Bethel Living #47 October / November 2021

Issue #47 October / November 2021

Bethel LIVING Badass Boss Babes of Bethel

with Meryl Kelly

Chapman Brook Farm

with Vernon and Tammy Davis

Mr Medicinals with David Pilgrim and Zac Parsons

Shady Grove Mushrooms

with Chuck & Sarah Patten

Sparrowhawk Orchard

with the Crooker Family

Fall Recipes

Tuscan Chicken Skillet & Fall Pumpkin Soup

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Publisher’s Note Fall has arrived! The foliage is starting to pop all around and pumpkins grace the porches throughout our village.

In this issue we explore autumn’s wonders starting with Sparrowhawk Orchard and their delightfully crisp apples. We visit with the Pattens at Shady Grove Mushrooms to learn about their gourmet fungi, then check in on Mr. Medicinals THC and CBD combustibles, edibles and salves. Meryl Kelly writes about the Davis’s lush gardens at Chapman Brook Farm and Bethel’s amazingly “Badass Women”.

Enjoying life in the Bethel area is easy during these gorgeous temperate days while anticipating a fun winter season ahead. Fall Festival at Sunday River will bring back many winter friends and in

Laurie Ann Knowles • 207.838.4447

these challenging times we hope you make plans to get away from the chaos to enjoy the out-of-doors here in the mountains.

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.

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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: Abraham Crooker Features Editor: Nate Scott Graphic Design: Ben Bruno and Laurie Ann Knowles for Royal River Graphics www.royalrivergraphics.com

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Badass BOSS BABES of Bethel

by Meryl Kelly

W

hen I first considered writing an article about the Badass Boss Babes of Bethel I fully expected to produce a long diatribe on womens’ history of oppression in various business sectors.

How with my familial ties to Lucy Stone and Susan B. Anthony I try my hardest to recognize the struggles of women before our time and with that in mind lend some commentary to the potential hardships in Bethel all while including come amazing local women.I shot a quick email out to the first 10+ women business owners and community leaders I could think of — from there I sent many more. “Oh I can’t forget her!” was on repeat in my inner dialogue.

The responses I got were so compelling that my whole story changed direction. As I read through all the narratives and thought about our town and all the businesses in it I noticed some things. The fact that you can easily think of 25+ women business leaders and owners in our greater Bethel area is a testament to the fact that women are just badass in general.

Perhaps the distinction of being a woman is collateral to the idea that these people should get a shout out due to their badassery, regardless of their gender.

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Each story diminished the idea that gender is what makes these people and their stories extraordinary, rather it’s the luck of living in a time and in a culture that encourages and supports all members of our community in finding their alignment. The more I thought about it the more I discovered that though my intention was to celebrate women, perhaps highlighting that distinction downplays their impact as business people, community members and just badasses in general. The first and probably biggest take away is that Badass Boss Babes are not really a remarkable occurrence in this town and they are absolutely not a new phenomenon. Susan Mallory, the director of Someday Bigger Daycare, for example, has spent the last 25+ years at that helm.

Her field is filled mostly with women and as a mom I see this as a benefit. I can’t be alone in crying the first time I had to drop my son off at daycare? Separating from your children is so hard and it takes a special person to command the trust required as well as the ability to balance all the special needs of children, their parents and guests not to mention their own family, work family and life in general.

A huge part of being a woman in the workplace is this ability to balance and multitask. Especially if you have small children the work day never seems to end.

There is this added pressure to shift seamlessly from Badass Boss Babe to Badass Mom and Wife. It is not easy. At least for me as a new mom, I find myself always exhausted yet somehow pushing through and getting things done, much to my own surprise. Alyssa Howe of Howe Family Farm acknowledged this desire for balance as a touchstone for her decision to reclaim the family farm. “Farming is hard, messy, dirty, frustrating, bone breaking (literally), heartbreaking work. It isn’t a 9-5 job, it’s a 24/7 lifestyle. For women farmers, it’s even more difficult.

We have to be tough, physically and emotionally.”

She elaborates, “We are not only running a farm, we are raising a family. We not only have to worry about our animals, vegetables, plants, farm stands but we also have to worry about our children, partners and households. I chose this life because I wanted my family to know where their food comes from.

