“Above the Fold”
(An introduction to each week’s newsletter from the editor of WMNN)
Hi, Neighbors! In this week’s Western Maine Neighborhood News, the Andover, East Bethel, Locke’s Mills, and West Paris columns are free to all subscribers, along with news from the AFCI—the Age-Friendly Community Initiative. Upgrade to a paid subscription ($5/month or $50/year) to read this week’s Bethel, Gilead, Newry, and Woodstock columns (and all the town columns every week).
We at the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society have certainly had the best of luck with the weather for our October Sunday afternoon cemetery tours! This Sunday, October 25, at 2 p.m. rounds out the four-part series, and we’ll be visiting the Middle Intervale Cemetery, located at the Middle Intervale Meeting House, 757 Intervale Road. Following the tour, at which MBHS Executive Director Will Chapman will share stories of some of the cemetery’s most intriguing “permanent residents,” the Middle Intervale Meeting House Society will host an open house with light refreshments. These tours have been well-attended, informative, and fun, and Will is already thinking about which four local cemeteries should be on the schedule next year!
Andover News
Diana Nadeau
Hello to all my faithful readers.
As I start writing this column (Friday the 16th) we are getting some more much needed rain. The last bout of rain I measured 1 1/2 inches in my rain gauge. Time will tell how much we receive this time around. * Update* We received a half inch.
Mills Market is hiring for a breakfast position, 4:30-11 am Monday to Friday. For more information contact Trish at the store or stop by Mills to fill out an application. You still have time to stop by the store and enter the Big Buck Contest. $500 starting pot donated by the Mills Market Big Buck Committee. Winner takes all – heaviest deer wins. $20 entry fee and must enter by October 30th. Deer must be field dressed (no heart, liver, or lungs) Must be weighed at Mills Market. Ends with Muzzleloader season. Enter in-store only.
The Big Buck Committee has the final say on winner. Good luck out there, and happy hunting.
Last Saturday my Uncle Mac and cousin Ben travelled from the Waterville area to have a visit with my dad, my husband, and myself. Dad made a gift of 2 of his firearms to his nephew Ben so they wanted to get all the info on those and the stories that go along with them from dad. We enjoyed a delicious lunch (as always) at Mills Market. It was a lovely day catching up and hearing tales from years past. I really enjoyed seeing my father talking and engaging with family.
The Andover Service Circle recently had this to say: A huge thank you to everyone who came out and joined us for our 22nd Annual Senior Appreciation Dinner! We hope everyone had a wonderful evening! We also want to give a big THANK YOU to all of our amazing volunteers who helped make the night possible, and to our wonderful community members who donated raffle items. Your generosity and support are truly appreciated! We’re so grateful for our community and everyone who helps make events like this possible. Thank you for helping us make it another great evening! I’m so glad that this annual dinner was so well attended. The ASC is a true gem in our community.
My dear friend (and recently retired...yay for you!) Amber has asked me to share the Retro Rewind 2nd annual adult Prom info with all of you. This takes place in mid-November so it will give anyone interested in this scholarship fundraiser plenty of time to plan. Add it to your calendar today and please spread the word. See the attached poster and QR code for all the info. Let’s make this a success!
Next Thursday October 29th, the Andover Public Library will be having their adult paint night and fundraiser from 6-8. It’s not too late to sign up. I have reserved my spot and am looking forward to this very much. I have attended a few of the paint nights in the past and I love how they are basically the same but different as people put their own spin on them. Come and join in on all the spooky holiday fun, ‘tis the season, and you get to see me ha ha.
The Town of Andover has another job opportunity: The Town is accepting applications for the Treasurer position. This hourly non-exempt position is perfect for someone seeking a flexible part-time, 20-hour work week. The position is eligible for benefits including holiday, vacation, and sick pay, participation in the town’s health and vision insurance plans and MainePERS.
The preferred candidate is responsible for the administrative and fiscal work in handling of Town funds, working closely with the Selectboard. Work involves cash management, maintaining relationships with financial institutions and the public; disbursing funds to cover expenditures and mandated reporting managed by federal and state law and town ordinance/policy and preparing and administering department budgetary reports; work is performed under the general supervision of the Selectboard with considerable independence of action in accordance with applicable laws and following generally accepted accounting practices; work is reviewed through observation, verification, internal audit and through fiscal audit.
The preferred candidate will have experience in: payroll processing, accounts payable and receivable, working with vendor contracts, managing annual budget building process, accounts reconciliation and deposits, able to be bonded, municipal bonds and notes, municipal (TRIO or like) software system, will need to be, or become, a Notary of the Public, will attend Selectboard meetings as requested and Annual Town Meeting, have reliable transportation for out-of-town bank deposits. The ideal candidate will also have experience in administering Human Resource/employee benefits.
This list is a sample, not inclusive, of the roles and responsibility of this position. This position remains open until a qualified candidate is hired. Please visit the Town Office, 17 Stillman Road, Andover, Maine for an application. Submit your application with a current resume and cover letter to the Town Office, PO Box 219, Andover, Maine 04216, Attn: Selectboard or email both as separate PDF attachments (not as Google doc links) to secretary@andovermaine.gov. Selected candidates will be notified by phone and/or email for an interview.
As always please send any news, info or events my way. diananadeau@ymail.com
Bethel News
Linda Howe
The upcoming weekend in Bethel is the 46th Annual Bethel Outing Club Ski and Snowboard Sale. It is a two-day event at the Gould Academy Fieldhouse located on
East Bethel News
Hayli Tuttle
Hello Neighbors! I hope you all had a wonderful week. My week has been spent doing lots of crocheting and schoolwork.
This past weekend we went and got our pumpkins! It was so fun to watch my kiddo pick out her pumpkin. She even picked one out for me. We also turned her car seat forward this weekend. I don’t know when my baby got so big but I feel like I blinked.
There will be a To Your Health event on Thursday, October 29th,
at the Telstar High School Library from 4-5:30pm. Please see attached flyer for
more details.
Eleven more days until Halloween. Do you get lots of trick or treaters? I hope to get out to East Bethel to bring my kiddo around. Call me at (207) 595-5930 or email me at haylist.laurent22@gmail.com. I look forward to
connecting with you. Have an outstanding week!
Gilead News
Lin Chapman
I woke up around 3:30 Sunday morning and the thermometer read 24 degrees. This was the coldest morning I had noticed this fall. The next few mornings weren’t much better.
On Saturday morning, we looked out the front living room window and there was a
Locke’s Mills News
Amy Wight Chapman
Early voting is available to Greenwood residents during all Town Office open hours, which are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. You may request an absentee ballot in person or online until Thursday, October 29. You may also register to vote any day up to and including November 3, Election Day. The polls will be open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Election Day. Don’t forget to vote!
A reminder that the 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 through December. The board will meet next on the fourth Tuesday in October, the 27th, and then on November 10 and 24, and December 8 and 22.
There is a Public Hearing scheduled for Tuesday, October 27, at 6:00 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, 595 Gore Road, to discuss three possible future highway projects. The public’s input on these projects is welcome to help the Selectboard plan how to proceed in preparation for the Annual Town Meeting on May 22, 2027.
Project 1: Greenwood Road repair from Rowe Hill Road heading towards Locke’s Mills to 384 Greenwood Road. (Phase 1)
Project 2: Locke’s Mills Bridge/ aka Cubby’s Dam on Howe Hill Road – replace concrete bridge. Undermined and scoured concrete below road surface.
Project 3: Johnnie’s Bridge, Johnnie’s Bridge Road – abutment failure on the Woodstock side of the bridge. Bridge is currently closed to vehicular traffic.
Discussion: Rob Prue, PE from Pine Tree Engineering, will be present to answer questions.
Here are some events coming up in the next few weeks:
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
Sunday, October 25, at 2 p.m.: Tour the Middle Intervale Cemetery with Museums of the Bethel Historical Society Executive Director Will Chapman. This is the final cemetery tour of the year, and will be followed by an open house in the historic Middle Intervale Meeting House, with light refreshments provided by the Middle Intervale Meeting House Society.
Thursday, October 29, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Telstar Library: “Family Caregiving: Challenges, Resources, and Hope,” a free program presented by “To Your Health.” See details in the flyer below.
Saturday, October 31, from 5 to 7 p.m.: Trick-or-Treat Broad Street. Round out a busy month with some family fun! Be sure to stop by the Bethel Library and the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society for our fifth annual Trick-or-Treat Broad Street. We will be distributing candy to trick-or-treaters at the Bethel Library, Robinson House, and Mason House. We’ll also have a mini haunted house full of creeptastic historical oddities in the Twitchell Education Center!
