(An introduction to each week’s newsletter from the editor of WMNN)

Hi, Neighbors! In this week’s Western Maine Neighborhood News, the Andover, East Bethel, Locke’s Mills, and West Paris columns are free to all subscribers, along with news from the AFCI—the Age-Friendly Community Initiative. Upgrade to a paid subscription ($5/month or $50/year) to read this week’s Bethel, Gilead, Newry, and Woodstock columns (and all the town columns every week).

We at the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society have certainly had the best of luck with the weather for our October Sunday afternoon cemetery tours! This Sunday, October 25, at 2 p.m. rounds out the four-part series, and we’ll be visiting the Middle Intervale Cemetery, located at the Middle Intervale Meeting House, 757 Intervale Road. Following the tour, at which MBHS Executive Director Will Chapman will share stories of some of the cemetery’s most intriguing “permanent residents,” the Middle Intervale Meeting House Society will host an open house with light refreshments. These tours have been well-attended, informative, and fun, and Will is already thinking about which four local cemeteries should be on the schedule next year!

Andover News

Diana Nadeau

Hello to all my faithful readers.

As I start writing this column (Friday the 16th) we are getting some more much needed rain. The last bout of rain I measured 1 1/2 inches in my rain gauge. Time will tell how much we receive this time around. * Update* We received a half inch.

Mills Market is hiring for a breakfast position, 4:30-11 am Monday to Friday. For more information contact Trish at the store or stop by Mills to fill out an application. You still have time to stop by the store and enter the Big Buck Contest. $500 starting pot donated by the Mills Market Big Buck Committee. Winner takes all – heaviest deer wins. $20 entry fee and must enter by October 30th. Deer must be field dressed (no heart, liver, or lungs) Must be weighed at Mills Market. Ends with Muzzleloader season. Enter in-store only.

The Big Buck Committee has the final say on winner. Good luck out there, and happy hunting.

Last Saturday my Uncle Mac and cousin Ben travelled from the Waterville area to have a visit with my dad, my husband, and myself. Dad made a gift of 2 of his firearms to his nephew Ben so they wanted to get all the info on those and the stories that go along with them from dad. We enjoyed a delicious lunch (as always) at Mills Market. It was a lovely day catching up and hearing tales from years past. I really enjoyed seeing my father talking and engaging with family.

The Andover Service Circle recently had this to say: A huge thank you to everyone who came out and joined us for our 22nd Annual Senior Appreciation Dinner! We hope everyone had a wonderful evening! We also want to give a big THANK YOU to all of our amazing volunteers who helped make the night possible, and to our wonderful community members who donated raffle items. Your generosity and support are truly appreciated! We’re so grateful for our community and everyone who helps make events like this possible. Thank you for helping us make it another great evening! I’m so glad that this annual dinner was so well attended. The ASC is a true gem in our community.

My dear friend (and recently retired...yay for you!) Amber has asked me to share the Retro Rewind 2nd annual adult Prom info with all of you. This takes place in mid-November so it will give anyone interested in this scholarship fundraiser plenty of time to plan. Add it to your calendar today and please spread the word. See the attached poster and QR code for all the info. Let’s make this a success!

Next Thursday October 29th, the Andover Public Library will be having their adult paint night and fundraiser from 6-8. It’s not too late to sign up. I have reserved my spot and am looking forward to this very much. I have attended a few of the paint nights in the past and I love how they are basically the same but different as people put their own spin on them. Come and join in on all the spooky holiday fun, ‘tis the season, and you get to see me ha ha.

The Town of Andover has another job opportunity: The Town is accepting applications for the Treasurer position. This hourly non-exempt position is perfect for someone seeking a flexible part-time, 20-hour work week. The position is eligible for benefits including holiday, vacation, and sick pay, participation in the town’s health and vision insurance plans and MainePERS.

The preferred candidate is responsible for the administrative and fiscal work in handling of Town funds, working closely with the Selectboard. Work involves cash management, maintaining relationships with financial institutions and the public; disbursing funds to cover expenditures and mandated reporting managed by federal and state law and town ordinance/policy and preparing and administering department budgetary reports; work is performed under the general supervision of the Selectboard with considerable independence of action in accordance with applicable laws and following generally accepted accounting practices; work is reviewed through observation, verification, internal audit and through fiscal audit.

The preferred candidate will have experience in: payroll processing, accounts payable and receivable, working with vendor contracts, managing annual budget building process, accounts reconciliation and deposits, able to be bonded, municipal bonds and notes, municipal (TRIO or like) software system, will need to be, or become, a Notary of the Public, will attend Selectboard meetings as requested and Annual Town Meeting, have reliable transportation for out-of-town bank deposits. The ideal candidate will also have experience in administering Human Resource/employee benefits.

This list is a sample, not inclusive, of the roles and responsibility of this position. This position remains open until a qualified candidate is hired. Please visit the Town Office, 17 Stillman Road, Andover, Maine for an application. Submit your application with a current resume and cover letter to the Town Office, PO Box 219, Andover, Maine 04216, Attn: Selectboard or email both as separate PDF attachments (not as Google doc links) to secretary@andovermaine.gov. Selected candidates will be notified by phone and/or email for an interview.

As always please send any news, info or events my way. diananadeau@ymail.com

Bethel News

Linda Howe

The upcoming weekend in Bethel is the 46th Annual Bethel Outing Club Ski and Snowboard Sale. It is a two-day event at the Gould Academy Fieldhouse located on

East Bethel News

Hayli Tuttle

Hello Neighbors! I hope you all had a wonderful week. My week has been spent doing lots of crocheting and schoolwork.

This past weekend we went and got our pumpkins! It was so fun to watch my kiddo pick out her pumpkin. She even picked one out for me. We also turned her car seat forward this weekend. I don’t know when my baby got so big but I feel like I blinked.

There will be a To Your Health event on Thursday, October 29^th,
at the Telstar High School Library from 4-5:30pm. Please see attached flyer for
more details.

Eleven more days until Halloween. Do you get lots of trick or treaters? I hope to get out to East Bethel to bring my kiddo around. Call me at (207) 595-5930 or email me at haylist.laurent22@gmail.com. I look forward to
connecting with you. Have an outstanding week!

Gilead News

Lin Chapman

I woke up around 3:30 Sunday morning and the thermometer read 24 degrees. This was the coldest morning I had noticed this fall. The next few mornings weren’t much better.

On Saturday morning, we looked out the front living room window and there was a

Locke’s Mills News

Amy Wight Chapman

Early voting is available to Greenwood residents during all Town Office open hours, which are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. You may request an absentee ballot in person or online until Thursday, October 29. You may also register to vote any day up to and including November 3, Election Day. The polls will be open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Election Day. Don’t forget to vote!

A reminder that the Board of Selectmen, which usually meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 5 p.m., will be altering their meeting schedule through December. The board will meet next on the fourth Tuesday in October, the 27^th, and then on November 10 and 24, and December 8 and 22.

There is a Public Hearing scheduled for Tuesday, October 27, at 6:00 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, 595 Gore Road, to discuss three possible future highway projects. The public’s input on these projects is welcome to help the Selectboard plan how to proceed in preparation for the Annual Town Meeting on May 22, 2027.

Project 1: Greenwood Road repair from Rowe Hill Road heading towards Locke’s Mills to 384 Greenwood Road. (Phase 1)

Project 2: Locke’s Mills Bridge/ aka Cubby’s Dam on Howe Hill Road – replace concrete bridge. Undermined and scoured concrete below road surface.

Project 3: Johnnie’s Bridge, Johnnie’s Bridge Road – abutment failure on the Woodstock side of the bridge. Bridge is currently closed to vehicular traffic.

Discussion: Rob Prue, PE from Pine Tree Engineering, will be present to answer questions.

Here are some events coming up in the next few weeks:

Friday, October 23, from 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, October 24, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Gould Academy fieldhouse: 46^th Annual Bethel Outing Club Ski and Snowboard Sale. Get that unused gear ready to sell! As well as the opportunity to buy from multiple shops in the same place, you have the opportunity to sell winter/outdoor gear and clothing you no longer use or have outgrown (gear should be in safe and good condition). The club takes a 20% commission on sales. More information can be found at bethelouting.org

Sunday, October 25, at 2 p.m.: Tour the Middle Intervale Cemetery with Museums of the Bethel Historical Society Executive Director Will Chapman. This is the final cemetery tour of the year, and will be followed by an open house in the historic Middle Intervale Meeting House, with light refreshments provided by the Middle Intervale Meeting House Society.

Thursday, October 29, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Telstar Library: “Family Caregiving: Challenges, Resources, and Hope,” a free program presented by “To Your Health.” See details in the flyer below.

Saturday, October 31, from 5 to 7 p.m.: Trick-or-Treat Broad Street. Round out a busy month with some family fun! Be sure to stop by the Bethel Library and the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society for our fifth annual Trick-or-Treat Broad Street. We will be distributing candy to trick-or-treaters at the Bethel Library, Robinson House, and Mason House. We’ll also have a mini haunted house full of creeptastic historical oddities in the Twitchell Education Center!

Thursday, November 5, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the Telstar Library: Mary Morton Cowan will give a presentation on the history of logging in New England. She is the author of Timberrr! A History of Logging in New England, written for middle-grade readers. Spanning four centuries, the book explores the true story of how logging shaped the economy, culture, and forests of New England—from colonial mast cutting to the rise of sawmills and modern sustainable forestry. This program is presented by the Western Mountains Senior College, and is free and open to the public.

Saturday, November 21, 2:00 p.m. at the Mason House of the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society: Book discussion. Join us for a discussion of the book, The Founding Foodies: American Meals that Wouldn’t Exist Today If Not For Washington, Jefferson, and Franklin by Dave DeWitt. Food writer DeWitt entertainingly describes how some of America’s most famous colonial leaders—like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin—not only established America’s political destiny, but also revolutionized the very foods we eat. Copies of the book are available at the Museum Shop for $10. Call 207-824-2908 or email info@bethelhistorical.org for more information.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor website, as of last Thursday, when the most recent drought map was released, all of Maine continued to be in at least a moderate drought. However, although the weekly map is released on Thursdays, apparently the cut-off time is the previous Tuesday at 8 a.m. That would mean that last Thursday’s map does not take into account the rain we received on Tuesday and Friday last week, and I’m hoping that the map due to be released today, October 22, will show at least a somewhat better picture of current drought conditions. Even though I’ve been grateful for so many beautiful October days, we do still need more rain!

