Keeping the community up to date on community topics
The Friends of the Walpole Library will NO LONGER be accepting book donations for the fall book sale at the Chicken Coop (behind the Hungry Diner).
Thank you to everyone who donated books to the Friends of the Library Book Sale. This year’s sale dates are October 26th and 27th.
October 17, 2024
Starting at 6:30 PM in the Town Hall
HOOPER TRUSTEES MINUTES
HOOPER TRUSTEES PUBLIC BUSINESS
HOOPER TRUSTEES NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS: RSA 91-A:3 II (a)
PAYROLL
SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES
COMMITTEE REPORTS
TIMBER TAX WARRANT
BUILDING PERMITS
OLD BUSINESS
Pending Further Actions: Parking Policy, Generators, Old North Main and High Steets Bridges/Culverts, Houghton Brook Bridge, ARPA Funding Grants
NEW BUSINESS
NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS: RSA 91-A:3 II (c)
From Deb Pawelczyk:
On Saturday, November 2, 2024, from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon, Cub Scout Pack 299 and Boy Scout Troop 299 will be holding their Scouting for Food Drive. We will be handing out information sheets for the annual ‘Scouting for Food Drive’ at the following locations: Walpole Post Office, Walpole Recycling Center, Tractor Supply and Shaw’s. People can also make monetary or food donations on this date.
Then, on November 9, 2024, from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon, we will be at the same locations collecting non-perishable food items (no glass please) and monetary donations. Pet food is also greatly appreciated. All food and monetary donations go directly to the Fall Mountain Food Shelf. Donations in 2023 included over 800 items of food and $3200 in cash.
TOWN OF WALPOLE, NEW HAMPSHIRE
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
OCTOBER 7, 2024
Members Present: Alicia Flammia, Wendy Grossman, France Menk, Peter Palmiotto, Lewis Shelley
Alternates Present: Nicole Adams, Tom Beaudry
Selectboard Present: Steve Dalessio
Members Absent: John Peska
Alternates Absent: Paul Happ
Visitors Present: Katherine Kopji, North Walpole Village Commissioner
Call to Order: Peter called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall.
Seating of Alternates: no Alternates needed
In Memory of Marcia Galloway: Marcia served on the Conservation Commission for many years and was Chair. Each member who served with Marcia shared their memories. By consensus, the Conservation Committee recommends that Marcia be recognized in the Town Report.
Review and Approval of Minutes
Tabled to the next meeting.
Public Business
Report from co-Chair: A copy of the RSA book has been requested for the meeting room downstairs. Paul Happ has been approved as an Alternate.
Financial Report: no report
Correspondence:
New Business
Britton Farm – CCCD Cooperator of the Year Award: The Britton Farm will be recognized at the Annual Celebration of the Cheshire County Conservation District on October 10th.
Knapp Cranberry Bog Dam – Wetland Permit: John will continue to work on the Knapp Cranberry Bog Dam. The issue is that there are lots of requirements because it will now be necessary to go into the water. This dam is rated as a low hazard. Because of the problems finding a contractor, this will probably not be done immediately. Steve Dalessio is also following this project.
Fanny Mason Rest Area – Issues and Updates, Parking, Cleaning Shelters:
NHACC Grants for Interns: Applications are due October 11th. The grants are for 15 hours per week for three months in the spring. By consensus, if Peter has the time to submit an application, perhaps to do a wetlands inventory, that is good with the Commission. Peter will check to be sure this grant is not just for towns in need.
Old Business
Property Monitoring: A monitoring request from LCIP was received but the location was not specified. Wendy offered to be the Commission’s contact for property monitoring and will inform LCHP to change the contact information from Alicia to Wendy.
Trail Committee: The meetings and minutes are on the Town website. The invoice for the second brush hogging will be paid Friday. They are starting to look at Academy Ravine to look at options – brainstorming now. Note: Mad Brook is a state name stream, so there are a lot of state rules that apply to any management activities of named streams. There are a lot of fallen trees that could block the culvert again and cause serious flooding. The Mill Pond trails will be inspected Sunday. They are planning an in-person public meeting this fall. There will be an autumn maintenance day for the Rail Trail. They are considering creating a program for lending outdoor gear for winter.
Fanny Mason Harvesting: no update
Reservoir Dam Updates: There will be a design review in a couple weeks with DES – Steve, John, and Mark Houghton will attend. Someone to fix the kink in the culvert has been found. Mill Pond Dam repairs will probably be coming soon because that is identified as a high-risk dam.
Hooper Institute Board: Nicole reported they continue to discuss bike trails in the Hooper Forest. She created a map to help them understand the existing trails. They discussed invasives information from Alex Barrett. They might pay for the next treatment, since they have money from the harvest. Renovations are moving ahead with work planned for this winter.
Walpole Street Trees – Common Tree Replacement/Planting: Donations covered the costs of trees planted on the Common, so the Commission will not need to draw from its funds for them. The committee will get together and develop a plan for going forward. Old stumps presented a problem in the planting location. With the use of a chainsaw, and moving the expanding a hole slightly the trees were planted with good spacing. The plan is to have another planting next year. The fund for the monument maintenance needs to be reviewed to see if there is money that could be used for trees.
Other Business
Adjournment: Peter declared the meeting adjourned at 8:24 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary
(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the November 4, 2024 Conservation Commission meeting.)
WALPOLE PLANNING BOARD
PUBLIC NOTICE
You are hereby notified of the following three Public Hearings to be held on November 12, 2024 at 7 pm in the Town Hall. The following applications will be reviewed for completion by the Board and a Public Hearing will be held.
Public Hearing No. 1. Elm and Pleasant LLC propose a Lot Line Adjustment for property at the corner of Pleasant and Elm Streets, Town Map 20, Lot 32 and Town Map 22, Lot 3 in the Residential B District. After the boundary line adjustment the lot with the apartment will be 1.3 acres and the field will be 18 acres, a change of 7 acres.
Public Hearing No. 2. John McKee Pratt Revocable Trust proposes a subdivision on Reservoir Road. Tax Map 11, Lot No. 1 will now be 26.07 acres with 268.75 feet of road frontage. It is currently a horse farm. The adjacent area to this lot is an Agricultural Easement for the benefit of Lot 1. This lot is 2.20 acres. The second lot, Tax Map 11, Lot No. 1-2, will be 15.44 acres with 200 feet of road frontage.
Public Hearing No. 3. The Planning Board has drafted a zoning amendment to be placed on the town warrant that excludes formula businesses in the commercial district, Section 6, of Downtown Walpole Village, Article VI. Formula businesses include retail sales and restaurants that regulate by contractual or other arrangements certain standardized features that may include uniforms, logos, interior or exterior design, array of services or merchandise, menus, ingredients and food preparation.
All townspeople and interested parties are encouraged to attend. To be heard on this matter, you or a duly authorized agent must either attend the hearing in person or submit your comments in writing, prior to the hearing to the Planning Board, PO Box 729, Walpole, NH 03608.
If final action is delayed or the hearing continued, the application will remain on the agenda for the following Planning Board meeting, or until a decision is reached, without further notice. A plat of the property and the application are available for public inspection at the Town Offices. Meeting minutes and public notices are posted inside the Town Hall and on the bulletin board outside the Post Office.
Marilou Blaine
WPB Secretary
Stapleton Roy will lead our expedition into Indonesia, exploring its complicated history, unique geography, ethnic diversity and present foreign policy. After serving as our Ambassador in China and Singapore, Stapleton Roy was United States Ambassador to Indonesia from 1996 – 1999. Ambassador Roy was stationed in Jakarta during the tumultuous end of Suharto’s presidency, amid an economic crisis, student demonstrations, riots and outbursts of violence.
