Walpole Treasures Appraisal Session

 

By Chuck Bingaman

 

       Renowned New England appraisal specialist James Marquis of Wallingford, Vermont will appraise all comers’ antiques, furniture, accessories, artwork and other items from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Saturday at the Walpole (NH) Historical Society Academy Building on Main Street.

 

     Attendance is free and open to the public.

 

           Marquis (pronounced Mar Kee’) is donating his time and expertise to help the Society pay off its mortgage on the building. The Society is charging $10 for a single item for appraisal and $25 for up to three items.  Participants may bring up to 6 items for Marquis to appraise.

 

     Marquis, who does 30-40 such appraisal programs each year in New England, says, “I fly by the seat of my pants in the sense that I bring along no books or computers to do research.  I give people my opinion of fair market value for their items based upon my experience, my training and education, etc.  Fair market value envisions a willing buyer and a willing seller who both know all there is to know about the item.”

 

            “Generally I will zero in on a number for the value because that’s what the IRS wants you to do when you appraise things,” according to Marquis.

 

            “But,” Marquis said in an interview Monday, one must remember, “Almost nobody will offer you the full market value for your item.  A dealer, for instance, would offer you anywhere from 50% to 75% of fair market value depending on how quickly he thinks he could sell the item or turn it over.”

 

            Over the last several years, Marquis says he has seen “very wonderful silver items in New England and furniture but one should always remember that it’s ‘condition, condition, condition’ when you’re trying to determine value!”

 

            Anything can appear at an informal New England appraisal session.  In one appraisal in Vermont a few years ago, Marquis was shown a large silver presentation piece from the time of Paul Revere that was pulled from an old shopping bag.  After he appraised the item for $150,000, the women pulled two more such pieces from their own bags and each of them also appraised at over $150,000!  Following the session, Marquis said he and others present learned that the ladies had left without speaking to anyone else, and none knew who they were!

 

            “It’s all over the board!  There is no way you can categorize it!  There is no way of telling what someone is going to pull off their shelf or bring in from their home! I’ve had amazing silver items, wonderful paintings; I’ve had good postcards and good furniture.  I don’t do jewelry or gems, but most anything else can show up,” says Marquis.  That’s part of the fun!

 

            A tip for preparing your treasure for appraisal?  Marquis says, “Wrap it up carefully so it doesn’t get broken on the way to and from the show! And clean most items only with a soft, dry cloth!”

 

                                                            --30--

 

             

 

           

 

                     

 

                       

Ed. Note: Elaine Moore also asked me to report that the Keene Area Military Family Support Group

meetings are held the third Thursday of each month at the Keene Red Cross Building, 83 Court Street, Keene, NH at 6:30 p.m.  All are welcome to attend.  For more information, see

keenemilitaryfamilysupport@gmail.com.

Minutes of the Februrary 25, 2010 Meeting of the Cold River Local Advisory Committee

Members present: Charles Montgomery, Jen Polcari, Sam Sutcliffe, Mike Heidorn, Susan Lichty, Austin Hunter, Debby Hinman

 

Absent: Cathy MacDonald, Carol Drummond, Fred Ernst, Richard Morrison

 

Order of Business: Co-Chairs agreed the following items in the ‘Tickler File’ will also be discussed tonight :

• Web Site
• Educational Workshops for 20010

 

New Business: none

 

MAIN ISSUES

 

Minutes of 19 November 2009 passed as submitted on motion from Sam Sutcliffe and seconded by Austin Hunter.

 

Minutes of 28 January 2010: minor changes were made. Minutes passed unanimously as amended on motion from Austin Hunter, seconded by Sam Sutcliffe.

 

Treasurer’s Report--- Samuel Sutcliffe

The Treasurer presented the report; there were no expenses in the past month and only $3.69 in interest added. Signed copies were submitted to the Chair and the Scribe. The bill for the protected river signs will be paid as soon as Debby sends him the invoice. The Annual Treasurer’s Report will come soon.

 

Water Quality--- Michael Heidorn

• A wetland permit is being considered for the proposed pond to be built on Pratt Road.
• Our “sampling Troll”, the critical piece of water quality testing equipment, needs the DO sensor and calibration sensor to be fixed and must be sent to the manufacturer for this work. It will cost several hundred dollars but without it, our testing program will be limited. A motion by Sue, with second by Debby for Mike to take care of this important maintenance work on the Troll, passed unanimously.
• Mike suggested inviting Ted Walsh and Jen Drociak at DES to talk with the LAC and the public about our water quality testing results. The LAC would like this; Mike will invite them and Jen Polcari will make arrangements for location and advertising the event.
• Mike gave a review of the 2009 Cold River WQ Report. There is much information on each graph.  They read left to right/upstream to downstream. Some points of particular interest:
• Lowest pH readings remain in the large wetland complexes of the river
• Highest Turbidities are at the NH DOT Garage on Rt 10 in Lempster and on Warren Brook in Alstead.
• Elevated Conductivity shows along the Rt 10 tributaries in Lempster, most likely from residual road salt impacts, and at the NH DOT Garage on Rt 10 in Lempster. Other high readings, either from road salt or high nutrient levels are on Crane Brook in Acworth and on Little Brook, Ram Brook and Brush Meadow Brook in Langdon.
• Temperature readings above 21 degrees Celsius/Centigrade were found below the two lakes and at several other locations. If sustained for long periods, this can be a critical temperature above which trout don’t thrive.
• Phosphorous: Little Brook showed levels at 10 times above the state’s level of concern. Other elevated readings were found at Crane Brook, Ram Brook and Brush Meadow Brook.
• Nitrogen: Elevated levels were observed at Crane Brook, Little Brook, Brush Meadow Brook and Ram Brook.
• Chloride (salt): Elevated levels at the Lempster tributaries on Rt 10 and the NH DOT Garage on Rt 10 as well as Little Brook in Langdon.

 

Mike said that the elevated chloride readings are comparatively high for the Cold River watershed but not yet above the state’s recommendations. They remain noteworthy, however, since these elevated sites are so much higher than the other sites tested in our watershed. At Charlie’s query, Mike said that he feels that he will be able to continue the testing program this coming summer as long as LAC members continue to assist him.

 

Warren Brook Restoration Planning and Review: Sean Sweeney (Headwaters Hydrology) and John Magee (NH Fish and Game) presentation on 2/9/10 to the Alstead Select Board. ---Fred

In Fred’s absence, we note the excellent minutes that he took at this meeting. In attendance were: The Alstead Selectmen, 6 members of the Cold River LAC, Madeline Batchelder (the adjacent landowner of proposed project at Griffin Hill Road), Laura Weit (Acting Coordinator of NH Rivers Management and Protection Program), several Alstead Conservation Commission members and other residents. It was very informative meeting.

 

Fred submitted a draft letter of support for the proposed work at the Griffin Hill Road intersection for the LAC’s consideration. The LAC voted to send the letter and Jen will handle this immediately. (See attached)

 

Spring Programs ----- Jennifer Polcari

We discussed whether or not to hold spring workshops or outings other than the Water Quality presentation that Mike will arrange with DES. It was agreed that we want to hold more than that, so Sue will make contact with folks about a spring warbler walk and Debby will conduct a macroinvertebrate exploration at one or more sites on the river in late May or early June. More details at next meeting.

 

Need to Fill empty Membership Slots ----- Jennifer Polcari

Members are nominated by the selectmen of their town and appointed by the Commissioner of DES. There remain open positions in Acworth and Lempster. We all are urged to encourage those towns to fill their two other LAC positions. Cathy MacDonald, our Membership Coordinator, has all the forms needed and can advise on procedures to apply.

 

Website-Jen

Good review of what is needed to get the Cold River website to a more dynamic place now that we have Karen, our Webmaster. Jen will work directly with Karen about posting events of interest, but all LAC members should work directly with Jen to submit content for pages on the website that are currently still “Under Construction” or simply out of date. No one is to go directly through Karen without the Co-chair’s approval since we are watching out budget and our web presence carefully.

 

Remaining 2010 Meetings Schedule for CRLAC ----(we did not discuss this tonight)

25 March, 22 April, 27 May, 24 June, 22 July, 26 August, 23 September, 28 October, 18 November. Should we, as last year, omit having a meeting in December? 

 

Closure

Meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM and away all members went into a wild night of heavy rain, ice and snow.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Debby Hinman

Scribe

 

(see attached below)

  

(Attached)                    Notes from Alstead Select meeting 2/9/10

 

John Magee, Sean Sweeney Presentation

 

Attendees: Alstead Selectmen, 6 members of CRLAC, Madeline Batchelder (adjacent landowner), Laura Weit (Acting Coordinator of NH Rivers Management and Protection Program), Alstead Conservation Commission members, other residents.

 

John Magee stated that:

   * work proposed by Sean will cost $265,000 and is fully funded by the State.

   * the project needs to be  approved quickly so that work can begin in early summer.

   * Sean’s proposal for work to be done on a 900' section of Warren Brook between Griffin Hill Rd. and the Route 123 crossing is a modification to stabilization work done by DOT which will not be significantly altered.

   * this is expected to be a demonstration project which can influence the treatment of other river restorations.

 

   Sean Sweeney summary:

         * a 900' restoration design recommended by Sean which includes stone and wood vanes; these should  minimize the risk of Warren Brook eroding and create natural habitat for fish and wildlife which does not exist currently.

         * in addition to stone and wood vanes, the existing flood plains, which were rebuilt during the stabilization work, will be lowered by 4 feet to compensate for the lower brook bottom, a result of the flood.

         * all land adjacent to Warren Brook is owned by the State and Madeline Batchelder, each of whom supports the project.

         * certain well-calculated compromises have been made to insure the project comes within budget, particularly the number of culverts planned under Griffin Hill Rd.

  

    OTHER:

•  the peak water flow during the flood of 2005 was 24900 cfs.    

Sean believes the modifications he recommends will enhance Warren Brook’s ability to withstand erosion. This will be accomplished by restoring the brook’s curve in the 900 foot area, by installing stone and wood vanes, and by restoring the floodplain which will relieve the velocity of water at high flows and protect property and habitat downstream in times of flooding.

3-7-2010 “The best field trip ever!” Fall Mountain WorldQuest Team Heads to Nationals By Chuck Bingaman Having bested five area high school world affairs teams last Tuesday, Fall Mountain Regional High School’s four-student team of international affairs experts are heading to the Academic WorldQuest national championship at the National Press Club in Washington DC April 24. Team captain Lindsay Sanchez-Navarro, a senior from Walpole, and colleagues Mackenzie Klema, Kirk Grimsley and Quinn Prentiss-Sturgill, all seniors from Charlestown, were tied with another team at halftime in last week’s 50-question challenge. But they rode a dominant second half to victory in the “quiz-bowl”-like test of 10 areas of world affairs knowledge. Sponsored by World Affairs Councils of America and, locally by the Windham World Affairs Council of Vermont, the championship weekend in Washington brings together 50 winning teams from regional contests coast to coast. The Savings Bank of Walpole, the Walpole Foundation, and Entergy Corporation cover most expenses for the Fall Mountain team’s championship weekend. The Fall Mountain team travels to and from Washington DC by Amtrak from Bellows Falls. “We enjoy each other so much,” noted senior Klema on Friday. “We’re really good friends outside of this as well!” And faculty coach Nick Belsky added that the team’s closeness makes it easier to respect each other’s opinions when difficult questions require the team to debate possible answers and make difficult choices. Belsky also pointed out that Fall Mountain has won the regional meet in the two previous years, that WorldQuest success demands a great deal of extra study by every team member and that the team’s success must be credited in part to the full Fall Mountain faculty. “I meet with the students every week throughout the school year and teach them how to win and the strategy of winning. But I don’t teach the AP [Advanced Placement] students or their courses—that comes from the other teachers. We have a really good staff here!” This year’s Academic WorldQuest subject categories are Current Events, Great Decisions 2009, Pandemics, Genocide, International Migration Trends, Food Production and Consumption, the World Cup, World Music, The Islands of the Caribbean, and The Sultanate of Oman. The Fall Mountain team has been preparing since last fall by reading web sites and print materials on all ten subjects and holding practice competitions to deepen their levels of expertise. Last Tuesday they held a final prep session on current events for several hours at Burdick’s Café in Walpole on their way to Brattleboro, and all expect to be reviewing their areas of concentration on their train ride down to Washington in April. Fall Mountain’s team divides up the subject list so each student has primary responsibility for developing expertise in two or three of the topics. In the competition, each multiple-choice question is projected before all the teams at once and they have 45 seconds to choose their team’s answer. As the Fall Mountain team has evolved its strategy, the team member responsible for a question’s subject usually takes charge suggesting an answer. He or she wordlessly points to a letter or number on the table as his or her choice of the correct answer to avoid giving away the team’s answer to another team at a nearby table. The other three team members then use the remainder of the 45 seconds to agree with the suggested answer or work out the team’s final answer before the next question comes up. Intense, whispered consultations, debates, and negotiations are the heart of the competition. “We try to make our questions here just as difficult as those they’ll encounter in Washington,” says Windham Council President Margo Neale. “But the questions in the finals are always incredibly difficult!” In addition to the competition itself in Washington, Coach Belsky arranges a team tour through the Capital Building and this year is hoping to tour the White House as well. Also, the World Affairs Councils of America usually organizes an ice-breaking, team-building event where students can meet members of the other teams on a social basis. Prentiss-Sturgill, whose topics are the World Cup and International Migration Trends, looks forward to the Washington tournament as “a lot more serious and difficult, but outside the actual room it’s loads of fun!” Grimsley, whose 2010 topics are world food supplies and pandemics and who expects to be studying robotic engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute next year, agrees. “It’s a great trip with my good friends!” Captain Sanchez-Navarro, whose main topics this year are the Caribbean and the Sultanate of Oman, says, “It’s ridiculously difficult, but we have so much fun.” As to her return to the national finals, “It’s the best ‘field trip’ I’ve ever been on, and I’m so excited to be going again!” --30--

Calling All Mystics #2……

 

     Mysticism is the pursuit of communion with, identity with, or conscious awareness of an ultimate reality, divinity, spiritual truth through direct experience, intuition, instinct or insight. (Wikipedia)

 

     Following the enthusiasm at our first gathering in which we began getting to know one another and what called us, a second date potluck has been set for 5:00 PM (4:45 if bringing food), Friday, March 5th. We appreciate the growing response from area mystics of all types.

