Bethel Living #52, August / September 2022

Issue #52 August / September 2022

Bethel LIVING

The Mahoosuc Way The NorthStar Program

by Meryl Kelly

Maine Mineral & Gem Museum’s “The Big Reveal” McLaughlin Gardens in South Paris

Farmstand Flatbread & The Watershed Wood-Fired Kitchen Late Summer Recipes with Laura Cabot

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Publisher’s Note July

4th

celebrations,

the

Bethel

Summerfest and the Tough Mountain Challenge kept us all hopping in July, now it’s time to dive into the heart of the summer with more fun events compiled and listed by the Chamber in this issue.

Don’t miss a thing!

Our villages have come together with a vision for the future known as The Mahoosuc Way — learn more inside. Meryl Kelly gets the lowdown on the marvelous NorthStar Program. The Maine Mineral & Gem Museum is gearing up for “The Big Reveal” and we learn about McLaughlin Gardens in South Paris. Kate and Vicky of Farmstand Flatbread prep their downtown brick-and-mortar location for the new Watershed Wood-Fired Kitchen and Laura

Laurie Ann Knowles • 207.838.4447

Cabot shares some of her favorite latesummer recipes.

As

always,

thankful

I

to

am my

support team. My production team is wonderful,

as

are

my advertisers and readers – you make knocking

together

this magazine a joy,

Cozy rooms, great breakfast included; Mountain Explorer stop B

not a task.

Dinner at The Sudbury Inn

Laurie Ann Knowles PUBLISHER

A Bethel Legend Since 1986 Bethel Living is trademarked and owned by Laurie Ann Knowles. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Bethel Living is made possible by the participation of our advertisers.

We offer them our thanks and ask you to consider them first when patronizing businesses in the Bethel, Maine area.

Cover photo supplied by: Yeah Bud! Photography, courtesy of Inland Woods & Trails Features Editor: Nate Scott Graphic Design: Ben Bruno and Laurie Ann Knowles for Royal River Graphics www.royalrivergraphics.com

Award-winning food 29 beers on tap Open 4-9:30 Thur-Mon for lunch, dinner and late night Live Music Friday & Saturday 7-10 pm

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151 Main Street • Bethel • (207) 824-2174 Suds Pub • (207) 824-6558 www.thesudburyinn.com Bethel LIVING | BethelLiving.com

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Photo Credit Larry Ely

Finding The Mahoosuc Way

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T here is s o much involved in caring for a destination community -- conserving land and building trails, running community events, creating g reat dining and lodging experiences, providing recreation services and retail shops, of fering museums and art g alleries, and stewarding our river s, lakes, and ponds – and lots of people in the Bethel area are committed to this work. T here are also plenty of examples of tourist towns that have been loved to death by well-meaning visitor s – places where local residents feel crowded or priced out of their home community.

Making sure the Bethel region isn’t done in by the ver y things that make it wonderful is the work u nderlying T he Mahoosuc Way. Local residents, businesses, and org anizations created the campaign to make sure the g reater Bethel area remains a g reat place to visit and a g reat place to live long into the future.

“T he Mahoosuc Way is, in part, a new way of thinking about how to be a visitor and a tourist,” says Jessie Perkins, Executive Director of the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce. “We present T he Mahoosuc Way as an expression of how things should be done around here to ensure that both visitor s and residents respect the land and realize the significance of visiting and living sustainably.”

As a summation of good environmental and community stewardship the T he Mahoosuc Way created the Embrace Our Place Pledge (mahoos ucway.com/take-the-pledge) T he pledge encourages people to commit to acting in a manner respectful of other s, allowing ever yone to enjoy their time in the Mahoosuc region, whether for a day or a decade.

Specifically, the pledge asks people to commit to five core principles:

• Honor this Land • Explore Wisely • Show Respect • Be Climate Conscious • Cultivate Community

“A big part of taking the pledge is simply making a personal commitment and taking the time to think about ways you can be a caretaker of the great cultural and recreational experiences the Mahoosuc region has to offer,” says Amy Scott, Program Manager for the Northern Forest Center. “Taking the pledge also gives you access to regular updates about stewardship opportunities and ways to get involved in community events.”

