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When I took new puppy Lena out before bedtime on Tuesday evening, she seemed very surprised to find snow on the ground. She wanted to run around and play in it, while the last thing I wanted was for her to get all wound up right before bed. But maybe the snow was actually a puppy miracle, because it turned out to be the first night since we brought her home that she slept through the night without getting me up to take her out once or twice. (Or three or four times.) I can’t remember how long it takes before puppies sleep through the night, but it can’t come soon enough!

Because it will be a long time before Lena is able to hike with me on her own—veterinarians don’t recommend taking puppies on anything but very short, easy hikes until their growth plates have fully closed, which for Labs isn’t until around 14 months—I’ve acquired two different carriers to see if I can figure out a way to bring her along. The first, a backpack made for carrying dogs up to 40 pounds, is still way too big for her, but the second, a cross-body sling type carrier made for puppies and small dogs, shows some promise. It arrived on Monday afternoon and we tried it out with a ten-minute walk around the yard.

Today, Thursday, April 9, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the West Parish Congregational Church in Bethel: “Meditation and Music,” a unique, interactive health/wellness program presented by To Your Health. Mindfulness meditation practitioner Will Chapman will discuss the benefits of meditation, lead the group in a short, guided practice, and take questions from the audience. Then, the Oxford Hills Ukulele Group (OHUG), led by Lynette and Ray Seames, will perform their favorite tunes and lead the audience in a singalong. To Your Health, in collaboration with Western Mountains Senior College, the Bethel Family Health Center, and MSAD #44 Adult Education, provides free health education and wellness programs to the Bethel area communities.

Wednesday, April 15, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Thursday, April 16, from 12 to 5 p.m.: Third Annual Spring Fling at the Bethel Library. Come to the library to enjoy light refreshments, browse the bookshelves, visit with library staff, board members, and friends, and purchase raffle tickets. Then enter to win a wide assortment of great prizes!

Saturday, April 25, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the West Parish Congregational Church: Smile Fund Sale. Proceeds from this annual community yard sale go to help purchase dentures for adults in the SAD 44 region. The church is looking for donations for the sale. Items can be dropped off at the church between Friday, April 17, and Thursday, April 23. Appropriate items include toys, books, housewares, tools, gardening supplies, and small furniture. Please NO electronics, clothing, jewelry, or stuffed animals. For an application or more information about the sale, contact the church at 824-2689.

Wednesday, April 29, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Opening Day for the Swap Shop at the Greenwood-Woodstock Transfer Station, a sure sign of spring, no matter what the weather has in store for us. Stop by and see what your neighbors have decided to part with during spring cleaning!

Saturday, May 2, in several area towns: Green-Up Day, annual roadside clean-up. Greenwood volunteers will meet at the Legion/Town Office parking lot for road assignments at 9 a.m. Trash bags and disposable gloves are provided. If you choose to do clean-up on Greenwood roads prior to May 2, please email Lynn Cobb (cobblynn12@gmail.com) or let the town office know, so they will know which sections have already been completed before making road assignments.

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 the details in the flyer below.

Last Saturday afternoon I traveled to Unity, where I had the privilege of helping to celebrate the 100^th birthday of former East Bethel farm girl Deborah (Farwell) Eldredge. Debbie is my second cousin, once removed (my dad’s second cousin) and she and her three sons were frequent visitors to our camp in the summers when I was growing up. I was accompanied by my brother Steve, our sister Leslie, and Marta Clements, whose sister-in-law was a close friend of Debbie’s from college. It was a wonderful celebration, and I’m sure Debbie is enjoying reading all of the cards, poems, and stories she received from the many folks who attended.

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.

“‘Snow in April is abominable,’ said Anne. ‘Like a slap in the face when you expect a kiss.’” – Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Ingleside

We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day than Monday to bring home a new puppy. It was 60 degre…

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My three crow friends are still coming by for breakfast most mornings. The three of them seem to get along just fine, but when a fourth crow tried to join them on Sunday, there was a bit of a squabble. Maybe I’m not the only one who felt cranky when I saw the snow. (Here’s my first attempt at embedding a short video in my column!)

Here are some events happening in the next few weeks to help chase away the late winter (or mud season) blues:

Saturday, March 28, at 2 p.m. at the Norway Memorial Library, 258 Main Street, Norway: Book discussion of Angelica: For Love and Country in a Time of Revolution, by Molly Beer. This is one in a series of book discussions that are part of the special programming developed for 2026 to celebrate the 250^th anniversary of the founding of our country. The next book in the series, My Dear Hamilton: A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton, by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie, will be discussed at the Rumford Library on Saturday, May 9, at 2 p.m. For a complete list of events, visit 250bethel.org

Sunday, March 29, at 9 a.m. at the First Universalist Church in West Paris: Sunday morning service, “A Noble Life,” led by guest speaker Marilyn Hammond, who writes, “Along with the traditional Luke account of Palm Sunday and a lighter look at the ancestry of Jesus, I want to change the focus from the death of Jesus to the life of Jesus, from the divinity of Jesus to his humanity.”

Sunday, April 5, at 9 a.m. at the First Universalist Church in West Paris: Easter Sunday Service, led by Pastor Linda Couture and the worship service committee.

