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Header photo: Sunset over Sabbathday Lake, Ellie Fellers
Posted in Other
The 11th annual festival of Maine’s finest, award-winning Native American artists will be held at Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, 707 Shaker Road, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Aug. 24.
The Maine Native American Summer Market provides a rare opportunity to purchase museum-quality crafts directly from nationally recognized Wabanaki artists. A wide selection of crafts is offered for a range of prices.
More than 40 members of the Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Micmac and Maliseet tribes will demonstrate traditional Wabanaki art forms including basket making, stone carving, bark etching, beadwork and jewelry. Additionally, there will be storytelling by Geo Neptune, as well as performances by the Burnurwurbskek Singers and Wabanaki Dancers.
Barbecue dinner plates will be available for sale to the public, while supplies last. The free festival will be held rain or shine.
For Patti Mikkelsen’s complete column in the Lakes Region Weekly, go to: https://www.pressherald.com/2019/08/16/inside-new-gloucester-aug-16/
Posted in Classified
Ellie Fellers, Sun Journal
The New Gloucester Community Fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the New Gloucester Fair Grounds Park, 106 Bald Hill Road.
Last held in 2014, the family-friendly event is free and features more than 50 vendors, booths, exhibits and demonstrations. Keep reading
Comments Off on Community Fair is back after five years
Posted in Events
| By Melanie Creamer — Portland Press Herald |
David Moran, longtime owner of Sorella’s Bakehouse in Portland’s East Bayside neighborhood, died Aug. 1 after a brief fight with cancer. He was 63.
Moran opened Sorella’s in 2002 and made bread for several well-known Portland restaurants and businesses, including Duckfat, Bruno’s Restaurant and Tavern, Maria’s Restaurant, Micucci Grocery and Leavitt & Sons.
Pete Leavitt, owner of Leavitt & Sons, said Moran was at the heart of the food and hospitality business in Portland. He called Moran an “unsung hero” of the city’s food scene. Keep reading.
Posted in Obituaries
Wil Kramlich, Sun Journal
Kyle Fletcher (boys) and Marcy Francoeur (girls) are young but experienced; Volleyball has been approved as a club sport this season.
The upcoming fall sports season will see a sea of change at Gray-New Gloucester High School.
Not only is the football team one of 10 teams in the state to participate in the first year of Maine Principals’ Association-sanctioned 8-man football, but both the boys and girls soccer teams have new coaches after veteran coaches moved on, and a new sport could make its debut at the school. Keep reading
Posted in News
Obituary in the Portland Press Herald
David Anthony Moran, 63, passed away Aug. 1, 2019, from cancer with his family by his side. He was born on March 19, 1956, in Portland, Maine, to Davielee and Marie (Richio) Moran. Keep reading
Posted in Obituaries
Ellie Fellers, Special to the Sun Journal
Selectmen agreed Monday night more work and clarification are needed before they update the town’s Boards and Committees Bylaws and a Liaison Policy.
Six residents Monday night urged the board to get input from the public and from committees impacted by the newest versions of the documents. Keep reading
Comments Off on Select Board seeks input on by-laws, policies
Posted in News
Joanne Cole
Primed with a revised draft ordinance, the Land Management Planning Committee continued discussing large-scale solar arrays at its July 24 meeting. The committee is focusing on ground-mounted projects (not rooftop installations) while a voter-approved six-month moratorium is in place. This meeting addressed possible requirements for planning board review, fencing, setbacks, and removal of abandoned arrays. In other business, town planner Scott Hastings updated the committee on his research concerning marinas under New Gloucester’s ordinances. His conclusion is likely to cheer residents concerned about development pressures on Sabbathday Lake: commercial marinas are not allowed.
Continue readingComments Off on Land Management Planning Committee continues work on solar arrays, gets update on marinas and docks
Posted in News
New Gloucester Parks and Recreation has Funtown/Splashtown tickets for $30 each and Aquaboggan tickets for $17 available now at the Town Office, 385 Intervale Road.
Friends of the New Gloucester Public Library have arranged for passes to Maine Wildlife Park, Poland Spring, Shaker Village and the Children’s Museum. Also, the library is the place to sign out pickleball equipment for use at Rowe Station Park, as well as canoes and kayaks for use at the New Gloucester Fairgrounds.
For Patti Mikkelsen’s complete column in the Lakes Region Weekly, go to https://www.pressherald.com/2019/08/02/inside-new-gloucester-35/
Posted in News
| by Anne Maurice |
Scott Hastings, Town Planner, began the committee’s July meeting with an introduction of the first drafted chapter of the Comprehensive Plan which covers population and housing. The population data shows a steady progression of growth over the last decade. Hastings stated that New Gloucester does have available land to meet the population projections. However, New Gloucester has a lot of land in conservation programs and the potential available land for housing is not necessarily of the same high quality as in the past.
The discussion moved towards housing and Hastings reported that in 2015, the Town had 263 vacant housing stock with about half being seasonal. Ben Tettlebaum, committee member, asked about short-term rentals and Airbnb. There are no official records on Airbnb activity in town. Members want to include some data and projections in the Plan.
Hastings mentioned that state guidelines for Comprehensive Plans require the inclusion of affordable housing needs. The Committee discussed how to maintain the town’s rural character while including areas for affordable housing and increased density.
Tettlebaum and Julie Fralich, committee member, both want to include sustainable energy and building solutions in the Plan. Larger housing stock conversion to multiple-family housing was brought up as a solution for more housing and a means to repurpose large dwellings in light of smaller family sizes. Fire/Rescue Chief Toby Martin cautioned about converting large, older type dwellings which will need sprinkler systems and possibly other safety considerations.
Once again the conversation turned to senior housing. What level of housing is needed? Do we need assisted living facilities? How many services will be needed by seniors? All these questions will need to be discussed at a future meeting.
Hastings will now take the Committee’s comments and suggestions, revise the chapter and resend it to the Committee for further review. The next meeting is scheduled for August 8 at the New Gloucester Meeting House when the Committee will review another draft chapter, possibly on transportation or agriculture. For more information and to sign up for ongoing email updates on the comprehensive plan work contact the Town Planner, Scott Hastings at shastings@newgloucester.com or (207)926-4126 ext 4.
Video of full July 11 meeting is available here. Materials and videos for this and other meetings can be found on the NG website: newgloucester.com.
Posted in Comprehensive Plan Update, News
Norumbega Cidery is open on Saturday, August 3 from 1 pm to 6 pm. Music provided by Ronda Dale, food provided by Nom Bai, and fresh cut flowers available for making your own bouquets. And of course, refreshing Norumbega cider with some new onsite blends available including New North Woods Spruce Tip and a fresh batch of Cyser and Berry Medley.
The Norumbega Chapel Trail is right behind the Cider House and links to the Big Falls Preserve Trail is you are looking for some outdoor activity as well. Stop on by at 380 Woodman Road.
Posted in Classified
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