Got a green thumb?

To prepare for its second annual Rooting for Democracy plant sale, the New Gloucester Democratic Committee is soliciting nicely potted plants that are clearly identified. Please be mindful of avoiding invasive species. The plant sale, to benefit the committee’s work, will be held on Saturday, June 6, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Cloutier’s Market on Route 100 in the Upper Village. Plants of all varieties from our personal gardens will be offered for sale. Arrive early for the best selection. To arrange for a plant donation, contact Caroline Loupe, 926-5983, cmloupe@maine.rr.com.

In addition, raffle tickets to win lobsters fresh from the bay will be sold at the plant sale. Two lucky names drawn will each win six of Maine’s premier delicacy. The price of a raffle ticket is $3 each or four for $10. The drawing will be held during the plant sale at noon; you need not be present to win. Lobster raffle tickets may be purchased in advance by calling Mary Duggan at 926-4448.

Shaker goings-on

The Sabbathday Lake Shaker Museum and the Shaker Store, Route 26, New Gloucester, will be opening for the 2009 season on Friday, May 22. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays (closed Sundays) through Columbus Day. Tours are available daily, as is “The Human and the Eternal,” an exhibit of Shaker folk art. Special events, crafts workshops and crafts demos are also a large part of the season.

Learn how to make a traditional painted canvas floor cloth at a workshop on Saturday, May 23, from 10-4 at the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village. The fee is $50, and preregistration is required.

Participants at a May 30 garden workshop will learn how to lay out a garden for herbs, vegetables and flowers using companion planting, layering, organic methods and raised beds. Fee is $40, which includes catalogs, seeds, soil recipes and plants. Preregistration is required. For more information: 926-4597 or www.shaker.lib.me.us.

Library goings-on

Friends of the New Gloucester Public Library invite everyone to help with a spring spruce-up of the library’s gardens and grounds on May 16, 9 a.m.-noon. Existing gardens will be cleaned up and new garden sites will be prepared, along with some raking, trimming and cleaning. Please bring your gloves, shovels and rakes. Light refreshment will be provided.

Library Director Suzan Hawkins will be leading an evening Story Time on Tuesday, May 19, at 6:30 p.m. Maine is celebrating Arbor Week during the third full week in May, so this special Story Time will feature a tree theme. Plans are to hold it in the Bob Leighton Memorial Gazebo, so come dressed warmly and feel free to bring a blanket.

A Volunteer Appreciation party was held on April 26. Graduating senior Chelsea Benoit was presented with a gift certificate to Waldenbooks. Also, books were purchased to honor her, Deb Chandler, Grace Christian, Kathleen D’Amboise, Ann Domas, Beverly Leighton, Steven Levesque, Lisa Marie Lindenschmidt, Morgan Lindenschmidt, Lila Littlefield, Lucille McCann, Harriet MacGregor, Annemarie Salzberg, Tim Terranova, Emily Terranova, Betty Thurston, Claire Tisdale and Peter Turner.

Town goings-on

Spring Clean-Up Week at the New Gloucester Transfer Station will be held from May 9 through May 16 during regular hours.

The three candidates who have been certified to run for two open spots on the Board of Selectmen are Linda Chase, Mark Leighton and Joshua McHenry. The two candidates who have been certified to run for two open positions on the SAD 15 School Board are Kathleen Potter and David Sutherland. The town election will be held on Tuesday, June 9, at the Memorial School Gymnasium.

Great Strides

The New Lungs for George team will be hoofing around Back Cove in Portland as part of the annual Great Strides walk sponsored by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation on Saturday, May 16. The pledges raised to date fall short of the team’s fundraising goal, so more donations are needed to invest in vital CF programs in the areas of research, care and education. Making a donation is easy and secure at www.cff.org.

Free career workshop

A workshop on medical coding, billing and transcription will be held at Gray-New Gloucester High School, May 11, at 6 p.m. This free session will provide information on program certification, costs, financing and eligibility, plus describe the program offered through Gray-New Gloucester Adult and Community Education beginning in June. All are welcome, as this seminar is not limited to Gray-New Gloucester residents. For more information, call Adult Ed at 657-2620.

It’s history

he New Gloucester Historical Society will hold a meeting on Thursday, May 21, at 7 p.m. in the New Gloucester Meetinghouse, next to the Town Hall. The meeting will be a business meeting only; all members are encouraged to attend to discuss various items, including the History Barn.

The White Mountain Boys gave the audience at the May 2 New Gloucester Coffee House their moneyonathan Sarty, Joshua Ramsey on guitar, and the newest band member, New Gloucester