Pittsfield NH News

Celebrating Birthdays are: September 24, Joe Zahn, Candee Frost; September 25, Dorcas Chisholm, Elise Aquilera; September 27, Dan Drew, Sabra Welch; September 28, Sadie-Mae Poulan; September 29, Bobby Snedeker, Joan Kimball; September 30, Pete Pszonowsky, Brad Graeme, Donna Graeme.
A Very Happy Birthday to one and all.
 

Celebrating Anniversaries are: September 27, Royce and Roberta Elkins; September 29, Stan and Sheila Bailey; September 30, Brad and Donna Graeme.
Best Wishes.
 

Please join Governor Lynch and the Pittsfield Economic Development Task Force as we “cut the wire” (as opposed to cutting the ribbon) and go wireless in downtown Pittsfield!

The celebration will be at Dustin Park on Main Street on Thursday, September 25th @ 9:30am.

We hope you can participate in this exciting celebration!
 

The Pittsfield Girls’ JV soccer team won their first game on 9/12 versus Sunapee 4-0. Janice Negron, Jen Tyrell and Colleen Corliss all scored for Pittsfield. Emily Tyler played an outstanding game at stopper. On 9/17 they shut out the Tigers of Farmington 3-0 with goals from Jillian Towle, Colleen Corliss, and Irene Vogt. Rebekah Adams and Sage Anthony played well for Pittsfield. Goalkeeper Kayleen Rojek recorded her second straight shutout.

The Varsity Girls (4-1) suffered their first loss of the season being shutout by a very physical Sunapee team 4-0. Steph Larpenter was outstanding for Sunapee in goal securing the shutout. Irene Vogt and Aunna Towle played solid games off the bench for Pittsfield. The Panthers rebounded and picked up a shutout against Nashua Christian 4-0 thanks to a strong offensive attack and terrific defense from Kara Gingras and Paige Corliss. Colleen Corliss led the scoring with 2 goals assisted by Bryce Paradise and Mercy Valdez. Allison Laflamme scored on an assist from Valdez and Kara Gingras scored unassisted.
 

How do you describe it? There are many adjectives that fit - like colorful, bright and cheerful and it brings a ray of sunshine to what used to be known as “Blood’s Corner.” Yes - I’m referring to the site of the Old Maxfield’s Hardware. Jim and Michelle Trovato have spent hours transforming the old location into an eye-catching business. The “Toy Box & Kid’s Korner” opened for business last week and a grand opening will be held in the near future. Store hours are posted on the door.

Plan to stop in soon to welcome them, thank them and wish them well. They offer a great line of toys, games, balloons, party paper, 99¢ cards and much more.

Welcome and best wishes with your endeavor.
 

While writing a “blurb” regarding the old Maxfield Store it occurred to me that I haven’t ever seen much mention of Jim Russell who, in recent months, opened Liberty Machine, LLC - Precision Machining on Barnstead Road. Are things looking up for our little village?

A belated welcome to Pittsfield, Jim.
 

The Pittsfield Park & Recreation Co-ed Basketball League is looking for coaches for this upcoming hoop season. We are looking for coaches for kindergarten through 6th grade. The season begins in December and runs until February. If you are interested in coaching please contact Jay Darrah at 435-5272 for more info.
 

The Boys Basketball Program will be hosting their 6th Annual Holiday Fair at Pittsfield High School on Saturday November 22, 2008 from 9AM - 2PM. Interested crafters please contact Jay Darrah at 435-5272 for a registration form.
 

Have you been thinking about ways to get better gas mileage? Come to the Chichester Central School on Thursday Sept. 25th at 6:30 and learn how one man attached a hydrogen fuel cell to his engine and went from 35 to 50 miles per gallon. Even if you’re a skeptic come and have your questions answered . You can talk to people who have done it. Hope to see you there.

Pittsfield Area Senior Center

Wed., Sept. 24

10:00 a.m. - Chair Exercise.
Chair Dancing.
Cards, cribbage, puzzles, conversation, coffee and having fun daily, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Pittsfield Area Senior Center Raffle for $500.00 worth of fuel!
Tickets are 1 for $1.00, 6 for $5.00, an arm’s length (16) for $10.00.
Call for details. 435-8482. Drawing is December 19th, 2008.
 

Thurs., Sept. 25

10 a.m. - Bingo.
10:00 a.m. - Bingo.
12:30 p.m. - Miniature Golf at Legends in Hooksett.
 

