Upper Village Master Planning Workshop II

The New Gloucester Planning Department and Land Management Planning Committee invite you to join them to help shape future growth and redevelopment in the Upper Village. The second in a series of three workshops will be held at the Memorial School Gymnasium, 86 Intervale Road, starting at 9 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 16.

An early lunch and homemade apple pie will be served. For more information, call Paul First, Town Planner, at 926-4126, ext. 4.

New Gloucester WWII Veterans

The New Gloucester Historical Society will honor the town’s World War II veterans with a program on Thursday, Nov. 21, beginning at 7 p.m. in the New Gloucester Meetinghouse, 389 Intervale Road, next to the Town Hall. The veterans will share reminiscences of their military service. Members, friends and the general public are invited. Refreshments will be served.

Sparks’ Ark

Meet Josh Sparks of Sparks’ Ark and the array of wild animals he rehabilitates. This program will occur from 1-2 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 27, and will be repeated on Monday, Dec. 23. It is open to ages 3 and up and will be held in the Mt. Washington Room of the Pineland Commons. Buy tickets at The Market and Welcome Center, 15 Farm View Drive, New Gloucester for $5 per person.

Shaker Store Open Saturdays

The Shaker Museum, founded in 1931, marked the close of its 82nd season on Oct. 14. Visitors are being thanked for their patronage in partaking of tours, programs, demonstrations and special events throughout the season at Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village.

The Shaker Store with a full line of gifts, crafts, herbs, yarn, homemade pickle, relish and jelly, and much more, will remain open on Saturdays, 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., through Saturday, Dec. 7, which marks the date of the annual Shaker Christmas Fair.

Free Thanksgiving Dinner

The New Gloucester Bible Church, located on Lewiston Road (Route 100), will host a free Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 28, from 12-2 p.m. at its Fellowship Hall. This is a free dinner for anyone dining alone or unable to afford a traditional Thanksgiving meal. If you would like to join in, please call Pastor Dan at 926-3140, so the organizers will know you are coming.

Help Your Neighbors at Christmastime

The Caring Community of Gray-New Gloucester is now distributing applications for Christmas food baskets and gifts/clothing for children. Individuals and families residing in one of the two towns who find themselves in need of holiday assistance are asked to fill out an application. Submit the completed form no later than Friday, Dec. 6, to the special designated lock box at any of the following locations: both town halls, Gray Public Library, Dunn, Memorial and Russell Schools.

Sponsors and monetary donations are always needed. Donations can be sent to CCGNG, PO Box 1244, Gray, ME 04039. For more information, including how to become a sponsor, please contact Christina Foster at winkers92@yahoo.com or 233-0828.

New TV Show

A new documentary about Seguin Island will be telecast on New Gloucester community access Channel 3 TV on Friday, Nov. 15, through Sunday, Nov. 17, at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. It will be available as video on demand at newgloucester.com.

Former U.S. Coast Guard light keeper Fred Kahrl narrates and conducts interviews about Seguin Island, located at the mouth of the Kennebec River. The second oldest lighthouse in Maine resides on it, perched 180 feet above sea level. The program was recorded during the summer and fall of 2013, and its running time is 54 minutes.

Town Facilities Holiday Schedule

The New Gloucester Public Library will be closing at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27. All Town facilities will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 28, to celebrate Thanksgiving. Only the transfer station will be open Friday, Nov. 29, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Saturday, Nov. 30, the public library will be open from 9 a.m. to noon, and the transfer station will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Owen and Ava, son and daughter of Brad and Lindsay Austin, go trick-or-treating at the New Gloucester Town Hall complex, Oct. 31. A tent was set up to shelter the 316 children who braved the rain to be rewarded by candy. Deputy Town Clerk Sharlene Myers and Parks and Recreation director Harvey Price Jr. headed up the annual Halloween festivity.