Bethel Living #71, Oct / Nov 2025 by Lauriekh1

Bethel LIVING

Publisher’s Note

As the leaves blaze into their brilliant autumn colors, fresh community projects are taking root in Bethel! A Wood Bank is forming to help neighbors facing heat insecurity, the West Bethel Makerspace is rising as a new hub for creativity and connection, and the Hastings Homestead Museum has gained support to preserve and share the historic Union Church in East Bethel.

Mark your calendars with events from the Bethel Area Chamber calendar, catch updates from Kate Webb of BAAM (Bethel Area Arts & Music), and savor the season with Sav of Le Mu Eats as he shares harvest-inspired recipes.

As always, I am thankful to my support team. My production team is wonderful, as are my advertisers and readers – you make knocking together this magazine a joy, not a task.

Laurie Ann Knowles PUBLISHER

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: Andy Gagne Photography www.andygagnephotography.com

Features Editor: Nate Scott

Graphic Design: Ben Bruno and Laurie Ann Knowles for Royal River Graphics www.royalrivergraphics.com laurie@royalrivergraphics.com

Andy Gagne Photography

WARMING OUR COMMUNITY: The Launch of the Bethel Wood Bank

by Laurie Ann Knowles

When the temperature drops in western Maine, the cold becomes more than uncomfortable—it can be life-threatening. For too many families, seniors, and neighbors in need, the choice between heating a home and paying for other essentials is a painful reality. But this year, Bethel is building the foundation to answer that challenge with a new grassroots effort: The Bethel Wood Bank.

The idea grew from the vision of Greenwood resident Kevin Dunn, who, after retiring, sought a way to give back and strengthen local connections. He recognized that while Bethel sits in the heart of a forested region—where wood is plentiful—some households still struggle to afford heat. His solution was simple but powerful: create a system that gets firewood to those who need it most.

Modeled after a food bank, the Bethel Wood Bank will provide free, sustainable firewood to households facing fuel insecurity. Volunteers will process donated logs into ready-to-burn firewood, then make it available to area households. By partnering with landowners, loggers, and community organizations, the wood bank will not only provide warmth, but also the peace of mind that no neighbor is left in the cold.

The benefits go beyond heat alone. Every log split and stack built is also a moment of connection—neighbors working side by side, sharing skills, laughter, and purpose. Donors and volunteers become part of the story too, helping to weave a stronger, more resilient community.

How you can help:

• Volunteer: cut, split, stack, or deliver firewood.

• Donate logs: landowners and forestry operations can provide the foundation of our supply.

• Give financially: cover costs for fuel, equipment, and insurance.

• Offer in-kind support: tools, safety gear, or storage space make a difference.

With broad community support, the Bethel Wood Bank can grow into a lasting resource—one that reflects the best of who we are: neighbors looking out for one another. Together, we can ensure every household in Bethel has the warmth it needs to face our long Maine winters.

To get involved:

Email: bethelwoodbank@gmail.com

Call: 207-371-0110

The Bethel Wood Bank is part of the Maine Wood Bank Network, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 994670817.

Generous Donations Fuel Our Work

Please make checks payable to Maine Wood Banks (memo: Bethel) • Mail to: P.O. Box 1016, Bethel, ME 04217

Photos represent the goal of the Bethel Wood Bank. Donations of logs, and cut-and-split wood as well as volunteer help and financial assistance are greatly appreciated

Hastings Homestead Museum Expands

by Randall Bennett

Bethel, Maine—a small but distinctive western Maine town—has played an important role in northern New England’s history. It was the site of New England’s “Last Indian Raid” in 1781 and, a century later, home to a psychiatric clinic that served members of the nation’s elite. Today, while modern and vibrant, Bethel honors its past with one of the region’s largest historic districts, boasting more than fifty structures on the National Register of Historic Places in the village of Bethel Hill.

In that spirit, the newly organized Hastings Homestead Museum, Inc. on Broad Street (featuring an 1822 house set to open in spring 2026) has already received financial support to preserve and use the Lower Meetinghouse, or Union Church, in East Bethel. The nonprofit took ownership of the building earlier this year. The Hastings family has a historic connection to the site: John Decatur Hastings, born at the Homestead in 1825, married into the Kimball family and settled on a nearby farm still owned by his descendants. The Meetinghouse and adjoining East Bethel Cemetery were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.

Built around 1831, the East Bethel Church (Lower Meetinghouse) had long been cared for by the East Bethel Church Association, an unincorporated, all-volunteer group. With membership declining, the Association voted to transfer ownership to the Museum. This change will give the Museum a more visible presence in the community, create opportunities to host programs, and allow for direct fundraising efforts that will support the preservation of both properties.

The Maine Historic Preservation Commission describes the property as follows: Lower Meetinghouse and East Bethel Cemetery, Bethel, circa 1817, 1831, 1887, 1901 National Register of Historic Places

FMI on Hastings Homestead Museum, visit: www.hastingshomestead.org, or contact us at info@hastingshomestead.org or P.O. Box 1642, Bethel, ME 04217

Criterion C: Architecture Criterion Consideration A: Religious Properties. Local significance

Located in the rural settlement of East Bethel (also known as Bean’s Corner), the Lower Meetinghouse is a classic example of the type of meetinghouse or church erected by some rural communities in Maine in the four decades before the Civil War. Built as a “union” church, it was originally used by the town’s Methodist and Baptist congregations. The relatively plain building reflects late Federal style massing and ornamentation, with a handsome interior featuring straight wooden pews, wainscoting, a choir loft, and pulpit. Constructed by 1831 and modestly remodeled after the Civil War, it represents a rural church type common throughout Maine: a simple rectilinear form with a gable-front roof and restrained classical proportions, free of elaborate decoration. The adjacent East Bethel Cemetery, historically tied to the church, further illustrates the site’s role in serving the surrounding community. The Lower Meetinghouse was listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a locally significant example of mid-19th-century rural church architecture.*

With restoration projects underway at both the in-town and rural locations, the Museum anticipates opening to the public in spring 2026. Until then, regular updates are available at HastingsHomestead.org and on the Museum’s Facebook page.

The National Register of Historic Places— authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and administered by the National Park Service—is part of a nationwide effort to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archaeological resources.

The West Bethel Makerspace

by Meryl Kelly

A Collective Ambition

For months, Birch Allen, Becky Christoforo, Sammy Sirois, and Dustin Sysko toured properties across the greater Bethel region, chasing their collective ambition of opening a community makerspace. Nothing felt quite right. Their vision was ambitious: multiple dedicated studios, plenty of gathering space, ample room for storage and some type of garage bay or commercial doors for moving heavy equipment in and out. But beyond layout or square footage, it needed to be accessible and welcoming — an easy-to-reach location where people of all ages and backgrounds could create together.

Dustin had seen the power of such spaces firsthand. While living in Boston, he became involved with Artisans Asylum, a vibrant makerspace where he started as a member and grew into an instructor. Flexible memberships, day passes and diverse classes kept the

space lively and sustainable. The Bethel group hoped to build on that model, establishing a nonprofit with board guidance, low-cost access and social spaces alongside the heavy machinery.

Serendipity on Ferry Road

In the summer of 2024, Birch and their partner Faye were out walking when they struck up a conversation with another couple. The pair, they learned, had lived part time in Bethel for decades but had recently gone full-time. And — oh, by the way — had just purchased a 12-acre mill site at the end of Ferry Road as a retirement project of sorts. Birch’s eyes lit up.

Weeks before this chance encounter, that couple—Chris Dagdigian and his partner, Diana Lamppu—had noticed a realtor hammering a for sale sign into the ground in front of 10 Ferry Road in West Bethel. At the time, they were simply looking for a project, with no commitment to

any one vision — just something that could occupy their time and benefit the community. They looked across the wide swath of land dotted with vacant mill buildings and began to dream. What could this place become? After touring the property, they pooled their savings and, with a giant leap of faith, put in an offer. It was accepted. They were officially the new owners.

The site offered plenty: a large warehouse, an old mill with a kiln, former offices, several dilapidated post-and-beam structures, a sand pit and a stretch of river frontage. But it also presented huge challenges. Nearly every building was infested with mold. The sand pit, they discovered, had been the burial site for old asphalt. Remediation became the first order of business. Chris and Diana, with a trusted crew of contractors emptied buildings, filled dumpsters and hauled away the asphalt. Amid the tedium, Chris discovered a love of “moving dirt.” He began cutting trails and reseeding the overgrown lot into meadows. High on their list was installing a roof-

mounted solar array, perhaps subconsciously preparing the building for what was just around the corner. Despite these improvements and some rudimentary ideas — such as converting a building into a personal hobby space — the couple had no grand vision for the property.

So, right there, in the midst of their stroll — eyes alight —

Birch shared the group’s business plan for a communitydriven makerspace. A collective light bulb went on. It was decided that the first of many collaborations destined for this site should begin immediately. Birch looped in Becky, Dustin and Sammy — and together the four founders and their two new neighbors began setting the stage for a parallel journey toward what will soon be the West Bethel Makerspace.

