The Walpole Unitarian Church will hold it’s annual Holiday Food Sale on Saturday, December 6, in front of the Walpole Post Office from 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. We will have our popular boxed holiday cookies ready for gift giving. There will also be holiday breads and desserts, along with savory items such as quiches, casseroles, lasagnas, and more. These items will be ready to take home and serve, or keep in the freezer for later. All of our offerings are home made. There are always unexpected surprises arriving on the day of the sale. Come early to get the best choices!
December 2025 Clarion Closing Date – 11/20/25
A week away, and a tad earlier deadline than usual prompted by the Thanksgiving holiday quickly approaching, and also my printer’s holiday schedule. I negotiate the printing cycle a year ahead with them so the hardcopies are in the mail to be received by the first of the month.
Long way of saying that for the next issue of your CLARION, the closing date for the DECEMBER 2025 issue is 5 pm Walpole time, Thursday, November 20 – yes the 20th a week from right now. As always, the earlier the better. 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
Reminder: Walpole Community Giving Tree Project
Just a reminder that Giving Tree tags are available now through November 22nd at the following locations: Diamond Pizza, Hungry Diner, Mascoma Bank, Savings Bank of Walpole (Westminster St.), the Walpole Town Library, River Valley Church, First Congregational Church, St. John’s Church, and St. Peter’s Church. Please grab a tag, have fun shopping, and add a little joy to a local child’s holiday! Thank you!
– Jeanne Cloues and Marcia Weil, project organizers
NOTE: You may also mail donations directly to us at 192 Upper Walpole Road, Walpole, 03608. Please make checks payable to Jeanne Cloues and put “Giving Tree” in the memo line. Thank you.
Conservation Commission Meeting Minutes – 11/3/25
Town of Walpole, New Hampshire
Conservation Commission
November 3, 2025
(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the December 1, 2025 Conservation Commission meeting.)
Members Present: Nicole Adams, Wendy Grossman, Paul Happ, France Menk, Peter Palmiotto (Cochair), John Peska (Cochair & Presiding), Lewis Shelley, Carolyn Vose (Selectboard Rep)
Alternates Present: Tom Beaudry
Members Absent: Hale Morrell
Call to Order: John called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall.
Seating of Alternatives: There was a quorum, so no Alternates were seated.
Review and Approval of Minutes
Paul moved to accept the 10/6/2025 minutes as written. France seconded and all voted in favor. The motion carried.
Public Business
Financial Report: Conservation $282,422.14
Forestry $53,511.36
Correspondence: NHACC dues are due. France moved to pay the $275 dues for this year. Paul seconded. With all in favor, the motion passed.
New Business
Fanny Mason Forest Management:
- Winter timber harvest – we expect to do the harvest this winter. Can the Town waive the timber tax for Fanny Mason? Once that question is answered, Alex Barrett will submit the Timber Intent permit.
- Red pine – Longview can do cut-to-length, but Chris Ricci doesn’t do it. Tyler Zambon can also cut-to-length. John will ask Alex Barrett to get quotes from Longview and Tyler Zambon.
- Invasives – It will cost about $1,600 (two people for a day) to treat buckhorn stems now in the area of the Fanny Mason harvest. This is Fanny Mason property, expense and income, so the Conservation Committee needs to let Trustees of Trust Funds know that Longview will do the treatment now and get paid when there is income from the red pine harvest.
Paul made a motion to request that the Town waive the timber tax on the Fanny Mason harvest and to approve treating for invasives now with Longview to be paid when the harvest starts getting income. Lew seconded. With everyone in favor, the motion passed unanimously.
Safety Inspection: On November 20th there will be an inspection of the Conservation Commission storage in the old Town Garage on School Street. John, Lew & Paul will meet before the inspection to check everything and do any equipment maintenance needed.
Old Business
Easement monitoring: Monadnock Conservancy did some monitoring last month and sent an email asking for the status of issues identified last year:
- In Bertin Forest two pieces of bridge washed out – the larger piece was removed from the brook; the other piece is still on the bank and needs to be removed; it remains to be determined who can get the bridge out of the forest.
- In Great Brook Town Forest – there was a snowmobile trail wash-out and the trail is still washed out down toward the brook. There is a very large pine down across the trail. Lew and the Hooper Hill Hoppers are working to determine what to do. It would be possible to build a very narrow trail (one snowmobile wide), but a groomer couldn’t get through to maintain the trail. There is a lot of clay in that area, so rebuilding the trail may require a retaining wall. There are closed signs on both ends of that trail. It was a major trail to Westmoreland but now snowmobilers also have the Rail Trail.
