The Walpole Recreation Department is hosting the 9th Annual Taste of Walpole at Raffael’s on Thursday, February 9th from with doors opening at 5 until 7:30 PM.            

The owners of Raffael’s are, again, graciously opening their doors for the annual event which has evolved into one of Walpole’s favorites. The Recreation Department is working with local restaurants, florists, liquor vendors and rental companies to showcase their specialties. The purpose of the event, said Event Coordinator, Aicha Kelley, is to promote local businesses. “There are so many great businesses that are involved in the community. We created this event for them to have the best form of advertising....the things they do best!.”

The restaurants that will be attending and Kelley asks for everyone to patronize are: (Listed in alphabetical order): Applebee’s, Asian Treasures, Bar Louie, Baskin Robbins, Beckett’s, Bianco’s Pizzeria, British Beer Company, Butter Cafe, Chili’s Bar & Grille, Cruiser’s, Ever So Humble Pie Company, Finnegan’s Wake, Guido’s, Jalapeno’s Grille, Jimmy’s Pizzeria, Leo’s Pizzeria, Papa Gino’s, Raven’s Nest, Red Wing Diner, Rico’s, Supreme Pizzeria,  and Texas Roadhouse.

As always, The Taste of Walpole will include raffles, door prizes, and games to make the night complete. Anyone wishing to volunteer, participate, or have any questions, please contact Aicha Kelley @ 508-660-6371 or at akelley@walpole-ma.gov

Walpole Day Winners Announced & The Day Becomes Walpole Weekend

The Walpole Recreation Department will be hosting the 5th Annual Walpole Day on May 19th which begins at Noon with the Walpole Day Parade. Following the parade the activities begin which include a hundred or so table activities, games, and fun along with the Teen Band Showcase and the scrumptious food court all to end with the 3rd Annual Wacky Quacky Duck Race. The awards have been nominated and voted for and the winners are: Grand Marshal is Ora McGuire. Business of the Year is PJ Hayes, Inc. Department of the Year is The Health Department. Individual stories of why these were the winners will be forthcoming.

To make this one a Walpole Weekend, in addition to the WHS Prom, the Walpole Recreation Department is hosting the First “5 for the 4th” which will be a 5K in the Town Forest on Sunday, May 20th at 9AM. The run was the brain child of avid runner and Walpole resident, Kathleen DiNatale. “I have even had the name for years as I have wanted this to work out for town and now it has,” said DiNatale when speaking of the event. All of the proceeds will go to the fireworks on July 3rd  - the Night Before the 4th Committee. Any one wishing to register may do so by going to walpolerec.com. The fee to register prior to the race is $20 and $25 the day of the race.

            The Walpole Recreation Department will be accepting applications for sponsorships, table activities and parade participants. Some of the parade will be competing for the float contest win with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place all with monetary winnings. All are invited to join the parade with floats made by neighborhoods, school groups, local businesses, etc.

When the parade is done, the festivities commence with with rides, raffles, games, and more sponsored by local organizations and schools. Local businesses will be selling their products and local restaurants will be serving food in the food court. The entertainment will be the show-stopping Teen Band Showcase.  The paperwork and price breakdowns can be found at www.walpolerec.com The prices are very reasonable compared to other towns’ events as the Recreation Department wants to have the groups that participate find it a positive experience and not have anyone not be able to participate because of cost.

Anyone interested in participating in the day, may contact Aicha Kelley at 508-660-6371 or at akelley@walpole-ma.gov

6th Grade Dance

The Walpole Recreation Department will be hosting the next 6th Grade Dance on Friday, February 10th from 7:30 – 10PM.

As always Blackburn will have “DJ Dent” playing their favorite tunes – downstairs will be pizza, larger-than-life karaoke, drinks and snacks that will be for purchase, foosball, and more surprises.

The Recreation Department is asking any 6th grader that has not received their Dance Party ID to come to the office in Blackburn prior to the dance. The IDs will make them members in the system and ensure safer dances. There is a $25 membership fee to purchase your ID card and will last for the school year. If a parent chaperones 2 dances - they will be reimbursed $20. The cost of entry to each dance is $5. There will be plenty of trained recreation staffers, but parents are urged to volunteer and may do so simply by calling Aicha Kelley at 508-660-6371.