On Monday morning of this week, Lena and I joined her bestie, Puck, and his person, Betsey, for a hike on the old roads on the west side of Red Hill in Rumford. It was a place I had never been before, and I always love a new-to-me hike. I should note two things, however: first, that the road is gated and access is by permission only (which we did have), and second, that there are coyote traps set in the area, something we didn’t realize until we saw them. So, unfortunately, it was probably my first and last hike there.

A century or more ago, the area was home to a small settlement comprised of several farms, and a surprising number of the fields are kept open by their present owners, giving us beautiful views as we looked across them to Rumford Whitecap in the distance.

A site along the road is identified by a sign as the former site of the Red Hill School, although no vestige of the building itself remains. Just as was the case here in Greenwood, in the nineteenth century, one-room schoolhouses were built nearly everywhere a neighborhood sprang up.

I tried to find out more about the history of Red Hill, but wasn’t able to learn much, except from a few excerpts of William Berry Lapham’s 1890 History of Rumford, Oxford County, Maine, from its First Settlement in 1779 to the Present Time, including one possible reason for the area’s name:

“Daniel and Ezekiel Harper, brothers, were in town quite early and lived on Red Hill. It is said by some that they each had red hair, and that the hill where they settled was so named from this circumstance.”

The dogs are always excited to play together, and they had a wonderful romp…and afterward they both went back home to their respective recliners and slept the afternoon away.

Although I’ve been enjoying the many warm sunny days we’ve had this October, the frosty mornings are a reminder that the seasons are about to change. Tony pulled the waterline from the pond at camp a few weeks ago, and went back last week to disconnect the pump, drain the pipes, and put RV antifreeze in the toilet and drains. I’m glad we no longer have docks and boats to pull out of the water, but that’s what my brother Steve’s family was doing last weekend at their camp. Brrrr!

This online newsletter is intended to keep our communities informed, so if you have news, events, or photos you’d like to have included here, I hope you’ll share them with me! You can reach me by email at amy.w.chapman@gmail.com or by phone or text at 207-890-4812.

Newry News

Amy Henley

Only one more week of October. The months and year are going so fast!

I think everyone is feeling the time crunch to get projects complete before snow falls. We did have a few snowflakes mixed in with rain on Saturday. So soak up

West Paris

Stephanie Emery

Greetings from West Paris!

The West Paris Bobcat Committee is asking for support in the form of financial donations to help in efforts to preserve the former Agnes Gray School buildings and grounds. The Committee’s mission is to protect this important piece of West Paris history to ensure it will serve our community in the future.

While the Town of West Paris is exploring different options for the future of the property, the Bobcat Committee has been lending a hand in cleaning up the grounds, mowing the grass, and monitoring the exterior of the building and grounds. Until future plans are made, the Bobcats will do what they can to help with the upkeep and prevent further deterioration. Some of the most pressing needs are new roofs, weatherstripping, replacement of broken windows, and heating system improvements.

The Bobcat Committee appreciates contributions of any size and as a thank you, they are currently entering all names from donations into a raffle. There are several prizes including three vinyl albums from West Paris’s very own Maine Humorist, Joe Perham, a car care kit, a crocheted baby outfit and more. The drawing is scheduled for the Dec. 15th Bobcat Committee Meeting. You do not have to be present to win. Donations by check can be mailed to the following:

The Bobcat Committee
Jim Marshall, President
PO Box 34
West Paris, ME 04289

You may also donate by following this QR code:

The Bobcat Committee is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Their meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month at the West Paris Library. New members are always welcome.

The woolly bears are on the move! I’ve seen two of them this week. According to folklore, they are known for their ability to predict the length and severity of our winters by the length of their brown midsection. In the fall, these creatures make their way to a dark place to take shelter for the winter. In reality, the length of their midsection is just an indication of how old the caterpillar is. As it ages, it adds more brown hairs making their midsections appear larger, and therefore tricking us into thinking our winter will be a mild one, according to folklore. They survive the cold winter by producing a cryoprotectant that prevents their tissue from freezing as well as glycerol which insulates their body. Let’s hope they find their shelter soon, as the morning frosts have arrived! Maybe I’ll see these two flittering around as Isabella Tiger Moths in the spring.

Don’t forget to vote! Early voting is now open to West Paris residents any day the West Paris Town Office is open. M-W 8AM-5PM, Th 10AM-6PM, F 8AM-1PM. You may request an absentee ballot in person or online until Thursday, October 29th. You may also register to vote any day up to and including election day, November 3rd. Voting will be open on November 3rd from 8 AM until 8 PM.

Calendar of Upcoming Events:

Now through December 30: Art Exhibit, “The Nature of Trees” by Mick Liimatta, at the West Paris Library. Library open hours are Monday and Friday, 1:30-6 p.m.; Wednesday, 1:30-7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Thursday October 22nd: Public Hearing 5:00 PM.
The Town of West Paris will hold a Public Hearing at the West Paris Town Office in the meeting room to discuss acceptance of a Public Infrastructure CDBG Grant. The purpose of the grant is to replace the current water storage reservoir and associated piping, replace a critical river crossing, and the transmission main from the reservoir to the river crossing to comply with a MDWP Administrative Order. The district will also seek to locate and develop a secondary water supply. Public comments will be solicited at this Hearing and will be submitted as part of the Project Development Phase.

Saturday, October 24th: 4:30-6:00 PM Public Chicken Pie Supper at the Ring McKeen Legion Hall, 6 Church St. West Paris. Donation $12.00 per person. Eat in or take out. The full meal includes: chicken pie, mashed potato, veggies, homemade rolls, a dessert and beverage.

Monday Oct 26th: Goodwill Fellowship meeting/potluck at 12 noon at the West Paris Unitarian Universalist Church. Pokeno theme for Thanksgiving.

Wednesday October 28th: 5:30 PM, West Paris Old Home Days Planning Meeting. Held at Ripple Retreat, 186R Main Street, West Paris. All are welcome to join and share ideas.

Thursday October 29th: The Survey for the Town of West Paris Comprehensive Plan is due at the Town Office. Copies are available at the West Paris Town Office.

Saturday October 31st: The West Paris Vulnerability Assessment Survey is due. Paper copies of the survey are available at the Town Office and West Paris Library. You can also fill it out online at https://forms.gle/uxh5BpxzF3VXiQLy5 The goal of the Assessment Survey is to help West Paris become more resilient to extreme weather and other climate impacts.

Saturday October 31: Community Trunk or Treat at 5:00-7:30 PM at the West Paris Fire Station.

Tuesday November 3rd: Food Pantry 1PM-3PM at the West Paris Baptist Church.

Tuesday November 3rd: Polls are open for voting from 8AM-8PM at the West Paris Town Office.

Tuesday, November 10th: West Paris Planning Board Meeting at 6PM at the West Paris Town Office.

Tuesday, November 10th: West Paris Library Advisory Board Meeting 6:30-7:30PM. This is a monthly meeting and is open to the public.

December Date TBA: 100th Anniversary of the West Paris Library from 2:00-4:00 PM. Speaker: Rodney Abbott with displays and more. Join us to celebrate our 100-year-old Library! Everyone is welcome!

Ongoing West Paris Meetings/Events:

West Paris Selectman Meetings at 5PM Always the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month at the West Paris Town Office. All are welcomed to attend.

Recovery Ripples Meeting Every Tuesday at Ripple Retreat from 5pm to 6pm. This is a meeting for those in longterm recovery to discuss the good in our lives now, thanks to sobriety, rather than focusing on the bad. It’s an hour of Gratitude, sharing what we are grateful for as a direct result of our sobriety. We don’t share war stories or look in the past, we focus on today and the future. The meeting is held in person at Ripple Retreat, 186R Main Street, West Paris, ME 04289 and online at https://ripple-retreat.com/recovery-resources/.

The Ring McKeen American Legion Post 150 Every 4th Tuesday of the month the Legion and Auxiliary have a meeting and supper. The supper is at 6:00 PM and the meeting starts at 7:00PM. Any Veterans are welcome to join their Comrades.

The First Universalist Church of West Paris Worship Services Sundays, 9 AM. October’s services will feature music by guitarist Davy Sturtevant and a variety of guest speakers. Refreshments served following the service. All are welcome!
October 25, “Repairers of the Breach” led by The Rev. Scott Campbell.

If your West Paris organization has an event or meeting you would like to have listed in this newsletter, please email Stephanie at semery73@yahoo.com.

Woodstock

Linda Stowell

This is a great stretch of weather we’re having. The days have been gorgeous, and the nights rather chilly. I’ve fired up the wood stove a few times, which also keeps the furnace from coming on. This week was the dreaded oil delivery. I don’t think

AFCI

Melinda Remington

Hello folks,

Isn’t this Fall foliage season one of the prettiest and longest you have witnessed in recent years? When I lived in Florida for about 20 years, Fall was the season I missed the most. It was almost a physical pain, longing for the sights, sounds, and scents of September and October. This yearning would prompt me to go down memory lane and reminisce about my younger years; jumping in the piles of leaves, my feet crunching through them as I slowly shuffled my way to the neighborhood library. That was on one of the most iconic avenues in Portland, lined with maples and oaks that towered above, making an arch. Of course, the 60’s in Portland, Maine, was a time to chat with your neighbors, kids carving pumpkins as they bit down hard on bright red candy apples. Raking the leaves into the street brought everyone out. All hands on deck to watch the burning piles on the side of the street. Everyone did it. The city did not have all the equipment they have now. Not a safe or environmentally sound practice, but I still savor the smell of burning leaves. Now that I live in Bethel full-time, I relish each day because of the natural beauty and colors that surround me. I certainly do not take it for granted!

Last Friday, the Bethel Senior Citizens Club may have begun a new fall tradition. Thirty-two members and friends traveled to Meredith, New Hampshire, in a 15-passenger van and several carpools. There, we boarded the Turkey Train for a dining-car ride featuring colorful views of Lake Winnipesaukee. From Mother’s Day through Halloween, the train runs several times a day and serves a full turkey dinner catered by the renowned Hart’s Turkey Farm. The food was delicious and plentiful, and the waitstaff was attentive and fun. Although we were just one small group among many larger bus tours, we had our own dining car—so what happened there stays there! I will, however, share a few photos.

The phrase “Waste not, want Not,” came to mind when my friend showed me his empty plate. I would have been happy to have taken a doggy bag home. It was that delicious. Perhaps you would like to join us next year?

I want to share with you a new and exciting feature of this column.

