Suncook Valley Business Directory
Suncook Valley » Home
» Business Directory
» NH Classifieds
» NH Obituaries
» Suncook Valley Sun Archives
» Advertise
» Contact

  Suncook Valley.com Serves the Towns of:

Barnstead, Chichester, Epsom, Gilmanton, Northwood, and Pittsfield NH

Submit NH Classifieds, Events, Notices, and Obituaries to [email protected].


Home

Barnstead

Chichester

Epsom

Gilmanton

Northwood

Pittsfield

 

Classifieds

 

Business Directory

 

Advertise

 

Contact

 

Suncook Valley Sun Historical Archive

 

(note: we are NOT affiliated with the Suncook Valley Sun Newspaper.





 

 











 

 

 

Pittsfield NH News

November 11, 2015

The Suncook Valley Sun News Archive is Maintained by Modern Concepts. We are NOT affliated in any way with the Suncook Valley Sun Newspaper.



 

The Clothes Closet

Carroll Street

435-8142

The shop will be closed for heat installation on Saturday, November 14th.

For your benefit it will be open on Friday, November 13th, 10:00-1:00.

Closed Thanksgiving Week for the holiday.

 


 

St Stephen’s Prayer Shawl Ministry is continuing to meet every other Monday morning at 10AM. Starting Mon Nov 16th, we will meet in St Stephen’s Undercroft or church lower level. We pray, knit and socialize as we create lovely shawls and scarfs to give people in our community who are experiencing loss, are in need of healing or are going through difficult times.  We have patterns, expertise, lovely skeins of homespun yarn, so a crochet hook or pair of size 10 to 13 needles is all that is needed, All are welcome.

 


 

HAM & BEAN DINNER

 

The Suncook Valley Sno Riders are hosting their annual Ham & Bean Dinner at the Barnstead Parade Fire Station on Saturday November 14, 2015 from 5pm – 7pm. Prices are $8.00 for adults, $4.50 for kids 6-12 and under 5 is free. Major credit cards accepted! We will have club stickers, sweatshirts, raffle tickets, trail maps, and club memberships also on sale! Your dinner purchase also enters you into our Turkey Drawing! Come for the ham and beans and maybe you’ll leave with a free turkey!

 

For more info visit www.SuncookValleySnoRiders.com

 


 

Fantastic Fair

Pittsfield Ark.jpg

One of the many items on the Silent Auction is this handcrafted “Noah’s Ark” with stuffed animals made by Freda Jones. The Dorcas Guild’s Christmas Fair will be held November 21, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

 

Come one, come all to the Christmas Fair at the First Congregational Church, 24 Main Street, Pittsfield, Saturday, November 21, from 9 to 2.  Sponsored by The Dorcas Guild, this fair is nothing short of fantastic.

 

There are many handcrafted things: kitchen items, aprons, mittens, hats, artwork, jewelry, toys and special gourmet and baked goods. Don’t forget the “Unique Boutique” for outstanding values and the “Silent Auction” for those special gifts.

 

Come to shop and stay for a low-cost corn chowder and sandwich lunch. One of New Hampshire’s great church fairs, this one is not to be missed. Parking and wheelchair accessible entrance at rear of church, enter at Chestnut Street. For more info, call the church office at 435-7471.

 


 

United States Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Patrick E. Bailey

Pittsfield Bailey.jpg

Chief Master Sergeant Patrick E. Bailey is the 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron’s Maintenance Superintendent.  In this position, he leads a mission-focused team of 402 maintenance professionals providing on-equipment maintenance for 31 MQ-1/9 Remotely Piloted Aircraft, supporting the AF’s largest RPA field training unit.  He advises the commander on technical and personnel matters related to health of the fleet and the health and welfare of the enlisted force.

 

Chief Bailey was born in Vermont and raised in New Hampshire, graduating from Pittsfield Middle High School in 1993 and joined the Air Force in July 1993.  He attended technical training at Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado and subsequently reported to Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico as an EF-111A “Aardvark” Avionic Systems Specialist. His diversified maintenance background encompasses EF-111A, F-117A, F-16C/D block 30/40/50, F-22A, MQ-1 and MQ-9 airframes. Chief Bailey has deployed in support of Operations PROVIDE COMFORT, SOUTHERN WATCH, DENY FLIGHT, NOTHERN WATCH, IRAQI FREEDOM and NOBLE EAGLE.

 

EDUCATION 

1995     FCC Radio-Telephone Operator Course, Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico

 

1998     Airman Leadership School, Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico

 

2005     Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico        

 

2006     Associate Degree, Avionic Systems Technology, CCAF

 

2010     Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Alabama

 

2012     Advanced Maintenance Superintendent Course, Nellis AFB, Nevada

 

ASSIGNMENTS 

1.         July 1993 – August 1993, Student, 331th Basic Military Training Squadron, Lackland AFB, Texas

 

2.         August 1993 – March 1994, Student, 3450th Technical Training Squadron, Lowry AFB, Colorado

 

3.         March 1994 – August 1998, EF-111A Avionics Journeyman, 429th Electronic Combat Squadron, Cannon AFB, New Mexico

 

4.   August 1998 – October 2000, F-16 Avionics Journeyman, Specialist Expediter, 4th Fighter Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah

 

5.   October 2000 – October 2001, F-16 Avionics Quality Assurance Inspector, 8th Operations Group, Kunsan AB, South Korea

 

6.  October 2001 – November 2003, F-16 Avionics Craftsman, Specialist Expediter, 555th Fighter Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy

 

7.         November 2003 – February 2007, F-117 Specialist Expediter, Specialist Section Chief, 8th AMU, Holloman AFB, New Mexico

 

8.         February 2007 – February 2008, F-16 Production Superintendent, 36th AMU, Osan AB, South Korea

 

9.         February 2008 – August 2011, F-16 Lead Production Superintendent, 35th AMU, Misawa AB, Japan

 

10.       August 2011 – Present, 7 AMU F-22 Lead Production Superintendent, 7 AMU Superintendent, 6 AMU MQ-1 Superintendent, Squadron Maintenance Superintendent, Holloman AFB, New Mexico

 

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters

Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters

Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster

 

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

1996     Below the zone promotion to Senior Airman

 

1998     Lance P. Sijan award-NCO, Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico

 

2006     Lance P. Sijan award-SNCO, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico

 

2008     Tuskegee award-SNCO, Balad Air Base, Iraq

 

2009     Lt. Gen Leo Marquez award-SNCO, Misawa Air Base, Japan

 

2012     Gen Lew Allen, Jr. award-SNCO, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico

 

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Airman January 1994

Airman First Class        November 1994

Senior Airman   January 1996

Staff Sergeant  August 1998

Technical Sergeant       May 2003

Master Sergeant           July 2006

Senior Master Sergeant January 2011

 

Chief Master Sergeant March 2015. Patrick was stationted for three years at Elmandorf AF Base in Anchorage, AK for his Chief Master Sergeant assignment.

 

Parents Stanley and Sheila Bailey are proud to share this acknowledgement of their son’s accomplishments.

 


 

Hunting In Pittsfield

Submitted By Larry Berkson

 

As might be expected, my article on fishing led to questions about hunting. However, there were only a few reports in the local newspapers about hunting in the 19th and early 20th centuries except the information I presented on bounty hunters a few weeks ago. There is some anecdotal information which is presented below. This changed with respect to deer hunting after World War II. 

 

Hunting Anecdotes

Game was relatively plentiful in the 18th and 19th Centuries. The area abounded with deer, moose, bear, rabbits, squirrels, pheasants, partridge, woodcocks and water fowl. In the early years of Pittsfield, hunting was not only a sport but a necessity for some, to put meat on the table. One of the earliest newspaper reports was in 1874 when Captain Everett Jenkins, Pittsfield’s post master, in a single day, shot nine red squirrels, seven gray squirrels, three partridges, and a striped squirrel.   

 

In the fall of 1881 farm laborer David F. Tilton and butcher Clinton M. Green killed 71 gray squirrels and a partridge.  Also that fall Walter E. Grove, a young lad of 16, in addition to killing 52 woodchucks, killed several gray squirrels, partridges and ducks.  He also killed an eagle.

 

Some hunting was to protect live-stock, although no bounty was involved. For example, in 1882 Lang Rowe of Webster’s Mills shot two large hen hawks, one with a wing span measuring four feet, four inches, and the other three feet, 11 inches.  The hawks each had carried off young turkeys and chickens. Four years later in 1886 Van Bunker shot a bird, probably a hawk or an eagle, with a wingspan of five feet, eight inches. 

 

By the turn of the Twentieth Century partridge had become fairly scarce. However, one was shot in 1905 by banker Herbert B. Fischer in a tree on the grounds of the Tuttle Mansion on Main Street.  According to the newspaper report it “proved to be [a] very fine and plump one, and no doubt made a fine toothsome meal.”

 

A popular sport in the Twentieth Century was hunting raccoons with dogs. During the fall season of 1928 through mid-October Frank Volpe shot 26.  Hunting rabbits with dogs was also a popular sport. I remember Arnold Purtell kept a few beagles in his barn on Oak Street in the 1950s and Bob Hemeon boarded some of his dogs there. They hunted on weekends and when they did not, Kenny Purtell and I would take the dogs to various parts of town and bring home a few good ones. They sure made good eating. Today they are non-existent in the area. Pheasants, a non-native bird put out by fish and game, were also hunted, sometimes with pointer dogs.

 

Rather strangely, little information was reported in The Valley Times about deer kills in the early 20th Century. Indeed between 1927 and the end of the World War II there were less than a dozen mentions of individuals shooting deer. This seems a bit unusual, for in the “Pittsfield Personals,” even the smallest of events was reported, such as the circumference of a large egg, who had the grip, who was visiting whom, and the number of hogs killed by a farmer. In 1931 there was an article on a gala venison feast at the Washington House attended by a large number of people. However, the source of the deer meat was not reported.

 

Nonetheless, it is known that deer were hunted with a vengeance during the season, generally the month of December. And deer hunting was a very serious affair. The first day of hunting season meant the woods were full of men and factories and businesses were short on help. Allan Remington, superintendent of the Cotton Mill in the 1940s, lamented in his report to the owners that it was a “sacred day for hunters.” “Old-timers and many younger men,” he wrote, “could not be expected to work on that day, in fact, some would not work for several days . . . until they had their deer.”    

 

Frank Volpe’s Deer Club

Pittsfield Volpe, Frank Presenting John McCormick of Laconia a Jacket Won in hte 1957 Deer Pool.jpg

Frank Volpe presenting John McCormick of Laconia a jacket won in the 1957 Deer Pool.

