On the topic of plants, please mark your calendars for the Bethel Library’s annual plant sale on Saturday, June 6th from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The Library is located on Broad Street and this annual fundraiser is a rain or shine event. Community support is appreciated!

Neighbors Feeding Neighbors will take place on Tuesday, June 9th from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Methodist Church located on Main Street. This is a free community meal with a focus on our local food pantry. Folks can bring nonperishable items to the church and all food collected will be brought to the food pantry on Wednesday morning. The meal this month will be side salads, beef ribs, chicken, and desserts. Come and have a great meal and meet some of our neighbors who live in our communities.

The first Saturday Market on Main Street took place over the Memorial Day weekend. The Re-Pant gals were at the Market and did a brisk business selling their Re-Pant bags. Proceeds from this group helps out our local food pantry.

Apple Shade Woodworks are two local folks, Kathryn Young and John Marzilli, who make beautiful wooden creations. Bowls, platters, and other hand crafted items are part of their local business. Such unique, hand-crafted items that make wonderful gifts.

Another local crafter is Rosie McArthur who is a talented seamstress, knitter, and can also crochet to make unique, handmade items. Another talent that Rosie has is a line dancing instructor. She will be offering classes on Tuesdays at the Community Annex at the Methodist Church and on Thursdays at the Locke Mills Union Church. These classes are from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

There was recently a yogurt making class in the Methodist Church kitchen. Susan Vogt Brooks was the instructor and she did a great job teaching the steps in making homemade yogurt. Susan has goats so her yogurt was made with goat’s milk. I make yogurt at home as well and it is an easy process. The trick is to keep track of the milk temperature. Looking forward to more cooking classes in the church kitchen.

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

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On Saturday, May 16^th, starting at 9 a.m. Dr. Jenny Mae Wheeler will be doing a community presentation on acupuncture, exploring how it can regulate the nervous system, reduce pain and inflammation, and support overall health, resilience, and long term well-being. She will be doing her presentation in the dining room of the Methodist Church located on Main Street in Bethel. Acupuncture is an Eastern based practice which is getting attention in the Western World.

Healing the sick was ministry work that Jesus Christ did during his short time on earth. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John tell firsthand accounts of what healings Jesus accomplished and it is pretty amazing to say the least. In current times it is encouraging and hopeful to have doctors who continue to have a desire to help and heal people.

How to make your own yogurt will be a class offered through the S.A.D.#44 Adult Education department. Susan Vogt Brooks will be offering this class on Thursday, May 21^st, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the kitchen of the Methodist Church. To register, contact the Adult Education office at 207-824-2136 or visit their website.

The Methodist Church recently had some 9th grade students from Telstar High School come and do some yard work. They spruced up the flower beds and raked in the back of the church.

This community event was organized by the North Star adult leaders. The Telstar students were very polite and were eager workers. They did a wonderful job and were a big help for the church. North Star is a wonderful program that is changing young students’ lives. Excellent mentoring when these kids need it the most in their lives. Thank you to the North Star Program for helping and guiding our young teens in our communities. You are changing lives and it is a blessing to many!

The Bethel Senior Citizen Club held their monthly meeting on May 13th. At the meeting we discussed taking bus trips starting this fall. Lots of ideas were shared and more information will be shared in our future monthly meetings. This Senior group ALWAYS meets the second Wednesday of the month. During the meeting we introduced new members as a way to get to know each other. Folks shared some funny stories and it was an enjoyable time.

The lunch we ate was an exceptional meal. Debbie St. Pierre is an excellent cook and has a heart of gold. The menu consisted of homemade rolls, a tossed salad as well as a broccoli salad, homemade lasagna, and a chicken tetrazzini casserole for the main course. For dessert she had cherry pie, blueberry pie, upside-down pineapple cake and a chocolate cake.

Everyone enjoyed the meal and there were lots of pleasant conversations with smiles on all faces. The Bethel Senior Citizen Club is open to all seniors in the area.

