Bethel Living Magazine, Issue #62 - April / May 2024

Bethel LIVING

Rethinking Home with the Maine Yurt Collective

Bethel’s new Youth Hub at the Congo Cafe

Mountain Glow

Skincare Studio with Leann Caruso

Al Falster Local Character, Experimental Chemist and Researcher

The Museums of the Bethel Historical Society’s Capital Campaign Recipes from the Elizabeth Inn & Restaurant PLUS A Listing of Local Events

We carry a full line of cannabis & CBD products.

Publisher’s Note

Aaahhh, Spring!

After what can only charitably be called a winter, all of us are ready for the return of extra daylight and warmth as the earth tilts us closer to the sun.

In this issue we introduce the Maine Yurt Collective, a triumvirate of artisans and their unique offerings. Read about the “Youth Hub at the Congo Cafe” — finally, a gathering place for area teens! Next, meet Leann Caruso from Mountain Glow Skincare Studio and book yourself a treat. Will Chapman from the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society reports on their plans for enhanced community collaboration and more immersive historical experiences. Read on about interesting local character Al Falster from the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum, cook up a nice dinner with recipes from the Elizabeth Inn & Restaurant and mark your calendar with spring events compiled by the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce.

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.

Rethinking Home with the Maine Yurt Collective

What happens when you blend a community artisan, an innovative builder and a sustainable business entrepreneur? Enter the Maine Yurt Collective, where the convergence of three visionary minds provides the foundation for a robust cooperative enterprise in the timeless and increasingly relevant tiny home industry. These torchbearers – Jess Fredrickson, Nick Mukai and Scott Guzman – share a unified ambition for a world that encourages hand built shelters and dwellings, to serve not only as homes, but also to foster a broad network of foresters, loggers and artisan woodworkers. Although each has the capacity to run a successful business, they made the choice to merge their skills and expertise for this

by Meryl Kelly

venture, offering clients the unique advantage of triple the knowledge and craftsmanship behind one unified goal.

Jess, a resident of an off-grid property in Greenwood, took the helm in bringing this collective to life. Over the past decade she has immersed herself in the study and practice of permaculture systems, natural buildings, yurts and regenerative agriculture across the State of Maine. As a skilled healer and artist, Jess places special emphasis on ensuring that the yurt spaces created by the collective are not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing and deeply connected to their surroundings. She meticulously harvests local timbers to form the skeleton of each structure, infusing the art of home building into the science of house building.

Nick Mukai, a longtime friend of Jess from Madison, Maine, is affectionately known as the “mad scientist” of the group. As the lead builder, Nick’s role transcends his title. A masterful finish carpenter and structural problem solver, he has pioneered various yurt components to set the collective’s products apart from prefabricated options. Noteworthy among his innovations is a center compression ring incorporating a plexi-glass dome, aimed at increasing quality air flow within the structure. The topper, which sits as a crown jewel at the peak of the yurt, brings a modern feature to a structure otherwise considered rather ancient, while providing an opportunity for abundant natural light and stargazing after dark! Nick is also in the process of creating a large scale fully portable yurt model for clients with a more nomadic lifestyle who require a dependable dwelling no matter where they roam. As the co-founder of Lucid Skis, Nick’s portable yurt was definitely designed with the ski bum in mind.

Completing the triad is Scott Guzman, whose extensive experience in complementary industries across Maine make him an invaluable asset to the collective. Based in Acton, he runs a large compost yard — side note: he’s looking for a partner in the Bethel area to expand his range. Scott is a natural builder, compost educator, inventor and farmer with a degree in chemical engineering and 10+ years of experience in cooperative business structures and financing. His project portfolio includes an expansive variety of sustainable agricultural and construction projects, big and small. As the Collective’s Project Manager he instills his background in permaculture into every job site, ensuring that each client’s yurt is placed in the most harmonious and appropriate place on their land. In addition, access to the crafting prowess of Scott’s mother Birdie Guzman, who serves as the lead seamstress, ensures meticulous attention to detail in every yurt liner and insulation

panel. In collaboration with the permaculture education group permatours.org, Scott is building an online education platform to share educational content on various forms of natural building. This initiative will enable the Maine Yurt Collective to expand their mission of promoting the numerous benefits of natural yurt building, including its durability, eco-friendliness, resilience to climate change, affordability, direct support to the local economy and opportunities for adaptability and customization.

