Newry

By Seneca Corriveau

June is already here and with it another anniversary. On Saturday, Freeman and I celebrated 11 years of marriage. I started out the day in a most wonderful way, going childless to the Bethel Library Association’s Annual Plant Sale. A line formed early on of raincoat-clad bodies, each of us eyeing the bounty of herbs and perennials, sizing up the tables, choosing our destinations when at last we were released within the roped-off haven. This year was certainly a hosta year with two tables full of hostas. At the end of one of the fastest hours I know, my van was stuffed with a wide range of the broad-leafed beauties, and I left with a satisfied smile on my face.

For lunch we had planned on going to the open house for Western Maine Water Service. There was to be a cookout with fun games and prizes but it was called on account of rain. However, it will be rescheduled and I will be sure to let you know — you wouldn’t want to miss out!

Freeman and I finished off our special day with dinner and dancing. We went to the benefit for Rhonda Buker that was held at the Legion. What fun and what an outpouring of love and generosity from the community! On our way home we had three little gray fox kits dash across the road in front of us. We quickly pulled over beneath a streetlight and watched the little tykes. They were very curious and came out to get a better look at us. We were blessed to be able to sit and watch them for nearly twenty minutes as they bounced and bounded, frolicking like little kittens. What a glorious way to top off our evening!

I happened to notice that Norman Davis has begun planting. That tells me that I better get a move on and get the earth tilled and filled here at my house so that I will have fresh yummies to harvest. I usually plant either too early or too late so I’ve given up on trying to get the timing right, I just wait and watch for Norman. He puts in a phenomenal garden. It’s fun to find out what new and unusual vegetable he’s planted each year. I’m not going to tell you what it is this year, so you will just have to stop in and see for yourself.

For those of you who don’t know, Norman has a vegetable stand that is open to the public. After covering the cost of the seeds he donates the proceeds to the Bethel Library Association. This year there is the availability of fresh herbs at the stand. So if you find yourself halfway through a recipe and you’re missing a sprig of something for your new dish you can just dash over to Norman’s where your culinary dilemmas will be solved in one quick snip.

I have also been wanting to include in my column the somewhat less exciting but equally important happenings involving our town so here it is:

Selectmen’s meetings are the first and third Monday of every month at 4 p.m.

Planning Board meets every first and third Wednesday at 7 p.m.

All town meetings are open to the public and you are encouraged to attend. I myself have always found politics to be rather droll, but the older I get the more I realize how very much I have missed out on by alienating myself from these normalcy of these important routines. So perhaps you may see me one of these days, sitting in on one of these meetings, finding out what makes this town tick.

But until then have a wonderful week, get your hands dirty and plant something green.