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

On Tuesday, May 12, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. is Neighbors Feeding Neighbors at the Methodist Church located on Main Street in Bethel. The grill will be fired up on the front lawn and folks can enjoy a free meal with their neighbors and friends.

On Wednesday, May 13, starting at 11 a.m., the Bethel Senior Cit…

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On Saturday, May 9, there will be a Sound Bath session in the Community Annex located at the Methodist Church on Main Street. It will start at 10 a.m. and everyone is welcome. Rebecca Fraser Douglass is a certified sound healer. Sound Baths are very effective for promoting peace, calm and wellness. I have experienced Sound Baths and find them very beneficial for my own personal wellness.

Also taking place at the Methodist Church is the monthly meeting for the Bethel Senior Citizen Club on Wednesday, May 13, starting at 11 a.m. After the meeting folks will be treated to a delicious meal prepared by Debbie St. Pierre. She is planning a fantastic lunch along with homemade pies which will be a surprise. Debbie has cooked for the Seniors in the past and everyone is looking forward to this meal on the 13th. Debbie has a soft spot for Seniors and graciously prepares a meal out of generosity and kindness to Bethel’s oldest citizens. There are good people in our Community and Debbie St. Pierre is one of them.

On Saturday, May 16, starting at 9 a.m. there will be a guest speaker at the Methodist Church. The Church is located at 79 Main Street in Bethel. Dr. Jenny Mae Wheeler, MD, is a board certified family medicine physician and founder of Bluebird Wellness, an integrative medical practice in Bethel offering personalized, root-cause-focused care.

She is certified through the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture and integrates acupuncture with a Western understanding of physiology, nutrition, and the body’s innate healing systems.

As part of Bluebird Wellness Foundations’s nonprofit work, Dr. Wheeler is helping expand access to whole-person preventive health across Western Maine Communities. She is offering this community presentation on acupuncture, exploring how it can help regulate the nervous system, reduce pain and inflammation, and support overall health, resilience and long-term wellbeing. Acupuncture is an Eastern practice that seems to have healing benefits. I have never experienced it first-hand but know others who have found great success in this ancient practice. It will be interesting to listen to a medical doctor explain how acupuncture can help one’s wellbeing.

Dr. Wheeler also grew up in Bethel so her roots run deep in our community. This educational presentation is free and open to everyone.

I recently had my car detailed and what a difference it made to my vehicle. Having someone give it a deep clean really spruces it up and makes the vehicle seem like new. M & M Detailing did an excellent job. They are located at 3 Annis Road, which is across from Eddie Swain’s family farm on Route 2. The number to call is 207-583-5624. They were very friendly and efficient which made the whole experience enjoyable. Small businesses are the backbone of our communities. When small businesses thrive, our community also benefits!

Please send any news or events for this digital column to lhowe7273@gmail.com

At the Congregational Church on Church Street is the Smile Fund lawn sale from 9 to 11 a.m. The Church dining room will have many items for folks to check out. Proceeds from the sales go into the Smile Fund account. This is church ministry work to help folks purchase dentures. New dentures can change lives. This sale is open to the public.

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Next Saturday, April 25th, there will be a church supper at the Methodist Church on Main Street from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. This supper will have an Italian theme on the menu. Funds raised from this supper will be going into the capital account to help with efforts for a new church roof. After the supper starts at 6:30 p.m. there will be a guest speaker. “My Story” by Al Falster will be a first-hand account on how he came to America as an immigrant to become a U.S. citizen. His story will give us hope and show us what it takes to immigrate and especially why.

Another event on Saturday, April 25^th, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. is an inside yard sale at the Congregational Church on Church Street. Funds raised from this sale go into the Smile Fund which is ministry work to help community members who need assistance to purchase dentures. This is a much needed program that can be a game changer for an individual. Community support for this program would be appreciated very much.