Thursday, November 5, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the Telstar Library: Mary Morton Cowan will give a presentation on the history of logging in New England. She is the author of Timberrr! A History of Logging in New England, written for middle-grade readers. Spanning four centuries, the book explores the true story of how logging shaped the economy, culture, and forests of New England—from colonial mast cutting to the rise of sawmills and modern sustainable forestry. This program is presented by the Western Mountains Senior College, and is free and open to the public.
Saturday, November 21, 2:00 p.m. at the Mason House of the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society: Book discussion. Join us for a discussion of the book, The Founding Foodies: American Meals that Wouldn’t Exist Today If Not For Washington, Jefferson, and Franklin by Dave DeWitt. Food writer DeWitt entertainingly describes how some of America’s most famous colonial leaders—like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin—not only established America’s political destiny, but also revolutionized the very foods we eat. Copies of the book are available at the Museum Shop for $10. Call 207-824-2908 or email info@bethelhistorical.org for more information.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor website, as of last Thursday, when the most recent drought map was released, all of Maine continued to be in at least a moderate drought. However, although the weekly map is released on Thursdays, apparently the cut-off time is the previous Tuesday at 8 a.m. That would mean that last Thursday’s map does not take into account the rain we received on Tuesday and Friday last week, and I’m hoping that the map due to be released today, October 22, will show at least a somewhat better picture of current drought conditions. Even though I’ve been grateful for so many beautiful October days, we do still need more rain!
On Monday morning of this week, Lena and I joined her bestie, Puck, and his person, Betsey, for a hike on the old roads on the west side of Red Hill in Rumford. It was a place I had never been before, and I always love a new-to-me hike. I should note two things, however: first, that the road is gated and access is by permission only (which we did have), and second, that there are coyote traps set in the area, something we didn’t realize until we saw them. So, unfortunately, it was probably my first and last hike there.
A century or more ago, the area was home to a small settlement comprised of several farms, and a surprising number of the fields are kept open by their present owners, giving us beautiful views as we looked across them to Rumford Whitecap in the distance.
A site along the road is identified by a sign as the former site of the Red Hill School, although no vestige of the building itself remains. Just as was the case here in Greenwood, in the nineteenth century, one-room schoolhouses were built nearly everywhere a neighborhood sprang up.
I tried to find out more about the history of Red Hill, but wasn’t able to learn much, except from a few excerpts of William Berry Lapham’s 1890 History of Rumford, Oxford County, Maine, from its First Settlement in 1779 to the Present Time, including one possible reason for the area’s name:
“Daniel and Ezekiel Harper, brothers, were in town quite early and lived on Red Hill. It is said by some that they each had red hair, and that the hill where they settled was so named from this circumstance.”
The dogs are always excited to play together, and they had a wonderful romp…and afterward they both went back home to their respective recliners and slept the afternoon away.
Although I’ve been enjoying the many warm sunny days we’ve had this October, the frosty mornings are a reminder that the seasons are about to change. Tony pulled the waterline from the pond at camp a few weeks ago, and went back last week to disconnect the pump, drain the pipes, and put RV antifreeze in the toilet and drains. I’m glad we no longer have docks and boats to pull out of the water, but that’s what my brother Steve’s family was doing last weekend at their camp. Brrrr!
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.
Newry News
Amy Henley
Only one more week of October. The months and year are going so fast!
I think everyone is feeling the time crunch to get projects complete before snow falls. We did have a few snowflakes mixed in with rain on Saturday. So soak up
West Paris
Stephanie Emery
Greetings from West Paris!
The West Paris Bobcat Committee is asking for support in the form of financial donations to help in efforts to preserve the former Agnes Gray School buildings and grounds. The Committee’s mission is to protect this important piece of West Paris history to ensure it will serve our community in the future.
While the Town of West Paris is exploring different options for the future of the property, the Bobcat Committee has been lending a hand in cleaning up the grounds, mowing the grass, and monitoring the exterior of the building and grounds. Until future plans are made, the Bobcats will do what they can to help with the upkeep and prevent further deterioration. Some of the most pressing needs are new roofs, weatherstripping, replacement of broken windows, and heating system improvements.