 

In December of 1928 Frank Volpe started a deer hunting club. Fifteen hunters got together and each kicked in 50 cents and the person who got the largest deer won the grand prize of $7.50. The rules were that the deer must be woods dressed (heart and liver removed), each member must shoot his own, and it must be weighed in at Volpe’s Store. The rules changed little over time, adding only that no hunter could receive more than one prize, the deer must be weighed in within 24 hours of the kill, and if for any reason there was a controversy, a committee of three members would be appointed to settle the affair. 

 

For nearly a decade the results of the contest were not reported. Presumably the club was comprised of a small group of local people and did not draw much attention. However, after World War II it began attracting a large number of members and considerable notoriety. 

 

The club was non-profit, and as years passed the prizes far exceeded the money taken in from club membership. Mr. Volpe, an avid hunter and sponsor of the club, provided the excess funds and prizes, which were high powered rifles for the major winners and small caliber rifles for secondary winners, with all types of equipment and clothing for others.

 

Awards were made for several of the largest bucks and does taken and booby prizes went to some of the smallest killed. Much later, when bow and arrow season opened in Bear Brook, special prizes were awarded for deer taken in that manner. 

 

It became a tradition for men to gather in front of Mr. Volpe’s store on Depot Street at dusk every evening during hunting season to watch the weigh-in. Mr. Volpe or his son would faithfully check the carcass to make sure that it was disemboweled thoroughly and that no weight had been placed up in the neck. 

 

The weights were recorded on large sheets of cardboard which covered the entire back wall of the store. On it was an alphabetical list of all those who had joined the club, the kill, if any, the weight, sex, and in later years, the estimated distance the hunter was from the kill when making the shot. 

 

The first report of deer pool winners was for the 1946 season.  Two hundred thirty-three joined the club and 40 deer were killed. Louis Forbes, formerly of Pittsfield won with a 193 pound buck with 10 points. Norman Leduc of Pittsfield came in second with a 172 pound, nine point buck. Other winners came from Barnstead, Epsom, and Manchester. Harold Gilman of Pittsfield won the booby prize with a 47 pound doe. 

 

The number of members increased 1947 to 278 members, who made 73 kills, 48 bucks and 25 does.  Herbert Bickford of Gilmanton Iron Works scored a 196 pound, 10 point buck. No prizes were given for does. Albert Brasley of Suncook won the booby prize with a 34½ pound buck. Of the 15 prizes awarded, five went to Pittsfield men.

 

The following year the number of members increased to 639.  First prize, a 300 Remington Automatic Rifle, went to Fred Welcome of Concord who shot a 216 pound, eight point buck.  The largest deer taken by a Pittsfield man that year was by Albert Cheney who shot a seven point buck weighing 181 pounds. He was awarded a 30-30 Winchester Rifle. Leonard Tasker of Barnstead had the deer with largest antler rack, 17 points. One prize went to a woman, Evelyn Tasker, who shot a 167 pound, eight point buck. The booby prize went to Leonard Greer of Pittsfield, for a 36½ pound doe.

 

In 1949, 655 members joined the club.  The 151 successful hunters came from 27 towns, five in Massachusetts and one in New Jersey. Twenty-eight were from Pittsfield. Joseph C. Rogers of Loudon, later of Pittsfield, shot the largest, a nine point buck weighting 195½ pounds.  Of the 18 winners, only one was from Pittsfield, James Thorpe with an eight point, 174½ pound buck.  

 

Before presenting information about the club during the 1950s, a couple of interesting stories are worth noting. The first is about a prank Mr. Volpe pulled on deer hunter in 1952.  After midnight during deer season he set up a fake deer in a field on Concord Hill Road. The next morning he sat in his jeep by the house and watched hunters make fools of themselves, piling out of vehicles to get a shot. Each man “fumbled all over each other” trying to get off the first shot before the white tail made off through the woods. Some men leaped out of their cars and crawled closer to the intended victim only to see that it was a fake and walked off in disgust. In all, 50 bullet holes were found in the deer at the end of the day. Mr. Volpe reported that the hunters had provided “some of the best amusement” that he had had in a long time.

 

The second story is about Frank’s son Frank.  It seems that young 16 year-old Robert Hammel of Barnstead had been pestering Frank to go hunting with him around his home. He kept telling Frank about this huge buck that he had seen regularly. Well, Frank kept saying sure, sometime, but he never got around to it. So the boy rented the cheapest shotgun in the store and went hunting by himself. With just one shot he killed the buck, a 180 pounder. It was a while before young Frank heard the last of that.

 

The Club in the 1950s

During the decade of the 1950s the number of members in the club continued to rise. In 1950 there were 750,  in 1951, 1,045,  and in 1952, the largest number recorded, 1,060.  Thereafter, the number remained in the high 900s. 

 

The number of deer taken, however, varied. In 1951, the number was 187,  but in 1952 only 111.  In 1955 the number rose to 128, and in 1956 to 189, but dropped to 109 in 1957,  and 104 in 1958. 