On Saturday, May 2nd, at noon there will be an informative walk beside the Androscoggin River with Will Chapman of the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society and an ecologist from the Mahoosuc Land Trust, called “Along the Andro: History and Habitat in Our Community.” Meet at Davis Park at noon to explore the history and ecology of the Androscoggin River, including indigenous people, the importance of the river to agriculture and early industries, the pollution of the river and subsequent efforts to clean it up, river ferries, bridges, floods, and the flora and fauna of the riverside. This program is part of Jane’s Walk, a global festival of free, volunteer-led walking conversations inspired by community activist Jane Jacobs. Jane’s Walks combine the simple act of exploring a place with personal observations, local history, and civic engagement. Click here for more details.

On Tuesday, April 14^th, was the Neighbors Feeding Neighbors event at the Methodist Church. This event has turned into a community effort in a variety of ways. To start with, the team that plans the meal knows how to cook! The meal on the 14th was a turkey dinner with turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, squash, and green bean casserole as well as a veggie platter, fruit platter and a bowl of fresh fruit.

There were a variety of folks who showed up at this free meal—young families with small children and locals of different ages.

The intent of Neighbors Feeding Neighbors is two-fold. One purpose is to bring community together to share food and feed one another. Second, is to bring attention to our local Food Pantry. Folks coming may bring non-perishable items which are transported over to the Food Pantry, which is near Telstar High School. Donations are always accepted with gratitude.

The next Neighbors Feeding Neighbors will take place on Tuesday, May 12th (always the second Tuesday of the month), and I am hearing talk of grilling outside now that the weather is warmer.

Wednesday, April 15^th, was the last Soup’s On! for the 25/26 season. The next Soup’s On! will be on October 14th. As always there were some amazing soups. The shrimp bisque seems to be a big hit. Many fine soups for folks to enjoy. Not to be outdone, the desserts were excellent as well. Maryvonne Wheeler made these coconut chocolate chip squares that didn’t last long. What has always impressed me with this event is seeing the true nature of folks wanting to share their soup or deserts with others. We were expecting 7 soups but ended up with 10 soups! There never is a shortage of food, with the excess packaged up and delivered to senior citizen homes. Soup is certainly on and what a blessing it has been to many.

This digital column is always ready to receive news and or events which can be sent to lhowe7273@gmail.com

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Today’s column comes out on Thursday, April 2, which is Maundy Thursday. The West Parish Congregational Church UCC in Bethel will be having a Maundy Thursday Communion and Tenebrae Service starting at 7:00 p.m. All are welcome to attend.

“Maundy” comes from a word meaning “commandment,” recalling Jesus’s words to his disciples at the Last Supper; that they love one another as he has loved them. “Tenebrae” is a Latin word meaning “darkness” or “shadows.” In this powerful service, all gather at the table to share Communion and remember Jesus’ last night with his disciples. Then the story turns toward Good Friday as the portions of the Bible story reflect on Jesus in the garden while the disciples cannot stay awake, his violent arrest, his trial, his carrying of the cross, and the events of his crucifixion.

The joyous celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ will take place on Sunday, April 5th. In our towns there will be many Easter Services available for folks to attend. The Methodist Church and the West Bethel Union Church have a Sunday morning 9 a.m. Service. Locke Mills Union Church offers a 9:30 a.m. service. At 10 a.m. the Congregational UCC Church, Bethel Alliance Church, and the Pleasant Valley Bible Church will hold Church services. The Bethel Church of the Nazarene holds a 10:30 a.m. service. The Catholic Church offers a Saturday 6:00 p.m. Mass for folks to attend. Many different denominations celebrating the risen Christ!

These next 3 events coming up involve food and are held in the dining room of the Methodist Church located at 79 Main Street.

On Wednesday, April 8^th, the Bethel Seniors will be meeting from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with Region 9 technical students providing the meal. Guest speaker will be Lyndsey Smith from the North Star Program.

