In the Town of Bethel the second quarter real estate tax bill is due on Friday, April 24th at the town hall. There are no reminders sent out so folks have to remember on their own accord. As the saying goes...Death and Taxes. You cannot avoid it.
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 25th, 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 14th, 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 15th, 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.
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