Mailbox makeovers

Be kind to your postal rural carrier by fixing up your winter-ravaged mailbox. Now that the frost has come out of the ground, spring is a great time of year to repair or replace those that are in need of a makeover. As you may have noticed, many supports are tilted backward or have keeled over entirely. Some boxes themselves are eaten away by rust, have lost their flaps, or are suffering from droopy flag syndrome.

Postal customers who have curbside mailboxes should grab a tape measure and check to make sure they’re conforming to installation standards. The bottom of the mailbox should measure between 42 to 48 inches from the ground. The distance from the edge of the road and the mailbox support post should be a minimum of 48 inches.

To permit the blade of a town plow truck to pass under a mailbox and prevent destruction of the post, New Gloucester’s Public Works Department advises erecting a mailbox support post 18 feet from the centerline of a paved road. Since the width of gravel roads vary more than paved ones, judgment must be used to determine proper vertical post placement. The mailbox must be suspended over the shoulder area of the road.

Labeling both sides of your mailbox with your house number is strongly recommended. Not only does this action assist your rural mail carrier, but it greatly helps with emergency response, too.

Vandalism cannot be tolerated. Mailboxes are protected by federal law, and crimes against them and the mail they contain are considered a federal offense. Violators can be fined or imprisoned for each act of vandalism.

Let’s make sprucing up our mailboxes and their supports part of our annual spring cleaning routine.

Crop Walk

Fight hunger and poverty around the world and in your own community by joining the annual Crop Walk on Sunday, May 4. Participating walkers begin the six-mile route, which starts at the First Congregational Church of New Gloucester, at 11 a.m.

The length of the walk is significant in that is based on the daily journey on foot, often up to six miles, by hungry people in developing countries to obtain their food and water, plus take their goods to market.

The walk will be held rain or shine. A quarter of the revenue raised will benefit New Gloucester’s Food Pantry. To obtain a pledge sheet by mail, contact organizer Michael Fralich, 926-3161, Milajuno@aol.com and inform him of your postal mailing address.

Trail race

Billed as Maine’s most challenging races, robust runners will face 25k, 50k, and 50-mile running competitions using the trail system at Pineland Farms as their track Sunday, May 25.

Proceeds from this event organized by the Maine Track Club go to support the Pineland YMCA’s summer day camp program. Runners who enter before May 11 gain discounted entry fees. Go online for more information or to register at www.mainetrackclub.com and scroll down to its race schedule.

The Pineland YMCA needs 80 volunteers to adequately staff these races. Those interested in helping out are urged to contact Phil DiRusso at 688-2255 or e-mail him at pdirusso@cumberlandcountyymca.org.

On the tube

Cable subscribers can watch weekend evening playbacks of the April 10 Parks and Recreation Committee meeting on April 25, 26 and 27 at 7 p.m. on Channel 3. Rebroadcasts of the May 5 annual town meeting are being planned for showings on May 9, 10 and 11 at 7 p.m.

The Gems of 26

A new tourist initiative has been launched by a civic group consisting of Linda Goodwin and Jason Libby from Poland Spring Preservation Park, executive director of McLaughlin Gardens Michael Desplaines, director of Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village Lenny Brooks, Poland Town Manager Dana Lee, and Cyndi Robbins who is affiliated with the Poland Spring Resort and Inn. Visitors are guided up Route 26 and informed of five interesting stops along the way.

One of these tourist destinations is New Gloucester’s Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, the only surviving community of Shakers anywhere in the world. At times people can overlook “gems” that exist in their own backyards. Plan to head over to Shaker Village to experience the Shaker Store and museum, workshops, demonstrations, special events, and much more. The 2008 Shaker Village calendar of events is now available on www.shaker.lib.me.us.

Democrats to meet

The next meeting of the New Gloucester Democratic Committee will be held on Thursday, May 1, 7 p.m. at the home of Penny and David Hilton. For directions, please call 926-4004 or e-mail lupine@maine.rr.com.

Town Calendar

Monday, April 28: Selectmen, 7 p.m., Meetinghouse

Wednesday, April 30: School Board, 6:30 p.m., Meetinghouse

Thursday, May 1: Public Safety, 7 p.m., Meetinghouse and Gazebo Committee, 7 p.m., library

Friday, May 2: Story Time, 9:30 a.m., library