The Collective’s well-constructed yurts are designed to withstand the full range of weather conditions, including high winds and heavy snow loads. Modern materials and construction techniques enhance durability and longevity. The Maine Yurt Collective creates yurts with a smaller ecological footprint, focusing on thoughtful placement and utilization of locally hand harvested natural materials. Living in a yurt often encourages a simpler, minimalist lifestyle. With limited space residents find themselves focusing on essentials and prioritizing experiences over material possessions. Maine is well known for its natural beauty and the Bethel area in particular shines as a premier place to enjoy nature. Choosing a yurt allows for a unique living experience that can provide owners with a deeper connection to nature. Individuals or families who may need

to relocate frequently or want the freedom to move their home to different locations can rely on yurts with Nick’s innovative approach to create a convenient portable structure. Choosing to live in a yurt can also be an opportunity to embrace and honor cultural traditions, particularly those associated with nomadic or indigenous lifestyles.

As the housing crisis continues to deepen in communities across Maine, yurts and other tiny home constructions increasingly provide solutions not only for families and individuals with a desire to own their own home, but also for weekend warriors trying to find a low maintenance place to rest their head while enjoying everything our state has to offer. Recently Maine passed LD 2003 which allows property owners more freedom to create multiple dwelling and accessory dwelling units on single plots of land zoned for residential use. This legislation paves the way for a host of crafty yurt and tiny home solutions to optimize housing density and increase affordable housing

options in desirable municipalities. Pricing for the Maine Yurt Collective’s offerings vary based on size and customization, but clients can expect to enjoy a comfortable, livable home for as little as $50,000.

Triangles are prized by builders as the strongest shape in terms of structural integrity. Their three sides are inherently stable because the distribution of forces within them leads to a structure that is rigid and resistant to deformation. In essence, the Maine Yurt Collective embodies the strength of this shape with the confluence of artistry, innovation and sustainability. As life steered these three souls from separate paths towards each other they formed an organic bond rooted in their shared vision. Together, they harness their strengths to restore hope for homeownership across the northeast, while supporting a legacy of sustainably harvested timber products and the fabrication of lasting eco-conscious structures with limitless applications.

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BETHEL, MAINE

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Youth Hub at the Congo Cafe: Bethel’s First Intentional Teen Gathering Place

by Meryl Kelly

At the beginning of winter of 2023 NorthStar Youth Mentoring leaders Lyndsey Smith and Justin Bondesen began working with students, their families, volunteers and many local organizations to brainstorm ways in which they could collaborate to foster stronger ties between youths in the SAD 44 district and the community at large.

As a result of these discussions it became evident that the kids yearned for more opportunities to connect with each other and unwind after school. While NorthStar has excelled in providing enriching experiences and organizing community service, unstructured leisure time remained a challenge. Without a dedicated physical space, students often found themselves spending their free time walking endless laps at Davis Park or huddled in the small booths at Dunkin’ Donuts, craving a consistent and safe environment to gather.

Simultaneously, members of the West Parish Congregational Church were exploring avenues to enhance their support of local youth. Pastor Tim LeConey and parishioner Henrietta List, representing the church, decided to reach out to Lyndsey since they had already been working with NorthStar to provide driver’s ed scholarships to Telstar students through their World Service Committee.

Recognizing the synergy of their efforts, Lyndsey, who also co-chairs Telstar’s Interact Club, facilitated a meeting between church

representatives and students. The dialogue revealed a shared desire for a welcoming and affirming space, with food, art and music as central themes. The church parishioner’s response has been nothing short of impressive. Over a dozen church volunteers have taken trainings through Youth Mental Health First Aid and Out Maine in preparation to understand and support the students. This simple act, demonstrating a commitment to promoting the well-being of the next generation, will pave the way to earning a trusted place on each student’s personal support team and position the “Youth Hub at the Congo Cafe” as a clear safe space for all students to gather.

Standing outside of the usual educational paradigm of meeting standards and requirements, the NorthStar 4-H Youth Mentoring program does not work through a series of checkboxes. Instead it provides students a constant guiding light to measure their progress by. Even as students change directions or are unsure of their destination, they can look to their mentors to help chart a course, track the journey and find their way

back when thrown off by the unpredictable waves that life throws at us all. Our community is now witnessing the expansion of the NorthStar model for student success flourishing beyond its own programming.

The “Youth Hub” pilot project is a true community partnership and the first NorthStar affiliated program created with the intention of phasing out NorthStar staff oversight and turning day-to-day operations over to volunteers. The volunteers of the Youth Hub at the Congo Cafe can look to NorthStar as an anchor point, engaging with their volunteer and risk management trainings and tapping into resources such as interim staffing, transportation and emergency student assistance. SAD 44 will be creating access for more students to take advantage of this after school option by making the church a bus stop for both after school and late bus routes.

In March 2024 Youth Hub at the Congo Cafe opened its doors, offering a curated space tailored to students’ interests. Volunteers warmly welcomed students, laying the foundation for a vibrant community oasis where teens and volunteers alike can forge

positive cross-generational relationships, transforming towns into communities and neighbors into friends.

The Youth Hub at the Congo Cafe is currently funded by the generous contributions of the West Parish Congregational Church, which will be applying for grants to support their long-term engagement with youth. Church volunteers are providing the space, the materials, and the love and support to welcome youth into their space.

Northstar Youth Mentoring

NorthStar Youth Mentoring is 100% funded by grants and gifts, and the program is always looking for new fundraising opportunities. All donation sizes are welcome, from small one-time donations to sponsors who choose to participate in the Adopt-A-Cohort campaign.

Those interested in supporting these efforts should reach out to Lyndsey Smith directly by emailing lyndsey.smith@maine.edu

FMI on Leann and Mountain Glow Skincare Studio, visit mountainglowbethel.com, see her on FB at Mountain Glow Skincare Studio, call 207-601-2300 or email mountainglowbethel@gmail.com

by Laurie Ann Knowles

Self-care refers to the time a person spends on activities and experiences to improve their life, with the direct goal of increasing health, wisdom and balance. Fine tuning one’s mind, body and soul improves social and familial interactions, job performance, self esteem and the ability to successfully perform our daily round. Self-care allows us to better cope with daily stressors. Technological advances seem to have made people lonelier and less able to unwind and slow down, increasing anxiety and feelings of being overwhelmed. Taking time for exercise, meditation, spirituality and positive relationships eases the stress of life. Adding body care, such as a massage, a facial or a pedicure reminds us that there is joy and pleasure in maintaining our physical condition and appearance — a particularly satisfying way of honoring ourselves.

The newly opened Mountain Glow Skincare Studio at the top of Main Street is Bethel’s latest addition to all the first class local businesses offering self-care in our small community. After working as a secretary for 11 years at Telstar High School and Andover Elementary, Leann Caruso decided to pursue her passion: offering

rejuvenation at her own skincare studio. She earned her license by completing the mandatory 600 hour Aesthetician Program at SpaTech in Westbrook, and has created her own signature facial, which she administers to each new client as a way to get to know their skin. The treatment starts with a double cleanse, then continues with skin care products aligned to the client’s skin type. Next is an exfoliation — sometimes with a fruit-based enzyme peel — followed by a facial and decolletage massage to increase circulation at the skin’s surface, to tone surface muscles and to aid with relaxation. Finally, a mask tailored to the skin’s needs is applied, followed by a serum, moisturizer and SPF to nourish and protect the skin. Leann doesn’t believe in a “chatty” spa experienceshe prefers and encourages her client to relax and enjoy the flow of the whole experience. Leann recommends a monthly facial for optimal results. Leann is offering chemical peels with alphahydroxy acids or beta-hydroxy acids, some waxing services, sensitive skin treatments and an anti-aging package spread over six weeks. Leann’s passion for her business and her services show as a glow in her own face! Check her out!

Photography

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is a comprehensive Medical Spa with two locations; North Conway & Gorham, NH.

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Mason House 50-Year Campaign

Fifty years ago, the former Broad Street home of Dr. Moses and Agnes Straw Mason opened to the world as a historic house museum.

