Category Archives: Uncategorized
Police Station Building Committee Meeting Minutes – 5/11/26
Police Station Building Committee Minutes
May 11, 2026
Steve Dalessio called the meeting to order at 6:35 pm at the Hooper Institute. Also present were Cheri Watson, Trevor MaLachlan, Jay Punt, Chief Justin Sanctury, Andrew Dey, and Peggy Pschirrer.
The Committee reviewed and approved the contract with Black River Design Architects, PLC. It was agreed that weekly meetings would be held with Chief Jutin Sanctuary, Mr. Dalessio, and Black River, preferably scheduled for an afternoon, on Thursdays. Chief Sanctuary will be our primary contact with Black River. It was also agreed that the design changes would be made available in August if the petition for a special Town Meeting is approved by the court.
Mr. Dalessio distributed an outline of fundraising techniques as well as drafts of AI generated fundraising letters. Ms. Watson has also drafted fundraising letters for local businesses and residents. Ms. Pschirrer suggested a return envelope be inserted in each letter which will have a suggested gift amount as well as the name of and address of the donor. The envelope will be returned to the Town of Walpole to the attention of Sarah Downing who will be overseeing the fundraising tracking efforts. It was also suggested we provide a QR code tied to a website at Town Hall for future gifts.
We have verbally been told we have received a federal grant from USDA; Rena Peck is our USDA contact. The USDA office is minimally staffed. Although we have some information about the grant and its requirements, we are yet to receive everything we need to access the funds. Our local fundraising the federal grant and a municipal bond of three million dollars are essential to our successful building of a new police station.
Our next meeting will be June 15, 2026.
The meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm.
Peggy Pschirrer recorded these minutes.
Explore Distant Hill with Our New Terrain Hopper
Distant Hill is excited to offer the TerrainHopper all-terrain mobility vehicle to individuals with mobility limitations, with free reservations available from May to October. Contact Hannah Silverblank, Trail Accessibility Program Coordinator, to discuss and schedule your ride: hannah@distanthill.org.
The TerrainHopper allows individuals with mobility limitations and disabilities to explore most of our trail network and gardens, and to enjoy the natural beauty of Distant Hill. It is designed to navigate rugged terrain, including forest trails, roots, rocks, and hills, providing access to areas that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to reach with standard mobility devices.
If you’ve been wanting to spend time immersed in nature at Distant Hill or join one of our workshops, we warmly invite you to reserve the TerrainHopper and experience nature and the outdoors from a new perspective.
Flexible, Accessible Controls
The TerrainHopper offers several control options to meet different mobility needs, making it easier for more visitors to enjoy the trails:
- Handlebar steering
- Joystick control
- Assisted joystick operation, where a companion or volunteer helps guide the vehicle using a tethered joystick
Support from Our Team
Our trained staff and volunteers are available to help ensure a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable experience. They can assist with:
- Getting familiar with the controls and operation
- Driving the TerrainHopper for the rider, using the tethered joystick
- Navigating the trail network
- Guiding caregivers and support workers in making safe transfers into and out of the TerrainHopper, if needed
How YOU Can Support Our Trail Accessibility Program
We’re excited to launch our one and only annual fundraiser: NH Gives, a 24-hour statewide giving event!
The event runs from 5:00 PM on June 9 through 5:00 PM on June 10. Mark your calendars and save our fundraising page (https://www.nhgives.org/organization/distanthill) so you’re ready to support our TerrainHopper & Trail Accessibility Programs.
Every gift helps us expand access to the outdoors and grow opportunities for people of all abilities to experience the trails we love. Thank you for being part of our mission!
Reserve Your Ride
Interested in exploring the trails with the TerrainHopper? Contact Hannah (hannah@distanthill.org) to set up your ride!
Friends of the Library Book Sale – Book Sorting Starts 6/10/26
Book sorting starts June 10th, all welcome!
Want to get involved behind the scenes? Book sorting begins the second Wednesday of June (June 10th) and continues weekly through the fall in preparation for the October sale.
