Tag Archives: COMMUNITY NEWS

Obituary for Arthur ‘Art’ Anderson

[Editor’s Note: The Walpolean may occasionally publish obituaries and other personal news. Unfortunately, time does not permit me to seek out this information on a regular basis, so I must rely on reader submissions for this type of post. Thank you. – Kelli]

From Art Anderson’s step-daughter, Laura Honey:

Arthur “Art” Anderson, 85, passed away on May 6, 2025 at Cheshire Medical Center, surrounded by family. Art was a well know folk artist at many local crafts fairs, and a proud member of the League of NH Craftsmen.

While he grew up in Hopkinton, MA, he was a longtime resident of Walpole and Marlow, NH, where he enjoyed gardening, working on his whimsical creations in his New England Folk Art workshop, long walks, and spending time with his family.

In 1999, Art proudly represented NH at the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival in Washington, DC, and Celebrate NH in 2000. His work has been shown in art galleries nationwide, and at the annual League of NH Craftsmen’s Fair in Sunapee, NH. Art spoke to school classes about his craft, demonstrated woodworking at League headquarters in Concord, and around the state, and operated the “kid’s” tent at the Craftsmen’s Fair where he cut out simple animals for the children to take home with them. Art had many good friends in Marlow and around New England, especially his next-door neighbor, John Thayer, who was always there to lend a helping hand.

Art is survived by his wife, Pat, of Marlow. His children, Pam Varnum, David (Nancy) Anderson, Daniel (Lisa) Anderson, and Polly (Eric) Rawlings. His stepdaughters, Kathy (Dave) Rice and Laura (Darren) Honey. He loved spending time with his grandchildren: Evelyn, Isabelle, and Avery Honey; Sarah and James Rice; Kayden and Jacob Anderson; Devon Erskin; Kayla Anderson. Art also leaves behind seven great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to thank everyone at the Walpole Clinic and at Cheshire Medical Center for their care of Art, and the kindness shown to family members during his short illness.

The Cremation Society of NH is in charge of arrangements; a celebration of life will be held at a later time, at the convenience of family.

Luca Paris to Run Restaurant and Grocery

According to an article in today’s Keene Sentinel, Luca Paris, founder of Luca’s Mediterranean Café in Keene, will take on a new role as general manager of The Restaurant at Burdick’s and the Walpole Grocery later this month.

The Sentinel reports that Paris has served as the president and CEO of the Greater Monadnock Collaborative Regional Chamber of Commerce since 2021, and that he will be stepping down from that position, effective January 10, 2025. The article also states that Paris is no longer involved in the direct operations of his namesake restaurant.

“Paris said he’s excited for how he can strengthen how the restaurant and grocery are involved with the Walpole community,” writes Sentinel reporter James Rinker, who also notes that ” . . . [Paris] does plan on introducing new initiatives at both establishments . . . However, he said he primarily wants to learn from staff and work closely with Executive Chef Wesley Babb to build on the restaurant’s roughly 20-year legacy.”

by Kelli Wilson

Thank You from Cub Scout Pack 299

From Deb Pawelczyk:

Walpole Cub Scout Pack 299 would like to say “Thank You” to everyone who helped make our Bake Sales at the plays a huge success. Also a big Thank You to the Walpole Players for thinking of us to do this. If anyone is doing an event and they would like some concession done Cub Scout Pack 299 may be able to help. If interested please contact Deb Pawelczyk at 603-445-5475.

Scouting for Food Presentation

On Saturday, November 23, 2024, Walpole Boy Scout Troop 299 and Walpole Cub Scout Pack 299 presented their Scouting for Food collection checks to a representative of the Fall Mountain Food Shelf. The total amount of monetary donations was $4,060.00.

Thank you to everyone who made this fundraiser a huge success.

Thankful – WES 8th Grade Raffle Success!

We are thrilled to share that the Thanksgiving Basket Raffle to benefit the Walpole Elementary School 8th Grade was very successful!  We met our fundraising goal which will cover the costs of their graduation ceremony & celebration and an end of year class trip (TBD)!  The Walpole community is so generous and we have many people to thank.  Many local businesses donated items to our basket, and the community as a whole, generously purchased raffle tickets.  We thank everyone for your support to make this fundraiser so successful.  The winner of the basket was drawn at the Farmers Market with the prize going to Terri Patch!

