The Walpolean

Reaching Out to Over 13,000 Former Campers & Staff

The final Family Night of Meeting Waters YMCA’s 2016 Y Day Camp season will double as an Alumni Reunion for its more than 12,500 former campers and hundreds of former staff. The event will take place on Thursday, August 11^th from 7:00-8:30 PM at the Y’s Lewis Day Camp facility on Route 5/Missing Link Road in Springfield.

This is the 52^nd consecutive summer of the regional Y’s day camp. In the 60s, 70s and 80s, when camp took place on loaned space in Gageville and Saxtons River, it was known as Camp Weetomp. The name of the camp changed in the late ‘80s when Meeting Waters YMCA was donated 52 acres of land in Springfield, VT on which the camp has taken place since. At that time, the camp was named Lewis Day Camp to honor the several decades of leadership of Samuel Lewis, the former CEO of Robertson Paper. A few years ago, the name of the camp program was changed to Y Day Camp to emphasize the value of it being a YMCA program while the facility itself retained the name Lewis Day Camp.

Whether one attended or worked at the program as Camp Weetomp, Lewis Day Camp, or Y Day Camp, all are invited to reconnect with other former campers and colleagues as well as with the activities that have been central to the camp programming for 52 years.

“Sue and I have only been here for a little over one-third of all the years our Y has provided enriching summer experiences for area youth and teens,” said Steve Fortier, the Y’s Executive Director. “But, when we think about the number of lives that have been impacted by our Y’s camps over the past 52 years, it is very fulfilling. We, and our Board leaders, are hoping that hundreds of former campers and camp staff will join us to celebrate the rich history that we’ve created together.”

For more information about the Camp Alumni Reunion event, call the Y administrative office at (802) 463-4769 or email info@meetingwatersymca.org.

Meeting Waters YMCA is a charitable, social service organization founded in 1895. Its programs and services focus on youth development, healthy living, social responsibility and family strengthening throughout the Fall Mountain, Bellows Falls, Springfield and Brattleboro regions.

New Member Reception at Walpole Artisans Cooperative
August 26th, 2016
5-7PM

The public is invited to a reception at the Walpole Artisans Cooperative, 52 Main Street in downtown Walpole, NH. This group of talented artisans is pleased to welcome four new members into their gallery: Susan Roston, fused glass artist; Jason Ballard, custom woodworker; Tim Campbell, folk artist; and Philip H. Morgan, realistic bird sculptor. Guests will be treated to light refreshments as they meet the artisans and enjoy each new member’s work.

Susan Roston’s Flame Bowl

Susan Roston‘s work can be seen not only at the Walpole Artisans retail shop, but online at pinterest.com/sroston/; sros-ton.artfire.com; and on facebook.com/shimmerlinglass. A resident of Jaffery, NH Susan works in her home studio, firing glass in a kiln that rises to 1500 degrees where separate pieces of glass are permanently joined (fused) to create what she describes as “a puzzle, combining different shapes of glass to form pictures or designs”. These amazing assemblages inspire images of an ice cold landscapes, a mountain lake or a brilliant sunset. Each piece is freestanding, mounted on a custom-made stand that supports the glass and makes placement totally flexible. Recently Susan added fused glass jewelry to the Walpole shop. The same look and technique that one sees in her landscape pieces is miniaturized in pins and pendants as wear-able art.

Jason Ballard’s Bowl

Jason Ballard, who designs custom woodwork, comes to the gallery from Grafton, VT. Jason’s website says it all “My Minds De-sign” (www.mymindsdesign.com). Featured in the Walpole gallery are small tables, unique in style and material, just perfect as a focus piece in any setting, as well as carved bowls that rival nature’s own creations. Jason’s studio at 217 Main St. in Grafton, VT showcases this self-taught designer and builder who started his own business in 2008 and stresses that working one-on-one with a customer creates a personalized design that ranges from the simple to the amazingly exotic. Seeing Jason’s work in person is a treat to the eye as well as the hand.

Tim Campbell – Old Homestead

Our third new member, Tim Campbell is as likely found with his Jack Russell Terrier, Otis, as he is with his art in and around Keene, NH. The two go hand-in-hand. Reading about Tim on his website: tcampbellart.com, re-minds one of the lighter side of art. Tim’s creations inspire thought and humor, sometimes giving found objects a new lease on life and sometimes commenting on the social, political in his folk art. It’s easy to see why Tim’s work was selected by “Early American Life” magazine as the 2010 Best and Listed in The Di-rectory of Traditional American Crafts. Tim’s cards, postcards and Giclee prints are a wonderful addition to the shop’s collection and with Tim’s promise to include some “Walpole” sites soon, the local customers will be thrilled.

