Bethel Citizen photo by Samuel Wheeler.
BETHEL ” The Valentine Farm Birding Trail is a perfect way for people to get to see some our superstars and understand how important our region is for healthy birds both here and from other parts of the world,” James Reddoch, an avid birder and part-time Albany Township resident, said.
The soon to be birding trail, located off the North Road in Bethel, will officially open on Saturday, May 15, following a ribbon cutting in the morning at the Valentine Farm.
Over the past few years, birding has become an increasingly popular activity, leading to more birding trails popping up all over the country. With the trail at Valentine Farm, not only will there be another place for people to search for birds, but this one will have plenty of tools to help guide those just getting into the activity of birding.
Photo courtesy of Mac Davis.
BETHEL Last week, an early morning walker at the Valentine Farm came upon a great horned owlet, which apparently had fallen from its nest. The walker notified the Valentine Farm Office and then waited with Bethel resident Mac Davis until help arrived. While waiting, Davis had to help shield the owlet from a couple of overly curious dogs who passed by.
On top of this, Davis took many photos of the bird until Jody Giddings from Sunday River Wildlife, a non-profit rescue and rehabilitation center in Newry, came to the rescue. Giddings had a strong idea of how the bird ended up on the ground.
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BETHEL Selectmen unanimously approved a request for the Telstar senior class to use the town common for its parade on Tuesday, June 8. Like last year, graduates will stand by their posters six feet apart while family and friends circle the common in their cars saluting the class.
With the boards approval, Telstar Prinicpal Mark Kenney said he will now contact the town fire department and the Oxford County Sheriffs Office about helping lead the parade and assisting with traffic control.
In other news, Brandon Merry from Maine Adaptive, a year-round recreation program for children and adults with disabilities, informed selectmen that the program plans to use the basketball court in town for pickle ball on some Friday mornings throughout the summer and into fall. The current dates run from early July to late October and Maine Adaptive would be using the courts from 9 a.m. to noon.
Mystery surrounds three horse deaths );
THREE horses are believed to have died following an incident near Hambleden.
Three fire engines from Henley, Reading and Beaconsfield were called to Valentine Farm, off Shogmoor Lane in Skirmett, following reports that a horse had fallen into a ditch after becoming unwell.
The last was equipped with an animal hoist and winch while the other two crews attended for support.
When they arrived at the scene at 9.30am on April 6, the owners had already pulled the animal to safety and a vet was caring for it. Two other horses in the field were already dead.
Farmer Mark Cannella (rear) and volunteer Rebecca Mead washing Valentine Farm potatoes in 2020 When Mark Cannella and his family named their 12-acre homestead in East Montpelier Valentine Farm, it had nothing to do with February 14. The name honored Cannella s grandfather, Willis Valentine Miller. He had a big influence on me, Cannella said. But over the past few years, the farm has also lived up to its name by spreading the spud love, as he put it. With the help of family, friends and local nonprofits, Cannella has donated several thousand pounds of potatoes to those in need in central Vermont.