WRV Weekly News | 7/11/25

Weekly Community Updates & Good News from Bethel, Royalton, and the White River Valley

Hello WRV Community! We’re excited to bring you the second edition of the Bethel Strong newsletter, geared toward helping our community groups and leaders share and find out what’s happening! The dedication across our community this summer has been awesome to see, and we’re committed to sharing and supporting these efforts. This newsletter isn’t just a weekly update, but a reflection of what is shared by our community and your input. Keep sharing, collaborating, and contributing! 


Scroll Down to Find: 

  1. How to submit your news for next week!

  2. Pop-Up Community Mixers at the Bethel Bandshell

  3. WRV This Week: Highlights from Community Organizations

  4. What’s Ahead: Upcoming Events and Activities

  5. Get Involved: Find Volunteer Needs and Opportunities

Got News for Next Week? Newsletter Input?

Bethel Strong’s amazing summer intern, Terra, will compile each week’s news based on what you submit. The more you share, the better it gets. 

  • Submit next week’s news! Big or small, we’d love to share your highlights, news, events, volunteer needs, and more! Fill out this quick form by Weds. night to get in each Friday’s newsletter. Submission Form 

  • What do you think? This is our second pilot news edition! Tell us what you like, what you want to find or share, and what would make it better. Feedback Form

  • Join our email list! If you’d like to receive this newsletter in your inbox, sign up here. Sign up to receive more

New! Weds. Night Pop-Up Community Mixer / Market 

There’s no Bethel Farmers’ Market this year, so we’re *also* experimenting with a pilot weekly pop-up community event in conjunction with Bethel’s weekly summer concert series. Each week, we’ll set up the Bethel Placemaking Trailer with tables, chairs, tents, lawn games and more. Everyone is invited to come mingle, chat, meet, share, discuss, sell, play, and connect. See more info and a sign up form below.

Pop up, join in, and help out! Got an idea for next week? Want to sign up for a space or booth? Can you help set up or take down? More info and RSVP here: bethelvtstrong.org/mixer-market

Popping Up Weds. July 16

  • Community Mosaic Project with Daybreaks Glass Studio. Come check out and participate in an awesome community mosaic project hosted by Daybreaks Glass!  

  • Potluck Picnic & Community Leader Roundtable. Bring a favorite potluck picnic treat and pull up a chair to chat with other community leaders about community communications: what’s working, what you need, and how we can do better.

  • Kid-Run Snack Stand, Free Books and more…. Drop by more booths and tables to get tasty drinks and treats by your local young entrepreneurs, free books, and more goodies.

  • Bethel Rec Committee & Skatepark Merch. The Bethel Rec Committee will be back and selling t-shirts, bandanas, and stickers! Come find out more about summer events happening at the Bethel Recreation Center. 

  • Summer Concert: Michael McNaughton. Enjoy folk music at the Bethel Council on the Arts’ weekly concert, 7pm. 

Past Highlights from Weds. July 9

  • Rock Painting. People of all ages spent time enjoying the Bethel Public Library’s rock painting booth this last Wednesday. Stay tuned for more upcoming crafts hosted by the library. Library Events Calendar

  • Bethel Rec Committee. The committee shared information about ongoing summer events at the Bethel Recreation Center such as open skate sessions and “Kids & Coffee.” Find out more.  

  • Window Dressers. Local volunteers are gearing up to build and install weatherization inserts this year. Interested in helping? Need inserts in your house? Contact Lisa Campbell: lcampbell43@comcast.net

  • Bethel Strong Info Hub. Bethel Strong hosted a sign-up and information sharing table to promote their new newsletter! 

What can you pop up at our pop-up mixer/market?

Learn more about this event, sign up for a space, and share your ideas. We’re also looking for a few good volunteers to help us set up and take down. Ways you could tap in: 

  • “Market” booth – sell lemonade or baked goods, give away your garden extras, or have a community display or information table. Reserve a pop-up tent or bring your own.

  • Conversation circle – want to have a community conversation? Pitch a topic and we’ll pull up some chairs and gather folks around.

