Memorial School Renovations

Renovations to the Memorial School, now nearly complete, were showcased at an Open House on Nov. 3. According to first-grade teacher Betty Haymon, the R&R construction crew that performed the upgrades showed a great deal of consideration during the one-year project.

“They were considerate and didn’t want to interfere with our teaching,” Haymon said. “The first week it was hard to get the children to settle down and not notice what was going on outside and down the hall. But they very quickly got used to the noise and the trucks coming in and out. It was a very smooth transition, and I think the company did a very good job.”

When asked about the new lighting, Haymon observed that her eyes don’t get tired by the end of the day anymore. As for the windows, she commented, “I absolutely love the windows, particularly the high windows. The sunlight streams in, and it’s so cheerful and bright. You don’t feel enclosed in the room. The children feel that, too.”

Haymon’s new classroom has its own sink and bathroom. She incorporates arts and crafts projects into her curriculum. Before having the sink readily available, she had to lug buckets of water down the hall to her classroom. At first, she had reservations about having a bathroom in the room, fearing that the opening and closing of the door would cause a distraction. That scenario has not arisen. Instead a positive has resulted.

“My children do not leave my room. I don’t have to send them out into the corridor to go down the hall to the bathroom. I know where they are, I know they’re safe,” she said.

Haymon has noticed a big improvement of the entrance to the school. “We had a very antiquated entrance before, it was dark. You came in, and it just felt like an old school. Now when you enter the main doors, it’s all glass from floor to ceiling. It’s bright and cheery,” she said.

As an Open House guest, I heartily agree. The new entrance sets a positive tone for a school that the district can be proud of.

Civil War Presentation

Recently transcribed dusty old letters will tell the tale of Neal Stinchfield from New Gloucester who served in the Civil War in 1863-64. Tom Blake, Neal’s great-great-great-great nephew, will conduct the presentation.

The tale will be recounted at the Thursday, Nov. 15 meeting of the New Gloucester Historical Society beginning at 7 p.m. at the New Gloucester Meetinghouse, 389 Intervale Road (Route 231), next to the Town Hall. The public is invited, and refreshments will be served. A business meeting will follow.

Christmas Tree Lighting

The annual lighting of America’s smallest municipal Christmas tree “Tiny Timber” will be held on Sunday, Nov. 25 at 4:30 p.m. at the New Gloucester Town Hall on Route 231. The program will include a performance by the Gray-New Gloucester High School Chorus and a sing-along. Refreshments will be served at the library by library friends and trustees. Some lucky child will have their name drawn to light “Tiny Timber.” Everyone and their uncle are invited.

YMCA Youth Basketball League

The 3rd-6th grade Co-Ed program is designed to instruct skills of dribbling, passing, shooting within a team atmosphere. Goals include learning and displaying the YMCA’s core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility through good sportsmanship. Additionally, team work, fair play, and showing proper respect for all officials, coaches, and other volunteers is stressed. This program is offered on Sundays at the Pineland YMCA starting Sunday, Nov. 18.

Grades 3 and 4 meet from 9 a.m-1:30 p.m., with the draft occurring on Nov. 18 at 9 a.m. Grades 5 and 6 meet from noon-4:30 p.m., with the draft occurring on Nov. 18 at noon.

Fees are free to participants with family memberships and single adult family memberships, $40 for youth members, and $75 for non-members. There is a 10 percent discount for a second child. Registration is now open. Call Brad Davie at 688-2255 or e-mail him at bdavie@cumberlandcountyymca.org.

Democratic Committee to Meet

The next meeting of the New Gloucester Democratic Committee will occur on Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. in the Parish Center of the Congregational Church in the Lower Village. Plans for the presidential preference caucus on Feb. 10, 2008 will start to be formulated.

Town Board and Committee Meetings

Nov. 12, All town facilities will be closed in observance of Veterans Day.

Nov. 13, Land Management Planning Committee, 7 p.m., Meetinghouse

Nov. 15, Historical Society, 7 p.m., Meetinghouse

Nov. 16, StoryTime, 9:30 a.m., Library