“Stape” will be joining us via Zoom, which is an option for anyone (contact Jane Malmberg for the Zoom link) or you are welcome to attend in person on Monday, October 21, at 6:00 p.m. in the Walpole Town Library. This discussion with one of our preeminent experts on Southeast Asia, whose breadth and depth of knowledge is unsurpassed, is a rare opportunity.
The relevant reading from the Foreign Policy Association is “Invisible Indonesia” by Charles Sullivan. For a copy of this article and/or the meeting’s Zoom link, please contact Library Director Jane Malmberg at jmalmberg@walpoletownlibrary.org
Please note: For those joining via Zoom, please wait until 6:20 to join, as we will be viewing the “Master Class” from the Foreign Policy Institute for the first twenty minutes in the library.
WALPOLE PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
OCTOBER 8, 2024 AT 7PM IN THE TOWN HALL
Roll Call: Present: Board members Chair Jeff Miller, Clerk Jason Perron, Jeff Harrington, Trevor
MacLachlan, Joanna Andros. Alternates Travis Adams and Bill Carmody. Absent: Board member Vice- Chair Dennis Marcom and Select Board Representative Steve Dalessio.
Also a the meeting were presenters Wendy Pelletier and Joe DiBernardo.
Call to Order: Mr. Miller called the meeting to order at 7 pm. Mr. Miller asked Alternate Bill Carmody to fill in for absent board member, Dennis Marcom. He agreed.
Minutes of September 2024 and Joint meeting minutes with members of the Zoning Board of Adjustment and two representatives of Southwest Region Planning Commission Executive Director Todd Horner and Senior Planner Carol Ogilvie. Mr. Harrington made a motion to approved these minutes as printed. Mr. Perron seconded the motion and the motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS
Request for a Public Hearing Boundary Line Adjustment: Elm and Pleasant LLC propose a Lot Line Adjustment for property (apartment house) at the corner of Pleasant and Elm Streets.
Presenter was Wendy Pelletier of Cardinal Surveying and Land Planning. Ms. Pelletier said that the lot with the apartment house on it owned by Elm and Pleasant LLC..The property is Town Map 20, Lot 32 and Town Map 22, Lot 3 in the Residential B District. After the boundary line adjustment the lot with the apartment will be 1.3 acres and the open lot with the barn will be 18 acres. They were originally 7.3 acres and 11 acres respectively. Frontage on Pleasant Street is 236.93 feet and the road frontage on Main Street is not noted on the plat but the length is longer than the road frontage on Pleasant Street lot so it fulfills the requirement of 150 feet frontage in the Residential B District.
Mr. Harrington made a motion to hold a public hearing for a Boundary Line Adjustment for the property at the corner of Elm and Pleasant Streets in November. Mr. Perron seconded the motion and the motion carried.
Request for a Public Hearing: Subdivision for John McKee Pratt Revocable Trust on Reservoir Road.
Surveyor Joe DiBernardo explained that the property is at the end of Reservoir Road, on the southeast side of the road, and is part of the John McKee Revocable Trust. Timothy Karpoff, executor of Jack Pratt’s estate and the trustee of the John M. Pratt Irrevocable Trust sent a letter indicating he was aware of the subdivision application. Tax Map 11, Lot No. 1 will now be 26.07 acres with 268.75 feet of road frontage. It is currently a horse farm. The adjacent area to this lot is an Agricultural Easement for the benefit of Lot 1. This lot is 2.20 acres. The second lot, Tax Map 11, Lot No. 1-2, is 15.44 acres with 200 feet of road frontage. The driveway into Lot 2 is part of the frontage. The rear boundary line of both properties abuts properties on Ramsay Road. If you continue on Reservoir Road, the land is in Conservation Easement.
Mr. Harrington made a motion to hold a public hearing for a subdivision for the John McKee Pratt
Revocable Trust property in November. Mr. Perron seconded the motion and the motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS
Finalize Draft Zoning Amendment
The Planning Board has drafted a zoning amendment that excludes formula businesses in the commercial district, Section 6, of Downtown Walpole Village, Article VI. Formula businesses include retail sales and restaurants that regulate by contractual or other arrangements certain standardized features that may include uniforms, logos, interior or exterior design, array of services or merchandise, menus, ingredients and food preparation. If approved, this zoning amendment will go on the warrant at Town Meeting in March 2025.
