Veggie Connection Supper

Do you crave getting out of the house and socializing with friends? The Veggie Connection Supper on March 16 is the perfect antidote to the mud season doldrums. Additionally, you’ll be donating to a project that unites local produce growers with area food banks.

This past season the Community Garden at Opportunity Farm raised over 2,000 pounds of fresh organic produce for area food pantries. Help us raise the needed funds again this year by purchasing your ticket to the second annual Veggie Connection Supper.

The main dish will be chili made from grass-fed beef donated by O’Donnell’s Farm of Monmouth, or vegetarian chili. Side dishes will include fresh coleslaw, homemade cornbread, cheese donated by Pineland Farms of New Gloucester, and an array of wonderful desserts. The supper takes place from 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, March 16 at the Congregational Church’s vestry community room, 19 Gloucester Hill Road, New Gloucester.

Tickets cost $10 for adults, $5 for children 5-12, and free for children under five. All tickets are to be purchased in advance. Make your check payable to “NG Veggie Connection” and mail to Laura Campbell, 220 Meadow Lane, New Gloucester, ME 04260. For more information, call 671-6575 or e-mail sweethollowsfarm@gmail.com.

Tasty Testing

Are you a budding scientist? Reward your taste buds during a food science class at which you can invent your own flavor. “Tasty Testing” is the third in a series of six hands-on monthly classes presented at the New Gloucester Public Library. It is being held 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 16.

The class is open to all youth grades K-12, and any participants under age 9 must be accompanied by an adult. Adult and teen volunteers are welcome. The class, sponsored by The University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H, is free of charge, and all materials will be provided. Pre-registration is encouraged, although no one will be turned away. Contact Suzan Hawkins, 926-4840, or srhawkins@maine.rr.com.

Home Bound program

The Friends of the New Gloucester Library sponsor the Home Bound Delivery Program. Do you know of a New Gloucester resident unable to get to the library because of age or infirmity who would like to borrow books, audio books, magazines, and/or DVDs? If so, please phone the librarians at the New Gloucester Library, 926-4840. Volunteers provide a weekly delivery of library items to those participating in the program.

New TV show

A new program featuring Gray-New Gloucester Middle School students plus teachers Lisa Knedler and Amanda Hennessey will be televised on local access Channel 3, serving New Gloucester and Gray cable subscribers. Show times will be 7:00 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 11-13.

“Colonial Gray and New Gloucester” has a running time of 30 minutes and is a student presentation of local history given at the Jan. 20 New Gloucester Historical Society meeting. There are two DVDs at the New Gloucester Public Library for viewing by non-cable subscribers.

Chocolate Lovers Snow Tour

Come spend a tasteful evening on a snow tour. Snowshoe, ski or walk the Libby Hill Trails in Gray while tasting many delicious kinds of chocolate at various stations along the course. The Gray-New Gloucester High School Community Service Club is holding a Chocolate Lovers Snow Tour from 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday, March 12, starting at the G-NG Middle School Fields.

Fees are $2 per person and $5 per family. All proceeds will be donated to the Caring Communities of Gray and New Gloucester.

Local author ?to speak

Lillian Nayder, author, Bates College English professor and New Gloucester resident, will talk about her new book, “The Other Dickens: A Life of Catherine Hogarth,” on Thursday, March 17, 7 p.m. at the New Gloucester Meetinghouse, Route 231, next to Town Hall. A book signing will follow.

Catherine Hogarth married Charles Dickens in 1836. During the ensuing years, the celebrated author publicly denigrated Catherine’s character by circulating false allegations against her that became widely accepted. Making use of the Dickenses’ banking records and legal papers as well as their correspondence with friends and family members, Nayder dispels the myth perpetuated by Dickens and attests to the strengths, organizational skills and intelligence that Catherine possessed.

The public is invited to this talk that is free of charge and sponsored jointly by the New Gloucester Public Library and the New Gloucester Historical Society. Refreshments will be served.

Taking in last year’s first Veggie Connection Supper to benefit New Gloucester’s Community Garden were, from left, Mabel Ney, Bill Oleszczuk, Nathan and Christine Babb with their daughter Beatrice, Kerry Loupe, Caroline Loupe and Glenn Turner. The second annual supper is set for Wednesday, March 16. (Photo by Patti Mikkelsen)