On Tuesday, April 14^th, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. is Neighbors Feeding Neighbors. This month’s meal will be chicken, stuffing and vegetables with folks bringing salad, bread and desserts. The focus for Neighbors Feeding Neighbors is to support our local Food Pantry. Non-perishable items may be brought to the Church which will be delivered to the Food Pantry. Some folks also like to make a monetary donation to help feed others in our Community. This free meal is open to everyone in our Community.

On Wednesday, April 15^th, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. is Soup’s On! There are always new cooks coming on board so it makes for a variety and a delicious meal.

On Saturday, April 25^th, starting at 6:30 p.m. there will be a guest speaker at the Methodist Church. “My Story,” by Alexander U. Falster. Al is an American citizen but was an immigrant. The story he is going to share is his story of how he became a citizen which was not easy but it was made easier by many people, some he only met for a minute before, others he knew longer but they all had something to offer. Advice, a handshake, a kind word during the difficult years. Al was sworn in as a citizen and gave a speech for the assembled 63 other new citizens. Al will share some of those heartwarming stories, only the good and positive aspects, lest they are forgotten. He does not want to go into current situations. His story will be told without politics. His story will give hope and show others what it takes to immigrate and especially why.

Even though we live in a small town there are many among us who have a story to be told. “My Story” with Alexander is just one of many stories that folks living in our town can share that may have an impact on our lives.

There is a free year-long program starting up on April 21 at the Bethel United Methodist Church. Called “Food Is Medicine,” it is designed for people who are at risk for Type 2 diabetes, and who have limited access to affordable, healthy foods. See details in the flyer below.

This column welcomes news and local events that can be sent to lhowe7273@gmail.com

There are always local events taking place in our towns.

In Locke Mills on March 28th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. there is a dance at the American Legion Hall on Gore Road. The Fossils will be…

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Here is a short list of upcoming events.

Church supper of soup, stew, chowder and chili will be served at the Methodist Church on Saturday, March 21, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. This supper is open to the public with donations to help fund a new roof for the Church.

Saturday, March 28, is the monthly dance at the American Legion Hall in Greenwood located on Gore Road. The Fossils will provide live music from 6 to 8 p.m. Donations from this dance help the Legion Hall with their finances.

On Sunday, March 22, starting at 9 a.m. Reverend Donald Coverdale will be providing pulpit supply for the Methodist Church located on Main Street. Many folks may know Don from when he was involved in the Sunday River Ministry. His message will be “Looking For Love In All the Wrong Places.” It will be interesting to see how he ties scripture into his message. This service is open to all.

I have also been reading a book titled The Women of the Bible Speak by Shannon Bream. This book tells of the Wisdom of 16 women and their lessons for today. In the month of April we will be having a book talk and sharing our thoughts on this topic. You do not have to read the book to join in or attend all the sessions. The goal is for folks to learn together and how we can apply the wisdom from the past into our lives today. This book talk is open to the Community. All are welcome!

Please send news and events for this digital column to lhowe7273@gmail.com

Friday, March 20th is the official first day of Spring. As we enter our Spring season the continent of Australia is entering the fall season. Jeff and Doreen Johnson continue to love living down under. Bob and I enjoy hearing from the…

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These next two events take place at the West Parish Congregational Church on 32 Church Street in Bethel.

Thursday, March 5, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. is a free health wellness program titled Caring For Your Heart. Guest Speaker is cardiologist Dr. Daniel vanBuren who will provide valuable information on heart health.

The second event at the Congregational Church you will find Janet Willie on Friday, March 6, sharing information on treating soldiers in Ukraine with scars. It starts off with a potluck meal at 5 p.m. with the speaker, Janet Willie, starting at 6 p.m. These two events are open to the public with a theme of heart health and touching the scars of War.

The following week the Methodist Church on Main Street in Bethel will have three events.

On Tuesday, March 10, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. is Neighbors Feeding Neighbors. This is a free event where community comes together to feed one another and also bring awareness to the Bethel Food Pantry. Folks can bring non-perishables to the Church which will be brought to our local food pantry.

On Wednesday, March 11, the Bethel Senior Citizen Club will meet at 11 a.m. for their local monthly meeting. Guest speaker for this meeting is local author Amy Chapman who will discuss her recent book, Just Like Glass. This book has a lot of local names which many of our members have connections with as long time locals. The shepherd’s pie meal will be provided by Annette Roy from No View Farm. This will be a great meeting with an interesting book talk along with a delicious luncheon.

On Friday, March 13, starting at 6:00 p.m. Rebecca Fraser Douglass will present a talk on the benefits of sound healing. This will take place in the Community Annex at the Methodist Church. Fascinating topic for wellness.

This past week I went to Polished Dental located at 44 Mayville Road in Bethel. Tara Lunney Savage cleaned my teeth. She has a fancy camera and TV screen so you can see how your teeth look up close and personal. It was very beneficial and helpful. This is a great dental service where she can send the results of your cleaning to a dentist of your choice. Booking an appointment is easy and she can accommodate folks in a more timely manner. Recommend Polished Dental for dental cleanings, dental x-rays, dental sealants, in-office whitening, fluoride treatments, scaling/root planing, periodontal maintenance and full mouth debridement. Good to have dental services in our hometown.

The Bethel Library has several regularly occurring programs to keep in mind:

This upcoming weekend we will need to set clocks ahead one hour. Spring is on our doorstep. Mother Nature will begin to wake up from her winter slumber. Four seasons in Maine. You just gotta love it!

Please send any news or events to lhowe7273@gmail.com

The first event is the monthly dance at the American Legion Hall located on the Gore Road in Locke Mills. This will take place on Saturday, February 28th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Local musicians The Fossils will be providing the live music and this event is open to all. Donations will go to the Legion Hall to…

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On February 25th there will also be a Community Meal at the Bethel Alliance Church located across from Telstar High School from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The menu will be meatloaf, rice, vegetables and desserts. This is a free meal open to all.

If you like to dance or listen to live music, the Legion Hall on the Gore Road in Greenwood is the place to enjoy an evening of entertainment. Local musicians, The Fossils, will be playing from 6 pm. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, February 28th. Live music played by our own local, talented musicians is always a hit!

This past Monday was a treat! Bob and I took a drive to Reid State Park in Georgetown and got to walk in the beach sand, smell the salt air and see the waves going out to low tide. It was a beautiful day and being at the ocean is always a treat. It made an ordinary day very special.

My first visit to Reid State Park was back in the late 60’s with my Uncle Paul and family. Over the decades we always brought our family and did a lot of summer camping near the park. Maine is unique because we have the mountains and the ocean. It truly is a vacation land!

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

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On Thursday, February 5th starting at 6:30 p.m. Bethel Area Arts & Music (BAAM) is offering a live performance at The Gem Theater located at 48 Cross Street in Bethel. Antonio Rocha’s The Malaga Ship: A Story of Maine and the Middle Passage will be offered through voice, movement, song and mime in which Antonio tells the story of The Malaga, a ship built in Maine in 1832 that become part of the illegal transatlantic slave trade. Told largely from the ship’s perspective, this riveting performance explores history, identity, and the lasting impact of the Middle Passage, with a deeply personal connection to Antonio’s own life. Admission is pay what you can and this performance is open to everyone.

On Tuesday, February 10th is Neighbors Feeding Neighbors from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Methodist Church dining room. This is a free meal where folks bring food to share with others in our Community. Open to all so come and enjoy a hot meal with other members of your Community.

The Bethel Senior Citizen Club will hold their monthly meeting on Wednesday, February 11th starting at 11 a.m. at the Methodist Church dining room. There will be a meeting prior to the luncheon meal. Guest speakers for this meeting will be Marc and Mary Ellen Montplaisir, who will present information on Chris’s Haven of Hope, which is a newly open Sober House located in Bryant Pond. Having a resource such as a Sober House is extremely beneficial for our Community. Helping others to stay on the road of recovery is awesome for many different reasons. It will be interesting to learn how this all got started and what it takes to keep this necessary Sober House up and running for others. There is good work all around us and it is important for us to take notice of this needed facility to help others.