Thursday, April 9, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the West Parish Congregational Church in Bethel: “Meditation and Music,” a unique, interactive health/wellness program presented by To Your Health. Mindfulness meditation practitioner Will Chapman will discuss the benefits of meditation, lead the group in a short, guided practice, and take questions from the audience. Then, the Oxford Hills Ukulele Group (OHUG), led by Lynette and Ray Seames, will perform their favorite tunes and lead the audience in a singalong. To Your Health, in collaboration with Western Mountains Senior College, the Bethel Family Health Center, and MSAD #44 Adult Education, provides free health education and wellness programs to the Bethel area communities.

Wednesday, April 15, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Thursday, April 16, from 12 to 5 p.m.: Third Annual Spring Fling at the Bethel Library. Here are the details:

Saturday, May 2, in several area towns: Green-Up Day, annual roadside clean-up. Greenwood volunteers will meet at the Legion/Town Office parking lot for road assignments at 9 a.m. Trash bags and disposable gloves are provided. If you choose to do clean-up on Greenwood roads prior to May 2, please email Lynn Cobb (cobblynn12@gmail.com) or let the town office know, so they will know which sections have already been completed before making road assignments.

It’s been a month now since we lost Eli the Wonder Pup, and every day I’m still reminded of what a wonderful companion he was, and how much I miss him. One of the hardest things for me to get used to has been hiking without him. Even though he didn’t go along on all of my hikes, now that I know he’ll never be with me on the trails again, I admit that I’m having trouble recapturing the joy hiking has always brought me.

I actually haven’t hiked in over two weeks now. Except for the first few weeks after each of my knee surgeries last year, it’s probably the longest I’ve gone without a hike in several years. Don’t worry, I haven’t broken my ridiculous exercise streak, which is approaching 14 years without a missed day—I’ve been using the exercise bike and the “dreadmill” on bad-weather days, moving firewood and shoveling snow as winter hangs on tenaciously, and enjoying some wonderful “mental health walk-and-talks” with my friend Pat—but I do want to get back to hiking soon.

Maybe I need to take a drive and hike somewhere different, on a trail I’ve never done before…one that, unlike all my favorite local trails, isn’t filled with memories of our good, good boy.

I do have some very happy canine companion news, though. After I realized that it was possible that the only thing that was going to stop me from crying every time I saw someone with a dog was to make room in my heart for another dog of our own, Will and I started looking around.

I think we both realized it might be hard to get another golden so soon after losing Eli the Wonder Pup, but before Eli came into our lives, there was Remy, a black Lab I’ve often described as “the canine love of my life.”

And there just happened to be a litter of Lab puppies not too far away, with a little girl who hadn’t yet been spoken for. Next week, Will and I will be embarking on a “puppy share” with eight-week-old Lena Belle, who will be spending her days with both of us at the historical society. It will be a long time before she’ll be hitting the hiking trails (although I’m considering investing in a backpack carrier so she can join me sooner), but I think she’ll be just the kind of heart medicine we all need.

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.

“A dog is the only thing that can mend a crack in your broken heart.” – Judy Desmond

No mid-March local column would be complete without a few observations (and complaints) about the weather. I know I said I wasn’t going to let March fool me—again—but I a…

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Although I’d be perfectly happy not to see any more snow this year, I’m not counting on it, and as for unseasonably cold temperatures, it looks like we’ll have a couple of days next week with overnight lows in the single digits. At least those cold nights might help to extend the maple sugaring season, as long as it warms up enough during the day to get the sap flowing.

Here are some upcoming community events:

Sunday, March 15, at 9 a.m. at the First Universalist Church in West Paris: The theme of the Sunday service will be “Kindness,” led by The Rev. Scott Campbell. What motivates people to care for each other?

Wednesday, March 18, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Bethel Methodist Church: Soup’s On! Community lunch of soup, bread, and dessert.

Saturday, March 21, at 2 p.m. at Gould Academy: Author Colin Woodard, whose books include American Nations, American Character, Union, and Nations Apart, will present “The Last Best Hope: The 250-Year Struggle for the American Experiment in a Divided Federation,” a talk and signing. Woodard’s presentation and book signing at Gould Academy will be free. Following the presentation there will be a special author reception at the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society. The reception will feature the opportunity to chat more with the author, enjoy some light refreshments, and socialize in the museum galleries. Special behind-the-scenes tours will also be offered with the Museums’ Executive Director. Tickets to the reception are $25, or $20 for MBHS members. Space is limited for the reception; please click here to reserve tickets.

Saturday, March 21, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Bethel Methodist Church: Church Supper—soup, chowder, stew, chili, bread, and desserts. Donations will be accepted for the church’s new roof fund.

Sunday, March 22, at 9 a.m. at the First Universalist Church in West Paris: “Americans Who Tell the Truth: The Spirituality of Activism,” led by Ellen Gibson. Robert Shetterly, an artist from Brooksville, Maine, has spent the last twenty years working on a project called “Americans Who Tell the Truth.” Shetterly believes that truth is at the foundation of a functioning democracy. To date, he has painted 280 portraits of Americans who exemplify moral courage and civic engagement, including many Mainers. For more information on this project, go to https://americanswhotellthetruth.org/ This service was rescheduled from January.

Saturday, March 28, at 2 p.m. at the Norway Memorial Library, 258 Main Street, Norway: Book discussion of Angelica: For Love and Country in a Time of Revolution, by Molly Beer. Few women of the American Revolution have come through 250 years of US history with such clarity and color as Angelica Schuyler Church. She was Alexander Hamilton’s “saucy” sister-in-law, and the heart of Thomas Jefferson’s “charming coterie” of artists and salonnières in Paris. Her transatlantic network of important friends spanned the political spectrum of her time and place, and her astute eye and brilliant letters kept them well informed. Copies of the book are available for the special price of $10 from the Norway and Bethel libraries and the Museum Shop of the Bethel Historical Society.