To know exactly what goes into their food. To live a healthier and more productive life. To know if you put in the hard work, you can enjoy the reward that comes out of it. It’s a busy, crazy and incredibly rewarding life to live.”

Lindsay Leutje, Dean of Students at Telstar Middle School, theorized on these types of “Mom” driven challenges and benefits and how they translate into the workplace. “There are a lot of things that just get done because they need to be done. In my house, I refer to it as ‘the magic’ because all the little details often get overlooked. I see in our society that many times (certainly not all) its women who create the magic and men who don’t realize it because women just do it, without being asked or needing recognition.

For example, the family goes on vacation — someone made the reservations, packed the bags, looked up cool things to do, arranged the dog sitter and used up all the milk prior to departure. And the other people are happy to be on the trip. The same type of thing translates in the workplace.” Alternatively, another benefit to “being a woman means I have the opportunity to be a mom. When I became a mom, my perspective on teaching changed. I was able to see my students as someone else’s baby. I can relate better to the worries of parents, too, because I am one.”

Sometimes these leadership roles come by way of fate. Coincidentally both Greenwood and Bethel have female town managers and both of them followed a

similar trajectory to land in their respective positions.

Opportunity and years of service led them to their roles. They spoke to the idea that their gender had pros and cons, mostly on a very social person to person level and that the overarching theme of their careers had more to do with just finding themselves in this role that they love, getting to funnel their caring for the community into action on a daily basis.

Fate also brought one half of Bethel’s Le Mu Eats ownership into fruition. Elise “LeMu”, after leaving her career of choice and jumping into Le Mu Eats full time with her husband Sav, quickly realized that all her skills acquired as a social worker lend themselves to a life of customer service. “No matter how intense or stressful, no matter how rude a customer I come in contact with, no matter what mistakes I make, all of it feels so stress-free and low stakes” in comparison to life as a social worker. With the negatives of the food industry being small potatoes, it has allowed her to immerse herself in all the things she loves about it and fall even deeper in love with the foodie scene.

But her absolute favorite thing is “connecting with people.” Elise explains, “Working that little window is one of my favorite things in the world. I get to peddle a person and product I genuinely believe in, I get to talk to people and listen to them, and my most favorite, I get to serve them and meet a need.

Being my own boss has allowed me to try on so many different hats, and given me space to try things out in different ways. It has forced me to completely turn myself inside-out; go with the flow, see what happens, do something on my own without explicit directions on how to or with the guidance of someone else’s expectations.”

Everyone I spoke to had their trials and tribulations, some directly related to their gender. Most however noted feminine wiles as nothing short of an asset.

Hannah Chapman, owner of Mountain View Cleaning pointed out that, “Being a woman allows me to relate to people on certain levels and with a lot of my job involving people having to put a lot of trust in me I feel as though all of these feminine qualities play a huge part in my success. As women we know how to pay attention to detail and we can more easily pick up on emotion.” This sentiment was echoed by Justine Carver, owner of Barker Brook Kennel, who stated, “With regard to the benefits of being a woman who runs a dog kennel, I find that many people feel more secure passing off their pooch to a softer spoken female than they do our male staff members. And the dogs themselves are sometimes Bethel LIVING | BethelLiving.com

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more comfortable trusting the women, rather than the men. With dogs it’s all about the energy you bring to the situation. With their humans it depends more on your image and your words. Humans generally relate a woman to being gentle, soft, caring and empathetic, so I think that perception plays a big role in developing trust quickly in my industry.”

This caring for others and the community is seen in a variety of ways in female owned businesses. Erin Martin, owner of SocialManas Digital Marketing Agency mentioned that for her, “One of the best things about being a female entrepreneur is that I am surrounded by other strong, intelligent women. 95% of our team at SocialManas consists of women and 75% of our clients are other women business owners from all around the world.”

Giving back to the community can come in the form of jobs but also act as the driving force behind a business. “Nourishing others with food that I have created with my family’s health in mind, is deeply satisfying for me. Back in 2011 when I started down this road, I could clearly see that our food systems needed a drastic overhaul. I wanted to be an influence in that change and in my own way, I feel that I have been and will continue.” reflected Laurie Bailey, Owner and Operator at Moondance Farm.

