Those Celebrating Birthdays are: March 13, Lindsey Catalano, Shannon
Brown; March 14, Martha Laurie; March 15, Travis Locke, Sheila
Ward; March 16, Michael Wolfe, Jimmy Vien, Jr., Dan Fries, Martha Moloy, Teresa Cressey; March 18, Tessie Gadwah, Shane Clark, Rick
Bleckmann.
A Very Happy Birthday To One and All!
Celebrating Anniversaries are: March 17, Mr. and Mrs. Christopher
Briggs.
Best Wishes!
Play Ball!
Pittsfield Youth Sports would like to announce softball and baseball
signups for girls and boys aged 4-18. Signups will be held in the
Pittsfield Community Center on Tuesday, March 5 (5:30 p.m. – 8:00
p.m.), Saturday, March 9 (9:00 am – 2:00 p.m.), and Thursday, March
14 (5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.). If your child is new to the program,
please bring a copy of his/her birth certificate to signups. If you
have questions, please contact Glenn Amnott at 435-7905.
School Lunch Menus
March 18 - March 22 2013
PES
Monday
Erin Go Braugh!
Baked ham, sautéed cabbage, roasted potatoes, fresh apple
Tuesday
Tijuana Tuesday
Soft shell tacos with the fixins’, Rio Grande rice, cinnamon
applesauce
Wednesday
Early Release
Turkey and cheese wrap with the fixins’, pretzels, fresh fruit,
carnival cookie
Thursday
Mangia, Mangia
Lazy lasagna, Parmesan wheat roll, caesar salad, banana
Friday
Fresh Picks Pizza
Cheese pizza or chef’s topping, cucumber wedges, baby carrots,
peaches
PMHS
Monday
Erin Go Braugh!
Baked ham, sautéed cabbage, roasted potatoes, fresh apples
Tuesday
Tijuana Tuesday
Twin tacos with the fixins’, Rio Grande rice, cinnamon applesauce
Wednesday
Mangia, Mangia
Lazy lasagna, Parmesan wheat roll, caesar salad, banana
Thursday
Oppan Stir Fry Style!
Chicken stir fry, Asian vegetables, buttered noodles, mixed fruit
Friday
Get Your Calcium Here!
Baked potato bar, wheat roll, sweet and spicy carrots, peaches
Josiah Carpenter Library Hopes For Passing Of
Warrant Article To
Reopen Children’s & Teens Library
In August the Library faced our biggest challenge to date: the
extended closing of our beautiful downstairs Children’s Library. It
began last spring with the continuing problem of a drainage leak
into the back corner of the staff room. Previous attempts to
rectify the situation were unsuccessful. A small amount of surface
mold was quickly eradicated. A subsequent professional lab test
result proved the area was free of mold infestation. Mold did not
close the Children’s Library, but a second issue, revealed during
the inspection of the building is what shut the doors.
It was determined that the library building was not up to date in
meeting current State Fire codes, lacking a second exit from the
lower level Children’s Library. The room was immediately ordered
closed to the public until a second staircase from the area is
installed.
Children’s services have seen a decrease. Children cannot use the
room designed for them. Parents must review and reserve selections
online. Numerous programs have been cancelled. Attendance has
dropped and circulation has dramatically reduced. The Children’s
Library closure has not only been devastating to our statistics, but
demeaning to our services and demoralizing to our spirits, as well.
We entreat the residents of Pittsfield to support this year’s
warrant article designated to fund both projects. Passing the
warrant article will provide the means to repair the leakage in the
foundation and install a staircase. This will protect from threat of
future mold infestation, as well as provide a safe exit in an
emergency. Passing this warrant article is the only thing that will
allow us to resume business as usual in our full Children’s Library,
with all of its wonderful books, movies, educational games and
materials and many programs. Please support your library with your
affirmative vote.
World Day Of Prayer
The weather cleared long enough for the annual World Day of Prayer
to take place on Friday evening, March 1, at St. Stephen’s Episcopal
Church in Pittsfield. Attending the service were over 50 men and
women representing 11 churches and other area residents from Alton,
Barnstead, Chichester, Epsom, Loudon, New Durham, Pittsfield, and
Strafford. Using music, dance, testimonials and prayers, the
service highlighted the issues and needs of women in France’s
multicultural society using the theme “I was a Stranger and You
Welcomed Me.”
