Strawberries and cream

No, I’m not talking about Wimbledon, but rather the annual Strawberry Festival sponsored by the New Gloucester Historical Society. The Berry, Berry Good Band provided the musical backdrop for this great summer tradition held on June 26.

Guests had a choice of many combinations of strawberries, biscuits, Hodgman’s frozen custard and whipped cream. Color-coded popsicle sticks streamlined the process, so the line progressed at a rapid pace.

Festival proceeds benefit ongoing needs of the society. More details on historical projects will be outlined in a future column.

Call to worship changes

The First Congregational Church of New Gloucester has announced a new schedule of worship services. For the months of July and August, instead of morning services, Sunday services will be held each week at 6 p.m. These vespers services will feature special musical offerings. Neighbors, vacationers and visitors are welcome.

The July 6 service, which opens the vespers series, will feature a sing-along of Independence Day favorites, accompanied by minister of music Beth Barefoot-Jones, followed by a dessert social in the vestry.

Musical offerings later in July and August will include New Gloucester violinist Becca Matusovich, Pownal bassist Jonathan Dawson and friends, young clarinet virtuoso Peter Bauer and his jazz combo, ensembles from the church’s Sanctuary Choir, and returning Bridgton a cappella singers Anne Polak and her daughters.

First Congregational-Christian Church, located in New Gloucester’s Lower Village, worships in its restored 1838 tall-steeple sanctuary at 19 Gloucester Hill Road, and continues to use its 1858 tracker (mechanical action) pipe organ to accompany hymn singing. Led by the Rev. Linda K. Gard, the church is a congregation of the United Church of Christ.

For more information on the summer vespers services or a schedule of the musical offerings, contact the church office at 926-3260. Please note that 9:30 a.m. services will resume in September.

Open tables

Tables for a flea market sponsored by AMVETS Auxiliary Post 6 can be reserved for $15 each. The sale will be held on Saturday, July 26, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the AMVETS Hall on Route 100. To reserve a table or for more information, call Joyce Hamilton at 926-4079 or Pat Kiley at 926-4232.

Bulging bus

On June 13, the Gray-New Gloucester PTSA, assisted by middle school students Brian Dubuc, Brandon Buck, Katie Hutchinson, and Demeron Lauze traveled to five Gray-New Gloucester schools with the goal of collecting a ton of food during their “Fill the Bus” food drive. They more than doubled their expectations by amassing 2,500 pounds of food. The bounty was delivered to the two local food banks.

The PTSA would like to thank the families of Gray and New Gloucester for their food donations, School Administrative District 15 for donating the bus to collect the food, Pike Industries for providing the scales to weigh the bus, and Hall’s Self Storage in Gray for the donation of a storage pod had it been needed.

Also, gratitude is expressed to Dawn Webster for accompanying the students on the bus ride and to Brian, Brandon, Katie, and Demeron for taking the time from their school schedules to help the PTSA with this very special project.

Emerging leaders

A June 10 ceremony was held to induct new members to the Gray-New Gloucester Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society for 2008-09. These new members will lead community and school projects throughout the coming year.

The society would like to congratulate inductees Kelsey Bailey, Brian Dubuc, Kristen Fecteau, Paul Fotter, Devanne Goodine, Cam Harmer, Katie Hersom, Brady Kirby, David McCann, Alexandrea Mitchell, Meagan O’Reilly, Sandy Ricardi, Collin Skilling, Karen Sutherland and Lucy Wilcox.

The National Junior Honor Society would like to thank these new members and their families for their contributions to the local school system and society as a whole. High expectations are set for the anticipated accomplishments of this elite group.

Town snippets

Town of New Gloucester residents and property owners may obtain new bulky waste permit stickers that became available July 1. A nominal fee applies. There is no disposal fee for regular household trash. Permit stickers and trash stickers are available at the town office.

Due to the reduction in the number of Community Fair Committee members this year, the October event is in jeopardy of being cancelled or greatly scaled down. Anyone who would like to pitch in to guarantee the continuation of this much-anticipated event is urged to attend the committee’s next meeting on Tuesday, July 8, 7 p.m. at the public library.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the new fire-rescue station at the construction site on Route 100 will be held Wednesday, July 9, at 7 p.m. A large sign marks the location.

New Gloucester resident Gail Yeaton serves a bowl of strawberry shortcake at the First Congregational Church June 26 during the 33rd annual strawberry festival. The festival was sponsored by the New Gloucester Historical Society and featured music from the Berry Berry Good Band.