Inside New Gloucester: Feb. 11

A campfire complete with s’mores and hot cocoa awaited hikers at the top of Pisgah Hill during a past full moon trek sponsored by the Royal River Conservation Trust. Contributed / Royal River Conservation Trust

Conservation trust hosts moonlight snowshoe trek

Buckle on snowshoes, dress warmly, wear a headlamp and hike to the top of Pisgah Hill during the 10th Annual Pisgah Hill Full Moon Trek from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16. The host organization, Royal River Conservation Trust, will provide a campfire, s’mores and hot cocoa. The trail will be lit with snow cairns.

Moonrise is officially at 5:05 p.m., but because the moon must crest nearby Bradbury Mountain, participants will likely start to spot it from the summit around 6 p.m. The sun sets at 5:08 p.m. and hikers are invited to start at any time after 4 p.m.

The summit is nearly a half-mile from the trailhead and parking, with some ledge surfaces that may be icy or rocky. The entire loop trail is 1.2 miles in length.

This event is free and open to the public. Dogs are welcome if leashed, with strict attention to pet waste removal. Recommended safety equipment consists of cell phones, whistles, water, flashlights or headlamps, and warm clothes.

The trailhead for this event can be located along the Dougherty Road in New Gloucester, near the town line with Pownal. Note that Dougherty Road is known as Chadsey Road in Pownal.

Parking is permitted along the shoulder of Dougherty Road on one side of the road only. Signs prohibiting parking on the other side of the road will be erected. Contact RRCT Development and Communications Coordinator Carrie Ridgway at carrie@rrct.org or 615-7824 for more details.

Optimist Club accredited

The Gray-New Gloucester Optimist Club became official at its Jan. 20 organizational meeting by satisfying the threshold requirements set by Optimist International. The hybrid in-person and Zoom meeting was held at the GNG Adult Education Center.

Charter members voted to accept the club bylaws and elected Sarah Rodriguez as president, Cheryl Jalbert as vice president, Kristin Piccone as treasurer and George Mathews as secretary. Inductees to the Board of Directors were Anthony Dahms, Brian French, Robin Mullins and Rick Benoit.

For more information on how to become a charter member of the local service club with the motto “Bringing out the Best in Kids,” contact Rodriguez at recdirector@newgloucester.com or Jalbert at cjdenovo@yahoo.com.

The newly formed club is encouraging youth 18 or younger in Gray and New Gloucester to submit entries into the Lewiston/Auburn Optimist Club’s Essay Contest. The contest asks participants to answer “How does an optimistic mindset change my tomorrow?” Entries can be sent to gwmathews91@gmail.com and are due by Tuesday, Feb. 15.

One winner will be selected to represent the Lewiston/Auburn Optimist Club in the New York/New England District Competition. The winner of the district competition will receive a $2,500 college scholarship.

Snowmobile club dance

Hailed as Maine’s hottest rocking dance-party band, Northern Groove will provide the entertainment for Royal River Riders Snowmobile Club’s annual fundraiser dance at 8 p.m. March 5 at the American Legion Post 86, 15 Lewiston Road, Route 100, Gray.

Tickets are $12 per person and will be available for online purchase under “Shop” at royalriverriders.net. They will be held for pickup at the door.