The World Day of Prayer service is written by the women of a
different country each year to heighten awareness of the status of
its women, bringing the broader Christian community together in
prayer on the first Friday in March. Local churches take turns
hosting the service. The offerings collected at these services are
used to provide financial support to organizations working to
address inequities in women’s rights around the world.
Pittsfield Middle High School Presents Their Winter ELO Celebration
Night
Pittsfield Middle High School will be hosting their Winter Extended
Learning Opportunity (ELO) Celebration Night on Friday, March 15,
2013 from 5:30 – 8 pm. Students who have been engaged in ELO
experiences this past summer and fall will be presenting their final
projects and providing the audience with a presentation detailing
their particular learning adventures.
The community is cordially invited to attend this event with the
students, their community partners, highly qualified teachers,
family, and friends to celebrate the students’ learning and share in
the excitement of their experience.
Please mark your calendars and plan on attending this exciting event
at PMHS in the Lecture Hall. Refreshments will be served. We hope to
see you there.
Please call Sheila Ward at 435-6701 X1117 if you have any questions.
See you then.
TOPS News
Submitted By Terrie Azotea
At TOPS this past week we elected new officer’s on the board.
Welcome! We voted on Miss or Mr. Inspiration, and for our KOPS
Inspiration. Those members will be announced at our spring banquet.
Best Loser of the week was Joyce. Good Job! Kudos to Tedie and Janis
for second and third. KOPS of the week was Peggy! Keep up the good
work, I hear that Joyce loves to play tennis so if anyone likes to
play she would love it and it’s good exercise.
We had Royalty and members were recognized for losing weight for the
month. Again, I say good job. We have an upcoming unwrapped auction
and Inspiration workshop. This month seems to be a busy month. We
were challenged by Suzie to lose this week. So come on eveyone,
let’s make it happen.
If anyone would like to see what we do each week, come on out, join
us and make some new friends. We meet on Tuesday nights at the St.
Stephen’s Church on Main Street in Pittsfield at 5:30 for weigh in
and at 6:30 for our meeting. Any questions please call Laurel Tiede
at 269-8721 or Pat Smith at 435-5333.
Hope everyone has a good week and see you all lighter next week!
Letter
Pittsfield voters:
I read letters to “vote for me” or letters to vote for someone or
vote Yes for an article but no one seem to say anything about the
Town Meeting or even when it is.
The Town Meeting is March 16th, in the morning. It used to start at
10, I gather it is still the same time. Last year they were fewer
people than I have seen in the past 7 years that I have lived here.
If you aren’t concerned how people vote for your taxes, then stay
home, but Do Not complain about how the select people run this town.
You are letting less than 200 people determine what should happen in
this town. What a shame.
If you are concerned, Be There.
Diane Vaughan
American Automobile Association’s Driver Improvement Program
Safe Driving For Mature Operators
AAA Northern New England’s “Safe Driving for Mature Operators
Program” is a four-hour classroom program that will be offered at
the Pittsfield Area Senior Center on Wednesday March 27, 2013. This
course is designed for mature drivers who are interested in the
effects aging has on their driving ability. This class content is
designed to increase safe driving awareness and confidence behind
the wheel. The program is designed to be fun, interactive, and
anxiety free. Discussions are lead by friendly AAA trained and
certified instructors, and some automobile insurance companies offer
a discount after successful completion of the class!
Twenty participants are needed to offer this class. The cost is
$15.00 for AAA members and $20.00 for non-members. Registration is
at 9:00 am and the class will begin at 9:30 am. There will be a
lunch break at noon, and a luncheon will be available at the Senor
Center. To sign up, please call 435-8482 by March 20th.
The Pittsfield Players Present Ken Ludwig’s, “Lend Me A Tenor”
“Lend Me A Tenor” is one of the those shows that seems to have been
around ‘forever’ and been done by every theatre group you know, even
getting a reprise on Broadway last year, with good reason, it’s a
hit. It’s funny, witty and non-stop action from start to finish. Of
course, what makes the show work so well is its cast and crew.
Having interviewed the cast; they all have wonderful things to say
about each other and themselves! Many actors travel quite some time
to get to their rehearsals and have been involved in theatre
‘forever,’ some having done this particular show before but as
different characters (age will do that to you).
