Harvest Fest Wrap-up and Thanks

What an incredible event the 13th Annual Bethel Harvest Fest was! A huge and very happy crowd descended on our beautiful village and seemed to totally enjoy themselves. Dozens of businesses and individuals need to be recognized for their role in the success of this event.

The corporate sponsors help to provide the resources for the basic infrastructure of the event including the music, the tents, the wagon rides, and the marketing. Many thanks to our presenting sponsor, Frito Lay; and Oxford Networks, Allen’s Coffee Brandy, Sysco Food Services of Northern New England, Kraft Foods, Stephens Memorial Hospital, Maine Street Realty and Rentals, WOXO 92.7 and 100.7, and Good Food Store.

The big draw to this event is the “Chowdah” Cookoff. Many thanks to the thirteen restaurants who supported this: Bethel’s Best Pizza Grille & Dairy Bar, The Bethel Inn Resort, Captain Hog Tie BBQ, Foot Hills Grille, Funky Red Barn, Good Food Store, Phoenix House & Well, Rooster’s Roadhouse, Route 2 Diner, Sadie Sirois Personal Chef, S. S. Milton, Sudbury Inn, and the Sunday River Brewing Company. Congratulations to the winning chowdahs: Judges’ Choice: 1st place, Phoenix House & Well; 2nd place, Funky Red Barn; and tied for Honorable Mention, The Bethel Inn Resort and Sudbury Inn. The People’s Choice winners: 1st place, Sudbury Inn; 2nd place, Phoenix House & Well; and Honorable Mention, Route 2 Diner.

We had 18 apple pies entered in this year’s contest. Many thanks to the following for making pies: Betty Gilbert (who won the amateur non-traditional pie division), Fred Coseglia (who won the amateur traditional pie division), Valley View Orchard (who won the professional apple pie division), as well as the other bakers: Susan Isham, Melanie Carver, Sarah Lane, Sudbury Inn, Eileen Meisner, Captain Hog Tie BBQ, Route 2 Diner, Funky Red Barn (2,) Sadie Sirois, Sheila Klatsky, Greg Klatsky, Richard Klatsky, Dennis Wheeler, and Mike and Tom Wilson. Thanks to the Good Food Store for its continued support of this event.

This event requires a lot of volunteer support and we would like to recognize the following individuals for giving their time and energy to this: Dave Freiday, Hiram Towle, Steve Etheridge, Bruce Powell, Maggie Lore’, Jonathan Goldberg, Michelle Mador, Scott Mills, Ruth Barrett, Marlene Engdahl, Amy Marshall, Susan Isham, Read Dickinson and friend, Michele Perejda, Rene McGrew, Joan and Bob Westfall, Lynn Wilson, Carole Timberlake, Matty Leach, Kamil Sahin, Lisa Lazinsky, Barb Dion, Deb Hunt, Dillon and Paula Gillies, Freda Davis, Lloyd Sweetser, Mary Stryker, Bill Strauss, and Doug Zinchuk. Thanks also to our three chowdah and apple pie judges: Brian Scheidegger, Susan Fuller, and Linda Bristol.

Our Maine baked potato booth, as well as the hot dog and hamburgers were a big hit. Many thanks to Steve Etheridge and the Rooster’s Roadhouse for overseeing this food area, to Sunday River Farms for the locally grown potatoes, to Ivory Currier for his electrical support, to the Bethel firemen for supplies, Coca-Cola of Northern New England for the beverages, and to Gould Academy for tables and chairs. Thanks also to D & E Sanitation/Pine Tree Waste for the dumpster.

The music was absolutely incredible thanks to overall coordinator and emcee, Jewel Clark. Hats off to local musicians Ross Timberlake, Paul Farrar, Jordan Kaulback, Paul Dube and Ellen, Donnie Katlin, and Jewel Clark.

Finally, a huge thanks to long-time friend of the chamber, Dillon Gillies, for leading the scenic bike ride on Sunday morning. Fun was had by all.

Several scarecrows are on display throughout the village. Stop by and see them at Brooks Bros. Hardware (thanks to Lori McPherson for this amazing effort!), Maine Line Products, Bethel Early Learning Center, Mahoosuc Kids at Crescent Park School, Cho Sun, Mahoosuc Realty, and The Bethel Inn Resort.

Mark your calendars for the 14th Annual Bethel Harvest Fest and Chowdah Cookoff next year, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011 and plan to join the fun at this wonderful celebration of our community.

Robin Zinchuk

Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce