Getting hooked

Fisher-kids tried their hand at catching the big one at the Pineland Farms pond during the fourth annual Youth Learn to Fish Day held May 18. The event is sponsored by the Gray-New Gloucester Optimist Group, a 20-member chapter of Optimist International whose motto is: “Bringing out the best in kids.”

The fishing derby has its origin from the Hooked On Fishing, Not On Drugs program and is a free event promoting outdoor health and family togetherness, according to chapter president Diane Field. Participating children received free T-shirts and borrowed fishing poles for the day, courtesy of the Fishing Extraction Team. Game wardens were there to oversee the whole operation, making sure that the bait was attached to the hooks carefully and casting was done safely. According to Field, “Lots of worms are used as bait, about 800 of them this year.”

A procession of hungry anglers lined up for a barbecue complete with burgers and hot dogs prepared by Aramark, the University of Southern Maine dining service. Other sponsors, including Micucci’s Wholesale Foods and Hannaford, enabled the feast to be provided free of charge. Capt’n Eli’s offered free soda samples on draft with not only this Maine-based company’s trademark root beer flavor, but orange, blueberry and strawberry as well.

Other activities included face painting, a demonstration by a state fire marshal’s office canine trained to sniff out fire igniters, and a casting contest in which first, second and third place winners were rewarded with trophies.

This event is held on the weekend after Mother’s Day each year. It is only one of several projects hosted by the Gray-New Gloucester Optimists annually. For more information on this group, call Field at 428-4238.

Marchers needed

Former Navy serviceman Bill Greene, who heads up New Gloucester’s annual Memorial Day parade, invites all who would like to participate to give him a call at 998-5455. Please plan to arrive at the starting point, which is the AMVETS Hall on Route 100 (across from Hodgman’s Custard stand) at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, May 26, to line up.

The parade steps off at 9. The route is less than one mile in length, ending with a service at the Memorial School starting at about 9:30. To honor American casualties of all wars, past and present, let’s hope for a large turnout of parade entrants and spectators.

Don’t miss a vote

On Election Day held June 10, voters will be asked to cast ballots for two seats on the board of selectmen (a 2-year term and a 3-year term), one seat on the School Administrative District 15 School Board of Directors, state and federal candidates, a state referendum bond question, and a school budget validation vote.

Absentee ballots are now available at Town Hall for every category except for the school budget, which uses a different system as prescribed by the state. It involves preceding the June 10 secret ballot vote with a SAD 15 school budget meeting to be held on Thursday, June 5, at the Gray-New Gloucester High School. Voting by absentee balloting can occur at town hall during regular hours, or by mail. For more information, call Register of Voters Barbara Seaver at 926-4126, extension 1.

The candidates for the U.S. Senate and the 1st Congressional District party nominations have been well-documented in the press, but are you prepared to vote on state and local candidates, plus the ballot questions?

For the Board of Selectmen, Pamela Slye is the only declared candidate for the 2-year seat and Nathaniel Berry is the only one appearing on the ballot for the 3-year seat. There are no certified candidates for the open SAD 15 board position, so write-ins are the only option.

Beyond this point, primary ballots are separated as to the voter’s political party. There is no competition within the parties between declared candidates. For Democrats, the state nominees likely will be Deborah Simpson for Senate, David Van Wie for the House of Representatives and John O’Brien for Register of Probate. The Green Party offers no formal candidates.

For Republicans the state nominees likely will be Lois Snowe-Mello for the Senate, Michael Vaughan for the House of Representatives and Teri McRae for Register of Probate. Although it may seem to be a waste of time to vote for sure winners, these hard-working candidates appreciate a strong endorsement from their respective parties.

Aspiring fishermen and Pownal residents Sullivan Smith, Chris Borden and his brother Billy successfully snag fake hake while practicing their casting at the fourth annual Youth Learn to Fish Day sponsored by the Gray-New Gloucester Optimist Group Sunday.