Sorting sessions run from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. and are a fun, low-key way to connect with neighbors while supporting the library. No experience necessary — just a love of books and a willingness to pitch in!
If you’d like to join us, stop by during any Wednesday session or reach out to the Friends for more information.
Donating Books
We gratefully accept donations of gently used books, and there are a couple of easy ways to contribute:
Large Donations: Please bring large donations to the Coops, behind the Hungry Diner, during Wednesday sorting hours (9:30–10:30 a.m.). This helps us manage volume and keep things organized for the sale.
Everyday Donations: Smaller donations are accepted at the Walpole Recycling & Reuse Center during their open hours: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays
*Please ensure all donated items are in good, readable condition. We appreciate your thoughtfulness in helping books find new homes!*
Annual Book Sale — October 24 & 25, 2026
Mark your calendars! Our Annual Book Sale returns the last full weekend of October- Saturday, October 24th and Sunday, October 25th.
This beloved community tradition is our biggest fundraiser of the year, featuring thousands of gently used books, all at remarkably low prices. Whether you’re looking for a great novel, a cookbook, a children’s classic, or a hidden gem, there’s something for every reader.
All proceeds directly support the Walpole Public Library and its programs. We hope to see you there!
Details on location, hours, and pricing will be posted as the date approaches.
June 2026 Clarion Now Online
And ready for mailing to all postal addresses in Walpole, North Walpole, and Drewsville — 1,549 total copies. For June I have 16 pages for you to enjoy. Remember, for a color experience with both pictures and ads, do visit the on-line edition.
For now CLICK THIS LINK for the JUNE issue, or on the front cover below. Stay safe and well, yours, RAY BOAS, Publisher
Reminder: Hooper Camp Registration
We still have space in several camps including Wood Camp and Adventure Camp, and we’d love to fill these programs with curious, creative, adventure-loving Walpole kids.
Whether your child loves building, exploring, crafting, or spending time outdoors, there’s something for everyone this summer.
REGISTER HERE before June 8 to save your spot!
Planning Board Meeting Minutes – 4/14/26
[Editor’s Note: It has come to my attention that I never published the April Planning Board meeting minutes. I apologize for the error.—Kelli]
Walpole Planning Board Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Town Hall
7 pm
These minutes are unapproved and will be reviewed for corrections at the May 2026 meeting.
Role Call: Board present: Chair Jeff Miller, Vice-Chair Dennis Marcom, Clerk Jason Perron, Jeff Harrington, Joanna Andros, Select Board Representative Steve Dalessio and Alternate Tom Murray. Absent: Board member Trevor MacLachlan and Alternate Travis Adams.
Election of Officers: Mr. Perron made a motion to keep the slate of officers the same. Mr. Harrington seconded the motion and the motion carried. The slate of officers are Jeff Miller as chair, Dennis Marcom as Vice-Chair and Jason Perron as Clerk.
Mr. Miller introduced Tom Murray and said he has agreed to be an alternate on the Planning Board. A motion was made and seconded to approve Mr. Murray as alternate. The motion was approved unanimously.
Call to Order: Mr. Miller called the meeting to order at 7 pm. He asked Mr. Murray if he would fill in for the absent Board member and Mr. Murray agreed.
Review minutes of March 2026 meeting: There were two corrections. On page 3, Ms. Andros pointed out that there was an extra word in the first sentence and suggested striking out the word “ones.” On page 2 in the paragraph about Town Line Equipment, Mr. Marcom suggested adding that the board approved the sign which was 32 square feet and remove the mention of inches.. He made a motion to approve the February 2026 minutes as corrected.
Mr. Harrington seconded the motion and the motion carried.
Public Hearing: No. 1
Subdivision: Elisse McGuirk 2000 Living Trust, 167 Valley Road, Tax Map 13, Lot 15 and Tax Map 12, Lot 76, Rural/Agricultural District, Proposed four lots: 1.94 acres, 36.75 acres, 7.53 acres and 5.87 acres. Proposed Use: Residential.