Another common theme is the idea that undertaking a career in a field that really ignites the soul keeps one in a constant state of curiosity. Industries with moving targets and layered levels of expertise are the ones in which women can truly flourish. Scientists have long found that the female brain is ‘hard-wired’ to be better at multitasking. This balancing of many different roles is an intrinsic skill set and career draw for many women. Cassie Mason Szeliga, owner of Cassie Mason Real Estate, chose her industry for just this reason. “The real estate industry originally interested me because there are so many facets under the umbrella of real estate that I felt I could spend an entire career learning and growing with one professional license. From customer service, to community relationships, investing, developing, sales, and rentals — the list goes on and every aspect is different.”

Jodie Everett, owner and founder of High Country Realty, owner of The Stoned Moose and office manager and owner of Moosehead Farms was brought to her industry by her husband but quickly

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found her own stride, “I get to be creative all day and work with amazing people. I learn something new every day as the industry explodes with information, new products and changing laws. I watch people change their lives with cannabis – how can you not love doing that EVERY DAY!?”

Vicky Fimiani, Co-Owner/Operator of Fiddlestick Farm and Farm Stand Flatbreads, finds that her passion derives from this innate curiosity and desire to grow. “I really love the mechanical challenges of running a good food truck: electrical load, propane connections, safely hauling a load with proper tongue weight, backing the thing into a tight spot, etc. It’s all very challenging combined with all the logistics, contracts, insurance, regulations and licensing. Been in business 9 years and learn something new every day” We have an incredible group of women who have been contributing their time and energy to this community since before I was born. The breadth of women-led businesses, programs and farms just blows my mind. The people who offered these stories share one very important thing: each through their own determination or through fate set their life to the passions that create for them the most joy. Firmly aware of their strengths, they each forged their own paths. Deb Webster, founder and Lead Educator at The Eddy Middle School spoke to this most directly, “Starting my own business allowed me to do what I love with ease. Being my own boss means I have the flexibility and ability to go where my inspiration takes me. I named my passion, lined up with it, let the momentum carry me and got out of the way. If I feel resistance, I reassess and refocus on the fun. I cannot imagine doing anything else.”

These snapshots form a small sample of the many local women who were courageous enough to take a leap of faith or in some cases cultivate a noteworthy and meaningful career from opportunity arisen and embraced. These people of Bethel are a tenacious bunch. Maybe, if I am lucky, some young person will read this and for them I hope the takeaway is this: these people didn’t succeed because of or despite their gender, they found success because they tapped into a power we all have, beyond our pronouns — aligned with that which sparked their curiosity — and did the work. So step forward with purpose. The world really is your oyster.v

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Chapman Brook Farm

by Meryl Kelly

Off the North road down a long dirt path there is a home. In this home Vernon and Tammy Davis have built the better part of their lives over the last 4 decades or so.

The house that sits on this land was, for the first seven years, just a small camp with no electricity or running water. Never afraid of a challenge, the Davises raised their young family here. Bathing in the brook behind their home, hunting the land, raising animals and planting gardens were always a part of their lifestyle. The land they grew on was as much a part of their family as their three daughters. They spent years expanding and improving on their home, property and lives as they saw fit.

As retirement age approaches there has been a shift in their thinking and priorities concerning the food they put in their bodies. As with many organic gardeners the call to grow their own stemmed not only from taste and health but from a market that puts a high cost on quality organic produce. They knew they could help support others in their efforts to eat organic. When the property directly across the street came up for sale the Davis’s hopped on the opportunity. Well, Tammy did anyway.

There may have been some “convincing tears” but who’s to say if those rumors are true. Where there was once an overgrown swamp, now there are flourishing organic gardens complete with a four season greenhouse, a holding pool for drip irrigation, a gravity fed hose and rows of corn, garlic, beans and more. It truly is a site to behold. While speaking with them both at their dining room table I was reminded of the Eliot Coleman quote, “Organic farming appealed to me because it involved searching for and discovering nature’s pathways, as opposed to the formulaic approach of chemical farming. The appeal of organic farming is boundless; this mountain has no top, this river has no end.”

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and Vern owns a painting business, Davis Painting.

The thing about Tammy and Vern is when they start something they do it to the best of their ability.

