“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. 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). No AFCI column this week, as Melinda is taking some much-deserved time to focus on her own health.
I recently heard someone say that the foliage in western Maine this year has been the best in at least ten years, and I have to agree. It certainly doesn’t hurt that we’ve had so many beautiful fall days, when the deep blue of the sky perfectly offsets the reds, oranges, and yellows of the leaves.
The upcoming weekend looks like another good one, weather-wise, and another busy one, too. How will you spend it? At this time of year, when morning temperatures are chilly and we’re all beginning to realize that winter isn’t far off, chores around home often compete for our attention with the many social opportunities of the season. I hope you’re able to take some time away from your fall “to-do list” this week for a walk or hike, a community meal, a cemetery tour, or one of many other celebrations of the season you’ll find described in this week’s newsletter!
Andover News
Diana Nadeau
Hello faithful readers.
Well, it is finally done! All of my dad’s firewood is stacked in his woodshed. Ours? Not so much, but almost done.
We have had fires in our wood stove a few of these chilly mornings. Today (Sunday the 4th) it was 32 degrees at 6 am. Brrrr...not ready for that quite yet. From the latest weather report there will be a few more of those chilly mornings coming up.
I checked in with Becca at Mills Market today (Tuesday the 6th) and found that 20 bull moose were tagged at the store during the Sept. 28th-Oct. 3rd moose hunting week. The biggest weighed in at 858 pounds. The next bull only moose season (in our area) is Oct. 12th-17th. Good luck and safe hunts to all that enter the woods.
Right now is general hunting for bear through Nov. 28th. Bear trapping runs through Oct. 31st and hunts with dogs will run through Oct. 30th. Regular archery for deer started Oct. 3rd and that season goes through Oct. 30th. Youth days for deer are Oct. 23rd and 24th. Maine residents only firearms day this year is Oct. 31st, then firearms season for all runs from Nov. 2nd-Nov. 28th. It is also ruffed grouse season Sept. 26th-Dec. 31st. Fall turkey season in our area started on Sept. 14th and ends on Nov. 7th. Be safe and aware when enjoying the fall woods, one and all. Don’t forget to enter the Mills Market Big Buck Contest before October 30th. I always dream and “donate” my $20, haha.
With fall rapidly coming on, several of the Andover Food Pantry volunteers are planning to head out of town for the winter. Therefore, more volunteers are needed - especially Monday mornings (about 8 to 10) to help unload deliveries. Assistance by volunteers on Tuesday mornings (8 to 10) to restock shelves and help shoppers is also needed. Please contact Terri Towle by calling 401-524-5462 to volunteer or ask questions.
I saw my last hummingbird early last week and none since. I guess the time has come to bring in the feeder and give it a good thorough cleaning before putting it away until spring. I have seen that our cardinal family has a young one. It is as big as the parents and chirps very loudly while flapping its wings waiting to get fed. I have seen both the male and the female share the feeding duties. I have tried in vain to get a picture. It seems that they are quite camera shy.
The Gammon Bison Farm had an unexpected fall baby join the herd. The herd will be in the back fields for the next couple of weeks, but they will be posting pictures on their Facebook page. I have borrowed one their pictures so you can see the fuzzy little one.
Please remember to mark your calendars for Tuesday, October 20th at 4 pm. The Andover Library will host a Spooky Stories of Maine event. You can come and recount a scary story that you’ve read or experienced. Or share a favorite spooky story anthology (ghost stories of Maine, unexplained mysteries of New England, etc.).
Another spooky event to pencil in is the Annual Halloween Parade and Trunk or Treat event put on by the Andover Common Folk:
HALLOWEEN FUN IN ANDOVER! Join the Andover Common Folk to walk our annual Halloween Parade, Trunk or Treat, and neighborhood Trick or Treating! October 31, 2026—Parade lineup: 3:45 pm at The Common. Parade starts: 4:00 pm. Trunk or Treat: The Common, following the parade. Then head out for Trick or Treating! Stop by the Andover Historical Society’s Creepy Candy Store! Come inside, grab some treats, and discover all the haunting history Andover has to offer! HELP LIGHT UP HALLOWEEN! Bring your carved pumpkins on Friday after school to The Common gazebo for our lighted pumpkin display! Get your costumes ready, gather the family, and join us for an evening of Halloween fun! I think this is always a super fun event for kids and adults alike. And being that Halloween falls on a Saturday this year it certainly should be very well attended.
Please send any news or events my way! diananadeau@ymail.com
Bethel News
Linda Howe
The fall foliage has been very lovely. The colors are beautiful and brighten up the woods. This past weekend was the annual Jeep Jamboree in Bethel. The local Bethel jeep club does a great job organizing this event
East Bethel News
Hayli Tuttle
Hello neighbors! I hope you all had a very lovely week. I’m writing this much later than planned, as I have been working on a baby blanket for a dear friend of my husband’s and mine.