I want to give a shout-out to the great folks at Bennett’s Automotive. My car had been making a slight scraping sound for a couple of weeks, which I attributed to having bent something underneath when I got stuck in a friend’s driveway and had to be pushed out. It wasn’t very noticeable, so I didn’t worry too much about it until, when Tony and I were on our way to Scarborough for a medical appointment last Wednesday, it rather suddenly got a whole lot worse. We realized it wasn’t just a bit of bent metal rubbing against a tire, but the front brakes needing immediate attention.

By the time we got home, I was feeling both stressed out over the safety issue and mortified by the noise issue. I drove it up to Bennett’s the next morning and told them my sad tale. I believe what I actually said, in response to JJ’s cheerful greeting, was “We lost our dog, my husband has cancer, my brakes are making a god-awful noise, and I have a headlight out.”

Honestly, I was expecting to hear that it would be at least a week or two before they could get to it. But—possibly because he didn’t want to see me start crying in his waiting room, but more likely because he’s just a really good guy—JJ immediately offered to drive me home to get the truck and said he’d get the car fixed up and back on the road before the weekend. In fact, it was less than four hours later when they called and said it was ready to go. I’m really grateful for this busy, efficient, and thriving business that still makes kindness and small-town values a priority.

I had two very enjoyable opportunities to talk about my book, Just Like Glass, this week. On Monday, I was the guest at the monthly meeting of the Farmington Rotary Book Club, which had chosen Just Like Glass as their March read, thanks to the recommendation of my college friend Pauline. They were a wonderful group of folks who had thoughtful observations and asked interesting questions, and it was great to hear how much they had enjoyed the book, even without being familiar with my family or the Bethel area.

On Wednesday, I attended the monthly meeting of the Bethel Senior Citizens at the Methodist Church, where I read a short excerpt from the book, talked a bit about how I came to write it, and answered a few questions before enjoying a delicious lunch prepared with many local ingredients by Annette Roy of No View Farm. Thank you so much for inviting me!

Next Tuesday, March 17, is St. Patrick’s Day. I never thought I had any Irish blood, but my Ancestry DNA results do show that I have a bit—enough to explain my love of corned beef and cabbage, which might just be my favorite meal. Actually, when I cook corned beef, I always make a New England boiled dinner, with not only cabbage, but plenty of carrots, potatoes, onions, parsnips, and turnip. I like the leftovers, in the form of a second and third dinner, Reuben sandwiches, and corned beef hash, just as much as the first round. I even make a delicious corned beef soup with the cooking broth and leftover meat and veggies.

March 17 is also the day my new right knee turns one year old. I think my surgeon would be happy to know that this knee has done 92 hikes since being replaced last March, and the new left knee, which was replaced on October 8, has gone along on the last 41 of them. My longest hike between surgeries was Puzzle Mountain, at about 7.5 miles, and the longest since the second surgery is about 4.5 miles. I’m hoping to tackle a few more in the seven- to eight-mile range this summer.

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.

“March is the month God created to show people who don’t drink what a hangover is like.” –Garrison Keillor

Here are some March programs and events to add to your own calendar:

Thursday, March 5, from 4-5:30 p.m. at the West Parish Congregational…

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I believe I first met Stan 50 years ago, during Bethel’s celebration of America’s bicentennial. I have an image in my mind of him dressed in Revolutionary War garb at the Mason House. I’ll have to ask Will to comb the archives and see if there’s a photo, or if I’m imagining it.

Stan had many relatives and long-time friends with whom he kept in touch over the decades, and in recent years he enjoyed sitting on his front porch in warm weather and chatting with drop-in guests and passersby; he was very much a fixture on Broad Street. His absence will be sharply felt, and my heart goes out to Randy Bennett, his friend and caregiver, and to all his friends and family, for whom his passing means the end of an era.

Margaret Mills passed away on February 17 in New Hampshire, where she had been staying with Blaine’s son, Sean. Sean called Kim at the town office to let her know. He hopes to be able to have a memorial service here in Locke’s Mills this summer to give everyone a chance to remember and honor Blaine and Margie and their many contributions to our town.

If you pick up your mail at the Greenwood post office, as I do, you already know that after many months of temporary and substitute fill-ins behind the desk, we have a new permanent postal clerk, Greenwood resident Samantha Mills. If you get your mail delivered and don’t frequent the post office, stop by to introduce yourself and welcome her. Window hours are 8 to 10 a.m. and 2:15 to 4:15 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Here are some events for your calendar:

Saturday, February 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Locke’s Mills American Legion on the Gore Road: Live music for listening and dancing, performed by The Fossils. Admission is by donation, and light refreshments will be available.

Wednesday, March 4, from 1-3 p.m. at the First Universalist Church of West Paris: Cabin Fever Fun Day. Cribbage boards, playing cards, and a jigsaw puzzle will be available, or bring your own games or crafts for a social afternoon. Snow day is Thursday, March 5.

Thursday, March 5, from 4-5:30 p.m. at the West Parish Congregational Church in Bethel: “Caring for Your Heart,” a free wellness program sponsored by To Your Health and presented by Dr. Daniel van Buren, a resident of Bethel and a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology.

