■St. John the Baptist Ladies of St. Anne will meet on Sept. 21 at 9 a.m. in church followed by mid-morning social of coffee and snacks.
■ St. Therese Rosebush Society will meet on Sept. 23. at 6:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall.
■ The St. John the Baptist will be accepting items for the yard sale after each weekend mass until Oct.17. Please deliver all items to the ramp at the lower Parish Hall, where volunteers will meet you. If you can not do weekends please call the office at 485-3113 between 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to make other arrangements.
■ There’s a Slice of Pie Raffle fundraiser to benefit St. John the Baptist Church repairs still have tickets available if you are interested. Tickets are $25., to purchase a ticket contact Melaine at 848-1351.
CLAUDETTE VERVILLE
485-4437
cverville2@comcast.net
■SAU 53 will have an Executive Board meeting Sept. 22 at 5:30 p.m. on campus.
■The Chichester PTO raffle calendar is ready for purchase. Each calendar is $10. Chichester students will be sent home with an order form for family and friends to purchase, or the front desk at the school will have calendars. All money raised goes directly to PTO which in turn supports the school, staff and students. The generosity of area businesses have given the opportunity to win great prizes to the ticket holders.
■World Rivers Day is Sept. 26. Chichester has the Suncook River flowing through town and many brooks and streams that need our help. Waterways are littered with trash. Spending a few minutes to improve our waters will be beneficial to all.
■Chichester U12 and school students are very busy with soccer games. Sept. 21 in Pittsfield at 4 p.m., Sept. 23 in Chichester 5:30 p.m., Sept. 24 in Farmington at 4 p.m. and Sept. 25 in Strafford at 1 p.m. Coaches, parents, and staff members volunteer their time for our youth to enjoy sports.
■The PA Girls Soccer team is showing a 3 win and no losses. Congrats to Chichester players who made the team. Chichester Players got experience playing with the Chichester Youth Association and the school soccer team.
■The grounds of Chichester Central were full of laughter, sense of community and socialization with a big turnout at the school for the Back To School BBQ. The meal was donated by the Chichester PTO and cooked by school board members. Parents got to explore classrooms, see updates and improvements throughout the building.
■Congratulations to Principal Snider on her recent marriage to Neil Wilson.
■Chichester school counselor, Mrs. Carrier, has taken on a new role in the school community. Besides being counselor and 504 coordinator she is now the McKinney Vento Homeless Liaison. With this new role she is available to members of the school community who experience loss of housing during the school year related to financial hardship. There are many resources available for anyone finding themselves in this situation. Reach out to Mrs Carrier at 798-5151.
■Chichester first grade students practiced their names with sidewalk chalk and made bracelets during the first week of school. Students enjoy being outside and learning.
■This is a reminder that breakfast and lunch are free for all students through this school year. This does not include any snack, slushies, water or extra milk. These items are paid by the parents. Contact Ravonne Eccleston, Chichester food service director with any specific questions reccleston@sau53.org.
■The Chichester Town Library offers free wi-fi to library users. Current hours are Monday and Wednesday 2:30 – 8:30 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to noon. The library belongs to the inter-library loan service with offers, DVD’s, audio CD books beside hard and soft cover books. September is library card month, sign up to find a rich and diverse world in experiencing books. Check out the Chichester Library FaceBook page for more information.
■The Chichester Historical Society is always interested in acquiring old photos of people and places in Chichester. Old diaries or artifacts used and owned by residents as well as Chichester advertising signs, architectural fragments and other items of interest are also wanted. Photos can be scanned and the originals returned. Contact Fred Shaw at the historical society.
■The Board of Selectmen will meet Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. See the town website for agenda. The planning board will have a work meeting Sept. 23 at 6:30 p.m. at town hall. Contact Kristy at town hall for information.
■Chichester Youth Soccer U10, teams 1 and 2 will play at the Carpenter Park on Sept. 22 at 5:30 p.m. playing against Strafford and Concord. On Sept. 25 Chichester 1 will host Northwood 3 at 11 a.m. at the park. Chichester 2 will play Northwood 2 at 11 a.m in Northwood. Chichester U8 1 will play on Sept. 20 at 5:30 p.m. in Epsom. Chichester U8 2 will host Concord on Sept. 20 at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 25 Chichester will host Pittsfield at the Carpenter Park at 9 a.m.
■NH DOT will hold a citizens/public officials meeting on Sept. 21 at Chichester Town Hall at 6 p.m. to discuss the intersection improvement project at Main Street/Route 28, and Depot Street. This project may have an effect on cultural and historical resources.
EVELYN PIKE
broomtailfarm@hotmail.com
■Plans are moving quickly for the historical eighth grade trip to New York, Washington, D.C. and Gettysburg, which will take place the week prior to April Vacation from April 18 to 22. If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to register your child with WorldStrides. You should have received an email with the link to register online. The Trip ID is 194641. If you have questions about how to register for the trip, call Gloria Kaplan at 736-9331 x113 or email GKaplan@sau53.org. The next fundraising meeting is Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. in the ECS cafeteria. If you have questions about the fundraising efforts, please contact Angela Little at alittlerdh@gmail.com or Shannon Carignan at scarignan1780@gmail.com.
■The new Scouting season is beginning in September! If you have a child in grades K-5 and are interested in joining Cub Scouts, or a child in 6-8 and are interested in Scouts BSA (formerly Boy Scouts) please contact Joe Nericcio at 603-344-0026 (best) or 603-435-0396 or Email at nericcioj@yahoo.com. (Note: This is not an E.C.S. sponsored activity.)
■The library is back in full swing with our normal hours. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you would still rather do a curbside pickup, let us know and we will be happy to prepare your items and set them out for you. Call 736-9920.
■Children’s Storytime set for Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Children and their caregivers listen to stories, sing songs, and enjoy crafts. September themes include sunflowers, apples, insects and fall weather. All ages are welcome.
■Interested in playing or learning to play Mahjong? On Tuesdays at 10:15 a.m., come join us in the library meeting room. The group meets weekly.
■Now until Sept. 25, the abstract art of Northwood artist, Chris Dyer, will be on exhibit at the library.
■Movie Matinees will continue at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday afternoons for the following movies, with light refreshments provided. On Sept. 22nd, see “Dream Horse.” This is an inspiring true story of Dream Alliance, an unlikely racehorse bred by small-town bartender Jan Vokes in Wales. With little money and no experience, Jan convinces her neighbors to chip in their meager earnings to raise Dream and compete against the racing elites, becoming a beacon of hope in their struggling community as he rises through the ranks. It takes a village to raise a champion.
■Board of Selectmen meet Monday at 6 p.m. in meeting room 940 S at 6:30 p.m.
■Happy birthday today to Kathy Horgan, my hubby Tim Riel, Kegan Finn on Monday, daughter-in-law Tracey Riel, Kathryn Brooks-Miller on Wednesday, Dave Cummings on Friday! Enjoy your special days!
TERRY RIEL
rielt397@gmail.com
■The Pittsfield Historical Society is hosting a tour of the Sanborn Mills Farm on Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. Please gather at the farm a little before 6 p.m. and the tour should take about an hour.
■A School District Public Meeting will be held on Sept. 23 at 5:30 p.m. at the Pittsfield Middle High School to see if the citizens of Pittsfield will vote to expend $352,505 of unanticipated adequacy funds. Such funds come from the State of New Hampshire and not from taxation. If this article is defeated, the sum of $352,505 will be used to decrease the tax rate for the Pittsfield School District for the 2021-2022 school year. An open discussion and vote will be taken by only those in attendance at the meeting.
■The Pittsfield High School Alumni Association will meet on Sept. 20 at 6 p.m., the location will either be at the high school or via Zoom. If you attended or graduated from Pittsfield High School, you are automatically part of the Alumni Association! For more information, please contact Tobi Chassie at tchassie@gmail.com or Andi Riel at pittsfieldtowncrier@hotmail.com or 435-6346.
■On Sept. 21 at 10:30 a.m. listen to live music with Bill Parker at the Pittsfield Senior Center. He sings a wide variety of music while playing the keyboard and harmonica. Come, enjoy the free concert, and stay for lunch. The meal is spaghetti, with a meat sauce, a salad and garlic bread. Dessert will be a brownie ala mode. Please call 435-8482 to RSVP by Tues, Sept 14, so the meal can be planned accordingly.