 

The largest bucks taken during the decade were: 1950, Philip Sherburne, Pittsfield, 200 lbs.; 1951, Harry Mattice, Concord 189¾ lbs., 9 pts.; 1952, Donald Leith, Belmont, 195½ lbs., 14 pts.; 1953, a tie between Ben Fields of Lakeport and John Locke of Pittsfield, 181 lbs.; 1954, Joe Stephens, 189 lb., 15 pt. buck; 1955, Albert Morse, Alton, 188 lbs., 8 pts.; 1956, Leonard Gilman of Pittsfield, 186½ lbs., 13 pts.; 1957, Marguerite Silver of Boscawen, 204, lbs. 9 pts.; 1958, Dorothy Drake, Laconia, 188¾ lbs.; and 1959 Kent Locke, Alton, 195½ lbs.

 

The largest does taken during the decade were: 1950, Everett Clark, Pittsfield, 139½ lbs.; 1951 Albert Pitman, Loudon, 140 lbs.; 1952, William Bailey, Jr., Boscawen, 156 lbs.; 1953, Merton Buckley, Chichester, 135 lbs.; 1954, Ralph Young, 137 lbs.; 1955, Carl Hirth, Manchester, 130 lbs.; 1956, Harry Leavitt, Meredith, 143 lbs.; 1957, Malcolm Palmer, Pittsfield, 148½ lbs.; 1958, Haven Marston, Laconia, 156½ lbs.; and 1959, Jack Leonard, Warner, 141½ lbs.

 

Several interesting facts emerged about the decade. First, the largest buck was taken by a 17 year-old girl, Marguerite Silver. She also shot the smallest deer in 1959, a 52 pounder.   

 

Second, the largest doe was shot by Haven Marston. The booby prize of the decade went to Louis Lowell of Antrim who shot a doe weighing 40¼ pounds. 

 

Third, women also shot the largest bucks two years in a row, Marguerite Silver in 1957 and Dorothy Drake in 1958. 

 

Fourth, Albert Pitman shot the largest doe in 1951 and the year before had shot the second largest doe. 

 

Fifth, in 1952 Richard King was the first club member to be awarded a prize for bagging a deer with a bow and arrow. 

 

Sixth, in 1952 prizes began being awarded to the person who shot the deer weighing closest to the average of all those killed. The award went to William Crossett of Laconia with a 113½ pound doe. 

 

Seventh, in 1956, 13 year-old Joseph Danis came in second in the buck category when he bagged a 185 pound, eight pointer. 

 

A few other interesting facts about the decade should also be noted. First, according to the Concord Monitor, by 1952, the club had become the largest of its type in New England.  At its peak members were enrolled from all New England states, New York and Canada.  In 1953, 15,945 pounds of venison were weighed in. In an article appearing in the Boston Herald in 1954 on the Club’s 25th anniversary, Volpe’s operation was referred to as “a deer hunter’s shrine.” 

 

The Club in the 1960s

The Valley Times newspaper was discontinued in 1960 and its replacements, Pittsfield Shopper’s Guide and The Suncook Valley Sun, did not regularly carry results of the club. Thus, knowledge about it during the 1960s is limited. Information about numbers entering the club in the 1960s was not reported. Only one year, 1960, were the number of kills were reported, 95. Fifty-three bucks were taken and 42 does.  

 

That year Joseph Pescinski of Franklin bagged the largest buck weighing 188 lbs. and Gary Bedell of Pittsfield, the largest doe weighing 132 pounds.  Of the 29 prizes awarded it appears that only seven went to people from Pittsfield, including Margaret Chagnon who tagged a 52 pounder.                         

 

In 1965 Fred Carr of Barnstead shot the largest buck weighing 192½ pounds, and Bill Cole of Laconia the largest doe weighing 159½ pounds.  Booby prizes went to Robert Bunker with a 61½ pounder and Roger Heath with a 62 pounder.

 

Two years later during the hunt it was reported that Eben Blake of New Hampton bagged a buck weighing 223 pounds, Raymond Whitney of Pittsfield one weighing 218 pounds and Dennis Chagnon of Pittsfield one weighing 204 pounds.  Unfortunately, the end results of the hunt were not reported that year. However, that may have been the first and only time that at least three bucks were taken weighing over 200 pounds. 

 

The following year, 1968, John Woronik of Raymond won the largest buck prize when he bagged a 217 pounder.  Frank Holland of Laconia won with a 136 pound doe.

 

Sometime after that year and before 1974 the club was discontinued. I think that Frank, Jr. told me it was because the state ruled that it was a form of gambling. Dennis, his son, thought that it had something to do with giving away guns as prizes. In any event, it was not voluntary. Anyone having information about this is asked to call Larry Berkson at 798-3984.

 

In 1974, Blanche Vien, a writer for The Suncook Valley Sun, acquired most of the charts on which kills had been recorded and wrote a summary.  She found that: (1) in error the largest deer was taken by Fred Welcome of Concord in 1948; (2) the smallest deer was taken by Albert Brasley of Suncook in 1947, a 37 pound (the newspaper reported it as 34½) albino. Many of Pittsfield’s older residents may remember that Mr. Volpe had it mounted and displayed it on a shelf above the gun rack in his store; (3) the first woman to win a prize was Doris Whittmer of Madbury in 1951, who shot a 172 pound, 10 point buck; (4) over 400 tons of venison had been weighed-in over the years; and (5) the largest recorded membership was 1,400.