 

     Bring your friends to Hastings House [behind the Walpole Unitarian Church on Main Street up the hill on Union Street].

For further information updates – www.walpoleunitarian.org or contact Robert Watson robertwatson59@gmail.com  or 603/756-3711.

Ed. Note: This announcement is from Barbara Tarantino and the Walpole Artisans Cooperative..  CCB

Walpole Artisans Cooperative Programs

     The Walpole Artisans Cooperative will host two artists from the Putnam family this month.

     David Putnam, a photographer and framer based in Claremont, NH will be a "featured guest artist" at the Walpole Artisans Cooperative located at 52 Main St. in Walpole. He is a photographer of the New England landscape. His philosophy is based on the question:" What more is there beyond the obvious?" Come see his new work entitled: "Nautical Shells".

 

     Brian Putnam, an oil painter and recent Fine Arts Graduate, will be the "featured artist" at Burdick's Restaurant across the street from the Walpole Artisan Cooperative. 

 

     The Artisans will host a reception open to the public at the Walpole Artisans Cooperative on Sunday, February 7, from 1 - 3 p.m. for both artists.  Come visit both shows and join us for refreshments at the Cooperative.  For further information, call Barbara Tarantino at 603-756-0947.

     Mysticism is "the pursuit of communion with, identity with, or conscious awareness of an ultimate reality, divinity, spiritual truth through direct experience, intuition, instinct or insight." (Wikipedia)

      "If you are drawn to the mystery," says Robert Watson, "to the transcendent, by whatever practice or belief, you are invited to come join us for an evening of pizza, getting to know one another, dialoguing, sharing your thoughts, developing a language of understanding, introducing your path, your experiences, etc."

      It is anticipated that a continuing program will evolve in which attendees will share with the group in greater detail how and why they came to their present understanding.

      The gathering will take place Friday, February 5 at 5:00 p.m. at the Hastings House on Union Street in Walpole [up the hill behind the Walpole Unitarian church]. Contact Robert Watson – 603/756-3711 or robertwatson59@gmail.com to give us an idea of how much pizza to provide. You can check the church website –- www.walpoleunitarian.org-- for further details and notices in the event of a snow conflict.

Ed. Note: Here's a review of the current offering at Northern Stage in White River Junction. It was one of our favorite evenings in the theater in years! Highly recommended!  Also, WRJ has two very good places to eat beforehand: The Tip Top Cafe and Elixir. Both are just a few blocks from the theater.  Note that getting to the theater requires a very long and steep stairway climb, but there IS an elevator a bit down the street at a different entrance in the HOtel Coolidge that you might not see unless you look for it.  CCB

1-23-10

 

Get Thee to the Theatre!

 

“I Hate Hamlet” at Northern Stage, That Is!

 

By Chuck and Sue Bingaman

 

              Director Catherine Doherty’s version of Paul Rudnick’s “I Hate Hamlet” provides over-the-top hilarity at Northern Stage in White River Junction through February 7!

 

              If you need an evening of great laughs—and who doesn’t—make plans now to take in this production.

 

              As much as we love amateur theater and promote it whenever possible, this is a deliciously different beast!  The pros—all skilled veterans—are in charge here, and it shows in the outrageously drawn characters and voices, crisp timing, and brilliant physical comedy.  And they’re backed up by Northern Stage’s behind the scenes pros with extraordinary sets, lighting with just a touch of fog, and wonderful costumes that bolster the characters’ already amazing personas!

 

              Before getting to the play itself, we were tickled with Jillian Louis’s zany, giggly set of pre-curtain announcements about sponsors, turning off cell phones, etc.  She came out with this frazzled, ditzy tone that reduced us to jelly before the main event even burst upon us!  If anyone else presumes to make the usual announcements at your performance, demand Jillian.  And prepare for some foolish fun!

 

              And look forward to many more loopy lines from her as the play unfolds! Including a closing scene clincher that we won’t describe here but guarantee that you’ll chuckle about for days! 

 

              Oh! And the play!  It’s about a successful but modestly talented TV hunk actor, Andrew Rally (played by Thom Miller), who is offered the chance to play Hamlet in New York’s Central Park but who rightfully doubts his qualifications to do so.  He really wants to return to LA for a big-bucks TV series that relies looks he can deliver and little else.  But shown a New York apartment that his girl friend falls for, in part because John Barrymore formerly lived there, Rally stays to give Hamlet a shot.  His real estate agent, Felicia (played with bombastic, busty abandon by Melissa Teitel) manages to reach the ghost of Barrymore in the great beyond and draw him into the story.  After that, things get VERY interesting and even more hilarious.  Barrymore, played by Robert Boardman, drives the action throughout, with a larger than life persona. Calling him melodramatic would be an understatement!  His physical command SEIZES the entire stage, his arrogance and his extraordinary efforts to destroy the stage furniture give a level of energy and professional presence you’ll not soon forget!

 

              And then there’s Deirdre McDavey, Rally’s girlfriend (played by Jillian Louis with sweet loopiness). Her deathgrip on her chastity is a driving force in the story, and Louis’s comic sense alone is worth the price of admission.

 

             Gary Peter Lufkowitz, Rally’s Hollywood agent played by Richard Waterhouse, manages to embody, no celebrate, much that’s goofy about California and American pop culture and network television in particular!  How can someone be so “right on” and over-the-top at the same time?

 

            New York City Costume Designer Sarah Cubbage makes her Northern Stage debut with eye-popping outfits for all six characters.  We particularly liked Barrymore’s Elizabethan Hamlet outfit with tights and knee ribbons, velvet Jacobean jacket with fur-lined collars, and puffed sleeves, perfect for the deftly executed sword fighting scene!  In contrast, Andrew Rally’s costume mirrored a lesser Hamlet—black, fitted jacket, baggy trousers, and high boots but less refinement reflecting his inability to BE Hamlet.

 

            Northern Stage's set, depicting a top floor apartment in a NYC brownstone just off Washington Square, a former home of legendary actor John Barrymore, is so realistic, so detailed, that you feel like a voyeur looking in on its occupants. The Gothic digs boast a large stone fireplace, heavy metal candlelit chandelier, flickering candle sconces, stained glass window, crenellated stone doorway and heavy wooden beams expertly designed by Kimberly V. Cox, Resident Set Designer for the Ohio Light Opera company. To heighten the mood of drama and ghostly mystery a light haze softens the room, a suit of armor stands guard near the fireplace, fresh flowers spill out of vases, a marble top table and fainting couches complete the scene. We were transported visually by the attractive and creative scene.  

 

              All in all, it’s a very fun story played by a top-class cast that is balanced, bright and boisterously bonkers!  And it is physically produced with masterful touches.  Don’t miss this production!

 

              “I Hate Shakespeare” runs tonight, next Sunday and February 7 at 5:00 p.m. and Tuesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. through February 6.  In addition, there is a matinee January 28 at 2:00 p.m.  Tickets are $27-$58 with discounts for seniors and children.  Call Northern State at 802-296-7000 or visit www.northernstage.org for tickets.

   

                                                 --30--

             

Ed. Note: This is a little far afield for The Walpolean, but you gotta know about this! Sue and I especially enjoyed getting this story together. Incidentally, all classes so far have been full. So you should register right away if you are intersted. CCB

1-16-10

 

Classes Cooking at Leslie’s Tavern in Rockingham

 

Savoring the Secrets of Chef John Marston

 

By Chuck and Sue Bingaman

 

            For 24 years area "foodees" have enjoyed Chef John Marston’s award-winning cuisine served in Leslie’s Tavern on Rt. 5 in Rockingham VT.  Now through May they can join small classes right in Marston’s kitchen for hands-on instruction in making memorable meals from the simple to the complex.

 

            Why start classes now? Marston said before class last Wednesday evening, that “I started life as a teacher, and I’ve always enjoyed teaching.  I realized that I could show people how, with some planning, they could organize their pantry so they can easily put together delicious and healthy meals with modest efforts.  And we could have some fun sharing cooking techniques!”

 

            “Plus,” he added, “cooking classes are a great way to connect with people who are really interested in food and cooking, and I rarely get a chance to talk with them while working in the kitchen!  Offering the first few courses has really been a great motivational tool for me!  It’s been inspiring and energizing to think through the whole teaching plan and to get people’s reactions!”

 

            What kind of cooking does Marston do and teach?  “Well, I have a sort of classic French/Swiss foundation, but I've established my own style over the years, something that might be called ‘Contemporary American.’  I’ve kind of made up my main dishes by studying classic recipes, from marriages of great ingredients, many of which are found locally, with an emphasis on seasonality, and, of course, what our customers have shown us they want and like.” 

 

“For instance,” Marston added, “I’ve got a great source for fresh sea scallops. I found that Brussels sprouts and cauliflower go well with them and that they can be tied together with sage brown butter.”

 

Each cooking class, while it has a theme, involves the creation—and the eating—of a full meal with appetizers, usually more than one entrée to be sampled, and a dessert.  “And one thing I’ve already learned,” laughed Marston last week, “is that I planned for a LOT of food. By the time we got to the third course in the first few classes, the students were full!”

 

Speaking of being fully fed, readers should know that Marston’s wife Leslie, who ordinarily runs the front of the restaurant, is also in charge of creating and making the desserts, both for the dining room and for the classes.  “I like to try everything” she says, “but I especially like to play with chocolate!”  Leslie is a key member of the cooking class team as well, keeping the students’ wine glasses full, leading dessert preparation and contributing her tips and techniques throughout.

 

 

            Leslie’s is offering eleven classes this winter and spring, some on Wednesday evenings and some on Saturday mornings, and most are offered multiple times.  Each is a session is a standalone class.

 

            Classes and their themes and dates through May are as follows:

 

            Seafood Cookery: Appetizer, entrees, sauces and a dessert to finish.  Wednesdays, February 3, March 3, April 28 and May 26.

      

            French Bistro Inspired Dinner.  Wednesdays, March 10 and May 5.

 

            Sauces, Compounded Butters and Other Cool Condiments.  Wednesdays, January 20 and April 14. Not offered March 3.

 

            A Meatless Luncheon.  Saturday, January 23, March 20 and May 15.

 

            Flatbread Pizza, Phyllo Dough and Puff Pastry.  Wednesday and January 27.

 

            Southwestern for Fun.  Wednesdays, February 10 and March 24.

 

            Some Like It Hot.  Saturdays, February 20 and April 17

 

            Steak Many Ways.  Wednesday, February 24

 

            An Italian Luncheon.  Saturdays, February 27 and May 1.

 

            Men’s Night (Skip Lunch, Fellas!)  Wednesday, April 7

 

            See the web site at www.lesliestavern.com for more details of each session.

 

            Each class includes the preparation of a salad or appetizers, entrée(s) and dessert and a meal together.  Saturday morning classes are $35 apiece and Wednesday evening classes are $55.  Classes are limited to eight participants.  No cooking skills or experience are required to participate.

 

            For more information or to register, call Leslie’s Tavern at 802-463-4929 or stop during business hours at Thyme to Cook, the kitchen shop next door to the Tavern on Rt. 5.

                                                         --30--

 

           

Ed. Note: This news release comes from Walpole's Holly Gowdy who serves as Extension Educator for 4H Youth Development for the Cheshire UNH Cooperative Extension.  You can contact Holly directly at hgowdy@ceunh.unh.edu.  CCB

Hero Packs for Operation Military Kids

For Immediate Release:

An invitation to help us help others, through the New Hampshire Operation Military Kids Hero Pack Program.

 

UNH Cooperative Extension, through 4-H Youth Development programming offers support to New Hampshire’s Operation Military Kids. OMK is a youth outreach program that supports all branches of the military, functioning in all 50 states, including New Hampshire.

 

One form of outreach to military families in New Hampshire is with the Hero Pack Program. Hero Packs are given to youth; when their parents are deployed. Hero Packs are a way for the community to recognize the sacrifices that these youth make and to let them know that they are heros too.  Through the National OMK Office, UNH supplies the backpacks; and then the community organizations fill them with items that will help youth stay connected with their family member while they are deployed. In 2009 4-H Clubs in Cheshire County worked on OMK Hero Packs as a form of Community Service. With these packs and others from across the state UNH/OMK was able to distribute approximately 150 Hero Packs to NH Youth, at the time of deployment. In 2010 the anticipated number of Hero Packs needed for NH families being deployed will be approximately 2500. 

