Berry-berry good

Any dish that includes whipped cream is wonderful in my book. Add homemade biscuits drenched with sweet strawberries, and a dessert descends from heaven. Could a frozen custard option be too decadent? No way!

Apparently 390 patrons agree, as a record number turned out on June 25 for the 34th annual edition of the New Gloucester Historical Society Strawberry Festival. This popular benefit was made possible by 60 volunteers capably guided by Jean Libby, event chair.

The Berry-Berry Good Band provided the musical entertainment, the Hodgman family donated the frozen custard, and Pineland Farms contributed the strawberries at a bargain price.

Grange public supper

Sabbathday Lake Grange will be holding a public smorgasbord supper on Saturday, July 18, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The menu will include hot dogs, baked beans, assorted casseroles, salads, and pies for dessert. The hall, which is handicapped accessible, is located on Sabbathday Road in New Gloucester, just off Route 26. Tickets cost $7 for adults and $3 for children 12 and younger. Contact Steven Haycock 998-2783 or [email protected].

A big day at Shaker Village

Learn how to make beads woven from paper that will have many uses from jewelry to ornaments at a workshop on Saturday, July 18, from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, Route 26, New Gloucester. Materials will be provided, and the fee will be $20.

A “Freedom Basket” will be made by participants who attend a basket workshop from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Materials will be provided for these multicolored reed baskets, and the fee will be $45.

Rounding out the day’s activities, the R & R Spinners will be demonstrating spinning techniques with various materials beginning at 10 a.m. The demonstration will be free and open to the public.

To ensure available workshop openings, call 926-4597.

BBQ and wagon rides

Celebrate Maine Farm Day at Shaker Village, Route 26 in New Gloucester, from 12-4 p.m. on Sunday, July 26. Shaker community members have been farming this land since long before Maine became a state. Today Sabbathday Lake is the only active Shaker community in the world, and the members are pleased to open their farm to the public.

Barn tours, livestock viewing including Scottish Highland cattle, sheep, and pigs, museum tours and narrated wagon rides will be offered. Barbecue meals will be available for purchase. The Shaker Store and Museum Reception Center will be open also.

Pet show

Would you like to show off your beloved pet? Join us at the New Gloucester Public Library on Tuesday, July 21, at 6:30 p.m. for our fifth annual Pet Show.

All pets, be they scaly, furry, finned or slithery, are welcome to attend for pet-themed storytime, socialization and species-appropriate snacks. Light refreshments will be served for the human types. For more information, call Carla 926-4840.

Vacation Bible School

The New Gloucester Bible Church located on Route 100 will be hosting a “Mission Possible” Vacation Bible School for all “Special Agents” ages 4 through 12, free of charge. These spies in training will rendezvous at 9 a.m. for three hours of fun every day during the week of Aug. 3-7. For more information, call 926-3140.

Benefit ride

New and exciting features are being planned for the fourth annual Motorcycle Ride to benefit New Lungs for George on the weekend of Aug. 8-9, and organizers anticipate the largest turnout ever!

Sunday’s ride will start at Bentley’s Campground in Arundel and end at Thompson’s Orchard in New Gloucester. Those desiring a campsite for the night before are to book their reservations through ride organizer Amanda Bernier. She could make recommendations of nearby motels for noncampers.

A Saturday night pre-ride party is planned, as well as a Sunday breakfast buffet, which begins at 8:30 a.m. Registration starts at 9 a.m., and the ride gets in gear at approximately 10 a.m.

Several price options are available. The all-inclusive package, consisting of a campsite, Saturday dinner, breakfast buffet, benefit ride and pulled pork barbecue costs $75 single; $85 couple. The ride and barbecue only is priced at $25 single; $35 couple. Just the barbecue is $15 per person, and the breakfast buffet is offered to all riders who do not take the all-inclusive package for an additional $5 per person.

Door prizes will include gift certificates to local motorcycle shops, restaurants, hotels, campgrounds and merchandise such as helmets and T-shirts.

See www.n14gannualmotorcycleride.9f.com or call Bernier at 841-3518 for more information.

Nancy Wilcox of the New Gloucester Historical Society and Town Manager Sumner Field staffed a table filled with New Gloucester souvenirs to benefit the History Barn project at the 34th annual Strawberry Festival June 25.