Friends of ?the Festival

You are invited to participate more actively in the sixth season of The Maine Festival of American Music this summer at Shaker Village on July 6-9 by becoming a “New Gloucester Friend of the Festival.”

For a minimum donation of $25, your name or your business name can be listed in the program booklet (deadline for inclusion in the booklet is June 1) and you will be given two complimentary tickets to the concert of your choice.

Presented by the United Society of Shakers of Sabbathday Lake and directed by the Portland String Quartet, this festival brings to New Gloucester the highest artistic talent and the widest variety of music.

Concerts this year offer traditional Caribbean music, Shaker hymns brought to life through performance and dynamic commentary, guest artist jazz/fusion violinist New Gloucester native, Matthew Szemela – and more!

In addition, student and adult amateur players will be participating in an all-day workshop led by members of the PSQ, culminating in a special Master Class performance. New Gloucester Public Access TV Channel 3 will show a video from last year’s festival workshop on May 27-29 at 7 p.m. Reserve your place in the program listing and your seats at these concerts by contacting the Shaker office at 926-4597 or usshakers@aol.com. The festival’s free program flier is now available.

Fiddle music

Come to the New Gloucester Village Coffee House concert starting at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, May 7, to tap your toes to some down-home music provided by the Pierce Family, who is well-known among the bluegrass circle of Maine musicians. The youngest family member is Tucker, 12, followed by Samantha, 14, and Jack, 16. Their dad, Dan, leads the group. They play bluegrass-based music that ranges from straight-up bluegrass to fiddle music to new-grass to jazz-grass. The instruments include standup bass, fiddle, mandolin, banjo and guitar.

The concert takes place in the Community Room of the New Gloucester Congregational Church, 19 Gloucester Hill Road. Tickets are available at the door for a cost of $10 for adults, $5 for children and seniors. For more information, contact Julie Fralich 926-3161 or the church office 926-3260. Come early and celebrate New Gloucester’s furniture making tradition from 1 to 4 p.m. at the same location.

Flapjacks ?and soapsuds

Open Gates Equine Rescue of New Gloucester is sponsoring a pancake breakfast and car wash fundraiser at Appleby’s Restaurant, Route 302, North Windham from 8 to 9:15 a.m. on Saturday, May 21. Breakfast tickets are $6 and must be purchased in advance. The car wash is by donation. Call 926-5570 for more information.

Closed for inventory

The New Gloucester Public Library will be closing on Wednesdays, May 18 and May 25 for inventory. Any item that was stamped due on May 18 is now due May 19.

Phenology

Get a taste of 4-H science at a class in phenology, the study of regularly recurring biological phenomena such as animal migrations or plant budding, especially as influenced by climatic conditions. Students will be exploring this topic at the New Gloucester Public Library, 389 Intervale Road from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 11.

The class, free of charge, is open to all youth grades K-12, and any participants under 9 must be accompanied by an adult. 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.

Hook, line and sinker

Kids ages 4-12 are invited to join in on a fun day of hands-on fishing instruction, games, activities, prizes, raffles and a free cookout on the Pineland Farms campus from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, May 14. The first 200 children will receive a Learn to Fish Day T-shirt.

Youth participants are encouraged to bring their own open water fishing gear and tackle to use. Gear and tackle will be provided for those without. The event is sponsored by the Gray-New Gloucester Optimist Club and FET Inc., in conjunction with the state program Hooked on Fishing. Contact Barbara Bartlett at bbartlett8@gmail.com or call 657-6303 for more information.

Closed for inventory

The New Gloucester Public Library will be closing on Wednesdays, May 18 and May 25 for inventory. Any item that was stamped due on May 18 is now due May 19.