Betsey Foster of Greenwood recently reached out to me. She has a master’s degree in public health, and experience as a journalist/newspaper editor. I personally know her as the spunky gal who shared the cross-country ski trails with me years ago. Today she is an accomplished artist and an active member of the Plein Aire painters’ group. Besides being a “dog mom” and lover of nature, she is an all-around direct and kind person. I was thrilled when she contacted me and offered to occasionally write about the various aspects of aging for this column. You will be seeing and reading more from her over the next months. She introduced the idea with “I was talking with another aging friend about our normal physical and mental changes as we age. I realized many, if not all of us, have the same concerns about our changing bodies and minds…Would you be interested in a short, once-a-month piece; a timely example might be why we are so easily overwhelmed by things that were routine in our younger years? Yes, there is a scientific and biochemical basis for this! Writing, research and science, as a public service to all of us old folks…”

She got my attention!! And I think you will be just as happy as I am to read her article, which follows.

Enjoy your week,

Melinda Remington

AFCI Community Connector

melindaremington@yahoo.com

Overwhelmed with the Aging Brain

by Betsey Foster

Recently a friend and I were bemoaning the fact that, we no longer enjoy traveling like we did in our younger years. Instead, we felt overwhelmed by the chaos of airports and the whole traveling process.

We are in our 70s and 80s and traveling used to be an exciting delight—going, doing, new people and places. Yahoo! That is no longer the case. Now the whole prospect of traveling is overwhelming.

As it turns out, that is a normal symptom of aging. What a relief to find out I am normal in feeling overwhelmed. Here’s a bit of research into the aging mind and body and feeling overwhelmed. (Sources are given at the end if you want to know more.)

Even without the presence of a disease or disorder, brain aging involves cognitive, structural, neuronal, and chemical changes that contribute to feeling overwhelmed by things we used to take for granted and enjoy. And, here they are.

Weakened Sensory Filters: A tiny brainstem region called the locus coeruleus helps us focus. As we age, this region weakens, making older adults much more vulnerable to sensory overload from loud rooms, bright lights, or multiple people talking at once.

Slower Stress Recovery: The aging body takes longer to clear out stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. A stressful phone call or medical appointment can leave an older adult feeling “on edge” or foggy for hours afterward.

Reduced Working Memory: Natural structural changes make it harder for the brain to hold and manipulate multiple pieces of information at the same time

Our brains change size and the outer layer thins. These result in the cognitive changes we all experience such as remembering names. The brain regions that can shrink the most are the prefrontal cortex, cerebellum, and hippocampus. The cerebral cortex (the outer layer) also thins with age, especially in the frontal and temporal lobes.

Next up are the chemical changes that occur in the aging brain. It appears that, as brains age, they generate and send fewer messenger chemicals like the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin. In other words, sometimes the messages just don’t get through as well as they used to. That is certainly no surprise to me, but now I understand why.

Our neurons change. Neurons are specialized cells in the brain and nervous system that receive sensory input, process information, and send electrical and chemical signals within the brain and to the rest of the body. With aging, neurons shrink and their dendrites (branches) have less myelin (the protective coating that passes on signals). Less messages get through.

Are you suitably overwhelmed yet with why we may seem more easily overwhelmed with age?! There are good reasons to be, so go easy on yourself and give extra thought to what you actually enjoy as you age. There are ways to deal with our aging brains, and next time I’ll talk about those ways. I’m too overwhelmed to do that now!

Here are my sources if you are curious:

https://www.americanbrainfoundation.org/brain-aging-explained-what-speeds-it-up-and-what-we-can-do-to-slow-it-down/

https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/brain-fog-and-aging-whats-normal-and-when-be-concerned

A reminder that the Board of Selectmen, which usually meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 5 p.m., will be altering their meeting schedule through December. The board will meet next on the fourth Tuesday in October, the 27^th, and then on November 10 and 24, and December 8 and 22.

There is a Public Hearing scheduled for Tuesday, October 27, at 6:00 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, 595 Gore Road, to discuss three possible future highway projects. The public’s input on these projects is welcome to help the Selectboard plan how to proceed in preparation for the Annual Town Meeting on May 22, 2027.

Project 1: Greenwood Road repair from Rowe Hill Road heading towards Locke’s Mills to 384 Greenwood Road. (Phase 1)

Project 2: Locke’s Mills Bridge/ aka Cubby’s Dam on Howe Hill Road – replace concrete bridge. Undermined and scoured concrete below road surface.

Project 3: Johnnie’s Bridge, Johnnie’s Bridge Road – abutment failure on the Woodstock side of the bridge. Bridge is currently closed to vehicular traffic.

Discussion: Rob Prue, PE from Pine Tree Engineering, will be present to answer questions.

Here are some events coming up in the next few weeks:

Friday, October 23, from 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, October 24, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Gould Academy fieldhouse: 46^th Annual Bethel Outing Club Ski and Snowboard Sale. Get that unused gear ready to sell! As well as the opportunity to buy from multiple shops in the same place, you have the opportunity to sell winter/outdoor gear and clothing you no longer use or have outgrown (gear should be in safe and good condition). The club takes a 20% commission on sales. More information can be found at bethelouting.org

Sunday, October 25, at 2 p.m.: Tour the Middle Intervale Cemetery with Museums of the Bethel Historical Society Executive Director Will Chapman. This is the final cemetery tour of the year, and will be followed by an open house in the historic Middle Intervale Meeting House, with light refreshments provided by the Middle Intervale Meeting House Society.

Thursday, October 29, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Telstar Library: “Family Caregiving: Challenges, Resources, and Hope,” a free program presented by “To Your Health.” See details in the flyer below.

Saturday, October 31, from 5 to 7 p.m.: Trick-or-Treat Broad Street. Round out a busy month with some family fun! Be sure to stop by the Bethel Library and the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society for our fifth annual Trick-or-Treat Broad Street. We will be distributing candy to trick-or-treaters at the Bethel Library, Robinson House, and Mason House. We’ll also have a mini haunted house full of creeptastic historical oddities in the Twitchell Education Center!

Thursday, November 5, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the Telstar Library: Mary Morton Cowan will give a presentation on the history of logging in New England. She is the author of Timberrr! A History of Logging in New England, written for middle-grade readers. Spanning four centuries, the book explores the true story of how logging shaped the economy, culture, and forests of New England—from colonial mast cutting to the rise of sawmills and modern sustainable forestry. This program is presented by the Western Mountains Senior College, and is free and open to the public.

Saturday, November 21, 2:00 p.m. at the Mason House of the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society: Book discussion. Join us for a discussion of the book, The Founding Foodies: American Meals that Wouldn’t Exist Today If Not For Washington, Jefferson, and Franklin by Dave DeWitt. Food writer DeWitt entertainingly describes how some of America’s most famous colonial leaders—like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin—not only established America’s political destiny, but also revolutionized the very foods we eat. Copies of the book are available at the Museum Shop for $10. Call 207-824-2908 or email info@bethelhistorical.org for more information.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor website, as of last Thursday, when the most recent drought map was released, all of Maine continued to be in at least a moderate drought. However, although the weekly map is released on Thursdays, apparently the cut-off time is the previous Tuesday at 8 a.m. That would mean that last Thursday’s map does not take into account the rain we received on Tuesday and Friday last week, and I’m hoping that the map due to be released today, October 22, will show at least a somewhat better picture of current drought conditions. Even though I’ve been grateful for so many beautiful October days, we do still need more rain!

On Monday morning of this week, Lena and I joined her bestie, Puck, and his person, Betsey, for a hike on the old roads on the west side of Red Hill in Rumford. It was a place I had never been before, and I always love a new-to-me hike. I should note two things, however: first, that the road is gated and access is by permission only (which we did have), and second, that there are coyote traps set in the area, something we didn’t realize until we saw them. So, unfortunately, it was probably my first and last hike there.

A century or more ago, the area was home to a small settlement comprised of several farms, and a surprising number of the fields are kept open by their present owners, giving us beautiful views as we looked across them to Rumford Whitecap in the distance.

A site along the road is identified by a sign as the former site of the Red Hill School, although no vestige of the building itself remains. Just as was the case here in Greenwood, in the nineteenth century, one-room schoolhouses were built nearly everywhere a neighborhood sprang up.

I tried to find out more about the history of Red Hill, but wasn’t able to learn much, except from a few excerpts of William Berry Lapham’s 1890 History of Rumford, Oxford County, Maine, from its First Settlement in 1779 to the Present Time, including one possible reason for the area’s name:

“Daniel and Ezekiel Harper, brothers, were in town quite early and lived on Red Hill. It is said by some that they each had red hair, and that the hill where they settled was so named from this circumstance.”

The dogs are always excited to play together, and they had a wonderful romp…and afterward they both went back home to their respective recliners and slept the afternoon away.

Although I’ve been enjoying the many warm sunny days we’ve had this October, the frosty mornings are a reminder that the seasons are about to change. Tony pulled the waterline from the pond at camp a few weeks ago, and went back last week to disconnect the pump, drain the pipes, and put RV antifreeze in the toilet and drains. I’m glad we no longer have docks and boats to pull out of the water, but that’s what my brother Steve’s family was doing last weekend at their camp. Brrrr!

This online newsletter is intended to keep our communities informed, so if you have news, events, or photos you’d like to have included here, I hope you’ll share them with me! You can reach me by email at amy.w.chapman@gmail.com or by phone or text at 207-890-4812.

Coming right up:

Friday and Saturday, October 23…

Read more

Read more

The West Paris Bobcat Committee is asking for support in the form of financial donations to help in efforts to preserve the former Agnes Gray School buildings and grounds. The Committee’s mission is to protect this important piece of West Paris history to ensure it will serve our community in the future.

While the Town of West Paris is exploring different options for the future of the property, the Bobcat Committee has been lending a hand in cleaning up the grounds, mowing the grass, and monitoring the exterior of the building and grounds. Until future plans are made, the Bobcats will do what they can to help with the upkeep and prevent further deterioration. Some of the most pressing needs are new roofs, weatherstripping, replacement of broken windows, and heating system improvements.

The Bobcat Committee appreciates contributions of any size and as a thank you, they are currently entering all names from donations into a raffle. There are several prizes including three vinyl albums from West Paris’s very own Maine Humorist, Joe Perham, a car care kit, a crocheted baby outfit and more. The drawing is scheduled for the Dec. 15th Bobcat Committee Meeting. You do not have to be present to win. Donations by check can be mailed to the following:

The Bobcat Committee
Jim Marshall, President
PO Box 34
West Paris, ME 04289

You may also donate by following this QR code:

The Bobcat Committee is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Their meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month at the West Paris Library. New members are always welcome.