The Bobcat Committee appreciates contributions of any size and as a thank you, they are currently entering all names from donations into a raffle. There are several prizes including three vinyl albums from West Paris’s very own Maine Humorist, Joe Perham, a car care kit, a crocheted baby outfit and more. The drawing is scheduled for the Dec. 15th Bobcat Committee Meeting. You do not have to be present to win. Donations by check can be mailed to the following:
The Bobcat Committee
Jim Marshall, President
PO Box 34
West Paris, ME 04289
You may also donate by following this QR code:
The Bobcat Committee is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Their meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month at the West Paris Library. New members are always welcome.
The woolly bears are on the move! I’ve seen two of them this week. According to folklore, they are known for their ability to predict the length and severity of our winters by the length of their brown midsection. In the fall, these creatures make their way to a dark place to take shelter for the winter. In reality, the length of their midsection is just an indication of how old the caterpillar is. As it ages, it adds more brown hairs making their midsections appear larger, and therefore tricking us into thinking our winter will be a mild one, according to folklore. They survive the cold winter by producing a cryoprotectant that prevents their tissue from freezing as well as glycerol which insulates their body. Let’s hope they find their shelter soon, as the morning frosts have arrived! Maybe I’ll see these two flittering around as Isabella Tiger Moths in the spring.
Don’t forget to vote! Early voting is now open to West Paris residents any day the West Paris Town Office is open. M-W 8AM-5PM, Th 10AM-6PM, F 8AM-1PM. You may request an absentee ballot in person or online until Thursday, October 29th. You may also register to vote any day up to and including election day, November 3rd. Voting will be open on November 3rd from 8 AM until 8 PM.
Calendar of Upcoming Events:
Now through December 30: Art Exhibit, “The Nature of Trees” by Mick Liimatta, at the West Paris Library. Library open hours are Monday and Friday, 1:30-6 p.m.; Wednesday, 1:30-7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Thursday October 22nd: Public Hearing 5:00 PM.
The Town of West Paris will hold a Public Hearing at the West Paris Town Office in the meeting room to discuss acceptance of a Public Infrastructure CDBG Grant. The purpose of the grant is to replace the current water storage reservoir and associated piping, replace a critical river crossing, and the transmission main from the reservoir to the river crossing to comply with a MDWP Administrative Order. The district will also seek to locate and develop a secondary water supply. Public comments will be solicited at this Hearing and will be submitted as part of the Project Development Phase.
Saturday, October 24th: 4:30-6:00 PM Public Chicken Pie Supper at the Ring McKeen Legion Hall, 6 Church St. West Paris. Donation $12.00 per person. Eat in or take out. The full meal includes: chicken pie, mashed potato, veggies, homemade rolls, a dessert and beverage.
Monday Oct 26th: Goodwill Fellowship meeting/potluck at 12 noon at the West Paris Unitarian Universalist Church. Pokeno theme for Thanksgiving.
Wednesday October 28th: 5:30 PM, West Paris Old Home Days Planning Meeting. Held at Ripple Retreat, 186R Main Street, West Paris. All are welcome to join and share ideas.
Thursday October 29th: The Survey for the Town of West Paris Comprehensive Plan is due at the Town Office. Copies are available at the West Paris Town Office.
Saturday October 31st: The West Paris Vulnerability Assessment Survey is due. Paper copies of the survey are available at the Town Office and West Paris Library. You can also fill it out online at https://forms.gle/uxh5BpxzF3VXiQLy5 The goal of the Assessment Survey is to help West Paris become more resilient to extreme weather and other climate impacts.
Saturday October 31: Community Trunk or Treat at 5:00-7:30 PM at the West Paris Fire Station.
Tuesday November 3rd: Food Pantry 1PM-3PM at the West Paris Baptist Church.
Tuesday November 3rd: Polls are open for voting from 8AM-8PM at the West Paris Town Office.
Tuesday, November 10th: West Paris Planning Board Meeting at 6PM at the West Paris Town Office.
Tuesday, November 10th: West Paris Library Advisory Board Meeting 6:30-7:30PM. This is a monthly meeting and is open to the public.
December Date TBA: 100th Anniversary of the West Paris Library from 2:00-4:00 PM. Speaker: Rodney Abbott with displays and more. Join us to celebrate our 100-year-old Library! Everyone is welcome!
Ongoing West Paris Meetings/Events:
West Paris Selectman Meetings at 5PM Always the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month at the West Paris Town Office. All are welcomed to attend.
Recovery Ripples Meeting Every Tuesday at Ripple Retreat from 5pm to 6pm. This is a meeting for those in longterm recovery to discuss the good in our lives now, thanks to sobriety, rather than focusing on the bad. It’s an hour of Gratitude, sharing what we are grateful for as a direct result of our sobriety. We don’t share war stories or look in the past, we focus on today and the future. The meeting is held in person at Ripple Retreat, 186R Main Street, West Paris, ME 04289 and online at https://ripple-retreat.com/recovery-resources/.
The Ring McKeen American Legion Post 150 Every 4th Tuesday of the month the Legion and Auxiliary have a meeting and supper. The supper is at 6:00 PM and the meeting starts at 7:00PM. Any Veterans are welcome to join their Comrades.
The First Universalist Church of West Paris Worship Services Sundays, 9 AM. October’s services will feature music by guitarist Davy Sturtevant and a variety of guest speakers. Refreshments served following the service. All are welcome!
October 25, “Repairers of the Breach” led by The Rev. Scott Campbell.
If your West Paris organization has an event or meeting you would like to have listed in this newsletter, please email Stephanie at semery73@yahoo.com.
Woodstock
Linda Stowell
This is a great stretch of weather we’re having. The days have been gorgeous, and the nights rather chilly. I’ve fired up the wood stove a few times, which also keeps the furnace from coming on. This week was the dreaded oil delivery. I don’t think
AFCI
Melinda Remington
Hello folks,
Isn’t this Fall foliage season one of the prettiest and longest you have witnessed in recent years? When I lived in Florida for about 20 years, Fall was the season I missed the most. It was almost a physical pain, longing for the sights, sounds, and scents of September and October. This yearning would prompt me to go down memory lane and reminisce about my younger years; jumping in the piles of leaves, my feet crunching through them as I slowly shuffled my way to the neighborhood library. That was on one of the most iconic avenues in Portland, lined with maples and oaks that towered above, making an arch. Of course, the 60’s in Portland, Maine, was a time to chat with your neighbors, kids carving pumpkins as they bit down hard on bright red candy apples. Raking the leaves into the street brought everyone out. All hands on deck to watch the burning piles on the side of the street. Everyone did it. The city did not have all the equipment they have now. Not a safe or environmentally sound practice, but I still savor the smell of burning leaves. Now that I live in Bethel full-time, I relish each day because of the natural beauty and colors that surround me. I certainly do not take it for granted!
Last Friday, the Bethel Senior Citizens Club may have begun a new fall tradition. Thirty-two members and friends traveled to Meredith, New Hampshire, in a 15-passenger van and several carpools. There, we boarded the Turkey Train for a dining-car ride featuring colorful views of Lake Winnipesaukee. From Mother’s Day through Halloween, the train runs several times a day and serves a full turkey dinner catered by the renowned Hart’s Turkey Farm. The food was delicious and plentiful, and the waitstaff was attentive and fun. Although we were just one small group among many larger bus tours, we had our own dining car—so what happened there stays there! I will, however, share a few photos.
The phrase “Waste not, want Not,” came to mind when my friend showed me his empty plate. I would have been happy to have taken a doggy bag home. It was that delicious. Perhaps you would like to join us next year?
I want to share with you a new and exciting feature of this column.
Betsey Foster of Greenwood recently reached out to me. She has a master’s degree in public health, and experience as a journalist/newspaper editor. I personally know her as the spunky gal who shared the cross-country ski trails with me years ago. Today she is an accomplished artist and an active member of the Plein Aire painters’ group. Besides being a “dog mom” and lover of nature, she is an all-around direct and kind person. I was thrilled when she contacted me and offered to occasionally write about the various aspects of aging for this column. You will be seeing and reading more from her over the next months. She introduced the idea with “I was talking with another aging friend about our normal physical and mental changes as we age. I realized many, if not all of us, have the same concerns about our changing bodies and minds…Would you be interested in a short, once-a-month piece; a timely example might be why we are so easily overwhelmed by things that were routine in our younger years? Yes, there is a scientific and biochemical basis for this! Writing, research and science, as a public service to all of us old folks…”
She got my attention!! And I think you will be just as happy as I am to read her article, which follows.
Enjoy your week,
Melinda Remington
AFCI Community Connector
melindaremington@yahoo.com
