Give the gift of flowers this Mother’s Day! Our Hooper Flower CSA is back for a 5th year. Early bird pricing is available through Mother’s Day, so now is the perfect time to sign up or gift a share! Sign up here: https://forms.gle/TB8EiKnJEHwdHn659
Category Archives: Uncategorized
The Grammar School Announces New Head of School
The Grammar School (TGS), an independent school serving preschool through 8th grade, has announced Margaret Schlachter as the new Head of School. Margaret will be taking the reins of the 60-acres campus from Nick Perry, who has led the Putney, VT school for the past 10 years. The leadership transition will take place at the end of this school year.
Margaret Schlachter brings two decades of independent school leadership to TGS, most recently serving as Head of School at Mountain School at Winhall, an independent K-6 school in Bondville, VT. Her career spans admissions, college guidance, advancement, program development, student life, fundraising, alumni relations, faculty and staff management, and coaching, at Wasatch Academy (UT), Killington Mountain School (VT), Stratton Mountain School (VT), and Skidmore College (NY). She has also completed Pathways to Leadership, a two-year initiative through the Northwest Association of Independent Schools that prepares women educators for head of school roles.
Schlachter grew up skiing and ski racing in the Adirondacks and Green Mountains and attended Stratton Mountain School, fostering a deep connection to Southern Vermont and its communities. She is a graduate of Babson College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree and competed as an alpine ski racer, and holds a Master of Education in Education Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Vermont.
Beyond education, Schlachter founded and built a globally recognized sports media and experiential brand and competed as a professional athlete, helping pioneer the sport of obstacle course racing — work that earned her international awards and recognition. She is also a co-founder of the nonprofit “For Those Who Would,” on whose board she continues to serve. Though she is still finishing out the year with her current school, Margaret is already making time to integrate herself into life at TGS.
The Grammar School is currently accepting applications for the 2026-2027 academic year, with scholarships and other financial aid available. Families interested in learning more about The Grammar School are encouraged to contact the Admissions Office by calling (802) 387-5364, emailing admissions@thegrammarschool.org, or visiting www.thegrammarschool.org.
Maintenance Work at Bellows Falls Dam
Hi, folks,
I just received the email below from Brandon Kibbe of Great River Hydro about a drawdown of the water level above Bellows Falls Dam for dam maintenance work, and the related closing of river access points while the work is being done.
Please be careful while the repairs are being made.
Happy spring!
~Lucy
State Representative Lucy McVitty Weber
603-499-0282
UPDATE: DRAWDOWN TO BE INITIATED
As previously indicated, Great River Hydro expects to initiate the drawdown of the Bellows Falls Dam impoundment on the Connecticut River beginning Sunday, April 26. This timing is subject to change if weather in the interim is materially different than current forecasts.
GRH will slowly lower the impoundment, conduct the necessary dam maintenance work, and then gradually refill the impoundment to normal operating levels. The entire process is expected to take approximately 3 to 4 days. We will communicate with you again when the work is completed.
During the drawdown, visitors to Connecticut River will see exposed riparian areas upstream of Bellows Falls dam, most visible closest to the Bellows Falls dam. We are taking every measure to mitigate, to the extent possible, risks and impact to environmental resources in and adjacent to the Connecticut River.
All recreational use of the river is strongly discouraged during the drawdown period as reduced flows may expose previously submerged hazards and dangerous conditions could exist in exposed mud flats. Public safety devices at the dam will be restored as soon as possible. Boat ramps at the following locations be temporarily closed until that work is completed: Herricks Cove (Rockingham, VT), Charlestown (Charlestown, NH), and Pine Street (North Walpole, NH).
Further updates will be provided as soon as possible. Please contact communications@greatriverhydro.com or (802) 291-8104 with any questions.
Police Building Committee Meeting Minutes – 3/25/26
Police Station Building Committee Minutes
March 25, 2026
The Police Committee met March 25, 2026, on the first floor of the Hooper Institute Building to review four proposals received in response to the Request for Proposals for the Construction of a new Police Station. The group, at a prior meeting, had eliminated four proposals from the eight proposals received. Peggy Pschirrer called the meeting to order at 6:30. Present were Steve Dalessio, Jay Punt, Andrew Dey, Cheri Watson, and Chef Justin Sanctuary. Trevor MacLachlan was absent.