 

The Cheshire County UNH Cooperative Extension Staff have set a goal to assemble 100 Hero Packs. We would like to invite citizens, civic organizations, and other groups to participate in this project with us. How can you help? Make a donation of some of the required items, provide a collection container at your work site, or deliver donated items to the Cooperative Extension Office at 800 Park Ave. Donations of Hero Pack items would be received at the Cooperative Extension office beginning December 1st.  Our 4-H Members will be writing the Hero letters. The Hero Packs themselves will be assembled on December 14th .You will find a list of items required for Hero Packs, why not collect some of these items and make a donation to this worthwhile cause?. Our goal for this project is to fill 100 packs. If we have surplus materials, we will get additional packs from UNH. This is a project that will continue for sometime, we anticipate sponsoring additional Hero Pack Support Drives well into 2010 and beyond. For more information on this project contact Cheshire County Cooperative Extension at 352-4550.

 

Each Pack must contain four connection/communication tools such as: disposable cameras, international calling cards, photo albums, scrapbook, journal, pen, stationary, and postage stamps. Each pack should contain 5 fun items such as: Frisbees, Art supplies, children’s books, movie coupons, stickers, stuffed animals, and games. Finally, and most importantly the Hero Pack’s should include Handwritten Appreciation Letters from non military youth to military youth and their deployed family member thanking them for their service and sacrifices to our country. For more info go to  www.nhomk.com

Thank you for your support

 

UNH Cooperative Extension programs and policies are consistent with pertinent Federal and State laws and regulations on non-discrimination regarding age, color, handicap, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran’s status.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ed. Note: This announcement comes for the Local Food group within TriVillage Energy.  Might be a direction Walpole should move in.

Also on the local food scene, the Old Tavern in Grafton is sponsoring another of its Tuesday evening "Localvore" dinners with seatings beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, the 10th.  Chef David Smith creates a new menu each week from local producers of a variety of foods. For reservations, call 800-843-1801.  CCB

     The Cheshire County Conservation District will be hosting a public exploratory forum on Agricultural Commissions on Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 6:30 pm at Heberton Hall, 76 Winter Street (next to the public library) in Keene, NH.  An Agricultural Commissions is a non-regulatory town board, a voice for the agricultural community, a resource for mediation, and a link to assistance providers.  This gathering is a continuation of a series of forums hosted by the Monadnock Farm and Community Connection (MFCC) program over the past two years that have focused on supporting local farms and strengthening our community’s connection with local agriculture.

     The November 10 forum will introduce farmers, town officials, and community members to the concept and benefits of a Town Agricultural Commission and discuss some of the next steps necessary to create these commissions in Cheshire County towns.  This event is free and open to the public.  For more information please contact 756-2988 ext.116 or Amanda.costello@nh.nacdnet.net.

     The Monadnock Farm and Community Connection is a program of the Cheshire County Conservation District, driven by community input with a goal of supporting our local farms.  Established in 1945, the Conservation District operates out of Walpole NH where it works alongside the Natural Resource Conservation Service and other conservation partners.  For more information, contact Amanda Costello at 603-756-2988 ext.116 or email at amanda.costello@nh.nacdnet.net.

Ed. Note: This is a notice of an excellent program from the Windham World Affairs Council in Brattleboro. It's free and open to the public.  CCB

PETER GALBRAITH TO SPEAK ON AFGHANISTAN

      Dr. Peter Galbraith will speak on  Afghanistan: War of Necessity or Quagmire? onThursday,  November 12, 7:30 PM, at the Centre Congregational Church in Brattleboro.

 

     In September 2009, Galbraith was recalled from his position as UN Deputy

Special Representative to Afghanistan by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon over his disagreements with superiors regarding the fraud that occurred in the

August 20 Presidential elections in that country. According to Galbraith in an October 4 Washington Post column, “… the fraud was a fact that the United Nations had to acknowledge or risk losing its credibility with the many Afghans who did not support President Hamid Karzai.”

 

     Galbraith will talk about the election and discuss the U.S. future in our “other war.”  Peter W. Galbraith is a former US Ambassador to Croatia, and a Senior Diplomatic Fellow at the Center for Arms Control. He is a principal at the Windham Resources  roup, which has worked in Iraq. He was the deputy special representative of the secretary-general of the United Nations in Afghanistan from June 1 to Oct. 1. His many articles and publications include an October 27, 2009 op-ed piece for the New York Times,

"Afghanistan Votes, the U.N. Dithers" and his most recent book is, Unintended Consequences: How War in Iraq Strengthened America's Enemies, published in 2008.

 

     The Windham World Affairs Council of Vermont  is part of the “World Affairs Councils of America” (WACA), the largest international affairs non-profit organization with 484,000 members and participants. WWAC is an all-volunteer council and proudly maintain all events free of charge to the public. To join the Windham World Affairs Council of Vermont and receive regular mailings of events, please send an email to info@windhamworldaffairs.org.

Ed. Note: Thanks to Charlie Montgomery, here are the minutes of the September 24 meeting of the Cold River Local Advisory Committee.  CCB

Minutes

 

Members Present

Jennifer Polcari, Fred Ernst, Deborah Hinman, Charles Montgomery, Carol Drummond, and Sam Sutcliffe.

 

Members Absent

Austin Hunter, Cathy MacDonald, Michael Heidorn, Susan Lichty

 

Public Present

Richard Morrison

 

Introduction to those who have not met Richard before. He plans to seek an appointment from the town of Langdon to be a representative on the LAC. Cathy will get him the paperwork. Richard is a fisherman and is retired from the world of electronics.

 

Minutes of August 2009

A correction to the number of acres in the Silver Mountain easement was made (1,750 acres not 3,000).

Carol Drummond moved and Sam Sutcliffe seconded that the minutes of August 26, 2009 be accepted as amended. Motion passed.

 

Call for New Business

 

Treasurer’s Report – Sam Sutcliffe

A written report dated 9/24/09 was received from the Treasurer with signed copies to Co-Chair Montgomery and the Secretary. The balance as of August 1, 2009 was  $7764.60. See attached report.

 

The Treasurer and Co-chair (CM) have completed the paperwork at the Savings Bank of Walpole to change the signature forms at the Walpole Savings Bank. The Cold River LAC requires that two of its officers always must sign any checks that exceed $1,000.

 

A brief discussion about keeping “official records” resulted in a plan for Deb Hinman to continue to keep annual binders with records of each meeting that include the draft and approved minutes, Treasurer’s Reports, and copies of other information that comes before the meeting. She has all the meeting records since the start of “Friends of the Cold River” in 1996 and the transition to an official Local Advisory Committee in 2000 and will continue to maintain this collection.

 

Management Plan Distribution Update

q       Jen and Mike Heidorn met with the Langdon Planning Board last night. Mike presented his slide show and talk about watershed and water quality protection. He was able to show how use of the Management Plan can help towns in these goals. There was also one Selectman present. Jen felt the evening was very well received.

 

Water Quality Monitoring –Sam Sutcliffe in Mike’s absence

Sam and Mike visited the dairy farm (Bascom and Kimball) as a follow up to Mike’s efforts to help them track the water quality situation. They were given a tour of the facility. The manure pit was designed by NRCS years ago. The bottom is concrete; liquids are spread on hay fields; solids go on cornfields. A drain in the barnyard may be where the problems are originating. DES has taken samples and will let us know soon what they find. Things are still under discussion but it feels good to be able to help a local farm come up with solutions.

 

Mike sent an email with other information:

q       Next water quality monitoring will be on 10/6, 10/7 or 10/8. He will let us know.

q       Lake Warren Association Annual Meeting was held on 9/5/09 at the church in East Alstead. Mike and David Deen and Kate Morgan presented information about developing a lake management plan.

q       The new gauging station is up, below the new bridge in Alstead not above. Kiosk on library lawn.

q       He has met with a local landowner regarding a private well issue.

 

By-Laws

Tonight is the second meeting to read and consider our proposed by-law changes regarding “co-chairs”. On a motion from Charlie to Fred, the by-laws were amended unanimously. Debby will update them and indicate the 9-24-09-amendment date. Article IVA will now read, “The Officers of the Committee shall consist of a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson or Co-Chairs, Secretary and Treasurer.”

 

Charlie and Debby each reported that their towns have websites on which our minutes are posted.

 

Designated River Signs

Sue and Mike were absent tonight but word was sent that the Alstead application for a sign on the new bridge has been re-sent to DES and Sue will follow the project until it is completed.

 

Land Protection

Deb reported that she would renew her efforts to make contact with a landowner on the river regarding the land protection issue. She will also contact DES about the logistics of an LAC owning land.

 

Stream Crossing Rules

Jen will review existing rules and send us a draft of her proposed letter to DES.

Trout, Pools, and Rocks –Fred Ernst

A.      Cold River Materials has not contacted anyone about repairs to the dam that creates their impoundment for cleaning gravel. They must be getting enough water impounded to withdraw what they need?

B.       Was post-flood Warren Brook work sustainable? The stream is now 7 feet below the floodplain and it used to be 2 feet. Sean Sweeney has been hired to assess the NRCS work done on this brook.

C.       Sean Sweeney is also doing work in the Griffin Hill area. Fred will invite him to our October LAC meeting. Mike will remain in contact with Sean during the work. ean is also doing some work on the Chase Mill in East Alstead.

D.  Web site --

Jen and Karen Winterholer are making progress. We mentioned how much work Anne Sutcliffe put into the website effort when she was volunteering her time and we appreciate her work all over again. Also, we realize how very little most of us LAC members know about websites and computers!

 

Carol motioned that we adjourn and we did.

 

Meeting adjourned at 8:45PM.

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Debby Hinman

Secretary

 

In case you missed it today, the Eagle Times back with today's edition!  About 10 copies were left at the gas station as of 10 minutes ago!  Two Walpole stories are included:  Heidi Westover running in yesterday's World Half Marathon Championship yesterday in Birmingham, England and the Tractor Supply store proposed for Walpole! Check it out! CCB

Kids can make their own butter from Great Brook milk, tour the calf barn, milking parlor and suger house

REMINDER;  The Friends of the Walpole Town Library POTLUCK DINNER is tonight, Wednesday, Sept. 30, beginning at 6:00 pm upstairs at the Town Hall.  In partnership with the New Hampshire Humanities Council, the Friends are sponsoring an entertaining after-dinner program by author and humorist Rebecca Rule whose story telling style is reminiscent of "Bert and I". 

Ed. Note: These minutes submitted by Charlie Montgomery.  CCB

Minutes of 8-24-09 Meeting of the Cold River Local Advisory Committee

 

Members Present

Jennifer Polcari, Fred Ernst, Michael Heidorn, Deborah Hinman, Susan Lichty, Charles Montgomery, and Sam Sutcliffe.

 

Members Absent

Carol Drummond, Austin Hunter, Cathy MacDonald

 

Public Present

Richard Morrison, Langdon

 

Minutes of July 23, 2009

Fred Ernst moved and Mike Heidorn seconded that the minutes of July 23, 2009 be accepted as submitted. Motion passed.

 

Call for New Business

(Flow Gauge update and Lake Warren Management Plan and delivery of copies of books ordered last mtg)

 

Treasurer’s Report – Sam Sutcliffe

A written report dated August 27, 2009 was received from the Treasurer with copies to Co-Chair Charlie Montgomery and the Secretary. The only expenditure was to reimburse Debby for the printing of the Management Plan ($360.00). Income was $3.95 in interest and $15.00 for sale of Atlas maps at the Alstead Festival. The balance as of July 31 was  $7760.64.

Motion to accept the Treasurer’s report was made by Fred with second from Jen. Motion passed.

 

The Treasurer mentioned that the Co-chairs will need to change the signature forms at the Walpole Savings Bank from Debby’s signature to their own. This will enable a second signature on any checks that might exceed $1,000. Charlie will take care of this task.

 

Water Quality Monitoring –Mike Heidorn

Second of three summer collections took place on August 19. Charlie and Fred were able to assist Mike. Mike reported to change in trends.

q       Elevated conductivity in Langdon remained, especially on an unnamed tributary to Little Brook in the Ram Brook/Brush Meadow Brook area.

q       Crane Brook still has elevated levels as well. DES will come out later in the fall to work with the LAC and a landowner who is trying to solve a problem that may contribute to this.

q       Warren Brook continues to show higher temps and turbidity since the ’05 flood.

 

Mike also reviewed our 9-11 AM event with the Nature Museum at the mouth of the Cold River on August 22. Fifteen people attended this very informative session. David Deen, CRWC River Steward, spoke about fish habitat and the ways of rivers to form and reform themselves and what hints to look for when trying to assess the stability of a river. “Embeddedness” was a new term for most of us that day. Mike closed the day with a talk about the geology of the area and collected a water sample, giving an opportunity to explain to attendees how the probe works and what our work has shown over the years as we have sampled a total of 75 sites (although not all done at each sampling). He explained that we test for turbidity, conductivity, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, relative flow, and, at a few sites, ecoli bacteria and metals. DES runs a quality control check and then posts our results online.