Town easements: we are obliged to monitor the Town easements. Wendy will do three, but she can’t do her own land. The Easement Monitoring Committee needs to meet to decide what they really want to do. There is a committee, and they need a meeting (Peter is chair). It was pointed out that property monitoring really is one of our more important responsibilities.
Reservoir Dam: DES, Walpole and Fuss & O’Neill agree that we can breech the dam (normally remove 25 – 50% of dam) with ARPA money before the deadline. Fuss & O’Neil is doing the engineering in preparation for getting permits. We will need to bridge the breech so trail will still be usable since the area is popular for recreation.
Derry Hill Road – Class VI road status: The road was checked last weekend. There is no sign of anyone working on the road, but some sections of it would only be passable with some four-wheel drive vehicles. There is an ongoing timber harvest (uncertain if in Walpole) and they are hauling logs across Walpole’s Class VI roads to Alstead or Surry. The lower part of Derry Hill is a fire lane. Part of Scovill Road between High Blue and Derry Hill Road is now destroyed by vehicles and washouts.
Peter arrived during the Derry Hill discussion.
Tree Planting: This fall a sugar maple was planted on the northwest corner of the Common and four tulip trees were planted along the west side. $3,600 has been donated for purchasing trees. About half was spent this year, so we have enough for two crabapples and three red maples for the spring planting, and that will finish the planting on the Common. North Walpole and Drewsville (Fritzie Hill [sic] is suggested contact) will be contacted to see what they need.
Mt. Kilborne: Monadnock Climbing Club wants their letter of support signed, but we need to know everyone involved is satisfied. John reached out to Katherine Kopij to determine whether the North Walpole Village Commissioners are OK with the plans. We also need to get the approval of the Walpole and North Walpole Fire and Rescue squads.
Trail Committee
Updates: The Trail Committee has worked on Mill Pond. They removed a large tree and a large bush, and they have done some leveling.
Wendy will have the Work Plan for the 2026 Rail Trail projects finished by the deadline on 12/31/2025. The plan is being addressed, but it won’t be done or available for the next meeting. Peter asked that as many details as possible be discussed at the 12/1/2025 meeting.
Rail Trail Work Plan: Ditch and culvert work preparing for winter will be the focus of the Work Day on November 8th. Similar preparation worked well last year.
Other Business and Updates
Hooper Institute Board: There are no updates, but Paul is positive about the Board. He thinks Greta Drager is doing a great job and that the building is just beautiful. The next meeting is tomorrow.
New Hampshire Big Tree: The black oak on Mill Pond is the largest in the state. Lew received a sign and will put in a signpost, so he can put up the sign.
Agenda for the Next Meeting – December 1, 2025
- New path on Fanny Mason timber harvest – Lew
- Work Plan for Rail Trail – Wendy
Adjournment: France moved to adjourn the meeting and Nicole seconded. John declared the meeting adjourned at 8:19 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary
Selectboard Meeting Agenda – 11/12/25
TOWN OF WALPOLE
SELECTBOARD MEETING AGENDA
November 12, 2025
Starting at 6:30 PM in the Town Hall
SELECTBOARD MEETING
PICKLEBALL
PAYROLL
- Payroll Register totaling $35,371.26 dated 11/14/2025 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $6,848.39
SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES
- Selectboard Meeting – November 5, 2025
- Selectboard Non-Public Session – November 5, 2025
COMMITTEE REPORTS
- Conservation Commission Meeting – November 3, 2025
OLD BUSINESS
Pending Further Actions: Town Hall Generator, Old North Main and High Streets Bridges/Culverts, School and Union Street Drainage, Reservoir Dam Rehab Project
- 2025 Tax Rate Status
- Selectboard Meeting Dates
BUILDING PERMITS
- 2025-40, Map and Lot# 012-055-020
NEW BUSINESS
- Terra Map Mapping Services Agreement
- Utility Statutory Permit by Notification
- Thank-You Letter
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**
Great Decisions at the Library – 11/10/25
Great Decisions meets this Monday at 6 pm, Main Library
Our next “Great Decisions” topic – “AI and our National Security” – elicits high anxiety among many of us as we consider the unprecedented risks and challenges of this rapidly developing technology. The threats to cybersecurity, national defense and personal privacy, the dangers of mass surveillance, use of unreliable AI technologies in law enforcement, social media bots and insufficient industry self-regulation are among many concerns. What is being done to address these risks? Is there enforceable global governance of artificial intelligence? So many questions surround these amazing developments that you would rather not think about it…but AI is a high tech tsunami that has already hit us.
