RVNAhealth will be at Bethel Shop & Stroll this weekend

Bethel’s first Summer Shop & Stroll, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, takes place Saturday, July 17, from 11 to 4. Stores along Greenwood Avenue and at Redwood Plaza in the Stony Hill section will participate. Additionally, shoppers can explore the offerings of nearly 20 Bethel entrepreneurial vendors, who will be stationed along Greenwood and around P.T. Barnum Square. On the Bethel Library lawn they can meet representatives of many not-for-profit organizations and kid businesses brought together by Macaroni Kid.                                              

The Gift Cottage, Byrd’s Books, the Toy Room and other Greenwood stores will hold sidewalk sales. Byrd’s Books will have two outdoor book signings. Bruce Degen, illustrator for the popular Magic School Bus series, will be on hand from 11-1, and from 1-2 James Herbert Smith will sign his most-recent work - Baseball’s Greatest Players: The Story of John Ellis and the Fight Against Cancer. Guest readers will take part in a Sidewalk Story Hour from 2-3. The Toy Room will hold a raffle, various pop-up events and at 2 will mark its 15^th anniversary with a cake. Redwood Plaza’s UK Gourmet and neighboring stores will have sidewalk sales and raffles. Shoppers are also encouraged to check out the businesses on Lower Greenwood across from the old Bethel Cinema.                

Vendors - offering goods and services ranging from crafts to limo services - will include Maple Craft Foods, LuLaRue clothing, Royal Choice Global Transportation, Gemini Dream Jewelry Design, Pampered Chef, DLicious Sweets Bakery, and Finer Cleaning, among others. One vendor, First Student, will be doing a job search for school bus drivers.       

On the library lawn will be representatives of several non-profits, including the Bethel Garden Club, Bethel Historical Society, Republican and Democratic Town Committees, The Scotty Fund, South Street Firehouse and two animal rescue organizations, DAWS and Happily Ever After. Also on the lawn: 10 “kid-preneurs”, selling a variety of products from baked goods to jewelry.             

Strollers will be entertained by music at P.T. Barnum Square. A trio of musicians will perform from 11-1, and singer/songwriter John Fazio Jr. is on from 2-4.                                                       

Rain date for Summer Shop & Stroll is July 24.        

Caption: Members of the Bethel Chamber of Commerce Board, front row, left to right: Ruth Kelch, Kim Ramsey (holding Josie), Jesse Raymond; back row, left to right: Mo Shilleh, Ryan Kelleher, Matt Close, Maria Rodrigues.