REMINDER
Pittsfield Beautification Committee Fundraising YARD
SALE, Saturday May 20th AND Sunday May 21st from 8 am to
2 pm at 515 Dowboro Rd. Pittsfield, just 3.5 miles from the center
of Town. We will also have food and beverages for those of you
who need a coffee and a muffin in the morning!
Anyone who would
like to donate items for our sale can drop them off at the address
listed above. We respectfully request that you do not bring
items of clothing or any heavy items.
Please join us and help
support our town gardens.
Catamount Womenaid Spring Plant Sale On May 20
Hundreds of
locally grown plants will be available at Catamount Womenaid’s
Spring Plant Sale on Saturday, May 20 from 9 to 3:00 at Christie’s
Antiques in Epsom. All the plants, which have been donated by avid
gardeners and nurseries in our area, will be ready for transfer into
home garden beds. Choose from dozens of varieties of perennials and
annuals, suitable for full sun to shade, all at reasonable prices.
Christie’s Antiques is located at 1740 Dover Rd. (Route 4) in
Epsom--the purple house on the hill across from Cumberland Farms.
All proceeds will benefit Catamount Womenaid which provides
emergency financial relief for individuals and families in
Deerfield, Epsom, Northwood, Pittsfield and Strafford. (See
catamountwomenaid.org.) The generosity of home gardeners and
nurseries makes this sale possible. Those with plants to donate
should contact [email protected].
Pastor’s Corner
Submitted By Mike Mavity, Grace Capital Church
We just celebrated Easter and the resurrection of Jesus. What a
great day Easter is; celebrating new life as we celebrate the
resurrection. You know, we get the advantage of history and knowing
the end of the story. We’ve ‘read the book’ and know that Jesus rose
on the third day. Think of those who were there, in the story, who
didn’t know the outcome. (We know that Jesus had predicted his death
and resurrection but that didn’t really sink in for the folks he
told.) They were devastated by his death and gave up hope of a
resurrection very quickly after his burial. However, we know the
rest of the story and that he rose!
There is a story in the book
of Matthew about two people who were on the road from Jerusalem to a
tiny town called Emmaus on the very day that Jesus rose. They left
Jerusalem before the resurrection so they had no idea that Jesus
had, indeed, been resurrected.
Jesus comes to these two (one was
named Cleopas and the other remains unnamed to this day) and asks
them what they were talking about. (Never mind the irony of God
Himself asking someone what they are talking about.) Jesus carries
on a conversation with them for the entire 7-mile trip to
Emmaus and they never recognize who he was. They tell Jesus the
whole story about Jesus (more irony)! Finally, Jesus reveals himself
to them and their hope is restored.
Jesus can seem to be a
master of disguise. Think about it; He was the Son of God disguised
as a little baby in a cattle stable at birth. He was a healer
disguised as a carpenter for many years. He was a little sneaky by
letting Lazarus’ sisters think he was coming too late to heal their
brother. Here, he was a master of disguise as he snuck up on Cleopas
and his companion. His ultimate disguise was when he disguised his
greatest victory as death on a cross.
We all can be on the alert
to see Jesus in our own lives. He’s there. He promised us that he
would never leave nor forsake us.
600
Miles - Circumnavigating NH By Bicycle to Benefit Cystic Fibrosis
Foundation
Raising money for CF Foundation in memory of my
brothers.
I, Brian Hand, have decided to circumnavigate the
state of New Hampshire via bicycle for the purpose of bringing
awareness and to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
I had two brothers die from Cystic Fibrosis (CF) one passing at the
age of 7 in 1971 and the other at 21 in 1985. I remember my
brother riding his bike through the city so that he could get
exercise in order to breathe more easily. This is the reason
why I chose cycling to raise money for the CF Foundation. My
journey of 600 miles to circumnavigate NH will begin and end at
Hampton Beach starting on September 16, 2017.
There is no cure
for Cystic Fibrosis now. CF is a genetic condition which
causes the digestive fluids, sweat, and mucus to become thick and
sticky blocking airways, digestive passages and other ducts
throughout the body. Real progress toward a cure has been
made, but the lives of people are still cut far too short.
