Well, my vacation week quickly came to an end and I’m back to work. I made a list at the beginning of my break and am happy to say that I crossed everything off. It included finishing washing windows as I had to get a ladder out, pressure washing the side of the house and washing the car along with some interior chores. Several trips were made to pick blackberries in a secret spot and lot of goodies were baked with many bags frozen for winter. I feel accomplished and will start a new list.
Goal making was something I truly despised when I was in high school but now I find it something I live by. Whether a professional goal or personal goal. I find it nice to have something to work towards. Goals don’t have to be big. Setting some small attainable ones that you can easily do is a great way to start and even can be encouraging to make bigger ones. So make that list and check off things as you go and start a new list when you complete that one. Or maybe you do short term goals and long term goals as some take longer than others.
The Bethel Outing Club Ski and Snowboard Sale is a place where local vendors and vendors from farther afield come to sell winter gear every October. Winter gear includes alpine and nordic skis, boots and poles, snowboards and snowboard boots, helmets, ice skates, hockey sticks, snowshoes, ski and boot bags, packs, winter clothing such as hats, mittens, jacket/coats, snow/ski pants, socks, and miscellaneous other items. There was even a fat-tired unicycle one year!
As well as new gear, folks can bring in used gear to sell. There is a special area to check this gear in. It needs to be inventoried and tagged by the seller and this may be done ahead of time or when it is brought in for the sale. Tagging ahead of time will save you money on tags (4 free and then 25 cents per tag up to 20, $1/tag after 20). Tags purchased the day of the sale at the sale are $1 each. Tags and inventory sheets will be available at the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce and True North Adventureware starting October 1st and until 2pm on Friday, October 23rd. More information about selling your used gear is at bethelouting.org. Used gear not sold Friday night is marked down 50% in the hopes of selling it Saturday. If you don’t want your item marked down 50%, you must pick it up by 9pm Friday when the sale closes for the night. The BOC takes a 20% commission which is used to purchase ski gear used by our local youth, aid in the ski programs for them, as well as helping send them to the Bill Koch Festival at the end of the ski season. The Bethel Outing Club Ski and Snowboard Sale will take place Friday, October 23rd from 6-9pm and Saturday, October 24th from 9 till noon at the Gould Academy Field House, 74 Church Street, Bethel.
Just a reminder that the Household Hazardous Waste Event is Saturday, August 29th from 9am-12pm at Bethel Public Works at 39 Davis Road in Bethel. Information about what can be brought can be found on the town’s website.
Tax bills are expected to go out in the mail today to owners as of April 1, 2026. If you sold your property after April 1, 2026, the taxes were committed to you and you will receive a bill. Courtesy bills are sent to new owners. If you do not receive your bill, you can find a copy on the town’s website or call the office to confirm your address and we can email you a copy. Payments can be made on the town’s website as well.
The Town Office will be closed on Monday, September 7th in observance of Labor Day and on Wednesday, September 9th to attend training. Please plan accordingly.
Good luck to all the students and parents that started school yesterday. I know it is a big adjustment getting back into a schedule again. I know we aren’t ready to let the summer break go just yet. Usually, I’m ready for school to begin but not this year. It went too quick and still so much to do.
Have a great week and send me your news to be included in next week’s column to newrynews24@gmail.com.