Linda Smith asked that I include this so you can plan your shopping. – Lil

The Walpole Seniors will meet for potluck lunch at the Congregational Church on the Walpole Common at noon on Monday, October 21, 2013.   Everyone is asked to bring a contribution for the Fall Mountain Food Shelf.  Bring a dish to share.  All Walpole Seniors are welcome.  Come for fun and good socialization.  The Charleston Silvertones will sing for us.  The Bylaws will be presented.

A free Genealogy Workshop Sponsored by the Walpole Historical Society will be offered Saturday, October 19, 2013 from 10 am to noon.  Sharing information about how to start or how to solve problems will be Jeanne and Peter Jeffries, with over 35 years of research experience.  All welcome whether experienced or novice.  Reservations required at 603 756 2933.

Alyson’s Orchard

Annual APPLE FESTIVAL &

APPLE PIE COMPETITION

Sunday, September 29 (11-3)

• Enter the Scarecrow Competition!  A fun project for families, groups or individuals.  We have extended the deadline to register until the day of set up, Sept. 26.  Download form at http://www.alysonsorchard.com/upcoming-events/
• Bring your HOMEMADE PIE to the Orchard on Sunday, September 29th by 11 AM for judging &           prizes. Adult and Kid’s category (12 years and under) No pre-registration necessary!

Alyson’s Orchard will host their annual Apple Festival and old-fashioned Apple Pie Competition on Sunday, September 29,^th complete with local judges, ribbons, and prizes.

Other events will include a cider making demonstration, music, PYO apples and tractor wagon rides, as well as face painting.

Starting at noon, the public will be able to taste too – apple & fruit wines, cider, ice cream, and apples.

For lunch (11AM – 3PM,) savory BBQ from the Pit Stop Smokehouse in Westmoreland and Gourmet Delights from Shona Grill in Bellows Falls, along with Walpole Creamery Ice Cream, will be available for purchase.

Don’t  miss Alyson’s Farm Stand filled with fresh Apple Pies, Chicken Pot Pies & local products.

Winners of our Scarecrow Contest will be announced at 1:00 on this day.  Check Alyson’s website for more details on the Scarecrow Contest and other events:  www.alysonsorchard.com

A Family Dance & Silent Auction for the benefit of Sophia’s Hearth starts at 2PM  in our big hall.

Located in Walpole, NH, just 10 miles north of Keene on Rt. 12

www.alysonsorchard.com   603-756-9800

Apple pie (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In case you don’t have enough to read from The Walpolean, I found these minutes hidden in my Inbox. Misty Bushee sent them in a much more timely fashion than I have posted them. – Lil

School Board Meeting 

Fall Mountain Regional High School

Monday, August 26, 2013

Chair Mary Henry called the meeting to order at 6:32 PM in the Fall Mountain Regional High School Library. In attendance were Mary Henry, Andy Collins, Lil DeCoste, Jim Elsesser, Linda Christie, Gabe St. Pierre and John Streeter. Also in attendance were Jamie Teague and Lori Landry.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion: (Streeter/St. Pierre) to approve the minutes from the Monday, August 12, 2013 public session. Passed unanimously

Motion: (St. Pierre/Streeter) approve the minutes from the Monday, August 12, 2013 non-public session. Passed unanimously

RECOGNIZITION OF VISITORS

Chair Henry recognized Brandon Hill, Teacher Representative form the 13-14 school year. Mr. Hill reported that the school year is off to a good start. He provided the board with a brief update on the happenings throughout the district.

Gail Rowe introduced Bill Harris, Assistant Principal of the Alstead Primary School. Mr. Harris spoke briefly stating that things were off to a good start.

REPORT OF ADMINISTRATORS

Superintendent Landry stated that last week started with a successful New Teacher Day. Ms. Landry commended the principals for a terrific job. Dr. Jane Bluestein, a guest presenter, came to speak to the staff during teacher in-service day and also the public the same evening. Nearly 50 guests attended for the presentation that evening.

Lil DeCoste commented that she was amazed how many daycare providers attended the presentation and that it was great that we provided the opportunity for them.