The Mahoosuc Way isn’t just a pledge to encourage good behavior, there is an underlying program to inspire community-based work, ensuring the area remains a great place to live. “It encourages thinking about the people who live and work here,” says Barbara Murphy, Director of Development and Habitat for All at the Mahoosuc Land Trust. “How do we make certain that we can all still afford to live here? That our schools support our kids?

That people don’t have to move away to get good jobs?

We really are focusing on the entire Bethel area to make it great for all of us.”

To achieve these goals, The Mahoosuc Way is supporting measures to strengthen a range of strategic “pillars” identified as part of the Sustainable Tourism Plan created by the Community Destination Academy in 2020. Sponsored by the Northern Forest Center, the Maine Office of Tourism, and the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce, the Community Destination Academy program brought together nearly 100 local leaders to build a vision and a strategy for sustainable tourism development in the greater Bethel area. The results of that process can be found at this link: (mahoosucway. com/our-work/).

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Photo Credit: Matt Stagliano for Stonetree Creative

“

I GR E W U P I N A T OU R I S T T OW N AND I JUST LO VED THE DAY IN THE SPR IN G W H E N T H E T OU R I S TS STARTED TO CO M E,” SAYS VERN M AXFIE L D , LO N G- T I ME T OW N MA N A G E R O F THE CO M M UNITY O F W O O DSTO CK. “IT BR OU G H T L I F E , I T B R OUGHT A BETTER ECO NO M Y, AND IT BRO UGH T PE O PLE T H AT W E MA D E L I F ETIM E RELATIO NSHIPS W ITH.”

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Photo Credit Larry Ely

Photo Credit Maine Mountain Media

Photo Credit Yeah Bud! Photography

Photo Credit Maine Mountain Media

• Regional Collaboration • Community Engagement • Workforce Development • Housing • Visitor Experience • Environmental Leadership

Achieving a truly sustainable tourism economy is a long-term effort that community groups and businesses across the region are already rolling up their sleeves to dig into. Select boards from several Mahoosuc communities have started meeting regularly for the first time to collaborate on issues like housing and broadband

To learn more visit: www.mahoosucway.com

Photo Credit Larry Ely

Specific action areas, or pillars, include:

expansion. Local land trusts and community groups are pursuing historic conservation opportunities. Businesses and non-profit groups are creating new recreational and educational options for visitors. Schools are exploring new ways to connect students with careers in tourism and recreation.

The list goes on and the work will evolve over time, but it all comes down to one thing: local residents and visitors who love this place working together to take care of it.

Change is constant, but as Woodstock Town Manager Vern Maxfield says, “I think The Mahoosuc Way brings stakeholders together so we can all have a say in how the change comes.” v

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Maine Mineral & Gem Museum presents

T his year m arks the 50th anniver sar y of the monumental find of tour maline at the Dunton Mine in Newr y, ME. From 1972 to 1974, the Plumbago Mining Cor poration mined over a ton of tour maline. Known as “T he Big Find,” this discover y remains the largest sing le find of gem tour maline in the United States.

To celebrate “T he Big Find,” the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum has planned “T he Big Find: A Legend Continues.” T he celebration includes a display of loaned tour maline carvings from the Gemological Institute of America, a jewelr y education night, a histor y lecture by Dr. K aren L. Webber, and masterworks using rare gemstones from the discover y. T he full calendar of events is available at https:// mainemineralmuseum.org/events/.

In the summer of 2021, a Call to Artists went around the countr y for maker s to apply to be juried. Artists were notified of their selection in Se ptember 2021 and given one year to complete their pieces. T he gems tone size ranges from 9 - 45 carats. T he heaviest stone is a water melon tour maline cr ystal slice with the g reen rim completely intact. Most are faceted, with one or two having unique shapes.

