Letter
Attention All Veterans of Pittsfield
At the Town Meeting on March
14, 2017, the people of Pittsfield voted to adopt an All Veterans’
Tax Credit. Last week, I contacted the town tax office to find out
what I needed to do to apply for this credit. To my chagrin, I found
out that the application deadline expired two days earlier.
I
hope I am the only Pittsfield veteran who missed this deadline, but
in case there are others out there, I want to provide this
information to all veterans (or surviving spouses) of the Town of
Pittsfield:
A $300 tax credit is available to you if you have
served at least 90 days in active service and have been honorably
discharged or honorably separated from service, and you are not
eligible for, or receiving a credit under, RSA 72:28 (Standard or
Operations Veterans’ Tax Credit) or RSA 72:35 (Tax Credit for
Service-Connected Disability).
The application for this credit
will be available on the Pittsfield town web site in the fall
(likely in October after the State updates their application forms).
To apply, you will need to provide your DD-214 to show the honorable
discharge and dates of service. Further information about
credits/exemptions is printed on the back of your tax bill, on the
inside of the back cover of your Town Report, and on the town
website under “Frequently Asked Questions – Tax Collector.” Once an
application is approved, you will receive a letter every 3-5 years,
asking you to complete a short form checking for changes in the
household, as required by NHDRA.
And thank you for your service
to our country!
Randy Severance
(US Navy 1979 – 1985)
Letter
Dear Pittsfield residents,
The Pittsfield Planning Board is
seeking alternate members. Alternate members sit as full voting
members whenever a regular member is absent or disqualified, so
alternate members are a very important part of the board. Currently,
the planning board has only one alternate, the alternate for the
board of selectmen’s representative to the planning board.
The
planning board’s main functions are to regulate the subdivision of
land so that the land will be used safely and, when appropriate, to
propose amendments to the zoning ordinance. If what the planning
board does interests you, and if you want to help your community,
then please consider applying to the planning board for appointment
as an alternate. Application forms are available on the town web
site and from me in the building/planning/zoning office in the town
hall. My office hours are Monday from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM and
Thursday from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
Thank you,
Jim Pritchard
Secretary
Pittsfield Planning Board
Paul
and Mary Jane Carter, played by Marty and Cathy Williams, neither
have excellent alibis but only one has a real motive.
Is it
ex-wife Julia, played by Doreen Sheppard who’s mad at Ol’ Wenty for
dumping her for an older woman??
Uptight personal assistant, Debra Mason, played by Iris Buchanan
Spoiled, lazy, playboy, Sam Kane played by Jordan Gagan
Society
columnist, Felicia Philips, played by Margot Keyes, what will SHE do
for the story of the century?
Sophisticated sculptress Selena Kane, played by Melanie Casey, is
mad step-daddy dearest won’t help her career take off.
The
Pittsfield Players present Deadly Image Directed by Carole Neveux
It’s “Miss Congeniality” meets “Hart to Hart” when the cast of
characters of Deadly Image hits the stage. Joey Reynolds, played by
Meggin Dail, is a private investigator hired by Wentworth Jefferson,
played by Mike Towle, to find out who and why someone is trying to
kill him.
After a series of unfortunate events, Jefferson
suspects pretty much everyone he knows. Is it ex-wife Julia, played
by Doreen Sheppard (last seen in Dixie Swim Club) who’s mad at Ol’
Wenty for dumping her for an.. older woman?? Maybe it’s Society
Columnist, Felicia Philips played by Margot Keyes, because his
fortune had slipped through her grasp. Maybe it’s his Techtronics
staff Paul Carter, played by Marty Williams or his personal
assistant Debra Mason, played by newcomer Iris Buchanan, who want to
get their hands on his multi-million dollar company. Suppose it
might be his new bride, Mamie, played by Gerri Casey because she’s
tired of this skirt-chasing louse. Or perhaps we need to take a look
at Mr. J’s new step-children, Sam and Selena, played by newcomer
Jordan Gagan and Melanie Casey, because they’re distrustful of
Wentworth and want the family fortune all to themselves. Then
there’s the household staff, Bonnie the maid played by Alexis Keyes
or the cook Mrs. Fields, played by Nella Hobson, after all most
“accidents” occur at home… or did the butler really do it? Chenoweth
the butler, played by Richard Hackeman (last seen in Eat Your Heart
Out) might be trying to do Mamie a favor.