They research, they look to the greats and they learn everything they need to know before they choose a particular varietal or implement a technique. As with all new endeavors there have been lessons learned and failed crops, but for the most part the produce made available at the Chapman Brook Farm Stand (where Daisy Bryant Road intersects the North Road) is phenomenal in quality and taste. I feel uniquely qualified to vouch for this quality as both a lifelong food industry employee and self proclaimed food snob. The corn is some of the best, if not the best I have ever had, the peppers magically spicy, the greens juicy and crisp and the celery so tender and flavorful I actually want to eat it. They each have their crop of choice. For Vern his pride lies in the corn.

This love and attention is absolutely felt. Listening to him excitedly speak on different varieties of veggies and the pros and cons of their organic practices had me giddy and beyond inspired. For Tammy her interest lies with garlic. With an upcoming evolution in the works, fans of the farm can expect garlic production in both culinary and seed varieties to be booming next season. A deep commitment to organic practices has really paid off; they use crop rotation, cover cropping and sublimely amended soil to create the greatest opportunity for success. They claim, however, that the real secret sauce for their great tasting produce is the mineral rich mountain water that feeds into the irrigation pond supplying their custom built drip irrigation systems.

Another aspect of the farm that just sings to my heart is it’s truly a family affair. Raising the greenhouse was a group effort and their daughter Bailey, owner of Stalk and Pistil Flower Farm in Waterford, grows the most insanely robust seedlings I’ve ever seen, many of which have found their “forever soil” at Chapman Brook Farm.

Their grandson Magnus has also been a fixture at the farm helping his Grammie harvest vegetables and prep tomato sauce (I think he may also count as the unofficial taste tester, word on the street is at just 2 years old Magnus eats whole turnips like apples, what a superstar!)

This added connection extends even beyond the family.

Tammy remarked how growing food has helped them both reconnect with their neighbors and solidify treasured relationships within the community. Growing peppers for Pok Sun, supplying local organic goodness for Beet Street Cafe’s smoothie recipes or stocking the coolers at La Ferme — their commercial outlets are growing faster than the corn.

Offering the highest quality organic food at an affordable cost to their neighbors is a value that permeates every aspect of the farm. They subscribe to the Spanish tradition of “Yapa” roughly translated as the idea of giving a little bit extra to show gratitude to their customers. Those who order regularly will often find extra little gifts amongst their purchased items. The Davises are hoping to expand weekly orders with pickup and delivery options on non farm stand days, and maybe if we pray hard enough they might even consider doing a CSA!! You can check out Chapman Brook Farm Stand on Friday thru Sunday from 9am until the food runs out. Payments include cash or venmo. To keep track of their offerings you can follow their facebook page “Chapman Brook Farm Stand” or the “Food Sovereign Bethel” Facebook page and preorder by emailing : chapmanbrookfarm@gmail v

Did I mention they still both work their other full time jobs as well?? Tammy is a teacher at Telstar Middle School Bethel LIVING | BethelLiving.com

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Shady Grove Mushrooms

with Sarah and Charles “Chuck” Patten

by Laurie Ann Knowles

About 4 years ago, I inoculated a half dozen alder logs with Shiitake spores in the hope of producing my own gourmet mushrooms. The logs sat quietly in the shade behind the shed for years and, sadly, only produced the occasional mushroom. One day at the Bethel Farmers Market I spotted quite a nice stash of Shiitakes for sale, so I introduced myself to Chuck Patten and asked his advice regarding mushroom magic. After he shared a few pointers I hurried home and made the changes he recommended — then, as promised — within 2 weeks I had about 60-80 fresh young Shiitakes emerging from my logs!

Chuck graduated from Telstar, Sarah from Oxford Hills High School, and now that their two kids are grown adults Sarah and Chuck keep company with a host of other interesting growing things. They built a home on a gift of land from her parents and have been working for the last 25 years toward starting a business. Shady Grove Mushrooms, based in Harrison, has really been coming into its own during this past year. Chuck left his engineering job last spring to pursue the new venture full-time; while Sarah helps with the mushrooms, tends to the other parts of their farm and also works as a personal trainer.

Chuck started Shady Grove Mushrooms in 2017 but he has been growing mushrooms outdoors for 13 years, and indoors for 7 and plans to open a 4-season shop at the farm this fall. The Pattens wholesale some of their crop to a handful of restaurants and food coops, while also retailing at quite a few farmers markets. Shady Grove’s fresh picked mushrooms include about 15 varieties, such as Lion’s Mane, Shiitake, Golden, Pink and Blue Oysters.

They also sell growing blocks, colonized logs and spawn for patrons interested in producing their own treats. A “Pick Your Own” mushroom garden and forest is set to open next spring. For all of us that love the fungus among us the Pattens are a truly great resource.

“

CHUCK STA RTED SHADY GROVE M USHRO O MS IN 2017 BUT H E H AS BEEN GRO WING M USHRO O MS O UTDO O RS FOR 13 YEARS, AND INDO O RS FOR 7.

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A Few of the Many Benefits of Mushrooms BENEFIT #1: CONTAIN CANCER FIGHTING PROPERTIES Mushrooms have cancer fighting properties. In a 2010 study, five different mushrooms were researched. These included maitake, crimini, portobello, oyster, and white button. They found that the consumption of these mushrooms was linked to significantly suppressing the growth of cancer cells, especially breast cancer.

The popular shiitake mushroom assists the liver in quickly processing cholesterol and removing it from the blood stream. This action helps keep blood cholesterol levels low. In addition, this action prevents cholesterol from sticking to arterial walls and forming plaque build-up.

Plaque build-up is very harmful as it can cause high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, or even a heart attack and death if left untreated.

In addition, shiitake mushrooms contain the lentinan compound. Lentinan is a sugar molecule which is associated with extending the survival rate of cancer patients. In Japan, a study found that the presence of the sugar molecule suppressed stomach cancer. The compound does not kill cancer cells directly, but it does boost the immune system, which aids in providing the body with a stronger defense line against cancer.

BENEFIT #4: HIGH IN VITAMIN D Vitamin D is rarely found in fruits or vegetables. Most sources with significant amounts of vitamin D include fatty fish, tuna, and fortified foods such as orange juice and milk. Mushrooms are different as they are one of the few non-animal sources that contain vitamin D without being fortified.

BENEFIT #2: BOOSTS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM As mentioned above, the sugar molecule lentinan boosts the immune system, which strengthens the immune system when in the face of harmful pathogens. In addition to lentinan, mushrooms also contain the immune booster sugar, beta-glucan.

Beta-glucans also known as beta D-glucans, are found in the cell walls of many mushroom types. These beta-glucans boost the immune system. Some examples of their immune boosting activities include increasing the number of Th1 lymphocytes in the blood and reducing inflammation in the body, which is deeply connected to numerous health issues. Beta glucans are found in many species of mushrooms, including the common button mushroom.

BENEFIT #3: THEY HELP LOWER CHOLESTEROL Not only are mushrooms cholesterol free, they also have properties which help lower cholesterol levels in the body, essentially making it an amazing food not only for everyone, but for individuals who are watching their LDL levels. In one study, they found the pink oyster mushroom reduced LDL cholesterol in rats with high cholesterol.

Mushrooms are like humans in which they absorb vitamin D from the sun. Even exposing the mushroom to high levels of ultraviolet can provide the mushroom with vitamin D. Mushrooms containing vitamin D is great for vegans who may have trouble adding vitamin D to their diets.

In addition, mushrooms are also beginning to be fortified, which will increase their vitamin D content. Vitamin D is essential for bone health.

BENEFIT #5: FIGHTS AGING Mushrooms are a great anti-aging food. In a study conducted in 2017, a team of Penn State researchers found that mushrooms have high amounts of two antioxidants, ergothioneine and glutathione, which are both linked to containing anti-aging properties. What is especially beneficial about mushrooms is that the food contains both antioxidants.

Most foods do not contain both in high amounts, making mushrooms one of the highest dietary sources of anti-aging compounds.

Mushrooms can be easily incorporated into the diet. They can be added to salads, soups, sandwiches, burgers, as garnishes, and so on. The possibilities are truly endless with the fungi. In addition, they are also very easy to cook. Thrown onto the stove with olive oil, the fungi cooks in minutes. Overcooking the food can lead to loss of nutrients, thus it is important not to overcook the mushrooms.

FMI on Shady Grove Mushrooms visit them on Facebook and call Chuck at 207-385-7059 18

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212 Mayville Rd. (Rt. 2) Bethel, ME www.goodfoodbethel.com

ESTATE PLANNING | ELDER LAW | PROBATE MAINE CARE PLANNING LLC & CORPORATE SET UPS AND MORE

306 Main St. | Norway, ME | 207-739-2234 marthamcleanlaw.com

with Katy & Nate Crooker

T

he first crunchy bite of a freshly picked apple is one of fall’s many delights.