This past Sunday, October 4th, we celebrated my little brother, Aiden Howe’s 9th birthday. It was a nice little get-together, and the cake was yummy. Happy birthday, Aiden Scott! I love you so much!
Monday, my little family went on a drive and found the end of a double rainbow. It was truly stunning.
Wednesday, October 7th, Tonya (Hebert) and John Lewis celebrated their anniversary. Happy anniversary from the whole neighborhood!
On October 11th, Lacey (Hebert) and Richard Todd will celebrate their anniversary. Happy anniversary from the whole neighborhood!
Next Tuesday, October 13th, there will be a Neighbors Feeding Neighbors meal from 4:30-6:30 pm. Please give what you can and take what you need.
This week I have a Halloween trivia question: What is the largest Halloween parade in the States? Call me at (207) 595-5930 or email me at haylist.laurent22@gmail.com.
I look forward to connecting with you. Have an awesome week!
Gilead News
Lin Chapman
Sunday started out a little bit on the cold side. I woke up around 3:00 AM and it was 34 degrees. By 8:00 AM, it was about 45 degrees. By noontime, it was a balmy 57 degrees. I am not a big fan of cold weather.
Locke’s Mills News
Amy Wight Chapman
The Greenwood Board of Selectmen have scheduled a Public Hearing on Tuesday, October 27, at 6:00 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, 595 Gore Road, to discuss three possible future highway projects. They welcome the public’s input on these projects to help them 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.
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 for the next few months. The board 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).
There’s another busy fall weekend ahead, with lots going on in our area, and the pace continues throughout the month! Here are some of the many events and activities you can choose from:
Saturday, October 10, at 1:00 p.m.: The Woodstock Conservation Commission will celebrate the 5th Annual Buck’s Ledge Community Forest Day with reflections on progress made last year and a look forward to the next phase. Karen Rosenberg and Melissa Watkins, Woodstock Elementary physical education teacher, will discuss the important connection between the school and Buck’s Ledge. The celebration will take place at the Scenic Overlook. There will be cider and doughnuts and an opportunity to walk on the Trail for All. Those attending may park at the trailhead on Route 26 and walk up to the overlook (about 0.4 mile) or, if unable to walk up, may drive to the upper parking lot above the overlook.
Saturday, October 10, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Gardner Roberts Memorial Library, Ferry Road, Hanover: 17th Annual Celebration of Fall, with fun, food, and, starting at noon, live music with the Cobblestones.
Saturday, October 10, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Methodist Church, Main Street, Bethel: Loggers Supper. Open to the public—see more information on the flyer below.
Sunday, October 11, at 2:00 p.m.: Cemetery Tour of Riverside Cemetery, on the North Road in Bethel. This is the second of four October Sunday afternoon cemetery tours. Every Sunday in October, join Museums of the Bethel Historical Society Executive Director Will Chapman at one of Bethel’s historic cemeteries to learn about some of the town’s permanent residents. In keeping with the Independence 250 theme, special attention will be given to Revolutionary War veterans. The remaining cemeteries on the schedule are Pine Grove (West Bethel) on October 18; and Middle Intervale Cemetery on October 25.
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.
Wednesday, October 14, at 4:00 p.m. at the Bethel Library (6 Broad Street): “Ghosts of Mount Washington,” a presentation by author Marianne O’Connor. She will discuss the memorials on Mount Washington. Several of these memorials are associated with mysterious events, and there are a total of eight, each representing a tragic story of immense loss. The program will document the “death markers” on Mount Washington and their current status. It will recount each notable event and explore other significant losses, examining how the installation of memorials has evolved over the last 200 years. Due to “Leave No Trace” principles, physical markers are no longer permitted. The goal of the program is to share individual incidents, raise awareness about these events, and provide strategies to help the public prevent future fatalities. Sponsored by the Bethel Library Association and the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society.
Saturday, October 17, at 3:00 p.m. in the Howe Exhibit Hall of the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society (Mason House, 14 Broad Street): “What Revolution?” Just how revolutionary was the American Revolution? Two historians, David Jones and William Andrews, will take up this question in a spirited discussion of the events of 1776 and their place in history. If you know William from his popular Western Mountains Senior College courses or David from his Bethel Village walking tours, you’ll know that both men are deeply passionate and wide-ranging in their knowledge of American history. This is sure to be one for the history books! (Note the change of time for this program to 3:00 p.m. to allow people to attend after the open house/send-off gathering for Bethel Library Director Kelcy Arciga next door!)
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
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.