At least we know who
didn’t do it, Lt. Al Reynolds, a detective on the police force as
well as Joey’s ex-husband, played by Ernie Bass, is just there to
solve this whodunnit and maybe reconcile some old feelings.
Get
ready for some good old fashioned detecting, some really corny
jokes, a few snorts and the most mischievous cast of characters this
side of CSI when Deadly Image by Billy St. John, directed by Carole
Neveux and produced by Jon Martin hits the Scenic stage ONE WEEKEND
ONLY, May 5 & 6 at 7:30 PM and May 7 at 2PM. Tickets available by
calling (603) 435-8852
Letter
To The Editor
Spring is here and you will soon see the Pittsfield
Beautification Committee members tending the gardens around town.
As one of our yearly fundraising events, we will be having a
yard sale on Saturday May 20th from 8 am to 2 pm.
We will be set up at Nancy & John Barto’s house at 515 Dowboro Rd.
Pittsfield, just 3.5 miles from the center of Town.
Anyone who
would like to donate items for our sale can drop them off at Nancy’s
house. We respectfully request that you do not bring items of
clothing or any heavy items.
If anyone would like to make a cash
donation to the Beautification Committee, please send a check
payable to the Pittsfield Beautification Committee, c/o Tine Fife
1394 Upper City Rd, Pittsfield NH 03263. Collection boxes can also
be found at Town Hall, Bell Brothers, Jack’s Pizza, Town Pizza and
Danis Markets.
We would like to gently remind the parents
and childcare providers in town to please ask your children to not
walk through or play in the gardens, and please do not allow your
pets to use the plants/bushes in the gardens.
If you would like
to join our Committee, our next meeting will be on Monday May 1st at
6:30 pm at Town Hall.
We are excited about this upcoming
gardening season and we sincerely thank all of you for your help and
support.
Carol Lambert
Secretary
Pittsfield Beautification
Committee
NHDES
Launches User-submitted Photo Gallery and NH Map
The New
Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) has launched
This Is New Hampshire, a crowdsourcing website that will highlight
the need for a healthy environment from the perspective of everyday
New Hampshire residents and visitors. NHDES is asking the public to
go out and take photos that show how they enjoy New Hampshire’s
unique environment, why they care about it and what they’re doing to
keep it clean – then add those photos to the This Is New Hampshire
map online.
This Is New Hampshire is not just a user-submitted
photo gallery; it’s an interactive map that will tell us where you
enjoy the environment. The website uses a Geographic Information
System (GIS) application. When users submit their photos, they will
include where the photo was taken, and the photo will then be linked
to the map. Visitors to the site will be able to zoom in and check
out the location and the images simultaneously.
Photos can be
uploaded quickly from a desktop computer, mobile device or tablet.
Simply go to the website, www4.des.state.nh.us/thisisnh, and click
on “Submit a Photo.” Select a photo, provide a title, location,
description and photo credit, hit submit, and after a quick review
by NHDES, you’re on the map. With the location, the user can be as
specific as they want – longitude and latitude, physical address or
even zoom in and scour the banks of the Merrimack River to find the
exact sandy outcropping where you parked your kayaks when you took
the photo. If the photo has been geotagged, the location information
will automatically be included.
The types of photos NHDES hopes
to see from the public run the gamut. There’s not much in our lives
that is not touched by the environment, and strengthened when that
environment is protected. Love the mountains, trails, lakes and
rivers? Snap a photo when you’re hiking, camping, swimming or just
relaxing. Take part in roadside litter pickup or beach cleanups
every year? Share a photo of volunteers in action. Once you’ve
submitted a photo, be sure to click on the social media icons to
share, using #ThisIsNH.
Help us put New Hampshire’s environment
on the map!
For more information regarding the This Is New
Hampshire website, please contact Jana Ford at
[email protected] or (603)
271-8332.