 

The Locker Plant

Pittsfield Barnstead Road-31 Locker Plant.jpg

The Locker Plant was a boon to deer hunters. Dozens upon dozens of them had their kills processed at the plant and many chose to secure lockers for the meat as well. The accompanying picture is representative of what it was like at the plant during deer season.   

 

It all began in 1944 when Guy Nichols held a meeting on January 14 to explain his ideas and the proposed operation to Pittsfield residents.  As a result 50 or more people signed up to support the effort.  In early March Mr. Nichols purchased property from Lizzie Avery on Barnstead Road in anticipation that a “Frozen Locker Building” was to be erected there.   A condition of the sale was that it be built in line with the frontage of the garage standing on the adjoining property, today known as Any Make Auto Repair. By March 31 all of the lockers, refrigerating machinery and equipment had been purchased.  Mr. Nichols stated at the time that he was building a “Food Bank.” It would freeze meat, fruits, and vegetables. “Produce it,” he stated, “and we will preserve it for you.”  He went on to state that “The locker you rent . . . will pay for itself many times over,” noting that a few were still available for rent.  

 

The building was 86’ x 36’ of fire proof construction, was sided with a brick design, and insulated with palco wool.   An office and reception room were located in the front of the building with a large display case for the sale of Birds Eye frozen food products. 

 

On the south side was a large delivery door which gave access to the kitchen and processing rooms. Tracks overhead eliminated the handling beef, pigs, deer and the like. The processing and cutting rooms were electrically equipped and fluorescent lighted. 

 

On the north side of the building were the 300 lockers, some with six cubic foot capacity and others with eight. There was also a 12’ x 17’ bulk storage room.

 

Pittsfield Deer at Locker Plante, Harold Bryant on Left,.jpg

By September the plant was in operation, one of nine in New Hampshire. Seventeen more were in the process of construction. 

 

Mr. Nichols’ meat cutter was Harold Bryant. Two years after the operation began, Mr. Bryant purchased the property and business.   He enlarged the locker and bulk storage space. At the time there were 500 lockers and a demand for another 100.  Five years later, in 1951, Mr. Bryant sold out to Everett and Willis Pethic who later turned the operation into the Rich Plan.

 


 

VA Launches Hepatitis C–Advanced Liver Disease Disparities Dashboard

Dashboard Bolsters VA Efforts to Identify and Treat Veterans With Hep C and Liver Disease

Submitted Via Merrill Vaughan

 

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is stepping up its efforts to accelerate treatment for Veterans with hepatitis C and advanced liver disease (ALD) through the creation of  a Hepatitis C–ALD dashboard. The dashboard works by using a set of criteria, including age, gender, geography, service era along with and race and ethnicity, to distinguish Veteran groups at highest risk for ALD as a result of hepatitis C. 

 

“The dashboard is a powerful data tool to help VA identify Veteran groups disproportionately affected by Advanced Liver Disease and to ensure they receive the appropriate health care,” said Dr. David Shulkin, VA’s Under Secretary for Health. “VA will provide data directly to facilities for any of the vulnerable groups identified by the dashboard and support outreach efforts to Veteran populations disparately impacted and not currently served by VA health care. This is an important step in assuring all Veterans with ALD receive timely, appropriate care.”  

 

VA’s Veterans Health Administration’s Office of Health Equity developed the dashboard as part of its efforts to target and accelerate care of Veterans with this serious disease. The new resource promotes equitable diagnosis and treatment of underserved Veterans with hepatitis C and ALD nationally and compliments existing clinical hepatitis and liver disease dashboards available in some Veterans Integrated Service Networks or VISNs.

 

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the most common blood-borne infection in the world. Complications that result from untreated HCV infection include progressive liver damage leading to cirrhosis, primary cancer of the liver, liver failure and death. Although many of these complications are treatable or even preventable, three-quarters of the individuals with HCV infection in the U.S. are unaware they are infected. VA leads the country in hepatitis screening, testing, treatment, research and prevention.

 

The Hepatitis C-ALD dashboard further advances the vision for quality care and improved access to care identified in VA’s Blueprint for Excellence.  For more information on the dashboard, visit: http://www.hsrd.research.va.gov/news/video/heap.cfm.

 


 

Holly Fair 2015

Pittsfield picture of decorations.jpg

See you at St. Stephen’s Holly Fair, Saturday, November 21st from 9 AM until 2 PM, 50 Main Street, Pittsfield, NH!  The Little Church with the Big Heart.

 

Mark Saturday, November 21 on your calendar and plan to attend the St. Stephen’s Holly Fair. Doors open at 9 AM on Saturday. Special Silent Auction bidding hours from 4-7 PM on Friday evening, with high bidders announced at 2PM when Fair ends.   This year’s fair features lovely holiday arrangements, new craft items, delicious homemade food, and enticing silent auction items.   There will be a Stocking Stuffer Raffle with all the things you need to fill stockings for the whole family and a special free door prize for a lucky child to win.  One free chance per child so come and sign up your children or grandchildren…. Better yet bring them along!

 

The St. Stephen’s Café will be open for the entire duration of the fair. You can enjoy light breakfast items or a goody from the Bake Table with a hot beverage or warm cocoa. For lunch, the café will feature Sabra’s corn chowder, toasted meatball sandwiches, homemade soups and a variety of homemade desserts du jour and more. Rumor has it that there will be Indian Pudding.  Live dangerously, eat dessert first!