Special thanks to the following for their donations to the basket:  Walpole Grocery, CBS Knifeworks, Simply Made Cakes & Bakes, Fort at #4, Galloway Real Estate, Ted’s Wicked BBQ Sauces, Orchard Hill Breadworks, Pete’s Stand, Beth Vickers, Diamond Pizza, Rockingham Roasters, L.A. Burdick Chocolates, Harlow Farm Stand, Allen Brothers, Kim Spears, Alisza Dingwell, Laura Elliott, and Andrea-Vickers-Sivret.

Abenaki Springs Farm Thanksgiving Sale

The Abenaki Springs Farm road side stand at 188 Upper Walpole Road in Walpole will be open from Saturday, 11/22 to Wednesday, 11/27. We will permanently close our stand on the 27th.

We’ll be stocked with carrots, winter squashes, broccoli, brussels sprouts, rutabaga, radishes, salad turnips, kale, beets, and more for your Thanksgiving needs.

The stand is a self-serve honor system and we accept exact cash, check, or venmo @abenakispringsfarm

We hope you all have a wonderful holiday with loved ones!

Thank You from Friends of the Library

Another successful book sale put on by the Friends of the Library! This year we raised over six thousand dollars for the Walpole Library! Thank you to everyone who attended and/or volunteered.  It truly takes a village and we would like to take a moment to acknowledge those who made this year’s sale happen!

Gary Patch and crew from Cold River Materials, Mike Snide and Steve Corey from Pinnacleview, FM cross country team (Kate Northcott and Heidi Westover), EE Houghton LLC, Graves Trucking, Chris Miller and Sam Kong of Chamberlain Machine and Ted and Christine Benson and Andrew Darling of Bensonwood, Ben and Patty and Reuse Center staff, and all sorting volunteers, Walpole school (Principal Justin Cassarino and custodians Joey Hicks and Charles Burr).

On behalf of the Friend of the Library Board Members, thank you!

Eryn Finnell, Bevin Mitchel, Sallie Houstoun, Vanesa Neilsen, Gretchen Fowler, Christie Winmill, Robin Fernsell, Pam Baucom, Pamela Sponholz

From left to right: Tim Graves, Gary Patch, Bill Ahern, Louis Elliott, Donny Tucker, Andy Patnode, Steven Corey

Golf Out Cancer 2024

From Kerry Pickering:

A huge thank you to Walpole and the surrounding communities for their donations to our 2024 Golf Out Cancer Event. Today two of our committee members, Dean and Christine Prentiss, were able to present a check to Dana Farber Cancer Institute for $14,500! We were also able to donate $2,000 to DHC-Keene for gas cards for cancer patients. Thank you to all that made this possible.

Britton Farm Receives Conservation Award

Larry and Josie Britton are shown with their family in front of the colorful mural on their barn at their farm on Watkins Hill Road.
Larry and Josie Britton (center) of Britton Farm and their family. Photo provided by Josie Britton.

Britton Farm on Watkins Hill Road in Walpole has been chosen as the Cheshire County Conservation District’s “Cooperator of the Year” for 2024.

This local dairy farm, founded by Lawrence and Yvonne Britton in 1948, is currently being stewarded by third- and fourth-generation farmers Larry and Josie Britton and their son Wyatt, with help from their extended family. Britton Farm is a member of the Agri-Mark Cooperative (known for its Cabot Creamery brand), and the family also sells Wagyu beef, pork, milk, eggs, and maple products at their farm store.

According to Amanda Littleton, district manager at Cheshire County Conservation District (CCCD), Britton Farm was chosen as this year’s recipient of the award for the farm’s focus on soil health, water quality, energy efficiency, and other conservation work. Britton Farm will be honored at CCCD’s Annual Celebration on October 10th.

You can learn more about Britton Farm and the family’s conservation initiatives at CCCD’s website.

by Kelli Wilson