Unity Environmental University President Dr. Melik Khoury will lead a tour of the college’s Freeport Hall at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 3. The event is a networking opportunity supported by New Gloucester’s Economic and Community Development Committee. File photo / Portland Press Herald

Unity Environmental University tour

Local businesses, community organizations, residents, Gray-New Gloucester High School students, SAD 15 school board and staff, town officials and committees, Pineland Farms and Unity staff are invited to a reception to learn about Unity – Our Hometown University.

This Oct. 3 networking event is hosted by the town’s Economic and Community Development Committee and Unity Environmental University at Pineland Farms, 70 Farm View Drive at its Freeport Hall.

A tour of the Unity campus will be led by University President Dr. Melik Khoury beginning at 4:30 p.m., followed by networking and refreshments at 5:30 p.m., as well as discussion and a Q&A session at 6 p.m.

For more information, contact committee Chair Connie Justice at cjustice.newgloucester@gmail.com.

Author Amy Safford presented PowerPoint slides and read excerpts from her new book, “Goode Vibrations of the Wresting Place,” at the New Gloucester Public Library on Sept. 9. A centerpiece of the content involves the mixed-race Malaga Island settlement off the coast of Phippsburg being expelled in 1911 and 1912. Many of the residents were buried in the Pineland Cemetery. Patti Mikkelsen / For Lakes Region Weekly

Harvest Festival

People of all ages are invited to celebrate the fall season at the 10th annual Harvest Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, sponsored by the Pineland Farms Education Department. The rain date is Oct. 5.

Located at the Valley Farm and Family Farmyard, featured activities include apple cider demonstrations, a five-acre corn maze, pumpkin patch and more. Adult supervision is required for those bringing children.

The fee is $8 per person; children ages 2 and under are free. Preregistration is recommended as the number of tickets is limited. To sign up, go to shop.pinelandfarms.org, hover over the Farm Visits & Programs menu, and select Events.

Check in at the Smokehouse Visitors Center, 110 Valley Farm Road. Contact the Education Department at 650-3031 or education@pinelandfarms.org for more details.

Send your news about New Gloucester happenings to Patti Mikkelsen at mikks@maine.rr.com.

SAD 15 bond questions

Several SAD 15 bond questions will appear on the Nov. 5 ballot in Gray and New Gloucester.

One of them involves installing new ventilation and air quality equipment in four of the five district schools. A second would provide a much-improved lunch and cafeteria experience at the high school. A third would add a new 450-seat performing arts center accessible to the public. A fourth asks to make a new 700-seat, regulation-sized indoor gymnasium space accessible to the public. A fifth would create new ball fields and facilities.

Voters should note that if the question about indoor air quality renovations and improvements were to fail, SAD 15 will lose access to an estimated $3 million Loan Principal Forgiveness grant and the ability to borrow $3.4 million at zero interest. Meanwhile, the district would still have a large number of classrooms that don’t meet air quality standards.

School officials project that if the bond package passes, property taxes would rise significantly. They estimate the average $350,000 home in New Gloucester would see an increase of approximately $600 and in Gray $750 for annual property taxes.

However, the price tag would slowly decrease each year, as homeowners only pay interest on the principle that is remaining. Also, a 20% contingency has been built in to absorb unanticipated extra expenses, so the actual effect on property taxes may be somewhat lower than projected.