  • Special offering or event? Plan a hike, play music, host a fundraiser, bring a project…

Sign up here: Bethel Weekly Pop-Up Mixer Sign up

WRV this Week 

Highlights and News from Community Organizations

🖨️Collaborating with the White River Valley School Makerspace🎒

The makerspace is really living up to its name! WRVS has an amazing resource at Bethel Elementary/White River Valley Middle School. Over the past few weeks, the makerspace has joined forces with Bethel trails on redesigning and updating signage throughout Bethel’s trail system. Additionally, the makerspace will be collaborating with the Bethel Area Food Shelf and creating a beautiful, new sign for their fresh produce display. 

  • What is a makerspace? A shared space in which people can design, create, and collaborate on projects of their choosing. 

  • What’s here: All sorts of design equipment ranging from 3D printers, embroidery machines, cricuts, and more.

  • Learn more: Want to get involved in the makerspace? Get in contact with the WRVS Makerspace intern Robbie at robbiemckersie@gmail.com

🇺🇸Honoring Bethel Veterans🫡

A brand-new War Memorial now stands at the Bethel Bandshell donated by Bethel Historical Society. The recently erected memorial serves to honor Bethel veterans who served in the French Indian War, Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Civil War, Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War. A ceremony was held on July 6th with the American Legion who expressed their respects through playing “Taps” and giving a Gun Salute. 

  • Want to hear more? Click here to learn more about The Bethel Historical Society, fundraising, and the creation of the memorial. Stay in touch with BHS: Click here. 

  • Anyone missing? Dave Kent shared on Facebook that Bethel Gilead / Gilead Brook road residents may have been left off if they had a Randolph address. If you know of someone missing, contact Dave at 802-345-2308. 


🌱Educational Garden Events & Spreading Flowers Throughout the WRV🌼

Farm to School has begun hosting weekly Open Garden Drop-In events open to everyone! Alternating between Bethel Elementary/Middle School and SoRo Elementary School, children have the opportunity to participate in short, fun, and educational projects during Summer Meal Kit pick up. Kids are creating seed bombs to spread wildflowers, garden-themed rock painting, bug hotel building, and more this summer! No registration needed. 

  • When: 

    • Bethel: Thursdays, 3pm-5pm on July 10th, July 24th, August 7th.

    • South Royalton: Fridays, 3pm-5pm on July 18th, August Ist, August 15th.

  • Questions about Garden Drop-Ins? Please contact Francey Slater: fslater@wrvsu.org

  • More about Summer Meal Kits: Summer Food Program


🥕Lend a Hand and Take Home Fresh Produce🛠️

White River Natural Resources Conservation District (WRNRCD) is now hosting Open Hours at the Sharon Community Garden every Tuesday and Thursday. They’re goal is fostering an inclusive space for all within the community while teaching about gardening. Currently harvesting lettuce greens, but stay tuned for peas, garlic, beans, beets, kale and a variety of medicinal herbs and berries! 

Looking to help out in another way? WRNRCD is looking for:

  • Some extra cardboard (have any packing boxes lying around?)

  • A handy set of carpentry skills 

  • Help with a small irrigation project (installing a gutter to route rainwater into their water tank!) 


Interested?
Contact karen.nrcd@gmail.com for more information! Learn more about WRNRCD: Click here. 


✈️Bethel Area Rotary Club International Youth Exchange Program 🧳 

If you have room in your home and space in your heart, please consider serving as a host family for our Bethel Area Rotary international exchange student for the 2025-2026 school year. We anticipate our incoming student will live with two families that will host five months each, one from mid-to-late August through January, and the second family from January through mid-June. We have been sponsoring international youth exchanges for over 50 years. We need to identify 2-3 host families for our next foreign exchange student - a young man from Taiwan, who will arrive in August. Our service area includes the towns of South Royalton, Rochester, Stockbridge, Pittsfield, Tunbridge. 

If you’d like to host an exchange student contact Rebecca Carleton, Youth Exchange Officer, Bethel Area Rotary 802-299- 9966. You can find out more about the program here.


What’s Ahead 

Events and Activities Coming Up

Friday, July 11 - Sunday July 13

Chandler Summer Youth Summer Musical: Oliver! 

The Chandler Center for the Arts Summer Youth Musical (SYM) Program is excited to present "Oliver!" ​The musical is based upon the 1838 novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, with music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. Join us for a wonderful performance by talented youngsters, directed by skilled staff. Complete with a full set and live orchestra!

Show times: Friday 7 PM, Saturday 7 PM, Sunday 2 PM

Address: Chandler Center for the Arts, 71 N Main Street, Randolph, VT 


Sunday, July 13

Bethel Area Food Shelf Volunteer Appreciation Summer Picnic 

The Bethel Area Food Shelf will be celebrating our volunteers with a summer picnic this Sunday at 4pm, hosted by Mary Eastridge. If you have volunteered at the food shelf or are interested in volunteering in the future, join us! Bring a dish to share if you’d like, but it’s not mandatory. There will be tents for shade or rain, yard games, and good company. Come relax and enjoy!! Check the link for more details and to RSVP.


Monday, July 14

Bethel Selectboard Meeting

Join in person at the Bethel Town Hall or via zoom at 7pm.


Tuesday, July 15

Orange County Parent Child Center Playgroup 

Join us for a special pop-up playgroup with Four Winds Nature Institute. Come explore with fun, nature-based materials and meet some new friends. This playgroup is free and open to the community. All ages are welcome and a snack will be provided. The OCPCC Community Cart will be available, stocked with food and diapers.

Hours: 10-11:30am 

Address: Bethel Recreation Field,  115 Pleasant St, Bethel


Saturday, July 19

Community Clothing Swap! 

Join us at the Bethel Arts Center from 1-4pm. Feel free to drop off or pick up some gently used clothes in good condition. All for free! 


Tuesday, July 22 

Neighborhood Conversations Educational Series on Public Safety 

This is the third event in our summer series. We will be presenting Harm Reduction 101. Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use. For this educational workshop, we will be joined by Kell Arbor who is the Director of Health & Wellness programs at Pride Center of VT. Kell will talk more in depth about what Harm Reduction is and give an overview of overdose prevention techniques, address stigma, and share more resources for more support.

Hours: 6pm

Address: Bethel Town Hall, 318 Main St, Bethel



Ongoing Opportunities to Join!

Sharon Community Garden Open Hours 

We are growing food for the community in an inclusive safe space for all. Come lend a hand and go home with fresh veggies. We also have a variety of culinary and medicinal herbs and berries planted for your learning and picking enjoyment. All Welcome.

Hours: Tuesday 1-6pm; Thursday, 2-5pm. 

Address: 2564 Rt 14, Sharon VT - follow the perimeter of the field to garden


Bethel Council on the Arts Summer Concerts 

Every Wednesday through August - Bethel Council on the Arts Summer Concert at Series at Bandshell Park. 

Hours: Shows begin at 7pm

Address: 129 Church St, Bethel, VT 05032

Bethel Area Food Shelf 

Hours: Mondays 12-1pm and Thursdays 5-7pm

Address: 129 Church St, Bethel

Bethel Rec Skateboarding Sessions

Hours: Thursdays 6-8pm 

Address: Bethel Recreation Center, 115 Pleasant St, Bethel


Get Involved! Volunteer Needs and Opportunities

  • Bethel Trails Work Day coming soon! Stay tuned or contact Ella at ellakayski@gmail.com to get on a list.

  • Bethel Area Food Shelf. BAFS runs on volunteer power! This is a great way to get involved in supporting your neighbors. New volunteers are always needed. Contact Cindy at cindy@action-circles.com

  • Pop-Up Weds Event Crew. Our community Mixer / Markets need a few hands with setup/takedown each week. Bethel Weekly Pop-Up Mixer Sign up


Do you have volunteer opportunities? Big or small, we’d love to share your volunteer needs! Fill out our Submission Form. 

Feedback & Contact

Thank you for taking time to catch up with us! Since this is only our second pass at our Community Newsletter, we are encouraging any feedback you can give us! We’d love your input … What else do you want to find or read in community news? What do you want to share or get out? Have feedback? Leave a suggestion. 


Got news, events, and stuff to include next week? Newsletter Submission. Submission deadline: Weds. evenings. Newsletter send: Friday mornings.


Connect with Bethel Strong 

Questions? Contact me! Terra Schommer: terra.schommer@gmail.com 


Check out our website for more info and a newsletter archive:

https://bethelvtstrong.org/



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WRV Weekly News | 7/2/25