 

The crafters have been busy stocking the undercroft with dozens of unique items to fill your home with holiday spirit or to brighten the winter months. There are items to decorate your door, porch or yard as well as your table, mantle or mirror.  Gift items are available to purchase for friends and family from ages 8 months to 80 and beyond.  Need a special ornament for your tree or to give as a gift?   We have an evergreen full of beautiful or whimsical items for you to choose from.   There are herds of birch reindeer; groups of snowmen and a constellation of stars for make your holidays merry and bright!  

 


 

Letter

 

Friend of Pittsfield’s Students,

Certainly, you share my concerns about the range of risks that threaten the wellness of the children and youth of our community; like me, you’ve read about the obesity, alcohol and drug misuse, and teen driving habits, for example; and while we’d prefer that these threats not impact our community, the fact is that they and other national trends do not exclude Pittsfield.

 

Last spring, the school district received a gift from anonymous donor through the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation; the bulk of this donation helped us bring Chris Herren to Pittsfield to talk with students and community members about his struggles with substance abuse; this event was intended to raise awareness of this critical issue and to launch a community-wide effort to impact the negative factors confronted by today’s young people.

 

You are invited to an awareness meeting of a new community group to consider the risks, based on student responses to the latest available information from the youth risk behavior survey, and to consider Pittsfield’s priorities.  This meeting will take place from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 12, in the PMHS library; I hope that you will consider joining us for this important event.

 

You are not asked to make any commitment to ongoing work, but I’m hoping that a core of interested community members will be interested in taking actions to support our children and youth.

 

Please do not hesitate to contact me with your questions prior to our meeting on November 12; I hope you’ll take advantage of this opportunity to serve our children and youth of Pittsfield.

 

Sincerely,

John Freeman

Superintendent of Schools

 


 

From The Pittsfield Town Administrator’s Desk 

 

To the Pittsfield Community,

As your new town administrator I am excited about serving the town in this capacity. With my 14 years of experience as the administrative assistant I feel I am ready to transition into this new role.

 

I have been a resident since 1998 when I graduated from UNH and moved here with my college sweetheart, now husband, of 18 years, as his family has deep Pittsfield roots as 9th generation dairy farmers.  I am a lucky mum of three children, two wayward hens (have fed the South Pittsfield fox the other 19), and one golden/lab doggie Annie, the best pal ever.

 

My love for Pittsfield was fostered by Elizabeth Hast, the former town clerk/tax collector of thirty years, who I had the pleasure of working with for 11 years before her retirement from office. Elizabeth, my mom-away-from-mom, was my role model of strong work ethic and community dedication and pride.  

 

One of the reasons I felt ready to take on this challenge as town administrator is the support of the current composition of the boards, committees, and employees.  I would like to continue to help facilitate positive communication, effectively plan for making our operations productive and as transparent as possible, and keep the momentum, which is gaining, on moving our town forward.  

 

I am extremely proud of the town employees that we have.  Their pride in serving our community is evident to me on a daily basis. Our strong and tireless public works crew does an impeccable job with the roadways and town properties within a very tight budget. The police force is the most outstanding group of officers and administrative staff you can find with their vast knowledge and policing efforts in a courteous and courageous manner.  Our dedicated fire department never ceases to amaze me with their compassion for the residents that they serve and their ability to store their equipment and work so effectively within their small facility.  Also, with limited quarters, is our lovely Josiah Carpenter Library with resourceful and friendly library staff, offering many programs and services to all. The town hall employees are intelligent, pleasant, and a fun bunch to work with, and are always willing to go above and beyond to help those seeking assistance.  The Town recently contracted the operations of the waste water treatment facility to Utility Partners LLC, and thus far our business with the company, and our local manager, has been positive and a great resource of information to help us effectively plan for the future of the sewer system.  It is always encouraging to see all of the dedicated volunteers serving on the various boards and committees at meetings night after night at the town hall, we have a vibrant community of residents.

 

Walking into the town hall every morning I look up at my favourite pictures of George and Martha Washington and wonder how the day will unfold.  Some days it’s quiet and I can get lots of tasks accomplished.  More often than not, though, we have lots of visits from residents with concerns, board and committee members with questions, and a never ending supply of email correspondence to work on, all of which beg for lots of late work nights to keep somewhat caught up.  I look forward to reporting to work each and every day.  I am proud to call Pittsfield my home and believe that we can all work positively together to keep our beautiful town ‘the Gem of the Suncook Valley’.

 

Respectfully,

Cara M. Marston

Town Administrator

 


 

These Actors Are Really Showing Their Age

The Pittsfield Players Present 70, Girls, 70

Pittsfield Players.jpg

Just to prove everything old is new again, “old folks,” Mal Cameron and Chet Fuller offer comedic relief in The Pittsfield Players Production of “70,Girls, 70.” Cameron made his debut with the Players in 1973 in the production of “Butterflies Are Free” and Fuller joined us in 1981 for the musical “The Sound of Music.” The Players will be reviving the musical “Oklahoma” in fall of 2016 after having performed it last in 1985.

 

We’re not saying they’re a little long in tooth or anything but Chet Fuller and Mal Cameron have definitely been around the block a little...but that’s what this play is really all about; the fact that you’re never too old for the stage.