The woolly bears are on the move! I’ve seen two of them this week. According to folklore, they are known for their ability to predict the length and severity of our winters by the length of their brown midsection. In the fall, these creatures make their way to a dark place to take shelter for the winter. In reality, the length of their midsection is just an indication of how old the caterpillar is. As it ages, it adds more brown hairs making their midsections appear larger, and therefore tricking us into thinking our winter will be a mild one, according to folklore. They survive the cold winter by producing a cryoprotectant that prevents their tissue from freezing as well as glycerol which insulates their body. Let’s hope they find their shelter soon, as the morning frosts have arrived! Maybe I’ll see these two flittering around as Isabella Tiger Moths in the spring.

Don’t forget to vote! Early voting is now open to West Paris residents any day the West Paris Town Office is open. M-W 8AM-5PM, Th 10AM-6PM, F 8AM-1PM. You may request an absentee ballot in person or online until Thursday, October 29th. You may also register to vote any day up to and including election day, November 3rd. Voting will be open on November 3rd from 8 AM until 8 PM.

Calendar of Upcoming Events:

Now through December 30: Art Exhibit, “The Nature of Trees” by Mick Liimatta, at the West Paris Library. Library open hours are Monday and Friday, 1:30-6 p.m.; Wednesday, 1:30-7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Thursday October 22nd: Public Hearing 5:00 PM.
The Town of West Paris will hold a Public Hearing at the West Paris Town Office in the meeting room to discuss acceptance of a Public Infrastructure CDBG Grant. The purpose of the grant is to replace the current water storage reservoir and associated piping, replace a critical river crossing, and the transmission main from the reservoir to the river crossing to comply with a MDWP Administrative Order. The district will also seek to locate and develop a secondary water supply. Public comments will be solicited at this Hearing and will be submitted as part of the Project Development Phase.

Saturday, October 24th: 4:30-6:00 PM Public Chicken Pie Supper at the Ring McKeen Legion Hall, 6 Church St. West Paris. Donation $12.00 per person. Eat in or take out. The full meal includes: chicken pie, mashed potato, veggies, homemade rolls, a dessert and beverage.

Monday Oct 26th: Goodwill Fellowship meeting/potluck at 12 noon at the West Paris Unitarian Universalist Church. Pokeno theme for Thanksgiving.

Wednesday October 28th: 5:30 PM, West Paris Old Home Days Planning Meeting. Held at Ripple Retreat, 186R Main Street, West Paris. All are welcome to join and share ideas.

Thursday October 29th: The Survey for the Town of West Paris Comprehensive Plan is due at the Town Office. Copies are available at the West Paris Town Office.

Saturday October 31st: The West Paris Vulnerability Assessment Survey is due. Paper copies of the survey are available at the Town Office and West Paris Library. You can also fill it out online at https://forms.gle/uxh5BpxzF3VXiQLy5 The goal of the Assessment Survey is to help West Paris become more resilient to extreme weather and other climate impacts.

Saturday October 31: Community Trunk or Treat at 5:00-7:30 PM at the West Paris Fire Station.

Tuesday November 3rd: Food Pantry 1PM-3PM at the West Paris Baptist Church.

Tuesday November 3rd: Polls are open for voting from 8AM-8PM at the West Paris Town Office.

Tuesday, November 10th: West Paris Planning Board Meeting at 6PM at the West Paris Town Office.

Tuesday, November 10th: West Paris Library Advisory Board Meeting 6:30-7:30PM. This is a monthly meeting and is open to the public.

December Date TBA: 100th Anniversary of the West Paris Library from 2:00-4:00 PM. Speaker: Rodney Abbott with displays and more. Join us to celebrate our 100-year-old Library! Everyone is welcome!

Ongoing West Paris Meetings/Events:

West Paris Selectman Meetings at 5PM Always the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month at the West Paris Town Office. All are welcomed to attend.

Recovery Ripples Meeting Every Tuesday at Ripple Retreat from 5pm to 6pm. This is a meeting for those in longterm recovery to discuss the good in our lives now, thanks to sobriety, rather than focusing on the bad. It’s an hour of Gratitude, sharing what we are grateful for as a direct result of our sobriety. We don’t share war stories or look in the past, we focus on today and the future. The meeting is held in person at Ripple Retreat, 186R Main Street, West Paris, ME 04289 and online at https://ripple-retreat.com/recovery-resources/.

The Ring McKeen American Legion Post 150 Every 4th Tuesday of the month the Legion and Auxiliary have a meeting and supper. The supper is at 6:00 PM and the meeting starts at 7:00PM. Any Veterans are welcome to join their Comrades.

The First Universalist Church of West Paris Worship Services Sundays, 9 AM. October’s services will feature music by guitarist Davy Sturtevant and a variety of guest speakers. Refreshments served following the service. All are welcome!
October 25, “Repairers of the Breach” led by The Rev. Scott Campbell.

If your West Paris organization has an event or meeting you would like to have listed in this newsletter, please email Stephanie at semery73@yahoo.com.

Isn’t this Fall foliage season one of the prettiest and longest you have witnessed in recent years? When I lived in Florida for about 20 years, Fall was the season I missed the most. It was almost a physical pain, longing for the sights, sounds, and scents of September and October. This yearning would prompt me to go down memory lane and reminisce about my younger years; jumping in the piles of leaves, my feet crunching through them as I slowly shuffled my way to the neighborhood library. That was on one of the most iconic avenues in Portland, lined with maples and oaks that towered above, making an arch. Of course, the 60’s in Portland, Maine, was a time to chat with your neighbors, kids carving pumpkins as they bit down hard on bright red candy apples. Raking the leaves into the street brought everyone out. All hands on deck to watch the burning piles on the side of the street. Everyone did it. The city did not have all the equipment they have now. Not a safe or environmentally sound practice, but I still savor the smell of burning leaves. Now that I live in Bethel full-time, I relish each day because of the natural beauty and colors that surround me. I certainly do not take it for granted!

Last Friday, the Bethel Senior Citizens Club may have begun a new fall tradition. Thirty-two members and friends traveled to Meredith, New Hampshire, in a 15-passenger van and several carpools. There, we boarded the Turkey Train for a dining-car ride featuring colorful views of Lake Winnipesaukee. From Mother’s Day through Halloween, the train runs several times a day and serves a full turkey dinner catered by the renowned Hart’s Turkey Farm. The food was delicious and plentiful, and the waitstaff was attentive and fun. Although we were just one small group among many larger bus tours, we had our own dining car—so what happened there stays there! I will, however, share a few photos.

The phrase “Waste not, want Not,” came to mind when my friend showed me his empty plate. I would have been happy to have taken a doggy bag home. It was that delicious. Perhaps you would like to join us next year?

I want to share with you a new and exciting feature of this column.

Betsey Foster of Greenwood recently reached out to me. She has a master’s degree in public health, and experience as a journalist/newspaper editor. I personally know her as the spunky gal who shared the cross-country ski trails with me years ago. Today she is an accomplished artist and an active member of the Plein Aire painters’ group. Besides being a “dog mom” and lover of nature, she is an all-around direct and kind person. I was thrilled when she contacted me and offered to occasionally write about the various aspects of aging for this column. You will be seeing and reading more from her over the next months. She introduced the idea with “I was talking with another aging friend about our normal physical and mental changes as we age. I realized many, if not all of us, have the same concerns about our changing bodies and minds…Would you be interested in a short, once-a-month piece; a timely example might be why we are so easily overwhelmed by things that were routine in our younger years? Yes, there is a scientific and biochemical basis for this! Writing, research and science, as a public service to all of us old folks…”

She got my attention!! And I think you will be just as happy as I am to read her article, which follows.

Enjoy your week,

Melinda Remington

AFCI Community Connector

melindaremington@yahoo.com

Overwhelmed with the Aging Brain

by Betsey Foster

Recently a friend and I were bemoaning the fact that, we no longer enjoy traveling like we did in our younger years. Instead, we felt overwhelmed by the chaos of airports and the whole traveling process.

We are in our 70s and 80s and traveling used to be an exciting delight—going, doing, new people and places. Yahoo! That is no longer the case. Now the whole prospect of traveling is overwhelming.

As it turns out, that is a normal symptom of aging. What a relief to find out I am normal in feeling overwhelmed. Here’s a bit of research into the aging mind and body and feeling overwhelmed. (Sources are given at the end if you want to know more.)

Even without the presence of a disease or disorder, brain aging involves cognitive, structural, neuronal, and chemical changes that contribute to feeling overwhelmed by things we used to take for granted and enjoy. And, here they are.

Weakened Sensory Filters: A tiny brainstem region called the locus coeruleus helps us focus. As we age, this region weakens, making older adults much more vulnerable to sensory overload from loud rooms, bright lights, or multiple people talking at once.

Slower Stress Recovery: The aging body takes longer to clear out stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. A stressful phone call or medical appointment can leave an older adult feeling “on edge” or foggy for hours afterward.

Reduced Working Memory: Natural structural changes make it harder for the brain to hold and manipulate multiple pieces of information at the same time

Our brains change size and the outer layer thins. These result in the cognitive changes we all experience such as remembering names. The brain regions that can shrink the most are the prefrontal cortex, cerebellum, and hippocampus. The cerebral cortex (the outer layer) also thins with age, especially in the frontal and temporal lobes.

Next up are the chemical changes that occur in the aging brain. It appears that, as brains age, they generate and send fewer messenger chemicals like the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin. In other words, sometimes the messages just don’t get through as well as they used to. That is certainly no surprise to me, but now I understand why.

Our neurons change. Neurons are specialized cells in the brain and nervous system that receive sensory input, process information, and send electrical and chemical signals within the brain and to the rest of the body. With aging, neurons shrink and their dendrites (branches) have less myelin (the protective coating that passes on signals). Less messages get through.

Are you suitably overwhelmed yet with why we may seem more easily overwhelmed with age?! There are good reasons to be, so go easy on yourself and give extra thought to what you actually enjoy as you age. There are ways to deal with our aging brains, and next time I’ll talk about those ways. I’m too overwhelmed to do that now!

Here are my sources if you are curious:

https://www.americanbrainfoundation.org/brain-aging-explained-what-speeds-it-up-and-what-we-can-do-to-slow-it-down/

https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/brain-fog-and-aging-whats-normal-and-when-be-concerned

On Saturday morning, we looked out the front living room window and there was a

Read more

I think everyone is feeling the time crunch to get projects complete before snow falls. We did have a few snowflakes mixed in with rain on Saturday. So soak up these beautiful 60 degree days while they last.