The William Bingham 2nd Trust for Charity purchased the home in 1972 and over the next two years it was meticulously restored to invoke the period of the Masons’ occupancy, 1813-1869. In 1974 it was presented to the Bethel Historical Society, which had been formed eight years earlier.

Now, at the half century mark, the staff and trustees of the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society have set their sights on the building’s future, and are raising funds for critical maintenance work, including the removal and replacement of the asbestoscontaining roof shingles that were installed during the 1972-74 renovations.

Also on the project list: scraping and painting the window sashes and shutters, replacing clapboards, and repairs to the front door, frame and sills. With estimates in hand, MBHS’s Development Committee has set a goal of $150,000 for the Mason House 50Year Campaign to complete the repairs.

Collaboration and Community

The anniversary and launch of the capital campaign have prompted discussion among staff and trustees about the role of a historic house museum in the 21st century—a conversation which Executive Director William Chapman hopes can be extended to the broader public.

“We want to engage the entire community

in a discussion of what Bethel wants and needs, and how our historic building might fit into that,” said Chapman.

The Mason House is opened for tours as well as programs and exhibits that are held in the Howe Exhibit Hall, on the first floor of the renovated barn. But there are many spaces within the building that could be used for other activities and present exciting opportunities. For example, the Maine Valentine Project used space in the Mason House barn this winter to store and organize donations for their work with Mainers experiencing homelessness, and plans to do so again next year.

A Home for all Seasons

Expanding collaborations is one of three key objectives

MBHS has identified as areas of focus for the next phase in the life of the Mason House.

Another goal is creating opportunities for more people to visit the house while making the overall experience feel more immersive. This will mean more holiday-themed events like the popular annual “Christmas at the Mason House” and more events featuring live music, demonstrations, and workshops within the house. It could also mean more opportunities to “lower the ropes” and let people touch some less fragile objects.

Executive Director Chapman says he would love to bring back the tradition of live portrayals of the Masons for special events, perhaps adding the Masons’ niece Cyrene Ayer and a hired boy or girl as additional characters.

The Masons, Bethel, and the Nation

The third area of focus is researching and presenting a wider range of stories connected with the house and with Bethel during the time of the Masons’ occupancy. The Masons lived through—and often helped shape—an extraordinary period in American history. This included the rise of the Jacksonian movement, with which Dr. Mason affiliated, running for United States Congress—and winning— as a Jacksonian Democrat. The Masons also witnessed the founding of Gould Academy, the abolitionist and temperance movements, the beginnings of the women’s suffrage movement, and the founding of the Bethel Farmer’s Club (a predecessor to the Grange). As Dr. Mason died in 1866 and Mrs. Mason in 1869, both lived to see Union victory in the Civil War, the last major event of their lifetimes.

name emphasizes the important role women played in shaping our local history, which has been overlooked in much of what has been published in older history books. But just as importantly, the new name highlights the essence of the Mason House as a family home—a place where gatherings were held, and where friendships were nurtured.

The Abenaki healer Mali Agat (better known as Molly Ockett) was one of the house’s well-known visitors. Keeping her memory alive—in a more accurate and contextualized manner than her story has been told in the past—is a priority for the Museums. Chapman recently conducted a successful workshop on investigating the events of Mali’s life and has been working with local teachers to help develop related curriculum.

A New Name for a New Era

The Mason House will be entering its next phase of life as a museum with a new name. The home, formerly known as the Dr. Moses Mason House, will now be formally referred to as the Dr. Moses and Agnes Straw Mason House.

The inclusion of Agnes Straw Mason’s

Although the Masons had no children, their favorite niece and eventual heir to the home, Cyrene Ayer, often stayed with them, and is listed as part of their household on the 1860 census, as are two boarding students who were attending Gould Academy. It’s believed that after they returned from Washington the Masons likely relied on the services of a hired boy or girl to run their household.

The name Dr. Moses and Agnes Straw Mason House lends itself to a more comprehensive view of the household dynamics and the social fabric of the time of the Masons’ occupancy, and conveys the spirit of the house as a “living and breathing” space for the community to gather—a role which the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society believes the home can continue to serve throughout the next half century and beyond.

To information on how to contribute to the Mason House 50-Year Campaign please visit: bethelhistorical.org/mason50

Mason House as it appeared in the early 1900s

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We are closed April 6 - May 8 • New Summer Hours coming soon!

11 Philbrook St., Bethel, Maine • Thurs - Sat 4-8pm

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Check availability by text only during business hours

207-357-9257

The Maine Mineral & Gem Museum’s Al “Owl” Falster, Local Character, Experimental Chemist and Researcher

Al Falster is a man whose life has been spent vigorously pursuing the hard sciences of chemistry, geology, paleontology and petrology for over 65 years; interests taken up almost immediately upon mastering the meaning of words. In the basement lab of the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum building on Main Street in Bethel we find Al working with the tools of his trade: a petrographic microscope paired with a micro-Raman spectrometer, a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive detector and an associated X-ray fluorescence unit, an X-ray diffractometer, an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, and — of course — an inductively coupled plasma

spectrometer with mass spectrometer and laser ablation unit. And yes, there is a kitchen sink.

But you may be forgiven if the sobriquet “man of science” does not spring immediately to mind when you cross paths with Al as he moves through town on his way to the grocery store, the post office and/or Brooks Brothers, where he fetches and dispatches USPS packages to and from all around the world. Sporting shorts (summer attire) year-round, and wearing socks and sandals, he materializes bedecked with an array of necklaces that are mostly gifts from his Native American friends and “family”. Thus adorned with black bear and grizzly bear teeth, badger claws and eagle talons — not to mention the stray coyote metacarpal

— Al goes about his days surrounded by the gentle rattle and ting of a song far removed from the concerns of science. You see, Al is also immersed in the traditional ways of the elders of the Oglala Lakota Nation, seeking an ever deeper understanding of the connection between the spirit world and the one he researches in his well-equipped lab. Al Falster clearly has one sandal firmly planted on this painstakingly researched solid patch of earth, while the other questingly stretches toward mystical realms.

Born in Germany in 1952, Al lost his father at age three, thus creating a new nuclear family with his mother and her parents. As part of his deeply nurtured childhood Al’s grandfather taught him to read at age 5 and before entering grade school the young scientist was devouring collegiate level chemistry books, hungry to learn as much as he could. Providentially, a distant cousin who was stationed in Germany with the US Army came to live with them for a few years, becoming something of a father figure. He promised young Al that some day, when finances allowed, he would send for Al and his mother to come to the States. The reunion finally occurred when Al, at the age of 22, traveled with his mother on a 3-day trip to Wisconsin to check things out. With only $300 between them, a series of mishaps — diverted flights to NYC, overbooked hotels and untimely traffic jams — almost derailed the trip, but after a three week odyssey and the acquaintance of many new friends they departed Wisconsin for Germany with a firm intention to return permanently.

Back in Germany Al cultivated his scientific interests to raise extra money. In a clay pit near his home he found a large concentration of jurassic ammonites, the 200 million year old fossils of spiral shelled sea creatures similar to the modern nautilus. By working long days he was able to collect, sort, clean and label $5,500 worth of specimens for a local science supply warehouse. Miraculously,

at that same time, Al’s mother played a winning lottery ticket and scored $5,500 as well. They sold all their belongings, purchased airline tickets and returned to Wisconsin to begin the naturalization process and gain American citizenship. Until Al received a green card signifying permanent resident status he was unable to earn money or join the US Army, which would have inducted him on the basis of his high test scores. He and his mother survived on very little. During the Wisconsin growing season Al conducted soil analyzation tests for local farmers and was remunerated with baskets of produce.

During the wait Al went to night school and took all the chemistry credits he could find, while also receiving standing credit for his self-taught experience. After almost five years the green card came through and he enrolled in the University of Wisconsin. He was awarded an undergraduate chemistry degree after only two years. In 1982 Al began attending meetings and presenting papers at shows and symposiums. At the Pegmatite Symposium sponsored by the Tuscon Gem and Mineral Show he earned the notice of many academic peers and a standing ovation for his research. Finally, almost 10 years after his arrival, he also earned his citizenship papers from the United States government. In 1986 Al began to attend The University of New Orleans and started his geology curriculum.

Ultimately, he earned several degrees and remained at the University for 28 years as a teacher and researcher.

