The Walpolean

Art After School, the hugely successful art enrichment program sponsored by St. John’s Episcopal Church in Walpole, begins its 10th year with an exciting transition! The program has grown so much that it is now an independent non-profit art enrichment program for first through sixth graders in Walpole and surrounding communities.

The program will always have a home with St John’s and will continue to meet in the St John’s Parish Hall on 26 Elm Street. We have a new name: Walpole Art After School, and a new Facebook page with the same name. Our new website can be found at http://www.walpoleartafterschool.org. We are grateful to Kelli Wilson for designing our new communication methods. The staff remains the same with new titles: Susan Kershaw is the Executive Director and Racheal Scott is Creative Director.

This new transition opens up the possibility of a second weekly session, perhaps focusing on enhancing art skills for young artists who show particular talent, or for specialized groups such as sewing or quilting.

As a non-profit organization, Walpole Art After School depends on the generosity of parents and community members. Would you consider making a difference in the life of a young artist with a gift to the Walpole Art After School 2016 Fund? The cost of sponsoring one young artist’s participation is as follows:
One month = $50
One semester = $200
Two semesters = $400

Donations are tax-deductible and can be made out to Walpole Art After School, c/o St John’s Church, PO Box 179, Walpole, NH 03608. St John’s is acting as our fiscal manager. All Walpole Art After School funds are held in a a savings account separate from church accounts.

In addition, plans for an adult version are underway. Racheal and Susan will lead a fundraising evening on Thursday, December 3, 7 – 9 p.m., at St John’s Parish Hall, called “Glittery Baubles.” They will teach techniques for using alcohol inks to create gorgeous glass ornaments and fabulous pendants. The creative results will make great Christmas gifts. The proceeds from this event will go to support the 2016 budget for Walpole Art After School. The event fee is $50, and includes all materials and dessert.

Future events include painting birch scenes using masking techniques and making exquisite paper bowls using collage techniques. Dates for these winter events will be announced later.

Please contact Executive Director Susan Kershaw for more information or to register for the Dec 3 event: 756-2962 or susankershaw54@gmail.com.

I have to confess that the idea of creating a bat house is counter-intuitive to me since we periodically seem to be providing one already.  When a bat starts swooping through the house along about bedtime I think I am doing more than my share in providing a habitat. – Lil

Bat House Workshops in Oct. Distant Hill Gardens, in Walpole, New Hampshire, will be hosting two special bat habitat workshops in late October, in collaboration with the Philip H. Faulkner Jr. Forest, Wildlife and Cultural Conservation Research Grant. These workshops are free, and all ages are welcome. Pre-registration is requested. A ‘Bat House Installation Workshop’ will be held on Saturday October 24, from 1pm to 4 at the Philip H. Faulkner Jr. Forest Preserve in Walpole. Meet Amanda Melinchuk, bat specialist and Masters Degree student in Conservation Biology at Antioch University New England to learn about and assist her research into bats, bat houses, and their installation. This will be a hands-on workshop in an outdoor setting – a unique opportunity to lend a hand raising bat houses, ask questions, and learn! A second companion workshop, ‘Bat House Design, Construction, and Placement’ will take place at Distant Hill Gardens on Sunday, Oct. 25 from 1 – 4 pm. This is a two-part workshop beginning with an indoor presentation, followed by an outdoor component where participants will have the chance to help raise two bat houses on the property. Bat specialist Amanda Melinchuk will lead the workshop and will focus on appropriate design, construction, and placement of bat houses. You will most likely be surprised to learn all the details that go into a successful bat residence! Amanda will also demonstrate two very cool acoustic monitors she uses to survey bat populations in the area. Sign-up for one of both of the workshops. Each will cover slightly different topics, but you will get an excellent overview of bats, bat houses, and the plight of bats in New England at both events. Both workshops are free, and all ages are welcome. To Register for one or both workshops email Michael at distanthillgardens@gmail.com or call 603-756-4179

Justine Rogers, Library Director, asked me to let you know about a new book group at the library. – Lil

“A Non-Fiction History reading group exploring Ancient, Current, and Future History”

Looking for 6-8 members.

Meetings will be held at the Library on the 1st Tuesday of each month, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM  Our first meeting of the season will be Tuesday, November 3.

On their own, each member will select and present the monthly subject; a book, a scholarly article, a historical opinion, a theory, a map, a “What If” scenario.

The subject can be narrow or broad; the saga to the cure for Tuberculosis, “If Lincoln had not freed the Slaves”, “Nickel and Dimed – or not getting by in America”, The Peloponnesian Wars.

The member will present a summary, and pose the initial discussion questions.

Two months in advance of the meeting, The Library Director, Justine Rogers, will be notified of the book, article or study materials required.

The first subject and central source material will be “Flashpoints: The Emerging Crisis in Europe” by George Friedman. Copies are available at the library.

Read on to also learn about the new fine policy at the library.  Jennifer Kelly, library trustee, has explained it very clearly so you can “stay out of trouble”. – Lil

Changes are in progress at the Walpole Library! A year and a half ago the library had a number of consultants come in and assess the use of space, which was paid for with a grant. Now, with our new Library Director, Justine Rogers, the library staff are beginning to implement some of those recommended changes.

DVD’s and audio books have been reorganized and moved onto shelves in the front room, the new book display has been changed to feature items published within the last four months (down from fifteen), and a new display of staff picks is featured on a book shelf next to the front desk.

Over the next several months, Ms. Rogers plans to continue implementing suggested changes. The library staff will order 20 to 40 books a week, move non-fiction out of the stacks, create a reading space in the stacks, reorganize the children’s room, create a space for tweens and teens, and highlight books by local authors.

On October 10^th from 12 to 2 p.m., the library will be hosting an open house where you can meet the new librarian, find out about the library’s plans for reorganization and let us know about your hopes and concerns about the library.  The event is free and open to all. Refreshments will be served.

New fine policy at Walpole library

Got an overdue book or DVD?  The Walpole Library has reviewed its fine policy for overdue books and other items and established these new guidelines.

• $0.05/day for books, magazines & audio books
• $0.10/day for new books, ILL Materials & reserve items
• $0.50/day for DVD’s
• Once a card has occurred $5 in fines, some payment must be made in order to continue using the card.
• No one with a lost book on their card may use their card until the book is paid for in full or replaced.
• As long as a card is marked “Shut In”, no fines will be charged.
• Any patron who wishes to dispute a fine must submit something in writing to the director.
• Children under the age of 18 may volunteer their time rather than pay money to reduce fines on their cards. Each half hour of time worked will wave $4. Children can work no less than 15 minutes and no more than 1 hour at any given time.
• Volunteers, staff and trustees are not required to pay for overdue fines. They must pay or replace any lost items.
• Overdue fines for items that were marked lost but have been returned will not exceed $5.
• Any fines for damaged items will be based on extremity of damages and determined by the director.