Beef stew was quickly cooked on a cool rainy night last week after work. I real…

Read more

This past weekend we went and got our pumpkins! It was so fun to watch my kiddo pick out her pumpkin. She even picked one out for me. We also turned her car seat forward this weekend. I don’t know when my baby got so big but I feel like I blinked.

There will be a To Your Health event on Thursday, October 29^th,
at the Telstar High School Library from 4-5:30pm. Please see attached flyer for
more details.

Eleven more days until Halloween. Do you get lots of trick or treaters? I hope to get out to East Bethel to bring my kiddo around. Call me at (207) 595-5930 or email me at haylist.laurent22@gmail.com. I look forward to
connecting with you. Have an outstanding week!

As I start writing this column (Friday the 16th) we are getting some more much needed rain. The last bout of rain I measured 1 1/2 inches in my rain gauge. Time will tell how much we receive this time around. * Update* We received a half inch.

Mills Market is hiring for a breakfast position, 4:30-11 am Monday to Friday. For more information contact Trish at the store or stop by Mills to fill out an application. You still have time to stop by the store and enter the Big Buck Contest. $500 starting pot donated by the Mills Market Big Buck Committee. Winner takes all – heaviest deer wins. $20 entry fee and must enter by October 30th. Deer must be field dressed (no heart, liver, or lungs) Must be weighed at Mills Market. Ends with Muzzleloader season. Enter in-store only.

The Big Buck Committee has the final say on winner. Good luck out there, and happy hunting.

Last Saturday my Uncle Mac and cousin Ben travelled from the Waterville area to have a visit with my dad, my husband, and myself. Dad made a gift of 2 of his firearms to his nephew Ben so they wanted to get all the info on those and the stories that go along with them from dad. We enjoyed a delicious lunch (as always) at Mills Market. It was a lovely day catching up and hearing tales from years past. I really enjoyed seeing my father talking and engaging with family.

The Andover Service Circle recently had this to say: A huge thank you to everyone who came out and joined us for our 22nd Annual Senior Appreciation Dinner! We hope everyone had a wonderful evening! We also want to give a big THANK YOU to all of our amazing volunteers who helped make the night possible, and to our wonderful community members who donated raffle items. Your generosity and support are truly appreciated! We’re so grateful for our community and everyone who helps make events like this possible. Thank you for helping us make it another great evening! I’m so glad that this annual dinner was so well attended. The ASC is a true gem in our community.

My dear friend (and recently retired...yay for you!) Amber has asked me to share the Retro Rewind 2nd annual adult Prom info with all of you. This takes place in mid-November so it will give anyone interested in this scholarship fundraiser plenty of time to plan. Add it to your calendar today and please spread the word. See the attached poster and QR code for all the info. Let’s make this a success!

Next Thursday October 29th, the Andover Public Library will be having their adult paint night and fundraiser from 6-8. It’s not too late to sign up. I have reserved my spot and am looking forward to this very much. I have attended a few of the paint nights in the past and I love how they are basically the same but different as people put their own spin on them. Come and join in on all the spooky holiday fun, ‘tis the season, and you get to see me ha ha.

The Town of Andover has another job opportunity: The Town is accepting applications for the Treasurer position. This hourly non-exempt position is perfect for someone seeking a flexible part-time, 20-hour work week. The position is eligible for benefits including holiday, vacation, and sick pay, participation in the town’s health and vision insurance plans and MainePERS.

The preferred candidate is responsible for the administrative and fiscal work in handling of Town funds, working closely with the Selectboard. Work involves cash management, maintaining relationships with financial institutions and the public; disbursing funds to cover expenditures and mandated reporting managed by federal and state law and town ordinance/policy and preparing and administering department budgetary reports; work is performed under the general supervision of the Selectboard with considerable independence of action in accordance with applicable laws and following generally accepted accounting practices; work is reviewed through observation, verification, internal audit and through fiscal audit.

The preferred candidate will have experience in: payroll processing, accounts payable and receivable, working with vendor contracts, managing annual budget building process, accounts reconciliation and deposits, able to be bonded, municipal bonds and notes, municipal (TRIO or like) software system, will need to be, or become, a Notary of the Public, will attend Selectboard meetings as requested and Annual Town Meeting, have reliable transportation for out-of-town bank deposits. The ideal candidate will also have experience in administering Human Resource/employee benefits.

This list is a sample, not inclusive, of the roles and responsibility of this position. This position remains open until a qualified candidate is hired. Please visit the Town Office, 17 Stillman Road, Andover, Maine for an application. Submit your application with a current resume and cover letter to the Town Office, PO Box 219, Andover, Maine 04216, Attn: Selectboard or email both as separate PDF attachments (not as Google doc links) to secretary@andovermaine.gov. Selected candidates will be notified by phone and/or email for an interview.

As always please send any news, info or events my way. diananadeau@ymail.com

(An introduction to each week’s newsletter from the editor of WMNN)

Hi, Neighbors! In this week’s Western Maine Neighborhood News, the Bethel, Gilead, Newry, and Woodstock columns are free to all subscribers, along with news from the AFCI—the Age-Friendly Community Initiative. Upgrade to a paid subscription ($5/month or $50/year) to read this week’s Andover, East Bethel, Locke’s Mills, and West Paris columns (and all the town columns every week).

As we reach the midpoint of October—how did that happen?!—our stunning foliage colors are beginning to fade. We’re likely to see fewer people “from away” visiting our area over the next few weeks, but it won’t be long before the holiday season is here and winter recreation is in full swing. Those of us who are fortunate enough to live here year-round know that this is one of the best times of the year to get outside and play, and that there are still plenty of programs and events happening to keep us socially engaged, active, and entertained.

This Saturday, October 17, drop by the Bethel Library between 1 and 3 p.m. to celebrate and say farewell to Library Director Kelcy Arciga and her family as they head off for new adventures in Ireland. Then, at 3 p.m., head up Broad Street to the Mason House for “What Revolution?”, a spirited discussion of the events of 1776 and their place in history with local historians William Andrews and David Jones. At 6 p.m., the Andover Snow Valley Sno-goers snowmobile club will hold a public ham supper and Landowner Appreciation Night at their clubhouse at 205 South Main Street in Andover.

Sunday is looking like a brisk and beautiful day to join Museums of the Bethel Historical Society Executive Director Will Chapman for the third of four local cemetery tours. Meet at 2 p.m. at the Pine Grove Cemetery on Route 2 in West Bethel Village. (Please park next door at Cross Excavation.) After the tour, the Pleasant Valley Commons (former Pleasant Valley Grange Hall) invites everyone in for an open house with cider and snacks. I hope to see you there!

Lena would also like to remind you that fall is the very best time for hiking! Have a great week!

Andover News

Diana Nadeau

Hello faithful readers.

First and foremost, I would love to ask for healing prayers and wishes for Mark Farrington. He was involved in a terrible automobile accident on October 8th. He had life-threatening injuries and was taken by Life Flight to Maine Medical Center where he remains. From what I understand he has had some surgeries with more to come. Healing thoughts and prayers are coming your way, Mark, and to your family as well.

Bethel News

Linda Howe

This past week there were three events at the Methodist Church which involved food and community gathering. The first event was the Loggers Supper on Saturday, October 10th. Food was plentiful and delicious. What I also enjoyed was Chris and Diane who showed photographs and spoke about the Bethel Wood Bank. This Wood Bank services the towns of Bethel, Greenwood, Woodstock, Hanover, Andover, Newry, Gilead, Albany Township, and Upton. This Wood Bank provides limited, supplemental firewood heat assistance. There are Heat Assistance Applications for the 2026-2027 Heating Season available. This will be a much needed service for the upcoming winter. Folks who volunteer at the wood lot on Route 26 across from Blake’s farm are there on Wednesdays and Saturdays. This is a terrific program and blessing to our towns.

The second event was Neighbors Feeding Neighbors on Tuesday, October 13th. Guest speakers at this event were three men from the Abenaki tribe. It was great to experience the culture of this Native American tribe with Maine roots. The food that also showed was amazing! There were also about 70 people in attendance. It was a special night for everyone to enjoy.

The third event was the monthly meeting of the Bethel Senior Citizen Club. The meal prepared by Debbie St. Pierre was delicious. She is a community member who likes to cook for Senior Citizens as a way of giving back to our oldest citizens. After the meal we had a guest speaker. Rebecca Fraser Douglass spoke about sound therapy and the benefits to our health. The science behind it is very interesting indeed. After her talk folks were invited to go into the Community Annex and experience a sound bath. It was very calming and relaxing. Sound immersion is wonderful. Rebecca is gifted using the sound bowls. Her website is raphawellnessme.com, which contains lots of information on this healing practice using sound.

On Saturday, October 17, at the Rumford Point UCC Church located on Route 2 is a Community Potluck Lunch starting at 11:30 a.m. Potluck is always fun because you never know what will show up. Everyone is welcome to come and share food and conversation.

This coming Saturday, October 17, from 1-3 p.m., the Bethel Library is having an Open House to celebrate Kelcy Arciga’s accomplishments and wish her and her family well as they head to Ireland. During Kelcy’s tenure she brought many new and creative ideas for our local public library. Many thanks to Kelcy with good wishes and new adventures as her family joins her mother in Ireland.

At 3 p.m. on Saturday, following the open house for Kelcy, head to the Mason House at 14 Broad Street for “What Revolution?”, a spirited discussion of the events of 1776 and their place in history with local historians William Andrews and David Jones.

The first of the Soup’s On! Lunches will be on Wednesday, October 21^st, at the Methodist Church from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Come and enjoy some delicious soups and conversations with our many neighbors.

This digital column always welcomes news and/or events which can be sent to lhowe7273@gmail.com

East Bethel News

Hayli Tuttle

Hello neighbors! I hope you all had a wonderful week. To be honest, I have had a hard time writing this week’s column. Sometimes grief just hits, and I find myself in a funk.

Last night was a Neighbors Feeding Neighbors meal. They were joined by Indigenous chefs and leaders. They had a brief presentation from the Abenaki Councils of Odanak and Wôlinak. They also gave a blessing on the meal. Unfortunately, I couldn’t be there as I had a very sleepy toddler, but I was told it was a beautiful night.

Gilead News

Lin Chapman

Since I have been fairly busy over the weekend, I am finally getting around to write my column on Tuesday. It is a miserable rainy day and hovering around 40 degrees at 4:00PM. Sometimes I wish I was headed for sunny California. Not much to write about. Most people are busy getting ready for the upcoming cold weather.