Fri., Sept. 26

10:00 a.m. - Bridge Practice.
10:00 a.m. - Chair Exercise.
Chair Dancing.
11:00 a.m. - Yoga. Sponsored by the Sanderson Fund.
 

Mon., Sept. 29

10:00 - Bingo is back on Mondays.
12:30 p.m. - Book Club.
 

Tues., Sept. 30

10:00 - Dan McGuire’s Easy Bridge Lessons.
10:00 a.m. - Crafts, Crazy Quilting.
 

Wed., Oct. 1

Chair Exercise.
Chair Dancing.
 

School Lunch Menus
Sept. 28-Oct. 2, 2008
 

CHICHESTER
Monday - Cheese or pepperoni, pizza, veggie sticks with dip, sliced apples with cinnamon, milk.
Tuesday - Chicken nuggets, whole wheat buttered noodles, corn, baker’s choice, milk.
Wednesday - Spaghetti with meatsauce, garlic bread, green beans, sliced peaches, milk.
Thursday - Ham salad roll, baked chips, veggie sticks with dip, milk.
Friday - Turkey & cheese wrap, pickles, lettuce & tomato, carrots, pineapple, milk.
 

PES
Monday - Cheeseburger, fries, fruit, milk.
Tuesday - Beef stew with bread & butter, fruit, milk.
 

PMHS
Monday - Pizza, corn, fruit, milk.
Tuesday - Pasta, meatsauce, salad, bread, fruit, milk.
 

“A Parent’s Dream” Luncheon

You and your friends are invited to “A Parent’s Dream” Luncheon on Thursday, October 9, 2008, at the Cat ‘N Fiddle Restaurant, 118 Manchester Street, Concord from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., $12.00 Inclusive.  228-8911.

Play Time, - Michelle Carignan.

Insight - Rebecca Watson - “Sharps + Flats.”

“Learned to balance her busy life when she began to feel out of tune.”

Reservations by October 7th please and cancellations are necessary. Please call Maddy at 485-4303 or Barbara at 798-5976.

The Luncheon is sponsored by Women’s Connection and Stonecroft Ministries (non-profit) www.Stonecroft.org.

Pittsfield Food Pantry

“A Mother Hubbard Tale”
By E. Soublet

Old Mother Hubbard
Went To The Cupboard
To make her poor sweet
Children some vittles.
But when she got there
 She found nothing but air
And in her pockets
There was nary a penny!
Alas & O Woe!
To whom shall I go?
My good neighbor Fran;
She’ll help me I’m sure,
But when she got there
Fran had nothing to spare!
Not a cent had she
Nor a crumb had she any!
Said neighbor Gantry
Come to the Food Pantry
They’ll have what we need
And our sweet children can eat
But when they got there
The Food Pantry was bare!
No cans, meat, or fruit
Zilch, now that wasn’t funny!
We’ll drive around town
And shake people down
Said Hubbard and friends
In their hunger and need,
But when they got there
Most wanted to share
Goods and even their money;
Please don’t make us all liars!
Mother Hubbard, Gantry and Fran

Alberta and Lester Potter are holding a food drive for the Pittsfield Food Pantry Saturday, October 11, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Town Hall, 85 Main Street. For more information, please call 435-8084. Please bring can goods, garden produce, meat, any other type food stuff. Or money to their Fill-A-Van drive.

We, at the Food Pantry want to thank those who share and give generously to help those in need in our town. We can honor the men and women who gave their lives helping others on 9/11 by our giving to those in need. It is the 9/11 spirit and part of what makes America great. America gives more than any other nation to those in need around the world as well as at home. Remember we are a 501 (C)(3). All donations are tax deductible.

The Pittsfield
Food Pantry Team

YOUTH VOICES – What are our kids telling us?

Are you a parent or guardian interested in learning more about issues facing our children?

Are you a young person interested in learning more about the issues you face every day?

Are you interested in how you might be able to help our community and our children?
Please join the Pittsfield Community Coalition, The Pittsfield School District and The Pittsfield Drug and Alcohol Coalition for an evening of food, open discussion and informative resources.

Safety, Violence and Weapons
Thursday, September 25th, Pittsfield Community Center, 6-8 p.m.

Family, Community, Communication, and Future Plans
Thursday, October 23rd, Pittsfield Community Center, 6-8 p.m.
 