Superintendent Landry introduced Paula Southard-Stevens and Chris Young, who gave a brief presentation on the SWIFT Initiative. A study was conducted through the University of Kansas, 5 states were selected to participate. Mississippi, Maryland, Oregon, Vermont and New Hampshire were those selected, 4 districts in the State of New Hampshire. The district has been provided with a SWIFT advisor who will make recommendations on how to improve on initiatives that are already in place. The initiative is based on “best practice”. It provides a district with a specialist in the area of need.

Ms. Landry gave an update on staffing, stating that all major content area vacancies have been filled.

Tom Ronning provided the board with an update on the 1:1 computer rollout. Approximately 400 computers were handed out on Saturday. They are currently working out the details of getting the remaining computers to the students who were unable to attend.  Mr. Ronning also reported that approximately 25% of student body worked off the 40.00 insurance fee over the summer.

Gabe St. Pierre asked about the possibility of community service as a requirement in the future.

Mr. Ronning explained that there are no plans for required community service but that there would be opportunities given to those who choose to offer it.

Jamie Teague announced that the computer lotteries were successful.

Jamie Teague provided an update on the Orchard School transportation request. Jane Stansbery has been in contact with Eleanor Elbers of the Orchard school. Ms. Teague has scheduled a tour of the route to assess.

Gail Rowe commended the district’s administration for their collaboration efforts with the Orchard School.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Lil DeCoste (PD Committee) reported that the PK teachers in Charlestown are looking to get parents more involved in the classroom. They will be hosting a couple of Early Childhood nights in October and November focusing on behavior, speech, gross motor as well as Reading, Writing and Math.

NEW BUSINESS

Motion: (Streeter/DeCoste) to approve an unbudgeted request for a Paraprofessional, North Walpole School effective August 27, 2013. Passed unanimously

Motion: (Streeter/Christie) to accept the following resignations:

Heidi Plummer, Paraprofessional-Alstead Primary School

Donna Burns, Food Service-Vilas

Amy Rumrill, Inclusionary Paraprofessional-FMRHS

Passed unanimously

Motion: (Streeter/DeCoste) to approve the following co-curricular contracts:

Jay Fisher, Cat Shock-FMRHS

Kevin Hicks, Lead Teacher-Vilas

Julie Parrott, Ski Club & Table Tennis-FMRHS

Meghan Hanson, MS Cross Country Running

Melinda Harrison, Concert Choir/Madrigals-FMRHS

Kristy Zurmuhlen, Boys JV Soccer-FMRHS

Beth Gosekamp, CTE Technology Dept Chair-FMRHS

Alexandra Robinson, JV Volleyball-FMRHS

Passed unanimously

Motion: (Streeter/DeCoste) to approve the following conditional contracts:

Heidi Plummer, Inclusionary Paraprofessional-Vilas (S10/C3)

Melinda Harrison, Choir Teacher-FMRHS (S1/L1)

Amy Rumrill, Inclusionary Paraprofessional-FMRHS (S3/C4)

Pilar Fowle, Food Service-CPS (S5/C1)

Delia Blanchard, Bus Driver-Transportation (S9/C7)

Kathleen Kathan, Secretary-Alstead Primary School (S4/C3)

Mike Sanborn, Physics Teacher-FMRHS (S7/MA+30)

Debra Hood, Food Service-Vilas (S5/C1)

Alexei Fleming, Alt Ed Paraprofessional-CMS (S2/C3)

Chris Fecteau, Distance Learning/1:1 Media Generalist-FMRHS

Passed unanimously

Motion: (Streeter/St. Pierre) to accept the request for a 3-day leave of absence for Patti Neal, Secretary, FMRHS. Passed unanimously

Motion: (Streeter/DeCoste) to approve amended policy GBCD-BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION AND CRIMINAL CHECK for first reading. Passed unanimously

Motion: (Streeter/Elsesser) to approve amended policy GBCBC-CHILDREN IN THE WORKPLACE for first reading. Passed unanimously

Motion: (Streeter/DeCoste) to approve amended policy ECAE-SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS for first reading. Passed unanimously

Motion: (DeCoste/Collins) to approve the Memorandum of Understanding with Meeting Waters YMCA Y-Aspire Program for the 2013-2014 school year. Passed unanimously

Motion: (Streeter/St. Pierre) to approve the Treasurer’s Report for period ending August 26, 2013 as presented. Passed unanimously

Payroll:                                    $459,480.74

Accounts Payable:             $719,790.97

OTHER

Tom Ronning reported that the new soccer field is ready to use. A special thank you to Bruce Ferland who put in the extra effort to get it there. Mr. Ronning also reported that the Bellows Falls field has been closed temporarily due to a possible hazard with the light install. He has offered use of the high school fields until further notice.