We have an antique white rose bush that was my mother’s. It has grown quite tall since we planted it out front of the pergola. A couple of years ago it had a few rose hips after the blossoms were gone. There was a flock of Cedar Waxwings that arrived and ate a lot of them. The bush is loaded this year but we have seen only one Waxwing enjoying the rose hips. Some people used to make tea and other things from them.

Judy Bishop, our dedicated GHS member from Yarmouth, attended the last concert of the season at the All Souls Chapel on the Poland Spring Resort grounds, Poland Spring, Maine. Phil House and Kathy Haley were performing. They are two of the longest performing and most beloved musicians of the summer concert series. Phil has been part of the concert series for 30 of the 50 years, and together they have played at Poland Spring for close to 30 years.

After the concert, Judy drove to Gilead to be there for the last day the GHS buildings were open for the season. The members that were there held a birthday party for her since her birthday is at the end of the month. Those that could make it were Kevin Daniels, Pete and Claudia Risbara, and Hugh and Lin Chapman.

Gilead Historical Society

The GHS has wrapped up for this season. There are still quite a few leaf-peepers enjoying the little maple in front of the buildings. We will be closed until Memorial weekend next May. Good season and thanks to all who stopped by and learned a little bit about Gilead’s history.

Letter #12

Aug 15, 1905.

My dearest Family,

Our day in Canterbury was one of the red letter days of the summer. It is so picturesque and the many associations with history and literature make it wonderfully interesting. The train from Canterbury to London took us through such pretty country: fine grassy slopes with large flocks of sheep and herds of cows grazing on them.

We reached London about six, took a carriage and with our ten pieces of baggage (Paris gowns had to be carried in pasteboard boxes) and we arrived at Miss Glover’s boarding house just in time for dinner. The first thing we did Wednesday [Aug. 16] morning was to take a bus to Cook’s where we were made happy by two or three letters apiece: several had been forwarded to Lucerne and sent back to London, one from Ethel in which she had enclosed some money. After we had read our letters we walked to London Bridge, passing the great Fire Monument on our way

Thursday [Aug. 17] we made a day’s excursion to Hampton Court, the palace built by Cardinal Wolsey and presented to Henry VIII.

The Hampton Court gardens are beautiful; long walks between fine old trees, lotus and lily ponds, and the greatest profusion of flowers; long and rather narrow flower beds beside the walk or against a brick wall, and in them hollyhocks of all colors, roses, larkspur, phlox (the loveliest and most varied in color that I have ever seen) geraniums, etc. all mixed in together. I think it was really the prettiest garden I have ever seen. From these Gardens we went into Bushy Park and walked through it (about 2 miles) to Teddington. From Teddington we went by electric car to Richmond and from the bridge over the Thames we had lovely views of the river with its windings and picturesque bridges farther up the stream.

Sunday afternoon we drove through Hyde Park in hansom cabs. In the season it is the place to see society in the afternoon. Monday [Aug. 21] was our best day in London for we really devoted that to Westminster Abbey. We didn’t see even then all that we would have liked, but it was all we were equal to in one day. On Tuesday [Aug. 22] we made another excursion, this time to Windsor. It is over an hour’s ride by train, through pretty English country. Wednesday [Aug. 23] was our last whole day in London and as usual some of it had to be devoted to shopping. We had a good time looking at the lovely silks in Liberty’s windows, and we almost spent our last cent on gloves at Peter Robinson’s.

One other thing which we particularly enjoyed was a visit to the “Old Curiosity Shop.” It is just as quaint as Dickens represents it and the little old man and his wife who live there and sell postcards are real Dickens characters.

This finishes our London experiences, for at 1:25 on Thursday, we took the train for Oxford. I shall send you only one more letter for our trip is nearly over. It will be very good to get home though I have enjoyed every minute of the trip.

Much love to you all. Mary G. Peabody, Warwick, Aug. 29, 1905.

Got any news? Email chapmal@hotmail.com

Locke’s Mills News

Amy Wight Chapman

Can it really be mid-October already? The leaves are coming off in the wind and rain, and soon it will be “stick season,” that time between the riotous color of the fall foliage and the quieter beauty of the winter snows.

We’ve certainly been lucky to have so many beautiful days for all kinds of outdoor activities, and the rain we got earlier this week was welcome, too.

Newry News

Amy Henley

Going to Augusta for a convention for two days last week sure made time go quickly. Some great classes took place and connections were made as well as information from vendors. I was glad to make it home in time to get the call from Eliot that he got his first deer. It sure was exciting. So much for relaxing as we headed to Andover to tag it. I’m not into hunting but I’ll support my kid and was there taking pictures. He even convinced me to cook and try some tenderloin. I told him I was really reaching deep but I did it for him. Now he’s on the hunt for a turkey.

Eliot was given a beautiful bow but he still has some growing to do before he can use it so we headed up to LL Cote to see if we could find something that he can use now. It was great to see Mark Bartlett up there as a salesman and he was a great help in setting Eliot up with everything he needs.

Even though it was a long weekend and I had planned on doing some baking, somehow it did not happen. I did make a corn chowder and a tuna noodle casserole. No treats this week in this house.

Trapping season begins soon and I couldn’t be more thankful to have Scott Berry in my kid’s life showing him the ropes and being by his side when he got his deer. I don’t know which one of them enjoys it more. We have quite a few varmints around that need to be thinned out and Eliot and Scott are going to be on the case. I have two older hens that you probably see roaming about if you ride by and at least one was surrounded by feathers this morning. Hopefully the other, Betty, is hiding out somewhere and is safe. We enjoy watching them on the lawn picking away at anything and everything. They will even come on the back porch to visit if you are sitting with Betty always jumping on the porch swing or in my lap for a swing as well. I guess nothing lasts forever and I’ll enjoy the memories. Farm life is a good life but a hard life.

The School Board meets on Monday, October 19^th at 6:30pm at Telstar in the library.

The Select Board meets on Tuesday, October 20^th at 4:30pm. Dogs may be licensed for 2027 starting on October 15^th. Proof of rabies vaccination is required, if not on file. Taxes were due on September 30^th with interest starting October 1^st. The best way to pay is on the town’s website newrymaine.org. Call the office for assistance or if you need the amount due.

Have a great rest of the week. Apparently, I didn’t take many photos this week so another beautiful leaf it is up against some barbwire.

Send me your news to newrynews24@gmail.com and I’ll add it to next week’s column.

West Paris News

Stephanie Emery

Greetings from West Paris!

On Oct 12th, 1876, the West Paris Lodge No 15 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows dedicated their new “Centennial Hall” with a supper and ceremony. Approximately 250 people attended the supper where cakes and pies and “all the edibles which can be manufactured by New England cooks” were served along with “unsurpassable coffee provided to wash them down,” according to the Oxford Democrat. The dedication ceremony lasted for over three hours with even women in attendance, an unusual standard for groups at the time. Speeches were made by the IOOF officers and local talent provided entertainment.

Woodstock News

Linda Stowell

Happy mid-October! This month seems to be screaming by. Three more weeks til the election. I’m really looking forward to the end of the political ads. I am sure I’m not the only one who feels this way. Nothing is going to change my mind at this point, and I have the mute button ready to go whenever there’s a barrage of them!

I am very excited to announce this upcoming exhibit at the Whitman Memorial Library. Kenneth Hathaway was a great uncle who I never met, brother to my grandfather, Rupert. There isn’t a lot of information about him that we have been able to find about details of his life. He was in the Army, and then lived in Boston with his mother, for most of his life. His mother was Claire Whitman Hathaway. He worked at the Christian Science Monitor, and was an accomplished artist in pastels. My grandfather had many of his works, and they have been shared with the generations that followed. We selected paintings that show local scenes, or particular ones that are our favorites. Some are of the lake. I do hope that many will come in to view them.

The library is search of a new librarian. If you, or someone you know, is interested (12 hours weekly), please contact the town office.

Here’s one more plug for the chili and chowder dinner next week at the Locke Mills Union Church.

From the First Universalist Church of West Paris:

October 18, Our guest speaker, Maryli Tiemann, will be sharing a reflection, “Stuff Beyond Hope.” “In the midst of endless dramatic news items, I like to remind myself to continue believing in the truth of the potential of human beings. I’m sure any of us could grouse about all we’re not doing. Yet what’s interesting is to pause and look at what happens intuitively as we live, the gut stuff. The process of evolving in motion, in constant revision.”

October 25, “Repairers of the Breach” is led by The Rev. Scott Campbell. Here’s an excerpt: “I am sometimes quite envious of my friends who seem to have the gift of choosing sides and believing utterly and completely in their cause. There is a certain kind of clarity about their positions that I sometimes lack. They are often blissfully unencumbered by the concerns of those they deem to simply be wrong. They know the truth and carry no burden of caring for those who do not. I’ve never quite been able to muster that kind of certainty about my positions in relation to those of others. Way too often I find myself standing in the middle ground and trying to bring folks together. The problem is that compromise is not nearly as compelling as the cause, whatever it may be. To repair the breach often means to put oneself in a position of pleasing no one. It can be a position that is despised until both sides decide they need something that only you have—a middle place to meet. The real art, the real challenge, is to fill that middle ground in such a way that it bends towards justice. Those who would repair the breach in a way that endures are not those without conviction, but those who love all people enough to move them towards loving each other.”

For more information about the church and services, please contact Marta Clements, 674-2143, mclements96894@roadrunner.com, or Suzanne Dunham, 665-2967, dunhamfarm@msn.com. To learn more about the Unitarian-Universalist Association, visit http://www.uua.org/. The First Universalist Church of West Paris is located at 208 Main St., West Paris 04289.

On Saturday, Dave and I went to Bruno’s Restaurant in Portland for a special birthday meal. My brother-in-law, George Stowell, turned 90 last week. His children, Rachel, Sandy, and David, successfully pulled off a surprise party for him. It was a lovely day, a great group, wonderful food, and an all-round good time! I was especially pleased to see my great nephew, Andrew Sprague. It’s always a good time with the Stowell crew. I’m very grateful for them.

On Indigenous People’s Day, several us gathered at Hathaway’s Hideaway to honor and celebrate Owen Melville. We toasted him, told stories, and had his favorite snacks—even some salsa he himself made! Susan chose that day because Owen has always been proud of his Native heritage. It seemed only fitting. Each of us had a shot glass with some of his ashes, and we all went outside to scatter them. He really was an amazing man—from being in the Peace Corps to learning to do home canning!

