The
Pittsfield Food Pantry will be closed the first week of September.
The Pittsfield, NH American Lgion Peterson-Cram Post 75
is looking for at least two individual that want to sing our
National Anthem for our annual Installartion (First Monday in May);
Memorial Day; Veterans Day and at other special programs as they
occur.
If we receive more than two nominees, (duos or a
small group are welcomed to apply), we will decide by an elimination
process where the nomnees will have to sing the National Anthem at
our post meetings beginning September 11, at 7:30 pm at the Post
Home at 3 Loudon Rd.; until two are chosen.
REQUIREMENTS:
Anyone in PMHS or home school. If in grades 7 or 8, we would
want to see a permission slip from both your parents/legal guardian
and your school advisor. If high school, a permission slip
will be good from your advisor. This will ensure that they
know and approve of what you want to do. This will count as
community service and patriotisim recognition by the Post.
If anyone has a question, feel free to contact Post 75 Adjutant
Merrill Vaughan at 435-5207 or his cell phone 603-340-1375
Letter
To The Editor
Pittsfield Select Board Meeting 8/22/17
First
up, the team from the sewage treatment plant. Over simplified, the
phosphorous levels continue to respond favorably to additional
treatment. The leaky sewer pipes that allow groundwater into the
system are the main cause of the problem. The solution- slip-lining
the existing guilty pipes- will come at a major cost; $34 to $40 a
foot, just for material, plus installation, for 5000’ or more. Our
sewer lines are old, and this may be the only solution to meet DES
requirements.
The release of liability for the town subsequent to
approving the request to build for 121 True Rd. was signed by the
Board.
Pittsfield’s valuation was assessed at $263 million.
Sounds like a lot of money, but pales in comparison to all
surrounding towns and is at the bottom for towns statewide with our
population. We are desperately trying to find ways to turn this
around.
Our cable provider, Metrocast, is being sold to Atlantic
Broadband, and they have asked that we approve the change for our
service. The discussion is pretty much moot however. Once a cable
company has been established as the sole provider in a town, and
their infrastructure is in place, other companies have little or no
interest in taking over. If no action is taken to approve, the
change becomes automatic in 120 days. We took no action.
Don’t
forget- there will be a special day of voting at the town hall from
7 to 7 on Sept. 19 to reconsider the teacher’s contract that was
turned down at the School Meeting last March. This is not a meeting-
it’s simply open polls for a yes or no vote. Regardless of your
position, don’t complain about the outcome if you don’t take a
couple minutes to vote.
Carl Anderson
Letter
To The Editor
Reagan requests public input regarding NH higher
education
To the editor:
The Public Higher Education Study
Committee is seeking public input regarding experiences in New
Hampshire’s higher education system. Specifically, this committee is
requesting answers to the question: does attending a public or
private institution of higher education provide increased critical
thinking skills, personal or professional development, ability to
repay student loan debt, advanced knowledge and/or adequate career
related skills?
The public’s input is essential to determining
the quality and overall value of higher education in New Hampshire.
We are looking for individual experiences that will illustrate the
quality of the education they received in our state.
These
individual stories will be an integral part of our work to ensure
the $86 million in taxpayer dollars that is spent on higher
education are providing an adequate return on investment that will
not only support the needs of our state’s workforce but ensure our
students will obtain good paying jobs and are able excel in their
careers.”
Input from those who have attended public or private
institutions for higher learning are welcome for comparison
purposes. Please submit written submissions by Wednesday, September
6th to my address, 53 Mount Delight, Deerfield, NH 03037 or you can
contact me, Senator John Reagan at 603-463-5945 or
[email protected].
Pittsfield Beautification Committee Mark Your Calendars!!
The
Pittsfield Beautification Committee is a non-profit organization
staffed by volunteers who plant and maintain the 3 small and 2 large
gardens in Town. Our only funding comes from your donations.
It was because of our generous supporters that we were able to
create the wonderful gardens at the corners of Catamount and
Broadway and Main and Oak Streets.
If you would like to continue to support our efforts, we invite you
to visit with us at our annual Mum Sale Fundraiser, to be held on
Saturday, September 9th at the Aranosian Garden, (next to
Jack’s Pizza on Catamount Rd ), from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon.
We will be
selling a variety of colors in 10” pots and 5 gallon pots. We
will also be selling baked goods and perennial plants for fall
planting.
As always, thank you for your support !
Josiah
Carpenter Library September News
The library enthusiastically
welcomes Mrs. Heather Dunagin as our new Children’s Librarian.