Friday, March 6, at 5 p.m.: “Healing Scars of War” at West Parish Congregational Church in Bethel. Janet Willie will speak about her recent trip to Ukraine to work with healthcare workers on how to heal scars on Ukrainian soldiers. A community potluck supper begins at 5 (bring a dish to share) and Janet’s talk will follow the meal.

Tuesday, March 10, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Methodist Church on Main Street in Bethel: Neighbors Feeding Neighbors community meal.

Wednesday, March 11, at 11 a.m. at the Methodist Church: Monthly meeting of the Bethel Senior Citizen Club. Amy Wight Chapman (hey, that’s me!) will speak about her family memoir, Just Like Glass, with lunch to follow. New members are always welcome, and annual dues are just $10.

Saturday, March 21, at 2 p.m. at Gould Academy: Author Colin Woodard, whose books include American Nations, American Character, Union, and Nations Apart, will present “The Last Best Hope: The 250-Year Struggle for the American Experiment in a Divided Federation,” a talk and signing. This will be followed by a special reception at the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society. The presentation and signing are free. Tickets for the reception are $25 ($20 for MHBS members). Space is limited for both events; please reserve your free presentation tickets and reception tickets at 250bethel.org/Woodard or by using the QR code in the flyer below.

The following is a list of speakers for March at the First Universalist Church of West Paris. Sunday services begin at 9 a.m., with music by Davy Sturtevant and refreshments following the service. All are welcome.

March 1, “Listening,” led by the Rev. Scott Campbell, who will explore what it means to truly pay attention to one another.

March 8, Bob Neal will be the speaker. His topic is “The Mustard Seed and the Pullman Porters,” based on the parable of the mustard seed (Matthew 13), using the example of how the Black middle class arose from the occupation of sleeping-car porter. It was the best job most Black men could get, and the pay and tips were enough to create a middle class in a still-segregated country.

March 15, “Kindness,” led by The Rev. Scott Campbell. What motivates people to care for each other?

March 22, “Americans Who Tell the Truth: The Spirituality of Activism,” led by Ellen Gibson. Robert Shetterly, an artist from Brooksville, Maine, has spent the last twenty years working on a project called “Americans Who Tell the Truth.” Shetterly believes that truth is at the foundation of a functioning democracy. To date, he has painted 280 portraits of Americans who exemplify moral courage and civic engagement, from Abraham Lincoln to Stacey Abrams, Margaret Chase Smith to Samantha Smith, Pete Seeger to Richard Blanco. We will investigate how activism intersects with the seven UU principles. For more information on this project, go to https://americanswhotellthetruth.org/

This service was rescheduled from January.

March 29, “A Noble Life,” led by guest speaker Marilyn Hammond. “Along with the traditional Luke account of Palm Sunday and a lighter look at the ancestry of Jesus, I want to change the focus from the death of Jesus to the life of Jesus, from the divinity of Jesus to his humanity.”

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 or visit the church’s Facebook page. 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., W. Paris 04289

As many of you already know, if you read my blog or follow me on Facebook, my family experienced a heartbreaking loss this week with the unexpected passing of Eli the Wonder Pup. We are all devastated, but the outpouring of condolences from so many of Eli’s fans has been a comfort, confirming what we already knew, that while his time with us was too short, he had the best life a dog could ever ask for. If you haven’t read my blog post about our good boy, and you’d like to, you can find it by clicking here.

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.

“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” – Roger Caras

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I’ve attended the first two Sunday afternoon live readings of The Age of Homespun, by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, at the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society, and I’m really enjoying the opportunity to slow down, sit down, and work on a knitting project for a couple of hours while learning something new.

Ulrich’s book is organized around detailed descriptions of 14 domestic items from pre-industrial America and how the objects, which range from a spinning wheel to an unfinished stocking, fit into the culture and history of the ordinary people who made or used them.

Last Sunday, we heard about Molly Ockett and her life and times from the chapter that describes a pocketbook created more than 200 years ago from fabric she wove and decorated with dyed moose hairs. It was given to her friend Eli Twitchell of Bethel (who, incidentally, was the brother of my fourth great-grandfather, Eleazer Twitchell, making Eli—I think—my fourth great-grand-uncle) and it is now in the collection of the Maine Historical Society.

The reading and discussion, led by Jessica Jolly, continues each Sunday in February, from 3-5 p.m. in the Reading Room of the Robinson House at MBHS. Please join us! Bring along a handcraft to work on, or just come and listen.

Some other upcoming events to chase away the late-winter doldrums:

Saturday, February 21, from 2-3:30 p.m. at the Mason House of the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society: “Ghosts of Centennials Past.” MBHS Executive Director Will Chapman will present a program on how the American Centennial of 1876 and Bicentennial of 1976 were celebrated in the Bethel area. (Having been in on some of the planning of his program, I can guarantee that it’s going to be both engaging and fun.) This program is just one of many events taking place in 2026 to commemorate the 250^th anniversary of American independence. Click here to visit the website 250bethel.org to learn more and see the full list of events, exhibits, and book discussions.

Wednesdays, February 25, March 4, and March 11, from noon to 1 p.m. at West Parish Congregational Church: Lenten Lunches. This simple meal of soup and bread is an opportunity for people of different faiths to gather and reflect together on the journey to Easter. The meal is free. Each church is invited to bring the food for the three lenten lunches.

