Job Opportunity at Timber Framing School

SCHOOLHOUSE COORDINATOR

Heartwood School is seeking a Schoolhouse Coordinator to support the daily operation of our non-profit timber framing and traditional trade school in Alstead, NH. This is a hands-on, on-site position working with facilities, grounds, shop organization, and class support.

Position Details:

  • Approximately 24–30 hours per week (0.6–0.7 FTE, seasonal variation)
  • Flexible schedule arranged with the Executive Director
  • Hourly, at-will position
  • One week paid vacation annually
  • Opportunity to take up to four classes per year at a partial discount

Responsibilities include:

  • Maintaining the schoolhouse, shop, grounds, and equipment
  • Handling and organizing timber and materials
  • Assisting with class setup, breakdown, and instructor support
  • Supporting apprentices and daily operations
  • Assisting with light administrative tasks and outreach events

We’re looking for someone who:

  • Is practical, organized, and dependable, and has reliable transportation
  • Is comfortable with tools, equipment, and physical work in all seasons
  • Communicates clearly and works well with a small team
  • Has experience in timber framing, construction, or a similar environment (preferred but not required)

Visit link for full details: https://www.heartwoodschool.com/join-our-team

Support the Walpole Village School & Community Room

Construction of the new Walpole Village School & Community Room facility is underway at 75 Westminster Street! Donate online at www.thewalpolefoundation.org/wvs

The Walpole Foundation and Walpole Village School are calling on community members and business owners to help meet two urgent fundraising needs to support ongoing construction:

  • March 31 Deadline to raise $122,000 in Tax Credit donations
  • $49,686 left to raise in capital campaign donations

Here’s how you can help:

Businesses: Keep Your Tax Dollars in Walpole!

Direct your NH Business Profits or Enterprise tax liability toward a project that supports local families and benefits the entire community. Tax credits carry forward for up to five years, and a portion may also be eligible for a federal deduction.

To learn more and make a pledge, visit nhcdfa.org/walpole-village-school-community-room

Charitable Contributions

To donate:

  • Make checks payable to The Walpole Foundation, PO Box 167, Walpole NH 03608
  • Donate online at www.thewalpolefoundation.org/wvs
  • The Walpole Foundation also accepts donations of stock and appreciated securities and gifts from Donor Advised Funds

Winter Hiking Tips from the Walpole Trail Committee

Planning Board Meeting Agenda – 2/11/26

Walpole Planning Board Agenda

Tuesday, February 11, 2026

Town Hall

7 pm

Roll Call: Appointment of alternates if needed.

Call to order: 

Minutes: Review minutes of the January 2026 meeting.

Old Business:

Public Hearing: 

Subdivision, Sabin Rock Farm LLC, 79 Reservoir Road, owner Margie Palmer, Tax Map 10, Lot 26. One lot into three lots: Lot 1 9.58 acres, 559.67 feet road frontage, Lot 2 6.42 acres, 200.92 feet road frontage, Lot 3 17.99 acres, 771.21 feet, rural/ag zoning district. 

New Business:

McGuirk subdivision, Valley Road, Tax Map 13. 

Lawrence & Lober – Site plan – Preliminary meeting.

Walpole School Newsletter – February 2026

Visit this link to view the whole newsletter: https://app.smore.com/n/q0gvd

A Message From The Principal

Across all three schools, our hallways continue to be filled with student work that reflects creativity, effort, and a strong understanding of the content being taught. Classrooms are lively spaces where laughter, thoughtful discussion, and curiosity are present each day.

Students often stop by my office to proudly share their completed work, giving us the opportunity to talk about their learning and celebrate accomplishments together. It is clear that our students are continuing to build confidence and find success through both academic and co-curricular opportunities.

I would also like to address the ongoing conversations surrounding the possible Walpole withdrawal. Many families and community members have questions about what this could look like should Walpole decide to withdraw. While some questions have been answered, we have been informed that others cannot be addressed at this time. This is an important decision that will impact everyone in the town of Walpole.

The deliberative session took place on Monday evening. I strongly encourage you to attend our upcoming Site-Based Meeting (date to be determined), where we will continue conversations related to the Walpole withdrawal and discuss next steps following the deliberative session. These meetings are designed to be open and welcoming, and we hope families feel comfortable participating. Open dialogue helps build understanding of what is happening both across the district and within the Walpole schools.