Mr. Harrington made a motion to hold a public hearing on the Zoning Amendment to exclude formula businesses and restaurants in the Downtown Village Commercial District in November. Mr. Perron seconded the motion and the motion carried.
Reminder: Joint workshop on Thursday, October 22 at 7 pm with ZBA and SWRPC.
Adjournment: Mr. Harrington made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Perron second the motion and the motion carried.
These minutes are unapproved and will be reviewed in November for corrections.
Respectfully submitted,
Marilou Blaine
WPB Secretary
Walpolean Sarah Mann says, “Our daughter Ellie is a student at The Grammar School (TGS) in Putney, VT. TGS is once again putting on their beloved Medieval Faire for the community.”
Hear Ye, Hear Ye — The Medieval Faire Returns to Putney!
PUTNEY, Vt. – On Saturday, October 19th, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., The Grammar School in Putney, Vermont, will once again transform their bucolic campus into a bustling medieval village as they host their 36th annual Medieval Faire.
Children can ride the flying dragon and Sir Lancelot’s flying horse, fire an apple slingshot, take part in pillow jousting and foam-arrow archery, ride the swan swing, ascend the climbing wall, battle a knight, scramble for treats at the candy catapult, make their own crowns and wands, visit the fortune teller, get their faces painted, and take part in a dragon treasure hunt. Attendees who complete the royal quest can be knighted by the King and Queen, who preside over the Faire on their royal thrones. Assorted games for the youngest children are offered at Merlin’s Midway — there truly is something for everyone.
In the morning, Hidden Nest Farm will be bringing Molly the pony and Gummy Bear the Quarter Horse for pony rides from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. In the afternoon, Vermont Armored Combat will put on live performances between 1-3 p.m., featuring knights in full armor battling in the ring.
Fairgoers of all ages can shop for treats and medieval-themed crafts in the Medieval Marketplace and enjoy a range of live music. There will be a food truck and a host of homemade soups, breads, baked goods and more.
Admission to the Medieval Faire is free and open to all. Unlimited all-day ride passes are $25 for the first pass, $20 for additional passes; individual tickets are also available. All-day passes are available for sale in advance or at the Faire.
Net proceeds from the Medieval Faire help support The Grammar School’s financial aid fund, which serves to make the school affordable for as many families as possible. For more information, please visit thegrammarschool.org/medieval or contact The Grammar School at 802-387-5364.
October 10, 2024
Starting at 6:30 PM in the Town Hall
HOOPER TRUSTEES MINUTES
HOOPER TRUSTEES PUBLIC BUSINESS
HOOPER TRUSTEES NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS: RSA 91-A:3 II
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
PAYROLL
SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES
ABATEMENTS
SOLAR ENERGY EXEMPTION
BUILDING PERMITS
OLD BUSINESS
Pending Further Actions: Parking Policy, Generators, Reservoir Dam, Old North Main and High Steets Bridges/Culverts, Houghton Brook Bridge, ARPA Funding Grants, UCC Sign at Rt. 12/South St.
NEW BUSINESS
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.
From the Distant Hill Gardens and Nature Trail e-newsletter:
Join us at The Distant Hill Pavilion on Saturday, October 12, 2024 from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. for a fascinating tour of Distant Hill Gardens and Nature Trail led by Michael Nerrie of Distant Hill and Jaime McGuigan, an Antioch University graduate student. Discover the world of ferns and local wildlife on the accessible nature trail. Michael will introduce you to some of the diverse species of ferns on the property, while Jaime will share insights and videos from her Master’s Project using 14 game cameras set up on Distant Hill’s 155 acres to monitor the wildlife that call Distant Hill home.
This event is free, but registration is required: Register Here (Maximum # of participants is 30)
The Walpolean 
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