Special Events Spice Up Farmers’ Markets

The New Gloucester Farmers’ Market at Connemara Farm, open every Tuesday from 3-7 p.m., offers an array of fresh and reasonably priced fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, lobster and crabs, organic butter, sweets, breads, artisan crafts, fibers, pasture-raised lamb, beef, and pork, goat cheese, soap, and a good variety of ice-cold beverages.

In addition to live music weekly, August special events consist of Vermicomposting by Phoebe Hardesty on Tuesday, Aug. 13. Get plans to make your own composting bins. Hardesty will explain the benefits of using worms to transform kitchen waste in a nutrient rich fertilizer.

Two events will occur on Tuesday, Aug. 20. There will be a book signing by Elise Richers, author of “Always in Season: Twelve Months of Fresh Recipes from the Farmer’s Markets of New England,” and a display of antique cars, trucks, and motorcycles.

On Tuesday, Aug. 27, the market will feature a demonstration and talk by Beth Ackers, of Ackers Acres Angoras in New Gloucester. Come watch her spin, visit her Angora rabbits, and view her fiber and yarn. She will offer hand-knit hats, mittens, scarves and socks for sale.

The New Gloucester Farmers’ Market is located at Connemara Farm, 37 Peacock Hill Road in New Gloucester’s Upper Village, off Route 100 behind Mario’s Restaurant. For more information, call 926-3672.

Share Your Garden Bounty

Local vegetable gardeners, who find themselves with an oversupply of produce when their backyard patch ripens, have a worthwhile outlet for their bounty. The Veggie Connection was established in 2006 to connect contributing gardeners with food pantry recipients, during the months of August and September.

Vegetables that are collected are brought to the local food pantry, located behind the First Congregational Church, 19 Gloucester Hill Road. As always, the pantry is open on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. The most needed crops are beans, squash and potatoes. Gardeners who are interested in donating their surplus produce are asked to contact Veggie Connection coordinator Beth Blakeman-Pohl, 650-5228, or abpohl@securespeed.us.

School Shopping for Homeless Teens

The Board of Missions of the New Gloucester First Congregational Church is sponsoring an effort to collect school-related products for homeless teens of the Greater Lewiston area. Items most needed include backpacks, gift cards to area retail stores, loose leaf binders and paper, spiral notebooks, highlighters, book cover material, pencils, pens, rulers, markers, colored pencils, tissues and small containers of hand sanitizers.

While you’re out shopping, simply purchase some of the above items and place them in the “school” box outside of the sanctuary, located at 19 Gloucester Hill Road, from now until mid-September. The homeless teen program is run under the auspices of Lewiston High School.

Doings at the Public Library

Poetry Night will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 14, and the Library Players Presentation, summer reading program awards, and mad science will be presented on Tuesday, Aug. 20. These programs start at 6:30 p.m. at the New Gloucester Public Library, 379 Intervale Road. Weather permitting, events will take place in the gazebo. For more information, call 926-4840.

Community Fair Coming Up Soon

In an attempt to have better weather, the New Gloucester Community Fair has been moved from October to Saturday, Aug. 24, this year. Festivities, including the Lions Car Show, food, crafters, entertainment, animals, games, and other family fun, will run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the New Gloucester Fairgrounds, 106 Bald Hill Road. Admission and parking are free (donations welcome), no smoking and no dogs, held rain or shine. See newgloucesterfair.com, or the fair’s Facebook page, for updates.

Weathervane Restoration

The Rev. Linda Gard, of New Gloucester’s First Congregational Church, reports that the weathervane was re-erected on the top of the steeple, Saturday, Aug. 3. It is believed that it has been there since the church was built, in 1838.

The cupola had been entirely rebuilt in the 1980s, but over time, the vane’s supporting beam rotted and the vane fell to one side during the Patriots’ Day storm of a few years ago. A crane and a man-lift were brought to the site to take it down.

Restoration involved gilding by Tony Castro, metal fabrication by Alan Hahnel, and replacement of the beam by Todd Keneagy. The crane and man-lift returned to the scene, and the weathervane was hoisted back to its original place of honor atop the steeple at 19 Gloucester Hill Road.

Fastest Afoot

Twenty-nine athletes from New Gloucester ran the TD Beach to Beacon 10K road race on Saturday, Aug. 3. The quickest time of 41:33 was turned in by 14-year-old Tucker Pierce, earning him a very impressive 389th place overall. Fastest female honors went to Maureen Sproul, 57, who finished 772nd overall with a remarkable time of 44:53.

Come vote for your favorite antique car, truck or motorcycle on Tuesday, Aug. 20, at the New Gloucester Farmers’ Market at Connemara Farm, 37 Peacock Hill Road, New Gloucester. The Best in Show trophy was created by local sculptor Patrick Plourde.