No one, exce pt each artist, knows what the final jewelr y pieces will look like. T he finished pieces will make their fir st appearance on the runway at “T he Big Reveal” on Saturday, October 8th, at Sunday River’s Grand Summit Hotel, Newr y, Maine. T hree Mainebased fashion designer s will provide textile backdrops for the jewelr y.

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Tickets for T he Big Reveal are on sale now.

General admission is $50, MMGM Member s $40, and a limited number of VIP tickets are available for $125. T he VIP Experience includes access to the VIP Lounge, a fir st look at the finished pieces before they hit the runway, and more!

T he goal of “T he Big Find: A Legend Continues” is to raise over one million dollar s from selling the finished pieces at auction.

T he proceeds will benefit the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum. T he estimated value of the gemstones, all donated to the Museum for fundraising, is over $300,000.

T he MMGM uses highly interactive, educational exhibits to present Maine minerals and gems in the context of local mining histor y and Maine’s geolog y.

MMGM’s amazing meteorite g aller y is its hidden treasure. v To learn more and buy tickets, please visit mainemineralmuseum.org/the-big-find or contact Maggie Kroenke at the Museum at mkroenke@mainemineralmuseum.org or (207) 824-3030.

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Trickle Up Community

by Meryl Kelly

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NorthStar works now for a brighter future for area students

L

yndsey Smith has spent her career designing and managing prog rams in camp and/or school settings to help young people raise their aspirations by building self-possession and leader ship skills.

To reach as many kids as possible the of ferings have usually been structured toward specific yet limited goals achievable within short-ter m time frames, an approach that works well for many objectives — but not all. For the last several year s, and with the support of the UMaine Br yant Pond 4-H Center, Lyndsey has been hard at work creating a long-ter m cur riculum aimed at fostering dynamic change for participating pupils in our local school district. T he result, a free prog ram dubbed NorthStar, of fer s a guiding light to students as they navig ate their way through the often treacherous water s of middle school, then follows them across their high school career. Participating students elect to be in the prog ram and are of fered opportunities to eng age in a g amut of experiences focusing on community eng agement and service, outdoor adventure and leader ship, as well as crosscultural events. T his prog ram is dif ferent.

T he op portunity to eng age in a wide range of enriching academic and community

fields is key, but the prog ram’s big gest asset is longevity. NorthStar students get access to a host of resources and events for as many as 6 school year s. Consistent and available, NorthStar educator s are steadfast in their commitment to each student’s per sonal arc.

While the staf f drives day-to-day tasks, the students must deter mine their path using their own choices and voices. NorthStar encourages students to actively participate in making g roup decisions. Each year the prog ram is curated to match its member’s developmental stages, interests, and the academic and behavioral requirements set forth by their collective reasoning. Students are trusted to make decisions for themselves, given freedom to make mistakes and g ranted the power to do better and make amends. In other words, they are held accountable for their actions while being of fered the g race to lear n in real time.

NorthStar connects students to our community beyond the school walls by aligning them with caring adult mentor s through volunteer opportunities, adventures, homework assistance, g roup meetings, employment and “core” trips. Cur rently, students are working on a range of volunteer projects including the upkee p and expansion of a community g arden

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in the heart of Bethel proper (just of f Summer Street), while also lending a hand at the Edible Bethel Gardens outside Stonetree Creative.

T hroughout the harvest season students will process vegetables, divide them into care packages and deliver them to area senior s.

T he students and senior s spend time together chatting and maybe doing a chore or two. T he deliver y process has become a favorite activity for students and senior s alike. Speaking of chores, NorthStar students have also taken on a leading role in the Age-Friendly Community Initiative’s Handy Neighbor Prog ram, filling service requests by doing various lawn clean ups around the local towns. Ag ain, the benefits f low not only to those getting their lawns cleaned up, but to the various volunteer s (student and older) through the connections they make while completing the task at hand.

At one popular residence the property owner baked cookies for the students; after the job was comp lete they spent time talking with her, lear ning about her life and snacking on sweets.

