I’m starting this week’s column on a serious note, with an appeal to our communities for support for Bethel native and Telstar graduate Simon Smith. At the age of just 33, Simon was recently diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
On a GoFundMe page organized by Simon’s music student and friend Lee Urban (who in 2009 lost his wife to the same devastating disease), Simon’s wife, Tennessee, wrote:
“Many of you know Simon as a musician, music teacher, and conductor. In late 2025, Simon noticed conducting was becoming harder. His right shoulder was weak…In November, Simon received an EMG and we were told he had ALS, a terminal disease that doctors overlooked because of Simon’s young age…We were told he could have anywhere from 2 to 5 years, on average, to live. There is no cure and there are very few treatments to slow progression.”
Simon has had to curtail his work schedule, and Tennessee, who is currently completing her degree at USM, is his caretaker. Donations to the GoFundMe campaign will go toward Simon’s uncovered medical expenses, transportation to appointments, and the couple’s day-to-day expenses.
On a personal note, I have known Simon’s family all of my life. His grandparents (his dad Jonathan’s parents) were among my mother’s dearest friends, and I grew up spending time with his Aunt Deb in both Connecticut and Maine.
If you are able to donate to the GoFundMe in support of Simon and Tennessee, thank you, but if you are not in a position to donate, you can make a big difference just by helping to spread the word, whether through word of mouth or social media. Thank you. The link is here: https://gofund.me/100e678de
Here’s a calendar of (some) local events taking place in the next few weeks:
Saturday, May 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (or until sold out), at the American Legion Hall on the Gore Road in Locke’s Mills: Mother’s Day Cookie Walk. Purchase a decorative Mother’s Day container and fill it with homemade cookies of your choice for $8. (I’ll be making some cookies to donate!)
Sunday, May 10, at 9 a.m. at the First Universalist Church in West Paris: “Who is this?” The Rev. Scott Campbell will explore the question, “Who is Jesus and what does he have to do with us?”
Sunday, May 10 (Mother’s Day), at 4 p.m. at Gould Academy’s Bingham Auditorium in Bethel: The Mahoosuc Community Band will perform its Spring Concert. Ed Ryan is conducting the band, consisting of adults and Gould students. The concert is full of familiar favorites. Donations are welcome at the door to defray the cost of music.
Saturday, May 16, at 9 a.m. at the American Legion on the Gore Road: Annual Greenwood Town Meeting. Enjoy coffee and breakfast goodies with your neighbors, and take the opportunity to have a say in the government of your town! Copies of the Town Report, including the Town Meeting warrant, will be available at the Town Office and at the meeting.
Sunday, May 17, at 9:30 a.m. at the South Paris Universalist Church: The First Universalist Church of West Paris will join the South Paris congregation for their Sunday service, which will start at 9:30 a.m.
Sunday, May 24, at 9 a.m. at the First Universalist Church in West Paris: The Rev. Scott Campbell will lead the Sunday morning service. His sermon, “Ain’t She Sweet?” tells the story of a woman who battled depression throughout much of her life, but who knew a deeper truth in the end.
Saturday, June 6, from 9-11 a.m. at the First Universalist Church in West Paris: Annual Rhubarb Festival. Pies and “everything rhubarb” will be for sale.
The free year-long program, “Food Is Medicine,” designed for people who are at risk for Type 2 diabetes, and who have limited access to affordable, healthy foods, has been postponed to a start date of May 19. It will be held at the Bethel United Methodist Church and is sponsored by MaineHealth. See the details in the flyer below.
Two of Bethel’s most remarkable women celebrated birthdays this week. Arlene Harrington turned 103 on May 3, and Amy Davis reached the milestone of 100 years on May 4.
Chris Dunham posted on the “Greenwood as It Was” Facebook page on May 4:
“Amy Davis, for many years a teacher in Locke Mills, celebrates her 100th birthday today. When I saw her at the Greenwood Bicentennial, I shared my memory of a time she reprimanded me for throwing a puppet in class. Her firm hand steered me away from a life of crime, and for that I will be forever grateful.
“It was reported in the spring of 1966 that Mrs. Margaret A. Davis had ‘been employed to do special reading work at the Locke Mills School.’ That fall she was hired to teach at Ethel Bisbee in Bethel, but in 1968, when the school in Locke Mills shrank to three grades, she returned to become its kindergarten teacher. A decade later she was principal as well and teaching a second class each afternoon in Woodstock. She would continue to teach in Woodstock after the Locke Mills school closed at the end of the 1980–81 school year and until her retirement in 1986.
Happy birthday, Mrs. Davis!”
Greenwood town officials recently received some great news from Western Foothills Land Trust Executive Director Korey Morgan (who just happens to be a Greenwood native). I’m sharing the WFLT press release in its entirety here:
Western Foothills Land Trust (WFLT) has announced it has purchased nearly 70 acres of forestland abutting Noyes Mountain Preserve, expanding one of the region’s most popular outdoor destinations and protecting a significant block of contiguous forest critical to the water quality of Lake Pennesseewassee and the Androscoggin River.
The newly acquired parcel strengthens the ecological integrity of the preserve, helping to safeguard forest health, wildlife habitat, and water quality in a landscape long valued by the community.
Located off Richardson Hollow Road and the Greenwood Road in Greenwood, Noyes Mountain sits within a mineral-rich area with deep ties to Greenwood’s history. The Noyes Mountain Preserve includes historic gem and mineral mining sites. WFLT continues to offer artisanal mining opportunities that connect visitors to this unique heritage. The newly conserved land also includes one of the region’s “keyhole” mines, where workers once extracted feldspar.
The expansion builds on the existing recreational opportunities available at Noyes Mountain Preserve, including hiking, snowshoeing, hunting, foraging, artisanal mining, and backcountry exploration. WFLT is currently developing updated recreation plans and policies to thoughtfully integrate the new parcel into the existing trail network and visitor experience.
“Noyes Mountain is a special place,” said Korey Morgan, Executive Director of WFLT. “With this expansion, visitors can experience the intersection of history, geology, and the Maine woods in a way that is unique to our region.”
The conservation of this property was made possible through support from the Land for Maine’s Future program, the Maine Community Foundation, other private donors, and the longstanding efforts of local conservationist and WFLT board member Rich Sousa, who has worked for nearly a decade to see this land conserved.
WFLT is planning a community celebration at Noyes Mountain Preserve, tentatively scheduled for June 27, to mark this addition and welcome the public to the expanded Preserve. The event will offer an opportunity to explore Noyes Mountain Preserve, learn more about its history and conservation values, and connect with others who care about this special place. Additional details will be shared this summer. In the meantime, those interested in supporting ongoing stewardship and management of Noyes Mountain Preserve can learn more and get involved by visiting www.wfltmaine.org.
About the Western Foothills Land Trust
Western Foothills Land Trust is a nonprofit conservation organization based in Norway, Maine. Founded in 1987, WFLT is dedicated to protecting forests, farms, and waters of western Maine for the benefit of current and future generations. Through land conservation,
stewardship, and community engagement, WFLT works to sustain the region’s ecological integrity, rural character, and access to the outdoors. To date, WFLT has conserved over 10,000 acres and manages more than 40 miles of public recreational trails.
We enjoyed a visit from our granddaughter, Lila, and her mom on Sunday afternoon. I think they were both surprised to see how much Lena had grown since they were last here, just two weeks ago.
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.
“The secret to longevity is ice cream.” – Paul Marcus, centenarian