Gilbert to Embark on a Promising Career

Clifford Gilbert of New Gloucester, son of Marc and Diane Gilbert, graduated in May from Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I. He earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration with a major in marketing and a minor in communications.

Gilbert is a 2003 graduate of St. Dominic Regional High School in Auburn, and was a member of the 2001 Boys Class C State Championship soccer team. While at Bryant University, he served as executive vice president of the Bryant Marketing Association. The association performed marketing projects for a variety of companies and sponsored the Rhode Island Blood Drive on campus.

Gilbert has accepted a position as a sales representative with Lightolier, a division of The Genlyte Thomas Group, with manufacturing and distribution facilities in the United States and Canada. Headquartered in Fall River, Mass., Lightolier offers a comprehensive selection of architectural and decorative lighting for residential and commercial applications. Lighting options include decorative, track, fluorescent, downlighting and lighting controls. After completion of a six-month training program at the Fall River Corporate office and the Boston Sales Office, he will be assigned to the Connecticut sales office in Waterbury, Conn.

Third-Graders Presented with Dictionaries

The Sabbathday Lake Grange is proud to support the Dictionary Project through its Words for Thirds program. Through the tireless efforts of the Grange’s network of more than 200,000 members, America’s oldest rural and agricultural organization has presented third grade students across the nation with more than 100,000 dictionaries.

And that number has grown when Sabbathday Lake Grange presented 135 dictionaries to the third-grade students at the Dunn School in New Gloucester on Dec. 5. Money for the dictionaries was raised during the summer through raffle tickets sold at their public suppers.

A dictionary is one of the most powerful reference tools young children will be introduced to during their schooling years. Its usefulness goes beyond just providing correct spellings, pronunciations, and definitions. It is also a companion for solving problems that arise as children develop their reading, writing, and creative thinking abilities.

“It is always amazing to see the smiles on the children’s faces when we present them with their dictionaries,” Sabbathday Lake Grange Master Steven Haycock said. “It gives them a sense of pride when they have a dictionary to look up words on their own. It promotes learning and helps mold their self-confidence and independence.”

The Grange, headquartered in Washington, D.C., partnered with The Dictionary Project, a nonprofit organization in 2002. The goal of the program is to assist third-grade students to complete their school years as good writers, active readers, and creative thinkers by providing them with their own personal dictionaries. The dictionaries are a gift to each student to use at school or home for years to come. The organization has presented more than 1.8 million children with dictionaries.

Sabbathday Lake Grange 365 would like to invite you to help them put a smile on the faces of children at Dunn School next year. For more information, contact Haycock at granger04071@aol.com. To learn more about the Grange’s Words for Thirds program, visit www.nationalgrange.org or call 1-888-4-GRANGE.

Christmas Wrap and Tree Disposal

Sad to say, but in a few days all of the Christmas presents will have been opened, and the ornaments will have been removed from our decorated trees. So, what should New Gloucester residents do with their crumbled gift paper and bare evergreens?

Transfer Station Director Jeff Pratt advises people to recycle used Christmas wrap by placing it in the mixed paper bin. A small amount of tape is acceptable but should be kept to minimum. Bows and ribbons cannot be recycled, so they should be included in the regular household trash. Add your tree to a pile that will be set aside for eventual mulching.

When asked if there are any general mistakes visitors to the transfer station make while recycling, Pratt singled out the misguided practice of leaving the lids on glass containers. People are reminded to remove the caps beforehand. Also, porcelain is not accepted. All in all, Pratt is very complimentary of how well residents are doing in sorting their recyclables. If anyone has questions on disposal issues, call 926-3145.

Pageant This Sunday

Because of the major snowstorm last Sunday, the annual Children’s Christmas Pageant originally scheduled to take place at the First Congregational Church on Dec. 16 will now take place this Sunday instead. For more information, call 926-3260.

Two Candlelight Services

Two Candlelight Services will be held on Christmas Eve. Both the First Congregational Church on Gloucester Hill Road and the New Gloucester Bible Church on the Lewiston Road will be holding services at 7 p.m.

Pineland YMCA Senior Socials

The Pineland YMCA invites anyone 55 years of age or older to join in on its senior social every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon. Activities include bowling, walking, cards, board games, crafts and trips. For more information, contact Brad Davie at 688-2255, Ext. 31.

Town Announcements:

Dec. 25: All town facilities will be closed for Christmas.

Dec. 28: Story Time, 9:30 a.m., Library