Charlie Reiss, AFCI board member and local business owner, relates an occasion in which one student was using inappropriate language. Before he could intervene the older kids in the g roup ver y calmly addressed the problem. T hey all talked it through and there was little conf lict as they came to a simple resolution. Charlie was amazed — as well as relieved — when he didn’t have to take

on a disciplinar y role. Ever yone left the situation feeling good and through managing the situation they strengthened their communication skills and their trust in each other. “T he students regulated themselves, spoke honestly and compassionately. It was an incredible thing to witness and truly just a testament to the fact that the prog ram is working,” Charlie remarked. Undeniably, this kind of evolved problem solv ing has always been in short supply and our schools are lucky to have a prog ram available to help students lear n that prog ress comes from more than having the “right answer” — it stems from the ability to overcome hurdles and build consensus, illuminating the true path to success.

T he summer calendar for NorthStar Youth Mentoring is jam packed with activities around the region — camping trips to Acadia National Park, excur sions to Quebec and sea kayaking adventures of f the coast of Maine.

It’s easy to see how these varied experiences, filled with horizon expanding recreation, can make a positive and lasting impact in the life of a teen. And the kindness injected into the lives of these students will ripple out i nto the lives of their families, friends and neighbor s at large. As with any g rant prog ram the future is always precarious; support in ever y for m is not only welcomed but essential for the prog ram to sustain its work. v

If you would like to get involved in this life changing program (or sign up your 7th-11th grade Telstar student) you can reach NorthStar Program Director Lyndsey Smith at 207-890-8625 or lyndsey.smith@maine.edu 16

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by Meryl Kelly

J

ust off of bustling Route 26 in South Paris, surrounded by a sea of cement and utilitarian commercial buildings stands McLaughlin Gardens, a small but lively oasis. The story of this property started long ago in 1936 when Bernard McLaughlin inherited the property from his in-laws. When he and his wife Rena first acquired the estate it included a house and barn but the surrounding land was described as sandy, with compacted and infertile soil. Inspired by visits to various gardens during his youthful travels, Bernard was spurred to make something of the land. He had formed a keen interest in perennial flowers, shrubs and trees, and this passion lay the foundation for all that was to follow. Enriching the soil as he went, Bernard

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began planting his garden. Without formal horticultural training or much experience with ornamental flowers, Bernard turned to books, friends and neighbors in the South Paris community for knowledge and ideas. His careful choosing of unique plants and his thoughtful garden design eventually earned him statewide recognition as “The Dean of Maine Gardeners.”

This spirit of experimentation led him to the inclusion of some interesting (zone 5-6) specimens in his collection. And though from the outside the gardens are ornamental, at their core they are set up as an “everyman’s garden”, utilizing low cost resources and natural design — determined through self taught observation and trial and error. No log was tossed aside or deemed unworthy; everything original to the land stayed and found its thoughtful place and purpose. In the historic section of the gardens the result is a well established jungle of native and cultivated specimen plants, including a notable special interest in lilacs which can be viewed in full bloom annually on Memorial Day Weekend’s Lilac Festival.

In 1996, after a lifetime of development, the estate — including the house, barn and gardens — were slated to be sold. Luckily for the region the realtor considered the site such a treasure that instead of releasing the sale to the public she set about finding the right people to preserve this modern Eden. She found success, and in 1997 a board was established to oversee the gardens and their maintenance, all with a grander goal of opening the garden to the general public in time. In 1998 McLaughlin Gardens earned its non-profit status and the work to create sustainable programming for the public began.

Throughout the years the house has been utilized as space for offices, conference rooms, caretaker apartments, a gift shop, library, an art gallery and even a short lived (very much missed) cafe. Currently the house is home to staff offices, a whimsical garden gift shop, and an art gallery with rotating collections from a variety of local artists, as well as space for an assortment of winter workshops. Attached to the house is the well maintained original American style 1880’s barn which is available to host private gatherings and events. With 15ft tall green sliding barn doors and open beams, the space offers the rustic atmosphere Western Maine has come to be known for.

