Celebrating a Birthday this week is: August 12, Cameron
Quigley. Happy Birthday!
Celebrating an Anniversary this week are: August 13, Merrill and
Diane Vaughan. Happy Anniversary!
Please Join Our
Masonic Open House
Corinthian Lodge #82
Free &
Accepted Masons
Saturday, October 20
9:00 –
3:00
5 Park
Street, Pittsfield
Have
you ever wanted to know about Freemasonry or had a family member who
was part of the fraternity? Come and visit us to learn more –
all are welcome!
Our Next Generation Of Farmers
Submitted By Carole Soule
Farmer Carole Soule with Jeff Jordan's donkey, Fionna.
Fionna the donkey and Abby, a bottle-fed lamb, from Jeff
Jordan's flock with Author, Carole Soule.
Jeff
Jordan of Chichester was a good friend and a fellow farmer. It
seemed like one day he was helping me load lambs into our trailer,
and the next he was diagnosed with cancer. He died a few weeks later
at age 66.
Jeff
worked his entire life to build a quality flock of sheep. He was a
hog expert, too. Jeff would judge for both species at the Deerfield
Fair. You might have walked through the “Jeff Jordan Sheep Barn” at
the Hopkinton Fair; so-named in honor of his faithful support of 4H
and the Fair. Jeff was a good man, a talented herdsman and skilled
shearer, and now he's gone.
Losing
a man like Jeff is extra painful for us New Hampshire farmers. Our
numbers are small and getting smaller; most of us are over 55 and
not getting any younger. How can we replenish our diminishing ranks
with new farmers? Certainly not by promising them riches. It's a
truism that the way to make a million dollars in farming is to start
with $10 million... a grim joke.
Farming
is not glamorous, but it's necessary if we want to eat. For people
like me, it's the only way to live – as a fully participating,
hands-on producer - carrying on an age-old tradition and working
under the sky with no boss except Mother Nature.
To
recruit young farmers, each year in early October, Learning Networks
Foundation (the nonprofit aspect of Miles Smith Farm) hosts FARM
DAY. Our 2018 FARM DAY takes place on Saturday, October 6th
from 10 am to 3 pm. That's when young and old can get up-close and
personal with our farm animals. Visitors get to pet a rabbit, brush
a heifer, take a hayride, and even ride a cow!
This
year we'll also have two friendly lambs and a donkey named Eleanor;
winsome creatures that we bought from Jeff Jordan's estate. In
addition to visiting the animals at FARM DAY, there will be three
workshops – one on raising goats, another on vegetable and herb
gardening, and a third on training yoked cattle to pull heavy
loads...my special joy.
Yes, we
mourn Jeff's passing but let's also celebrate his life and protect
his legacy by inviting young people to come and learn about
agriculture. We're raising cattle and hogs at Miles Smith Farm, but
we're also cultivating our next generation of farmers!
Find
out more about FARM DAY on our website at
https://www.milessmithfarm.com/farm-day-2018.html
Carole
Soule is co-owner of Miles Smith Farm, in Loudon, N.H. She can be
reached at [email protected].
Letter
To The Editor
Vote
for Education
When we
talk with people about how NH pays for education they grimace, roll
their eyes, and use strong language to describe their property tax
bill. No one says NH is efficient, impactful or “we do a great
job supporting the education of all our students!”
The
current statewide funding formula for adequate education aid was
established in 2008, with updates in 2011 and 2015. During the
2018 session the NH legislature reviewed the current funding formula
and decided further consideration and possible adjustments would be
worthy during the 2019 session (remember just about everyone in NH
makes ugly faces when thinking about education funding so yes, it’s
time to explore an adjustment).
The
current funding formula has a statewide education property tax
(SWEPT) as it’s foundation. Given that approximately 25% of NH’s
population live in towns with a bit under 50% of the state’s
property value, and that NH allows towns with high property value to
keep all their SWEPT revenue within their own town, this reliance on
a statewide education property tax forces the NH legislature to find
money for public education from other sources of taxation and
revenue. (No wonder education funding is strained, and
taxpayers are grumpy!)
Pittsfield, Epsom, and Allenstown, plus all the towns of NH Senate
District 17, are fortunate to have engaged, thoughtful, and
intelligent candidates. As you prepare to vote, please consider each
candidate’s position on equitable education funding and the impact
the candidate may have on all of NH’s children. Vote for
candidates that will be flexible, engaged and ensure that NH meets
its constitutional obligation for statewide public education.
Harry
and Leslie Vogt
Pittsfield
Suncook
Valley Supports Equity In Education Group Update
On
September 18th a group of Pittsfield citizens working together as
Suncook Valley Supports Equity in Education sent the following
letter to:
Gubernatorial, NH Senate District 17 and NH House of Representatives
Districts 21 and 29 Candidates:
A group
of Pittsfield citizens has been working together to increase our
understanding of how the State of New Hampshire funds and
distributes Adequate Education Aid. We have been sharing what
we learn with our friends and neighbors. Leading up to the November
election we would like to be able to share candidate position
statements concerning adequate education aid.
By
October 8, 2018 we are hoping you will send us a written statement
that addresses the following questions.
• What
will you do to make sure that New Hampshire updates its adequacy
grants to realistic levels?
• What
will you do to make school property tax rates fair and equal across
the state?
• As an
immediate measure, would you support a moratorium on cuts to
stabilization aid? Would you support restoring the amount that
has been cut since 2015?
• If
you are in favor of a constitutional amendment on school funding,
what would such an amendment say?
We
fully understand, and expect, that your position will evolve and
change during the 2019 legislative session, but we believe your
current thoughts will be of interest to voters as they consider
their candidate selections. We plan to publish the statements
we receive in the weekly newspaper The Suncook Valley Sun during the
final three weeks of October. The gubernatorial, NH state
senate and NH house of representatives’ statements will be published
together. We will also post your statements on the Facebook
page Suncook Valley Supports Equity in Education. Our purpose
is to provide information, so we will not be endorsing candidates.
Thank
you for stepping forward as a candidate in New Hampshire’s 2018
election.
Josiah
Carpenter Library October News
The nip
of cold is in the air, and you may think that all the ticks are
dead. Not true, I have friend who was bitten by a tick in
December! On Tuesday October 9th at 1:00 pm Carolyn Fredette
from the NH Division of Public Health will offer a Tick Talk at the
Pittsfield Senior Center. Come and learn about the signs and
symptoms of tick-borne diseases, how to prevent bites, and proper
tick removal and disposal. This will be a wonderful
opportunity to talk to an expert.
On
Monday October 8th at 2:00 pm the Chichester-Epsom-Pittsfield
Libraries Memory Café will enjoy a reading of The Devil and Daniel
Webster by Stephen Vincent Benet. Local caregivers and folks
living with memory loss are invited to come and enjoy a classic
uncanny short story set right here in New Hampshire!
Refreshments will be served.
Story
Hour for babies, preschoolers, families and caregivers meets on
Thursday at 10:00am; come and celebrate Fall and fairy tales.
The Adventures Club (kindergarten thru 3rd grade) that meets on
Tuesday at 3:30 pm will be creating puppets and a puppet show to
perform in late October. Exploring circuits will be the focus of
Creating Adventures (3rd thru 6th grade) which meets on Wednesday at
2:00pm. We are looking forward to having fun with families at
Parks and Recreation’s Harvestfest on Saturday October 20th, we hope
to see at the town pool!
The
Teen Book Worms will gather on Tuesday October 9th at 6:30pm; they
will enjoy a light supper and discuss Glass Sword by Victoria
Aveyard. The Pittsfield Writer’s Circle will meet at the
library on Tuesday the 23rd at 5:00pm. The adult book club
will meet to discuss Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout at
10:30 am on Tuesday October 23rd at the Pittsfield Senior Center.
Come, and join on some lively conversation.
Wanted:
Historic Pittsfield Items
With
the building of the new Pittsfield Historical Society headquarters
and museum next spring, the organization is now in a position to
once again accept historical ephemera and items, both large and
small. We are in the planning stage of placing items into various
galleries in the museum and would like to have any additional items
donated as soon as possible so that they can be incorporated into
our plans.