Thursday, March 5, from 4-5:30 p.m. at the West Parish Congregational Church in Bethel: “Caring for Your Heart,” a free wellness program sponsored by To Your Health and presented by Dr. Daniel van Buren, a resident of Bethel and a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology.

Each month, the Bethel Area Age-Friendly Community Initiative (AFCI) creates a calendar of community-wide events and activities that older people can attend to stay healthy. All are social activities that are mostly free and address emotional, mental, physical, and sometimes spiritual needs. Here’s February’s.

I made a late-afternoon solo trek up to Buck’s Ledge, and Eli the Wonder Pup and I enjoyed a couple more hikes in the McCoy-Chapman Forest this past week. On Saturday afternoon we hiked the Chapman Brook/Sam’s Trail loop in the still-falling snow, and had the place to ourselves after meeting one cross-country skier with his dog, also a Golden, near the start of our hike. Then on Monday we set off to hike to the scenic overlook on the McCoy-Gray Birch Trail. Most of the trail was pretty firmly packed, but we turned around about three-quarters of the way up, as soon as we got beyond the better-traveled sections, when my boots threatened to poke holes in the trail. As I’m sure you’ll agree if you’ve ever been on a snowy trail that someone hiked in bare boots when they should have used snowshoes, there’s a special place in hell reserved for “post-holers.”

While Eli was hiking with me on Saturday, Will and Rosemary were hiking the Flume Gorge in Lincoln, N.H. I’ve only been there once myself, and even though I was a sulky teenager at the time, it has always had a special significance for me. My mom took me there one summer, because she and my dad had hiked it on their honeymoon, in early April of 1942, and she wanted me to see it. I’ve always planned to go back again, and someday I will.

My mom was almost a Valentine’s Day baby, having been born on February 13, 1920. The 13th fell on a Friday that year; she always said that the 13th was her lucky day, especially when her birthday happened to fall on a Friday. This year, in her honor, I’ll donate blood on her birthday at the Red Cross Blood Drive, which is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the West Parish Congregational Church in Bethel. As of Wednesday evening, there were still a few appointment spots left, in case you’d like to join me!

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.

“Winter is not a season, it’s an occupation.” – Sinclair Lewis

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Saturday morning’s short hike to Lapham Ledge in the Buck’s Ledge Community Forest really was chilly. Even though we waited until late morning to head out, the temperature was only one degree above zero, and there was a strong wind. Needless to say, we didn’t linger long on the open ledges.

I had planned to take Eli to Maggie’s Nature Park on Sunday, but then Will called to say that he and Rosemary were on their way to Portland and couldn’t remember for sure if they had unplugged the waffle iron after making waffles for breakfast—could I go and check? So I decided to head for the McCoy-Chapman Forest on the North Road (after stopping at their apartment in Bethel to ascertain that yes, the waffle iron was unplugged). The temperature was about five degrees warmer than the day before, but the real difference was the lack of wind—six degrees feels positively balmy when you’re dressed for it and the wind isn’t threatening every inch of exposed skin with frostbite.

I was glad to have gotten a couple more hikes in before hitting the trails without snowshoes became out of the question for a while. I did put my snowshoes on to get to the bird feeder on Monday afternoon, though, and then I stomped down some paths in the dog pen for Eli. The snow was so deep and powdery that I’m hoping a few other people will put on snowshoes and pack down my favorite trails before I get back out there.

I didn’t have to think about what to do for a workout on Tuesday morning—it was back to the “snow gym” to get the paths and ramp at the Bethel Library cleared off before it opened at noon. I enjoy snow-shoveling—really!—but I was glad this big snow was light and easy to handle…and I’m kind of hoping the storm that may be coming our way on Sunday misses us.

Here are some upcoming meetings and events for your calendar:

Saturday, January 31, at 2 p.m. at the Bethel Library on Broad Street: Book discussion of American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence, by Pauline Maier. This is the first of several book discussions relating to the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution to be held during 2026 as part of the celebration of America’s 250^th birthday. A remote participation option will be available for those who can’t attend the discussion in person.

Saturday, January 31, from 2:30-5:30 p.m. at the West Paris Library: Communication Workshop. Facilitators Robin Dunn and Stephanie Frykholm will lead this workshop on “How to Talk With Somebody Who Sees It Differently.” This program is free, but space is limited and registration is required. To register, call the library at 207-674-2004 or email librarian@westparislibrary.org.

Wednesday, February 4, from 1-3 p.m. at the First Universalist Church of West Paris: Cabin Fever Fun. There will be a puzzle to work on and cribbage boards and cards. Bring your own game or craft and come and enjoy a social afternoon. There will be light refreshments. The snow date will be Feb. 5, at the same time.

Friday, February 13, from 5-6:30 p.m. in the Reading Room of the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society’s Robinson House: Community Mending/Repair Group meeting. This newly-formed group meets monthly to share knowledge and other resources for fixing things that might otherwise go to waste. At their first two meetings, repairs included hemming pants, darning socks, sharpening kitchen knives, and putting shoes back in service. The Feature Focus of the February meeting will be repairing snowshoes, nordic ski bindings and poles. Bring your own project (anything you’d like to fix - it doesn’t have to be the Feature Focus) and a few dollars to put into the MBHS donation box. And if you have a friend that may be interested, bring them along too! If you’d like more information on how to become involved, contact Betsey Cooper at (207) 381-0713 or email awoodenhouse100@gmail.com or Robin Nesbeda at (978) 895 2320 or email RNesbead@gmail.com

Valentine’s Day is coming, and the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society is holding its third annual Haven’s Candies Valentine Fundraiser. Chocolate speaks louder than words—tell someone how much you love them with an I Love You Box from Haven’s Candies! Order online at bethelhistorical.org/shop or call 207-824-2908.