Mr. Dalessio led the group in the review of the proposals. After discussing each proposal, the group agreed to hold a meeting April 7 or 8 at the Hooper Institute, to interview the principals of two firms who met the criteria for building a new police station in Walpole. The date for the next meeting will be set as quickly as possible.
The other companies not chosen for interviews will be contacted by Mr. Dalessio and thanked for their interest.
The meeting adjourned by 7:30 pm.
Reminder: Great Decisions at the Library – 4/20/26
Reminder:
“Great Decisions” Meets Tonight
“The Third Nuclear Age”
Our “Great Decisions” public forum will resume on Monday, April 20, at 6:00 pm in the Walpole Town Library. All are welcome to join the discussion, which will focus on the dangerous new nuclear age that – with the expiration of the New START treaty between the U.S. and Russia – portends a renewed arms race to the finish.
Adrian Basora, former U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic, will moderate the discussion. Adrian is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and on the International Advisory Board of the Auschwitz Institute for the Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities.
The relevant reading from the Foreign Policy Association is “The Third Nuclear Age: Trump, the Order, and the Bomb” by Gideon Rose, adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and adjunct professor of political science at Columbia University. This article is available at the library and a copy can be emailed to you upon request to Library Director Jane Malmberg: jmalmberg@walpoletownlibrary.org You may also request a Zoom link from Jane Malmberg, but please join at 6:30 pm, following the “Master Class” from the Foreign Policy Association which cannot be shown via Zoom.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Food Drive – 4/25/26
PEANUT BUTTER (and jelly) & school snacks
DRIVE-BY / DROP OFF
Saturday, April 25, 2026
10:00 – 12:00
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH UCC, WALPOLE
On the Common
Benefit for Fall Mountain Food Shelf
May 2026 Clarion Closing Date – 4/22/26
Deadline a little less than a week away and I already have about eight submission for the May 2026 CLARION – thank you. Will you be next? For your article submissions, and new advertisements the closing date for the May issue is Wednesday, April 22 – or earlier if you can. Submission guidelines, and contact email are on the CLARION website.
Your early submissions are always welcome and appreciated as I start developing the layout well beforehand. If you have some “news” send it along. In addition, I like to have on-hand material of interest that is not time-sensitive to fill space to round out a pleasing issue. So, if you would “like to be in print” and have something to write and share (images as well), send along for possible inclusion space permitting. Please do remember, it is the advertisers in each issue that make this community publication possible, so please support and thank them.
If you have any questions, or interest in placing an advertisement, reaching over 1900 Walpole, North Walpole and Drewsville addresses, I welcome your inquiries, so please do get in touch with me. Advertising information and contact information is on the CLARION website.
Thank you, RAY BOAS, Publisher
Selectboard Meeting Agenda – 4/9/26
TOWN OF WALPOLE
SELECTBOARD MEETING AGENDA
April 9, 2026
Starting at 6:30 PM in the Town Hall
SELECTBOARD MEETING
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
- Accounts Payable Check Register in the total amount of $102,065.02 for checks issued 4/14/2026 and a $121,598.00 ACH payment to Primex for 2 invoices.
PAYROLL
- Payroll Register totaling $33,897.55 dated 4/10/2026 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $6,178.25
SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES
- Selectboard Meeting – April 2, 2026
- Selectboard Non-Public Session – April 2, 2026
VETERANS TAX CREDIT
- Map and Lot# 008-020-000
SOLAR ENERGY TAX CREDIT
- Map and Lot# 003-026-000
- Map and Lot# 010-026-002
EXCAVATION INTENTS
- Map and Lot# 001-016-002
OLD BUSINESS
Pending Further Actions: Old North Main and High Streets Bridges/Culverts, School and Union Street Drainage, Parking Ordinance
- Gazebo Stair and Landing Repair Quote
- High Street Garage
NEW BUSINESS
- Cemetery Deeds
- Draft Petition for Special Town Meeting
- Assessing Letter to New England Power
- Regional Planning Meeting at the Town Hall
- Memorial Day
NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS: RSA 91-A:3 II (b) (c)
HOOPER TRUSTEES MEETING
HOOPER TRUSTEES MINUTES
- Hooper Trustees Meeting – April 2, 2026
HOOPER TRUSTEES PUBLIC BUSINESS
- SBC Consulting Services Agreement
HOOPER TRUSTEES NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS: RSA 91-A:3 II (a)
**Any recording, audio or visual, and/or other devices must be declared at the beginning of the meeting**
The Walpolean 
Recent Comments