My daughters are off to London tomorrow, for a long weekend. The company that Rachel designs for —Pulp and Wire—is being recognized at Pentawards, which is all about packaging and design. It sounds like quite an event—a Gala that looks quite extravagant. Rachel happened to be available to go to London to accept the award, and immediately asked her sister to go along. I certainly look forward to hearing of their adventures.

If you have any news or know of anything happening, please let me know! lalalindastowell@gmail.com

AFCI News

Melinda Remington

Hello, everyone!

It’s hard to believe we’re already approaching the middle of October—time certainly flies!

Our community has so much to enjoy. This year’s brilliant fall foliage and pleasant weather have made the season especially uplifting. The natural beauty right outside our doors brings an added sense of joy and richness to everyday life.

Today I attended the Bethel Senior Citizens Club’s monthly meeting and luncheon, held on the second Wednesday of each month from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church on Main Street in Bethel. The club welcomes adults age 50 and older from nearby communities, including Norway and Rumford. Annual dues are only $10, and visitors—including vacationers and anyone interested in learning more—are always welcome. Lunch generally costs $10, though donations in any amount are accepted. I enjoy this opportunity to reconnect with neighbors and make new friends. As the AFCI Community Connector, I am honored to share useful information that supports and enriches the lives of older residents. Members also have time to ask questions and discuss concerns in a welcoming environment. The club’s current core leaders—Kathy Bartlet, Sandra Gunther, Linda Howe, Nancy Staudinger, Lillian Williamson—do a wonderful job. The business meeting includes the Pledge of Allegiance, secretary’s and treasurer’s reports, updates on future programs, and important contact information. Members also sing a lively rendition of Happy Birthday to the month’s honorees; October birthdays are Eileen Broderick, Eileen Ring, Frank Shaw, Donna Washburn, Maryvonne Wheeler, and Steve Wight. If you see them around town, be sure to wish them a happy birthday!

An important part of the meeting was confirming plans for those who reserved tickets and meals for the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad’s popular Turkey Dinner Train. We will depart from the Bethel Family Health Center at 8:00 a.m. this Friday and travel by van and cars to the station in Meredith, New Hampshire. The two-hour train excursion will include a homestyle turkey dinner catered by the renowned Hart’s Turkey Farm Restaurant in Meredith. To round out the day—no pun intended—we will stop for delicious cider doughnuts and cider. Our group of 34 is hoping for good weather and beautiful foliage, but rain or shine, this hearty group is sure to have fun!

Debbie St. Pierre of Bethel lovingly prepared a homemade lunch of lasagna, chicken tetrazzini, tossed salad, rolls, and desserts. It was delicious!!! Thank you, Debbie!

Our guest speaker was Rebecca Fraser Douglass, LMS, CMLDT, a licensed massage therapist and sound healer with Mountain View Massage in Hanover, Maine.

I personally knew Rebecca’s parents when she was a wee child, growing up in Newry. Greg Fraser (now deceased) and Robin Fraser. Rebecca explained how sound-frequency therapy may benefit people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Its calming effects may be especially helpful for those who experience “sundowning.”

Afterward, those interested in experiencing a sound bath moved to chairs arranged in the Church Annex. Nearby, a table held Tibetan singing bowls and other instruments that produced soothing sounds reminiscent of ocean waves, falling water, and chimes. You may be wondering, “What exactly is a sound bath?” I had the same question. If you would like to know more reach out to Rebecca at 207-370-8580 or mtviewmassage@gmail.com

The next Senior Citizens Club meeting is Nov. 11, 11:00 am. at the Methodist Church People are signing up to share a Potluck Turkey Dinner. If you missed Wednesday’s meeting, please reach out to Nancy Staudinger (240-925-4172) or Sandra Gunther (207-824-2516) to let someone know what you would like to contribute.

Next week also marks the season’s kickoff of Soups On for Seniors, a popular program founded by Bonnie Pooley and Linda Howe. No identification or proof of age is required at the door. Bonnie envisioned a welcoming place where older adults could gather during the colder months, enjoy hot soup and bread, and share meaningful conversation in the warm dining room of the Methodist Church on Main Street. The idea was simple—nothing elaborate or fancy—and, with support from the Local Food Connection of Bethel and the church’s lay members, it became a reality. Today, the lunch is held on the third Wednesday of each month during the cooler season, when people may be more likely to stay home and become isolated. If you would like to help with this gathering that nourishes both body and spirit, please contact Bonnie at 207-381-7944. We typically serve 50 to 70 people, so additional cooks are always welcome. I look forward to making fish chowder—what is your specialty?

Have a great week!

Melinda

AFCI Community Connector

melindaremington@yahoo.com

I am very excited to announce this upcoming exhibit at the Whitman Memorial Library. Kenneth Hathaway was a great uncle who I never met, brother to my grandfather, Rupert. There isn’t a lot of information about him that we have been able to find about details of his life. He was in the Army, and then lived in Boston with his mother, for most of his life. His mother was Claire Whitman Hathaway. He worked at the Christian Science Monitor, and was an accomplished artist in pastels. My grandfather had many of his works, and they have been shared with the generations that followed. We selected paintings that show local scenes, or particular ones that are our favorites. Some are of the lake. I do hope that many will come in to view them.

The library is search of a new librarian. If you, or someone you know, is interested (12 hours weekly), please contact the town office.

Here’s one more plug for the chili and chowder dinner next week at the Locke Mills Union Church.

From the First Universalist Church of West Paris:

October 18, Our guest speaker, Maryli Tiemann, will be sharing a reflection, “Stuff Beyond Hope.” “In the midst of endless dramatic news items, I like to remind myself to continue believing in the truth of the potential of human beings. I’m sure any of us could grouse about all we’re not doing. Yet what’s interesting is to pause and look at what happens intuitively as we live, the gut stuff. The process of evolving in motion, in constant revision.”

October 25, “Repairers of the Breach” is led by The Rev. Scott Campbell. Here’s an excerpt: “I am sometimes quite envious of my friends who seem to have the gift of choosing sides and believing utterly and completely in their cause. There is a certain kind of clarity about their positions that I sometimes lack. They are often blissfully unencumbered by the concerns of those they deem to simply be wrong. They know the truth and carry no burden of caring for those who do not. I’ve never quite been able to muster that kind of certainty about my positions in relation to those of others. Way too often I find myself standing in the middle ground and trying to bring folks together. The problem is that compromise is not nearly as compelling as the cause, whatever it may be. To repair the breach often means to put oneself in a position of pleasing no one. It can be a position that is despised until both sides decide they need something that only you have—a middle place to meet. The real art, the real challenge, is to fill that middle ground in such a way that it bends towards justice. Those who would repair the breach in a way that endures are not those without conviction, but those who love all people enough to move them towards loving each other.”

For more information about the church and services, please contact Marta Clements, 674-2143, mclements96894@roadrunner.com, or Suzanne Dunham, 665-2967, dunhamfarm@msn.com. To learn more about the Unitarian-Universalist Association, visit http://www.uua.org/. The First Universalist Church of West Paris is located at 208 Main St., West Paris 04289.

On Saturday, Dave and I went to Bruno’s Restaurant in Portland for a special birthday meal. My brother-in-law, George Stowell, turned 90 last week. His children, Rachel, Sandy, and David, successfully pulled off a surprise party for him. It was a lovely day, a great group, wonderful food, and an all-round good time! I was especially pleased to see my great nephew, Andrew Sprague. It’s always a good time with the Stowell crew. I’m very grateful for them.

On Indigenous People’s Day, several us gathered at Hathaway’s Hideaway to honor and celebrate Owen Melville. We toasted him, told stories, and had his favorite snacks—even some salsa he himself made! Susan chose that day because Owen has always been proud of his Native heritage. It seemed only fitting. Each of us had a shot glass with some of his ashes, and we all went outside to scatter them. He really was an amazing man—from being in the Peace Corps to learning to do home canning!

My daughters are off to London tomorrow, for a long weekend. The company that Rachel designs for —Pulp and Wire—is being recognized at Pentawards, which is all about packaging and design. It sounds like quite an event—a Gala that looks quite extravagant. Rachel happened to be available to go to London to accept the award, and immediately asked her sister to go along. I certainly look forward to hearing of their adventures.

If you have any news or know of anything happening, please let me know! lalalindastowell@gmail.com

Last night was a Neighbors Feeding Neighbors meal. They were joined by Indigenous chefs and leaders. They had a brief presentation from the Abenaki Councils of Odanak and Wôlinak. They also gave a blessing on the meal. Unfortunately, I couldn’t be there as I had a very sleepy toddler, but I was told it was a beautiful night.

Read more

It’s hard to believe we’re already approaching the middle of October—time certainly flies!

Our community has so much to enjoy. This year’s brilliant fall foliage and pleasant weather have made the season especially uplifting. The natural beauty right outside our doors brings an added sense of joy and richness to everyday life.

Today I attended the Bethel Senior Citizens Club’s monthly meeting and luncheon, held on the second Wednesday of each month from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church on Main Street in Bethel. The club welcomes adults age 50 and older from nearby communities, including Norway and Rumford. Annual dues are only $10, and visitors—including vacationers and anyone interested in learning more—are always welcome. Lunch generally costs $10, though donations in any amount are accepted. I enjoy this opportunity to reconnect with neighbors and make new friends. As the AFCI Community Connector, I am honored to share useful information that supports and enriches the lives of older residents. Members also have time to ask questions and discuss concerns in a welcoming environment. The club’s current core leaders—Kathy Bartlet, Sandra Gunther, Linda Howe, Nancy Staudinger, Lillian Williamson—do a wonderful job. The business meeting includes the Pledge of Allegiance, secretary’s and treasurer’s reports, updates on future programs, and important contact information. Members also sing a lively rendition of Happy Birthday to the month’s honorees; October birthdays are Eileen Broderick, Eileen Ring, Frank Shaw, Donna Washburn, Maryvonne Wheeler, and Steve Wight. If you see them around town, be sure to wish them a happy birthday!

An important part of the meeting was confirming plans for those who reserved tickets and meals for the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad’s popular Turkey Dinner Train. We will depart from the Bethel Family Health Center at 8:00 a.m. this Friday and travel by van and cars to the station in Meredith, New Hampshire. The two-hour train excursion will include a homestyle turkey dinner catered by the renowned Hart’s Turkey Farm Restaurant in Meredith. To round out the day—no pun intended—we will stop for delicious cider doughnuts and cider. Our group of 34 is hoping for good weather and beautiful foliage, but rain or shine, this hearty group is sure to have fun!