7th & 8th Grade Valentine’s Party

The Walpole Recreation Department will be hosting a special Valentine’s Day Party for the 7th & 8th Graders on Saturday, February 11th from 7:30 – 10PM.

This dance party will have all the regular parts of the dances, but with extra facets for the children to have a blast. There will be funny photo-op drops, funky decorations and other surprises to make the holiday fun. Blackburn will have “DJ Dent” playing their favorite tunes – downstairs will be pizza, drinks and snacks that will be for purchase, foosball, and more surprises.

This party is also special because children without Blackburn Membership Cards are able to come as a guest. The cost of entry is $5 for card holders and $10 guests. As always the Recreation Department is asking any 7th & 8th Grader that wants but has not received their  Dance Party ID to come to the office in Blackburn prior to the dance. The IDs will make them members in the system and ensure safer dances. There is a $25 membership fee to purchase your ID card and will last for the school year. If a parent chaperones 2 dances - they will be reimbursed $20. The cost of entry to each dance is $5. Anyone with any questions, please contact Aicha Kelley at 508-660-6371.

SUMMER ACADEMY WANTS YOU!

The Walpole Recreation Department  is now accepting program ideas for anyone interested in running one, two, three week programs from July 9 - July 26. Summer Academy is great fun where the instructors are their own bosses as they run the program the way they think is best. At the same time, they make money over the summer. The link to the application is http://bit.ly/xWP9pc

HIGH SCHOOL PSA CHALLENGE - BIG BUCKS!:

The Walpole Coalition for Alcohol Awareness in conjunction with the Walpole Recreation Department is looking for groups or individual high school students to create a Public Service Announcement with a positive message about the actual statistics of drug, alcohol and risky behavior in Walpole. The goal, said Coalition Member Aicha Kelley, “We want to have the students help students by learning the true facts that not “Everyone” is doing it. Kids listen to kids. This contest will have peers teaching peers.”

The deadline is March 1st and the winner wins $250. There is a podcast and link for more information at  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeOvOMev-FA&feature=player_embedded Anyone with any questions, please contact Kelley at 508-660-6371.

Submit Recipes of Family Favorites to the Recreation Department

The Walpole Recreation Department wants all older active adults to join long-time volunteer, Ora McGuire, for her Creative Corner Program which are always held on Wednesdays from 1 - 2PM at Blackburn Hall. One of the projects that McGuire, the Recreation Department and all those that participate are working on a cook book titled, “What A Life!” They are asking anyone to be involved by submitting recipes that mean a lot to themselves and/or their families. Once there are enough submissions to make a substantial and yummy book, they will be printed.

The information needed is name, telephone number, how many years they have lived in Walpole, the recipe and what the recipe means to the person. Anyone can drop off recipes at Blackburn Hall or mail them to “Attn. Recipes, Recreation Dept, 135 School St., Walpole, MA 02081.

The winter schedule is already proving popular with plenty of attendees. The schedule and topics are as follows:

February 8 is “Creative Calendars with Joan Keating and Mock Birthday Party!” where the active older adults will make their own calendars, submit their birthdays to be put on the Walpole Recreation Birthday Club list and then have cake, ice cream and sing “Happy  Birthday” to each other.

February 15 is “Stories of the Heart with Shenachie Alan O’Hare” where the participants will hear O’Hare tell inspiring stories from the Irish heritage. There will be Irish tea and cookies served.

February 22 is “Sampling Recipes and Whimsical Sketches with Hal Cooper” will have the illustrator creating sketches for the cookbook (name TBD). Aicha Kelley will be preparing some samples of the recipes that were submitted.  All are invited to come with  empty bellies and watch art being created.

February 29 is “Dorothy O’Shaughnessy Shares the Butterfly Garden” where the Recreation Department will bring the Active Older Adults a taste if spring. We will also have a florist on hand that can explain how to prepare for the upcoming garden. There will be seeds handed out for the Active Older Adults to take home and plant themselves.

            Anyone with any questions may contact Aicha Kelley @ 508-660-6371 or at akelley@walpole-ma.gov

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