Letter
To The Editor
Select Board meeting 4/18/17
Central NH
Transportation committeeman Mike Tardiff gave us a rundown of their
accomplishments. Carole landed on him to get something done about
the state roads in town that are a disgrace. The BOS grabs every
opportunity that comes our way to put pressure on the State to take
care of the downtown as they agreed when the bypass went in 50 years
ago, but they have lots of deaf ears.
Department heads came
before us for approval to move money within their respective budgets
in order to make best use of the limited funds approved at this
year’s Town Meeting. Bottom line to the town will remain as approved
and holds the line on any municipal tax increase. They seem less
than enthusiastic about what they have to work with, given the cuts,
however, they also appear resolved to making it work and still
provide the services we can pay for. Hopefully taxpayers will
understand that we can’t let perfect get in the way of good- our tax
base is still stretched to the limit.
The 118 page hazard
mitigation plan was updated to keep Pittsfield eligible for federal
funding in the case of an emergency.
A community garden is being
planned by Nick Penny and Adam Gauthier behind the town hall down on
Joy Street. Call the administrator for info on getting a plot.
More appointments and votes on fees, warrants and tax credits too
numerous to list.
The security deposit on 81 Main Street was
returned due to the fact that we can’t convey good title.
Disposition of this property next to the town hall is a challenge
but we have to do something.
Carl Anderson
Alfred
Page and local veteran Michael Jourdan pose at the foot of Mike’s
stair case with the new railings on either side.
Newly
installed wooden railings and hardware in stairway of Michael
Jourdan’s home in Loudon.
American Legion Post 88 News
Submitted By Commander Shawn Jones
I apologize for not getting news about your post out to you over the
last several months. I have had a lot going on and not able to
fulfill that responsibility to you. Starting in April Mike Hartt,
James Small and Mike Moffett will be submitting articles and photos
to area publications to keep members informed of what your post is
doing. Another good way to find out what we are doing is to come out
to a meeting now and then and check in with us. You might just find
that you like getting together with other members and will want to
attend more meetings.
We held our February meeting on 2/16/17
with 15 members present. On the 4th our post hosted the District
Five High School Oratorical program. A lot of work was put into this
program by our Americanism Chairman and Children and Youth Officer
Mike Hartt. He was able to have two students compete in this year’s
contest. First place went to Hana Testerman of Chichester and Second
place was awarded to Niklas Cantatore of Pittsfield. Congratulations
to both of these fine young adults. We hope to see Niklas return
next year to compete again. Hana will represent the district
and Post 88 at the Department contest level at Saint Anselm’s
College in March.
Scott Newton volunteered to be our point of
contact with some other insurance companies who are looking to do
business with us. The Loudon Lions Club expressed interest in using
the post on April 15th to host a breakfast fundraiser.
In
February, Alfred Page went to the home of a fellow veteran Michael
Jourdan who served with the Marines and Coast Guard. Michael was in
need a new railing to be installed in his home that would allow him
to go up and down from the second floor of his house. Chaplain Page
was able to complete this task with ease and Mr. Jourdan was very
pleased with the outcome and was quoted as saying “Just Fantastic”
with the work done. I was able to go visit Mr. Jourdan just as
Alfred was putting his tools way to see the completed work and I
enjoyed spending some time talking with Mr. Jourdan about his
experience in the military and our common bound as having both
served in the Coast Guard.
Our membership level in February had
come up to 109% or 73 members for 2017. Remember in a past article I
wrote that the goal set for your post was to have 67 paid members
for the year so we had exceeded that amount by 6 new members.
Our
Commanders Fund Raffle winners for February where: $50-Stan P.,
$25-Tom I., $10-Johnathan H., $10-Scott w. & $5-Bea E.
Congratulations to the February winners.
At our March 22nd
meeting we had 15 members in attendance. We welcomed our newest
member to come to a meeting Walter Lampron who is a World War II
Army veteran. Thanks to Larry Hemphill for getting Mr. Lampron to
join our post. We also welcome Patrick Testerman (Hana’s father) to
the post. Pat is a retired Air Force Lt. Colonel. We look forward to
see more of Walter and Pat at future meetings and activities of the
post.