Mr. St. PIerre asked about the use of other district fields, however it was explained that youth soccer takes up the use of those fields.

Motion: (Streeter/St. Pierre) to enter into non-public session under RSA 91-A:3 (c). Passed unanimously

The board entered into non-public session at 7:42 PM.

The board exited non-public session at 8:41 PM and immediately adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Misty D. Bushee

School Board Clerk

Parents receive a colorful Newsletter from the Walpole Schools each month.  As a School Board member, I also receive a copy.  In an effort to ‘Keep the Community up to date on Community Events”, I have taken the liberty to copy and paste items from that newsletter that I hope will be of interest to the community at large. If you have questions about anything you may read here, feel free to call any of the school offices. Walpole Primary School:  756-­‐4241,  North Walpole School:  445-­‐5450,  Walpole Elementary School:  756-­‐4728 – Lil

WALPOLE’S NEW STAFF MEMBERS

Doriane Gordon, Grades 6-8 Language Arts Teacher at WES – Mrs. Gordon is an experienced language
arts teacher from Miami-Dade County, Florida. She Graduated from Florida International University and
Florida State.
Marilyn Ferreira, Grade 6 Science and Math Teacher at WES – Miss Ferreira was a paraprofessional in
the Bedford School District, a summer math teacher in the Windham-Pelham School District, a basketball
coach and has been a substitute teacher in the Amherst School District. She graduated from St. Michael’s
College in Colchester, VT.
Elizabeth Snide, Title I Teacher at WPS – Mrs. Snide has been a Title I teacher in the district for many years and will be part-time at the Walpole Primary School.
NWS Aide – David Baldasaro
Skills Center Aides – Selina Thomas & Tina LeClair

In an Emergency

from Mr. Jacobs, Principal

If an emergency or disaster situation ever arises while your child is in school, we want you to be aware that our school has made preparations to respond effectively. Walpole School has a detailed emergency plan that has been formulated to respond to a large or small emergency and includes evacuation to an off-site location. This plan has been developed in conjunction with the local emergency management teams as well as the fire and police departments.

First of all, please be assured that your child’s safety is of paramount importance to us. Our entire staff is trained to respond to emergencies in a calm, reassuring manner. You can help us in an emergency situation:
1. Do NOT telephone the school.
Our telephone lines may be needed for emergency communication with police, fire, and other emergency
personnel.
2. Do NOT come to the school until requested.
During an emergency, access to the school must be kept clear for emergency vehicles. By “Self
Responding” to the school you may jeopardize the safety of your child.
3. If your child has a cell phone, please do not call that line.
Not only can cell phone connections create unsafe electrical charges (in the case of a bomb threat) but
conflicting and unconfirmed information is better left to be sorted out by the adults.
4. Impress upon your children the need for them to follow the directions of any school personnel in times of an emergency.
The decision to keep students at school, or at an off-site location, will be based upon recommendations from our local responders. In the event our students are evacuated to an off-site location, and we have received permission to dismiss them, we will release students to only parents or persons you have specified on the emergency card you filled out on the first day of school. In such a situation, you should expect our dismissal process to be tightened up to ensure student safety. Please be patient if staff members ask you to show some form of identification or if you have to wait a few extra minutes.

Although no one likes to dwell on emergency situations, we believe that planning ahead will help alleviate additional stress and concern. You might want to assure your children that, whether they are at home or at school, the adults in their lives are there to keep them safe.
Until our teachers and staff members get to know new faces, please take a few moments to introduce yourselves as you enter our school buildings. Please encourage other family members to do the same.

