Crowded Caucus

The Congregational Church vestry was jam-packed with enthusiastic Democrats at their biennial caucus. Maine became the national focus of presidential politics when Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama came out Super Tuesday virtually deadlocked.

New Gloucester Democratic Chair Penny Hilton took over the reins as caucus chair and ran a well-organized event in which 166 caucus voters expressed their presidential preference. In addition to representation by supporters of the top two Democratic presidential contenders, a small, but passionate delegation of Dennis Kucinich enthusiasts were present, but not enough to yield a delegate and alternate to the state convention.

After the voting concluded, eight of the 11 delegates allocated to the town indicated a preference for Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.); three delegates went to Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.). They will be headed to the Augusta Civic Center from May 30-June 1. The Obama delegates will be Eleanor Fellers, Josh McHenry, Glenn Turner, Matt Robertson, Johanna Flath, Cecely Conrad, Sam Coggeshall and Laura Rodas. The Obama alternates are Carol DeTroy, Ben LeDuc, Bob Fowler, Christopher Rheault, Caroline Loupe, Tina O’Connell, Eric Ritter and Meagan McHenry. Clinton delegates are Wilburn Morris, Kathy Nickerson and Wanda Pinette. The Clinton alternates are Mabel Ney, Sharlena Biron, and Margaret Gerber.

Four-term state representative Deb Simpson addressed the caucus goers. As she is “termed out” she plans to vie for Lois Snowe-Mello’s seat in the state senate.

Old Schoolhouses Recalled

Ed True will reminisce about New Gloucester’s schoolhouses of the past at the next historical society meeting on Thursday, Feb. 21. Ed’s program begins promptly at 7 p.m. at the New Gloucester Meetinghouse, next to the town hall on Route 231. Refreshments will be served. A business meeting will end the evening.

True is a lifelong resident of New Gloucester and is a graduate of New Gloucester High School. His recollections are extensive and interesting. All are invited to attend.

February Vacation Camp

The Pineland YMCA offers February Vacation Camp for your children, when they’re off from school and you’re not off from work. This program, serving children from 5 to 12 years of age, is offered at the Pineland YMCA from Monday, Feb. 18 through Friday, Feb. 22.

Activities include swimming, creative arts, sports and games, and outdoor play, weather permitting. The hours of camp are 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., with before and after care included in our camp rates. At the Pineland YMCA, we do not turn away anyone because of an inability to pay. Our Open Doors Program provides financial assistance for those who need it. If you have any questions, please call us at 688-2255.

YMCA Tackles Obesity

Founded in the mid-19th century, the Young Men’s Christian Association, which welcomes all faiths, has expanded far beyond its name in the United States. Half the 20.2 million people it serves are female, and more than half are adults.

With that diverse clientele in mind, the Y is again redefining itself. A new strategic plan envisions the organization as America’s paramount fitness and anti-obesity crusader, combating what it calls “the nation’s ongoing lifestyle health crisis.”

While maintaining its varied youth programs and vast child-care network, the Y is aggressively expanding health-related initiatives, notably through a program called Activate America. At hundreds of local Ys nationwide, officials are retraining staff, redesigning facilities and revising activities to better serve the millions of Americans who find it hard to stick with weight-loss and fitness regimens.

“Our history has been one of taking a lead on key issues facing our society,” said Neil Nicoll, who since May 2006 has been president of the YMCA of the USA, the parent group that coordinates activities of the 967 independently run YMCA associations across the country. Now, more than 370 of its associations already have joined Activate America, which Nicoll reports is targeted at the 40 percent of Americans who crave a healthier lifestyle but waver in their pursuit of it.

Karen Leslie, CEO of YMCA of Greater Providence in Rhode Island, said the initiative means her nine-branch association will focus less on gung-ho fitness buffs and more on those who struggle to achieve good health. “We have to retrain our staff so they will actively listen to what the needs are,” Leslie said. “We want to move away from prescribing what we believe individuals need.”

Town Calendar

Monday, Feb. 18: All town facilities will be closed for Presidents Day.

Tuesday, Feb. 19: Planning Board, 7 p.m., Meetinghouse

Wednesday, Feb. 20: Budget Committee, 7 p.m., Meetinghouse

Thursday, Feb. 21: Historical Society, 7 p.m., Meetinghouse

Friday, Feb. 22: Story Time, 9:30 a.m., Library

Matt Robertson, a supporter of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), delivers a speech on behalf of Obama at New Gloucester