Category Archives: COMMUNITY NEWS

Local Author and Illustrator Publish Inclusive Children’s Book Series

COMMUNITY NEWS 06/24/2026 Leave a comment

Local author Vicky Riggio and illustrator Jillian Bishop are proud to announce the release of the first set of books in the Sammie Series, an inclusive children’s book series created to celebrate kindness, learning, representation, and accessibility for young readers.

The series stars Sammie, a curious, kind, and joyful young girl who learns, explores, and discovers the world in her own special way. Through gentle storytelling, playful learning, and child-friendly illustrations, the Sammie Series encourages children to celebrate differences, build confidence, and enjoy meaningful educational adventures.

Riggio, a Walpole, New Hampshire resident and graduate of Fall Mountain Regional High School, created the series with inclusion and early childhood learning at its heart. The books are designed for families, classrooms, and young readers who benefit from stories that are warm, accessible, and engaging.

The first release in the series includes Sammie’s Amazing Adventure with the Letter A, along with an accompanying coloring and activity book and a classroom activity book. Together, these books support early literacy, creativity, hands-on learning, and classroom participation.

Bishop, also a Walpole, New Hampshire resident and graduate of Fall Mountain Regional High School, brings Sammie’s world to life with gentle, child-friendly artwork that supports the welcoming and inclusive message of each story.

The first books in the Sammie Series are now available on Amazon, marking the beginning of a growing collection designed to inspire learning, kindness, and representation for young readers.

For more information about the Sammie Series, please contact:

Vicky Riggio
Author
hellosammiebooks@gmail.com

Springfield Hospital Scholarship Awarded to Local Student

COMMUNITY NEWS 06/20/2026 Leave a comment

The 21st Annual Eileen Austin Neal RN Memorial Scholarship for Nursing of $1,000 was awarded to Kelsey Fillion of Walpole, NH. Kelsey is a graduate of Fall Mountain High School and will study Nursing in the fall at the University of Vermont. Kelsey found her passion in nursing through different experiences during high school and looks forward to extending the education she receives to future patients under her care.

Eileen Austin Neal was a registered nurse at Springfield Hospital for 64 years, retiring in 2005. Upon her death in February 2006, at the request of Eileen’s family, Springfield Hospital established the nursing scholarship fund in her name with gifts received in her memory from Eileen’s family as well as from community members.

Pictured from left: Robert Adcock, CEO of Springfield Hospital; Kelsey Fillion, scholarship recipient; Rebecca T. Lapointe, chief nursing officer

Cast List for The Walpole Players’ Fall Production

COMMUNITY NEWS 06/17/2026 Leave a comment

Congratulations to the following people who will be performing in The Walpole Players Fall Production. Shows will be Nov 13th-15th. More info coming soon!

Obituary for Pam Bernard

COMMUNITY NEWS 03/05/2026 Leave a comment

PAM BERNARD

1944-2026

Award-winning poet, author, and beloved Walpole writing teacher Pam Bernard died peacefully on February 22, 2026, at the Jack Byrne Center for Palliative & Hospice Care in Lebanon, New Hampshire. 

Born October 21, 1944, in Branford, Connecticut, Pam was the youngest of nine siblings. Pam moved to New York City at 19 and immersed herself in the city’s creative scene. There, she met her husband, Harry Bernard. 

The couple moved to New England, settling in Duxbury, Massachusetts, in 1971. Pam juggled motherhood with artistic pursuits, eventually becoming a curator at the Brockton Art Museum. She went back to college in her 40s, earning a degree from Harvard College and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Warren Wilson College. 

Pam taught at Emerson College, Franklin Pierce University, Keene State College, and other institutions. She led highly sought-after memoir workshops in Walpole, New Hampshire, where she moved in 2001. She published three poetry collections and Esther: A Novel in Verse, and received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and the MacDowell Colony, along with many prizes for her poetry. 

Pam is survived by her son, Galen, daughter, Shea, and their families. Pam will be remembered for her unwavering belief in her students and her gift for helping them find their voices. Donations in her name can be made to the Friends of the Keene Public Library, 60 Winter St., Keene, NH 03431.