Gary Evans, as Saunders, played Max 25 years ago and makes his way
from Weare; while Jack Miller , the bellhop, drives from Derry, both
were in The Pittsfield Players production of Man of LaMancha last
year. Tamara McGonagle, as Diane joins us from Gilford and the
Winnipesaukee Playhouse where one of her favorite roles was that of
Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Kaylin Dean and
Greg Parker venture to us from the Village Players in Wolfeboro,
where Kaylin runs Expressions Dance Academy and played Louise in
Gypsy and Greg dabbles in Shakespeare at Sandwich. Kat Abdelwahid,
while a Pittsfield Players member, enjoys spending time treading the
boards at the Majestic Theatre in Manchester. Peggy Johnson played
Maria 20 years ago with the Rochester Arts and Paul Smith has played
a Ludwig role as George in The Pittsfield Players production of
“Moon Over Buffalo.”
Mark your calendars now for “Lend Me a Tenor” April 5, 6, and 7, 11,
12 and 13. The Pittsfield Players will be back online for ticketing
by Friday, March 15 so our patrons can enjoy the ease of ordering
tickets online again. Tickets will still be available by reservation
through the box office as well, (603)435-8852. You can also visit
the Pittsfield Players on facebook. “Lend Me A Tenor” has been rated
PG-13 by The Pittsfield Players for adult themes.
Submitted By Meggin Dail
Pittsfield has a bad reputation. Surprised? Whether you live within
or outside of Pittsfield, you may have heard some negative comments.
Pittsfield suffers from bad public relations. What it needs is
someone as its press agent, someone to broadcast its good qualities
so they outshine any negative ones. While I’m not going to take on
that role entirely, I will tell you that Pittsfield has a very
active Chamber of Commerce, an outstanding Old Home Day Committee,
and, if I do say so myself, a remarkable community theatre.
The Pittsfield Players have been around providing professional
looking community theatre since 1968. Forty-five years is a long
time for a group such as this to go unnoticed and yet it still does.
Still, out-of-towners, almost as often as those who live here, will
comment, “I didn’t know this was here.” This; meaning The Scenic
Theatre and The Pittsfield Players. Once inside the doors of the
Scenic, the same people are often overheard remarking; “I had no
idea how nice it was inside this building.” The Scenic Theatre has
been owned by The Pittsfield Players since 1991 and has undergone
extensive renovations and upgrades since then. First the stage was
permanently installed, and then the seats were updated when the
floors and walls were refinished while retaining the art deco
properties and acoustic benefit of the building. New siding gave the
building a face-lift. Next, an interior staircase was installed,
after an extremely generous donation, for the purpose of having a
second means of egress per fire codes. (Little did those fire codes
know, this came as a boon to the Players as we were used to going
out through the alleyway to reach the backstage area.) Fresh coats
of paint in the upper and lower portions of the theatre as well as
many other upgrades involving sewer, handicap accessibility,
heating, storage and meeting more fire codes have occurred along the
way.
You see, the Pittsfield Players used to rent The Scenic Theatre. We
used to hold auditions, build sets and rehearse on the unheated
third floor of the Odd Fellows Hall, then a week before show we
would set up our flats, props and scenery, build a stage and
rehearse at The Scenic Theatre which was still a movie theatre at
the time. I, personally, remember hiking the three stories to the
third floor either to wait while my mother was finished with a
rehearsal (stealing sugar cubes from the coffee bar), to help out
with a production or to help carry canvas flats (“walls” in theatre
speak) to and from Main Street to Depot Street.
To have a home to call our own is a very special thing not many
small community theatre companies can boast of; a thing that, we,
the members of The Pittsfield Players, are very proud of. Even our
sign hanging from 6 Depot Street proudly states, “Home of the
Pittsfield Players.” Home indicates family and that is also what you
will find inside the Scenic Theatre, Home of The Pittsfield Players.
Our Family consists of many ages and many talents and a lot of pride
for the craft we do. We are shocked and surprised when someone says
the word “Pittsfield” in a derogatory tone. We cringe when you tell
us you’ve never been to a production, much less an audition at our
theatre; or that you’ve never heard of us. We’re also delighted when
you discover us.