We will meet in the Walpole Town Library on Monday, November 10, at 6:00 pm. The relevant reading from the Foreign Policy Association is “AI and American National Security,” by Julie George. A copy of this article can be emailed to you upon request sent to Library Director Jane Malmberg: jmalmberg@walpoletownlibrary.org If you are joining via Zoom, please request the Zoom link from Jane Malmberg prior to the meeting and join at 6:30 pm, after the “Master Class” video.
Selectboard Meeting Minutes – 10/29/25
Town of Walpole, New Hampshire
Meeting of the Selectboard
October 29, 2025
Selectboard Present: Steven Dalessio, Chair; Carolyn Vose and Cheryl Mayberry
Staff Present: Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration, and Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary
Call to Order: Mr. Dalessio called the Selectboard meeting to order at 6:34 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.
Payroll
Ms. Vose moved to approve the Payroll Register totaling $33,373.11 dated 10/31/2025 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $6,779.23. Mr. Dalessio seconded. With Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the payroll was approved.
Selectboard Meeting Minutes
Selectboard Meeting – October 23, 2025: Ms. Vose moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of October 23, 2025. Mr. Dalessio seconded. With Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the Selectboard minutes were approved.
Non-Public Selectboard Meeting – October 23, 2025: Ms. Vose moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard meeting of October 23, 2025. The minutes will remain sealed. Mr. Dalessio seconded. With Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the Non-Public minutes were approved and remain sealed.
Committee Reports
Ms. Vose brought to the chair’s attention the following committee reports:
- Trustees of Trust Funds Meeting – October 22, 2025
Mr. Dalessio acknowledged these minutes.
Ms. Mayberry arrived at 6:38 PM. The finance meeting with Hooper Institute ran late.
Old Business
Reservoir Dam: Mr. Dalessio reported that a new budget is due to DES on or before November 1st. At a meeting on Monday evening with Mark Houghton, Mr. Dalessio, John Peska, the Dam Bureau and Fuss & O’Neil, it was agreed that to protect the village, it will be necessary to breech part of the dam so there is less water in the reservoir. The Town needs to get permits, but obtaining permits and breeching the dam can be done before the ARPA grant expires, and this will make the Town much safer in severe storms. A bridge will be built across the part of the dam that is breeched so the footpath can still be enjoyed.
Mr. Dalessio is preparing a summary of all on-going projects. It should be ready in a couple of weeks.
Artwork Raffle: Per Attorney Hockensmith’s feedback, a third party is recommended to host the raffle to raise funds for the new Police Station. Mr. Dalessio is looking into the options.
Dumpster Proposal: An updated proposal has been received. There was a question as to why Ruggerio is not providing the dumpster as part of their pickup service. This is the metals dumpster. Ms. Hakey will follow up. Once this is resolved, the Recycling Department will need to ask the same questions about the solid waste dumpsters.
Selectboard Meeting Dates: Next week the Selectboard will meet on Wednesday, November 5th.
Tax Rate Status: Mr. Kreissle sent an update based on information available in the portal. There are several tasks in the report that don’t specify the status.
New Business
STD/LTD/Life and AD&D rates for 2026 – 2027: The insurance rates will hold at the current rate for two years with a new vendor. By consensus, the Selectboard agreed to the new two-year rates.
Non-Public Business RSA 91-A:3 II (a)(b)(c)
Ms. Mayberry moved to enter into Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II (a)(b)(c) at 7:06 PM. Ms. Vose seconded. With Ms. Mayberry, Ms. Vose and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.
The meeting was reconvened at 7:35 PM.
Ms. Vose moved that the Non-Public Session Minutes be sealed. Seconded by Ms. Mayberry. With Ms. Vose, Ms. Mayberry and Mr. Dalessio in favor, the motion was approved.
Adjournment: Mr. Dalessio declared the meeting adjourned at 7:37 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary
(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the November 5, 2025 Selectboard meeting.)
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