Recently, the focus has shifted to reviving several

overgrown historic beds in an effort to rejuvenate plant vitality and restore balance to the garden ecosystem — home to upwards of 1,000 different plant varieties.

Leading this effort has largely been the task of the garden’s horticulturist, Corey Kotfila. He hopes that his contemporary approach will “change the perception that ornamental gardening is simply an aesthetic endeavor by inviting the public to engage with a newer style of gardening that is ecologically conscious as well as beautiful.”

In addition to the historic gardens and perennial plant sales (some indoor plants are available as well) the grounds offer a new educational pollinator garden with plans to include other native ecosystems in the future.

With connections to each other and to our natural world as the pillar for all that transpires, Managing Director Karla Horecky has aimed to “increase opportunities for reinvesting in the Garden and its’ programs so that it may be enjoyed by every community member and visitor alike for years to come.” For the last 25 years McLaughlin Gardens has hosted many public and private events, including their annual Garden Illuminated evenings and the best smelling event in town: the annual Lilac Festival.

Recent offerings have expanded to include the wildly popular Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, the Pollination Celebration, the Flower Power Family Fun Night, as well as the Thursday Night in The Garden summer series which offers an eclectic mix of garden and arts activities free to the public. Some events do require a small entrance fee and all proceeds are used to sustain the vitality and programming of the garden and its community outreach

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endeavors. The Garden ends their year with an online benefit auction, featuring incredible commodities such as overnights to a cornucopia of Maine getaways, various plant collections, local art and even a week-long vacation to Paris (the one in France!).

Sustained by the garden gift shop, plant and event ticket sales as well as generous private donations and business sponsorships, McLaughlin Gardens also boasts a talented and tenured year-round volunteer program.

These dedicated men and women remain the backbone of the physical garden and all of its programming. “The ship simply wouldn’t sail without them.” The season runs every year from Mother’s Day to October 31st and the gates and gift shop are open Tuesday thru Sunday 10am 4pm. Families are encouraged to walk the grounds, smell the flowers and picnic beneath the lilacs or look for frogs in the garden pond. Photographers are also welcome to explore the wildflower haven with the option to purchase a Photographers Membership, giving unlimited access to the garden 7 days a week sun up to sun down, among a slew of other benefits. With so many pathways to get involved and enjoy the garden it’s a great opportunity to take a short trip out of Bethel to see what the surrounding areas have to offer. v

McLaughlin Gardens 97 Main St, South Paris, ME https://www.facebook.com/McLaughlinGarden https://www.mclaughlingarden.org/ info@mclaughlingarden.org 207-743-8820

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From Farmstand Flatbreads to The Watershed Wood-Fired Kitchen with Kate Goldberg and Vicky Fimiani

T

he old Bethel Water District building, behind Brooks Bros. Hardware on Philbrook Street, is going to be a new restaurant — and that is a win-win-win. First win: Vicky Fimiani and Kate Goldberg gain a prime brick and mortar location.

Second win: the town of Bethel saves the demolition fee for the old building, gets some cash for it instead and adds it to the tax roll. Third win: for everybody who loves ravioli — which is just about everybody! Sure, Vicky and Kate have been making great wood fired pizza on the fair circuit for years, but the whole enterprise started before that when Vicky stuffed fiddleheads into a pasta pocket and — Che Buono! — an instant hit.

About nine years ago Vicky created fiddlehead ravioli, shared some with her pal Kate, and it was SO good that they decided it would be a winner at the Common Ground Country Fair. Other flavors such as pumpkin and kale were added and sales boomed!! Their kids pitched in and standard fair food vendors had to take a backseat to the inventive newcomers. For 5 years

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they expanded the ravioli sensation to more fairs — then Vicky purchased a portable wood-fired pizza oven. Her experience with sourdough, her love of cooking with wood and Kate’s excitement combusted the partnership into a flourishing pizza business.