Once again our post hosted a District Five
oratorical contest on March 4th. This time it was for the Junior
level contest and the winner was Anora Brown. She was to move onto
the state level competition at Saint Anselm’s College on April 8th.
On March 11th Ms. Hana Testerman won the state level High School
Oratorical contest program for the second year in a row. She and one
of her parents will go out to Indianapolis, IN on April 21st
to the Legion’s National Headquarters to compete against the other
state level high school student winners from around the county for a
chance to with up to $20,000 in scholarship prize money.
Historian Mike Moffett of the membership committee spoke about
having an open house after the Memorial Day parade on May 29th.
Dave Zarges and Mike Hartt stepped up to help Mike and Vice
Commander Gary Tasker with planning the open house. We would like to
invite area veterans and their family members to come down to the
post at 45 South Village Rd following the conclusion of the parade
which starts at 0900 hours in the village of Loudon. Members voted
to allow the membership committee to have a $500.00 budget use as
its discretion to promote and put on the open house. Look for more
information to follow.
At the March meeting we took nominations to fill post officer
positions. We will be having some new members sworn into officer
positions at our April installation being conducted by the District
5 leadership team that was also newly elected on April 15th. The new
slate of post officers for 2017-2018 are as follows:
Commander-James Small, First Vice Commander-Gary
Tasker, Second Vice Commander-Michael Hartt, Adjutant-Joe Piroso,
Finance Officer-Larry Elliot, Chaplain Alfred Page, Service
Officer-Vincent Giambalvo, Historian-Michael Moffett, Judge
Advocate-Shawn Jones, Sargent At Arms-Kenneth Ward. Mike Hartt will
continue to serve as your C&Y Officer and Dave Zarges at the Boy
Scout Charter Organizer Representative. We congratulate these
members for offering to lead the post and we ask you to support them
in the during the year ahead.
On May 20th we will be out placing
flags at the local cemeteries in town. If we miss a veteran’s grave
site please contact the Legion so that we can correct this
oversight. Again on May 29th we will be sponsoring the Loudon
Memorial Day Parade. We pray for better weather this year and there
is no promise that we’ll have our Governor marching with us as in
last year’s parade but it will be a great parade just the same
honoring our fallen heroes in all wars. Please come out to support
your post and the other groups that will be marching with us
but more important the veteran’s that have died for their country
who came before us. We will remember and honor them and their
family’s sacrifices.
Jim Small and Mike Hartt will be going to
the Department of NH Annual Convention on May 19th-21st in Lincoln
to represent your post. I’m sure that they will give the post a
report during our June meeting.
Our Commanders Fund Raffle
winners for month of March where: $50-Bob B., $25-Cece R.,
$10-Constance I., $10-Maureen P. & $5-Jeff P. Congratulations to the
March winners.
Our Commanders Fund Raffle winners for April
where: $50-Jim G., $25-Ardie H., $10-Bea E., $10-Jeff P. & $5-Ray E.
Congratulations to the April winners.
As you can tell from the
last three months of drawings we can have multiple winners on the
same ticket because once your number is drawn it goes back into the
bucket and can be drawn up to 11 more times. We will begin to start
selling our new tickets in May over the course of a couple of months
so please consider buying a ticket or two for the new drawing in
July. If we forget anyone you can call the post and leave us your
name and address and a member will make arrangements to get you a
ticket. There will only be 200 tickets sold so don’t wait to buy
yours and you’ll be helping your post out at the same time.
Many people buy them as gifts and give them to family and friends.
Our next meeting will be held on May 17th, we look forward to seeing
you there.
Volunteers spent a lot of hours last summer at Northwood Lake Beach
to complete the massive stone wall. From left: Joe
McCaffrey, Tim Jandebeur, Mark Colby, Trevor Jandebeur, Ron
Piwowarczyk, Dan Schroth, and James Schroth.
Photography by
Tom Hitchcock
“The
Politics of Stonework” Chapter 6
From Dan Schroth’s new book
Northwood Beach Wall Submitted By Tim Jandebeur
Beachgoers will
now walk through the opening of the stone wall at the entry to
Northwood Beach.
It is done. The beautiful native stone wall at
Northwood Lake Beach has been completed and it is awesome.
Remarkable really, what a few dedicated volunteers can accomplish
when they set their minds to it. This wall was started a couple of
years ago and slow but steady work was being accomplished. It takes
rocks to build a wall.
Many of you know Dan Schroth’s work, some
are lucky enough to know him personally. To say that he is one of a
kind is a gross understatement. Unique, singular are two
descriptions that come to mind. Boy, can he build a wall. His walls
are dry, no cement or mortar. They will move with the seasons and
not fall down. They are guaranteed for Dan’s life. No doubt that
this wall will be here for generations of Northwood families to
enjoy. It is as wide as it is tall and very long.
We all learned
so much about wall building but first you need many, many rocks. It
is easy enough to think that we are rich in rocks here in New
Hampshire, however we learned that it takes special rocks to be a
base stone, or a builder, or a capstone. Maybe three rocks out of
ten collected made it into the wall. A whole summer was spent
collecting rocks. We would not have been able to do it without help.
Rocks came from the new ball fields, from Jamie Johnson’s property,
Lee Baldwin and many other generous donors. Jimmy Wilson and Charlie
Pease helped get them. Gary Haven Smith helped with stone work;
Steve Bailey helped wall building the first year of the project.
Please, check it out. With Dan’s patient (most of the time)
tutelage, his brother Mark Colby, Joe Mc-Caffrey, Ron Piwowarczyk,
Mike Barry with son Fergus, Bill Morrill, and Tim Jandebeur
spent every other weekend all summer building a great addition to
Northwood. Others contributed an hour or two when they had time
available. Many of you brought food, it was really appreciated.
Thanks to everyone who helped make this happen. A special thanks to
Dan Schroth Piermarocchi, and his brother Mark. Great job, everyone!
Letter to the Editor
Regarding Tim Jandebeur’s submission in The
Suncook Valley Sun November 19, this was about the building of the
stone fence at the Northwood Beach. Let me tell you what really
happened.
In September 2011 Steve Bailey, myself and my sons,
Justin and James, got some rock delivered by Dave Docko and started
in. We got about one quarter done before winter hit.
The next
year I was alone, except for my dog Baxter. Dave brought in more
rock/fieldstone from rolling Ray above Jenness Pond on Rt. 107 and
real good flat rock from Mead Field.
The Town Road Crew has
helped truck rock and clean up, when we needed it. Anyway, this
Spring the wall was about half done. In June I received a letter
from the Northwood Selectmen asking me if they rounded up some
volunteers, maybe we could schedule a couple of weekends, and finish
the project up. Well, I thanked them for the prompting and scheduled
the next weekend.
My brother and I started a day early to reset
the strings and do some prep work.
That first weekend I quickly
learned my brother, Mark, and I had hit the jackpot. Their names are
Tim Jande-beur, Joe McCaffrey and Ron Piwowarczyk.
These three
men made the differ-ence. Bringing fieldstone, ledge rock and split
granite for the corners, tools, cutting blades, meals at the
North-wood Diner, and labor.
I knew I’d have trouble with Tim
Janderbeur, him being use to having his own way and me used to
getting my own way. We settled on whatevermade the project better.
My brother and I got all the help we needed from these three men. We
really were struggling before they showed up.
You will never
know how much this means to us to have help with our dream.
Pittsfield Elementary School; Up, Up and Away! Grades 3 through 6
created mosaics with Hopkinton artist Lizz Van Saun and PES art
teacher, Lisa Conkle. The finished piece is now installed in the
Pittsfield Town Hall. Thank you to Sanderson Trust for making the
residency possible.
Letter
To The Editor
I am now a cancer survivor.
Because of
arthritis, I needed and secured a handicap unit. But I was still in
the hospital.
My daughter and family got a crew together from my
Park Street Church and good friends and people I never met. My
daughter came from Oregon, I haven’t seen her in five years. My
sister came from St. Johnsbury, VT.
