bethel

Bethel 

By Nancy Brown

   Celebrate National Library Week from April 11-17. First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance of our libraries sponsored by the American Library Association. The Bethel Library is celebrating by eliminating overdue fines for all items returned during that week. Even if the items are five or 10 years overdue, the library will erase all the fines and patrons can start with a clean slate.

   Library hours are Monday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 1 to 5 p.m.; and Wednesday from 1 to 8 p.m. There is a book drop located to the right of the front door, along with a basket of rubber bands to close the books.

   Kate Wight celebrated her 30th birthday with a family party at the home of her parents, George and Danna Nickerson, on Sunday, March 28. Also attending were Nate and Addie Wight, John and Susan Wight, Ruth Wight, and Randy Bennett. Following the family gathering, co-workers, friends, and family joined Kate at the Moses Mason House for a 1980s-themed surprise party.

   Muriel Butters and Bud Bowden return from their winter home in Zephyrhills, Fla., on April 8. Bud will be going to the Maine Veterans’ Home in South Paris for rehabilitation before he comes home to Bethel.

   Congratulations to the Bethel Fire Department for placing third in the 20th Annual Firefighters’ Race at Sunday River on March 28. The Auburn fire department won the race and the Jay fire department placed second. Proceeds from the race, as well as the 20th Annual Eat the Heat Chili Cook Off and the 25th Annual Ski-A-Thon raised $300,000 for Maine Handicapped Skiing. The judges for the chili cook-off awarded first place to the Shipyard Brew Haus from Newry. The runner-up award went to the Sunday River Brew Pub of Bethel and third place to Cho Sun of Bethel. The People’s Choice Award went to The Sudbury Inn of Bethel.

   Betsey Foster will hold an introductory program on Meditation, Qigong and T’ai Chi on Friday, April 9 from 10 to 11:15 a.m. Foster, the director of T’ai Chi and Qigong for All, LLC, has studied these arts since 1988 and taught since 1993. The program is sponsored by Western Mountains Senior College and will be held at the West Parish Congregational Church on Church Street. The public is invited and admission is free.

   The To Your Health Committee of Western Mountains Senior College is sponsoring two programs on “Good Food: Buying and Growing Locally” during April. The first program is Wednesday, April 14, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Barbara Murphy, Extension Educator from the Oxford County Office of the UM Cooperative Extension, will speak on “10 Steps for Growing Your Healthy Food.” The program will be held at the West Parish Congregational Church. Everyone is welcome. Admission is free.

   Do you have news? Send it to nancybrown1150@yahoo.com or call 824-2483.