In addition, the Town of Walpole will be holding three informational meetings at the Town Hall on:

  • Wednesday, February 11th at 6:30 PM
  • Wednesday, February 25th at 6:30 PM
  • Saturday, February 28th at 1:00 PM

Attending these meetings may help provide additional clarity and support informed decision-making as you prepare to vote on March 10th.

Please feel free to email me with any questions. If I do not have an answer immediately, I will do my best to find one for you.

Walpole Schools are a special place. Regardless of the outcome of the vote, we will continue to put our students first and remain committed to providing a high-quality education and meaningful opportunities for all.

Visit this link to view the whole newsletter: https://app.smore.com/n/q0gvd

New Scholarships at The Grammar School

The Grammar School (TGS) has secured multiple scholarship gifts, totaling over $185,000 from current families, alumni parents, former faculty, Board members, and other friends of the school, ensuring continued access to area families seeking an exceptional education experience for their children. 

“During my 10 years at The Grammar School, I have been continually inspired by the generosity of our community,” said Nick Perry, TGS’s Head of School. “This year, that generosity has been especially powerful as families and supporters have stepped forward in response to the loss of town vouchers due to Act 73. From current families and alumni to trustees and former faculty, there is a deep, shared belief in the value of a TGS education—and a collective commitment to making it accessible to as many children as possible.”

At the end of December, a $25,000 gift founded the school’s new Catalyst Fund, which was created in direct response to the passage of Act 73, new legislation restricting access to funding for area students to attend independent schools like TGS. The gift came from the Kane Barrengos Foundation, via John Barrengos, a TGS Board member and parent of a TGS alumna. Families of highly engaged middle school students are encouraged to apply for this scholarship for the 2026-2027 school year. 

The Catalyst Fund’s founding gift has been joined over the course of the year by a $65,000 gift and a number of multi-year pledges to the school’s longest-running scholarship, The Marcia Leader Scholarship Fund. Named in honor of longtime TGS employee and alumni parent, this fund provides financial aid for everything from tuition to learning support, programming fees, and more, for preschool through eighth grade students.

These recent gifts join a long history of community support at The Grammar School, including the founding of the Otis Fund in 2022. Established by an alumni family whose son experienced a deep sense of belonging at TGS, the Otis Fund provides scholarship support for BIPOC students and reflects TGS’s enduring commitment to building a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming school community.

“We are deeply grateful for the generosity of the TGS community,” said Melanie Brubaker, Director of Admissions. “These scholarship dollars will be put to immediate and meaningful use, opening doors for more area students to access the kind of transformative, whole-child education that families have loved at The Grammar School for 65 years. This support ensures that curiosity, confidence, and a deep sense of connection remain within reach for TGS students, now and in the years ahead.”

Families interested in learning more about The Grammar School are encouraged to contact the Admissions Office at (802) 387-5364 or admissions@thegrammarschool.org or visit www.thegrammarschool.org.

Selectboard Meeting Agenda – 2/5/26

TOWN OF WALPOLE

SELECTBOARD MEETING AGENDA

February 5, 2026

Starting at 6:30 PM in the Town Hall

SELECTBOARD MEETING

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

  • Accounts Payable Check Register in the total amount of $377,247.432 for checks issued 2/10/2026

PAYROLL

  • Payroll Register totaling $38,767.36 dated 2/06/2026 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $7,741.31

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES

  • Selectboard Meeting – January 29, 2026
  • Selectboard Non-Public Session – January 29, 2026
  • Selectboard Meeting – February 3, 2026

COMMITTEE REPORTS

  • Trustees of the Trust Funds Meeting – October 8, 2025

REFUNDS

  • Map and Lot# 028-159-000
  • Map and Lot# 005-021-000
  • Map and Lot# 017-005-002
  • Map and Lot# 017-017-000
  • Map and Lot# 001-015-009
  • Map and Lot# 028-059-000
  • Map and Lot# 026-031-000
  • Map and Lot# 012-048-000
  • Map and Lot# 028-062-000
  • Map and Lot# 028-100-000
  • Map and Lot# 026-006-000
  • Map and Lot# 008-050-000
  • Map and Lot# 020-025-000
  • Map and Lot# 016-009-000
  • Map and Lot# 024-019-000
  • Map and Lot# 004-005-002
  • Map and Lot# 020-004-000
  • Map and Lot# 003-016-000
  • Map and Lot# 019-001-000
  • Map and Lot# 028-118-000
  • Map and Lot# 012-055-017

VETERANS TAX CREDIT

  • Map and Lot# 003-004-000

OLD BUSINESS

Pending Further Actions: Old North Main and High Streets Bridges/Culverts, School and Union Street Drainage, Reservoir Dam ARPA Grant, 250th Anniversary of American Independence

  • 2026 Warrant Articles
  • Parking Ordinance
  • Walpole School Withdrawal
  • 250th Anniversary of American Independence

NEW BUSINESS

  • Stackable Lift Charger and Battery 
  • Stackable Lift Rental Agreement
  • Recreation Revolving Fund Request
  • Bond Bank Legal Services Engagement Letter
  • Liquor License Request

NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS: RSA 91-A:3 II (a) (b) (c)

HOOPER TRUSTEES MEETING

HOOPER TRUSTEES MINUTES

  • Hooper Trustees Meeting – January 22, 2026

HOOPER TRUSTEES PUBLIC BUSINESS

  • Online Banking for Hooper Board and Executive Director

HOOPER TRUSTEES NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS: RSA 91-A:3 II

**Any recording, audio or visual, and/or other devices must be declared at the beginning of the meeting**

Coyotes and Bobcats Program for Kids at the Library – 2/12/26

An exciting program for kids presented by the Walpole Town Library  and the Hooper Institute. Coyotes and Bobcats: Our Wild Neighbors. February 12, 2026 at 3:30 pm at the Walpole Town Library. Join us for a story and hands-on craft to learn about coyotes and bobcats in NH. *Open to kids 8-13 or under 8 with a guardian.

Burned by Billionaires Book Talk at the Library – 3/5/26

Book Talk with Author at Walpole Library:

Burned by Billionaires by Chuck Collins

Thursday, March 5 at 6:00 pm

At Walpole’s Bridge Memorial Library

Don’t miss this engaging talk followed by a Q&A.

Books signed by the author will be available for sale.

Burned by Billionaires: How Concentrated Wealth and Power Are Ruining Our Lives and Planet by Chuck Collins is a book that argues extreme wealth concentration among the ultra-rich negatively impacts society, politics, and the planet, leading to issues like political hijacking, housing crises, and environmental damage. Collins, a scholar at the Institute for Policy Studies, details how the actions of the top 0.01% rig the system in their favor, undermining democracy and creating a “myth of meritocracy”. The book serves as both a critique and a call to action, offering solutions for a more equitable society with universal abundance. 

Seating is limited. RSVP is required by emailing rsvp.walpole@gmail.com. Please indicate if you would like to join the event via Zoom, and we will send you the link before the event. 

Sponsored by Working for Democracy

Forest Stewardship Winter Workshop – 2/7/26

2026 Forest Stewardship Winter Workshop

Register Today!

Active Timber Harvest Tour

When: Saturday, February 7th, 10AM-12PM

Where: Fanny Mason Trailhead, 3H24+C2, Fanny Mason Forest, Walpole, NH

Join us for a 2026 Winter Forestry Stewardship Workshop!

Join CCCD and local Long View Forest foresters for a tour of an active timber harvest in the Fanny Mason Forest. The Fanny Mason forest is a 286-acre property owned by the town of Walpole and managed by the Walpole Conservation Commission for recreation, wildlife habitat, and wood production. Take a walk in the woods to learn how forest management can balance all these goals.

If you are interested in learning about forest management and getting to know a local hiking trail, then join this CCCD event. The walk will leave at 10:00 from the Fanny Mason Trailhead at the northbound rest area along the eastside of Route 12 in Walpole (43.050914205814934, -72.4450459794439, 2.5 miles south of the Route 123 Westminster-Walpole bridge).

This series is presented by Cheshire County Conservation District (CCCD), Walpole Conservation Commission, Antioch University New England, Long View Forest, UNH Cooperative Extension, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)

Cost: Free, Registration Required


For additional information, questions, or for assistance in registration, contact: info@cheshireconservation.org or (603) 904-3011