I’m still always surprised when someone tells me they’ve never been
in the Scenic Theatre before, maybe because I literally grew up in
it. I was in my first play at seven; I saw many movies at “Art’s
Barn” (what we called the Scenic Theatre because of its former owner
and current ghost, Arthur Dame); I returned to the theatre at
seventeen; had my first lead role at nineteen and my directorial
debut at twenty-eight. I served nine years on the board of
directors; two years as president and have performed just about
every task related to a theatrical production. With all this time
and energy spent at The Scenic Theatre and with The Pittsfield
Players, I can only wonder; how is it you’ve never heard of us? But
I get it; to each his own. While I was acting, directing, painting,
lighting, etcetera; you were busy doing other things. It’s possible
you didn’t believe something good could come out of Pittsfield. It’s
possible you didn’t know where we were. It’s possible you believed
the nay-sayers who say that Pittsfield isn’t good despite having the
once biggest fireworks display in the area; the longest running,
largest Hot Air Balloon Rally in the State; and a couple of New
Hampshire Theatre Awards for outstanding theatre.
It’s possible… But not anymore. Now, you know about us. Now you have
no reason not to come to a production, an audition, a fundraiser.
Believe me when I tell you that you will not be disappointed with
The Pittsfield Players. You will only be disappointed you didn’t
find us earlier.
Good To Great: A Community Forum
The PMHS cafeteria is usually empty on Saturday mornings, but a good
50 people gathered there from 10 am – 12 pm on February 16th for the
Good-to-Great Community Forum. The phrase “good-to-great,” made
famous by the pioneering management expert Jim Collins, is a way of
thinking about how to move an organization from average to
exemplary.
The Pittsfield Forum was both a celebration of how the schools have
been moving toward excellence and a call to action to keep the
momentum going in the community.
“While 2008 may be best known for the economic downturn in this
country, in Pittsfield, it’s also known as the beginning of a period
of significant change in our schools,” said Superintendent John
Freeman in welcoming the diverse crowd of students, educators,
parents, and community members. Special outside guests included Paul
Leather, Deputy Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of
Education, newly elected State Senator John Reagan, and Bruce
Mallory, Director of the Carsey Institute at the University of New
Hampshire.
The impetus for change in the District came from the Pittsfield
School Board, after the last of several nearby towns seceded to form
their own single-district or cooperative district administrative
units. While it was a blow to Pittsfield, the Board also saw it as
an opportunity to break the mold. Over the next few years, the
Pittsfield School District successfully secured several grants to
jump-start the change process, including a substantial one from the
Nellie Mae Education Foundation in 2011. According to Freeman, a
newly established group, the Community Advisory Council (CAC),
secured that grant, creating the blueprint for a 7-10 year plan to
redesign the educational system.
“It is now time for us to move to the next level of engagement, from
planning to implementation,” said Freeman about the reason for
convening the Good-to-Great Community Forum. The Community Advisory
Council, he explained, would sunset, with a new continuous
improvement advisory council – the Good to Great Team – as its
successor.
The Good-to-Great Community Forum was facilitated by Bill Bryan,
lead technical consultant for the District and Vice President of
Leadership and Organization Development for the Center for Secondary
School Redesign. Bryan led the group in two interactive exercises.
In one exercise, attendees, who were seated at tables of 6-8 people,
introduced themselves to one another. In the second exercise
participants worked in teams to identify questions about the
redesign and about the role of the new team. Each team shared their
questions with the larger group.
Many of the questions were addressed in a presentation given by
Susan Bradley and Tobi Chassie, Co-Project Managers of the District
Level School Change initiative.
“Progress has little to do with speed, but everything to do with
direction,” said Tobi Chassie in a presentation about the District’s
five areas of focus for change. “In my 22 years in the District,
this is the most exciting and dramatic effort I’ve ever seen.”
Chassie and Bradley articulated the five areas of focus for change
in the District: Ensuring student ownership for learning; raising
student achievement; 21st century skills and civic responsibility
and social-emotional learning; redefining adult roles and
performance expectations; and engaging the community. All of these
elements, they said, are geared toward providing an enriched,
student-centered experience. They explained that for young people to
thrive in a complex and rapidly changing workforce and society, they
must master a much broader set of skills and competencies than what
was expected of previous generations. These increased demands
require that learning be more personalized so that every single
student achieves proficiency. In this new era, “failure is not an
option,” said Chassie.