American Legion Peterson-Cram Post 75

The American Legion Peterson-Cram Post 75 will hold their monthly meeting at the Post Home, 3 Loudon Rd. on October 6, 2008 at 7:30 P.M. This meeting will be a special meeting, as our new District 5 Commander, Bob Chagnon will be here to visit. All members who can attend this meeting should be in place no later than 7:25 P.M. All Post Executive Committee members are asked to be there by 7:15. An important item that will be discussed will be our annual Veteran’s Day observance, except this year is special, the theme for this year’s observance is “Armistice Day-90 Years Later.”

Veterans who are not members are most welcomed to attend this meeting and here would be a chance to find out what the Legion is all about. If you need a ride to the meeting, call the number below and a ride can be arranged.

Anyone with questions about this meeting can contact me at home (435-5207) or my cell phone (834-3166).

Merrill A. Vaughan, Commander
American Legion Peterson-Cram Post 75

Detective Sargeant Richard Walter sports his helmet promoting safety on wheels while out on the Pittsfield Police Department’s Segway.

The Pittsfield Police Department in conjunction with Pittsfield Fire Rescue is sponsoring a Bike Rodeo for children ages 6-12, Sunday, October 5, 1-4 p.m. at the Globe Manufacturing Parking Lot on Loudon Road in Pittsfield.

Feel free to wear your cowboy hats but it’s not that kind of Rodeo. A Rodeo is a skills test, which gives bicyclists an opportunity to practice and hone their bike riding skills to help them become better and safer bicyclists. Stations are set up providing bicyclists with certain challenges to accomplish while judges rate their skills. Challenges will include safely departing driveways and parking lots onto roads with or without obstructions; obeying traffic signs; checking the bike’s perimeter before changing direction or stopping and managing road obstructions and pitfalls.

Participants of the Bike Rodeo will have the chance to win prizes receive bike helmets and get some great advice and help from not only the Police and Fire/Rescue Departments but from the Mountain Biking Group as well.

Open to kids age 6 to 12 years, the Bike Rodeo proves to be an exciting and fun family opportunity to get out and practice those biking skills and maybe go home with a prize, a helmet and a sense of confidence and safety bicycling around town.
 

Officer Jay Darrah Joins The Pittsfield Police Department

Officer Jay Darrah and his wife, Heidi at his recent graduation.

Officer Jay Darrah has joined the Pittsfield Police Department as a part-time police officer. He recently completed the Police Academy and looks forward to making a difference in the town he grew up in. He is a full-time officer for the Department of Corrections for the State of NH. Officer Darrah has coached Varsity Basketball for Pittsfield Middle High School for almost 10 years and runs the Youth Basketball Program for Pittsfield’s Park and Recreation Committee. He enjoys the small-town atmosphere of Pittsfield and feels he will be a good influence on the youth of our town. He hopes to instill pride in his community by working as an officer. He enjoys spending his spare time with his wife and two children.

The Pittsfield Police Department is proud to have Officer Darrah as a part-time police officer.

Players Plan Fortieth Anniversary Fete And Dame Award Celebration

Members of the Anniversary Committee assembling invitations to go out within the week. From left front and around the table: Dee Dee Pitcher, Bea Pszonowsky, Jennifer Kearns, Len Miller (top of table), Russ Trudel, Nathan Strong, Jon Martin (right front). Missing from picture are: Kate Mara (and it was her house!), Angel Douglas, and Kat Abdelwahid.
 
Since 1968, The Pittsfield Players have been offering the greater Pittsfield community quality theater with productions ranging from one of its first, The Crucible by Arthur Miller to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat by Andrew Lloyd Webber, scheduled for mid November. For 40 years and at several venues, the Players have continued to delight audiences while growing by leaps and bounds.

On November 1st, the Players will celebrate their Ruby Anniversary with its annual Dame Awards combined with a sit down dinner/dance. The festivities will be held at the Concord Lodge of Elks #1210 in Epsom. Invitations will be forthcoming to the members through the mail. This exciting celebration is continuing to be planned by the Dame Award/Fortieth Anniversary Committee: Bea Pszonowsky, Kate Mara, Jennifer Kearns, Kat Abdelwahid, Dee Dee Pitcher, Angel Douglas,  Jon Martin, Russ Trudel, and Len Miller.

