The Walpolean

The History of Geological Change in New England with David Howell

            On Friday, April 7, 2017, research geologist David Howell will relate how the New England we know today has been on a continuous journey for 350 million years.  Dr. Howell is a Fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the U.S. Geological Society of America and was a consulting professor at Stanford University.

            “The region around today’s Walpole is essentially a 350 million year old ‘ledge,’” explains Dr. Howell, “In the Walpole region, we have opened and closed ocean basins, witnessed volcanic eruptions, experienced giant earthquakes and the Earth cracking beneath our feet, been over ridden by the bull dozing of continental crust, and more than once been buried beneath a mile of ice.”  This Speaker Series presentation will provide an opportunity to understand both our region’s geological development and the resulting geology in which we have lived in Walpole in recent centuries. Dr. Howell welcomes questions.

            The Walpole Historical Society Speaker Series is free, and the public is invited to attend. The event begins at 7:00 PM on Friday, April 7, 2017, at the Walpole Town Hall, 34 Elm Street, Walpole.

Sarah forwarded this copy of a letter from the DOT.  Janet Clough also commented that the Police chief has been working closely with them as well.  Sounds like we will be in good hands, just a little inconvenienced. – Lil

On Tuesday April 4th the Bridge over the Connecticut River between Walpole and Westminster, Rte 123 will be reduced to one way alternating traffic While Cold River Bridges removes and replaces expansion joints, strips pavement and repairs any deficiencies found . On this date the signals will be operational, new pavement markings will delineate the new pattern through the work zone, and Cold River Bridges will be placing barriers across the bridge defining the work zone and travel way.

This work is scheduled to be completed prior to the date of August 11, 2017

Today New England Signals Systems is hanging signals heads in the intersection. These will be covered until April 4th.t
Thank you,
Rick Oberst
Rick.Oberst@dot.nh.gov

         Join members and friends of the Walpole Unitarian Church for three days of spiritual exploration and thoughtful contemplation led by Rev. Kitsy Winthrop, March 17 – 19. Topics range from “changing the dream,” to discussion of what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist.

         The weekend will culminate with the service “Fearless Girl Faces the Bull,” Sunday, at 10 a.m. at the church, located on the corner of Main and Union streets.

         The March Friday evening film “Awakening the dreamer; Changing the Dream: The Pachmana Story,” will be shown at 7 p.m., followed by discussion led by Rev. Winthrop. Light refreshments will be served.

         From the website of the Awakening the Dreamer program:

         “In Awakening the Dreamer, you’ll look squarely at the state of the world—where we are and how we got here—and then explore what role you can play in bringing forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, socially just human presence on this planet.  

         “Awakening the Dreamer was created in response to an invitation from the Achuar people of the Ecuadorian Amazon to work in partnership to shift the dominant culture of consumption and alienation to one that honors and sustains all life.”

         The project considers “the new story” emerging at this time in history – a story that recognizes how profoundly connected everyone and everything is.

         It is also considers what is possible now. “You will come to see that a new future is possible and that a huge, unstoppable movement is already emerging and in action, committed to creating a new story for humanity,” and the project urges actions you can take, on your own and with others, and new ways of being that are consistent with your vision and stand.

         On Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at Hastings, join us for a discussion “Unitarian Universalism: Where do we Stand, What do we Believe?”

         Rev. Winthrop will lead this discussion for newcomers as well as long-time UUs, or the curious who know nothing about the denomination.

         “This will be a subway ride through the UU history and theology for anyone with questions,” she said, adding that the public is encouraged to attend to learn more about us

         Sunday at 10 AM, the weekend winds down with a sermon in honor of the recent International Women’s Day. Inspired by a statue in New York City depicting a young girl with her hands on her hips facing the icon Wall Street bull.

         “Women around the world are coming into their own power in a whole new way as full partners with me,” Winthrop said.

         Bring a bag lunch and join us for this conversation.

From here in sunny Florida, I wish I was there this one day to help out since I live so close! – Lil

After much discussion, it has been decided that polls will indeed be open normal hours tomorrow (8am to 7pm).

We encourage citizens to voter earlier rather than later since the weather is to become more severe as the day proceeds.

Justine Rogers sent the following message regarding the movie:

“We’ve rescheduled the film, Alice’s Ordinary People for next Wednesday the 22nd at 6:30 due to the impending storm.”

MEMOIR WORKSHOPS WITH PAM BERNARD

ANNOUNCING TWO OPPORTUNITIES:

NEW 8-WEEK SESSIONS   &   A DAY-LONG WORKSHOP 

New Spring offerings! New 8-week sessions beginning mid-March and/or once-a month, day-long sessions, the next scheduled for Sunday, March 19, all at Pam Bernard’s home in Walpole, NH. 

As B says in The Art of Time in Memoir: The point of memoir is to discover through memory the linkages that give resonance to what would otherwise be the chaos of the life. If you yearn for a deeper engagement with your life and the lives of those who have helped define you, the act of writing about experience can provide meaning and direction—not as reportage, but as a way to shape your life story.     

Pam approaches the writing of personal narrative not as family history, but as a learned craft, which, if explored honestly and rigorously, can change your life. As the tide trends toward the fleeting and disposable, an effort to take account of real experience by honoring our unique human predicament becomes crucial. In the face of relentless information overload, we are starved for human stories. But, as Pam suggests, if you don’t tell you story, who will? 

The workshops are intimate and nurturing, yet rigorous. Included are readings and explorations of craft, several free writes from prompts, and sharing of drafts.  You need not have extensive background in the genre, just a willingness to open to its possibilities.

Pam is author of four books, the latest titled Esther, a verse novel, published by CavanKerry Press. She is a poet, memoirist, painter, editor, and adjunct professor at Franklin Pierce University. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from Warren Wilson College and BA in History of Art from Harvard University. Her awards include fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. 

Please visit  Pam’s website for information: www.pambernard.com or email pam@pambernard.com, or call 603.756.4177.