Lena continues to be a hiking machine, with seven more hikes in the past week, plus a walk on the CATS trail with her buddy Puck that was more of a stroll for the humans and an all-out romp for the canines.
Lena also completed the sixth and final session of her leash manners class on Monday. The class, which was through MSAD #44 Adult and Community Education, was held outside at Telstar, but for the last class we spent the hour walking up and down part of Main Street in Bethel, learning how to greet other dogs and humans appropriately. She did surprisingly well!
Happy birthday (October 7) to my oldest brother Steve, who turned 83 this year. We had a small family gathering at the Red House and enjoyed a fall meal of soup, bread, and salad followed, of course, by cake and ice cream.
I’m excited that the Maine State Museum, which has been closed for several years, will reopen to the public on October 24. Will got a sneak peek last week when he attended the Maine Archives and Museums’ annual conference. He especially enjoyed seeing the Maine Labor Mural, with a panel featuring Frances Perkins, secretary of labor under FDR and a distant cousin of ours, as well as the new exhibit featuring the switchboard of the Bryant Pond Telephone Company.
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
Can you believe we are already a week into October? The leaves sure were a sight to see. My neighbor asked if she could bring her son’s in-laws over who were visiting from out of state as she told them I have the prettiest place in Newry.
West Paris
Stephanie Emery
Greetings from West Paris!
Fall is in full force with the foliage nearly at peak color. The mornings are feeling colder and colder and we anticipate the first official frost any day now.
It’s a treat any time of the year to take in this view from High Street, but it really puts on a show in October. I have the privilege of driving by this view on a daily basis, and this time of year there is always a car pulled over to linger a bit longer and really take in the view.
Now that the flocks of redwing blackbirds, starlings, and grackles have taken off for the season, the local downy and hairy woodpeckers are once again regular visitors to my backyard feeders. Five cardinals have also made appearances. Last winter there were seven regulars. A few of the current ones are juveniles, so I am hoping even more than seven will eventually settle in for this coming winter. You can tell a juvenile by the muted color, similar to a female cardinal, but also by its black beak. Adult cardinals have very distinct red beaks.
Having been a bit reluctant to admit summer is over, I’ve left a hanging plant outside to give it any last chance it has to continue blooming. Most of the leaves have shriveled, but several red blossoms are hanging on. To my surprise, a pine siskin came to visit it on Sunday, hopping from flower to flower trying to get any remaining seeds from the plant. I was glad that despite its somewhat depressing decline, someone else was enjoying the poor plant’s last hurrah too! The pine siskin was one of the first birds I learned to identify (besides the very common chickadees and cardinals, etc.). My grandfather pointed it out to me, and that moment is what got me hooked on birding. They are very similar to a female goldfinch in size and color, but have a striped belly. Pine siskins are a bit skittish and I did not get a photo on Sunday. The above photo is from a sighting in 2016.
On to the happenings in West Paris...
Two Important Surveys for West Paris Citizens:
1. Please fill out the Survey Questions for the Town of West Paris Comprehensive Plan and return to the town office by Oct 29th, 2026. Copies are available at the West Paris Town Office.
2. Please fill out the West Paris Vulnerability Assessment Survey (due by 10/31/26) from CEBE. Complete the survey and/or attend a Community Forum to win a $100 Hannaford Gift Card. 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.
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 8th and October 22nd: Selectman Meetings at 5PM (always the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month) at the West Paris Town Office.
Tuesday, October 13: West Paris Planning Board Meeting at 6PM at the West Paris Town Office.
Tuesday, October 13: West Paris Library Advisory Board Meeting 6:30-7:30PM. This is a monthly meeting and is open to the public.
Monday, October 19th: West Paris Historical Society will hold a Potluck Supper followed by a brief meeting and presentation/speaker at 6PM. Update: We will be celebrating 150 years of the IOOF/West Paris Historical Building. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Tuesday, October 20th: Bobcat Committee Meeting at 6PM at the West Paris Library. New members are welcome to attend.
Wednesday, October 21st: 6PM-7:15 PM. Poetry and History Discussion Group with Rodney Abbott at the West Paris Library.
Wednesday October 21st: 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 22nd: Public Hearing 5:00PM.
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.
Saturday October 31: Community Trunk or Treat at 5:00-7:30 PM at the West Paris Fire Station.
Sunday, December 6th: 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:
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 11, “There Is No ‘Them” led by guest speaker, Linda Smith.
October 18, “Stuff Beyond Hope,” a reflection from guest speaker, Maryli Tiemann.
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
It’s a chilly fall day today! The wind is blowing steadily, sending leaves and pine needles swirling. I haven’t had a hard frost yet, but it’s coming soon. I need to pick a bouquet of zinnias and cosmos, to preserve a bit of color.