According to Health Research Funding, “The number of Americans who
are believed to be carriers of the CF gene is 10 million.”
Today, 70,000 people are battling CF with the average survival age
of 37.
Please help support life-saving research, quality care,
and education programs that my ride will help fund. We need
your continued support to further the mission and help extend the
lives of those with the disease.
Donate and join my team in
raising funds to add tomorrows in people’s lives at this link:
http://cffh.convio.net/site/TR/Cycle/100_Northern_New_England_Nashua?px=2968379&pg=personal&fr_id=5906
After you donate, ask your employer and friends to match your
donation.
To view my route, go to this link:
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/1273164373
Granite
United Way Promotes Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive On Saturday May 13,
2017
Granite United Way is proud to promote the 25th Annual
Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive on Saturday, May 13,
2017.
This is the single largest one-day food drive across the
United States of America, and Granite United Way has been supporting
this effort for many years across its entire region.
In 2016,
more than 80 million pounds of non-perishable food was collected
across the nation. All food that is collected stays local to that
area. In Merrimack County this is done in partnership for the
Greater Concord Area with the Letter Carriers and the Capital Region
Food Program.
It is simple to participate in the effort.
On the second Saturday of May (May 13, 2017), just set out your
non-perishable food well before your letter carrier’s normal pick-up
time. The earlier the better! Note that he or she will be delivering
and collecting mail as usual, on top of collecting food donations,
so that pickup time could be slightly later than usual. Your letter
carrier might also have helpers. A good rule of thumb is to have the
bags by your mailbox by 9 a.m.
“We are proud to participate in
this effort each year,” said Val Guy, Granite United Way’s Area
Director for Merrimack County. “Each year this single day helps to
fill local food pantry shelves that have been depleted over the
winter months. It’s an important part of ensuring access to quality
food and helps reduce food insecurity in our community.”
The top
requested non-perishable food items are: cereal, pasta, pasta sauce
or spaghetti sauce, rice, canned fruits and vegetables, canned meals
(such as soups, chili and pasta), 100% juice, peanut butter,
macaroni & cheese, canned protein (tuna, chicken and turkey), beans
(canned or dry). You also can donate healthy, low-sodium, low-sugar
items such as beans, oatmeal and other whole grains, and canola or
olive oil.
Most towns participate in this effort. For more
information on your local post office’s participation, call them
directly.
Celebrate Drinking Water Week, May 7 - 13, 2017
Submitted by
Kathy Kelley of Epping Well and Pump
Epping Well and Pump and the
American Water Works Association encourages ‘getting to know and
love’ tap water during Drinking Water Week Epping Well and Pump,
the American Water Works Association and water professionals across
North America are kicking off Drinking Water Week with the theme
“Your Water – To Know It Is To Love It”.
Epping Well and Pump,
AWWA and the water community will celebrate Drinking Water Week by
recognizing the vital role water plays in daily lives. “This year’s
Drinking Water Week will motivate water consumers to be actively
aware of how they personally connect with water,” said AWWA Chief
Executive Officer David LaFrance. “We should all know how to find
and fix leaks, care for our home’s pipes and support our utility’s
investment in water infrastructure.”
How you can play a part in
this year’s Drinking Water Week Celebration:
Get the lead out -
Lead presents health concerns for people of all ages, particularly
pregnant women, infants and young children. In children, low
exposure levels have been linked to learning disabilities,
behavioral problems and other issues. Lead is sometimes present in
pipes connecting older homes to the water system or in fixtures and
home plumbing. A licensed plumber can help to identify lead service
lines and other materials such as lead fittings and solder.
Households can find out more about their water quality by having it
tested by a certified laboratory such as Seacoast Analytical
Services in Lee, NH. More information on lead in water can be
found on DrinkTap.org.
Check and fix leaks - Consumers are
encouraged to quickly and efficiently fix leaks in and around their
homes to prevent water waste. To test for leaks inside, customers
should shut off everything connected to water and inspect the home’s
flow indicator on the water meter. If the indicator continues to
move, even with everything off, there’s a leak somewhere in the
home.
To check for a leaky toilet, customers can place a few
drops of food coloring in the holding tank and wait five minutes
without flushing. There’s a leak if coloring appears in the bowl.
Also, customers should check all faucets and under the sinks for
dripping. To check for leaks outside, customers should inspect the
lawn for wet spots or pools of water around spray heads. Brown or
muddy spots would also indicate there is a leak in the irrigation
system.
Check your pipes - Many things can unnecessarily clog a
home’s plumbing system, including “flushable” wipes, fats, oils and
grease. Each year, these clogged pipes, back up systems and harm the
environment when they aren’t disposed of properly. Specifically,
flushable wipes, facial tissue, paper towels and medications should
be thrown away in the trash and should not be flushed down the
toilet. Also, fats, oil and grease should not be dumped down the
drain. Instead, they should also be thrown away in the trash.
“Caring for our pipes should be considered maintenance around the
home and not just thought of when something goes wrong with them,”
said AWWA Chief Executive Officer David LaFrance. “We have to do our
part not to clog up our already precarious water and wastewater
systems.”
For more than 35 years, AWWA and its members have
celebrated Drinking Water Week, a unique opportunity for both water
professionals and the communities they serve to join together in
recognizing the vital role water plays in daily lives.
Thank-you for doing your part.
About Epping Well &
Pump:
Epping Well & Pump is a leader in providing quality service
for a wide range of water needs including pump replacement, system
repair, water treatment, irrigation, and has a state accredited
laboratory for water testing. With 30 years of experience, your
water system will be in good hands with Epping Well & Pump. Many of
our technicians have been working in the industry for over 15 years
and are ready to listen to you and provide a solution to your water
problems.
About AWWA:
Established in 1881, the American Water
Works Association is the largest nonprofit, scientific and
educational association dedicated to managing and treating water,
the world’s most important resource. With approximately 50,000
members, AWWA provides solutions to improve public health, protect
the environment, strengthen the economy and enhance our quality of
life.
2017
Yard Sale
Planning a yard sale soon? Would you like the
benefits of having it the same day as many of your neighbors and
having it inexpensively advertised?
The Greater Pittsfield
Chamber of Commerce, which includes Barnstead, Chichester, Epsom,
Gilmanton, Loudon, Northwood and Pittsfield, is sponsoring our 20th
Annual Multi-Town Yard Sale. The advertised times will be from
8 a.m. till 2 p.m., Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 2nd, 3rd and
4th. Participants choose if they participate one, two or all
three days. We do our best to designate this in the Yard Sale
listings.
Those wishing to hold yard sales/barn sales/garage
sales at their home or business on this weekend, may register the
address of their sale to be included in an online map and printable
address list. Individual registration is a modest $5 to help cover
advertising costs. Group or Multifamily locations pay a $10
registration fee, and have an enhanced listing. As always, the
registration fee is waived for non profits. Donations to the Banner
project (in Pittsfield) are always welcome for those wishing to add
a few dollars to their registration.
Again this year, there is a
community yard sale location at Dustin Park on Saturday June 3rd,
8am-2pm. You must register to set up in Dustin Park. The same
$5 registration fee applies. Anyone may register for the Dustin Park
location regardless of their hometown. Set up will begin at 6:30
a.m., and all items must be cleared from your designated space by
3pm. Restrooms will be available for those registered.
Any
address in the seven member towns listed above may register their
yard sale. Registration forms are available in The Suncook Valley
Sun and online at www.pittsfieldchamber.org and
mailed to the Chamber at GPCOC, PO Box 234, Pittsfield, NH 03234.
Questions can be directed to
[email protected]
Letter
To The Editor
Select Board meeting 05/02/17
Meeting opened
with a letter of resignation from Chairman Konopka, sighting recent
health issues as the reason for his regretful departure from the
board. We accepted his resignation, also with regret, and thanks for
the many years and countless hours Larry dedicated to the position
and the town.
Some redistribution of Larry’s appointments and
duties must take place. Jim Allard was appointed Chairman of the
Board, and immediately assumed that duty. The other duties Larry has
been doing are covered for now, and when an interim Board member is
appointed, that person should be able to shoulder some of the
responsibility as well. Cara was instructed to place a notice in The
SUN immediately soliciting letters of interest from any resident who
would like to be considered to fill out the 5 person board until the
expiration of Larry’s tenure next March. We agreed to change our
current bi-weekly meetings from the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each
month to the 2nd and 4th Tues, with a firm start time of 6 PM.
