Winning Student Auto Mechanics

On Saturday, June 8, two Maine high school students are heading to the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition national finals at Ford Motor Corporation World Headquarters in Dearborn, Mich. Noah Ufkin, a senior at Gray-New Gloucester High School, and Alex Grover, of North Yarmouth, won the regional competition on Saturday, May 11, at New England Dragway in Epping, NH.

Twenty students representing 10 high schools across Maine competed for the right to represent the state at the national competition. Students had to diagnose and fix uniformly bugged mechanical problems on their assigned Ford cars as quickly as possible, while ensuring quality workmanship. The two-person team that repaired all problems on its car first would be the winner of the competition. Ufkin and Grover, who both take classes at Portland Arts & Technology High School, fixed their car in just under an hour.

Final Village Coffee House Concert of the Season

The New Gloucester Village Coffee House will be ending the season with a delightful evening of songs from the album “Speak Love” by Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass, Saturday, June 1. The performers will be vocalist Jazmin DeRice, accompanied by Peter Eberhardt on bass and Alex Adams on guitar.

The concert will take place in the Vestry Community Room of the First Congregational Church, 19 Gloucester Hill Road, New Gloucester. Admission at the door is $10 for adults; $5 for seniors and children under 12. Coffee and tea are free, while snacks are available for a small donation. For more information, contact Michael Fralich, 653-6151, or the First Congregational Church, 926-3260.

Rooting for Democracy

Plant Sale

The sixth annual Rooting for Democracy plant sale, hosted by the New Gloucester Democratic Committee, will be held on Saturday, June 8, from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Lil’ Mart, Route 100, New Gloucester. Plants of all varieties including perennials, annuals, house plants, vegetables and herbs from committee members’ personal gardens will be offered at bargain prices. Arrive early for the best selection.

Win lobsters – or other seafood of your choice. Two $50 gift certificates to an area seafood retail store will be raffled off at the plant sale. Tickets cost $3 each or two tickets for $5. The drawing will be held at noon; you need not be present to win. For more information, or to donate plants, contact Nichole Stevens at 807-7694.

Activities at

Shaker Village

Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village will be offering three free events on Saturday, June 1. They include crafts demonstrations by R&R Spinners and blacksmith Tim Greene at 10 a.m., and Shape Note Singing from 1-4:30 p.m.

Shaker Herb Garden Tours, led by herbalist Betsey-Ann Golon, will occur on Tuesday, June 4 and Thursday, June 6, as well every Tuesday and Thursday through August, at 2:15 p.m. The fee is $7 for adults, $2 for children, and free for those under 6. Reservations are suggested.

A Chair Caning Workshop, by instructor Bill Ambrose, will take place on Saturday, June 8, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Learn the seven-step method of chair caning. Bring a hand-woven chair of your own that is clean and sound. Cane will be provided to get you started on your first chair. Pre-registration is required, and the fee is $35. See www.shaker.lib.me.us, or call 926-4597, for more details.

Summer Reading Program

Come “Dig Into Reading” with the New Gloucester Public Library, 379 Intervale Road, by signing up for the summer reading program anytime from Tuesday, June 11 through Saturday, June 29. The program concludes Tuesday, Aug. 20. For more information, call 926-4840.

Discount Passes to Funtown Splashtown

New Gloucester Parks and Recreation is offering Funtown-Splashtown USA combination passes for $27, regularly priced at $36. Tickets are now available and can be purchased at the New Gloucester Town Office, 385 Intervale Road. If you have any questions, contact Parks and Recreation Director Harvey Price Jr. at 926-4126, ext. 1, or hprice@newgloucester.com.

Annual Town Meeting is Rapidly Approaching

New Gloucester voters will consider 34 warrant articles at its annual town meeting, Monday, June 3. A new process will be enacted. Please enter at the main entrance of Memorial School, 86 Intervale Road. A voter check-in will occur at the school gymnasium entrance beginning at 6:30 p.m., and the meeting will start at 7 p.m. View the warrant at www.newgloucester.com, or look for postings around town.

Town Election

New this year, the town election will be held at the New Gloucester Fire Station, 611 Lewiston Road. Polls will be open from 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Tuesday, June 11. See www.newgloucester.com for sample ballots, or look for postings around town.