Then all the fairs were cancelled when COVID hit, so Farmstand Flatbreads decided to open a spot at Kate’s husband Jonathan’s business: True North Adventurewear. With plenty of space for parking and room for social distancing they kept the pizza coming and offered a community social hub during this confusing pandemic. Thursday after Thursday during the summer their pizza sells out. Local toppings rotate into season with garlic scape ricotta to die for, Carter’s beef and corn on a Tex-Mex style pizza, and a sweet-and-sour-pizza with rhubarb chutney, sausage and mozzarella — all featured as the harvest dictates.

A new chapter is starting for Kate and Vicky as they transition to their “coming soon” location on Philbrook Street. Lessons in patience were learned as they waited

“

W E MA K E T H E FO O D M O RE FO R KUDO S AND FO R T H E P E OP L E , N OT SO M UCH FO R THE M O NEY. W E L OV E T O F EED PEO PLE. - KATE GOLDBERG

several months for a board meeting to grant approval.

But support from the town was unstinting with Town Manager Loretta Powers, Assessing Assistant Sarah Tucker and Fire Chief Mike Jodrey helping all the way.

Construction is underway and they hope to open this fall. It’s an audacious undertaking and the ladies have been doing a lot of the work themselves. When the porch and inside dining are open there should be up to 50 seats available, with about 24 seats during the winter months.

The menu will change routinely but the base offerings will be pizza, salads, fondue, pasta and

charcuterie platters. And ravioli! Real handmade pockets of surprising yumminess! There are a lot of places to eat, but where else can you find authentic ravioli? Support has been coming in from many local businesses such as Elise and Sav at Le Mu, Cathy from DiCocoa, and their many enthusiastic fans.

The saving of a historic building, the support from town officials, local businesses and loyal fans plus the great location will all come together, and we can’t wait to welcome The Watershed to town! v

FMI on the Watershed Wood Fired Kitchen at 9 Philbrook Street, Bethel, Maine Call Vicky at 357-9257, email watershedwfk@gmail.com or visit the_watershed on Instagram

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Late Summer Recipes INGREDIENTS • 2 medium eggplant • 1 large sweet white onion • 3 colored peppers, mix them up • 3 small summer squash • 3 small zucchini • 6 plum tomatoes • 1 head of garlic, peeled • 3/4 cup olive oil • 2 bay leaves • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano • 1 cup dry white wine • 1 quart crushed tomato sauce • Seasonings to taste with salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and fresh basil chiffonade

PREPARATION 1. Dice all veggies uniformly. Keep separate.

Photo Credit Laura Cabot

2. Choose a large, heavy bottom kettle. Place

French Provençal Ratatouille When your August garden is at its most abundant, think no further than this peasant stew featuring all the veggies that the later part of summer has to offer ... eggplant, summer squashes, tomato and sweet peppers.

on a medium high heat. Add half the oil and, when hot, sauté the onion and eggplant until they’re about half sautéed, then set them aside in a bowl.

3. Add the remaining oil to the pot. Do the same to the remaining vegetables, add the eggplant back, then the chopped tomato and garlic, seasoning to taste and give it a good stir.

4. Reduce the heat to medium low and add the wine and tomato sauce. Check again for seasoning and cook until the vegetables are just tender.

5. Let it cool, remove bay leaves and stir in basil chiffonade last.

6. I like this served either hot or cold. Com-

Who needs to hop a plane to the south of France?

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plete the meal with crusty bread, a big salad and a good finishing oil!

Rhubarb and Lemon Crumb Pie Serves 8, best with vanilla Ice Cream!

INGREDIENTS • 3 cups of cleaned large diced rhubarb • Pinch of salt • 2/3 cup instant tapioca • Zest of one half a lemon juice of the entire lemon

• 1 TB real vanilla • 1 1/2 cup of white sugar

PREPARATION 1. Mix all ingredients and allow the mixture to sit for an hour ( to let the tapioca “bloom” or soften) Photo Credit Laura Cabot

2. Pile all into a raw pie shell and top with your favorite streusel recipe.

3. Place on a baking sheet and bake until bubbling, about 45 minute to an hour.

4. Allow to cool, it will cut more nicely. Top with plenty of ice cream

Chef Laura Cabot has been living and working in the mid-coast of Maine for nearly 40 years, operating her restaurant and more recently Laura Cabot Catering and the intimate new venue at #13 Friendship St.“ Beautiful Food”.

