Dazzling dessert

Participants at the annual Youth Learn to Fish Day held at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester were treated to a special dessert this year thanks to Lisa Henderson. It took her two days to bake nine sheet cakes, consisting of four flavors including vanilla, strawberry, chocolate and blueberry citrus.

During the five-hour decoration process using 50 cups of frosting, Henderson used Rice Krispies Treats for forming the trout, gum paste for the bridge and people, piping gel for the pond water and butter cream for the grass. All of the cake’s components were edible, except for the gazebo.

Despite the enormous amount of time and effort invested in this project, Henderson completely enjoyed the work. She said, “Seeing the smiles on people’s faces is very rewarding.”

Now that her daughter will be entering school in September, Henderson has more time to devote to her craft. After nine years of baking and decorating cakes for family and friends, she recently started her own business Maine Frosted Fantasies in Gray. She specializes in custom-made cakes for all occasions.

Memorial Day parade

Become a part of New Gloucester’s annual Memorial Day parade. Participants are 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 30 to line up. The parade steps off at 9 a.m. The route is less than one mile in length, ending with a short service at the Memorial School starting at about 9:30. If you or your organization would like to reserve a spot in the parade, call Bill Greene at 998-5455.

You can also participate by being a spectator. The route proceeds along Route 100, turns right onto Upper Village Street, turns left onto Bald Hill Road, goes straight through the blinking light, and proceeds onward to the Memorial School.

Shaker Village opening day

The Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, Route 26, New Gloucester will open for the 2011 season on Friday, May 27 at 10 a.m. The traditional Memorial Day weekend opening will feature museum tours, the special major exhibit “Creating Chosen Land: Our Home 1783-2010,” nature hikes and a spinning demonstration by R & R Spinners. For full details, visit www.shaker.lib.me.us, or call 926-4597.

Plant sale

The fourth annual ‘Rooting for Democracy’ plant sale, hosted by the New Gloucester Democratic Committee, will be held on Saturday, June 4 from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Lil’ Mart (formerly Cloutier’s Market) on Route 100 in New Gloucester’s upper village. Plants of all varieties from members’ personal gardens will be offered at bargain prices. Arrive early for the best selection.

Win lobsters…or other seafood of your choice. At the plant sale, two $50 gift certificates to an area retail store will be raffled off. Tickets cost $3 each or two tickets for $5. The drawing will be held at noon; you need not be present to win. To purchase advance raffle tickets, call Mary Duggan at 926-4448.

Channel 3 ?program line-up

Some interesting and diverse programming is being lined up for telecast on public access Channel 3, which can be viewed by New Gloucester and Gray cable customers.

Friday-Sunday, May 20-22: A New Gloucester Historical Society presentation titled “Letters of a New Gloucester Victorian Teenager” featuring speaker Stephen Chandler will be telecast at 7 p.m. The show is based on letters written by his ancestor Anna Potter Chandler and portrays life in New Gloucester circa 1890 from a teenager’s perspective.

That same weekend, “Defensible Space” provided by the Maine Forest Service will be televised at 8 p.m. The program describes how to create and maintain adequate defensible space to slow the spread of a wildfire toward your home. New Gloucester resident David Hilton, who works for the forest service, makes an appearance in the program.

Friday-Sunday, May 27-29: Master Class at the 2010 Maine Festival of American Music will be shown at 7 p.m. Adult and student amateur musicians perform in the 1794 Meeting House at Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village.

Donate blood – ?win heating oil

The GNG Lions have teamed up once again with Our Oil Inc., and some lucky blood donor will win $200 worth of home heating oil. The winner will be drawn at the end of the drive and will be able to schedule their delivery when needed through Our Oil Inc.

The Lions drive is Monday, May 23 from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Newbegin Gym in Gray. All donors will receive a free Red Cross T-shirt.

Appointments are highly recommended and can be made through Lion Dean Neal at 926-4723, the Red Cross donor line 1-800-733-2767 or online at redcrossblood.org. Please specify the May 23 Lions blood drive in Gray.