 

Discussion of Agenda format and order

Charlie and Debby have discussed the concept called a “Tickler File”. This would capture events and ideas that need to be reviewed at future dates and would help the committee stay on top of events and reports that need advance planning. Sue moved and Fred seconded that we adopt the Tickler File process. Motion passed. Jen will keep this file.

 

Jen proposed that we table the item about “conducting effective meetings” until next month, which met with approval.

 

Deb reported that she has nothing new to report on the Acworth land protection parcel so that item will be passed over tonight.

 

By Laws of May 23, 2003

Charlie explained that because our Bylaws describe “Chair and Vice-Chair” we do need to change them to allow “Co-Chairs”. Sam moved and Sue seconded that we add “or co-chairs” to Article IVA. Motion passed. Sentence will now read “The Officers of the Committee shall consist of a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson or Co-Chairs, Secretary and Treasurer.”

 

Article VII F states “Approved minutes shall be forwarded to the Selectmen or other appropriate board or commission for each of the waterfront towns named in Article IIIA.”

 

Discussion of sharing approved minutes took place. It was agreed to Sue, Jen, Mike, Debby and Charlie will send approved minutes to their town boards and/or to the website that posts town minutes.

 

David Deen, Mike Heidorn, Betsy Stacey Rivers Presentation of August 22

Quick follow up to include that Rose Miller of Brewery Road was present and reported that it took legal action to solve the problem of a redirected water flow over her property. However, she reminded us that the water flow still continues to carry turbid water directly to the Cold River although no longer over her own property.

 

Designated River Signs – Sue

Sue spoke with Laura Weit and our signs will be coming soon. They are singled sided so two are needed at each site, one on each side of the road. DOT will look at the sites in Walpole and Lempster. Supplies (posts) need to be picked up in Concord (Fred will handle this). Mike asked about signs on the new Alstead bridge once it is finished. We are in agreement to pay for another set. Deb moved and Fred seconded that we purchase signs for the Alstead site not to exceed $130. Motion passed.

 

Management Plan – Charlie

Additional distribution accomplished since last meeting includes:

q       Mike to Alstead CC and Planning Board. Question was asked if we have prioritized the actions, which we have not.

q       Deb to Acworth CC

q       Charlie to Walpole Planning Board.

q       Jen to Langdon Planning Board where they received an enthusiastic reception. Others present would also like copies. Discussion on how to handle this. Feelings of the LAC seemed to be that the building inspector should have a copy of his own.

 

Programs for Future Presentations

Sue would like us to meet in Lempster sometime soon to walk the Keyes Hollow Road some Saturday morning at 9am.

 

Mike wants to talk about a winter water monitoring series.

 

Storage of CRLAC Materials

Debby will keep all CRLAC materials at her house for the time being, including all of the binders from 1996 – 2008.

 

Stream Crossing Rules

Jen will write a letter to DES and send us a copy.

 

Testing Days and Sites

To be determined later says Mike.

 

Trout, Pools, and Rocks –Fred Ernst

Fred is glad to have a better sense of the whole river after working on the water quality monitoring for the entire day last week. He has contacted Sean Sweeney, John Magee, Jim MacCartney to learn more about what was done after the flood and what is needed for improved fish habitat.   We know that the work done after the flood was of huge time pressure to get the banks stabilized. In Warren Brook at least, the gorge is deeper now and with greater slope. Sean Sweeney has sent his contract to Alstead for restoration work of the section below Cooper Hill. His work will also assess the whole of Warren Brook and design restoration plans for the rest of the sections below Cooper Hill. The Town of Alstead is ready to sign the contract at this point.

 

Fred has done a lot of research on this important topic and will keep members updated via email as he learns more.

 

Website-Jen

Jen and Karen Winterholer have made progress but snags keep appearing. Jen will see it through to solution before hiring Karen to take the project on

 

As new chair, Charlie stated that he does not want mail and notices and other papers to be brought to our meetings and take up undue meeting time unless they have first been announced via email so members can assess if they might be interested (or not) in spending time on such items. Charlie and Jen will send emails to members of all phone calls, emails and mail received between meetings from members and others. It was suggested that perhaps these workshop fliers and other news of interest could be brought up each meeting under “New Business”, thus not take time away from items needing more attention during the meeting but not preclude sudden finds of interest on day of meeting. There was no voting on these matters but the chair asked that members think of how we might conduct our business most effectively at our monthly meetings.

 

New Business-members

 

q       Mike is pleased to report that the Stream Gauge has not been forgotten.  He met with US Geological Survey team, DES, Alstead CC and Bruce Bellows of the Historical Society to discuss how and where to install the new gauging stating. It can be built on the downstream side of the bridge to accommodate a covered walking bridge that is yet to be built and still have flow and other educational information available at a kiosk and/or bulletin board.

q       Mike reports that the Lake Warren Association will meet in East Alstead on Saturday September 5 at 9AM for their Annual Labor Day meeting. The Monadnock Conservancy staff will present important information about natural resource mapping and water quality protection and voluntary land protection information. Also, Mike, Kate Morgan and David Deen will present their proposal to prepare a Lake Management Plan for the Association!

q       Debby brought copies to those who ordered them of the newly published book, Where the Great River Rises that we received from the Joint Rivers Commission.

q       Notice has been received that Local Advisory Committees are now required to comment on all Shoreland Protection wetland applications from applicants along the river. Conservation Commissions have been removed from this obligation, which makes LAC comment more important that ever.

q       Sue handed out materials from the Forest Society about a hike on Silver Mountain in Lempster on September 26. A large land protection project is underway there. Successful fund raising will protect 1750 acres.

q       Sam has been reappointed as an Alstead rep to the LAC.

 

Richard Morrison will talk with Mike at a later date about some water quality issues of interest to him.

Ed. Note: This announcement was submitted by Barbra Bragg.  CCB

RAKU POTTERY WORKSHOP IN WALPOLE :  TEA BOWLS & TUMBLERS

 

    The Walpole Artisans are sponsoring a raku workshop for up to four participants October 10 and 17 from noon to 3:00 p.m.  Those with previous experience, wheel throwers, and beginners (16 years and up) are welcome.
     The process of RAKU always holds surprise and enjoyment.  It is an ancient Japanese ceramic technique where the firing process creates its own unique effects.  Raku pottery emphasizes the beauty of the simple and the natural. 

     Participants will create the pieces in the first session that they will glaze and fire in the raku kiln the following Saturday.

    

     Workshop is limited to 4 participants.             Fee: $65 includes materials.

 

      Please call Barbra Bragg at 756-3213 for more information and to sign up.

 

                     Instructors :  Sharyn Tullar and Barbra Bragg

Talked with Mary Lou Hufflink, director of the Fall Mountain Food Shelf, after reading the lead story in today's Keene Sentinel. The Food Shelf served 598 families in June and that number rose to 658 families in July. Families, not people.  August numbers are not tallied yet.  A year ago the Food Shelf was pressed to serve about 300 families per month.  Food supplies are very short, supplies of cash to buy it are short, and the numbers of hungry people in the Fall Mountain area continues to rise.  Hufflink says she can use donations of nearly every kind of food from canned goods to fresh garden harvests. Please  call Mary Lou in Alstead at 835-2283.  CCB

Ed. Note: What follows is a new service from The Walpolean--publication of minutes of periodic meetings of the Cold River Local Advisory Committee (CRLAC) as submitted by Walpole resident and Co-Chair of the CRLAC, Charlie Montgomery.  Preceding the minutes is a short summary of what the CRLAC is all about written by Charlie to give you some context for the minutes--to get you into the flow of things. Hope you find this as interesting and enlightening as I did.  Chuck Bingaman, Editor

Background

Of the many rivers in New Hampshire only about 15 are “Designated Rivers”. The Cold River is one of these.

What is a “designated river”? The term reflects a legal relationship between the State of New Hampshire and a “local advisory group” for that particular river. The process of becoming such takes a long time (two years in our case, from about 1998 to 2000), is dependent upon jumping through a significant number of hoops and fulfilling legal requirements and the requiring of the particular advisory group to fulfill a significant list of requirements and obligations. One of those obligations is to provide local citizens (within the “designated” river’s watershed) minutes of its meetings.

The Cold River from prime source (Crescent Lake) to its entering the Connecticut River (just south of Aubuchon’s hardware store) is 23 miles long and has many contributing streams. Its watershed is 102 square miles. Along its banks are 5 communities: Walpole, Langdon, Alstead, Acworth, and Lempster.

The Cold River Local Advisory Committee (CRLAC) serves as an advisory, not a regulatory, committee. It advises local people, town governments, and the State of New Hampshire via the Department of Environmental Services (DES).

The CRLAC regularly studies the river from many viewpoints but most particularly does scientific measurements of entities in up to 70 locations along the river and its tributaries. These measurements include flow rate, pH, volume, temperature, biologicals (E-Coli and micro-invertebrates), chemicals, conductance, oxygen concentration, obvious contaminants, etc.). They are reported to DES.

What follows is the most recent approved minutes of our Committee.

Charles H. Montgomery and Jennifer Polcari

Co-Chairs of the Cold River Local Advisory Committee


_____________________________________________________________________________

Minutes of July 23, 2009 Meeting of the Cold River Local Advisory Committee

Call to Order

7:05 PM

 

Present

Carol Drummond, Fred Ernst, Michael Heidorn, Deborah Hinman, Austin Hunter, Susan Lichty, Cathy MacDonald, Charles Montgomery, and Sam Sutcliffe.

 

Absent

Jennifer Polcari

 

Minutes of June 25, 2009

After identifying minor typos Cathy moved and Carol seconded that the minutes of June 25, 2009 be accepted as amended. All approved.

 

Procedures regarding Agendas

Charlie announced that he and Jen have agreed that he will serve as point person at meetings and she will forward all email communications from DES and others. The new Agenda format is in alphabetical order and the Chair will announce their time priorities at each meeting.

 

Treasurer’s Report – Sam Sutcliffe

A written report dated July 23, 2009 was received from the Treasurer with June 30, 2009 Balance. Copies were given to the Chair (Charlie) and to the Secretary (Debby). There were no expenditures in June and $3.99 of interest accrued to create a balance of  $8101.69. Charlie gave $15.00 cash to the treasurer from sale of Atlas maps made at the Alstead Town Festival.

 

Acworth Land – Debby Hinman

Nothing to report other than ongoing discussions and searching for a method that could protect this land as easily as possible. She has a copy of a recent survey of the property

 

Alstead Festival – Charlie

Mike set up the display that included a sub-watershed map, the large Atlas copy, and our logo and contact information. (Sue would like to use this display for upcoming Lempster Old Home Day) Charlie managed the table by himself, and enjoyed the conversations with the dozen or so people who stopped by. The Alstead Open Space project was the focus of the conservation commission’s display. The CC has a new newsletter and a land conservation pamphlet available that mentions an Easement Walk with Nan and Bruce Montgomery (no relation to CM) on Old Settlers Road on September 26 at 1pm. www.alsteadnh.org is the place to learn more.

 

Management Plan – Charlie

Charlie has created a 3-page summary of the Management Plan that he will email to all members. Distribution accomplished to date includes:

q       Sue to John McGee at Fish and Game in Concord

q       Sue to Lempster CC and Planning Board. Lempster Selectboard is aware these plans are in town.

q       Mike to Lake Warren Association. (Alstead CC and PB coming up soon)

q       Deb to Unity CC instead of Crescent Lake Association, plus the Joint Rivers Commission, and Ashuelot LAC. (Acworth CC and PB soon)

q       Charlie to Walpole CC with Walpole PB coming soon.

 

Designated River Signs –Sue Lichty

Sue has spoken with Steve Couture. Signs are on back order and our two should be coming soon. These will be placed on the Rt 12 bridge over the Cold River in Walpole (we’re not sure which side would be best or exactly who decides; DOT or LAC?) and just below Crescent Lake beside the Lempster wetland area on the 2nd NH Turnpike. Sue was asked to find out what the cost of additional signs would be and whether or not the Educational Outreach grant at DES might be used to cover such costs.

 

Membership- Cathy MacDonald

Membership is listed on the DES and CRLAC websites as well as in the Annual Report. This seems sufficient.

 

Program on Ethics and Frogs- Carol Drummond

Carol would like to coordinate frog assessment sites that are related via wetlands to our WQM sites.  Programs that Carol already does could relate to our own frogs; monitoring would be during breeding season in the spring, followed by location and count of young ones in summer. Within a year of a full cycle, she could begin to make presentations on the findings, perhaps as early as 2010.

 

The 2005 flood wiped out the wetland complex at the base of Cooper Hill, where she lives. No frogs appear to have been breeding there since, but the ten years of data that she had collected on the amphibian populations in those wetlands prior to the flood now prompts her to work toward rebuilding the populations of species that used to be there. Thus, she is making a “nursery pond” to raise frogs!

 

Mike and Carol will discuss possible assessment sites along the river and how to present a plan to the LAC and to tailor the program for success. A question was raised about the heavy layer of scum seen on several ponds around the watershed this summer; Carol responded that tadpoles eat this scum, so a very heavy layer probably means a lack of tadpoles.

 

Water Quality Monitoring –Mike Heidorn

Summer collections will begin next week. DES needs to re-calibrate the meters. He will notify members of dates that monitoring will take place.