Building a Community Hub

With Chris and Diana’s support, the group began designing a flexible, functional space. The main building opens into a social area with a kitchenette and bathroom. Beyond that, two dedicated studios — one for woodworking and another for digital manufacturing with CNC equipment and 3D printers — connect to a large garage bay. A loft above will serve as office space, while the garage itself will host classes, events and gatherings. On the exterior, Chris called on longtime friend and artist Mattie Rose Templeton to bring color and identity to the project. Her sweeping mural, filled with Maine inspired wildlife, now wraps the building in vibrant imagery. The collaboration doesn’t stop there. Beyond opening their recently cut trail system to the public, the owners are also in talks with their neighbors at the Pleasant Valley Commons to provide parking, potentially ending the Common’s half-decade-long struggle to secure enough space for visitors. Other community partners include

FMI: West Bethel Maker Space www.westbethelmakerspace.org admin@westbethelmakerspace.org

the local fire department, which will use the land and structures to complete state-required safety trainings. West Bethel Makerspace is also strengthening community ties, most notably through a partnership with the Bethel Library to create a Tool Library offering shared access to basic carpentry, agricultural and crafting tools.

Please sign up for the newsletter and take the "Tool Library Survey" on the website so we can gauge community interest

A New Life for an Old Mill

The founders see the makerspace as much more than a place to build things. As co-founder Sammy Sirois explains, “We envision repair fairs, a tool library and a lounge where people can work on computers with free coffee and snacks. It’s a place for people to share expertise, learn new skills and create together.”

Soon, the once-empty mill will hum again — this time with saws, printers, laughter and conversation. As the details of this project come into focus, accessibility remains a guiding principle. The founders know the project will carry significant costs, yet they are committed to its role as a true community resource and will explore every avenue to ensure low-cost admission, so all who want can find creative refuge within its walls.

Through shared interests and pooled resources, West Bethel Makerspace seeks to revive the bygone spirit of neighbors supporting neighbors, creating a community institution for tools, skills and personal growth — while inviting all to help transform this vision into reality.

by Laurie Ann Knowles

Step inside The Victorian on Main and you’re immediately transported— high ceilings, rich woodwork, and a graceful sense of history set the stage for gatherings both grand and intimate. Nestled in the heart of Norway, Maine, this lovingly restored Victorian manor has become a place where the community comes together to celebrate life’s milestones, large and small.

For the past three years, owner Lana Whittemore has been turning visions into reality. With the help of her enthusiastic team, she has hosted everything from weddings and rehearsal dinners to holiday teas, showers, pop-up dinners, and corporate events. Guests rave about the attention to detail: elegant grazing boards overflowing with fresh produce and cheeses, entrées that balance comfort with refinement, and the kind of warm hospitality that leaves a lasting impression.

ask for something unique, Lana’s team thrives on the challenge. “We love being flexible and have many options to please our clientele,” she explains. She also offers the ability to take care of most all details, including linen and floral services.

Menus are designed to suit both the season and the occasion—beef tips nestled on creamy mashed potatoes in winter, crisp salads and colorful sides in summer, or pans of bubbling, cheesy lasagna when only comfort food will do. And when clients

A South Paris native, Lana’s journey has always been rooted in Maine. After earning degrees at CMCC and the University of Southern Maine, she returned home, where she balances entrepreneurship, real estate ventures, and raising her young family. But at the heart of her work is something more personal: a legacy of hospitality passed down from her late mother, Barbara Whittemore.

Barbara’s love of farming, gardening, 4-H, cooking, and canning filled Lana’s childhood with inspiration. Today, many of The Victorian’s recipes can be traced directly back to Barbara’s kitchen—dishes infused with the same passion and flavor that once brought family and friends together around her table.

For those seeking a venue with both beauty

and heart, The Victorian on Main is more than just a backdrop—it’s a place where stories are made. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for upcoming special themed events and community events, or reserve the manor for your own celebration. Lana and her team also offer full catering and bar services, bringing their signature style and flavors to homes and off-site gatherings across the region.

October & November BAAM Events

BAAM at The Gem Presents a Michelle Yeoh Film Series: In Honor of Linda Gamble

Monday, September 29th, 6:00 pm, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Monday, October 6th, 6:00 pm, Memoirs of a Geisha Monday, October 20th, 6:00 pm, The Heroic Trio

Monday, November 3rd, 6:00 pm, Everything Everywhere All At Once PAY WHAT YOU CAN ADMISSION

In honor of Linda Gamble, this series highlights Michelle Yeoh’s groundbreaking career, from martial arts epics to award-winning dramas, showcasing her impact on global cinema and representation.

BAAM at The Gem Presents The Anvil Orchestra’s live score of The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari (1920 silent film)

Friday, October 3rd, 7:00 pm