Project Sticker Shock
Students from Gray-New Gloucester High School collaborated with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department and Casco Bay CAN to visit local businesses and promote Project Sticker Shock, a national and statewide program. The students volunteered for the project to bring awareness about the consequences of purchasing alcohol for underage individuals by placing awareness stickers on beverage packages.

The stickers highlight Maine laws prohibiting providing or purchasing alcohol for a minor. Volunteers wore T-shirts promoting their efforts, and they presented participating businesses with a recognition award certificate for helping to keep teens safe and healthy. Project Sticker Shock is held annually, during prom and graduation season. For more information, visit www.cascobaycan.org.

Neal gets top Lions award
Lions member Clara Neal of New Gloucester was awarded a Melvin Jones Fellowship for exceptional service at a recent meeting of the Gray-New Gloucester Lions. This award, named for the founder of Lions International, is the highest award given to Lions members.

Neal is the first women in the club to receive this prestigious award, but she is no stranger to being first. When she initially joined the GNG club in 1987, she was the first woman to become a full club member and only the second woman in District 41L, which encompassed two-thirds of the state.

Much has changed since 1987. Today, women make up nearly 50 percent of the GNG club and nearly the same percentage for Maine District 41. Women now serve in many of the key positions throughout the state including as district director, the highest state office. She joins her fellow GNG Lions in inviting service-minded women and men to join the club in service to the blind and visually impaired and to the Gray-New Gloucester community as a whole.

Town election
Polls will be open from 6 a.m.-8 p.m., Tuesday, June 14, for the town election, which will be held at the Fire Station, 611 Lewiston Road, New Gloucester.

There are two SAD 15 bond referendum questions, a school budget validation vote, and state primary candidates on the ballot. Additionally, there are four candidates for two openings on the New Gloucester Board of Selectmen, three candidates for three openings on the SAD 15 Board of Directors, and one candidate for one opening on the New Gloucester Water District Board of Trustees. Note that only citizens who reside within the town’s water district may vote for water board candidates. See www.newgloucester.com to view sample ballots.

Strawberry Festival
The 41st annual New Gloucester Strawberry Festival will be held on Thursday, June 23, from 6-8 p.m., at the First Congregational Church Vestry, 19 Gloucester Hill Road, New Gloucester. Featured will be delicious strawberry shortcakes made with native berries, homemade biscuits and an area favorite – Hodgman’s Frozen Custard.

Live music will be provided by the Berry, Berry Good Band. A baked goods table will be sponsored by the members and friends of the New Gloucester Historical Society.

Dovetails workshop
Internationally known woodworker Chris Becksvoort, of New Gloucester, will share his life-long expertise and techniques as a master cabinetmaker and scholar of Shaker furniture at two dovetails workshops on Saturday, June 25. The morning workshop goes from 9 a.m.-noon, and it is repeated from 1-4 p.m.

Dovetail joints are classic characteristics of many examples of Shaker furniture from the 19th century. During the workshop, participants will learn the proper layout procedure, techniques and tricks to cutting dovetails: spacing, marking, sawing to the line, chopping and fitting. Bring a pencil, 12-inch ruler, utility knife, square, marking gauge, T-bevel (or dovetail marker), mallet, dovetail saw and chisels – 1/4-inch, 1/2- inch, 3/4-inch, and 1-inch.

The workshop will be held at Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, 707 Shaker Road, New Gloucester. The fee is $50, and pre-registration is required. Register online at www.maineshakers.com or by phone at 926-4597, and indicate morning or afternoon.

Project Sticker Shock’s Cara Phillips, left, Rachael Lachance, Alex Lambert and Erica Schlichting present New Gloucester Village Store owner Sam Coggeshall with a recognition award last month. The girls and other volunteers for Project Sticker Shock, sponsored by Casco Bay CAN, place stickers on beverages to warn about the consequences of buying alcohol for those who are under age.

Clara Neal excepts the Melvin Jones Fellowship award for exceptional service from her husband, Dean Neal, president of the Gray-New Gloucester Lions Club. The award is the highest award bestowed to Lions members.