Heather has a wealth of experience planning and conducting programs
for children, and we’re excited as we prepare for the upcoming fall
programs. The afterschool Cozy Nook Book Adventure Club will
begin at 3:30pm on Tuesday September 12th. Preschool story
hour will continue at 10:00 am on Thursday mornings.
On
Tuesday September 19th the 1,2,3 Living Well group will host Hannah
Park, Merrimack Area Environmental Interpretive Ranger for the New
Hampshire State Parks. Hannah will be teaching about our local
Incredible Wild Edibles. The presentation will take place at
12:30pm at the Pittsfield Senior Center. Please come and
expand your culinary knowledge, including recipes!
The Teen Book
Worms will gather on Monday the 11th at 5:00pm; enjoy a light supper
and The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater. The adult book club
will meet to discuss Last Bus to Wisdom by Ivan Doing at 10:30am on
Tuesday September 26th. The Pittsfield Writer’s Circle will
meet at the library on September 21st at 7:00pm.
The library
enjoys displaying the work of local artists. If you are
interested in showcasing your work please visit the or call the
library (435-8406) and ask for Leslie.
Mike
Courchene of Mike’s Meat Shoppe is always happy to help you with
your selection!
American Legion Peterson – Cram Post 75 News
Our September 2017
meeting wil be held on September 11, 2017 beginning at 7:30 PM at
the Post home, located at 3 Loudon Rd., Pittsfield. The reason
for this change is that Labor Day falls on the first Monday.
The
September meeting will be busy with details of how the Post is
progressing in a new direction under the leaderhip of Post Comander
James Edgell; POW/MIA Recognition Day and Veterans Day.
If
there are questions, feel free to contact the Post Adjutant, Merrill
Vaughan at 603-340-1375.
Grace
Capital Church Pittsfield Becomes Joy Church
Grace Capital
Church, which has been meeting in Pittsfield for almost 2 years, is
changing their name to Joy Church, effective September 1. The
church is part of the Foursquare denomination (www.foursquare.org)
and will continue that affiliation. Joy Church will have the
same great people, same location (55 Barnstead Road) and same
service time (Sunday 9:30). Pastors Mike and Kathy Mavity are
excited to continue serving the Suncook Valley in the same manner,
just with a new church name.
Joy church’s vision is to impact
our communities with the Father’s love and raise up a body of
believers committed in relationship to Jesus Christ and one another.
Everyone matters at Joy church and we want to love, accept, and show
the forgiveness that we have received.
We hope you’ll come out
and join us for our Grand opening celebration on September 17th at
9:30 at 55 Barnstead Road. Find out more about us at
www.joychurchnh.com
Protect
Your Groundwater Day Is September 5th
Submitted By Kathy Kelley
Of Epping Well And Pump
If you’re a private well owner, in the
same way that you check your fire alarm batteries once a year, you
should also check your well cap. One of the ways in which our
aquifers can become contaminated with bacteria is by having
uncapped, abandoned wells or current wells that are not capped
properly. Take some time on September 5th to check your well
cap to be sure it has no damage and is tightly secured to your well
head. You also should walk your property to ensure there are
no old, abandoned wells that are open. This will help protect
the quality of your groundwater. Thanks for doing your part!
School
District Collective Bargaining Agreement
Submitted By The
Pittsfield School Board
Mike Wolfe, chair; Bea Douglas,
vice-chair; Linda Freese, Ted Mitchell, Ralph Odell
A special
ballot vote will be held to consider a successor contract between
the Pittsfield School Board and the Education Association of
Pittsfield (EAP). This vote will take place between 7:00 a.m.
and 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 19, at Town Hall.
(New voters
are encouraged to register to vote to have your voice heard on this
critical issue; absentee ballots are available.)
The EAP
represents the school district’s teachers and other categories of
educators such as guidance counselors and librarians. The
recently-expired collective bargaining agreement is available for
review on the district’s website and through the SAU office by
request.
The EAP does not represent other categories of
employees, such as administrators, paraprofessionals, office staff,
or custodians. The agreement between the Board and the EAP is
the only collective bargaining agreement within the district.
The
recently-expired agreement was in effect between 2014 and 2017.
For each year of this contract, the employee’s share of health
insurance was increased by 1% per year, and the employee’s share of
the dental insurance was increased by 5% per year. Modest
salary increases were also included.
The Board and EAP had
reached agreement on a replacement three-year contract that was put
before the voters in March. Unfortunately, the voters rejected
the agreement by a 95-81 vote. This action brought the two
sides to the negotiation table again this spring, and another
agreement was reached.