 

“How old are you?” Ida, played by Maye Hart, asks;  “77! 73! 78! 70!” come the responses - now for the record our aging cast has been requested to act much older than their true ages but when they belt out the title song, “70, Girls, 70” you’d think the old folks home was on Spring Break. “You’re gonna love it when, you turn three score and ten, You get a feeling there and then, your life’s beginning all over again!”

 

Most of these cast members have been treading the Scenic boards for over 20 years. If they haven’t been acting on our stage they’ve been on others. Marty and Cathy Williams both have over 40 years theatre experience (we won’t tell you hold old that makes them). Even directors, Jeff Gregoire and Meggin Dail can report over 25 years of productions with the Pittsfield Players and they’re only in their 40s.

 

70, Girls, 70, while weaving a plot of a run down old folks home and the residents who feel it’s time for a change, is also a tribute to theater and how you’re never too old to strut your stuff. Just ask newcomer, Jean Cram who auditioned for the first time this year and landed herself a role in the prime of her life. Don’t get us wrong, we also utilize the younger cast members, Jared and Elisha Griffin but while Jared plays a whipper snapper and Elisha, a cop, we had to age her to fit the other roles she plays.

 

Other cast members you may not believe have been on stage for years now are Dave Pollard and Art Morse. Morse seeks out roles that don’t usually have lines but not only does he stretch his legs at age 73 with two lines but he also plays a woman! Dave Pollard’s talent beyond singing and acting is that he plays the harmonica. Come see him be the curmudgeon watchman when the “old folks” steal furs from New York’s Coliseum.

 

Music that gets stuck in your head as soon as you hear it, defining “where the elephant goes” when she dies and riddled with dance-offs; 70, Girls, 70 aims to please. Mark your calendars now, get your tickets at www.pittsfieldplayers.com, at the box office or by calling (603) 435-8852, because you don’t want to miss this once in a lifetime experience. 70, Girls, 70 hits the Scenic Stage November 13, 14, 15 20 & 21. 

 


 

Living Word Assembly of God Church Open House

Nov 14th  1-4pm

729 Stage Road. Gilmanton Iron Works, NH

 

Free refreshment, music, 20 free Sweaters -all sizes, baby food, and more

 

Come meet the new Pastor & wife

 


 

Letter To The Editor

 

To the good citizens of the State of New Hampshire,

Just a little update on the Pumpkin Bill (treating marijuana almost like a pumpkin) submitted from Georges’ Bar & Grill and brought forward by the Honorable Mike Brewster.

 

We submitted the draft to the bill writers. They got some of it right. Definitions. Keeping it out of kids’ reach, stuff like that. Anyway, this bill legalizes the personal use of up to one ounce of marijuana by persons 18 years of age or older. However, the people sitting around Georges’ Bar & Grill feel it should legalize the personal use of up to one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of marijuana by persons 18 years of age or older.

 

Another problem is the tax on the legal sale of marijuana be sent to the General Fund. We think it would serve the people better if it went to alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana prevention efforts and property tax relief.

 

There are problems with this first bill. We are demanding a re-write.

 

God save the people.

 

Dan Schroth Piermarocchi

 


 

It’s All Good

(Except for the Bad Stuff)

By E.I.E.I.Oh-my-gosh Wingate

 

Just to be serious for just a minute (and to quash the rumorflubbies): By now anybody who’s everybody’s heard about the position I’m in. Not lotus position, or first position, but rather Interim position. And that swear I’ll be happy to stay. My heartfelt congratulations to Cara Marston, the new Pittsfield Town Administrator. She’s clearly the best man for the job.

 

When I was Interiming here for mere weeks, I asked her why SHE wasn’t T.A. She gave a little shrug. But whenever I had a question about nigh on anything, she had the answer. “What’s the deadline for tax revaluations?” “October 15.” “What’s the valuation of the Town?” “$200 Million.” “Who’s buried in Grant’s tomb?” Well, you get it. Last week’s Selectboard meetin, I know that half the questions asked I couldn’t have answered. So it’s time Cara became T.A. Long overdue. 

 

So what’s next? I’m glad you asked. The controversy last week was the bunny club. You recall (I’m going to remind you anyway) that we signed a lease with the club to allow them to train their beagles to run rabbits, which club members caught up north and brought down south.

 

After shall we say, adverse comments were voiced (note the bureaucratic passive voice), the BOS and the bunny club undid the deal. Now, each side is poised to bring it on via petition at Town Meetin. One side would get some money for it, while tying up part of the land. T’other would have it be a Town forest. From the perspective of your intrepid reporter, both sides want to keep the land wild. So, depending on your sport, jump face, or ball off. I’m a baseball guy myself. 

 

I congratulate the Town Clerk for saving the Town money by putting my tax bill on my desk. Didn’t go down by 49 cents because of that. But my chubby little butt won’t be in this chair in March when you go vote on the budget, so I’ll say it now: your tax bill is made up of different parts, and if you think you can reduce it only by going to Town Meetin, you are wrong. Now Is The Time. Budgets are being assembled as we speak. Go to the meetings. Town budget = selectboard. School budget = school board. ‘Nuff said (for now). 

 

How do I say this delicately? The Town is no longer horn-y. And curfew less? Had a loud complaint about the loudness of the fire horn, which malflucted last week. It got froze open and played its same dole tune for minutes on end. The gentleman was gentle but firm. He’s blasted out of his house by the noise. His mother-in-law had to move. (I know what you’re thinkin - don’t say it.) As to curfew, the Ay-Cee-El-Yoo says we can’t do it. And dammit, they have a point, complete with court cases. And court cases are expensive. So we have two things wrapped apart together: Do we blow the horn if we can’t have the curfew? If we are hornless, can we still curfew? The thing is: the Town voted the horn to continue. The Town voted the curfew. Selectboard’s in the middle. Do they act without the say of the Town? One solution is to point the horn elsewhere. Guess we’ll try that. As to the curfew, we’re the last man standing. All other towns which got the letter from the Ay-Cee-El-Yoo packed up their tents. Me, personally, I don’t like lawyers. They cost too much. Stay tuned. 

 

Runnin out of room. Last is that the Selectboard voted to pay for a thing called an “Internet Kiosk”, which lets us do our property tax stuff on line. Before this, a steady drip drip drip of real estate people and other inquisitive folk would stop by and ask for the tax information. Took up staff time. Now, all’s needful is to hit the web. Remember, be kind to your web footed friends!

 


 

Pittsfield TOPS News

Pittsfield TOPS.jpg

Eleven members attended the Fall Rally on Halloween and had a wonderful time.  This statewide event gathers TOPS Chapters to celebrate our victories in weight loss and enjoy time together with skits, contests, raffles and presentations.  Pat, a long time member, received an award in a Walking Contest, having walked 384 miles!!!  She was also voted our Chapter’s “Casper, the Friendly Ghost” by our membership.

 

TOPS is a weekly weight loss support group that meets locally at Berakah on Fairview Road in Pittsfield on Tuesday evenings.  We invite anyone interested to join us - if you want more information, please call Mickey at 269-7641 or Claire at 435-7271. 

 


 

Secret Santa

 

With Christmas only weeks away, Santa’s elves are hard at work preparing to meet the needs of Pittsfield’s residents. We will be accepting applications from those in need of assistance this holiday season. Applications will only be accepted till November 30th to allow Santa and the elves enough time to make their list and check it twice. Children must be 14 years of age or younger to be eligible. The child’s parent or legal guardian must be the one to apply. Families applying for assistance must be residents or Pittsfield and we ask that applicants not be seeking assistance from multiple agencies.

 

Please contact the Pittsfield Fire Dept at 435-6807 during regular business hours for more information or to apply. This program is operated by volunteers, so if you leave a message it will be returned as quickly as possible, but response may not be immediate.

 

The Secret Santa Program relies on the generosity of residents and local businesses eager to help those less fortunate. Those interested in making donations may call 435-6807 to discuss specific needs with Santa’s helpers. Financial donations may be sent directly to: Pittsfield Secret Santa, PO Box 392, Pittsfield NH 03263.

 


Obituaries


 

Daniel E. Greeley

 

Kingston – Daniel E. Greeley, 48 years old, passed away in his sleep on October 31, 2015.  Dan was raised in Danville and graduated from Timberlane High School, class of 1985. 

 

Dan was a longtime employee of Bump and Grind Auto Body in Kingston.  He also worked with the Kingston Police Explorers and was a former member of the Newton and Danville Fire Departments, and a former officer with the Danville Police Department.

 

He is survived by his parents, F. Bradford and Maureen Greeley; his brother, Michael Greeley and his wife Amy; his niece and nephew-in-law; 2 great nieces; many aunts, uncles and cousins; as well as his very good friend, Pamela Gorham, and her sons.

 

Graveside services were Saturday, November 7th at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Kingston.

 

Tom Petit of the Still Oaks Funeral & Memorial Home is assisting with arrangements and offers an on-line guestbook at stilloaks.com.

 


 

Richard C. Spofford

Pittsfield Spofford, Richard.jpg

Pembroke – Mr. Richard C. Spofford, 80, of Bachelder Road, died Sunday, November 1, 2015, after a sudden illness.

 

Dick was born in Rumford, ME on September 29, 1935 to Fred and Anne (Daggett) Spofford.  He moved to Pittsfield at a young age and graduated from Pittsfield High School in 1953.  He served in the US Army during the Korean War and has lived in Pembroke for the last 55 years. 

 

He is survived by his wife Linda (Prince) Spofford; 2 sons, Richard Jr. “Rick” and his wife Charlene (Szelest), and Lee Allen and his wife Veronica (Gauthier); 6 grandchildren; and 10 great grandchildren.  He was predeceased by one grandchild.

 

Dick was owner-operator of his own trucking business for over 40 years.  He was a gifted tinkerer – inventing many innovative solutions to troublesome problems.  He was an avid NASCAR enthusiast.  He also loved motorcycling, doodle bugging, and snowmobiling.  He was active in several camping organizations and loved traveling in his RV.  Most of all he was a very social person, who loved and cared for his family and friends.  He will be sorely missed by us all.  May he forever rest in perfect peace.

 

Friends and family gathered to share memories on Friday, November 6th, at the Petit Funeral Home in Pembroke.

 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to NH Food Bank, 700 East Industrial Park Drive, Manchester, NH 03109.

 

An on-line guestbook is available at petitfuneralhome.com.

 


 


 

 











 

 

 

SiteMap | Home | Advertise | NH Classifieds | About

 

Copyright © 2007-2019 Modern Concepts Website Design NH. All Rights Reserved.

 

NH Campgrounds | NH Events

We are NOT affliated in any way with the Suncook Valley Sun Newspaper