 

Trout, Pools, and Rocks –Fred Ernst

John Hansel of Walpole gave Fred a film about work done in Vermont by Barry Cahoun and others to build J-dams to create trout habitat. He and Mike discussed possible Cold River sites for such work.  Mike mentioned that he has spoken with Sean Sweeney who was to do a design and assessment at the Griffin Hill area where there are interested landowners but we’re not sure where these plans stand. Mike will contact Sean S. A recent email indicates that Stimulus Funds may be forthcoming soon but that a proposal is still needed. Does Sean know about this?

 

Discussion among members regarding the fact that the post-flood work was “stabilization” not “restoration” led to conclusion that there is still a great need for habitat work in the near future.  Concern was expressed that towns and landowners might not be interested in any more big work projects given the massive stabilization projects of past four years. Fred will explore funding and other possibilities regarding wildlife habitat restoration. He and Mike will talk and explore our monitoring sites and others for possible projects.

 

Website-Debby Hinman

Jen Polcari reported via email on a very satisfactory conversation she had with Karen Winterholer of Goshen, a contact recommended by Debby.  After a brief discussion of prices and options , Sam moved and Carol seconded that the LAC hire Karen Winterholer to move our website from the current host to Karen’s preferred hosting site and begin to assess what is needed to meet our need to have an active website that can be updated to include scheduled events. Vote in the affirmative was unanimous. Deb will send Fred and Charlie’s email addresses to Karen, for they did not receive the information that she sent us. More info may be found at Karen’s web http://www.maiadesigns.com  where you  may click on Webdesign at bottom of the page for her prices.

 

Work on Tentative Plans as outlined in February 2009 meeting –Charlie

Remnants of an earlier discussion took place on what should constitute the LAC’s “Primary Functions” as written in the 2-26-09 minutes. Debby and Mike said that it is difficult to create a list of the LAC’s duties without a copy of RSA 483-B in our hands, since that is where all LAC’s official duties are spelled out. None the less, discussion continued, adding details to the following list of items that members in attendance in February had listed as important:

1.        Water Quality and flood control issues

2.        Wildlife habitat issues

3.        Acting as liaison between towns, landowners, and state and/or other interested parties

4.        Educational outreach to schools, landowners and towns

5.        Annual reports

 

Discussion then turned to storage of our ten years’ worth of materials. Ideally these would be in a public place and readily accessible but there is no such place as of yet and thus they remain in Hinman’s upstairs room. She reiterated that this is not her first choice. Talk then turned to management of records and how data should be backed up or saved to memory sticks or CDs. Discussion will continue later on ways to keep our data safe and not inundate ourselves with unnecessary materials.

 

As new chair, Charlie stated that he does not want mail and notices and other papers to be brought to our meetings and take up undue meeting time unless they have first been announced via email so members can assess if they might be interested (or not) in spending time on such items. Charlie and Jen will send emails to members of all phone calls, emails and mail received between meetings from members and others. It was suggested that perhaps these workshop fliers and other news of interest could be brought up each meeting under “New Business”, thus not take time away from items needing more attention during the meeting but not preclude sudden finds of interest on day of meeting. There was no voting on these matters but the chair asked that members think of how we might conduct our business most effectively at our monthly meetings.

 

New Business-members

 

q       Debby showed the newly published book, Where the Great River Rises that we received from the Joint Rivers Commission. Rebecca Brown, of the Joint Commissions, was editor of the book and did a wonderful job. Six members placed orders for purchase at a special rate. Debby will place one order for all six books and be reimbursed by the individuals. She’ll email the final price once shipping is determined.

q       Sue brought her copies of the 4 new Habitat Stewardship Series brochures created by Cooperative Extension. The new ones are on Peatlands, Shrublands, Appalachian Oak-Pine Forests, and Lowland Spruce-Fir Forests.  There was also a brochure on New England Cottontail Rabbits in NH in a Focus on Wildlife brochure. These may all be found at www.nhwoods.org or call the Cheshire Coop Ext office at 352-4550 or Sullivan County office at 863-9200.

q       An important reminder about our event with David Deen and the Nature Museum at Grafton at the mouth of the Cold River on Saturday, August 22, 9-11am. More announcements about this event will come soon from the museum calendar and then we can send to our email contacts.

q       Charlie discussed Emergency Management planning in Walpole and a Habitat for Humanity project he is involved with.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Debby Hinman

Scribe

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ed. Note: Very sad story that the Eagle Times closed last Friday. We miss it in Walpole, but I imagine the people in Claremont, Charlestown, Springfield and a number of other communities are REALLY missing it today!

Ed. Note: Here's a TERRIFIC entertainment opportunity for kids Tuesday afternoon.  The Weston Playhouse Young Actors Company is offering E. B. White's "Stuart Little" at 1:30 p.m. at the Vermont Country Store in Rockingham. These productions are directed at kids from 4-5 to 11-13, and parents enjoy them as well.  They're great opportunities to introduce kids to top-quality theater.  There are no reservations needed or ticket fees. Rather, you conribute as they pass the hat! Enjoy!  CCB

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Ed. Note: Diane Miller sends along the following announcement...CCB

Burdick’s Restaurant to Host Benefit for YMCA

“Reach Out to Youth” a Week From Wednesday

 

     Burdick’s Restaurant in Walpole will host a benefit dinner for Meeting Waters YMCA’s “Reach Out to Youth Fund” on Wednesday, May 27th. That night, co-owners Paula and Larry Burdick will donate 10% of all dinner receipts to the regional YMCA.

 

     The Burdick’s two children have both been involved in Meeting Waters YMCA programs. Both have attended the regional YMCA’s Lewis Day Camp, a program that their son Jake will serve on the staff of for the third time this summer. He has also participated for the past four years in the YMCA Youth & Government program, a partnership between Meeting Waters YMCA and Fall Mountain Regional High School.

 

     The funds raised through the Reach Out to Youth appeal and the event at Burdick’s help ensure that all children have access to Meeting Waters YMCA programs. Specifically, donations support the regional Y’s youth scholarship fund and the its summer camp bussing program. Contributions to last year’s Reach Out to Youth Fund were part of the support system that resulted in area families and children benefiting from $200,276 in financial assistance and subsidized services.

 

     As Meeting Waters YMCA Executive Director Steve Fortier explains, “Our camp fees are among the lowest in the region yet, uniquely, we run three busses each day for eight weeks to our Lewis Day Camp and Adventure Camps from Bellows Falls, Westminster, Saxtons River, Walpole, Drewsville, Alstead, Langdon, Charlestown and four other NH and VT communities. Our busses will drive over 15,000 miles to deliver a total of more than 300 children to and from camp this summer… at a cost of around $30,000! We cannot possibly ask camp parents­—more than 50% of whom receive some financial assistance—to bear the burden of this expense. We need help to fill this gap. We’re thankful for the generosity of those who have stepped up—including Larry and Paula.” He adds, “At this event, people will enjoy a great meal… for a great cause.”

 

     Reservations for Wednesday’s benefit dinner can be made by calling The Restaurant at Burdick Chocolate at 603-756-9058. More information about Meeting Waters YMCA Reach Out to Youth Campaign is available at their website at www.meetingwatersymca.org or by calling their office nearest you—Brattleboro: (802) 246-1036; Bellows Falls: (802) 463-4769; or Springfield: (802) 885-8131.

 

      The Meeting Waters YMCA is a charitable, social service organization founded in 1895. Its programs take place at its facility in Bellows Falls, camp property in Springfield, and satellite sites in Langdon, Brattleboro, Chester and other communities.

Ed. Note:  Fritze Till reports that Carl Majewski, Cheshire County's Cooperative Extension Agent, will do a presentation at the Walpole Community Garden (behind the Hooper Institute on Prospect Hill Road) on Monday, May 11 at 6:30 pm. He will do a half hour talk on community gardens and then a half hour hands-on gardening demonstration. The public is welcome and there is no charge. CCB

Ed. Note: Walpole Village School board member Lil DeCoste sends the following announcements form the school. CCB

WALPOLE VILLAGE SCHOOL HAPPENINGS

May 6, 2009

 

REMINDERS FOR UPCOMING EVENTS

Childfind Screening

May 13^th

By Appointment

            Any child age 2½ through 4 years (not attending kindergarten in the fall) and who lives in the Fall Mountain School District is welcome to attend this free developmental screening.  The screening will be held at the Early Learning Center, which is located on the grounds of the Fall Mountain Regional High School.

            Children will be screened in the areas of communication, motor and early academic skills.  There are three possible outcomes to this confidential testing: satisfactory, re-screen in six to twelve months, or refer for more thorough testing.

            Parents can use this time and opportunity to ask questions about normal growth and development of their child.  By identifying children with special needs early, intervention may help them to develop to their fullest potential.

            For an appointment and further information, please call 835-6314 or email tvittum@sau60.org.  If you reach the answering machine, please leave your phone number and someone will get back to you to make an appointment.

Spring Concert

May 13^th

6:00 PM

            I’m sure you remember that the concert is at 6:00 PM May 13^th at the Walpole Town Hall.  Students who attend the MWF AM class should be there at 5:45 so they can be lined up and ready to go on time. 

Plant and Food Sale

May 16^th

9:00-12:00

We have potted a lot of plants and they are looking great.  Bethany, Jody, Stacie, Heather, and Carolyn have been digging in the gardens of some very generous people – most that don’t even have children in our school.  Angela, Jody, Justin, Stacie and I have been putting those plants in pots so they can get “acclimated” and look their healthy best on the 16^th.

There will be a raffle and large plant pots for sale as well as the food and plants.  Be sure and advise people to come early for the best selection.  By the way, those who help get a chance to do an early bird selection so if you would like to lend a hand a get to choose early it’s not too late.

We will be sorting and pricing the plants at Lil’s house on Thursday, 5/14 and will be moving them all down to school on the 15^th.  As you can imagine, the more hands we have for this the happier everyone will be!

Auction

June 6th

        Donations are starting to come in but Bethany and Justin are starting to worry.  If you have something you’d like to donate, they’d sleep better if you would let them know.   They work so hard on this and it has always been a major fund raiser.

In addition to a great time to get some bargains, it is a great time for some good food.  Kelley and Stacie are having a meeting @ 6:00 on May 19^th to start drawing up the menu and dividing up the tasks.  They’d love to see you there if you can help out.  I remember that this was the first event I attended after I had agreed to become a board member and I was pretty intimidated by organization and the wonderful food.  I was most relieved when I learned that cooking wasn’t a prerequisite for being a board member!

Registrations

            Registrations are coming in for Summer Camp 2009 and the 2009-2010 school year.  It is great to see the all the paperwork being done in such a timely manner.   Thanks to all.

 

In Case You Forgot

Our email address is walpolevillageschool@myfairpoint.net and our website is http://walpolevillageschool.org/.

Ed. Note: Thanks to Jana Sellarole for this posting.  Project Graduation is the huge, alcohol-free post graduation party for Fall Mountain Seniors, a very worthwhile event funded by events such as this one. CCB

Fall Mountain Project Graduation 2009 Annual Yard Sale

Saturday, May 16th

8:00 am - 3:00 pm

Charlestown Middle School Gym

There will also be a refreshment table.

      Patricia Franco, a student from Fall Mountain High School, writes to say that she and a group of fellow students are hoping that Walpolean readers will inform themselves about the future of the high school's French program after last week's bond issue vote failed to pass. "As a student congress," says Franco, "we have circulated petitions and gathered support from the populace. Student congress members plan to present their case to the school board at the beginning of the next meeting, Monday, March 23, using petitions and student based data to more clearly make our point."

     Further, she says, "We are encouraging you, student congress members and other members of the community to attend the meeting and to support us.  It is at 6:30 p.m. at Fall Mountain High School in the library.  Students will gather outside a half hour before the meeting to show their support of the French program." For more information, call Patricia at 445-2049.

 

      

Ed. Note: In the course of our annual session with Fall Mountain High School students discussing school and town warrant articles, Tara Sad and I learned this morning of their active advocacy for the bond issue to be voted on tomorrow and against the proposed school budget.  I thought I'd share their letters so you can consider their arguments in their own words...CCB

On supporting the bond issue...

 

            "The Fall Mountain Regional High School is in desperate need of repair. We realize that budgets and funding are very limited at this time, but the roof of our high school is rundown and not equipped for another New England school year. The roof of our school was built flat, so consequently during the winter, snow piles up and weighs the roof down. Money is being wasted paying janitors to shovel off the roof periodically and the safety of students is at risk. Currently buckets line the hallways and water drips down from the ceiling tiles in rooms too numerous to count. The hazard of students slipping and falling in the hallways is dangerous, but also the build up of mold in the ceiling tiles has put far too many students at risk of sickness. Not only can visitors of our school see buckets lining the hallways, but also can catch a glimpse of our principal mopping up the puddles.  Areas of our school also in need of improvement include science and woodshop rooms without good ventilation, and our locker rooms, which were put in when the school was built. The renovation plan will fix these issues among greatest concern to most Fall Mountain staff and students.  On March 10th, we urge the Fall Mountain community to vote yes to Article 1, which will approve renovations to the facility and insure the future safety and health of Fall Mountain students.

 

                        Fall Mountain Student Congress

On opposing the proposed school budget for next year...

With the current economic crisis we’re facing, everyone is being impacted, particularly the education system.  The French program at Fall Mountain Regional High School is currently threatened by a possible budget cut, to be decided by you the voters on March 10th at your local polling place.  Not only will this budget cut damage Fall Mountain students' educational opportunities in the language department, but also there will be a corresponding increase in class sizes for the remaining two languages.  Students currently enrolled in French are forced to terminate their involvement in the program, which prospective colleges find undesirable.  Most colleges require three or more years of one continuous foreign language, thus putting French students at a disadvantage for college acceptance.  If you’re concerned not only about current but future students of Fall Mountain, then there are various ways of showing your support.

  First and foremost, vote “No.” to article two on March 10th.  Voting yes puts French, and other programs including; English, Health, and Physical Education at risk.  Secondly, on March 12th, there will be a parent teacher conference at Fall Mountain from 3-7pm where student congress members will have petitions for the French program that voters can sign.  Lastly, we would also like to encourage supporters to attend the school board meeting March 23rd in Fall Mountain’s library at 6:30pm to express their concern.  Thank you for your time. Please remember the students at Fall Mountain when you are voting on March 10.

Fall Mountain Student Congress

Ed. Note:  My friend Steve Glazer has recently launched a new business, Poetics of Place, based at the web site www.poeticsofplace.com.

I think you might be interested in his work which weaves together the strands of education, recreation and conservation.   

 

Clients & Partners include:  Humboldt Bay NWR, Martha's Vineyard Museum, Muir Woods, The Trustees of Reservations and Okemo Mountain Resort.  CCB

 

"Steve Glazer is a visionary educator and group facilitator who excels at building communities grounded in place.”  - Tom Wessels

Ed. Note: Our Walpole TriVillage Energy Committee continues to create innovative, important events and opportunities for all of us to learn about ways to steward our energy supplies and budgets.  Here is their latest program.  CCB

 

Cold River Watershed Energy Challenge

 

     The Cold River Watershed Energy Challenge will present a solar hot water workshop on Friday, January 16 at the Town Hall in Acworth, NH.  The presentation will offer an introduction to solar, how solar hot water heating works, benefits and will discuss The Cold River Watershed Solar Initiative and how people can participate. Call Alice Fogel at 835-6783 for further information.

    The program will begin with a potluck supper.

     The Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) was extended and expanded in October 2008 making an investment in solar energy more affordable than ever. The ITC provides for a 30% tax credit on the hot water system price (after rebates) and caps at $2,000. The tax credit can also be extended over a five year period. In addition to the federal incentives customers of the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative can receive additional rebates.

 

     groSolar, North America’s premier distributer, installer and integrator of solar power solutions for homes and businesses based in White River Junction, VT has partnered with the energy committees of Acworth, Alstead, Walpole and Langdon to presetnt this kickoff tof he Cold River Watershed Energy Challenge!  See www.grosolar.com.

 

     The Energy Challenge is designed to introduce people to solar hot water and utilize cooperative buying to lower the costs of installed solar hot water systems. Solar hot water systems are designed to provide hot water using the clean and renewable power of the sun, supplementing the existing hot water heating system. In addition to cooperative buying through the town energy committees, there are a number of federal, state and utility incentives to make solar hot water even more affordable.

                                                                                   

Walpole Choir Presents Rutter's "Gloria"

The First Congregational Church of Walpole invites the public to attend its 10:00 a.m. service on Sunday, December 21, at which the choir will offer John Rutter’s Gloria, along with a professional brass ensemble, organ and percussion.  This is a thrilling work being offered in the spirit of the holiday season and is sure to put you in a festive mood. For more information, call Judy Spinella at 756-9221.

     The Acworth Energy Committee is hosting a GREEN CHRISTMAS / GOOD ENERGY POTLUCK at the Acworth, NH Town Hall on Friday, Dec. 19 at 6:00 PM, for the entire NH/VT area.

     Says Ackworth organizer Alice Fogel, "Come one and all!  Come see a brief inspirational film;  share ideas for a greener Christmas--like alternatives to throw-away wrapping,  electric lights and wasteful consumer-centered gifting;  see a re-fashion show by local Green Team teenagers;  and eat good food with
energy-conscious friends and families.  Find out what other local energy groups are up to, and relate the goals and successes of yours.

     We encourage including local ingredients in your contributions to the 
potluck."

Call Alice at 603-835-6783 for more info or directions.

Drewsville resident Stacie Gay reports that the village of Drewsville will celebrate the holiday season with its annual tree lighting ceremony on the Common Saturday, December 6^th.  The festivities begin at 6:00 p.m. and include wagon rides, caroling, cocoa, cookies and a much anticipated visit by the man in the red suit! CCB

Ed. Note: Robert Watson, guru of the new Unitarian Church Media Center in Hastings House, has announced an important Financial Planning seminar there on Saturday, November 22.  CCB

Ed. Note: Dita Englund of Munsonville is one of the most dedicated, hardworking civic leaders in the state. And one of the most thoughtful. This letter appeared in the Keene Sentinel earlier in the week, and I thought it worth passing on, with her permission, in case anyone missed it. Whether you agree or disagree with her ultimate suggestion, I commend the full letter to your consideration. CCB

To:  The Editor

 

From:  Alfrieda J. Englund

71 Cameron Cove

Munsonville, NH 03457

603-847-9727

 

October 15, 2008

 

I am a pro-life voter.  The word has been hijacked by one-issue voters who are really only conditionally pro-life, and  I would like to reclaim this term:

 

I am pro-life because I do not believe in capital punishment or torture.

 

I am pro-life because I do not advocate sending men and women to war, especially when the war is unjustified, ill-conceived, and manipulatively sold to the public. 

 

I am pro-life because I believe that working individuals deserve an adequate wage with which they can lead healthy lives and provide opportunities for their children. 

 

I am pro-life because I believe that people who cannot provide for themselves deserve a healthy diet, shelter and warmth, and help to get back on their feet.  I support comprehensive services for the elderly allowing them to remain in their homes.

 

I am pro-life in that I believe every person deserves access to a family doctor to assist in meeting health needs.  Everyone should have affordable health insurance.  Time magazine (9/29/08) reports “the chance that a woman will die in childbirth is 1 in 4,800 in the U.S.A; 1 in 8,200 in England; and 1 in 17,400 in Sweden” (50).  These statistics reflect the universal health care available in other countries.

 

I am pro-life because I support life with opportunities to get a sound education

that leads to reasoned decisions guided by faith, but informed by science, philosophy, history, and the arts.

 

I am pro-life because I support stem cell research that will, in the course of time, help to find cures for many incapacitating or terminal diseases.

 

I am pro-life because I support conservation of the environment, on which we depend for clean air and water.

 

I am pro-life because I believe that a woman has the responsibility to know her circumstances and determine, with her partner, doctor, and religious counsel, the course of her pregnancy.

 

Barack Obama supports this full spectrum of life and a “consistent ethic of life.”  He knew that the Iraq war was not a “just war” and has been consistently against it; he supports equal pay for equal work; he supports public education; and he supports the creation of an affordable health insurance program.  He promotes families with social programs and opportunities to reach their highest potential.  And, he advocates appropriate sex education to help reduce the incidence of unwanted pregnancies. 

 

Please join me in supporting Barack Obama and Joe Biden, truly pro-life candidates.

                                                            -0-

Ed. Note: Here is a valuable opportunity to hear one of the country's true experts on American foreign policy and, specifically, our activity in Iraq and the Middle East in general.  Peter Galbraith will fill us in on the dynamics of the Iraq situation and take us well beneath the surface knowledge available on television and in the popular press. I highly recommend this progam in particular and Windham World Affairs Council's programs and membership overall.  Chuck Bingaman

FORMER AMB. GALBRAITH TO SPEAK  ON
THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF  THE IRAQ WAR

For the sixth year Ambassador Peter Galbraith returns to give his annual lecture for The Windham World Affairs Council of Vermont. Dr. Galbraith will speak on his newest book, “Unintended Consequences: How War in Iraq Strengthened America's Enemies ,”on Friday October 10, 7:30 PM, on the World Learning/SIT campus, International Center in Brattleboro, Vermont. Directions http://www.sit.edu/graduate/2476.htm.

 Former Ambassador to the United Nations,  Richard Holbrooke says about Unintended Consequences, "In this angry and passionate book, Peter Galbraith lays out the disastrous consequences of the Bush years. The next president will inherit the mess; let's hope he absorbs the lessons of Galbraith's work, and acts on them."

As Galbraith states in his book, the  Iraq war was intended to make the United States more secure, bring democracy to the Middle East, intimidate Iran and Syria, help win the war on terror, consolidate American world leadership, and entrench the Republican Party for decades.

Instead, Bush handed Iran its greatest strategic triumph in four centuries; U.S. troops now fight to support an Iraqi government led by religious parties intent on creating an Iranian-style Islamic republic; as part of the surge, the United States created a Sunni militia led by the same Baathists the U.S. invaded Iraq to overthrow;  obsessed with Iraq's nonexistent WMD, the Bush administration gave Iran and North Korea a free pass to advance their nuclear programs; Turkey, a key NATO ally long considered a model pro-Western Muslim democracy, became one of the most anti-American countries in the world; U.S. prestige around the world reached an all-time low.

Peter Galbraith has been a consultant for corporations in the areas of strategic communications and marketing strategy. He has been in Iraq many times over the last twenty-one years during historic turning points for the country: the Iran-Iraq War, the Kurdish genocide, the 1991 uprising, the immediate aftermath of the 2003 war, and the writing of Iraq's constitutions. He draws on his nearly two decades of involvement in Iraq policy working for the U.S. government to assess what has occurred and what will happen. He is author of The End of Iraq (2006) which is the definitive account of this war and its ramifications, and  last year, After Iraq: Cleaning Up After America’s Biggest Foreign Policy Mistake.

 Dr. Galbraith has served as the first US Ambassador to Croatia where he mediated the 1995 Erdut Agreement that ended the Croatia War. He is currently Senior Diplomatic Fellow at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation and principal in a Vermont-based firm specializing in international negotiations. He is a regular contributor to the New York Review of Books.

 The Windham World Affairs Council of Vermont  is part of the “World Affairs Councils of America” (WACA), the largest international affairs non-profit organization with 484,000 members and participants. WWAC is a non-partisan, all-volunteer council and proudly offers all events free of charge to the public. To join the Windham World Affairs Council of Vermont and receive regular mailings of events, please send an email to info@windhamworldaffairs.org.

Ed. Note: State Representative Lucy Weber asked me to pass along this message.  CCB

Cheshire County Democrats - PASTA and POLITICS DINNER TICKETS

     

Ed. Note: A great chance to shop locally! CCB

SHOP FRESH WITH THE CHEF:  LOCAL NUTRITIONIST AND COOKBOOK AUTHOR TO PRESENT A COOKING DEMONSTRATION AT THE BELLOWS FALLS FARMERS MARKET

            Bellows Falls, VT—August 25, 2008— The Bellows Falls Farmers Market will host two cooking demonstrations this season with Luise Light, local cookbook author and nutritionist.  The first will take place this Friday, August 29th; the second will be later in the season, on September 12th.  Luise will cook up three dishes using local ingredients available at the farmers market, and attendees will be able to watch the process and taste the final product. 

             The first demonstration will start at 4:30 and the second of the evening at 6.  Each demonstration will run for approximately an hour.  No registration is required; all are welcome to watch, try, and receive the recipes to try at home.

            Luise will prepare roasted beets and carrots with tart grapefruit glaze, featuring carrots, beets and maple syrup from the market; kale crunch, featuring fresh kale from the market vendors; and eggplant-almond enchiladas, featuring eggplant, onion, garlic, chilis and tomatoes from the Bellows Falls Farmers Market farmers.  Vendors who will contribute ingredients to the cooking demonstration on Friday include Harlow Farm in Westminster, Guerrilla Grown Produce in Westminster, Abenaki Spring Farm in Walpole, New Hampshire, and Basin Farm in Bellows Falls. 

            “Cooking demonstrations are a great way for our customers to get new ideas of things to do with all of the fresh produce available at the market,” says Abi Miller, farmers market manager. 

            The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont will sponsor this special market event, with a grant given to farmers markets who host “Shop Fresh With the Chef” events. 

            This week at the market also marks the second week that raffle tickets are available.  Supporters of the market can purchase their raffle tickets for $5 each or 5 for $20 from Maplewing Artisans or from Village Square Booksellers in downtown Bellows Falls, or at the market on Friday evenings.  The grand prize for the market is a side of organic pork from Harlow Farm.  The first prize is a Brimming Market Bag, filled with market goodies, such as jam, preserves, a gift certificate for massage, and maple syrup; the second prize is a “Visit Bellows Falls” print by noted regional artist Charlie Hunter; and the third prize is the cookbook “Dishing Up Vermont”, courtesy of Village Square Books. 

         The market takes place every Friday night from 4 to 7 at the Waypoint Center in downtown Bellows Falls.  For more information about the Bellows Falls Farmer’s Market, contact market manager Abi Miller at bellowsfallsmarket@gmail.com or 802.387.6128.  The market can be found on the web at www.bffarmersmarket.com. 

                                                                           --30--

 

Cruise Night At The Real Twist

    Gale Davis reports that the Real Twist Soft Serve Ice Cream stand in Walpole, NH  will hold its next Classic Car Cruise Night, weather permitting, on Sunday, August 10th, from 6-9PM. Here’s a chance for the whole family to enjoy a Sunday evening looking at old and antique cars, while enjoying pizza, hot dogs and ice cream. There will be live music by Vinnie Dibernardo. Anyone who brings his classic car to show will get a free regular sized sundae. Everyone visiting can get free jimmies, diptop or flavorburst with any cup or cone. Make sure to enter the drawing for free Pizza, ice cream or DVD’s!

