BETHEL – The hall was decked at Telstar Regional High School on Saturday afternoon for the annual Taste of Bethel and Theme Wreath Silent Auction, where Evelyn Kenney of Upton held a pensive eye on two highly coveted wreaths.
“The secret is to be here at the beginning and hang out until the end,” she said of her tactic to making a winning bid.
She has been coming to the Taste of Bethel since it began, she said, though she could not recall how long ago that was.
“I remember that year Sunday River Brewery had beer,” she said, adding wistfully, “they don’t do that anymore.”
Twenty-nine Bethel-area businesses donated wreaths, decorated in ways to reflect their businesses, to the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce fundraising event.
Lynne Zimmerman of Bethel said she bid on a Sunday River Inn’s wreath because it included free cross-country ski passes, adding, “I really came for the food, but the wreaths are a nice addition.”
The scent of balsam and fir mingled pleasantly with the delectable aromas of culinary specialties prepared by 14 participating local restaurants.
Bob McCartney of Bethel, owner of the Pleasant River Motel and a volunteer at the event, also volunteered his “compliments to the chefs,” saying, “I like the Victoria’s white bean, roasted onion, and bacon soup; Rooster’s Roadhouse’s ribs; and the Rebel Restaurant’s chicken wings.”
Jeff Erickson of Bethel, owner of Sunday River Alpacas, dittoed on the soup and ribs, adding his thumbs up on The Jolly Drayman’s beef vandaloo, a spicy Indian dish, and S.S. Milton’s blueberry cobbler.
As the tasting wound down, Robin Zinchuk of Bethel, executive director of the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce, raised her voice over a convivial rumble rising from seated patrons to announce, “Only 12 minutes until the wreath drawing.”
Back out in the hall, eager bidders paced, warily watching competing bidders.
“I don’t think I’ll get it,” said Ria Higby of Bethel as she sat on a bench across from the wreath she had bid on. She had not yet worked out a bidding tactic – “I’m new at this,” she added.
Her husband, chiropractor Raymond Higby, said funds raised will provide a $500 culinary arts scholarship to a local student, as well as funds for holiday season decorations for Bethel. After assuring his wife he had the bidding under control, he added, “It’s not just about business; it’s good to get people out together having fun and relaxing in a casual environment.”
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