We
welcome any early Pittsfield items: pictures, plate and iron ware,
arts and crafts items and products manufactured in Pittsfield,
military and railroad artifacts, commerce and industrial ephemera
and goods, and school, sports, fire department, and police
memorabilia, as well as paraphernalia of various organizations.
All
donations will be greatly appreciated and recognition given by the
Society.
The
Suncook Valley Area Lions Club had an induction ceremony Tuesday,
September 26. Judy Gibson from Epsom/Chichester Lions club performed
the ceremony for new member Robert Giegerich, with his sponsor Don
Bergeron. For more information on becoming a Lion contact membership
chair Ed Vien 435- 5052.
Pittsfield Area Senior Center
Cat
Faulkner is back at the Pittsfield Senior Center on Tuesday, October
9, at 10:30 AM. Cat is a favorite performer and she gains new fans
at every show. This is a free live musical performance, where she
combines the traditional jazz style with her interpretation of the
American Songbook. You may be familiar with the iconic songs of that
era that include, “It had to be you,” “Night and Day,” and “My
Romance.” Please come, enjoy the music, and have lunch with us. Call
435-8482 to make your reservations.
The
Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association is having a Flu
Immunization Clinic at the Pittsfield Senior Center on Friday,
October 19, from 10:00am-12:00pm. If you do not have an insurance
card the cost will be $30.00, but it will be free if you have a card
from Medicare B, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, Harvard Pilgrim, or
Anthem. The center is located on 74 Main St. in Pittsfield. There
are no lines so just come in.
Obituaries
Deena
L. Bowman
In
loving memory of Deena L. Bowman of Rochester who passed away
September 15, 2018 after declining health.
Born
September 12, 1957, she loved to laugh, tell jokes, go for rides,
cook on campfires, and eat marshmallows.
She
loved all animals, especially her cat, Cinnamon, and a favorite pig,
named Arnold, she used to bottle-feed. She liked fishing,
holidays, gatherings, listening to music, and will be greatly missed
by her boyfriend of 14 years.
Mark
St. George & Family
Cleon
V. Riel, Sr.
PITTSFIELD- Mr. Cleon V. Riel, Sr., 92, a lifelong resident of
Pittsfield, passed away unexpectedly in the New Hampshire State
Veterans Home on September 24, 2018.
Born in
Pittsfield, Cleon was the son of the late Victor and Irene (Genest)
Riel. He was raised and educated in Pittsfield and was a
graduate of Pittsfield High School. Following his graduation,
Cleon enlisted in the United States Army and proudly served his
country during World War II.
Prior
to his retirement, he was employed as a Line Engineer with the NH
Electric Co-Op, a position he held for over 40 years. Cleon
was past president of the Pittsfield Lions Club and was a longtime
member of the VFW in Pittsfield. He was a member of the Civil
Defense and also taught hunter safety for several years.
Cleon
was an avid hunter and fisherman and also enjoyed beekeeping and
candlepin bowling.
He was
predeceased by his siblings: Theresa Chagnon, Ronald Riel,
Jacqueline Drew, James Riel and Edward Riel.
He is
survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Therese (Drouin) Riel; his
two children: Cleon “Kip” Riel, Jr. of Pittsfield and Lurene M. Riel
of Epsom; his two grandchildren, Marissa Butterfield and Shelby
Riel; his great grandson, Jason Butterfield; and his siblings,
Vincent Riel of Keene, Arlene Riel of Old Orchard Beach, ME and
Patricia Gagne of Cape Coral, FL. He is also survived by many
nieces and nephews.
Burial
took place in Floral Park Cemetery, Pittsfield on Saturday,
September 29th. In lieu of flowers, donations in Cleon’s
memory may be sent to the NH Veterans Home, 139 Winter St. Tilton,
NH 03276 or the Alzheimer’s Association, 166 S. River Rd. #210,
Bedford, NH 03110. To share a memory or offer a condolence,
please visit www.stilloaks.com
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