The new agreement, which has a one-year
term, makes no changes in the salary schedule or the benefits
offered. However, returning teachers will advance a “step” on
the salary schedule based on the additional year of teaching.
These step increases vary within the salary schedule. For
example, a teacher holding a BA or MA degree would gain slightly
less than 2.5% for an increase from last year to this year, and such
a teacher with 16 years of experience would gain approximately 3.25%
for an increase.
Without a new agreement, the previous agreement
will remain in effect. However, because employees will bear
increase costs for health insurance and retirement system
contributions, take home pay will actually be lowered when compared
with last year unless the teachers move ahead on the salary schedule
based on experience. With a YES vote, teachers and others
represented by the EAP will receive modest increases.
We remain
very disappointed that the previous agreement was turned down in
March, but we now urge you to support our fine teachers with your
YES vote on September 19.
Obituaries
Roland
Weydemann
Tilton - Roland Weydemann, 80, of the NH Veterans Home,
died August 12th at the Concord Hospital following a long illness.
He was born in Brooklyn, NY, the son of Joseph and Jennie (Maurice)
Weydemann. He grew up in Pittsfield and lived in Barnstead prior to
his retirement as a machinist at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. He
was an Air Force Veteran during the Korean Conflict.
He was the
widower of Marjorie (Adams) Weydemann and leaves a sister Elizabeth
W. Adams and her husband Roland of Tilton, a niece, Lisa Bernier; a
grand niece, Alyssa Bernier and cousins. He was predeceased by a
brother Kurt Weydemann.
A Memorial Graveside Service, with
Military Honors, was held at the Riverview Cemetery, Barnstead. In
Lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Doberman Dog Rescue
League of NH. The Waters Funeral Home, Concord, David Pollard,
Director is assisting with arrangements.
Christina Van Horn
Christina Van Horn, of Concord, died Monday,
Aug. 14, 2017, at her home after suffering a heart attack. She was
66.
She spent many years as an editor, beginning her career at
the Concord Monitor, then working at Associated Press bureaus in
Concord and Hartford, Conn. She ended her New England editing career
at the Boston Globe, where she was a copy editor on the local and
wire desks and for The Calendar. She was also a business agent for
Boston Newspaper Guild. Currently, she was an editor for PlaidSwede
Publishing of Concord.
She worked in New York City as
speechwriter for the New York City commissioner of the Human
Resources Administration and was editor of the New School’s Observer
newspaper. She delved into the fledgling world of information
technology, working as an editor for Commuter Industry Daily, the
first daily newspaper to be published and transmitted
electronically.
Her next editing job was for Esther Dyson, one of
the nation’s top information technology gurus. In this capacity, she
traveled extensively for Dyson, visiting Warsaw, Budapest, Slovenia,
Bratislava and the Czech Republic. Dyson played a groundbreaking
role in opening the East to Western commerce.
She moved to
California to marry Dana Milner and continued working as a freelance
editor. She served as a president and board member of the Albany,
Calif. Rotary Club and volunteered for Rebuilding Together. In a
career change, she was certified by the International Color
Consultant Association and became a color consultant, operating her
own business. She was an active library volunteer for 15 years in
Albany and served on the library board.
She moved back to New
Hampshire in 2015 (in the coldest January ever), and became a
volunteer at the Epsom library, where she wrote monthly book and DVD
reviews. Her most recent reviews appeared in the Concord Monitor and
the Suncook Valley Sun. She was a member of the Epsom Democrats. In
her earlier days, she was the first woman appointed to the
Pittsfield Planning Board and served on the town’s committee for a
new elementary school.
Van Horn was an inveterate reader – with a
large supply of books waiting to be read. She also could never have
enough shoes or handbags to accessorize her wardrobe and created her
own jewelry. She built a dollhouse, which she filled with 19-century
furniture built by her father, Ralph Van Horn. The dollhouse is now
on display at the Epsom library and is destined for the Pittsfield
Historical Society. She was devoted to Democratic Party and feminist
causes.
She was graduated from Wellesley College, magna cum
laude, Phi Beta Kappa. She was Wellesley’s first women studies
major.
She leaves her mother, Maureen Van Horn of Pittsfield;
sisters, Stephanie Van Horn of Franklin and Erica Van Horn of
Tipperary, Ireland, and George Geers of Concord, many cousins and
friends whom she held dear.
There will be no services, but a
gathering of family and friends will be held in early October.
Donations in her name should be made to the Epsom Public Library.
The Still Oak Funeral and Memorial Home is assisting the family with
arrangements. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit
stilloaks.com.
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