The nominees are posted on the Pittsfield Players web site and can be accessed by clicking on our ad at www.suncookvalley.com or at the Player’s site: www.pittsfieldplayers.com
  

2nd Annual Mid Summer Classic Wrap-Up

The 2nd Annual Mid Summer Classic was played and fun was had by all.  The tournament was won by Dicky Lank’s Team who scored an impressive 11 under for the course. The team consisted of Dicky Lank, Joel Mousseau, Jay Mousseau, and Bobby O’Harra. The 2nd place team consisted of Ian Stringer, Scott Haskell, Bob Gauthier, and Jay Darrah. The third place team consisted of Ryan Stockman, Harding Schofield, Don Latourette, and Rob Stockman. The Longest Drive went to Ian Stringer and Closest to the Pin was won by Nathan Brown. The tournament was a great success and we look forward to another successful tournament next year.

We would like to thank our many sponsors for their generous donations to the 2nd Annual Mid Summer Classic Golf Tournament held by the Pittsfield Boys Basketball and Baseball Programs. 

Joe Darrah Enterprises Inc., Pittsfield Police Association, Globe Firefighting Inc., Earth Construction, Alpha Design & Composition, Gaftek Inc., Pittsfield Boosters Club, Bell Brothers, Mooswa Realty, Paige Agency, Parker & Daughter, Cindy’s Hair Affair, Boulton Landscaping, Sign O Ramma, Parker’s Roast Beef, Laconia Pet Store, Ace Hardware in Pittsfield, Jack’s Pizza, The Suncook Valley Sun, Loudon Country Club.
 

Pittsfield Youth Soccer Day

The Suncook Valley Soccer Club is hosting the inaugural “Pittsfield Youth Soccer Day” on Saturday September 27th, 9:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. at Drake  Field.  The Suncook Valley Soccer Club is a recreational youth soccer club that has 11 teams ranging from U6 to U12 and serves the youth of Pittsfield. There will be raffles, a concession stand, and other fun events throughout the day. Come down and check out what is happening with youth soccer in Pittsfield.

Schedule of events:
9:00 a.m. - U8 I (Green Team) vs. U8 II (Purple Team) - Field C.
10:00 a.m. - U8 I (Green Team) vs. U8 IV (Red Team) - Field C.
U10 Boys  Pittsfield I vs. U10 Boys Epsom - Field A.
11:00 a.m. - U10 Boys  Pittsfield II vs. U10 Boys Chichester  - Field A.
U12 Girls Pittsfield I vs. U12 Girls Epsom I - Field B.
Kindergarten Scrimmage - Field C.
12:00 noon U10 Girls Pittsfield I vs. U10 Girls Chichester I - Field A.
U12 Boys  Pittsfield I vs U12 Boys Chichester  - Field B
U6 Scrimmage - Field C
1:00 p.m. - U12 Boys  Pittsfield II vs. U12 Boys Epsom - Field B.
 

The Pittsfield School District To Administer NH Annual Testing Program For Public Schools

John J. Freeman, Ph.D., Superintendent of the Pittsfield School District announced that the New England Common Assessment Program will be administered in grades three through eight and eleven during the first three weeks in October. 

Students, parents, and our community are reminded of these key facts as we look forward to this annual process.

• NECAP tests in reading, math, and writing are designed to measure students’ progress in meeting New Hampshire Grade Level Expectations (GLEs).

• GLEs are standards of performance - what students should know and be able to do – that form the basis for our school curriculum.

• The NECAP tests include a variety of types of test items, including multiple choice questions, short answer questions, constructed response questions, questions that require written responses, and a writing prompt.

• The tests are administered statewide in October; results are sent to schools in January.
• The NECAP is important in helping determine how well schools are doing in helping students meet standards and expectations (GLEs).

• The NECAP results are only meaningful and helpful when students do their best and give a strong effort in answering the test questions.

• NECAP results provide one perspective on how individual students are doing and how we, as a school and community, are doing; other assessments are also used to guide decisions on student learning and school programs.

• NECAP results help teachers to make decisions about what to teach children to support their long-term success.

• Test performance is supported by a positive attitude, a good night’s rest prior to testing, and good nutrition.

• To support a best effort, students are encouraged to:
• Minimize negative self-talk, such as “I can’t…,” “I will never…,” “I won’t…”
• Stress a positive attitude, such as “I can…,” “I will…,” “Yes,…”
• “Show what you know;”
• Give an honest, best effort on the tests.
• To support a best effort, adults are encouraged to:
• Explain the reason for the tests;
• Convey enthusiasm for the tests;
• Encourage students to “show what you know;”
• Express appreciation for students’ honest, best efforts on the tests.
• Remember that we’re all in this together; the NECAP will reflect on individual students, our schools, and our community.

Parents and community members with questions about NECAP are encouraged to call your child’s school and speak with the NECAP coordinator or school principal.