The Walpolean

THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone who came out Sunday to clean a two mile section of Route 12, from South Street to the pull offs at Fanny Mason Forest. The group filled 86 bags and collected 1,096 lbs of litter! We filled a trailer! That is amazing!!! Great job!!!

Thank you to our litter picker extraordianaires; Bill Perron, Susan Howard, Will and Wendy Grossman, Sharyn Tullar, Bob and Kerry Grenier, France Menk, Crystal Lewis, Lillian Christensen, Mark Bodin, Kristen Noonan, Dani Ruffo, and Ben Hoy. Also, thank you to our support team, Pete Dexter and Paul Argus, who made sure everyone had plenty of bags, food, and water. Thank you to the Savings Bank of Walpole and Walpole Recycling Center for donating their time and energy to help make this happen! We could not have done this without each and every one of you!

Please remember this Saturday, May 8^th, the Walpole Recycling Center is hosting their own Cleanup Day! Meet at the Recycling Center in Drewsville at 8am to collect litter bags! See you there!

Starting at 6:30 PM via Zoom. Visit walpolenh.us -Town News for access info

SELECTBOARD MEETING

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE• Accounts Payable Check Register in the total amount of $129,803.76 for checks issued 5/7/21

PAYROLL• Payroll Register totaling $29,547.34 dated 5/7/21 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $5,534.49

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES• Selectboard Minutes – April 22, 2021• Selectboard Minutes – April 29, 2021• Non-Public Selectboard Session Minutes – April 29, 2021

COMMITTEE REPORTS• Walpole Fire District Commissioners’ Meeting –April 7, 2021• North Walpole Village District Commissioners’ Meeting – April 20, 2021• North Walpole Village District Commissioners’ Meeting – April 27, 2021

OLD BUSINESS• Granite Curbing Donation for Elm Street• Whipple Hill Road re: OHRV Signage Request• Vilas Bridge – Letter to US Senator Shaheen• Exec. Councilor Warmington – Rescheduling Walk in Walpole• TrueNorth Networks New Quote for Office 365 Email• Huntington Lane Sewer Easement• Brownfields Project Update

Pending Further Actions• Tax Deeded Property Sale, Mill Pond Dam Inspection, Reservoir Dam, Vilas Bridge, Houghton Brook Bridge, Arborist Evaluation of Trees on Common, Generators, Boston Post Cane

NEW BUSINESS• Parking and Dog Fines re: Appeal Process• Walpole School Request re: Town Pool• Skating at Westminster Street Sports Field• Library Request for Town Hall Space• Big Brothers Big Sisters of NH Thank You

HOOPER TRUSTEES MEETING

HOOPER TRUSTEES MINUTES• Hooper Trustees Meeting – April 15, 2021

HOOPER BUSINESS• Letter of Interest for Hooper Board

HOOPER NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS: RSA 91-A:3 II

SELECTBOARD MEETING – continued

NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS: RSA 91-A:3 II (a) (c)

**Any recording, audio or visual, and/or other devices must be declared at the beginning of the meeting**

The Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire, Bishop Rob Hirschfeld, is leading a class on “Foundations of Faith” on Zoom through St. John’s Walpole for anyone interested in exploring the basics of Christian faith. Seekers, curious minds, and anyone interested in deepening their Christian faith are all welcome. Some people may be interested in baptism, confirmation, reception, or baptismal renewal, before Bishop Rob’s visit to Walpole on Sep 12, 2021. This is the first time Bishop Rob’s leading such a class on Zoom; St John’s Walpole is fortunate to be a pilot for the bishop’s online teaching. The class will be Thursdays, May 20, 27; June 3, 10, 17, 24 – all 7-8 p.m. Let St John’s priest, the Rev. Duncan Hilton (pastor@stjohnswalpole.org) know if you plan to attend the 6-session class.

NICOLA IS IN OUR HOUSE AND WE COULDN’T BE HAPPIER

And the house is the kitchens at Burdick’s.  

Our Walpole residents, Cheryl & Nicola Bencivenga decided to retire from the restaurant industry after 22 successful years in the business.  After three years away from the action, Nicola was eager to return to the kitchen.  Based on his close friendship with Wes Babb, Executive Chef at The Restaurant at Burdick’s, the idea of Nicola becoming a guest chef at Burdick’s was born. Today, The Restaurant at Burdick’s and the Walpole Grocery are extremely pleased that Nicola has become a part of our team where he is creating delectable gourmet delights. 

Currently, Nicola is working with the prepared foods program in the WG, and in the coming weeks, he will be featured in the RAB.  Please join me in welcoming Nicola to the Burdick’s family.  I encourage everyone to once again enjoy the delicious cuisine Nicola was famous for in the Monadnock region.

Tom Goins

Managing Partner & Co-Owner

The Restaurant at Burdick’s & Walpole Grocery

TOWN OF WALPOLE

SELECTBOARD MEETING AGENDA – DRAFT

April 29, 2021

Starting at 6:30 PM via Zoom. Visit walpolenh.us -Town News for access info.