TECHNOLOGY RECYCLING EVENT

When: Saturday, October 5th
Time: 9 – 11 AM
Place:  Fall Mountain Regional High School Parking Lot

Do you have old computers, laptops, fax machines, TV’s, microwaves, cameras, old stoves or air conditioners you want to get rid of? Then please clean out your garage, attic, or basement and bring them to Fall Mountain’s Five Town Collection Day. A special box will be setup to collect any old cell phones for a HS Fundraiser!! Most items are free, with the exception of the charges below.

CRT Recycling, Inc. has been in the business of recycling e-waste (used computers and electronics), cathode-ray- tubes (CRT’s) and white goods since 1999. We are a State approved third party vendor that properly disposes of used electronic and computer items along with cathode-ray-tubes that can no longer be accepted by landfills as of April 1, 2000. Our main purpose, by either reusing or reselling these used electronic and computer items, is to reduce the amount of solid e-waste that actually reaches the landfill. CRT Recycling, Inc. currently does regular pick-ups of e-waste (used electronics and computers) for businesses, schools, non-profit organizations and municipalities all across New England. We also pick up items bearing freon and remove capacitors from items in which they are found before disposal. Drop offs of items to be recycled are accepted at our facility in Brockton, MA. Our hours of operation are Monday – Saturday 8am – 3pm. The only item we charge to recycle is televisions. All other electronics are recycled for free!

CRT Recycling will charge for:
Computer Monitors $3.00
Plastic TV’s below 27″ $12.00
Plastic TV’s above 27″ $20.00
Wood consoles $20.00
Projection TV’s $25.00

The following information was sent, again to parents, but others in the community are also welcome to join the ranks of volunteers.  I know that Joan Taylor read with 1st graders for years and so looked forward to doing it. – Lil

2013-2014 WALPOLE SCHOOL AND WPTG VOLUNTEER APPLICATION FORM

Dear Walpole School Parents,
The Walpole School is fortunate to have generous parents and friends that donate their time and expertise to the students and staff. This letter is an invitation to you and other friends of the Walpole School to volunteer your time.
NAME______________________________________________________________________________
STREET ADDRESS___________________________________________________________________________
TOWN____________________________________STATE__________________________ZIP________
WORK PHONE____________________________HOME PHONE____________________________________

EMERGENCY CONTACT_________________________________________PHONE____________________________
My child(ren) in the Walpole Schools:
Child’s Name School Grade
___________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
I am interested in (check all that apply):
( ) assisting in classroom, i.e. listen to students read, read to classrooms, flash cards,
tutoring, etc.
( ) helping with classroom projects such as class parties, field trips and plays
( ) assisting with computer research and/or computer lab
( ) working on special events or activities, i.e. book fairs, field day
( ) helping to coordinate school volunteers
( ) helping to cover recess/lunch duty
( ) chaperoning dances/activities
( ) PTG – fundraising and Walpole Walk a Million
( ) PTG – family programs/guest speakers/roller skating
( ) volunteering in a classroom that your child is not a student
( ) other_______________________________________________________________________________
These are the times I would prefer to volunteer:
( ) flexible ( ) mornings ( ) afternoons ( ) evenings/weekends
Do you wish to volunteer on a regular basis? ( ) occasionally ( )
Parent Signature________________________________________________Date________________________
The WPTG is always there to support programs for the students, teachers and the community. The programs that the WPTG has sponsored over the years are part of what makes the Walpole School special.
SURVEY QUESTION:
Would you like to be invited to a meeting to learn more about the WPTG?

You may have wondered about the headline, but if you were alert, the word Sonoma might have alerted you to the fact that Chuck is still writing.  This is a piece he wrote as an account of a talk given by Middlebury College scholar-in-residence and environmental writer, climate change expert and activist, Bill McKibben.  As Chuck wrote, “Climate change and efforts to ameliorate it are the most important subject in the world because, as McKibben argues, if we ignore what we are doing to our atmosphere we may very likely make much of the earth uninhabitable for our children and their children.  Because this is such an important topic and because McKibben is a New Englander, I thought that the story should be shared with readers of the Walpolean.”