The selectmen and town managers of Greenwood and Woodstock met this week to finalize the transfer station budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year. After bids for hauling waste and recycling were opened, a three-year contract was awarded to our current provider, Casella.

The Greenwood Board of Selectmen and Budget Committee will meet at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 5, and at 5 p.m. on Thursday, February 12, at the Town Office on the Gore Road to develop the municipal budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026. Like all regular selectmen’s meetings, budget meetings are always open to the public.

If you’ve been reading this column for a while, you know that I celebrate the arrival of Groundhog Day each year. Even though I know perfectly well that we’ll always have at least six more weeks of winter (whether or not that prognosticating rodent sees his shadow), Groundhog Day always means the end of winter is in sight.

According to Wikipedia, “The first documented American reference to Groundhog Day can be found in a diary entry, dated February 4, 1841, by Morgantown, Penn. storekeeper James Morris: ‘Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was Candlemas Day, the day on which, according to the Germans, the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back in for another six weeks nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate.’”

An old rhyme goes: “February second, Candlemas Day: half your wood, and half your hay. Half the winter has passed away; we’ll eat our supper by the light of day.”

Actually, I’ve read that January 20 is statistically the midpoint of the heating season, with an average of half the degree days occurring prior to that date, and half after. If that’s the case, we’re almost two weeks closer to spring than the old rhyme indicates, so if you’ve already gone through half your wood, it may not be cause for panic. And with any luck, the second half of winter will be at least a bit milder than the past couple of weeks.

“January is the worst month. You are fat and broke from the holidays, paler than ever, and you can’t feel your own face when you walk outside.” – Anonymous

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I always feel encouraged when the days grow noticeably longer. Since I can dress for the weather, it’s really not the cold temperatures, snow, and ice that I find hardest about winter (well, maybe the ice), it’s the lack of daylight. It’s much easier now that I work part-time and have generally flexible hours so I can take advantage of what light there is on the shortest days. I remember many years when I drove to and from work in the near-dark, and winter seemed so long!

Tony and I enjoyed a visit from our Colorado girls, Annie and Cait, last weekend. They arrived on Thursday, left on Sunday, and managed to pack a lot into a long weekend—a delayed celebration of Christmas, visits with family and friends, walks with Eli the Wonder Pup, and Cait even joined Katie and Lila at Mt. Abram on Saturday afternoon for Lila’s first ski lesson of the year. She and Katie skied during the lesson, then had time enough afterward for a couple of runs with Lila.

The Greenwood selectmen joined with selectmen and town managers from Bethel, Newry, and Woodstock on Monday for a meeting (and delicious meal) hosted at the Woodstock town office. We have had several of these joint meetings, facilitated by the Northern Forest Center, to discuss regional issues that affect all of our towns. Agenda items this time included an update from First Light on the progress of the broadband project, information from Campbell Environmental Group on grants to assess possible hazardous waste sites, and steps for updating municipal Comprehensive Plans.

Greenwood plans to begin the process of updating our Comprehensive Plan and will soon be seeking members to serve on a Comprehensive Planning Committee. Please let Town Manager Kim Sparks know if you are interested—call 875-2773 or stop by the town office.

Wednesday, January 21, at 2 p.m. in the Reading Room of the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society: The Bethel Library Book Club will discuss Mad Honey, co-written by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan. (I just finished reading this book in four days; I couldn’t put it down, and probably would have read it in a day or two if only I could have put everything else in my life on hold.) The Reading Room is located in the back of the building, with access through the rear door on the driveway side, and plenty of parking behind the building or on Broad Street.

Saturday, January 31, at 2 p.m. at the Bethel Library on Broad Street: Book discussion of American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence, by Pauline Maier. This is the first of several book discussions relating to the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution to be held during 2026 as part of the celebration of America’s 250^th birthday. Copies of American Scripture are available for purchase at cost from both the library and the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society.

The Yarn Hub Drop-In knitting group at the Bethel Library meets on Tuesday mornings from 10-noon.

The Village Makers meet year-round on Tuesdays from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Whitman Library in Bryant Pond to enjoy crafting and community. Organizer Liz Hatch calls herself “an obsessed knitter,” but crafters of all kinds are welcome.

Age-Friendly Community Initiative sponsors a drop-in indoor walking program at the Gould Academy Fieldhouse on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-2 p.m. through April.

AFCI also creates a monthly calendar to let people know what other opportunities and services are available for older citizens in our area. Here’s the schedule for January. Although we’re halfway through the month, and some of these events have already taken place, this should give you an idea of how many great programs are taking place throughout our communities.

I’m overdue for an eye exam, and my cat Carl would agree that it’s time. The other morning I dropped a pair of black shorts on the floor at the top of the stairs so I’d remember to take them down to add to the laundry, and before I got around to going downstairs, I had walked by, glanced at them, and said, “Hi, Carl!” to them…not once, but twice.

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.