 The Real Twist is located next to Real to Reel Video at the North Meadow Plaza in Walpole. It is open noon – 9PM, seven days a week. Enjoy your ice cream outside, in the lovely garden, or under the porch.

  The final Cruise Night of the 2008 Season is scheduled for September 7th. See you then!

Ed. Note:  This news release is from Abi Miller, manager of the Bellows Falls Farmers' Market that is held every Friday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. This Friday is Walpole Day featuring a number of Walpole businesses.  Sounds like a good event!  CCB

BELLOWS FALLS FARMERS MARKET CELEBRATES WALPOLE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, WITH “WALPOLE DAY” AT THE MARKET

         Bellows Falls, VT—July 6, 2008— The farmers market celebrates its second annual Walpole Day this Friday, on July 11th, by highlighting organizations and farms from Bellows Falls’ neighbor, Walpole, New Hampshire.  On the patio at the market, customers can expect to see a number of different businesses and organizations from Walpole.  The businesses and organizations featured this year will include the Walpole Creamery, selling their homemade ice cream; Burdick’s Chocolate, selling their chocolate; Twin Spruce Farm, with maple cream and candy; the Inn at Valley Farm, with information about their bed & breakfast; Boggy Meadow Farmstead Cheese, with their farmstead cheeses; and the Hooper Institute, offering information about their children’s agricultural educational programs.  Come to the market to learn more about these businesses and organizations, and to buy their products. 

            The Bellows Falls Market regularly has two vendors from Walpole, Abenaki Spring Farm and Brookfield Farm. 

            Bruce and Erin Bickford are the farmers at Abenaki Spring Farm, growing certified organic vegetables, herbs and small fruits, including strawberries, raspberries and blueberries.  The Bickfords also raise animals.  “We believe in a truly sustainable, integrated system, so all of our rotations include animals and their manure.  Depending on what cycle we’re in, we have pigs, chickens, sheep and turkeys,” Erin Bickford says.  This season, they’ll have about 200 turkeys and 400 to 500 chickens, which they raise on pasture.  Next year, they’ll have sheep and pigs.  Sheep graze, pigs turn the land, and chickens and turkeys do well on pasture eating grass and insects. 

            Abenaki Spring Farm is at the Bellows Falls Farmers Market as well as the Keene Farmers Market, where they sell their produce and also arrange for their 35 farm members to pick up their shares at the market.  These 35 CSA members (Community Supported Agriculture) pay ahead for the produce they’ll pick up at the market, guaranteeing Abenaki Spring Farm an income for the season. 

            Why do they choose to sell at the farmers market?  “We truly believe in sustaining a local agricultural economy,” Erin Bickford says.  “We wish we could stay here, and that people would come to the farm!  But aside from that, the next best thing is your local farmers market.” 

            Another Walpole farm that sells regularly at the Bellows Falls Farmers Market is Brookfield Farm.  Farmers Christian and Holly Gowdy raise grass-fed beef and sell it frozen at the market.  Come to the market on Friday for a sample of their hot and sweet beef sausage.

            For a little taste of all of the other farms near you, visit the Bellows Falls Farmers Market on this and every Friday from 4 to 7 at the Waypoint Center in downtown Bellows Falls. 

            Children are invited to participate in the Youth Market, coming up on July 25th at the Bellows Falls Farmers Market.  The Youth Market is a week at the market in which young people can sell homemade crafts and foods as part of the regularly scheduled farmers market.  To participate, contact Abi Miller (see below for details), or see us at the market to sign up. 

         The market takes place every Friday night from 4 to 7 at the Waypoint Center in downtown Bellows Falls.  For more information about the Bellows Falls Farmer’s Market, contact market manager Abi Miller at bellowsfallsmarket@gmail.com or 802.387.6128.  The market can be found on the web at www.bffarmersmarket.com. 

###

Underwriting for the Bellows Falls Farmers’ Market is provided by the Bellows Falls Downtown Development Alliance, Chittenden Bank and Springfield Hospital.  For more information about the Bellow Falls Farmers Market contact Abi Miller at bellowsfallsmarket@gmail.com or 802.387.6128, or see the website at www.bffarmersmarket.com.

Gail Davis reports that the Real Twist Ice Cream stand in Walpole, NH  will hold its next Classic Car Cruise Night on Sunday, June 15th, from 6-9PM. It’s a chance for the whole family to enjoy a Sunday evening looking at old and antique cars while enjoying pizza, hot dogs and ice cream. There will be live music by Vinnie Dibernardo. Anyone who brings his classic car to show will get a free regular sized sundae. Everyone visiting can get free jimmies, diptop or flavorburst with any cup or cone. Make sure to enter the drawing for free Pizza, ice cream or DVD’s!

 The Real Twist is located next to Real to Reel Video at the North Meadow Plaza in Walpole. It is open noon – 9PM, seven days a week. Enjoy your ice cream outside, in the lovely garden, or under the porch.

  Future  2008 Season Cruise Nights are scheduled for July 13th, August 10th and September 7th. See you there!

Ed. Note: Here's an important program coming up next Friday evening sponsored by the Windham World Affairs Council.  CCB

ELLEN FROST, FORMER DEPUTY ASST. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE TO SPEAK ON ASIA’S NEW REGIONALISM, MAY 9, AT BROOKS LIBRARY

     A coffee will precede the talk at 7 PM and is free and open to the public.

     Frost states that  the political drive to establish closer economic and security ties among Asian governments continues to gain momentum. One motivation is the need to engage a rising power -- China. The United States, preoccupied with the Middle East, has largely ignored the new trend, but China has become a skilled practitioner of regional diplomacy.

    Does this community-building activity signal the birth of an outward-looking "Asia Major" or a China-dominated "Fortress Asia?" Is closer integration a positive trend for the region and for the United States? Sifting rhetoric from fact, Dr. Ellen Frost, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense and Counselor to the U.S. Trade Representative, offers a nuanced analysis of the political, economic, and strategic issues at stake.

 The Windham World Affairs Council of Vermont  is part of the “World Affairs Councils of America” (WACA), the largest international affairs non-profit organization with 484,000 members and participants. WWAC is an all-volunteer council and proudly maintain all events free of charge to the public. To join the Windham World Affairs Council of Vermont and receive regular mailings of events, please send an email to info@windhamworldaffairs.org.

Sports, Day and Adventure Camps Signing Up Now for Summer at the Walpole Village School

 
    For 7 fun filled weeks this summer, the Walpole Village School and its staff will be offering summer camps.  The camp day will run from 9am – 3pm, with before or after care available upon request.  Our first week will start off with Day Camp for 3 – 5 year olds or Adventure Camp for ages 6 – 12 year olds on the week of June 23rd.  The following week we offer Sports Camp run by Justin Parrott instead of Adventure Camp.  Each day the campers will play different team sports with games played in the afternoons.  There will be no camp on Friday, July 4th..  Everything will be back to normal for the next 5 weeks.  Day camp will include lots of free choice time, craft projects, theme activities, water play and exploring our amazing 4 acres of grounds surrounding our school located in down town Walpole, NH.  Adventure Camp will include free time and games at our school as well as time spent away hiking, fishing, biking, and trips to the town pool.

  The cost of camp each week is $125 per camper. To sign up or have your questions answered please call the Walpole Village School at 603-756-4246 and ask for Bethany or Justin.

Ed. Note: A note from Delores Street!  CCB

The Windham World Affairs Council lecture on Turkey's political situation scheduled for Friday evening, April 11, with Dr. Gerald Robbins, Associate Scholar, Foreign Policy Research Institute, has been cancelled due to illness of the speaker.  When a new date for this talk is arranged, I'll let you know. CCB

Ed. Note: Here is the information on two upcoming Windham World Affairs Council programs. They provide a level of depth and first-hand understanding that is simply not possible in other media. CCB

    WINDHAM WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL

P.O. Box 1105, Brattleboro, VT  05032

WWW.WINDHAMWORLDAFFAIRS.ORG

info@windhamworldaffairs.org

MARCH 2008

     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

           

FALK LECTURE SERIES CONTINUES WITH TALKS

ON TURKEY AND ASIA

 

The Windham World Affairs Council of Vermont continues its Spring 2008 lecture series on Friday, April 11, at 7:30 PM,  with Dr. Gerald Robbins, Associate Scholar, Foreign Policy Research Institute who  will speak on Turkish Society and Politics at the Brooks Memorial Library, 224 Main St. Brattleboro Vermont.

 

Dr. Robbins is a FPRI (Foreign Policy Research Institute) Associate Scholar based in Philadelphia. He  has more than 25 years’ experience relating to Turkey, the Caucasus region, and Central Asia. A graduate in Near Eastern Studies from New York university, he was awarded a Fulbright fellowship to study labor migration issues at Bosphorus University, Istanbul. Mr. Robbins has used his Turkish language skills to report from Ankara and Istanbul for the Weekly Standard, the Asian Wall Street Journal and the Washington Times.

 

He has also served as Program Director for Freedom House in Baku, Azerbaijan, managing programs that promoted post-Soviet political and economic development. Mr. Robbins is a frequent lecturer at universities and foreign policy institutes. He authored Azerbaijan (Mason Crest, 2005) as part of FPRI’s “The Growth and Influence of Islam” series. He is currently focusing upon Turkey-EU integration issues, and the related topic of Muslim migration to Europe. ’06.

 

On Friday, May 9, at 7:30 PM at Brooks Memorial Library, Ellen L. Frost, author and former US Trade Representative (USTR), will speak on her new book Asia's New Regionalism.

 

Frost states that  the political drive to establish closer economic and security ties among Asian governments continues to gain momentum. One motivation is the need to engage a rising power -- China. The United States, preoccupied with the Middle East, has largely ignored the new trend, but China has become a skilled practitioner of regional diplomacy.

 

Does this community-building activity signal the birth of an outward-looking "Asia Major" or a China-dominated "Fortress Asia?" Is closer integration a positive trend for the region and for the United States? Sifting rhetoric from fact, Dr. Ellen Frost, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense and Counselor to the U.S. Trade Representative, offers a nuanced analysis of the political, economic, and strategic issues at stake.

 

The Windham World Affairs Council of Vermont  is part of the “World Affairs Councils of America” (WACA), the largest international affairs non-profit organization with 484,000 members and participants. WWAC is an all-volunteer council and proudly maintain all events free of charge to the public. To join the Windham World Affairs Council of Vermont and receive regular mailings of events, please send an email to info@windhamworldaffairs.org.

Ed. Note: Here's a note from Walpole resident Drew Riggio on an important activity he's participating in in Keene on April 12. He'd appreciate your support.  CCB

"I’ll be walking in the Monadnock Center for Violence Prevention (MCVP) Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event on Saturday April 12th.  I’ll be walking a mile around Keene, NH in pink, flowery shoes as part of a fund raising and awareness event for MCVP.

I serve on the MCVP board.  We’re a non-profit organization that helps the victims of domestic and sexual violence, and provides education and prevention programs to help stop it from occurring in the first place.

Visit my donor page at www.firstgiving.com/drewriggio to learn more and to contribute.  Every bit helps.  If you believe that helping victims of this kind of violence deserve help, contribute and tell family and friends to visit the site and donate, too.  We helped over 700 abused women last year and really need every bit of help so we can help more people each year.

Thanks again, and remember – keep my pink, flowery shoes in motion – give to MCVP on my web site."  Drew Riggio

Ed. Note: Here is advance notice of an important program of the Windham World Affairs Council set for a week from Friday night at the School for International Training in Brattleboro.  CCB

BEYOND BLACK AND WHITE: IMMIGRANTS AND THE RACIAL DIVIDE

     The Windham World Affairs Council of Vermont begins its Spring 2008 lecture series with author and sociologist, Ronald Fernandez, who will speak on his book, America Beyond Black and White: How Immigrants and Fusions Are Helping Us Overcome the Racial Divide, Friday, March 14, at 7:30 PM, at the Rotch Center, on the World Learning/SIT campus in Brattleboro. 

     Fernandez proposes that racial bigotry, rather than the influx of immigrants, is the real threat to the social fabric. The book covers the history of U.S. immigration law, the economic role of immigrant labor, and cultures of Latin America and the Caribbean in its examination of prejudice and racial dominance in the U.S.

     Ronald Fernandez is Professor of Sociology in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Central Connecticut State University. His Ph.D. in Sociology is from the University of Connecticut.

     For a decade (1995-2004) Fernandez was Director of the University's Center for Caribbean and Latin American Studies.

    From 2000-2002, Fernandez served as a monthly op-ed columnist for The Hartford Courant. He has also published with Newsday, The New York Daily News (Viva New York!) and, in the Caribbean with newspapers like Jamaica’s Daily Gleaner.

     Fernandez has lectured and conducted workshops throughout the United States and the Caribbean.  He has also lectured on immigration and Caribbean issues in Finland, Estonia and England; and his travels include visits to Cuba, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Mexico, Chile, Jamaica and Trinidad.

