What’s a canicross?

As part of the second annual Pineland Farms Trail Challenge Sunday, 20 teams of humans and canines joined forces to compete in a canicross. This is a sport in which a person is being pulled by a harnessed dog while running or walking.

A line with an integrated shock cord is attached to the dog’s harness and extends to a belt worn by the human. The dog is trained to keep tension on the line while traveling at human speeds.

Yaaard sale

Hall’s Self Storage will be hosting a Wicked Good Yaaard Sale offering wicked good stuff June 21 and June 22. Be sure to reserve a spot now.

A $10 donation will land you a 16-square-foot space on the highly visible, very busy, and convenient location of Hall’s Self Storage situated near the Route 26 Gray/New Gloucester line. Your sawbuck will be donated to the New Lungs for George fund. As most locals are aware, New Gloucester resident George Carman is a firefighter who battles Cystic Fibrosis every day.

Remember the longtime adage, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” so bring your table and your wicked good stuff and make some extra cash while helping out this wonderful cause. Call 657-3311 to reserve your space today. Businesses are welcome.

Healthy growth

Betsey-Ann Golon, head herb gardener at Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, will conduct two herbal workshops at the village located on Route 26.

Golon will be presenting “Designing an Herbal Theme Garden” on your choice of either Wednesday, June 4, or Saturday, June 7.

Herb gardens can be designed with many core ideas in mind: medieval, children’s, aromatherapy, Bible, meditative, to name a few. Students should bring information about their proposed garden site for individual help and suggestions for layout. Participants will receive several field grown herbs from Shaker gardens. The fee is $40, and pre-registration is required.

Golon will be presenting “Herbal Kitchen Garden” on your choice of either Wednesday, June 11, or Saturday, June 14. Grow your own fresh culinary herbs in a window, on a patio, or beyond. Plants, tips, recipes, and potted starters will be provided. The fee is $35, and pre-registration is required. For more information on the workshops, call 926-4597 or e-mail usshakers@aol.com.

Joyful noises

Emilia Dahlin and the Tough Cats will perform at the Village Coffeehouse Saturday, June 7. This concert originally had been scheduled for early March, but was postponed due a snowstorm.

Dahlin is a unique songstress. She weaves mesmerizing tales with raw, rootsy folk and dynamic jazz vocals. The Penobscot Bay-based Tough Cats were voted the Best Roots Act in a recent poll conducted by the Portland Phoenix.

The Village Coffeehouse is located at the First Congregational Church near the corner of Route 231 and Gloucester Hill Road. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the door: $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and children. For more information, call Julie Fralich 926-3161 or the church office 926-3260.

The third annual Maine Festival of American Music will be held on June 25-28 at the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, Route 26, New Gloucester.

The festival is directed by the Portland String Quartet. The four-day festival includes three evening concerts, a workshop and master class day, a lecture/demonstration centered on Shaker music, and a special Shaker folk art exhibit.

Guest artists are saxophonist Kenneth Radnofsky and cellist/carbon instrument maker Luis Leguia. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call 926-4597 or e-mail: usshakers@aol.com.

School budget

A new two-step process for voting on school budgets has been enacted this year by the state affecting all communities. A public budget meeting precedes a validation vote at the polls.

At the budget meeting, Gray and New Gloucester citizens will have the opportunity to approve a school budget by voting on six cost centers as well as any additional budget items, such as Adult Education. At the end of the meeting, the finalized budget will be sent to the voters for a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote on the total 2008-09 school budget during the town elections.

If you are unable to attend the budget meeting, it will be important for you to read posted materials regarding the school budget at the polling place.

The budget meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 5, at the Middle School Gym. Registration will begin at 6:30 p.m. with the meeting to follow at 7 p.m. The School Administrative District 15 School Board understands that this new procedure may be confusing; therefore, the Superintendent’s Office will be ready to answer any questions about this new process. Call 657-3335 or e-mail vburns@msad15.org.

Rachael Colbath of Guilford, N.H. is pulled by her dog named Gouda during the Maine Track Club

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