Over the years Al travelled the country attending many professional conferences such as the Maine Pegmatite Workshop, the event where he met Mary McFadden and Larry Stifler, the founders of the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum. In 2014 Al Falster was recruited by the Stiflers to work at the MM&GM — which was, at the time, a start-up

“ THE MIND FOLLOWS WHERE THE SOUL LEADS — OR IS IT THE REVERSE?

museum being created to advance research in the mineralogic and meteoritic communities, while also showcasing the Stifler’s collection of rocks, minerals, gems and meteorites. Al arrived with much of the equipment from the research lab which would have been discarded because no other researcher wanted to take over in New Orleans. During construction,

the museum buildings were raised, creating a basement workshop for all the esoteric instruments that the MM&GM’s scientific research requires.

Which brings us back to the intriguing dichotomy of Al Foster. The man who has applied the cutting edge of technology to

investigating the literal bedrock of our world — while also exploring ancient time-honored rituals which seek to harmonize the allegorical bedrock of our world. He applies his wisdom in the service of perimortem support, lending a hand for people or animals who may be having a hard time letting go of this life; to assist with carrying them over to the other side. He is rewarded with necklaces, drums, pipes and gifts. In his active world-wide practice he acts as a broker to the spirit world, making a plea for what may be needed — at times helping with a birth or health concern. Similar to prayer, there can be music and chanting, a quieting of the mind through drumming and other techniques to promote freedom and release, to relax and move ahead. This is not done with plant medicines or drugs — it is done from what is within the human body. By quieting the chatter a peaceful release can often be obtained.

To keep informed of news and events at the MMGM, please go to our website and sign up for our newsletter, or email: info@mainemineralmuseum.org and we’ll add you to our list.

Hours at the MMGM are:

Monday10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Tuesday - closed

Wednesday10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Thursday10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Friday10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Saturday10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sunday11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Final Admission Time to full galleries is 4 p.m.

Admission to the full Museum can be purchased online or at the door:

Adults $15

Seniors $12

Veteran/Active Military $12

Students $10

Children (12 and under) Free

Memberships can be purchased in person or online at mainemineralmuseum.org/membership/

Visit us at: 99 Main Street, Bethel, Maine 04217 Info@mainemineralmuseum.org. 207.824.3036

Enjoy these Spring recipes from the Elizabeth Inn & Restaurant.

The Elizabeth is an 1895 Queen Anne style guest house and restaurant in the heart of Bethel, Maine. Visit us at theelizabethmaine.com or call (207) 824-1089

Peruvian Chicken

INGREDIENTS: Chicken Rub

• 2tbs ancho powder

• 2tbs amarillo powder

• 3tbs paprika powder

• 2tbs garlic powder

• 1tbs turmeric powder

• 1tbs mexican oregano

• ½ tbs black pepper

• 1tbs kosher salt

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix ingredients together

2. Set aside

INGREDIENTS: Chicken Marinade

• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar

• 1tbs kosher salt

• 1/2 red onion

• 1/2 bunch cilantro

• 2tbs chicken rub

• 1cup canola oil

• 1/2 jalapeno (sliced thin)

• 1/2 red onion (rough cut)

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix ingredients together

2. Set aside

INGREDIENTS: Prepare Chicken

• Chicken Marinade

• 2 Flat Road Farm chickens

DIRECTIONS

1. Half 2 chickens

2. Mix with marinade and let sit in marinade for 24 hours in refrigerator

3. Lie chicken skin side up on baking sheet

4. Cook for 30 minutes at 300F

5. Turn oven temperature to 400F for fifteen addition minutes

6. Best served with a chimichurri

Strawberry Avocado and Kale Salad

INGREDIENTS: Dressing

• 1/4 c agave syrup

• 2tbs dijon mustard

• 1pnt farm fresh strawberries

• 1/2 cup champagne vinegar

• 2/3 cup canola oil

• 1 shallot

• Salt to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Place the shallot, agave, dijon, strawberries and vinegar in a blender