     The Windham World Affairs Council of Vermont  is part of the “World Affairs Councils of America” (WACA), the largest international affairs non-profit organization with 484,000 members and participants. WWAC is an all-volunteer council and proudly maintain all events free of charge to the public. To join the Windham World Affairs Council of Vermont and receive regular mailings of events, please send an email to info@windhamworldaffairs.org

Ed. Note:  This Fall Mountain high school academic team is heading to Washington DC April 4-5 to compete against regional winners from 49 other areas around the country in knowledge of world affairs subjects. Great job! And good luck in the national competition!  CCB

2-20-08

Fall Mountain HS Team Wins World Affairs Competition

By Chuck Bingaman, Contributing Writer

            Fall Mountain Regional High School won the Academic WorldQuest competition on knowledge of world affairs Tuesday evening at the School for International Training in Brattleboro and won a trip to Washington DC in April to challenge 49 other winning teams from around the country.

Fall Mountain’s team included seniors Jimmy Healy, Andrew Street, Jake Chamberlain, and sophomore Lindsay Sanchez-Navarro, and they were coached by Fall Mountain history and psychology teacher Nick Belsky.

    Fall Mountain's Academic WorldQuest team members include Jimmy Healy, Jake Chamberlain, Lindsay Sanchez-Navarro and Andrew Street. Chuck Bingaman photo. 
            Sponsored by the Windham World Affairs Council of Vermont and the World Affairs Councils of America, the annual competition pits four-student teams from area high schools in a challenging 50-question contest.  Questions covered international law, UN peacekeeping operations, people in the news, countries, current events, economics, and great decisions.

            Fall Mountain, which had participated in the past four competitions, this year bested teams from Kimball Union Academy in Meriden NH, Vermont Academy in Saxtons River VT, Brattleboro Union High School and the Putney School.

            “We did a lot more preparation this year than we ever had before!” noted Andrew Street after the session.

            Coach Belsky said that this year’s World Affairs Councils of America study curriculum was very helpful and that each of his team members had to write a report on an area of concentration to get on the team.  Belsky added that each team member had four comprehensive world affairs web sites to follow for the past many months and that their experience from past WorldQuest competitions was helpful.  See http://www.worldaffairscouncils.org/programs/flagship/worldquest for information about WorldQuest including the 2008 Study Guide and sample questions from previous years.

            “We’re hoping to attract teams from several more area high schools for Academic WorldQuest in the future,” said Margo Neale, President of the Windham World Affairs Council of Vermont and chairperson of the event.  “Interested students or coaches can learn all about us at our web site at www.windhamworldaffairs.org.”

            Academic WorldQuest received sponsorship funds for the fourth consecutive year by Entergy Vermont Yankee and from River Valley Credit Union.  Brattleboro Coop, Pizza Hut, and Latchis Theatre in Brattleboro made in-kind contributions.  SIT/World Learning hosted the competition for the fourth time.

                                                            --30--

 

           

 

           

Ed. Note: The Apple Hill Chamber Players will play a concert Sunday afternoon, February 10 at 3:00 p.m. at the Keene Unitarian Church at 69 Washington Street. With Turkish guest violist Beste Tiknaz, they'll play the Mozart Quintet in C Minor, K. 406, and they'll play the Beethoven String Quartet, Opus 59, #2.

Having worked with this terrific group of professional artists last summer, I can assure you that it will be an amazing, transporting afternoon of beautiful music.  If you are not really conversant with chamber music, this would be a perfect opportunity to give it a try.  You will not be disappointed!

Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music is a local, not for profit organization that promotes chamber music and world peace through encouraging young artists in troubled parts of the world.  There is a $10 suggested donation for this concert and all proceeds benefit the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music.

Sue and I hope to see you there!  Chuck Bingaman

Want a truly mind-expanding, transporting, and terrifically fun experience that you'll savor with a child? Take your child, someone else's child, or go yourself to the Sandglass Theater in Putney, VT Saturday afternoon for an amazing puppet theater presentation!  Ines Zeller Bass and Rob Mermin join forces at 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. shows to present "Bubble and Flea".  The show, which runs a little over an hour, includes Bass's piece called Fritze's Fabulous Flea Circus and Mermin's new creation called The Bubble Brothers' Soap Suds Circus. It includes Ines' incredible flea circus, a brilliant, old worldly romp that people of all ages will enjoy and Mermin's new production, a circus act where the puppets are actually soap bubbles. (We haven't seen that one yet.)

Ines and her husband Eric Bass are world renowned puppeteers. You will be amazed with her  showmanship. These performances are part of the Sandglass Mid-Winter Sunshine Series and are appropriate for children from around 5 years and up.

Tickets for all performances are $8.  Reservations are strongly suggested and may be made at 802-387-4051.  For further information, visit www.sandglasstheater.org.   Sandglass Theater can be reached by taking I-91 to Exit 4 at Putney VT and taking Rt. 5 north to the center of the town. Turn left, uphill, on Westminster Road at the general store. Sandglass is the third building on the left, a red barn set back from the road.  CCB (and SLB!)

                   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rev. Susan Kershaw reports that the Second Wednesday Book Group, sponsored by St. John’s Episcopal Church, meets on Wednesday, January 9, to discuss George Orwell’s classic political fairy tale, Animal Farm. Orwell was reacting to events of the 1940’s in Britain, but this short tale about the risks of complacency and abuse of power is relevant today. What similarities might there be between life on the Animal Farm and the presidential campaigns of 2008 or political upheaval in other parts of the world? The book for discussion on February 12 is John Steinbeck’s novel, Cannery Row (if readers have time, read Sweet Thursday and Tortilla Flat). The group gathers at the Kershaw’s house, 12 Main Street. Newcomers and avid readers are always welcome. Call Susan, 756-4533 or 756-2962, for more information.  CCB

OK! It's time to get serious about our NH primary votes.

1.  Go see the candidates! Check http://nh2008.blogspot.com for daily updates on where candidates are appearing.

2.  See www.factcheck.org for the latest non-biased sorting out of candidates' claims and factual misstatements.  It's produced by the Annenberg Center for Public Policy at the University of Pennsylvania and provides clear analysis and actual facts! 

3.  Get the best fuel prices for your candidate viewing trips at http://gasprices.mapquest.com. 
CCB

Historical Society Sponsors Valley Consort Concert on Sunday Afternoon, October 28

     Music from the Courts of France and England during the 16th and 17th Centuries will be presented by the Valley Consort at a concert sponsored by the Walpole Historical Society on October 28th.

    The concert will be performed starting at 4:00 PM in the Unitarian Church in Walpole. Instrumental music of the period will be played on the viola de gamba, a bass member of the viol family having a range approximating the cello. Readings by James Fowle of Thetford, VT, will provide context.

    The featured performers are: Judith Davidoff, founder and director of the New York Concert of Viols, a well known soloist on the viola de gamba who has appeared in many venues here and abroad. She is on the faculty of Sarah Lawrence College. Performing with her on the treble and tenor viols will be Alison Fowles of Thetford, VT., and Phyllis Olson of Walpole.

    Ms. Fowle is a long time member of the New York Consort of Viols and well known as a cellist and teacher in the Hanover/Thetford area. Ms.

    Olsen was a founding member of the Baltimore Consort and of Pro Musica Rara, an off-shoot of the Baltimore Symphony. A former president of the Viola Da Gamba Society of America, she taught early music at Towson University. Mr. Fowle retired from the faculty of the Rhode Island School of Design.

    Ticket are $5.00 for students, $10.00 for members of the Walpole Historical Society, and $15.00 for the general public. They are available at the door. The concert is a benefit for the ongoing maintenance and repairs for the historic Academy building, headquarters of the WHS. Call Phyllis Olson (756-0968) for more information.

    Funding for this concert was provided by the Ira S. and Gertrude S.

Hubbard Memorial Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation.

Ed. note: This news release comes from Maplewing Artisans in Bellows Falls. Face it! Halloween is coming! CCB

Making Faces at Maplewing Artisans

                        Let the spirits move you!  Reveal your inner gnome or scallawag…unfurl your fairy wings…clown around….

                        Maplewing Artisans is offering two styles of mask making workshops – wire mesh and papier mache.  Classes are scheduled for children or adults.  Children 6-8 years old should be accompanied by an adult.  Families: first child full tuition, second at ½ price.  Pre-registration is required, as space is limited.

    Wire masks are formed by cutting, crimping and painting galvanized screen.  This makes a mask which allows full visibility and easy breathing for the wearer and a subtle, spooky distortion of the features.  Wire mesh masks have been part of Mardi Gras as far back as the early 1900’s, and can be as simple or complex as imagination and time allow.

    Papier mache masks will take place over two shorter sessions, as the base will need to dry before decorating.  During the first session, we will build the basic shape of the mask, using paste and paper.  In the second class we will paint, embellish and model our masks.  Please dress for the creative mess.

    There will be a separate 1½ hour session to create plaster casts, for those who would like a permanent mold of their own face.  Creating a mask in the shape of your face makes a better-fitting mask.  Plaster casting is fairly messy, so you should dress accordingly.

 

Thursday, October 18th  4-5:30 p.m.         Plaster Cast Faces                        $10

Saturday, October 20th 11 a.m.-1:00 p.m.  Wire Mesh Masks (A)            $25

                                     1-2:30 Papier Mache Masks $25                                    
                    3:30-5            Papier Mache 1 (A)    $30          

Saturday, October 27th  1-2        Papier Mache Masks 2

                                                            4-6      Wire Mesh Masks  $20              

                                                          7-8:30            Papier Mache 2 (A)

 

                    Carved wooden masks, papier mache and wire mesh masks will be on display in our window and for 3rd Friday Art Walk on October 19th.  We will be demonstrating a variety of mask making techniques during the Art Walk from 5-8 PM.

    Maplewing Artisans is located at 7 Square, Bellows Falls, Vermont.  Open 10-6 daily through December 24th, and 11-6 Thursday- Monday (winter hours) starting 12/26. For more information, call Erin at 802-460-4161.

Ed. Note: Here is an opportunity to hear one of America's leading foreign affairs thinkers and doers--he's a former US ambassador to Bosnia and international negotiator--at a nearby venue. I should disclose that I am vice-chair of the Council, but I can assure you that this will be a very interesting, stimulating program.  CCB

    WINDHAM WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL

P.O. Box 1105, Brattleboro, VT  05032

WWW.WINDHAMWORLDAFFAIRS.ORG

info@worldaffairscouncils.org  

         

PETER GALBRAITH RETURNS TO SPEAK ON IRAQ AFTER THE WAR

    For the fifth year Ambassador Peter Galbraith returns to give his annual lecture as part of The Windham World Affairs Council of Vermont lecture series. Dr. Galbraith will speak on the subject, “After Iraq--Cleaning Up  After America's Biggest Foreign Policy Mistake,” on Friday October 19, 7:30 PM, on the World Learning/SIT campus, International Center.

     Peter Galbraith has been a consultant for corporations in the areas of strategic communications and marketing strategy. He has been in Iraq many times over the last twenty-one years during historic turning points for the country: the Iran-Iraq War, the Kurdish genocide, the 1991 uprising, the immediate aftermath of the 2003 war, and the writing of Iraq's constitutions. He draws on his nearly two decades of involvement in Iraq policy working for the U.S. government to appraise what has occurred and what will happen. He is author of The End of Iraq (2006) which is the definitive account of this war and its ramifications. His forthcoming book is After Iraq: Cleaning Up After America’s Biggest Foreign Policy Mistake. (October 2007)

     Dr. Galbraith has served as the first US Ambassador to Croatia where he mediated the 1995 Erdut Agreement that ended the Croatia War. He is currently Senior Diplomatic Fellow at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation and principal in a Vermont-based firm specializing in international negotiations. He is a regular contributor to the New York Review of Books.

    The Windham World Affairs Council of Vermont  is part of the “World Affairs Councils of America” (WACA), the largest international affairs non-profit organization with 484,000 members and participants. WWAC is an all-volunteer council and proudly maintain all events free of charge to the public. To join the Windham World Affairs Council of Vermont and receive regular mailings of events, please send an email to info@windhamworldaffairs.org.

Ed. Note: Walpolean Barbara Schupack sends the following information. CCB


SAXTONS RIVER ART GUILD CALL TO ARTISTS:

Saxtons River Art Guild invites all area artists, members as well as non-members, to exhibit at an “Autumn Art Festival and Sale” on the first floor of the Walpole Town Hall on Sat., Oct. 6 & Sun., Oct. 7, FROM 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.  Artists are encouraged to display their original framed art work as well as unframed, matted paintings, quality prints, note cards and other such items derived from their art.  No commissions will be taken.  There will be a registration fee of $20 for S.R.A.G. members and $25 for non-members, mainly to cover the cost of advertising.
 
Five large panels, (5' wide 5 1/2 ' tall) each of which could provide space for two artists to display their work have been loaned to us by the Walpole Artisans Tour group.  They will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Those who have free-standing panels of their own are encouraged to use them.  The amount of space available for each display will depend upon the total number of artists registering.  Registrations will close on Sept. 20th.
 
Registration forms will be available at the S.R.A.G. Annual Meeting on Sept. 12 or may be obtained anytime by calling Barbara Schupack, Festival Chairperson, at 603-756-9389.  Also look for them at all area art supply and frame shops.  Please call Barbara also with any questions or for further details.
Nan Durling, Publicity 603-445-5070.