Phil Morgan’s Loon

Philip H. Morgan, realistic bird sculptor, goes by the nomenclature “Wooden Wings”. With the expertise of an artist and the background of one who has spent his career in the out-of-doors as a park ranger, the realism of Phil’s birds is truly awe inspiring. The delicate detail, the texture and color of each species is what Phil strives for and based on the sales he has experienced throughout New England, it’s safe to say he has been very successful. In addition to his full bodied, life sized carvings Phil produces his “FEATHERED FRIENDS BACKSCRATCHERS”. These backscratchers have become today’s Folk Art, as they not only serve a purpose but are pleasing to the eye. A visit to the Walpole Artisans will be worth the trip to see all of Phil’s work.

Walpole Artisans Cooperative is open 7 days a week. Sun & Mon11:30-3:00, and Tue-Sat 10- 5. The retail shop/gallery is located at 52 Main Street, Walpole NH. 603 756-3020. For artist who may be interested in joining the cooperative, stop in and talk with the artisit of the day who is working in the shop that day, or download an application from the website.

Visit Facebook/WalpoleArtisans for current information; or http://www.WalpoleArtisans.org.

Phil Morgan working on a backscratcher

Jason Ballard’s woodworking

Susan Roston – Mountain Valley

Tim Campbell’s Honey Bee

For centuries, playing cards, which were once printed on just one side, were repurposed and used for hundreds of other tasks. When a deck became incomplete, the remaining cards were utilized in many secondary ways, both practical and creative. Paper was rare and expensive, and these centuries-old “secondary use cards” can today reveal interesting historical insights into past centuries.  Because of this, these second-use cards are eagerly collected, analyzed, and studied.

Gejus van Diggele is one such collector, scholar, author, and lecturer of second-use cards.  According to him, thrifty New Englanders adopted this form of recycling valuable paper by using these orphaned playing cards as invitations to social balls.  In his collection of over 5,000 cards, he has only been able to glean 52 of these rare New England cards.  In other collections, he has found another 70 from towns like Bellows Falls, Alstead, Rockingham, Chester, Charlestown, Claremont, Westmoreland, and several other nearby towns. Eight of these invitations were issued in Walpole, and seven of those, dating from 1812 to 1817, were addressed to the same girl, Miss Susan Lane.

Mr. van Diggele will present a lecture and slideshow explaining the history of these unique little time capsules and show examples of their uses over the centuries.  He will highlight all that he has learned about the popular Miss Lane, one of nine children born here in Walpole in the late 1700’s.  The event is free, and the public is invited to attend.  Sponsored by the Walpole Historical Society, this Speaker Series event is Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016, at 7:00 PM, at the Town Hall.

Justine asked me to let you know that there will be free popcorn, too! – Lil

Every Monday, Hooper Golf Club is offering free golf for children aged 12 and under!  They must be accompanied by an adult and may play at any time during the day.

Also under consideration is a Monday Morning League for young junior members, with an 8:30 AM start time. Please contact Joe Goodhue at the Pro Shop, 756-4080 for further information.

Short notice for the recepeton but, please note that the exhibit will be there though August 27th. – Lil

Cute message from Peggy Pschirrer.  I think she must have felt a little lonely last week. – Lil

Thank you to Janet Wilson for keeping us posted on that is happening on the golf course. – Lil

Latest Tournament Results

The Men’s League Member-Member golf tournament has completed its first half with the following team members in first place: Chris McLaughlin, Joe Dirusso, Dick Hill, Fred McKenny, Craig Lawlor and Barrett Salzmann. Runners-up team includes: David Howell, Dave Johnson, Richard Hill, Don Tisdale, Bob Miller and Paul Peterson.

Up Coming Events

Beginning July 15^th, half memberships will be available at the following prices: Single member- $280 and Couple membership–$425.

Next activity for Hooper golfers, in addition to the ongoing member-member tournament, is a 9-hole Mixed Scramble event on Saturday, July 30^th, starting at 2:00 PM. This will be followed by a potluck supper and all are welcome. Call the Pro shop at 756-4080 or sign up at the course.

The first big event next month will be the Men’s Member-Guest tournament on August 6^th. Watch for further information or call the Pro Shop at 756-4080.