Debbie St. Pierre of Bethel lovingly prepared a homemade lunch of lasagna, chicken tetrazzini, tossed salad, rolls, and desserts. It was delicious!!! Thank you, Debbie!

Our guest speaker was Rebecca Fraser Douglass, LMS, CMLDT, a licensed massage therapist and sound healer with Mountain View Massage in Hanover, Maine.

I personally knew Rebecca’s parents when she was a wee child, growing up in Newry. Greg Fraser (now deceased) and Robin Fraser. Rebecca explained how sound-frequency therapy may benefit people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Its calming effects may be especially helpful for those who experience “sundowning.”

Afterward, those interested in experiencing a sound bath moved to chairs arranged in the Church Annex. Nearby, a table held Tibetan singing bowls and other instruments that produced soothing sounds reminiscent of ocean waves, falling water, and chimes. You may be wondering, “What exactly is a sound bath?” I had the same question. If you would like to know more reach out to Rebecca at 207-370-8580 or mtviewmassage@gmail.com

The next Senior Citizens Club meeting is Nov. 11, 11:00 am. at the Methodist Church People are signing up to share a Potluck Turkey Dinner. If you missed Wednesday’s meeting, please reach out to Nancy Staudinger (240-925-4172) or Sandra Gunther (207-824-2516) to let someone know what you would like to contribute.

Next week also marks the season’s kickoff of Soups On for Seniors, a popular program founded by Bonnie Pooley and Linda Howe. No identification or proof of age is required at the door. Bonnie envisioned a welcoming place where older adults could gather during the colder months, enjoy hot soup and bread, and share meaningful conversation in the warm dining room of the Methodist Church on Main Street. The idea was simple—nothing elaborate or fancy—and, with support from the Local Food Connection of Bethel and the church’s lay members, it became a reality. Today, the lunch is held on the third Wednesday of each month during the cooler season, when people may be more likely to stay home and become isolated. If you would like to help with this gathering that nourishes both body and spirit, please contact Bonnie at 207-381-7944. We typically serve 50 to 70 people, so additional cooks are always welcome. I look forward to making fish chowder—what is your specialty?

Have a great week!

Melinda

AFCI Community Connector

melindaremington@yahoo.com

On Oct 12th, 1876, the West Paris Lodge No 15 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows dedicated their new “Centennial Hall” with a supper and ceremony. Approximately 250 people attended the supper where cakes and pies and “all the edibles which can be manufactured by New England cooks” were served along with “unsurpassable coffee provided to wash them down,” according to the Oxford Democrat. The dedication ceremony lasted for over three hours with even women in attendance, an unusual standard for groups at the time. Speeches were made by the IOOF officers and local talent provided entertainment.

Read more

We have an antique white rose bush that was my mother’s. It has grown quite tall since we planted it out front of the pergola. A couple of years ago it had a few rose hips after the blossoms were gone. There was a flock of Cedar Waxwings that arrived and ate a lot of them. The bush is loaded this year but we have seen only one Waxwing enjoying the rose hips. Some people used to make tea and other things from them.

Judy Bishop, our dedicated GHS member from Yarmouth, attended the last concert of the season at the All Souls Chapel on the Poland Spring Resort grounds, Poland Spring, Maine. Phil House and Kathy Haley were performing. They are two of the longest performing and most beloved musicians of the summer concert series. Phil has been part of the concert series for 30 of the 50 years, and together they have played at Poland Spring for close to 30 years.

After the concert, Judy drove to Gilead to be there for the last day the GHS buildings were open for the season. The members that were there held a birthday party for her since her birthday is at the end of the month. Those that could make it were Kevin Daniels, Pete and Claudia Risbara, and Hugh and Lin Chapman.

Gilead Historical Society

The GHS has wrapped up for this season. There are still quite a few leaf-peepers enjoying the little maple in front of the buildings. We will be closed until Memorial weekend next May. Good season and thanks to all who stopped by and learned a little bit about Gilead’s history.

Letter #12

Aug 15, 1905.

My dearest Family,

Our day in Canterbury was one of the red letter days of the summer. It is so picturesque and the many associations with history and literature make it wonderfully interesting. The train from Canterbury to London took us through such pretty country: fine grassy slopes with large flocks of sheep and herds of cows grazing on them.

We reached London about six, took a carriage and with our ten pieces of baggage (Paris gowns had to be carried in pasteboard boxes) and we arrived at Miss Glover’s boarding house just in time for dinner. The first thing we did Wednesday [Aug. 16] morning was to take a bus to Cook’s where we were made happy by two or three letters apiece: several had been forwarded to Lucerne and sent back to London, one from Ethel in which she had enclosed some money. After we had read our letters we walked to London Bridge, passing the great Fire Monument on our way

Thursday [Aug. 17] we made a day’s excursion to Hampton Court, the palace built by Cardinal Wolsey and presented to Henry VIII.

The Hampton Court gardens are beautiful; long walks between fine old trees, lotus and lily ponds, and the greatest profusion of flowers; long and rather narrow flower beds beside the walk or against a brick wall, and in them hollyhocks of all colors, roses, larkspur, phlox (the loveliest and most varied in color that I have ever seen) geraniums, etc. all mixed in together. I think it was really the prettiest garden I have ever seen. From these Gardens we went into Bushy Park and walked through it (about 2 miles) to Teddington. From Teddington we went by electric car to Richmond and from the bridge over the Thames we had lovely views of the river with its windings and picturesque bridges farther up the stream.

Sunday afternoon we drove through Hyde Park in hansom cabs. In the season it is the place to see society in the afternoon. Monday [Aug. 21] was our best day in London for we really devoted that to Westminster Abbey. We didn’t see even then all that we would have liked, but it was all we were equal to in one day. On Tuesday [Aug. 22] we made another excursion, this time to Windsor. It is over an hour’s ride by train, through pretty English country. Wednesday [Aug. 23] was our last whole day in London and as usual some of it had to be devoted to shopping. We had a good time looking at the lovely silks in Liberty’s windows, and we almost spent our last cent on gloves at Peter Robinson’s.

One other thing which we particularly enjoyed was a visit to the “Old Curiosity Shop.” It is just as quaint as Dickens represents it and the little old man and his wife who live there and sell postcards are real Dickens characters.

This finishes our London experiences, for at 1:25 on Thursday, we took the train for Oxford. I shall send you only one more letter for our trip is nearly over. It will be very good to get home though I have enjoyed every minute of the trip.

Much love to you all. Mary G. Peabody, Warwick, Aug. 29, 1905.

Got any news? Email chapmal@hotmail.com

First and foremost, I would love to ask for healing prayers and wishes for Mark Farrington. He was involved in a terrible automobile accident on October 8th. He had life-threatening injuries and was taken by Life Flight to Maine Medical Center where he remains. From what I understand he has had some surgeries with more to come. Healing thoughts and prayers are coming your way, Mark, and to your family as well.

Read more

We’ve certainly been lucky to have so many beautiful days for all kinds of outdoor activities, and the rain we got earlier this week was welcome, too.

Read more

Eliot was given a beautiful bow but he still has some growing to do before he can use it so we headed up to LL Cote to see if we could find something that he can use now. It was great to see Mark Bartlett up there as a salesman and he was a great help in setting Eliot up with everything he needs.

Even though it was a long weekend and I had planned on doing some baking, somehow it did not happen. I did make a corn chowder and a tuna noodle casserole. No treats this week in this house.

Trapping season begins soon and I couldn’t be more thankful to have Scott Berry in my kid’s life showing him the ropes and being by his side when he got his deer. I don’t know which one of them enjoys it more. We have quite a few varmints around that need to be thinned out and Eliot and Scott are going to be on the case. I have two older hens that you probably see roaming about if you ride by and at least one was surrounded by feathers this morning. Hopefully the other, Betty, is hiding out somewhere and is safe. We enjoy watching them on the lawn picking away at anything and everything. They will even come on the back porch to visit if you are sitting with Betty always jumping on the porch swing or in my lap for a swing as well. I guess nothing lasts forever and I’ll enjoy the memories. Farm life is a good life but a hard life.

The School Board meets on Monday, October 19^th at 6:30pm at Telstar in the library.

The Select Board meets on Tuesday, October 20^th at 4:30pm. Dogs may be licensed for 2027 starting on October 15^th. Proof of rabies vaccination is required, if not on file. Taxes were due on September 30^th with interest starting October 1^st. The best way to pay is on the town’s website newrymaine.org. Call the office for assistance or if you need the amount due.

Have a great rest of the week. Apparently, I didn’t take many photos this week so another beautiful leaf it is up against some barbwire.

Send me your news to newrynews24@gmail.com and I’ll add it to next week’s column.

The second event was Neighbors Feeding Neighbors on Tuesday, October 13th. Guest speakers at this event were three men from the Abenaki tribe. It was great to experience the culture of this Native American tribe with Maine roots. The food that also showed was amazing! There were also about 70 people in attendance. It was a special night for everyone to enjoy.

The third event was the monthly meeting of the Bethel Senior Citizen Club. The meal prepared by Debbie St. Pierre was delicious. She is a community member who likes to cook for Senior Citizens as a way of giving back to our oldest citizens. After the meal we had a guest speaker. Rebecca Fraser Douglass spoke about sound therapy and the benefits to our health. The science behind it is very interesting indeed. After her talk folks were invited to go into the Community Annex and experience a sound bath. It was very calming and relaxing. Sound immersion is wonderful. Rebecca is gifted using the sound bowls. Her website is raphawellnessme.com, which contains lots of information on this healing practice using sound.

On Saturday, October 17, at the Rumford Point UCC Church located on Route 2 is a Community Potluck Lunch starting at 11:30 a.m. Potluck is always fun because you never know what will show up. Everyone is welcome to come and share food and conversation.

This coming Saturday, October 17, from 1-3 p.m., the Bethel Library is having an Open House to celebrate Kelcy Arciga’s accomplishments and wish her and her family well as they head to Ireland. During Kelcy’s tenure she brought many new and creative ideas for our local public library. Many thanks to Kelcy with good wishes and new adventures as her family joins her mother in Ireland.

At 3 p.m. on Saturday, following the open house for Kelcy, head to the Mason House at 14 Broad Street for “What Revolution?”, a spirited discussion of the events of 1776 and their place in history with local historians William Andrews and David Jones.

The first of the Soup’s On! Lunches will be on Wednesday, October 21^st, at the Methodist Church from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Come and enjoy some delicious soups and conversations with our many neighbors.

This digital column always welcomes news and/or events which can be sent to lhowe7273@gmail.com