For Katy and Nate Crooker and their two children, Abe, who is 8 years old and Cecilia who is 7, the new owners of over four hundred apple trees, that crispy thrill tastes like the start of an adventure many years in the making. The allure of apple farming may have seeped into their hearts while living near the four apple orchards stretched out along Orchard Road in Cumberland. Katy and Nate grew up in the Topsham area and met in high school. They started coming to Bethel from Cumberland about a decade ago to ski, bike, hike, kayak, fish and hunt.

It wasn’t long before they began trying to figure out how to move to Bethel full-time.

They purchased a house on the North Road and used it as a second home for about 7 years, eventually deciding they wanted more room for their family. The plan was to build,

but when COVID spiked the demand for local builders the Crookers decided to look at some possibilities in the preowned housing market. After passing on several properties they toured the orchard — where an idea germinated and bloomed — let’s be apple farmers!

The newly christened Sparrowhawk Orchard — once known as Lyon’s Orchard — began a successful run in the early 1950s when Herb Lyon returned from Korea and bought a run down apple orchard with about 100 trees out on the Grover Hill Road. Herb planted hundreds of seedlings and eventually shipped apples wholesale in rail cars all over the US. After his death in the early 2000s his extended family transitioned the farm into a pick your own apple destination. Sparrowhawk Orchard currently has about 420 trees — featuring Macintosh, Cortland, Red Free and Macoun. The Crookers plan to build out the farm with pigs and other livestock, introduce some new varieties of apples and purchase a cider press. The possibilities are endless! Berry farming, pumpkins, and the addition of other pick your own crops are under consideration.

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A successful apple orchard constantly rotates the stock, removing old trees and planting new ones as well as conducting continuous year-round tending. Winter months are times for education, visiting trade shows and keeping up to date with new farming practices. Pruning takes place in early spring, while the summer is a constant round of mowing and fertilizing. And as with any farm there are many wild cards bestowed by nature.

The Crookers are learning the ropes as they define their market and explore the processes of successful production. The goal is to bring the entire orchard back to a substantial level of production. Stop by Sparrowhawk Orchard and bring a bulging bag of apples home this weekend! Sparrowhawk Orchard produce is available at Mountain Greenery and Swain’s Family Farm. v

“

A S U C C E S S F U L A P P L E O RCHARD CO NSTANTLY RO TATES THE STOC K , R E MOV I N G OL D TREES AND PLANTING NEW O NES AS WE L L A S C ON D U C T I NG CO NTINUO US YEAR-RO UND TENDING .

FMI on Sparrowhawk Orchard, visit them at 684 Grover Hill Road in Bethel, call at (207) 233-7819 and see them on Facebook for email sparrowhawk.orchard@gmail.com

Bethel LIVING | BethelLiving.com

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Fall Recipes Skillet Tuscan Chicken Be sure to have some crusty bread on hand, because you’re going to want every drop of this sauce.

INGREDIENTS • 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts • Kosher salt • Freshly ground black pepper • 1 tsp. dried oregano • 3 tbsp. butter • 3 cloves garlic, minced • 1 1/2 c. cherry tomatoes, halved • 3 c. baby spinach • 1/2 c. heavy cream • 1/4 c. freshly grated Parmesan • Lemon wedges, for serving

PREPARATION 1. In a skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add chicken and season with salt, pepper, and oregano. Cook until golden and no longer pink, 8 minutes per side. Remove from skillet and set aside.

2. In the same skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add cherry tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Cook until tomatoes are beginning to burst then add spinach and cook until spinach is beginning to wilt.

3. Stir in heavy cream and parmesan and bring mixture to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer until sauce is slightly reduced, about 3 minutes. Return chicken to skillet and cook until heated through, 5 to 7 minutes.

4. Serve with lemon wedges.

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Fall Pumpkin Soup

INGREDIENTS • 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil • 1 large onion, coarsely chopped • 4 cloves garlic, minced • 4 lb. pumpkin (any kind but preferably sugar pie)

• 4 c. low-sodium chicken broth • Kosher salt • Freshly ground black pepper • 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice • 1/2 c. heavy cream, plus more for garnish

PREPARATION 1. In a heavy soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and garlic and cook until golden.

