The Kelly Parker Band to Perform at New Gloucester Fair

The New Gloucester Community Fair Committee is excited to announce that the Kelly Parker Band will be headlining this year’s musical performances at the New Gloucester Fairgrounds located at 106 Bald Hill Road.

“The Kelly Parker Band is well known throughout Maine,” said Michael Bardier, chairman of the fair committee. “They have a large following, and we’re very excited they will be performing at our fair.” The band will be performing from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20, and is expected to bring in a large crowd.

Also, new this year, will be a performance from the New England Jazz Band and returning will be well known local favorites the Intergalatic Yurt Band and the Peterson Project.

“This year, we’ve been experiencing a growth spurt,” said Bardier. “We have new food vendors, a record number of crafters and artisans (over 30) and new events, too. For example, we have a pumpkin decorating contest, an antler-tossing contest and laser tag.”

The Gray-New Gloucester Lions Club Car Show has expanded its categories and is expecting more than 200 cars. There will also be a petting zoo, pony rides, a bicycle raffle, a bounce house, rock wall, trapeze, wrecker ball, bake-off, fire and rescue demo, antique tractor show, snowmobile expo, text and drive obstacle course, Slugger, Crusher, and lots more. Listen to the bands and find more information by visiting www.newgloucesterfair.com.

Benefit Bake Sale

Delicious fresh baked goods will be for sale at the Gray Public Library Book Sale on?Saturday, Oct. 20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sponsored by the Caring Community of GNG, all proceeds from the bake sale will be used to purchase food for Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets.

Cheerleading Clinic Fundraiser

A Diamonds cheerleading clinic fundraiser will be put on by Coach Becky Norton and the Super Diamonds team from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 26. This will be a fun night out for children ages 4 through sixth grade who would like to learn some basic jumps, a cheer, a dance and stunts. Snacks will be available. Participants should wear clean indoor sneakers or bare feet, shorts, sweatpants or leggings and snug-fitting T-shirts. Long hair should be worn up.

The clinic will be held at the Memorial School Gym, 86 Intervale Road, New Gloucester. The cost is $10 per child, and the money raised will go toward new cheerleading uniforms. Please make checks payable to the town of New Gloucester and submit with a completed registration form to Harvey Price, Jr., 385 Intervale Road, New Gloucester, ME 04260 by Tuesday, Oct. 23. No registrations will be accepted after that date. Contact Price at 926-4126 or hprice@newgloucester.com for more information.

Family Education Programs at ?Pineland Farms

On Tuesday, Oct. 23, learn how to turn cream from the farm’s cows into fresh butter. Meet the farm’s chickens, collect their eggs, and learn how to feed and care for them on Wednesday, Oct. 24. Try your hand at milking a cow and take a tour of the dairy barns to learn about Holstein cows and how they are cared for on Tuesday, Oct. 30.

Programs run from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Please arrive 15 minutes early to allow time to buy tickets and get to your program, which costs $5 per person. Purchase tickets at The Market and Welcome Center, 15 Farm View Drive, New Gloucester. For more information, please contact Paula Letiecq at 688-4800, ext. 15 or pletiecq@pinelandfarms.org.

Election and Absentee Voting

The next election will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 6, at Memorial School, 86 Intervale Road, New Gloucester from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Ballots will consist of state referendum questions, a school referendum question and candidates for state and national offices. ?Absentee ballots are available at Town Hall during regular office hours, Mondays 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Fridays 9 a.m.-2 p.m. An absentee ballot application can be printed from the town website: www.newgloucester.com and be mailed or hand-delivered to the town office. Another option is to vote in person at Town Hall prior to the election during regular office hours. The last day to vote absentee is Nov. 1, 2012. If you have any questions, please call 926-4126 ext.1 or e-mail bseaver@newgloucester.com.

Dog Licenses

Dog licenses for the 2013 year are now available at the New Gloucester town office. Dog licenses all expire Dec. 31 each year, with a one-month grace period. An extra fine of $25 per dog applies for registrations done after Jan. 31, 2013.

From left, Melinda Libby, Kelly Dore and Shirley Girard, who call themselves “Vanilla Shakes,” perform at a well-attended USO Show sponsored by AMVETS Post 6 in New Gloucester, Oct. 13. The benefit show raised $754 toward the construction of a proposed New Gloucester Veterans Monument.