Mr. Miller asked Kathleen Dustin, Trustee of the Elisse McGuirk Trust, if the two parties had come to some kind of agreement. Ms. Dustin said no. Mark MdGuirk handed out page one of the Trust pointing out the portion that says “to split off the house with 200 feet of road frontage on Valley Road, the northerly border of the house lot to be delineated by the southerly edge of the driveway to the existing barn, the easterly and southerly borders to be delineated by the pond and creek running through the existing parcel.”
Mr. Miller said that the problem with the two sides not being able to agree on the plat are not the concern of the Walpole Planning Board. The subdivision, as presented. complies with all the ordinances of the Walpole Zoning Ordinances so that is what this Board must consider. He asked the Board to make a motion. Mr. Marcom made a motion to approve the subdivision as presented. Mr. Perron seconded the motion and the board agreed unanimously.
Public Hearing No. 2
Lot Line Adjustments, David and Cynthia Westover Trust, 238 Kingsbury Road, Tax Map 5, Lots 11-1, 11-2, 11-3, Rural/Agricultural District. Proposed four lots:
Surveyor Joe DiBernardo explained how the four lots will be configured. He said Lot 11-1 will be 10.30 acres after adjustments with 4.15 acres from Lot 11-2. Road frontage for this lot is
287.9 feet on County Road and 658.4 feet on Kingsbury Road. Lot 11-2 will be 5.50 acres after giving 4.15 acres to lot 11-1. It has 200 feet road frontage on County Road. And Lot 11-3 will be 1.75 acres after getting .18 acres from Lot 11-2 with 350.97 feet of road frontage on Kingsbury Road.
Mr. Miller asked if the largest lot will be in current use. Ms. Westover said yes. He asked the Board if they had any questions. Having none, he closed the hearing at 7:14 pm.
Mr. Marcom made a motion to approve this Lot Line Adjustments as presented. Mr. Harrington seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.
New Business:
Site Plan application. Snowplow Sales Development, Levi Hubbard and Brookside Real Estate LLC, 538 Main Street and intersection with Route 123 and Route 12, 75.49 acres. Map 12, Lot 58, Commercial District.
The site design includes an office, workshop, covered storage structure, a gravel display area, parking lot, outdoor equipment and inventory storage area. The use is for a landscaping business.
John Noonan of Fieldstone Land Consultant made the presentation and requested a public hearing for the May meeting. He went over the Site Development Plans. He said the property is currently an undeveloped corn field bordered by Blue Seal to the South, a baseball field to the north and forest to the east. The site will be serviced by private well water, private septic system and underground electric and communication services. There is a pre-development drainage plan as well as a drainage plan.
There is an approved highway cut where the driveway will be. It is directly across the highway on Route 12 from the Malnati home. The office is 3,360 square feet and attached to the 8,000 foot store. The size of the office is 56 feet by 60 feet. The two-floor store is 100 feet wide by 80 feet long. The office will face Main Street and the store will be behind it. The store is barn red with black window and doors. There’s a gable in the front.
Open bins are lined up along the southern boundary line. At the end of these open bins are two larger ones with salt and sand. They will be covered. There are 55 parking spaces with a couple of ADA spaces. At the northern edge of the property is an infiltration basin.
Overhead LED lights will be down lit and sprinkled around the parking lot. Four trees will be placed along Route 12 and another seven abutting the Walpole Youth Baseball Foundation property. Shrubbery will be placed at the driveway entrance and surround three sides of the office building.
Mr. Dalessio reminded Mr. Noonan to get touch with Mark Houghton for fire safety.
Mr. Marcom made a motion to hold a public hearing in May for the project. Mr. Perron seconded the motion and the motion carried.
Short-term rentals
Mr. Miller brought up the topic of Airbnbs. He said he thought that owners should come before the Planning Board so that neighbors have some idea of what is going on in their neighborhood. He referenced the B&B ordinance and thought something could be added to amend that ordinance to cover Airbnbs. The Board will get more information on the topic and work on amending the B&B ordinance.
Adjournment
Mr. Perron made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Harrington second the motion and the motion carried. The time was 7:50 pm.
Respectfully submitted, Marilou Blaine
WPB Secretary
The Walpolean 
Recent Comments