The Chichester Historical Society invites you to come to the Museum Building
on Thursday, September 10, at 7 p.m. to hear Charlie Yeaton of Epsom speak
about wooden tools. If you have a molding plane with a maker’s name on it,
please bring it to the meeting. Refreshments will follow the program.
Chichester Grange will meet on Wednesday, September 16, at 7
p.m. upstairs in the Grange/Town Hall. Deputy Dorothy Haskins will
be present for her fall visit and members will attempt to exemplify
the Third Degree. Mary West is in charge of refreshments.
Relax after your yard work with a book from the Chichester
Library. Here are some titles that might appeal to you: Deadlock by
Iris Johansen, The Perfect Poison by Amanda Quick, Promises in Death
by J. D. Robb, The Associate by John Grisham, True Detectives by
Jonathan Kellerman, The Invisible Circus by Jennifer Egan, Snow by
Orhan Pamuk, Borderline by Nevada Barr, Weapons of Choice by John
Birmingham, A Good Woman by Danielle Steel, Moment of Truth by Lisa
Scottolline,
The Gathering by Anne Enright, All That I Have
by Castle Freeman Jr., A Summer to Remember by Mary Balogh, Go with
Me by Castle Freeman Jr., and Finger Lickin’ Fifteen by Janet
Evanovich.
Letter To The Editor
I am so disappointed in Chichester’s
Selectmen. On 9/1/09, John Dever, Chichester’s Building Inspector of about 8
months (who lives in Meredith) and admitted he has no experience or
qualifications in public health or emergency preparedness was appointed as
Health Officer for the town. Mr. DeBold said that he wants the position of
Health Officer to include emergency preparedness and public health. If that
is so, then why did they not appoint a local citizen (nurse) qualified in
public health and emergency preparedness to the position weeks ago? Was it
that a Selectman stalled the appointment until they could find their own
candidate?
Weeks ago Mr. DeBold stated that while other towns included
Health Officer with Town Administrator or other positions, he was not in
favor of this as it took away from their work. When asked on 9/1 how the
board plans on paying for expanding the role of Building Inspector/Health
Officer, Mr. DeBold stopped short of saying that a tax increase was in order
at this time. His plan? Taking $ from other Departments. I DO NOT WANT MY
TAXES RAISED. I DO NOT WANT BUDGETS CUT FROM ANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
Mr.
MacCleery was not even present during the portion of the meeting when the
Health Officer discussion took place or the “interview” of our Building
Inspector from Meredith, yet he gave his opinion that he preferred the
Building Inspector prior to this meeting. Is this even legal? Isn’t that
conducting town business outside of a meeting? And at the very least, is
this how he makes all his decisions, without all the facts?
I urge my
fellow citizens to watch this trio, and use your votes to get them all out
of office, one by one or prepare to pay more taxes.
Thank You,
Deborah Seamon
Knitters And Crocheters Welcome At Chichester Town Library
Knitters and
crocheters are welcome to share an evening working on your projects. Come to
the Chichester Town Library at 7:00 on Monday evenings starting Sept. 14th.
Maybe you’d like to knit, but you can only make scarves and dish rags?
Bring your yarn and pattern to the Chichester Town Library and get some help
figuring it all out. This is a great opportunity to learn and make something
beautiful.
All ages are welcome.
Chichester Conservation Commission Opens the Madeline Sanborn
Conservation Area
The Town of Chichester owns a large parcel of land on the northern side of
Marsh Pond. A large portion of the parcel was donated to the Town by
Madeline Sanborn (1917-2009), who wanted the land enjoyed through passive
recreation and preserved for wildlife habitat. Follow the trail from the
Grange Hall parking lot to Marsh Pond, where you will find an area of
unusual beauty. Please respect the plants and grounds so that others may
enjoy them as you have.
Marsh Pond is formed by a beaver dam which
impounds the small streams which drain this area. In earlier times, this
area was simply known as “the meadow.” A dam was built about 1910 to control
the pond’s water level for practical uses. Walter Sanborn, long-time
resident and member of the Chichester Historical Society, recalls a time
when the pond water level was raised in winter so that ice could be cut and
stored for ‘ice boxes’ in people’s homes. In summer, the pond was regularly
drained to allow cutting of hay for animal feed.
Despite the presence of
several homes nearby, wildlife is plentiful in the area. Though once totally
cleared for farming, the forest is now thriving. This is an example of
forest succession, through which forest re-establishes itself after cutting
or burning. As you follow the trail, notice the white pine, maple and beech
trees which are doing well in this environment.
The entrance to
the area is located in the lower parking lot of the Grange Hall. Located at
the entrance is further information and maps of the area.
Chichester Grange
Chichester Grange met on Wednesday, September 2,
upstairs in the Grange Hall. Resolutions were read for Clayton Weeks and
John Varney. Copies will be sent to their family members and a copy kept for
the Grange records. A dues increase has been approved at the State Grange
level. Members will discuss at the next meeting how this vote will impact
the Chichester dues structure.
The Fair Committee has set up a theme
exhibit at the Hopkinton Fair. Members were reminded to bring in new linens
for donating to a Rape and Crisis Center at the State Grange Convention in
October. Alice Hilliard reported on the items she purchased this summer for
the Chichester Food Pantry with money donated by the Grange.
Wildlife
sightings included 14 woodchucks in one location, 19 wild turkeys crossing
the road, a white heron and some blue herons, a white blue jay, Canada
geese, deer, a swarm of yellow jackets, and many stuffed exotic animals seen
by Walter Sanborn at George Foster’s auction. An unknown bird was described
and identified as a Cooper’s hawk. All agreed that the Grange is the place
to come for bird identification.
Alice Hilliard presented the program for
the evening. After reading some facts about the origin of Labor Day, she
turned to the theme of School Days. Members took a general knowledge quiz
and discovered that they had forgotten or never been exposed to a lot of
things taught in school. Then all participated in a Mad Lib about school
memories and closed with group singing of “School Days.”
Refreshments for
the evening were provided by Carolee Davison. The next meeting will be held
on September 16, when members will exemplify the Third Degree.