Strawberry festival

The 35th Annual New Gloucester Strawberry Festival sponsored by the New Gloucester Historical Society will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 24, at the Congregational Church vestry, 19 Gloucester Hill Road, just off Route 231 in the lower village. Festival highlights include the freshest native berries ever picked, shortcake with homemade biscuits, and world-famous Hodgman’s Frozen Custard. Other attractions include the foot-tapping music of the Berry, Berry Good Band, a baked goods table, and a sale table of town mementos and gifts.

Music festival

The fifth annual Maine Festival of American Music will be held on June 23-26 at the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, Route 26, New Gloucester. Held in the historic 1794 Shaker Meeting House, the unique four-day festival presents American music in the broader context of the world’s great chamber music. This season, renowned pianist and Gershwin expert Paul Posnak, soprano Christina Astrachan and Brother Arnold Hadd join the Portland String Quartet in a celebration of our musical heritage.

Wednesday evening’s 7 p.m. performance will be “We’ve Got Rhythm! The Music of George Gershwin.” Soprano Christina Astrachan will join the Portland String Quartet in a special presentation of Shaker hymns at 7 p.m. on Thursday. Brother Arnold Hadd of the Sabbathday Lake Shaker community will speak about each of the hymns that were composed by, or received as gift songs from, earlier members of the community.

An all-day workshop will take place on Friday, culminating in a master class held in the Meeting House at 3:30 p.m., which is free and open to the public. Special music stands will be making their debut at Saturday evening’s concert that celebrates Ernest Bloch’s music at 7 p.m. Maine craftsmen Chris Becksvoort, Robert Cariddi and John Stass created the stands from wood that came from “Herbie,” Yarmouth’s historic elm tree.

Tickets for each evening concert cost $25 for adults and $20 for seniors, admission is free for students 21 and under. Checks are payable to: United Society of Shakers, 707 Shaker Road, New Gloucester, ME 04260. For more information, call 926-4597.

Community Market ?celebrates dads

On Sunday, June 20, the New Gloucester Community Market celebrates Father’s Day with free local beef burgers (donations accepted), live music and over 200 antique cars at Hodgman’s Frozen Custard just across the street! Participating vendors will be offering a 10 percent discount for dads.

Come to the market on Sunday, June 27, to get your fresh strawberries, while learning how to make jam. Master food preservers from the Maine Cooperative Extension will hold workshops at 1 p.m. to teach you how to make the most of Maine’s short strawberry season.

The market, which is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., is located on Route 100 in the Amvet parking lot, New Gloucester. For more information, see www.newgloucestergardens.com or call 926-5919.

Smorgasbord supper

On Saturday, June 19, Sabbathday Lake Grange will hold its first of the season smorgasbord suppers. The menu includes beans, hot dogs, casseroles and salads with brownies and ice cream for dessert. The cost is $7.50; $3 for children under 10. The hall is located at 370 Sabbathday Road in New Gloucester, just off Route 26.

Attention NG businesses

New Gloucester businesses (including home-based), organizations and community groups take note that Welcome, Neighbor volunteers are once again compiling complimentary packets that will be provided to all new residents. Only New Gloucester businesses, organizations and community groups will have the opportunity to include items such as business cards, brochures or gift certificates in the packets at no cost.

This is a grass-roots community project developed to welcome our new residents by providing information that may assist in their transition. The volunteers will be compiling 80 packets, so be sure to include at least 80 of each piece to be inserted to ensure that all of the packets will be complete.

If your business or organization has donated items in the past, it’s likely that you will be contacted by a volunteer. To guarantee inclusion, either drop off your materials at the New Gloucester town office or contact Beth Blakeman-Pohl at abpohl@securespeed.us before Wednesday, June 30.

Wood carving

Come and learn the basics of wood carving at a workshop to be held on Saturday, June 26, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, Route 26, New Gloucester. Proper use of the knife, types of cuts and knife sharpening will be taught by master carver Norm Devonshire. The $40 fee includes knife and wood block. Pre-registration is required, so call 926-4597 or e-mail usshakers@aol.com.

Service window early closure

The town office service window will be closing for transactions at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, June 30, due to the year-end closing of books. All other departments will be open until 4 p.m.