“Don’t stress about your eyesight failing as you get older. It’s nature’s way of protecting you from shock as you walk past the mirror.” -- Anonymous

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Eli the Wonder Pup and I continued our streak of Christmas Day hikes with our ninth annual one, a short snowshoe hike on the Orange Trail in Maggie’s Nature Park. It was the first time on snowshoes for my new knees, and they held up well. We broke out the trail in fresh powder snow, and the 1.3 mile loop was plenty of exercise for both of us.

Three days later, Eli and I went back to Maggie’s Nature Park for another hike. By then the trails had been traversed by several others, and while I still needed my snowshoes, I was able to make it to the top of Peaked Mountain without much difficulty. I haven’t been out for a hike since Monday’s storm and the ensuing deep freeze, but I’m sure I’ll find the conditions have changed quite a bit, and I will probably be back to Microspikes, at least until the next snowstorm.

Five years ago this week, in my last column of 2020, I wrote, “As a confirmed introvert, and a dedicated avoider of most kinds of raucous celebrations, I’ve never enjoyed the party aspect of New Year’s Eve. I have, however, always loved the concept of the incoming new year as a time for new beginnings, an opportunity to do things a little better the next time around, and a time of great optimism and hope.”

Those two things haven’t changed: I still avoid raucous celebrations, and I still look forward to each new year with great (even if misplaced) optimism. As usual, I’ll be making—and probably breaking—a few resolutions. How about you?

I’m so sorry to have learned recently that several families in our community are grieving the loss of a loved one this holiday season. Sincere sympathy goes out to John and Eva Coolidge and their family for the loss of their beautiful granddaughter, Corey Blais, on December 29; to the family of Duffy Ellsworth, who passed away on December 23; and to Ken and Michele Cole and family for the loss of Michele’s mother on December 21. We are all holding you all in our hearts.

With the start of 2026, the country is preparing to celebrate its Semiquincentennial, or, if you prefer, Bisesquicentennial, Sestercentennial, or Quarter Millennium. Yes, those are all technically correct ways to express the 250^th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, but there seems to be a general consensus across the country that, for ease of remembering—and spelling—the name, it should be called simply “America 250.”

“Engage With Our History - Independence 250” is a series of programs and events taking place here in western Maine, sponsored by the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society and community partners. Follow the Independence 250 Facebook page to stay informed about all of the upcoming events and activities throughout the year—the first two are coming right up!

Saturday, January 10, at 2 p.m. in the Meeting Room of the Mason House, 14 Broad Street in Bethel: Independence 250 Kick-off. This event will feature a screening and discussion of a highlight reel from Ken Burns’ The American Revolution documentary. (The complete documentary is now available for streaming on Public Broadcasting.) Come and learn more about what is planned for 2026, and pick up a copy of the first reading group book.

Saturday, January 31, at 2 p.m. at the Bethel Library on Broad Street: Book discussion of American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence, by Pauline Maier. In American Scripture, Maier shows us the Declaration as both the defining statement of our national identity and the moral standard by which we live as a nation. A hybrid option will be available for those unable to attend in person.

Here are more things to do in the new year:

The Bethel Library Book Club meets monthly at 2 p.m. in the Reading Room of the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society’s Robinson House, next door to the library. The Reading Room is located in the back of the building, with access through the rear door on the driveway side, and plenty of parking behind the building or on Broad Street. The first meeting of 2026 will be held on Wednesday, January 21, at 2 p.m., and the book is Mad Honey, by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan.

The Yarn Hub Drop-In knitting group at the Bethel Library meets on Tuesday mornings from 10-noon. The group has been on hiatus for the holidays, but will resume meeting on Tuesday, January 6.

The Village Makers meet year-round on Tuesdays from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Whitman Library in Bryant Pond to enjoy crafting and community. Organizer Liz Hatch calls herself “an obsessed knitter,” but crafters of all kinds are welcome.

MSAD 44 Adult and Community Education is sponsoring a four-day hands-on workshop on the Art of Sourdough, Wednesday-Friday, January 7, 8, and 9, from 6-7:30 p.m., and Saturday, January 10, from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. For more information and to register, contact the office at 824-2136, ext. 1341, or email adulted@sad44.org.

Age-Friendly Community Initiative sponsors a drop-in indoor walking program at the Gould Academy Fieldhouse on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-2 p.m. through April. The program has been on holiday break, but will resume on Tuesday, January 6.

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.

I hope all of my readers are able to spend the day in just the way they want, whether that means a big gathering with family and/or friends or a time for peaceful contemplation. My holiday will feature a mix of both, as I’m planning a morning hike with my loyal hiking companion, Eli the Wonder Pup, and then dinner with Steve’s family in …

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We intend to use this space to carry on the longstanding tradition of providing the most truly local of local news. Our goals are twofold: 1) to inform and entertain and continue to share with current readers the news and events taking place in our towns, presented in our own unique voices (and often with our own stories and commentary added for good measure), and 2) to provide historians studying Maine’s past—perhaps a century from now—with access to the kind of local news that has informed their research for 240 years, since the founding of Maine’s first newspaper, The Falmouth Gazette, in 1785.

With regard to the second goal, History Today notes, “Historians have relied on the local press for valuable snapshots of everyday life. Column after column of births, marriages and deaths chronicled the ebb and flow of human existence, enabling the tracing of ancestors, celebrities and locally influential people.”

As for our goal to inform and entertain our readers, I can’t count the number of times people have told me that the town columns are their favorite and most valued part of the local paper. I hope that those who miss reading us in print will find their way here—if you’re here online reading this, please spread the word!