An
appeal of the assessed value for 60 Main St. was heard for Northway
Bank by their representative Mark Lutter of Northeast Property Tax
Consultants. Mr. Lutter argued for an assessment reduction below
that recommended by the town’s assessors, Avitar. The Board decided
to continue to follow the advice of the firm that we pay for expert
opinion, and take our chances with Northway’s appeal to the State
Bureau. Defense of the town’s position is included in our Avitar
contract with no additional expense.
A donation of $270 to go
toward the cost of water for the newly established Community Garden
was accepted.
The Rotary was given approval for the Balloon Rally
helicopter ride site and parking on Chestnut St.
Carl Anderson
Letter
To The Editor
To The Editor:
Linda Small is proposing that the
PARETF be defunded and the proceeds put into the town’s general
fund. PARETF is a loan fund to be used by non-profit groups to
acquire and rebuild properties so they can be restored to taxable
status.
The proposal for defunding seems to be based on the fact
that the EDC and its non-profit subsidiary SVRDC have been
unsuccessful in convincing the Pittsfield BOS to deed town owned
properties to them.
I am thinking that the BOS has based its
decisions on the reality that the EDC, while having been in
existence for over ten years, has accomplished little and has not
convinced the BOS that it can do much going forward.
EDC has
created a wordy mission statement and published a list of businesses
with inaccurate descriptions of their operations, but has not yet
done much else to enhance economic development.
Several new
businesses have in fact come to town since 2006 - Liberty Machine,
Inofab, NEMO, Joe Darrah, MRP, Mike’s Meat Shop and Wellbuilt
Cabinetry come to mind. But EDC has not been instrumental in these
successes.
It seems to me that Linda Small wants to defund PARETF
just because EDC has not found a way to use it.
I say let’s keep
it. EDC has been ineffective but that does not mean that other
non-profits are incapable of doing well in town. PARETF funds should
be available if viable plans are presented.
Bill Miskoe
NH 4-H
Members Participate In Citizenship NH Focus
On Wednesday, April
26, sixty 4-H members from all corners of New Hampshire converged on
the State House in Concord to participate in active citizenship
through Citizenship NH Focus. Merrimack County had 12 youth
participate in the pilot experience of this event. Skyelar
Baillargeon of Concord, Trevor Braley of Epsom, Helen Connor of
Henniker, Clara Cooper of Concord, Margaret Cooper of Concord,
Elizabeth Hanson of Dunbarton, Connor Meehan of Barnstead, Ella
Mulari of Concord, Grace Murdoch Roy of Concord, Samantha Veilleux
of Henniker, Gwendolyn West of Center Barnstead, and Ian West of
Center Barnstead.
The day’s activities started in
Representatives Hall with a welcome from Dr. Ken LaValley, Dean and
Director of UNH Cooperative Extension and Representative Terry Wolf,
Assistant Majority Whip. The young people were then introduced to
Representative Jim Belanger, Hillsborough County; Representative
John O’Connor, Rockingham County; and Representative Michael Vose,
Rockingham County. After a mock legislative session, the
Representatives answered questions about what led them to public
service and many other topics related to our State Government. As
they toured the State House, the young people began to get a picture
of “a day in the life” of a Legislator and what it means to be in
public service. The morning’s activities culminated with meeting the
Speaker of the House, Representative Shawn Jasper.
A highlight of
the day was lunch in the State House cafeteria with several Senators
and Representatives from around the state in attendance. The 4-H
members had the opportunity to sit with the Senators and
Representatives to engage in frank conversation about the issues of
concern to them. Event organizer Michele King, was not surprised,
but truly humbled by the level of sincere engagement on the part of
Legislators and youth alike.
After lunch, the youth
learned about the complex legislative process from David Aulukonis,
Acting Director of the Office of Legislative Services. They then
wrapped the day up with a tour of the NH State Library, and learned
about the 300th Anniversary of the Nation’s oldest library.
