BETHEL WIGWAM Pupils of Deb Scott and Dot Gray at Bethel Elementary School surround the wigwam they built during a recent study of northeastern Native Americans. The aboriginal edifice, made of hemlock, spruce and pine boughs, stands on the front lawn of the Bethel schools. The students also made Native American talking sticks. (Herald / Tom Hill) Seventh-graders at Whitcomb Junior/ Senior High School presented $1,300 to the Town of Bethel on Monday, Feb. 13 to help victims of Hurricane Irene.

The funds were half of the proceeds from “Grab Your Toothbrush and a Flashlight! We’re Headed for the Neighbors!,” a collection of reminiscences about the storm written by students and compiled by Whitcomb English teacher Alec Hastings. The book is now in its fourth printing.

Presenting the check to Bethel Selectboard Chair Neil Fox were Hastings and student authors Justin Cassidy, Gwen Timmons, and Molly LaFromboise.

On Friday, Feb. 17 (weather permitting), Hastings and three of the 26 student authors will be interviewed about the book on “The Charlie, Ernie and Lisa Show,” a morning talk program on Colchester radio station WVMT (620 on the AM dial). Hastings and Bethel Ex- CEL site coordinator Amy Duddie will be joined by seventh-graders Kyle Duddie, Molly LaFromboise, and Austin Pelligrino. The interview, which will start at 8:40 a.m., can be heard online at http://www.newstalk620wvmt.com.