A graduate of La Varenne in France, and the Culinary Institute of America, West Coast, Laura’s cooking resonates with the bounty from land and sea prevalent in Maine.

She keeps a large chef’s garden, a constant source of inspiration, which she uses in her brand of seasonal cuisine.

See what’s new at: Laura Cabot Catering www.lauracabotcatering.com

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South Ridge Lodge Sunday River

207-824-7370

lanechosun@hotmail.com

!

33 Cross Street • PO Box 69 • Bethel, ME 04217 (207) 824-2139 • 1-800-858-2139 Fax: (207) 824-3554 This ad brought to you by John Anderson

www.westernmainesupply.com 26

Bethel LIVING | BethelLiving.com

A Full-Service State Licensed and Fully Insured Arborist / Tree Service Company • Dangerous Takedowns • Chipping • Pruning • View Enhancement • Lot Clearing • Stormwork

Bethel LIVING

Photo Credit: Cathy Howe

#ruthiesboutique

topnotchtreemaine.com (207) 507-1117

88 Main Street • Bethel, Maine 04217 Ruth Grover, Owner 207.824.3341 or 207.824.2989 ruthiesboutique1975@hotmail.com

Rut hie’s

BOUTIQUE

Bethel LIVING | BethelLiving.com

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LOCAL Events August & September Events

a wildlife presentation, children’s story time, BAAM’s art activity, art/craft

Aug. 2-8: Bethel Rotary Yard Sale The grassy lot next to The Gem

Aug. 21. mahoosuc.org

vendors, lunch, raffle, scavenger hunt, lawn games, and more! Rain date:

Theater. This multi-day event starts Tuesday, the 10th through Monday, the 17th. Shoppers are welcomed at any time from dawn to dusk. You’re

August 18 - Cheese-making with Heather Vail. A lifelong resident

in for a treat and lots of treasures - all while helping out the community!

of Newry and Bethel, Heather has been raising dairy goats and mak-

bethelrotary.org

ing cheese for 30 years. She will give a brief history of cheese-making, describe the process, and offer a taste of the finished product. At the

August 4 - Needle felting with Betsy Raymond. Betsy was taught to

Museums of the Bethel Historical Society.

knit, crochet, and sew as a young girl by her mother and aunt, and has enjoyed crafts of all kinds ever since. She recently added needle felting to

Aug. 18-20: 44th Annual New England Trappers Weekend – 760 East

her list of fiber hobbies. At the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society.

Bethel Road, Bethel. Traditional Maine represented by trapping and hunting demonstrations, contests, stories, music, auction, kids’ events,

Aug. 5-7: 41st Annual Andover Olde Home Days Andover Town

dance, and more! Family-friendly fun! 207-875-5765.

Common. Live music Friday evening on the gazebo, with festivities Saturday morning with a cookie walk, craft vendors, a parade, the famous lawn

August 25 - Basket-making with Wendy Hutchins. Wendy first learned

mower races, antique tractor pull, a photo contest, classic car display,

to cane chair seats through adult ed classes with master caner Hans

and food vendors all day long. Ellis River Riders hosts a Night Gymkhana

Paulsen, and took up basket-weaving after discovering the similarities

Horse Show Saturday at 3pm, and an NBHA Horse Show on Sunday.

in the materials and techniques used. At the Museums of the Bethel

207-357-2647

Historical Society.

August 11 - Weaving with Adele Harvey. A seasonal resident of Bethel,

Aug. 29: Mahoosuc Community Band Concert Bethel Town Common.

Adele has been a weaver for more than 50 years, producing functional

Come listen to uplifting music at 6:30pm. Please bring your own chair,

household textiles for her own and friends’ use. At the Museums of the

and donations accepted to defray the cost of music.

Bethel Historical Society.

