Tomorrow marks 25 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks destroyed the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, and to commemorate the solemn anniversary, beginning last night (Wednesday, September 9) and continuing for four evenings, from 8 p.m. until midnight, twin beams of light will be projected from the summit of Mount Washington.
According to the Facebook page of The Honor Summit (honorsummitnh.org), “two pillars of light will rise from the highest peak in the Northeast as a powerful symbol of resilience, gratitude, and unity. Inspired by the dual beams that honor September 11, The Honor Summit pays tribute to the lives lost, the first responders who answered the call, and the veterans whose courage continues to protect our communities.”
The project was initiated by Renee Plummer of Granite Springs Foundation “to ensure that the 25th anniversary of 9/11 is remembered with the visibility and respect it deserves. With support from the State of New Hampshire and partners across the region, the installation offers an experience that belongs to all of us: rooted in gratitude, unity, and collective remembrance.”
Organizers say that if the weather is clear, as it is expected to be during the last three nights of the display, the twin beams may be visible from a distance of as much as 135 miles. As the highest peak in the northeastern U.S. at 6,288 feet, Mount Washington can be seen from many places in our area, including the Height of Land on Route 17 in Roxbury and, closer to home, the scenic overlook in the Buck’s Ledge Community Forest.
Upcoming events:
Saturday, September 12, at 2:00 p.m. at the Waterford Public Library: Book discussion of The Radicalism of the American Revolution. Prize-winning historian Gordon S. Wood offers a graAnd and immensely readable synthesis of historical, political, cultural, and economic analysis to describe the events that made the American Revolution. Wood depicts a revolution that was about much more than a break from England–rather it transformed an almost feudal society into a democratic one, whose emerging realities sometimes baffled and disappointed its founding fathers. This is the fourth in a series of book discussions sponsored by the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society and the Independence 250 committee to commemorate America’s 250th birthday. The book is available at the MBHS Museum Shop.
Saturday, September 12, at 1:00 p.m. at the former UU Church on Grove Street in Bryant Pond: Jane Chandler will share the recent history of Buck’s Ledge for the Woodstock Historical Society. The slide show will depict the people who helped to make Buck’s Ledge Community Forest a reality, forever preserved for the public.
Wednesday, September 16, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.: Baked Bean Supper at the Locke’s Mills Union Church. See details below.
Monday, September 21, at 10:00 a.m.: Mushroom hike at Lapham Ledge, led by Amanda Moran. Meet at the Buck’s Ledge Community Forest trailhead parking lot on Route 26.
Friday, September 25, from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. at West Bethel Makerspace, 10 Ferry Road, Bethel: Community Mending Group monthly meeting. Feature Focus: All Things Adhesive with Susan Barras. Susan will cover the basics of how adhesives work, the range of options when choosing an adhesive, and tips for getting the best adherence. Join us drop-in style. The Makerspace team has created a fantastic working environment, and they look forward to making new connections that support our community. As always, rally up a friend, and bring your own project (it doesn’t need to be the Feature Focus) along with some donation money so our group can continue to grow and thrive.
Monday, October 12, at 9:00 a.m.: Geology hike at Buck’s Ledge Community Forest with Myles Felch. Meet at the Route 26 trailhead parking lot.
Friday, October 23, from 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, October 24, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Gould Academy fieldhouse: 46th Annual Bethel Outing Club Ski and Snowboard Sale. Get that unused gear ready to sell! As well as the opportunity to buy from multiple shops in the same place, you have the opportunity to sell winter/outdoor gear and clothing you no longer use or have outgrown (gear should be in safe and good condition). The club takes a 20% commission on sales. More information can be found at bethelouting.org
News from the First Universalist Church of West Paris:
September worship services start back up after our summer break on September 13 - and we hope everyone had a good, peaceful and safe summer! Service dates and info about an upcoming Death Cafe are below.
September 13, Joan Beal
“Waterways”
This is our re-gathering service, marking the beginning of the church year. It has traditionally been celebrated with a “water communion”. Members and visitors are asked to bring a small vial of water from a place that has been important to you over the summer. We will combine our waters into a common pool with a short description of their significance. If you somehow neglected to collect water from that favorite location, bring any water to accompany your statement. We will also have small containers of water available for those who need “substitute” water.
September 20, Bob Neal, information to come.
September 27, The Rev. Scott Campbell
“It Is Enough”
The sermon will focus on what Rev. Campbell has learned in the pulpit over 57 years of preaching. Here is an excerpt:
“My dad, who was a preacher himself, told me when I began my ministry something that has remained with me throughout the years. He said:
Love your people. If you don’t love them, it won’t matter what you preach. And if you do love them, it won’t matter what you preach.
So, I hope that even when I haven’t gotten it exactly right from the pulpit, my people have known that I loved them. That, in the end, is what this gospel business is all about.”
The Greenwood Board of Selectmen, which usually meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 5 p.m., will be altering their meeting schedule for the next few months. The board will meet twice more this month, on September 15 and 29, then will meet on the second and fourth Tuesdays in October (the 13th and 27th), November (the 10th and 24th), and December (the 8th and 22nd).
The improvements to the Bryant Pond roadside spring are complete, thanks to the Town of Woodstock and Bruce Korhonen and crew, and the new steps, grate, and handrails have greatly improved the experience of stopping there for water.
We moved back home from camp on Monday, and since I’ve been too busy this week to put everything back where it belongs, we’ve been living in chaos for the past few days. I’m hoping for some time this weekend to put things to rights! Lena has discovered, to her dismay, that over the summer she grew too big to be able to squeeze through the cat doors in the three dog gates we’ve put up in various doorways to keep her out of trouble when we can’t watch her every minute. Our orange bobtail cat, Roman, likes to sit on the other side of the gates and tease her, and much whining ensues.
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.