SELECTBOARD MEETING

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE• Accounts Payable Check Register in the total amount of $XX,188.17 for checks issued 4/30/21

PAYROLL• Payroll Register totaling $28,239.40 dated 4/30/21 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $5,721.97

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES• Selectboard Minutes – April 22, 2021• Non-Public Selectboard Session Minutes – April 22, 2021

COMMITTEE REPORTS• North Walpole Village District Commissioners’ Meeting – April 6, 2021• North Walpole Village District Commissioners’ Meeting – April 13, 2021• Planning Board Meeting – April 13, 2021• Zoning Board of Adjustment – April 21, 2021• Town of Walpole Safety Meeting – April 22, 2021

WARRANTS• Walpole Water Fees• Walpole Sewer Fees• North Walpole Sewer Fees

BUILDING PERMITS• 2021-18, Map and Lot# 008-015-001• 2021-19, Map and Lot# 002-005-000• 2021-20, Map and Lot# 012-011-000

TIMBER INTENT TO CUT• Map and Lot# 005-011-000

OLD BUSINESS• Vilas Bridge• Granite Curbing Donation for Elm Street• Snowmobiles and Whipple Hill Road• Letter to Exec. Counselor Warmington• Mascoma Loan Documents for new Police Vehicle• Pre-Payments Procedure• Arborist Evaluation of Trees on Common• Cannons on the Common Update

Pending Further Actions• Tax Deeded Property Sale, Mill Pond Dam Inspection, Reservoir Dam, Vilas Bridge, OHRV Signage Request for Whipple Hill Road, Houghton Brook Bridge, TrueNorth Networks Email Quote

NEW BUSINESS• 2020 Total Equalized Valuations• National Grid Herbicide Notice• Wantastiquet River Subcommittee• Anonymous Letter re: Barnett Hill Property• Hooper Hill Hoppers Snowmobile Club Thank-You Card

NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS: RSA 91-A:3 II (a) (c)

**Any recording, audio or visual, and/or other devices must be declared at the beginning of the meeting**

The Friday, April 30^th Open Meeting with Executive Counselor Cinde Warmington @ 4:30 PM at the Town Hall has been CANCELLED and will be rescheduled.

There has been a positive test for COVID-19 in the Warmington Family and out of an abundance of caution, the meeting is being cancelled.

More information to follow once a new meeting date and time is determined. For questions, contact the Selectboard Office at 603-756-3672 for assistance.

The Congregational Church is having a yard/rummage/food sale on May 15 from 9-2.

They will be accepting donations on May 10 from 9-12, May 11 9-12 and May 12 3-6.

No drop offs when not open please.

Fiber Optic / Broadband News

Notice – the fiber optic backbone in Walpole is now complete!

Any resident of Walpole/No Walpole/Drewsville who wishes may now get Consolidated’s high speed internet.

Installation fees? ….. No!

The Walpole Broadband committee wants to let Walpole residents know that there is no installation cost to install Fiber to your home.  We received the following from CCI in response to some questions. 

“Consolidated will not bill customers for the drop over 150′ as long as there is a defined path to the home that meets national electrical code.  This path would be an existing pole line or a useable conduit that runs from road to the home.  Locations that do not have a suitable path would need to arrange for third party installation of  conduit or pole access that traverses a customer’s private property.  There is no installation charge associated with a fiber connection from Consolidated Communications. “

Please check you statement after your installation and if there is a charge please contact their customer service.  • Pricing?

Consolidated’s prices have very recently been revised downward (rollout was the week of April 11). If you already have service from Consolidated, call them to take advantage of revised pricing.

If you are not currently a customer you may want to explore those revised prices.

Dennis Marcom for Walpole’s Broadband Committee

COVID by the Numbers—April 25 Edition

Statewide, the seven day average of reported cases per 100,000,which was 32.4 last week, declined to an average of 23.8 as of Sunday the 25th. We had a high of 515 new cases reported on the 22nd, and a low of 235 new cases on the 19^th. The number of reported currently active cases in the state fell below 3,000 for the first time this month, and now stands at 2,960. Hospitalizations in the state declined from 133 last week to 91 this week. There were 9 new deaths in the state this week, down from 13 last week.

In Cheshire County, the county average of reported cases was 19.0 last week, and that number has declined to 18.0 this week.  Our county rate is still the second lowest in the state, with only Sullivan County, at 15.9, being lower.  For the second week in a row, there were 0 new deaths in Cheshire County this week, and 0 new hospitalizations.  The one county figure still rising is that there are currently 128 reported active cases in the county, up from 110 cases last week.

In Walpole, we have had only 2 new cases this week, up from 1 new case last week, and there remain 1-4 reported active cases in town.

Please continue to take good care of yourselves and each other.  Remember that even when fully vaccinated, there is a small chance that you might contract COVID, and if so, you could pass it on to others, especially if you have an asymptomatic case.

I am swiping from David Brooks of the Concord Monitor, who in turn swiped it from the New York Times, the concept of the 2 out of 3 rule.  The three best ways to avoid contracting or spreading COVID when you are with other people are masks, social distancing, and being outdoors.  Two out of the three adequately protects you, and protects others.  If you are indoors, mask and distance.  If you are outdoors, but less than six feet apart, wear a mask.  If outdoors and more than six feet apart, the mask is not necessary.

We have seen the devastation in India and in Ontario and other places when people let their guard down completely.  We need to ensure that does not happen here, so our businesses can fully reopen, and we can resume a more normal life.

Wear your mask, keep your distance, wash your hands, and keep well.

~Representative Lucy Weber

lwmcv@comcast.net

603 499-0282

Public Meeting with Executive Councilor Warmington

At the Town Hall on Friday, April 30th

Start time is approximately 4:30 PM

There is an open discussion time planned for local citizens to meet with Cinde Warmington to say hello, ask questions and share concerns. The Selectboard will be part of a “walk around” in downtown Walpole prior to the Town Hall public meeting.