My thanks comes in the form
of a song by the Carpenters...
Sometimes, not often enough, we
reflect upon the good things. And those thoughts always center
around those we love. And I think about those people who mean so
much to me, and for so many years have made me so very happy. And I
count the times I have forgotten to say Thank You and just how much
I love them.
“Our father, who art in heaven...”
Thank you.
Rhonda Murray
Area
Youth To Compete In Scotts® Major League Baseball® Pitch Hit & RunTM
Competition
Pittsfield Youth Baseball will host a free Scotts®
Major League Baseball® Pitch Hit & Run™ Competition for area youth.
Date: 5/6/17
Time: 8 - 2:30 PM
Location: Tilton Hill
Road Ball Field
Pitch Hit & Run™ is the official skills
competition of Major League Baseball®. This grassroots program is
designed to provide youngsters with an opportunity to compete, free
of charge, in a competition that recognizes individual excellence in
core baseball/softball skills.
Boys and girls are divided into
four age divisions: 7/8, 9/10, 11/12, 13/14, and have the chance to
advance through four levels of competition, including Team
Championships at Major League ballparks and the National Finals
during the 2017 MLB™ All-Star Week®.
The individual Pitching,
Hitting and Running Champions, along with the All-Around Champion in
each division age group at the Local Competition will be awarded and
advance to the Sectional Level of Competition.
All participants
must bring a copy of their birth certificate and have their parent
or guardian fill out a registration/waiver form prior to the start
of the competition. For questions concerning the competition, please
contact your Local Coordinator, Rodney Taylor at
[email protected].
Team time slots are available.
American Legion Peterson-Cram Post 75
The
American Legion Peterson-Cram Post 75, Pittsfield, NH will meet on
Monday, May 1, 2017 at 7:30 pm at the Post Home, located on 3 Loudon
Rd, Pittsfield. This meeting is an important one, as the new Post
Executive Committee will be installed by District 5 Commander. It is
anticipated that guests will also be in attendance from both
District and Department.
Once
the meeting is over, we will go into discussing the upcoming
Memorial Day observance with new updates. Upcoming events will be
Memorial Day, May 28th; Flag Day June 14th; Independence Day, July
4; POW/MIA Recognition Day, September 22; Veterans Day, November 11
and Pearl Harbor Day, December 7. Some of these days will be new
programs for us to do.
All
members, new and current, are encouraged to attend this important
meeting.
If you
have any questions, feel free to contact the Post Adjutant (Pro
Tem), Merrill Vaughan at 603-344-0264.
Obituaries
O.
Herbert Emerson
Pittsfield: Orshan Herbert Emerson, 80, of Joy St., died April 21st
at his home following a brief illness.
He was
born in Pittsfield, the son of Herbert O. and Mabel (Hoyt) Emerson.
He was a graduate of Pittsfield High School in 1954. He worked for
the Pittsfield Post Office retiring after 30 years. He served with
the Pittsfield Fire Department for many years retiring as the
Assistant Fire Chief.He also served as a Forest Fire Warden. He was
a member of the Pittsfield Lions Club.
He is
survived by his Wife of 58 years, Ann (Vincent) Emerson of
Pittsfield; three daughters, Catherine Emerson and partner Webb
Goodwin of Bow; Lori Johnson and partner Jeff Foisy of New Bedford,
MA; and Kelli Herrick and husband Greg of Bow; three grandchildren,
Aaron Counter, Tyler Counter, and Thomas Johnson Jr.; four great
grandchildren, Leah, Ethan, Ainsley and Michael; a sister Evelyn
Maulfair of Fairfax, VA; nieces and nephews.
A
private Graveside Service will be held in the Riverview Cemetery,
Barnstead at the convenience of the family. Donations in his memory
may be made to the Pope Memorial SPCA, 94 Silk Farm Road, Concord,
NH 03301 or to the Pittsfield Firefighters Fund, Pittsfield, NH
03263.
The
Waters Funeral Home, David Pollard, Director is assisting with
arrangements.
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