Proposed budget public hearing

The public is invited to come to The Meetinghouse, 389 Intervale Road (next to Town Hall) and comment on the town’s FY13 proposed budget, starting at 7 p.m., Wednesday, March 14. Informational booklets will be available at the town office prior to the hearing. Also, the proposed budget can be viewed online at www.newgloucester.com, Boards & Committees sidebar, Budget Committee section.

Maple sugaring

It’s time to collect the sap from the maple trees at Pineland Farms and turn it into delicious maple syrup. Learn about the process used to make this naturally sweet treat.

This program is offered from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 13, Thursday, March 15 and Wednesday, March 21 at the Smokehouse on the Valley Farm. Tickets cost $5 per person and are available at The Market and Welcome Center. Please arrive 15 minutes early to allow time to buy tickets and get to your program. For more information, contact Paula at 688-4800 ext. 15 or pletiecq@pinelandfarms.org.

Traditional Shaker cooking

Sister Frances Carr, head of the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Community and kitchen deaconess, will be the speaker at 7 p.m. for the Thursday, March 15, meeting of the New Gloucester Historical Society. The public is invited to hear her presentation on the traditions of Shaker cooking. Important note: The March meeting will be held at the Dwelling House, Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, 707 Shaker Road in New Gloucester. For more information, call Leonard Brooks at 926-3188.

Shaker event catalog now available

The 2012 Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village Crafts Workshops, Demos and Special Events Catalog is free and now available for mailing. Contact the village at 926-4597 or usshakers@aol.com for your complimentary copy. The catalog is also accessible online at www.shaker.lib.me.us.

Kindergarten registration

The Memorial School at 86 Intervale Road, New Gloucester, is now conducting registration for 4- and 5-year-olds. If you have a child who will be 4 by Oct. 15, 2012 (pre-kindergarten) or 5 by that same date (kindergarten), please call Cindy at 926-4322 to pre-register. Once registered, you will be contacted by mail.

Nomination papers

Nomination papers will be available on Monday, March 19, for board of selectmen and SAD 15 school board of directors. Nomination papers must have at least 25 and no more than 100 signatures of New Gloucester voters for certification and must be returned to the town office by Friday, April 27. There are two openings for selectmen and two openings for the school board, all for three-year terms. The town election will take place in conjunction with the primary on Tuesday, June 12, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Memorial School, 86 Intervale Road.

Boogie on Mondays

You have three more chances to participate in “Dance! Fitness for Fun” classes. Drop in to a class held at the Community Building behind Town Hall on any of the next three Mondays, March 19, 26 or April 2 at 7 p.m. to register and pay $7 per class. Make check payable to New Gloucester Recreation; no cash, please.

Classes will be taught by Heather Denton and start at 7:15 p.m. An energetic mix of music designed to be fun and flexible for a variety of participants will provide the motivation for these 45- to 50-minute classes. For more information, contact Harvey Price Jr., New Gloucester Recreation Director at 926-4126 ext. 231 or hprice@newgloucester.com.

Nearby blood drives

You have two opportunities to donate blood in New Gloucester this month. The American Red Cross will be hosting a drive at Pineland Farms, 16 Pineland Drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday, March 14. Donation types are blood and double red cell. Another drive will occur at the Masonic Hall, located near the blinking light on Route 100, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, March 24. The donation type will be blood only.

Appointments are recommended, but not required. If desired, contact the American Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767 or go to www.redcrossblood.org.

Chris and Sarah Lee of Freeport enjoy their fourth time out this season cross-country skiing at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester on March 2. They said that they rely on the sport to stay in shape this time of year and commented that so far it has been difficult to keep fit this winter. Despite their concerns, they whisked off skate skiing in fine form. (Photo by Patti Mikkelsen)