McKibben Urges Sonoma Audience Toward Environmental Activism

by Chuck Bingaman, Freelance Journalist

Environmental writer, scholar, activist Bill McKibben drew a standing ovation from a Sonoma crowd of nearly 200 Sunday urging active steps to end the country’s–and the world’s–dependence on burning fossil fuels for energy beginning with a demonstration in Sonoma next Saturday.

Stumping the country on behalf of his most recent book, “Oil and Honey: The Education of an Unlikely Activist”, McKibben described the www.350.org program he started in 2008 at Middlebury College with seven undergraduates including May Boeve of Sonoma. 350.org has since coordinated 15,000 rallies against reliance on fossil fuel for energy in 189 countries. McKibben’s appearance Sunday was sponsored by Stone Edge Farm, Congregation Shir Shalom, the First Congregational Church of Sonoma, Readers’ Books and http://www.350.org.

Introduced by Readers’ Books co-owner Andy Weinberger as “a troublemaker in the best sense of the word”, McKibben has spent the last 28 years trying to get the attention of governments and large energy companies. 350 is the number of parts of CO2 (carbon dioxide) per billion at which the atmosphere begins to deteriorate, climate changes dramatically, and life as we know it on the planet is irretrievably harmed. Despite most measures now showing the atmosphere already containing more than 400 parts per billion and horrific climate changes are already happening, McKibben argues that there is still time to at least slow the growth of CO2 and to avoid the worst of possible future devastation.

Devastation McKibben cited included spreading droughts, worsening forest fires, “Biblical” floods such as those currently battering Colorado, melting icecaps and resulting rises in sea levels that promise to devastate large areas of human habitation worldwide in the not-distant future. He also described–and showed poignant pictures of–people throughout the earth demonstrating for the 350.org movement. Participants included many children in China, India, Pakistan, Africa, South America, Europe and the USA. “I’ve always been told,” McKibben said, “that environmentalists are limited to rich white people in already wealthy countries. But we’ve found that the majority of those expressing concern about the environment are actually poor, brown, tan or black, Asian and others likely to be hurt the most. And they are the least responsible for what is happening.”

Germany, McKibben said, has been a leader in switching to solar energy, and already in 2013 it produced–on one day–more than half of its energy from solar. The reason such transition has not happened in the US, McKibben says, is that large energy companies have had the financial and, hence, political clout to prevent it. What he said is needed to change priorities in the US is a movement, a massive standing up of people who say enough is enough. “All we want is a planet that works like the one we grew up in. You know, ice caps at the poles, flooding that is the exception rather than a frequent devastation. I consider that a very conservative position. Those from the energy companies that are willing to change the chemical composition of the earth, now THOSE are the radicals in this fight!”

Note: The Sonoma 350.org organizer, May Boeve, announced a demonstration called “Draw the Line” at Sonoma City Hall Saturday, September 21, at 9:00 a.m. to urge President Obama to deny approval of the Keystone Project for a new pipeline from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. McKibben said reliable estimates are that, if all of the shale oil to be extracted and piped through the US were to be burned, the CO2 it would release could raise the atmospheric level well over 500 parts per billion. That, as a NASA report said, would amount to “game over for the planet.”

SPECIAL EVENT SUNDAY

at  ALYSON’S ORCHARD

Walk for the Greyhounds

& Chili Cook-off

Sunday, September 15; 11 am – 3 pm

• Walk with the Greyhounds –You and your dog are invited to come and enjoy a beautiful stroll through the Orchard with some magnificent Greyhounds – Starts at 12 Noon.  (Bring leash and poop bags!)
• Pick your own Honey Crisp & McIntosh Apples (all weekend) 10-6  also PYO Ginger Gold & Sansa apples
• Chili Cook-off  & tasting
• Free tractor wagon rides 10-6
• Farm Stand Open 10-6
• BBQ Food available 11-3
• Live Music 12 – 3
• Wine Tasting 12-3
• Visit our baby goats and children’s playground
• Face Painting 12-3
• Caricature Drawings with your dog 11-3
• Walpole Creamery Ice Cream 12 – 3

Alyson’s Orchard, Route 12, Walpole, NH 03608

www.alysonsorchard.com

603-756-9800