Flexible scheduling, creative use of technology, redefining the role
of teachers, providing internship and job shadow opportunities in
the community, and increased leadership and decision-making for
students were a few of the elements of the redesign that were
featured.
The PMHS Site Council, a governing body that sets school policy,
also spoke at the Forum. The Site Council consists of students,
faculty and members of the community, with students comprising
majority membership. Three students—Noah Manteau, Max Tuttle, and
Rebecca Adams—shared some of their experiences on the Council, as
did their adult advisor, Derek Hamilton. Their short presentation,
which included a video that moved many in the audience to tears of
joy, was the introduction to a longer and more formal presentation
they were recently invited to give at the prestigious National
Association of Secondary School Principals Breaking Ranks 2013
School Showcase in Washington D.C. Pittsfield was one of just 21
U.S. high schools to be invited.
The IMPACT team, a student group at PMHS that focuses on the
social-emotional aspects of school, discussed its proposal for a new
disciplinary system at PMHS. Julie Dyer, Madison Johnson, and their
adult advisor, Jenny Wellington, explained that the new system is
called “restorative justice.” It focuses less on punitive measures
such as detentions and suspensions, which have been largely
ineffectual, and more on the ways that students should be held
accountable to their community by “fixing what they broke.”
Toward the end of the Forum, Bill Bryan charged attendees with
another assignment: to discuss in small groups what they would
envision as a process for continuous improvement, a way to keep the
ball rolling in the Pittsfield School District. “We have made good
progress,” said Bryan, “but we aren’t all the way there yet.” For
example, one challenge will be to align the 90-plus teams that exist
in the District so that everyone is moving in the same direction.
Another challenge will be to continue building public will for the
redesign so that “we keep supplying the system with energy,” said
Bryan.
Ted Mitchell, local businessman and chair of Pittsfield’s Economic
Development Committee, talked about his work on the Community
Advisory Team and the importance of the redesign to the entire
Pittsfield community. “I have been able to see the big picture of
how the educational system and the economy of our town are tightly
connected,” he said. “We all need to come together—including
businesses and community colleges—to make sure our students are
getting the opportunities that will prepare them for good careers.”
The Continuous Improvement Advisory Council is expected to begin its
official work in the fall of 2013. Scott Brown, former School Board
member and Chair of the Community Advisory Council, said the effort
is now underway to recruit 40-50 people to serve on the Council.
Members will attend monthly meetings and engage in some committee
work.
“This is a unique opportunity to take our District from good to
great,” said Brown.
“We take it on the chin (in Pittsfield) for our reputation. We need
to get the message out about the great things that are happening
here. Talk to your friends, relatives, and neighbors and celebrate
what we’ve accomplished,” said Brown. “Because of this work, our
community will be much stronger and our school system will have a
reputation that is second to none.”
Obituaries
Patricia E. Lank
Patricia E Lank, 76, died March 7th at the Epsom Health Care Center,
where she had resided for the past year, surrounded by her family.
She was born in Pittsfield, the daughter of Thomas and Edith
Kenneally.
She was employed for many years by the Globe Manufacturing Co. and
was a lifelong Pittsfield resident. She was the widow of
her husband of 50 years, Richard R Lank, who died in 2003 and
members of her family include, 3 Sons, Peter A Lank and wife Pauline
of Concord, Richard A. Lank of Concord and Daniel J. Lank of
Barnstead. Daughters, Cynthia Hodges and husband Stephen of
Strafford and Deborah Nickerson and husband John of Barnstead. 11
Grandchildren and 1 great grandson. A Brother Thomas Kenneally of
Chichester and a sister Lorraine Stewart of Munroe , OH. Nieces,
Nephews and cousins.
A Celebration of Pat’s life will be held at Alan’s Restaurant in
Boscawen from 12 – 4 PM Saturday March 16th. A Graveside Service
will be scheduled in the spring at the Floral Park Cemetery,
Pittsfield. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the
Payson Cancer Center, 250 Pleasant St. Concord, NH 03301 To sign an
on line guest book, log on to perkinsandpollard.com. The Perkins &
Pollard Memorial Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
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