Foliage & Funny Money

Rev up your motorcycle to tour the countryside during the third annual Foliage Ride to benefit New Lungs for George Sunday, Oct. 5. Cars are welcome to join in, too! The ride will begin and end at Thompson’s Apple Orchard, atop scenic Gloucester Hill in New Gloucester. Registration will start at 9 a.m. and costs $20 single or $35 couple.

The new spin this year will be a “Funny Money” auction, which is very similar to a poker run. After registration is completed, participants will leave Thompson’s Orchard and follow a map to five various spots. At each stop, they will get “funny money,” which will be used to purchase items in the Funny Money Auction to be held after the ride. Auction offerings will include gift certificates to local motorcycle shops, restaurants, hotels, campgrounds, and items such as helmets, T-shirts, and a few surprises, too.

Lunch will be provided by PartyTime USA and Lincoln Continental will handle the music. To reserve a spot in the ride, call 926-6160.

I’ve got dibs!

It’s not too early to get thinking about the big October Book and Bake Sale at the New Gloucester Public Library. On Friday, Oct. 3, First Dibs for Kids, which features children’s books only for sale, runs from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Adults must have a child with them in order to purchase books that evening.

The general Book and Bake Sale happens Saturday, Oct. 4, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. All kinds of donations have been flowing in for this sale. The volunteers are working harder than ever to sort and organize. The sale rooms will be ready for you to browse and buy bargain items.

For most items, hard cover books are 50 cents and paperbacks are 25 cents. Children’s books will sell for half that price. Some specially selected books will be priced a bit higher, but will still be a great deal. In addition to all these wonderful book bargains, there will be audio books, audio tapes, video tapes and CDs for sale.

The bakers in New Gloucester are among the finest around, and they will be putting their talents to work by making and baking goodies for the Bake Sale table. Plan to come early for the best selection. Contact the library at 926-4840 to make donations, ask questions or get directions.

Hit the Trails

Walkers and runners of all ages and levels of ability are invited to walk, run or stroll through the wooded trails of Pineland Farms in New Gloucester Sunday, Sept. 21. Hit the Trails is a fundraiser for the Cancer Community Center based in South Portland.

Walkers have the option of a one mile stroll or a 5K walk (3.1 miles). A 10K run (6.2 miles) is an option for more ambitious participants. Registration opens at 11:30 a.m., and entrants who haven’t pre-registered may sign up at that time. Opening ceremonies get underway at 12:30 p.m., and the walk, run or stroll starts at 1 p.m. A barbecue, music and awards will greet participants and volunteers at the finish.

There is no charge to participate in Hit the Trails, as is the case with all programs at the Cancer Community Center. They are made possible by the generosity of the community and are offered at no charge to adults living with cancer, their families and friends. So gather your pledge money, lace up your shoes and join the outdoor fun for a worthy cause. For more information, call 774-2200.

All them Dems

New Gloucester Democrats are hosting the monthly meeting of the Cumberland County Democratic Committee Sunday, Sept. 21 at the First Congregational Church Vestry, 19 Gloucester Hill Road in the Lower Village. Refreshments will be served starting at 6:30 p.m., and the meeting starts at 7 p.m. All registered Democrats are welcome to attend. For more information, contact Penny Hilton at 926-4004 or lupine@maine.rr.com.

Ratchet up recycling

The Environmental Resources Committee and Public Works Department are seeking opinions about recycling operations at the transfer station and ideas on how the town might improve recycling rates. The questionnaire is available on the town’s Web site www.newgloucester.com. Just print one, fill it out, and drop it off at the town hall (there’s a slot in the front door for off-hours), or mail it in. Recycling saves the town money in two ways. Revenue is obtained from the selling of recyclables, plus it keeps waste items out of the regular household trash which entails disposal costs.