A memorial service will take place at 3 p.m. on April 18, 2026, at the Hastings House in Walpole, NH. For more information, email pams.tablenh@gmail.com. 

Job Opportunity at Timber Framing School

COMMUNITY NEWS 02/11/2026 Leave a comment

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

COMMUNITY NEWS 02/11/2026 Leave a comment

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

New Scholarships at The Grammar School

COMMUNITY NEWS 02/07/2026 Leave a comment

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.

David Howell Art Exhibition in Keene

COMMUNITY NEWS 12/26/2025 Leave a comment

A new art exhibition, Of Rock and Brush, is currently on view at Ann Henderson Interiors in Keene.

The exhibition features the work of David Howell, a Walpole resident and longtime member of the Walpole Artisans Cooperative. A former U.S. Geological Survey research geologist and Stanford University professor, David has been painting throughout his adult life, and this show highlights the intersection of his scientific career and artistic practice.

The exhibition opened with a successful showing on December 6th, and the artwork will remain on display at 41 Central Square in Keene through January, with plans underway for an additional event later in the month.

Obituary for Arthur ‘Art’ Anderson

COMMUNITY NEWS 06/10/2025 Leave a comment

[Editor’s Note: The Walpolean may occasionally publish obituaries and other personal news. Unfortunately, time does not permit me to seek out this information on a regular basis, so I must rely on reader submissions for this type of post. Thank you. – Kelli]

From Art Anderson’s step-daughter, Laura Honey:

Arthur “Art” Anderson, 85, passed away on May 6, 2025 at Cheshire Medical Center, surrounded by family. Art was a well know folk artist at many local crafts fairs, and a proud member of the League of NH Craftsmen.

While he grew up in Hopkinton, MA, he was a longtime resident of Walpole and Marlow, NH, where he enjoyed gardening, working on his whimsical creations in his New England Folk Art workshop, long walks, and spending time with his family.

In 1999, Art proudly represented NH at the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival in Washington, DC, and Celebrate NH in 2000. His work has been shown in art galleries nationwide, and at the annual League of NH Craftsmen’s Fair in Sunapee, NH. Art spoke to school classes about his craft, demonstrated woodworking at League headquarters in Concord, and around the state, and operated the “kid’s” tent at the Craftsmen’s Fair where he cut out simple animals for the children to take home with them. Art had many good friends in Marlow and around New England, especially his next-door neighbor, John Thayer, who was always there to lend a helping hand.

Art is survived by his wife, Pat, of Marlow. His children, Pam Varnum, David (Nancy) Anderson, Daniel (Lisa) Anderson, and Polly (Eric) Rawlings. His stepdaughters, Kathy (Dave) Rice and Laura (Darren) Honey. He loved spending time with his grandchildren: Evelyn, Isabelle, and Avery Honey; Sarah and James Rice; Kayden and Jacob Anderson; Devon Erskin; Kayla Anderson. Art also leaves behind seven great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to thank everyone at the Walpole Clinic and at Cheshire Medical Center for their care of Art, and the kindness shown to family members during his short illness.

The Cremation Society of NH is in charge of arrangements; a celebration of life will be held at a later time, at the convenience of family.

Luca Paris to Run Restaurant and Grocery

COMMUNITY NEWS 01/02/2025 1 Comment

According to an article in today’s Keene Sentinel, Luca Paris, founder of Luca’s Mediterranean Café in Keene, will take on a new role as general manager of The Restaurant at Burdick’s and the Walpole Grocery later this month.

The Sentinel reports that Paris has served as the president and CEO of the Greater Monadnock Collaborative Regional Chamber of Commerce since 2021, and that he will be stepping down from that position, effective January 10, 2025. The article also states that Paris is no longer involved in the direct operations of his namesake restaurant.

“Paris said he’s excited for how he can strengthen how the restaurant and grocery are involved with the Walpole community,” writes Sentinel reporter James Rinker, who also notes that ” . . . [Paris] does plan on introducing new initiatives at both establishments . . . However, he said he primarily wants to learn from staff and work closely with Executive Chef Wesley Babb to build on the restaurant’s roughly 20-year legacy.”

by Kelli Wilson