Help plan our next Mollyockett Days

To The Editor:

We are certain readers were amazed at how many individuals and businesses were involved in helping to make the 50th Anniversary of Mollyockett Days so successful, as indicated in the long thank-you in last week’s edition of this paper. A few were inadvertently omitted – and we would like to recognize them. Don Conant of Conant’s Meat and Produce was kind enough to donate oranges and bananas to our Mollyockett Days Races, as was Bethel Shop & Save in their donation of watermelon.

The Mollyockett Days Steering Committee met last Thursday to “debrief” on the weekend event and begin our planning for next year. We would like to invite others who may like to be involved in this planning – so we will be holding a 2011 Mollyockett Days brainstorming session sometime in September. Be on the watch for the date, time and place, which will appear in this paper within the month.

This next weekend is going to bring to area – athletes, young and not-so-young – to compete in the 19th Annual Maine State Triathlon Classic and participate in the Kid’s Triathlon. Youngsters, ages 8-14 are welcomed to register up to the Saturday race day in the non-competitive event, beginning and ending at Angevine Park on the North Road. Entry fee of $25 guarantees a race tee shirt and finish medal to the first 100. With the start time being promptly at 3 p.m., all are asked to register no later than 2 p.m. for the 200- yard swim, 3-mile bike and 1-mile run.

As Sunday August 1 dawns, athletes will be gathering at the race site on Songo Pond, across from the Bethel Inn’s Lakehouse facility for the Adult Sprint Triathlon. We are asking vehicles to avoid this Route 5 section of road, if possible, between the hours of 7 and 11 a.m., while the event is happening. Additionally, bikes will be moving at a fast rate of speed on Route 5 south, then Vernon Street back into Bethel, Lower Main Street, and Railroad Street to the Lover’s Lane turn. Please be willing to yield to these athletes and heed the warnings of both our volunteers and the police officers. Those who are traveling into Bethel for church that morning should leave extra time. Safety is of the highest priority in this event.

We are still seeking volunteers for the event – so if you have four hours to spare on Sunday, and would like to be a part of this exciting, fast-paced event, please contact the chamber office at 824-2282. All volunteers will receive a commemorative and very bright 2010 Maine State Triathlon volunteer t-shirt.

Julia Reuter

Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce