Coffeehouse Opens

Synaptic Cleft will open the season for the Village Coffeehouse on Saturday, Sept. 6, at 7:30 p.m. An inventive and creative trio, Synaptic Cleft features Xar Adelberg on bass (formerly with Cinder Conk a favorite of the Coffeehouse), Mark Barnette on drums, and Frank Mauceri on the horn. This music is jazz-like and beyond. It’s inventive, creative and energetic.

Hear the group perform at the Village Coffeehouse in the Vestry Community Room of the First Congregational Church, 19 Gloucester Hill Road, New Gloucester. Tickets will be available at the door for $10 per person. For more information, contact Julie Fralich at 926-3161 or the church office at 926-3260.

Folk Festival

Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, 707 Shaker Road, off Route 26, New Gloucester, will be abuzz with activities at their Folk Festival on Saturday, Sept. 13.

Free, traditional craft demonstrations will occur from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. They include “From Fiber to Finish” by the R&R Spinners, “Blacksmithing” by Tim Greene, and “Shaker Style Brush Making” by Kent Ruesswick.

Two workshops will be offered, both requiring pre-registration. Join local, award-winning, master-carver Norm Devonshire from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. for the basics of carving, including proper use of the knife, types of cuts, methods and techniques, and sharpening at “Beginner’s Woodcarving.’ The fee is $50. From 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., artist and instructor Bonnie Faulkner will teach the art of handmade books at the “Art of Basic Bookbinding” with a fee of $55.

Take a 3-mile guided hike through the Shakers’ land during “Nature’s Outdoor Classroom.” Learn about indigenous species and the many, diverse habitats of Shaker Village. Dress for the weather and wear appropriate footwear. Choose from a walk that starts at 10:30 a.m. or one that starts at 2 p.m. Fees are adults $8, children $2, and under 6 free. Reservations are encouraged, but not required.

Treat yourself to a homemade Shaker apple fritter and fresh cider throughout the day. To pre-register for a workshop or obtain more information, call 926-4597 or email usshakers@aol.com.

History Talk

Maine and the American Revolution will be the topic of a presentation given at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 18, at the Meetinghouse, 389 Intervale Road, New Gloucester. Steven B. Rogers, retired U.S. Department of Justice historian, will be the speaker. This talk, sponsored by the New Gloucester Historical Society, is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

Candidate Forums

The local cable access television channel in New Gloucester will be covering two political forums that are open to the public. On Friday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m., incumbent Sen. John Cleveland and challenger Eric Brakey will participate in a Senate District 20 forum. On Thursday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m., incumbent Rep. Eleanor Espling and challenger Rosa Van Wie will take part in a House District 65 forum.

Both events will be held at the Meetinghouse, 389 Intervale Road, New Gloucester, and resident Beverly Cadigan will serve as the moderator. Voters are encouraged to send in questions in advance to be asked by the moderator. The deadlines for submitting questions are Monday, Sept. 22, for the Senate forum and Friday, Oct. 3 for the House forum. Send questions either by email to ngcabletv@gmail.com, or by mail to NGTV, Town of New Gloucester, 385 Intervale Road, New Gloucester, ME 04260.

Both forums will be telecast live and will be rebroadcast on Channel 3 following the live broadcasts on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., leading up to Election Day. Also, the programs will be available as video on demand at www.newgloucester.com.

New Gloucester resident Olivia Bedard, nearly 5, successfully completes the 85-foot-long inflatable obstacle course known as the Boot Camp Challenge at the New Gloucester Community Fair, Aug. 23. The town’s fair committee, headed up by Michael Bardier, is to be congratulated for organizing a highly successful event, drawing thousands of fair-goers.