2. Blend on high for 20 seconds

3. Drizzle in the canola oil in a slow, steady stream until fully emulsified

4. Season with salt to taste (approximately 1tbs)

5. Set aside

INGREDIENTS: Farmers Cheese

• 1pnt High View Farms Double Strained Farmers Cheese

• 1tbs ancho powder

• 1tsp kosher salt

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix ingredients together

2. Set aside

INGREDIENTS: Candied Pecans

• 1cup roasted pecans

• 1tbs butter

• 1/2 cup brown sugar

• 1/4 tps cinnamon

• 1/4 tps kosher salt

• 1/2 tps ancho powder

DIRECTIONS

1. Melt butter in large pan

2. Toss pecans in butter then add in sugar, spices, and salt until fully coated

3. Remove from pan and cool

4. Set aside

INGREDIENTS: Salad

• 1qt chiffonade Patch Farms Organic Kale

• 1 julienne shallot

• 12 candied pecans

• 1 avocado (diced)

• 8 strawberries (quartered)

• 4 tbs dressing

• 4 tbs farmers cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Place cheese on plate and spread out evenly

2. Toss kale, pecans, strawberry, shallot, and avocado in a bowl with dressing

3. Place in center of farmers cheese and serve

LOCAL Events

APRIL

April, every Wednesday, Story Time at the Bethel Library, 5 Broad Street, Bethel, 10am – 11am

April 11: Vernal Pools Online at Mahoosuc.org The Source of Spring in Maine with Bryce Hatch, 6:30pm – 7:30pm

April 13: Pond-a-Palooza & Spring Après Concert #2 Sunday River. What’s spring at a ski resort without pond skimming?

Costumes weigh heavy on your score, so come suited up in anything but a wet suit! Prizes of all sorts will go out to the winners!  Enjoy the second spring après concert with live music at South Ridge. sundayriver.com, 800-543-2754

April 20: The Great Tailgate Sunday River. Pack up the grill and head to the slopes to ski, ride, and work on your goggle tan in spring conditions. Enjoy live music in the Barker Mountain parking lot at the tailgate party. Each year has a theme, and the best decorated tailgates win prizes.  This year’s theme, the Olympics! sundayriver.com, 800-543-2754

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

April 20: Annual Smile Fund Congregational Church  9 AM to noon at West Parish Congregational Church. All donations to this sale will be used to buy dentures for adults that need them. Donations of household goods, books, toys, and puzzles may be dropped off at the Congregational Church starting on Friday, April 12. For an application for dentures call the church at 207-824-2689. FMI, please contact Jane Chandler at jane.h.chandler@gmail.com

April 25: Bird Migration Online at Mahoosuc.org With Dan Gardoqui, 6:30pm – 7:30pm

MAY

May 6 & 7: 12th Annual Maine Pottery Tour is a self-guided tour to enjoy the hospitality of local potters in their studios. Nearly 60 pottery studios around the state are organized into 4 regions, allowing several studios to be visited in a single outing. It’s a fun chance to meet the artists, peek in the kilns, see demonstrations, and shop for pottery and other handmade goods. Interactive maps of each region are available at MainePotteryTour.org. Local potters are Martha Grover and Joshua Rysted, 630 West Bethel Road.

Photo Credit: Victor Salvo

May 11: Birds From Away Mahoosuc Land Trust Valentine Farm 162 N Rd, Bethel, 7:30 am, (AM!) with James Reddoch

May 14: Telstar High School Spring Concert 6:00 pm. Come hear our children make joyful noises! Telstar High School. 284 Walkers Mills Rd., Bethel. 207824-2136

May 19: Mahoosuc Community Band Spring Concert at 4 PM at Bingham Auditorium at Gould Academy. The band plays with Gould students during this school year, conducted by Jim McLaughlin. Donations are accepted at the door to defray the cost of music. FMI contact Scott Hynek (hynek@roadrunner. com)

May 23 & 24: Little Shop of Horrors Gould Academy 7:30 pm at Bingham Auditorium. Two shows! One on Thursday, one on Friday. Online watching is available. Check the web site: https://www.gouldacademy.org/current-parents/gould-end-of-year-2024

May 31: Gould Academy Baccalaureate 7:30pm Bingham Auditorium 39 Church Street. Live streaming available. https://www.gouldacademy.org/ current-parents/gould-end-of-year-2024  207-824-7700

Photo Credit: Dirk McKnight

Photo Credit: Victor Salvo

Photo Credit: Victor Salvo

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. 29