BETHEL – Despite this week’s wave of unseasonably warm weather, Bethel’s attempt later this month to build the world’s largest snowwoman has taken on a life of its own.

More than 25 organizations and businesses have volunteered their help, along with individuals and schoolchildren, according to Robin Zinchuk, executive director of the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce.

Additionally, a Bethel jeweler will design and build what is being called the world’s largest mica pendant to adorn the chest of the snowwoman, and the project will get its own Web site and live Web cam.

“The live Web cam is already installed so that people can watch the progress,” Zinchuk said Thursday morning. “We’re really trying to make it easy for people to watch the progress and get excited about it with us.”

The Web site, which is expected to be operational either by Friday or Monday, Jan. 14, is www.bethelmainesnowwoman.com.

Zinchuk said she didn’t think the warm weather harmed the project’s base, a large pile of snow pushed up from last month’s storms.

“I imagine that the sun and melting affected it, but the pile is still pretty big,” she said.

The snowwoman is expected to be taller than 113 feet, 7 inches.

That was the height of this Western Maine community’s world’s tallest snowman, built in 1999 to best a record set by Japan. That Bethel record still stands.

Zinchuk said they plan to start making snow for the project Thursday and Friday, Jan. 24 and 25, weather permitting. Preceding that will be a logistics meeting Tuesday, Jan. 22, and a preconstruction party and volunteer rally, which starts at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23. The events will be held at the chamber. For more information or to volunteer, phone the chamber at 824-2282.