As a
result of their State House experience the young people said they
learned: “Senators and Representatives are very underpaid for what
they do, but they do it for the community”; “the people in our
government are very passionate and dedicated”; and “the government
isn’t as mysterious as I thought”. They also said they would;
“get more involved in their community government”; “take on more
leadership roles in my county 4-H program”; and “encourage others to
get more involved in their government”.
The NH 4-H
Program, a program of UNH Cooperative Extension, strives to develop
young people who are engaged and informed citizens. Through programs
like this we are intentionally connecting youth to their government
so they will come to understand “the big picture” and their role in
civic affairs. For more information about UNH Cooperative Extension
programs, visit www.extension.unh.edu.
The University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension is an
equal opportunity educator and employer. University of New
Hampshire, U.S. Department of Agriculture and N.H. counties
cooperating.
Letter
Dear Privileged Citizens of Pittsfield:
You are the sole owners
of a wondrous 144 acre parcel of land known as the Rocky Ridge
Town Forest located on Clough Road near Greer Lane.
The
Pittsfield Conservation Commission and Pittsfield Listens are proud
to hold an Open House on:
Saturday, May 20, 10 am, rain date May
21 noon to show you this piece of land and answer any
questions you may have on the possible use of this land by
townspeople. Tim Fleury, Merrimack County Forester, will lead a tour
of this property and elicit your ideas. Transportation provided by
Pittsfield Youth Workshop, leaving from their parking lot at 10 am.
Coffee and donuts available.
Wednesday, May 31, 6pm
Come
discuss and decide the future of Pittsfield’s Town Forest at a
general meeting at the Pittsfield Middle High School Library
facilitated by Pittsfield Listens.
Possible benefits of the Rocky
Ridge Town Forest:
• Pittsfield, a town with both city and rural
character, should have a place for folks to go hiking, hunting,
jogging and horseback riding or to enjoy a picnic in the woods. A
144 acre town forest can improve the quality of life for many of the
people who do not own large parcels of land.
• The Town Forest
is a place where neighbors can come together to share and celebrate
their connection to each other and to the land. The Pittsfield Youth
Workshop supports the creation of a Town Forest which will provide
many community service and recreational opportunities for their
youth members.
• The Pittsfield Conservation Commission has an
active Forestry Plan in place for the proposed Town Forest. This
plan will produce significant revenue which will pay the management
costs of the Town Forest while creating Recreation and wildlife
value at no cost to the taxpayers.
The Pittsfield Conservation
Commission
Obituaries
Wilbur
A. Signor
Wilbur A. Signor, age 88, peacefully passed away in
Florida on March 29th, 2017.
He was born April 11th, 1928 in
Manchester NH and lived in the NH area until he moved to Lynn, MA
where he met his wife Yolanda Puleo (who predeceased him January
2007). They had three daughters; Jane Naus, and Diane Holey both of
Lynn, and Janet Collins of Largo Florida. He also has a brother
Robert Signor of Manchester, NH.
Wilbur leaves behind his loving
wife Patricia Kelley Signor and three step-children; Marguerite
Perry and Kenneth Kelley of Raymond, NH and Kathleen Mazzatto of
Derry, NH, also a favorite sister-in-law Eleanor Marcello of
Methuen, MA. Other relatives include 4 grandchildren of Lynn, MA;
Sean and Dan Connolly and Joe and Marc Holey, also 2 granddaughters
of Tracy Conklin and Tara Applegate both of Largo, Florida. He has 9
great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild, many cousins,
nieces and nephews all of whom he was very fond of.
Wilbur was a
World War II veteran serving in the United States Coast Guard.
He
worked at many jobs both in Massachusetts and NH, retiring from the
Budweiser Brewery in Merrimack, NH, where he was hired for his
painting skills.
While in his 50’s, he built his own home in
Loudon, NH.
Besides his carpentry and painting skills, he loved
to sing and enjoyed karaoke, loved cars and played shuffleboard in
Florida. He also enjoyed making his own homemade fudge, and baking
his apple pies.
He loved and enjoyed his family and friends,
especially his loving wife Patricia since June 12th, 2009.
The
Celebration of Wilbur’s Life was held on Saturday, May 6th at St.
Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Pittsfield.
A military burial was
held at the Bedford Center Cemetery on Church Street in
Bedford, NH also on May 6th.
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