Town Managers Kim Sparks and Tonya Lewis of Greenwood and Woodstock have received word from Casella Waste Systems that the cost of their services to transport waste from the Greenwood-Woodstock Transfer Station will be increasing by 30 to 50 percent in 2026. The towns’ multi-year contract with Casella ends December 31, and prices will increase January 1. Kim and Tonya will be looking into the costs paid by other towns, and the possibility of requesting bids from other haulers before a new contract is signed.

At their last meeting of 2025 on Tuesday evening, the Greenwood selectmen made the following one-year appointments: Codes Officer Anne Kwoka; regular Planning Board members John Kwoka, Sarah Wood, Andrew Baker, David Newcomb, and Cheri Thurston; and alternate Planning Board member Matt Mitchell.

The Planning Board’s next meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 5, at 5 p.m. at the Greenwood Town Office. The Board of Selectmen will meet on the first and third Tuesdays, January 6 and 20, at 5 p.m.

By the time you read this, Christmas will be just a week away! Here are some holiday events still ahead:

Friday, Dec. 19, from 4-6 p.m.: Greenwood Farmers’ Market and Holiday Wonderland at the old Town Hall on Main Street in Locke’s Mills. Shop for all your favorite local goods, including maple syrup, granola, eggs, delicious baked goods, fresh greens, and Icelandic wool yarn, then go “free-shopping” for donated holiday décor to round out your seasonal decorating. Donations for the Bethel Food Pantry will be collected at both December markets.

Saturday, Dec. 20, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Jackson-Silver Post #68, 595 Gore Road in Locke’s Mills: Legion Cookie Walk. Purchase a festive holiday cookie box for $8, then fill it to the brim with homemade cookies for a perfect last-minute gift.

Sunday, Dec. 21, at 4 p.m.: Annual Candlelight Service at the First Universalist Church of West Paris, led by Pastor Linda Couture. There will be Christmas carols, a Christmas story, and a reading by Rodney Abbott, with music performed by organist Elaine Emery. No collection will be taken at the service, but there will be a collection of non-perishable food items for the West Paris food pantry. Holiday refreshments will be served after the service.

It’s hard to believe that it’s time to start thinking about a new year already! If, like me, you’re hoping to find time for some quiet and/or creative pursuits in 2026, here are a few like-minded groups to get you started:

The Bethel Library Book Club meets monthly at 2 p.m. in the Reading Room of the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society’s Robinson House, next door to the library. The Reading Room is located in the back of the building, with access through the rear door on the driveway side, and plenty of parking behind the building or on Broad Street. Here’s the schedule of 2026 books and meeting dates.

The Yarn Hub Drop-In knitting group at the Bethel Library meets on Tuesday mornings from 10-noon. The group is currently on hiatus for the holidays, but will resume meeting on Tuesday, January 6.

The Village Makers meet year-round on Tuesdays from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Whitman Library in Bryant Pond to enjoy crafting and community. Organizer Liz Hatch calls herself “an obsessed knitter,” but crafters of all kinds are welcome.

MSAD 44 Adult and Community Education is sponsoring a four-day hands-on workshop on the Art of Sourdough, Wednesday-Friday, January 7, 8, and 9, from 6-7:30 p.m., and Saturday, January 10, from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. For more information and to register, contact the office at 824-2136, ext. 1341, or email adulted@sad44.org.

If you’re looking for something to keep you active throughout the winter months, the Age-Friendly Community Initiative sponsors a drop-in indoor walking program at the Gould Academy Fieldhouse on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-2 p.m. through April.

I’ve been baking and sewing, but my preparations for Christmas are far from complete. We’ll be heading to Portland on the 24^th for a Christmas Eve lunch with our granddaughter, Lila, and her family. Our tradition has been to go later in the day and stay through dinner, but that long, dark drive home from Portland has been getting longer and darker every year, and we’re happy to be switching the schedule up this year to allow us to get at least part of the way home in daylight.

Speaking of daylight, I’m happy to report that we have passed the date of the earliest sunset, which was at 4:04 p.m., and sunset tonight (Thursday) is at 4:05! Next Thursday, Christmas, the sun will set at 4:08, and by New Year’s Day it will be all the way up to 4:14. However, sunrise will still continue to get a little later each morning until the beginning of January, when we’ll slowly start to gain daylight on that end of the day, too—just seconds at first, but by the end of January, sunrise will be at 7:03, up from its latest time of 7:19. And the day’s length will increase from eight hours and 50 minutes on the shortest day, December 21, to nine hours and 47 minutes by January 31, a welcome and noticeable difference!

Sunday, December 14, marked 5,000 days for my “exercise streak,” meaning that I haven’t missed a day with at least 30 minutes of some form of exercise since I started the streak back on April 7, 2012. I celebrated with my longest hike so far with my new knee, a 4.3-mile loop of all three peaks in the Buck’s Ledge Community Forest: Lapham Ledge, the summit of Moody Mountain, and Buck’s Ledge. Because of the powdery snow on the trails, it took me somewhat longer than I had planned, but that worked out well, because I ended up at the overlook on my way down the logging road just in time to catch the sun setting behind Mount Abram. (And yes, I do carry a headlamp, but I didn’t need it this time.)

This new 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.

“The need for connection and community is primal, as fundamental as the need for air, water, and food.” – Dr. Dean Ornish