2. Meanwhile, halve, peel, and scrape out seeds of the pumpkin. Cut into chunks.

3. Add pumpkin chunks and broth to pot. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, uncovered, then reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer until pumpkin is fork-tender, about 30 minutes.

4. Remove pot from heat and, using an immersion blender, blend mixture until smooth. (Alternatively, let soup cool, then blend in a blender.) Stir in cream, spice and season to taste.

5. To serve, ladle soup into bowls, add a swirl of cream, and garnish with pepper.

Bethel LIVING | BethelLiving.com

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Local Events

Deanne Bodemer

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

by Deanne Bodemer

Oct. 7: BAAM’s Young Adult Open Stage The Gem Theater. BAAM, Moovin’ On Productions, and The Gem are pleased to announce the upcoming Young Adult Open Stage. This event will showcase local young talent on the big stage every second Thursday of every month. Young adult performers can access professional grade sound and light systems, get a feel for public performances, and be mentored by the local creative community. Admission/Participation is free, but donations are welcome. FMI: visit www.thegemtheater.com or email coordinator@ bethelareaartsandmusic.com Oct. 7: BAAM’s Singer-Song Writer Circle The Gem Theater. Join BAAM, Moovin’ On Productions, and The Gem for live music on the second Thursday of every month. Local songwriter, Johnny Crashed, will host the event, and he will be joined at each show by two other local or regional songwriters for the evening. This event will showcase original songwriting and the stories behind the music. Western Maine is filled with talented songwriters whose songs are a living, breathing history that should be shared. Admission is free but donations are welcome.

We hope you can join us for this live music event! FMI: visit www.thegemtheater.com or email coordinator@bethelareaartsandmusic.com Oct. 8-10: Annual XC Ski Tent Sale Carter’s XC Ski Center. Join us every Friday - Sunday during October for our annual sales event under the tent for deals on new ski and rental equipment packages, skate ski packages, season passes, and door prizes. cartersxcski.com, 207-8243880 Oct. 9-10: Fall Festival Sunday River. Saturday’s legendary North American Wife Carrying Championship and Sunday’s New England Cornhole Championship are the center of the party featuring live music, scenic chairlift rides, activities for the whole family, and the Blue Mountain Arts & Crafts Fair on both days. sundayriver.com, 800-543-2754 Oct. 10: 9th Annual Sunday River Ski Club Fundraiser Golf Tournament. An 18-hole scramble tournament to benefit the Sunday River Ski and Snowboard Club, which supports the athletes in the Gould Academy’s Competition Program’s training programs. Put together a team or just sign up on your own! bethelinn.com, 800-654-0125

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Bethel LIVING | BethelLiving.com

Oct. 29-30: 41st Annual Bethel Outing Club Ski Sale Gould Academy Field House. The best deals on new and used equipment, clothing, and accessories for alpine, snowboard, cross-country skiing, and other winter sports. Pick up new gear or sell yours. 20% of sales proceeds benefit the Bethel Outing Club’s Youth Cross Country Ski Program for Local Children. Masks will be required at the sale. bethelouting.org, 207-381-7309 Nov. 5: 51st Annual Awards Celebration & Silent Auction Grand Summit Hotel, Sunday River. The Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce shows appreciation for the people who make the Bethel area so

located at 48 Cross street, Bethel. For our virtual participants, you special. Enjoy a fun night of celebration with a cocktail reception, the

will have the option of running anytime during the week of November

awards ceremony, and a silent auction. bethelmaine.com, 207-824-

21-28. FMI: extension.umaine.edu/bryantpond/support/wobble-gob-

2282

ble-5k-race, 207-665-2068

Nov. 25: 5th Annual Wobble and Gobble 5K Run/Walk Race –

Nov. 27: BAAM Art Market Outside at The Philbrook Place, 162

In-person OR Virtual We are excited to once again be offering a fun

Main Street, Bethel. 10am - 4pm. Local artists, crafters, & artisans will

way to spend your Thanksgiving morning engaged with the commu-

be set up to showcase and sell their handmade creations. Make sure

nity and supporting a local organization. 100 % of all race proceeds

to stop inside The Philbrook Place also to check out the works in the

will go to support the Bryant Pond 4-H camp and Learning Center

Elements Gallery and in The Barn Collection. bethelareaartsandmusi-

year-round programming and facility projects. This year’s racers will

com, coodinator@bethelareaartsandmusic.com

have the option of running virtually or in-person in the town of Bethel, Maine. Our in-person participants will gather at the Gem Theatre

Ongoing Events Pickleball Pickup Games

Live Music at Westside Beer Garden

Sunday, Monday & Friday mornings at 8:30am and Wednesday &

Starting at 4pm at the Mt. Abram Bike Park, 412 Howe Hill Rd, Green-

Thursday nights at 4:30pm thru October. Pickleball pickup games for

wood. 207-875-5000

all ages & abilities, and everyone is welcomed. A great way to get out

Oct. 1: Chris Floyd

and have some fun & meet new people! Located at the basketball

Oct. 8: Lindsay Mower

courts behind the Big Apple/Shell station on Rt. 26 along the bike

Oct. 9 @ 3pm: Motor Booty Affair

path. You can also get info on TEAMREACH app, look for Bethel

Oct. 10: Now is Now

Maine pickleball, and code is 04217, or find us on Facebook Team

Live Music at River Lanes

Bethel.

Starting at 8pm at River Lanes, 32 Cross St., Bethel. 207-705-9500

Live Music at The Millbrook Tavern

Oct. 2: No Guts No Glory

Starting at 6pm at The Bethel Inn Resort, 21 Broad Street, Bethel.

Oct. 9: Carbon 14

207-824-2175

Oct. 16: American Ride

Oct. 1: Jim Austin

Oct. 23: Treblemaker

Oct. 2: Brad Hooper

Oct. 30: Ball Brothers Band

Oct 8: Doug Alford

Live Music at Steam Mill Brewing

Oct. 9: Jim Gallant

Starting at 5pm every Saturday, located at 7 Mechanic St., Bethel.

207-699-9214

Bethel LIVING | BethelLiving.com

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by Laurie Ann Knowles

with David Pilgrim and Zac Parsons

David Pilgrim and Zac Parsons, business partners for the past six years, have multiple grow operations of their own that sell directly to dispensaries, but last month they have now opened their first retail medicinal shop in West Bethel, Maine. They started growing here but moved to California for a few years where they had a delivery service that covered 5 cities.

David and Zac source all of their product locally and at any given time sell about 12 strains of flower — like Sunday Driver and Wedding Cake from Green Flower Farm as well as Purple Punch, Girl Scout Glue and Wedding Cake from Tourma Cannabis. Over 30 types of edibles grace their shelves: cookies, brownies, freeze pops, peanut butter cups, gummies, lollipops, cake bites, honey sticks, salted caramels, many types of drinks, “Elvis cookies”, party mix, cereal bars and bourbon roasted maple nuts. You can also find local art such as pendants, paintings, rings and glass art.

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Bethel LIVING | BethelLiving.com

They also sell a wide selection of CBD merchandise such as edibles, capsules, rub-ons, dabs, dog treats as well as hats, t-shirts, hoodies and jackets.

Pre-rolls are very popular at Mr. Medicinals with products by Pine Tree Apothecary, Flower Farm and Tourma Cannabis. There are 40 different flavors of vape cartridges in varying dosages and a nice variety of glass pipes and smoking devices.

Mr. Medicinals has Daily Specials like Munchie Monday, Thirsty Thursday, Shatterday and offer discounts to customers who can earn points on purchases. Finally, for the horticulturalists they rent a trim machine to prep this year’s harvest for storage or market. v

Mr. Medicinals is located at 602 West Bethel Rd in West Bethel, Maine 04217 Visit them on Facebook at Mr Medicinals or call 207-595-5710 They are open 7 days a week: Sun thru Wed 9am - 6am and Thurs thru Sat 9am - 7pm

Bethel LIVING | BethelLiving.com

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Mention this ad and get 15% off any Hydro Flask insulated bottle True North Adventureware Inc. 196 Walkers Mills Rd. PO Box 973 • Bethel Maine 04217

207 824 2201

www.truenorthadventureware.com One mile South of Bethel Village on Route 26

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Bethel LIVING | BethelLiving.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

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39 Glover Road • Rumford, ME 04276 • (207) 364-8977

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Photo credit Craig Angevine

Bethel LIVING | BethelLiving.com

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Making our happy place your home.

Visit CassieMason.com