The Walpolean

I have been working this weekend on your January 2024 issue of THE WALPOLE CLARION. There is still some space remaining, so if you have upcoming activities to share, and possibly a report on what has recently happened, send something along for consideration.

In negotiating with my printer, and their holiday schedule, I can still accept your inputs for possible inclusion in the next issue, BUT I would need to have submissions by mid to late afternoon WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20.

Space still for advertisements as well, and remember I always acknowledge your submissions by email to rayboas@comcast.net.

Thank you, RAY BOAS, Publisher

Dear Walpole community:

Thanks to so much generosity from so many people, the 2023 Walpole Community Giving Tree provided a brighter holiday season for almost 30 local families and almost 100 local children.  When parents arrived to pick up their gifts, their gratitude was overwhelming; we had so many thank yous, hugs, and even tears. We would like to thank The Congregational Church of Walpole, St. John’s Church, St. Peter’s Church, The Hungry Diner, Spencer’s Place, the Walpole Library, Mascoma Bank, and The Savings Bank of Walpole on Westminster Street for displaying tags and collecting gifts.  We would also like to thank the “Toys for Tots” program based at The Savings Bank of Walpole in the Shaw’s plaza for providing many extra toys so that parents could choose 2-3 more gifts for each of their children besides those that they requested. We thank everyone who sent in donations, as we personally purchased over $700 worth of gifts for tags that were not taken as well as for two new families who arrived late to the project but needed support.  Finally, we want to thank EVERYONE who selected tags and purchased gifts.  A special thanks also to the “Women of Walpole” who chose many tags and purchased many gifts.  This whole project is a perfect example of small town holiday spirit.  THANK YOU SO MUCH to all who helped in any way!

HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and yours!  We hope that 2024 brings you peace, joy, and good health!

Thank you again.

Sincerely,

Jeanne Cloues and Marcia Weil

Giving Tree Project coordinators

WALPOLE UNITARIAN CHURCH

HOLIDAY FOOD SALE

December 9th between 9 and 11:30 a.m.

In Front of Walpole Post Office

       We will have our popular boxed holiday cookies ready for gift giving. There  will also be holiday breads and desserts,  along with savory items such as  quiches, casseroles, lasagnas, etc. These items will be ready to take home and serve, or kept in the freezer until later.  All of our offerings are homemade  and there are always unexpected surprises that arrive at our table the day of the sale!  Come early to get the best choices!  

Have you ever been in a theater production and everything goes wrong on the night of Dress Rehearsal? That’s the premise of this year’s Holiday Show for the Walpole Players, “Scrooged Up!”

Save these Dates and join us for our annual Dinner Theater Fundraising Event;  Friday, December 15th and Saturday, December 16th at 7pm in the Helen Miller Theater at the Walpole Town Hall.

As per Players tradition, ALL proceeds from this event will be divided between The Fall Mountain Food Shelf and Our Place Drop-In Center. Look for more info including where to buy tickets in the next Clarion, on our Facebook page (The Walpole Players) and on our website! (thewalpoleplayers.org)  

The Walpole Players

  Food drive drop off  sponsored by the Walpole Congregational Church on Saturday, November 11 from 10-12:30.  Items for Thanksgiving dinner requested:  canned goods, potatoes, squash, onions, stuffing. Monetary donations gladly accepted, checks made payable to The Fall Mountain Food Shelf.

Reminder: GREAT DECISIONS – One Week from Today!

“Famine and Food Insecurity – A Global and Local Challenge”

“Great Decisions” will meet on Monday, October 23, at 6:00 p.m. in the Walpole Town Library. Our topic for discussion is “Famine and Food Insecurity – A Global and Local Challenge.”

We will have two guest speakers, local unsung heroes whose efforts over the years to alleviate hunger and feed the home-bound are truly inspirational. The need is shocking, the volunteer hours astonishing, the ways to assist remarkably easy.  

Suggested reading is the Foreign Policy Association’s article, “Famine: a renewed threat in the 21st century” by Daniel Maxwell, available at the library or via email by contacting Jane Malmberg, Library Director: jmalmberg@walpoletownlibrary.org. Also available at the library is the Master Class on DVD, with which we will begin our meeting. (For those joining via Zoom, please note that we are unable to show the “Master Class” on Zoom, so we suggest you join the meeting at 6:20 p.m.)

The Food and Agriculture Organization (fao.org) of the United Nations has assessed the state of food security and nutrition in the world and revised its previously optimistic predictions. One in three people in the world did not have access to adequate food in 2020, that’s 30% of the world population. “The world is at a critical juncture” is the most recent U.N. report on food security and can be found at this link: https://www.fao.org/state-of-food-security-nutrition/2021/en/

All are welcome to this public forum at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, October 23, either in person in the Hubbard Meeting Room at the Walpole Town Library or via Zoom. For the Zoom link, contact Jane Malmberg in advance of the meeting and please join at 6:20 p.m.: jmalmberg@walpoletownlibrary.org.

Also, don’t forget Walpole’s annual CROP Hunger Walk this Saturday, October 21: Registration starts at 9:00 a.m. in front of the First Congregational Church, the walk begins at 9:30 a.m.

The Walpole Community Giving Tree Project is getting underway again for the 2023 holiday season.
This project helps families provide holiday gifts for their children ages birth-18 (or older if still in high school). Participating families must be residents of the Walpole township (Walpole, North Walpole, and Drewsville).
We are currently receiving requests from families with the help of the local schools. Now we need to get the requests out to potential “shoppers” in the community who would like to help.

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS: From OCTOBER 20-NOVEMBER 10th only, tags will be available at the following locations during their regular business hours: First Congregational Church (M-F 9-12, go to back door by ramp), the Walpole Library, Spencer’s Place, The Hungry Diner, Savings Bank of Walpole on Westminster St, and Mascoma Bank.
Tags will be attached to a bulletin board. You will fill out your contact information on one half of the perforated tag and leave it in the container. Take the other half of the tag as your “shopping” list, and then attach it very securely to the gift before you return it.
Gifts may be returned to any of the above locations until November 30th. Gifts should NOT BE WRAPPED. We will provide wrapping paper so parents can see what their children will receive and then wrap it themselves.

If you wish to help but do not wish to shop, there are 2 other options. You may choose a tag and leave the whole tag and a donation in an envelope in the tag container, and someone will do the shopping for you. Or, you can just leave a donation to help purchase gifts for tags that are unclaimed. We also hope to provide wrapping paper for the families. Every little bit helps!

This is a wonderful project that helps to brighten the holiday season for many of our local families, and we appreciate everyone’s help!
If you have any questions, you may contact us at weilcloues8808@gmail.com. Happy holidays to you and yours! Please stay safe and healthy!

Jeanne Cloues and Marcia Weil, project organizers
NOTE: You may also mail donations directly to us at 192 Upper Walpole Road, Walpole, NH. 03608. Please be sure to make checks out to Jeanne Cloues and put “Giving Tree” in the memo line. Thank you,

I’ve been advised that pictures of pets, ashes of pets, and even stuffed animals are welcome. – Lil