Horse rescue needs rescuing

The hayloft is empty at Open Gates Equine Rescue located at 407 Morse Road, New Gloucester, and there are 14 horses at the rescue that are going to feel the pinch soon. Their normal feed of three-quarters of a hay bale daily is now reduced to a half bale of hay a day until the supply runs out within the next week. With winter coming on, this is not an acceptable level of hay intake to sustain body fat to keep the horses warm.

Donations have been far and few between and grants have been non-existent, not for lack of trying. Times are tough for everyone right now, but if you feel you can donate even $5, that will feed a horse for one day. The founders of the horse rescue are personally pinching pennies and dipping into their own wallets to feed the horses.

Upcoming Open Gates fundraisers include a presence at the Holly Fair in November at the First Congregational Church in Gray, Saturday, Nov. 19, and an event at Wilbur’s Chocolates in Freeport, Sunday, Dec. 4.

Please help the organization keep the horses fed because the financial situation has elevated to emergency status. Contact Open Gates Equine Rescue at 926-5570 for more information on these fundraisers, or send your donations to 407 Morse Road, New Gloucester, ME 04260.

Attention NG-based businesses and organizations

Would you like to get free publicity for your New Gloucester-based business or organization? A group of volunteers, working in conjunction with the town’s Economic Development Committee and planning department, are once again collecting business cards, company brochures and other materials to include in packets to be given to new residents.

About a 100 packets are going to be assembled, so to participate in the Welcome, Neighbor project, drop off a quantity of 100 of your item at the town office before Monday, Oct. 31. If you have any questions, please contact Patti Mikkelsen, 926-5660, mikks@maine.rr.com.

Pumpkin carving

It’s pumpkin time at Pineland Farms. Have fun carving jack-o-lanterns, roasting pumpkin seeds, and learning about these wonderful vegetables at a class held from 10-11:30 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 27. The cost is $5 per person; backpack babies are admitted free of charge. Please arrive 15 minutes early to allow time to buy tickets at The Market and Welcome Center, 15 Farm View Drive, New Gloucester. For more information or to register, call 688-4800 x15 or email education@pinelandfarms.org.

Potluck and games

Seniors (55+) are invited to a potluck luncheon and games from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 3, at New Gloucester’s Community Building (old fire station). Get together with longtime friends and meet new ones. Bring games you love to play and a food dish. The featured discussion topic for November will involve public safety.

These informal get-togethers will occur on the first Thursday of each month. For more information, contact Recreation Director Harvey Price Jr. at 926-4126 or hprice@newgloucester.com.

Grange hall welcomes community

The New Gloucester Grange Hall is looking to open its doors to artists, farmers and visionaries of the community. The space has potential as a locale for exhibits, performance, studio space, dance/movement and gatherings of all sorts. Lydia and Alex Burnham are the new owners, and they look forward to hearing from the collective of creators and innovators found in New Gloucester. In addition to holding space for the arts, the Burnhams are excited to help cater to the needs of the community.

Please contact them if you are interested in touring the premises located at 8 Grange Hall Road, walking through, brainstorming, etc. Find photos and information on Facebook under “New Gloucester Grange Hall,” or email Lydia at llobozzo@gmail.com.

21 Reasons Tip of the Month

When your teen watches sports on TV, what do they see between plays? This season, watch with your teen, and point out alcohol ads which appeal to youth. Encouraging critical thinking about alcohol advertising counteracts its message.

Town website redesign

Check out New Gloucester’s sharp-looking town website that has recently been redesigned, www.newgloucester.com. The group that worked on this project several months ago included Town Planner Paul First, Town Manager Sumner Field, Deputy Clerk Sharlene Myers, along with citizens Eric Ritter and Patti Mikkelsen. GovOffice.com customized the design.

During an open house for New Gloucester Fire-Rescue Department
on Oct. 12, in honor of National Fire Prevention Week, various
demonstrations were performed by the town’s fire and rescue
personnel, Bike Maine, Liberty Mutual Insurance, and members of the
Gray Fire and Rescue. New Gloucester’s Fire Chief Gary Sacco cooked
hamburgers and hot dogs for the 200-plus people who attended from
5-8 p.m. The Department also hosts an evening in May to celebrate
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week. New Gloucester
FirefightDuring an open house for New Gloucester Fire-Rescue
Department on Oct. 12, in honor of National Fire Prevention Week,
various demonstrations were performed by the town’s fire and rescue
personnel, Bike Maine, Liberty Mutual Insurance, and members of the
Gray Fire and Rescue. New Gloucester’s Fire Chief Gary Sacco cooked
hamburgers and hot dogs for the 200-plus people who attended from
5-8 p.m. The Department also hosts an evening in May to celebrate
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week. New Gloucester Firefighter
Dan Jackson, above, assists with a hand line on a firehouse demo.
(Photos courtesy by Vicki Lund of New Gloucester Fire-Rescue)
The Barry family of Farmingdale shows their approval as they
just finished sampling cheese cubes at the Pineland Farms Creamery
in New Gloucester as part of Open Creamery Day, Oct. 9. More
visitors are starting to arrive for their tour of the plant that
opened for business in 2005. (Photo by Patti Mikkelsen)

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