🌱 How will East Bethel’s new 2026 levy hit your tax bill?

What's up East Bethel! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How will East Bethel’s new 2026 levy hit your tax bill?
• How will two new cannabis permits change Highway 65 in East Bethel?
• Why is East Bethel evicting a longtime tenant at Whispering Aspen?

Also on today's calendar: Smokey's Pub & Grill - Duo and 2 more events.

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around East Bethel? Post it to East Bethel photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Freezing fog in the morning, with a high of 44 and low of 20 degrees.
• Wednesday: Cloudy; breezy in the p.m., temps: high: 41, low: 28.
• Thursday: Winds becoming strong, with a high of 33 and low of -4 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!

📰 News we're reading

• East Bethel City Council approves 2026 budget, 3.8% levy increase (hometownsource.com) — East Bethel’s 2026 budget is set with a 3.8% levy increase, which city staff estimate will add about $4 per month to taxes on a $400,000 home. Council members also approved related authority budgets, outlined rising public safety and public works costs, and heard residents question property valuations and the city’s heavy reliance on property taxes.
   

• East Bethel Council approves two THC conditional use permits (hometownsource.com) — East Bethel residents may soon see two new cannabis-related shops along Highway 65 NE after the City Council approved conditional use permits for a hemp edible retailer and a cannabis microbusiness. Both sites already operate as commercial businesses, but still must clear state licensing, and the council confirmed the permits stay with the properties, subject to non-use or abandonment rules.
   

• East Bethel sues BDM/Firebird Land for not obeying eviction (hometownsource.com) — East Bethel’s City Council has voted 3-0 to move forward with an eviction case involving Firebird Land and BDM Construction over office space at the Whispering Aspen Community Center. The dispute centers on an expired temporary occupancy agreement, unpaid lease concerns, and an upcoming eviction hearing set for Dec. 22.
   

📸 Around East Bethel

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in East Bethel

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Wednesday December 17

• Jigsaw Puzzle Night
  Garphish Brewing Company, 165 Main St, Bethel
  6:30 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Saturday December 20

• Smokey's Pub & Grill - Duo
  Smokey's Pub N' Grill , 552 Lincoln Dr , East Bethel
  2:00 pm

Sunday December 21

• BLC Meeting 12/21/2025
  Hidden Haven Golf Club , 20520 Polk St NE , Cedar
  6:00 pm

Monday December 22

• City Council Meeting
  East Bethel City Hall , 2241 221st Avenue NE , East Bethel
  7:00 pm

Tuesday December 23

• Planning Commission Meeting
  East Bethel City Hall , 2241 221st Ave NE , East Bethel
  7:00 pm

📣 East Bethel Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday December 16

• County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting
  Isanti County, MN Calendar , 555 18th Ave SW , Cambridge
  9:00 am
• County Board Meeting
  Board Room , 13880 Business Center Dr. , Elk River
  9:00 am
• Sit and Knit
  Furniture and Things Community Event Center , 1000 School Street , Elk River
  10:00 am
• Fitness Fusion
  Furniture and Things Community Event Center , 1000 School St , Elk River
  11:30 am
• Teen Hang Out
  Hardwood Creek Library Hardwood Creek Meeting Room L14,
  3:00 pm
• Everbrook Academy's Annual Holiday Party
  Everbrook Academy of Otsego , 8677 Parson Ave NE , Otsego
  3:30 pm
• Warming houses OPEN! (tentatively due to weather)
  Andover, MN Calendar Andover, MN 55304
  4:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

🗞 Nearby News

Andover

• Wayzata hockey girls win incredible goalie match-up (hometownsource.com)

Blaine

• Progress and goals for Wings hockey teams (hometownsource.com)
• 4 Anoka-Hennepin high schools to hold 2026 commencement at U.S. Bank Stadium (hometownsource.com)
• Accessibility project contract approved to benefit Achieve Services (hometownsource.com)

Coon Rapids

Ok East Bethel! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook