It’s been another busy week, with last weekend’s trip to Portland for granddaughter Lila’s dance recital and birthday, Wednesday’s trip to Waterville for Tony’s first cataract surgery, and Saturday’s trip to Freedom (located about halfway between Waterville and Belfast) for my book talk at the historic 1853 Freedom Town House.
I was honored to be the first presenter of the year in the 2025 Freedom Community Historical Society Summer Reading Series, and the audience was very welcoming, engaged, and enthusiastic. In fact, I sold more books at that reading, in a town with a population of about 700, than I have at any other book talk since the launch of Just Like Glass, back in November at The Gem Theater. Thanks, Freedom friends!
In just the past three weeks, I’ve made six day trips from home that averaged about 150 miles round-trip. If you know me at all, you’ve probably heard me say that I would be happy if I never had to leave Oxford County again, and it’s pretty close to the truth. I’m actually pretty much okay with traveling north, east, or west, at least for a moderate distance (although the current road construction in Augusta is no picnic), but Portsmouth, N.H. is at the southern edge of my comfort zone, and I hope I never need to drive further south than that again.
Have you seen the yard signs around town advertising the first-ever Bethel Area Arts and History Celebration on July 4 and 5? This collaboration of the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society, Bethel Area Arts and Music, and other local art and history organizations will take place at several locations around town. Here’s the schedule:
Friday, July 4, at 11:30 a.m.: Annual Picnic and Concert by the Portland Brass Quintet on the grounds of the Dr. Moses and Agnes Straw Mason House on Broad Street. Bring a picnic and a lawn chair and join us for this always-popular celebration, which continues a tradition begun by the Masons when they occupied the house in the 19th century and held outdoor summer gatherings of their friends and neighbors.
Saturday, July 5, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Western Maine History Fair at the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society. More than a dozen historical societies and other organizations from across the region will be participating in this event, which will feature workshops and demonstrations, games, exhibits and displays, music, and refreshments.
Saturday, July 5, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Neighborly Views Art Show in the Mason House Barn at 14 Broad Street, featuring selected local art from the MBHS Collection.
Saturday, July 5, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Shy, Novice, and Closeted Art Show at 18 High Street. This is the 21st annual show by local artists, hosted each year in Janet Willie’s home, and is always a wonderful and varied exhibition of some of our less well-known local talent.
Saturday, July 5, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.: BAAM Summer Art Market at the Philbrook Place, 162 Main Street.
Saturday, July 5, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Bethel Plein Air Artists Open House at the Isham farm, 1006 Vernon Street, Albany (about five miles from Bethel Village).
We have Eli the Wonder Pup as our house guest for three nights this weekend, while Will and Rosemary are on a camping trip to the Greenville area. That means three early morning hikes for me. On Saturday we only had time for a short hike before I had to head to Freedom, so we did the Orange/Blue Loop in Maggie’s Nature Park. This morning, Sunday, we headed up to Buck’s Ledge from camp and then continued on to the summit of Moody Mountain, for a three-and-a-half-mile round trip. My new right knee is holding up fine, but my yet-to-be-replaced left knee is complaining a bit this afternoon.
If you have news or events you’d like included here, email me at amy.w.chapman@gmail.com or call 207-890-4812. The next print issue of the Citizen will be out on July 11, but you can read the Locke’s Mills column online every week at amywchapman.com, or subscribe for free to have it emailed to you each week.
No time to come up with a new quote this week—my granddaughter is waiting for me to make her a special cat-face peanut butter and fluff sandwich! But last week, on my online column, I used this one, and I’ll repeat it here, since it seems appropriate.
“My granddaughter’s birth has made me want to create things she will love.” – Billy Crystal