BETHEL – David Fuller, agriculture and natural resources professional at the University of Maine’s Cooperative Extension Service, will be the speaker at the next lecture in the Bethel Historical Society series on “Maine Character and Characters.”

The talk will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, in the meeting room of the Dr. Moses Mason House, 14 Broad St.

Collecting and chewing spruce gum has been a Maine tradition for generations.

Fuller will provide insights into the collection and marketing of spruce gum in Maine through the years.

The lecture and others in the series have been made possible in part by a grant from the Maine Humanities Council.

The lecture is free and open to all.

More information on the society and its activities may be obtained by calling 824-2908 or 800-824-2910, e-mailing [email protected] or visiting www.bethelhistorical.org.