Once Upon a Mattress

The Gray-New Gloucester Patriot Players present “Once Upon a Mattress,” a musical comedy with melodies by Mary Rodgers, lyrics by Marshall Barer, and book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller and Marshall Barer. Performances take place at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15, at Gray-New Gloucester High School, 10 Libby Hill Road, Gray. The director is Eric Walker, the choreographer is Kathryn Larson, the music director is Jennifer Chaloult, and the production director is Courtney Knight. Admission is $6 for adults and $4 for students.

Butter Making

Meet the Holsteins at the Pineland Farms dairy barn and learn how to churn their milk into butter, just as people did in the old days. This family education program, from 10-11:30 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 18, is open to all ages. Purchase tickets for $5 per person at The Market and Welcome Center, 15 Farm View Drive, New Gloucester.

Shaker Store Open Saturdays

The Shaker Museum, founded in 1931, marked the close of its 83rd season on Oct. 13. Visitors are being thanked for their patronage in partaking of tours, programs, demonstrations and special events throughout the season at Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village.

The Shaker Store, 707 Shaker Road, New Gloucester, with a full line of gifts, crafts, herbs, yarn, homemade pickles, relish and jelly, and much more, will remain open on Saturdays, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., through Saturday, Dec. 6, which marks the date of the annual Shaker Christmas Fair.

Donate Christmas Wrappings

Donations of new Christmas gift bags and gift wrap, along with holiday gift labels and tape, are being requested by the Caring Community of Gray-New Gloucester. New hats, mittens and gloves for babies/toddlers, children and teenagers are welcome as well.

Drop-off collection boxes for these items can be found at Marcotte Family Chiropractic at 20 Shaker Road in Gray, Gray Public Library, and New Gloucester Town Hall. For more information or questions, contact Mike at gngcaring@gmail.com or 657-7101 (office).

The CCGNG provides holiday assistance in the form of Thanksgiving food baskets, Christmas food baskets, and gifts for children 18 and under. Individuals and families who reside in Gray or New Gloucester and find themselves in need at the holidays are welcome to fill out and return a completed application.

Applications for Christmas assistance are now available, with completed Christmas applications due no later than Monday, Dec. 8. They can be picked up and dropped off at Russell, Dunn and Memorial Schools, Gray Public Library, and both Gray and New Gloucester town halls. They can also be found on the Facebook page of CCGNG. (Note that the Thanksgiving application deadline has passed.)

Why ask for donations of Christmas wrap? Hats and mittens? It’s because every year there are more families requesting assistance than there are sponsors. And if you’d like to help out in a bigger way, why not become a sponsor and adopt a family or individual for Christmas? Help spread Christmas cheer and brighten someone’s holiday. Contact Mike Marcotte at gngcaring@gmail.com for more information on becoming a sponsor.

Monetary donations are needed and appreciated. Checks can be sent to CCGNG, P.O. Box 1244, Gray, ME 04039. For more information on CCGNG, contact Christina Foster at 233-0828 or winkers92@yahoo.com.

Town Facilities Holiday Schedule

The New Gloucester Public Library will be closing at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 26. All town facilities will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 27, to celebrate Thanksgiving. Only the transfer station will be open Friday, Nov. 28, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Saturday, Nov. 29, the public library will be open from 9 a.m. to noon, and the transfer station will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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A swarm of people attending the Nov. 9 dedication ceremony of the New Gloucester Veterans Monument hover around engraved tablets searching for familiar names. The momentous event attracted hundreds of attendees, including Gov. Paul LePage. The new veterans park is located at the intersection of Route 100 and Peacock Hill Road.