Western Maine Neighborhood News, March 12, 2026
Hi, Neighbors! In this issue, the Gilead, Locke’s Mills, and Newry columns are free to all readers. Upgrade to a paid subscription to read this week’s Andover, Bethel, and East Bethel columns.
Gilead News
Lin Chapman
Sunday: Another sunny Sunday. The thermometer, at 11:00 AM, reads 55 degrees. Of course, the wind is blowing and if I was inclined to go out, I would guess it does not feel like 55 degrees.
Mr. & Mrs. Cardinal showed up early for breakfast the other day. They wanted to be sure they got there before all the Blue Jays showed up and devoured everything they could. Earlier in the winter, we had a Robin that showed up almost every day. We hadn’t seen him for quite a while, but last Monday, late in the day, Hugh looked out and there was a Robin looking for something to eat. The Evening Grosbeaks and the Red-Winged Blackbirds have shown up now. It was nice enough on Tuesday, so the little chipmunk came out to replenish his seed supply. We have seen them in January and February if the weather is really warm.
Pete and Claudia Risbara have won the bird spotting award for this week. The Bluebirds have come back early this year. They like to check out the birdhouses and get first dibs on them before the swallows take over.
Gilead Town Office
Just another reminder to pick up a Town Report at the Town Office to look through and be ready for the Annual Town Meeting on March 28th. The Registrar of Voters will be there at 6:30 PM to enroll Gilead residents who have not registered to vote yet. Bring proof of residency. The meeting will start promptly at 7:00 PM.
Gilead Historical Society
We were sorry to hear that Dennis Wheeler had passed away. Condolences go out to his family. Denny painted both of the GHS buildings after they were moved onto the corner lot.
Got any news? Email chapmal@hotmail.com
Locke’s Mills News
Amy Wight Chapman
While it certainly was nice to have two days in the high 60s this week, I’m determined not to let March fool me yet again this year. Who remembers just a couple of years ago, on March 22, 2024, when we got two feet of snow after having enjoyed bare ground (and mud) for the first three weeks of the month?
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
Newry News
Amy Henley
As I sit here writing this week’s column, I can’t believe it hit 70 degrees today. I know it is just a tease but it sure felt good. I was able to get outside after work but I made sure to have my Muck boots on between the ice and the mud.
I wish the warm weather would continue but I’m sure there will be colder temperatures and probably even some snow or rain. I can, however, see our firepit, which is a great sign. I even sat out on the porch swing. I will need to dig out the cushions soon.
Daylight saving time sure does take time to get used to. I enjoy it staying light later into the evening but I’m a morning person so I’m missing the daylight in the morning.
Cooking was limited this weekend with corn chowder, biscuits, and pumpkin pie. I’m so thankful to have put up so many great vegetables that I am still able to enjoy and feed my family with.
My hens are enjoying the warmer weather and I’m getting a dozen or more eggs per day. Reach out if you’d like to purchase some eggs.
The Town of Newry has posted its roads. For further information, check our website at newrymaine.org or feel free to give the code enforcement officer a call.
Boat stickers have arrived at the Town Office. Register early so you are ready when you want to go out.
The next Select Board meeting is Tuesday, March 17 at 3 o’clock.
Enjoy the little things. Take time to be with your people as life is short and I’ve been reminded of that lately. Do what makes you happy. Make a plan as it is nice to have something to look forward to.
Send me your news to: newrynews24@gmail.com
Andover News
Diana Nadeau
There was a great turnout for the Andover Snow Valley Sno-goers 50th anniversary vintage ride-in/cookout at The Hut last Saturday. They had quite an assortment of vintage machines for all to admire, lots of great food and camaraderie.