■On Sept. 21 at the First Congregational Church, the Infant Toddler Diaper Pantry will be open from 9 to 11 a.m. Each family is eligible to come for the supplemental diapers once per opening (twice a month). Each family receives one set of diapers/product per child in need, and one package of wipes. We generally have newborn through size 6 diapers, along with pull-ups and overnights. We use the parking lot off Chestnut Street. We will also be accepting donations of diapers and wipes, including open packages. Please call 435-7471 if you have any questions. Together we are making a difference.
■The Josiah Carpenter Library is very thankful to have been the recipient of beautiful color printed posters to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Visit the poster exhibition during our normal business hours, Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 2 to 6 p.m., and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This educational exhibition recounts the events through the personal stories of those who witnessed and survived the attacks. Told across 14 posters, this exhibition includes archival photographs and images of artifacts from the museum’s permanent collection.
■Wild Goose Pond Paddle on Sept. 26 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Join us with ecologist Mark West to learn about the wetlands and wildlife associated with this beautiful waterbody. Bring your own vessel and life vest or use one of the kayaks or canoes available at Graylag. Paddle to the outlet Crooked Run to view a wide array of wetland habitats including aquatic bed, emergent, scrub-shrub and forested wetlands, and to learn about the wildlife species that utilize these habitats. This program is suited for children over 10 accompanied by parents. This will be a socially distanced, but hands on outdoor workshop. Registration is required. For more information or to register, go to graylag.org/programs/aquatic-ecology
■The Pittsfield Senior Center is open! The following activities offered: bingo (every Monday and Thursday at 10 a.m.), chair yoga (every Tuesday at 10:45 a.m.), cribbage and game day (every Wednesday at 10 a.m.), and virtual bowling (every Friday at 10 a.m.). We are still following the proper protocols for distancing and sanitization. Please call the Center at 435-8482 to make reservations for the activities. Space is limited. Masks are still required and you’ll be asked to complete a signed waiver.
■Cookout at the Pittsfield Senior Center on Sept. 20 at noon, this is the last one of the year. If interested in participating, please call and sign up by Sept. 14.
■The Pittsfield Senior Center is hosting community dining on Mondays and Thursdays at noon. We are asking people that are planning on eating here to please sign up by Monday, the week before, so meals can be planned accordingly. Pick up a menu, circle what you would like and give it to Carol. Pick up is between 11 a.m. to noon on Monday and Thursdays, but another more convenient time can be arranged. You can also eat lunch at the center and take a frozen meal home for later.
■Don’t forget – there are meals to go. Every Thursday you can pick up a hot meal or freshly made meal for “curbside pickup.” Call the Senior Center for information at 435-8482.
■As programming opens back up at the Pittsfield Senior Center, there is a need for volunteers. Volunteers are needed for activities at different days and times. Training is provided. If interested, please call (603) 435-8482.
■The Pittsfield Historical Society continues to raise funds for a new museum and headquarters. A commemorative garden on the museum grounds is being worked on. A “buy-a-brick” project affords an opportunity for people to buy a brick to honor yourself, loved ones, or whomever you wish to remember. The bricks will be sold for $100 each and may be engraved with three lines of 18 characters each for a 4-inch by 8-inch brick. Visit pittsfieldhistory.com for a donation form and instructions. For more information, please call 798-3984. You can also contact Larry Berkson at larryberkson@comcast.net.
■Celebrate Library Card Sign-Up month this September at Josiah Carpenter Library. If you don’t have a card, come on in for a tour and sign up for a card while you’re here! If your card has expired, come on in to renew it and take a look at our new book selections!
■The B.C.E.P. Solid Waste facility Seasonal hours are in effect through Sept. 30. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday (7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.) the scale closes at 3:45pm. Saturday (7 a.m. to 2 p.m.) the scale closes at 1:45 p.m. Thursday (7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.) the scale closes at 5:45 p.m. through Sept. 30. The facility is closed Sundays and Mondays
■Happy Birthday wishes to Louie Houle on Sunday. To my brother-in-law, Tim Riel on Monday and to my “niece” Tracey Riel on Wednesday. I hope you all enjoy your special day!
■Happy Anniversary wishes to my niece Nicole Grainger Semales and Nick Semales on Monday!
ANDREA RIEL
435-6346
pittsfieldtowncrier@hotmail.com