The guest speaker for the March Bethel Senior Citizen Club meeting will be Amy Wight Chapman, who will speak about her recent book, Just Like Glass. Many locals will have a strong connection to this story.

At the April meeting will be a presentation about the North Star Program which is a mentoring program for Telstar students. Looking forward to hearing how this program is reaching Telstar students and making a difference in their lives.

The May Senior meeting will feature Rebecca Fraser Douglass who will speak about the benefits of sound healing and how it helps with folks who are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. This should be beneficial information for Seniors. The Bethel Senior Citizen Club meets the second Wednesday of the month at the Methodist Church and is open to all Seniors in our local areas.

Also on Wednesday, February 11th is an informational presentation on the benefits of sound healing. Certified Sound Healer Rebecca Fraser Douglass will offer this program on February 11th starting at 6 p.m. in the Community Annex. This is open to all who would like to learn about sound frequency. The science behind it is fascinating.

Friday the 13th there will be a Red Cross Blood Drive at the West Parish Congregational Church from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., 32 Church Street., Bethel. Consider donating blood to save another person’s life. Register with the American Red Cross.

Another event taking place at the Congregational Church on Thursday, March 5th from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. is a free wellness program sponsored by “To Your Health”. Caring for your heart will be the topic presented by Dr. Daniel van Buren. Dr. van Buren will explore how diet, exercise, lifestyle, hereditary factors, preventative care, routine screening and other factors may contribute to your heart health. There will also be a question and answer period following the presentation.

Pilates classes are going strong in the Community Annex at the Methodist Church. Pilates instructor Lauren Wallin is now offering a Tuesday afternoon class. Chair Pilates on Monday and Thursday mornings starting at 10 a.m. is a favorite for Seniors who are looking to improve their posture and strengthen their muscles. Self-care is important as we age and work at keeping our bodies healthy.

Valentine’s Day is on Saturday, February 14^th, and there will be a Valentine’s Tea at the Methodist Church from 1 to 3 p.m. Please stop to say hello and have a cup of tea or coffee and enjoy pleasant conversations with our many neighbors from different towns.

Please send news events and items to this digital column at lhowe7273@gmail.

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On the topic of cold temperatures, I have a friend who is a Catholic nun who spent 50 years living among the Northern Cree Community of John D’or Prairie in Alberta, Canada. During her time there she remembers temperatures at 70 degrees below zero. It was so cold that the wild horses living on the prairie would die because their lungs froze from the extreme temperatures. Now that is cold!

When winter is here there is nothing finer than a hot bowl of soup. The January 21st Soup’s On! at the Methodist Church was well attended with many fine soups, bread and dessert to enjoy! Bonnie Pooley brought to the church soup spoons that were donated by Greg and Elba Bove and they certainly came in handy. These additional spoons will be put to good use and I am so thankful to Greg and Elba. Such a kind and thoughtful gift to the church.

Back in May of 2025 Bob and I adopted a puppy from the Greater Portland Refuge Center. She was born in February and her mother and pups were surrendered to the animal shelter. We saw her on Channel 8 on a Saturday morning and drove down and made her part of our family. We named her Lady and she is a mixed breed.

Having a dog in your house makes life very lively. It keeps you moving and active which has been good for both of us. The challenge with a young dog is getting all the energy out of them. I recently got together with my friend Marilyn Swan and her two dogs, Mollie and Charlie. We took them for a walk on Marilyn’s property off the Sunday River Road. Those three dogs had a great time and it was an awesome walk. Spending time with a good friend and having those three dogs run their tails off was just perfect! Life’s simple pleasures are always the best!

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

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