 years, and has worked as a freelance writer for 40 years,
writing articles for such magazines as Mother Earth News, Running
Times, NHtoDo and Learning Through History. He currently
writes for Unravel the Gavel and Faces, and has been a member of the
NH Antiquarian Book Association for 15 years, now serving as vice
president.
Couple
Renew Vows
On June 26, 2011, Robert W. Clough II and Sarah Esteban Clough
renewed their marriage vows in the presence of family and friends on
the Green Monster at Fenway Park in Boston Massachusetts with
the Rev. Brian Gower of Center Barnstead Christian Church
officiating.
Mrs. Clough is the daughter of Raymond and Renee
Esteban of Sallisaw, Oklahoma. Crystal Turner served as Maid
of Honor. Her other attendants included Gracie Adams, Erika
Martens, Gwen BanWyk, Lisa Perry, and Maria Makrigians.
Mr.
Clough is the son of Robert Clough of Pittsfield, New Hampshire and
Costa Rica and Jette Clough of Concord, New Hampshire. He is
the grandson of Jean Jelley of Pittsfield, New Hampshire. Dan
Adams served as Best Man. Serving as groomsmen were Andy
Dunne, Matt Payne, Matt Cheever, Eddie Sheppard, and Scott
Dickerson. A 2001 graduate of Pittsfield Middle High School, Rob
served in Iraq with the United States Marine Corps.
The
couple has made their home with their daughter, Annika, in Peabody,
Massachusetts.
Your
Help is Needed Submitted By Merrill Vaughan
As your
representative to the Concord Regional Crime Line, I am asking you
to help the Pittsfield Police Department solve at least two crimes.
The first one deals with the stealing of American flags from the
Mount Calvary Cemetery sometime in July of 2011. The flags
were stolen from veteran’s graves that were placed there by members
of the American Legion Peterson-Cram Post 75 and community members
before Memorial Day. The fact that these flags are special to
not only fellow veterans but to the families as well, urges you all
the more to report any information you might have.
The second one
deals with Floral Park Cemetery. Water faucets that are used to fill
jugs with water were stolen sometime in June or July of this year.
Not just one or two faucets, but all of the faucets were broken and
stolen, causing the Cemetery association to replace the faucets.
Why were these two senseless acts committed? No one knows why
the flags and the faucets were stolen. But there is a way that
you can help the Police; by using the Concord Regional Crime Line.
There is a way that you, the citizens of Pittsfield, can help them
solve these two crimes and any other unsolved crimes; by contacting
the Concord Regional Crime Line at (603) 226-3100 or you can submit
your help by going online at
http://www.concordregionalcrimeline.com and clicking on “Report
a Crime or Tip.”
You may be eligible for up to $1,000.
In both cases, your tip will remain strictly confidential.
Pittsfield Area Senior Center Thank You!
Have you noticed the
Senior Center’s lovely new sign on the corner of Main Street and
Broadway? Everyone who comes to the Center’s activities would
like to extend a big thank you to Dave Hartley of Diamond Signs for
donating the sign’s painting and installation. It’s wonderful
to tell people new to the Suncook Valley to just look for the sign
and you’ll find the Senior Center.
TOPS
News Submitted By Terrie Azotea
This week at TOPS we had some
awesome weight loses and I know that those members tried really hard
to lose those pounds; so Kudos to you on your loss.
We know that
it’s an everyday struggle and we just have to stick to it and not
give up even though sometimes we might get discouraged and say
forget it, I can eat it this time. Well as you and I know, it
doesn’t work that way because it does catch up to us in the end.
Here are some food choices that might help us along the way. When
eating foods, make sure to measure the amount we are eating; use
whole wheat pasta and breads; cut out sugars; look at what you are
eating and say is this really what I want right now, think about it
and walk away and then if you are still hungry eat something that is
good for you and will satisfy you and not make you want to eat more.
When we eat snacks that have lots of sugar in them it just tells our
body to eat more. Soda is one of the worst drinks for sugar content.
Drink a nice glass of cold water with lemon; it’s just as
refreshing. Hopefully we have a good week.
At TOPS we are
getting ready for the Fall Rally coming up and the Inspiration
Workshop. We should hear some exciting stories about some weight
losses. We have had a couple new members join; it is awesome to see
some new faces. If anyone is interested in joining us, we meet on
Tuesday nights at the St. Stephen’s Church on Main Street in
Pittsfield. Weigh-in is at 5:30 and our meetings are at 6:30. Stop
by to see what we are all about.
Any questions, please call
Laurel Tiede at 269-8721 or Pat Smith at 435-5333. Hope
everyone has a great week!
“An
Apple A Day Keeps The Doctor Away” Luncheon
You and your
friends are invited to a luncheon sponsored by the Concord Christian
Women’s Club and Stonecroft Ministries on Thursday, September 8th,
from 11:30 to 1:30, at The Red Blazer Restaurant & Pub, 72
Manchester Street, Concord, NH.
The cost of the luncheon is
$15.00 inclusive. The feature is Diane Souther of Apple Hill
Farm, showing us new ways to use apples and the guest speaker is
Robin Smyth and family, celebrating five years of ministry in
Rwanda, Africa.
Reservations are required by August 31st,
cancellations are also required. Call Wendy at 485-7446 or
Barbara at 798-5976.
Stonecroft Ministries is a non-profit
ministry. For more information visit
www.Stonecroft.org.
Pittsfield Farmer’s Market
Don’t forget to visit the Sunrise
Farmer’s Market in Pittsfield on Friday afternoons. We offer
in season fruits and vegetables. Right now, tomatoes, sweet corn,
cukes, cantaloupes, squash, and peppers to name a few,
are in abundance. We sell fresh eggs, meats, wool products,
maple syrup, fresh cut flowers, and jellies and jams. The
Route 28 bakery provides us with freshly baked goods and the Guest
family is a recent addition selling allergen-free baked goods.
We are located on the grounds of Exit Reward Realty on River
Road, right off 28 every Friday from 3-6. We hope to see you
there.
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