Sept. 3: Maine Goes Gold for Childhood Cancer Bethel Town Com-

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Aug. 14: Monarch Festival Valentine Farm Conservation Center, 162

mon. Always on Labor Day weekend, come enjoy this fun event from

North Rd, Bethel. Join us from 11am-4pm for the annual Monarch Festi-

11am-8pm this year with kid-friendly games, food vendors, music, and

val — a celebration of one of Maine’s favorite garden visitors. It is a free,

the live calendar draw. Rain or Shine. Proceeds to benefit families affect-

family friendly event offering monarch tagging, garden tours and talks,

ed by childhood cancer. haileyhugs.org, 281-917-5331

Bethel LIVING | BethelLiving.com

Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce PO Box 1247, 8 Station Place Bethel, ME 04217 Tel: 207.824.2282 • Fax: 207.824.7123 Toll-free: 800.442.5826 info@bethelmaine.com • www.bethelmaine.com www.facebook.com/bethelarea

Photo Credit Cathy Howe Sept. 11: Mahoosuc Art & Agriculture Tour 12-4pm. Enjoy an outing with friends and family to explore the bounty of Western Maine. Join us Sunday afternoon to tour local family farms and enjoy the Mahoosuc’s rich agricultural and artistic offerings. Meet local artists, support local food producers, and enjoy tasty specialties of the region. The $20 per vehicle ticket includes a map to the open house sites, descriptions of the activities, and a range of special offers, discounts, and promo codes from Mahoosuc businesses.

Sept. 17: Bethel Harvestfest Bethel Town Common. An old-fashioned fun fall festival with arts & crafts, farmers’ market area, Maine baked potato booth, burgers & dogs, apple pie contest, live music, wagon rides, and kids’ activities. Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce. bethelharvestfest.com, 800-442-5826 Sept 17: Maine Brew Fest Sunday River. A craft beer event in the mountains, featuring as many as 100 beer & cider selections from around Maine, plus live music, food trucks, and scenic chairlift rides. sundayriver.

Ongoing Summer Events

com. 800-543-2754.

Andover Summer Concert Series Every other Friday evening June - August Andover Town Common

September 29 - October 01 32nd Maine Mountains 2022 Experience

Bandstand, 6pm rain or shine. Family-friendly music series featuring local

deep colors in the deep woods. The mountains of Western Maine are

musicians. Free admission (donations appreciated). FMI: 392-1028

known for their autumn splendor when vibrant colors paint a stunning

August 12: Shagadee Ramblers

backdrop. Under the colorful canopy lay hundreds of miles of mountain

August 26: Acoustipalians

trails and scenic backroads.- https://jeepjamboreeusa.com/trip/32ndmaine-mountains-2022/

Bethel LIVING | BethelLiving.com

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Whittemore Pool & Spa

MANAGEMENT

Davis Mountain Builders

Carpentry Mountain & General Contracting Davis Builders

Installation, Service & Repair Property Management Contracting Snow blowing, lawn care & caretaking

Carpentry & General Kevin LaRue ~ OWNER MIL-TBP-41 compliant (207) 357-6160

Kevin LaRue

MIL-TBP-41 compliant

(207) 665-2348 (207) 357-6160 Cell

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Bethel LIVING | BethelLiving.com

(207) 491-7713 hottub1@roadrunner.com

29 Sunday River Road Bethel ME 04217

UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP.

Same great food, same great beer, same great service!

A Maine microbrewery & restaurant, the Sunday River Brewing Company combines classic New England fare with contemporary styles. Outdoor dining in the warmer months or fireside in the winter.

6 days/week – lunch & dinner – closed Tuesdays SEE THE CURRENT MENU ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE

207-824-4253 (4ALE)

OUR BREWS CHANGE OFTEN Viper Double IPA Mountain Mama IPA Long Haul Lager Sunday River Alt Red Stone Jamaican Stout Bud Lite Angry Orchard Cider

Welcome Alex Turner, new Brew Master. Thanks for your many years of making great beer Stew Mason!

Making our happy place your home.

Visit CassieMason.com