8984-R2_NewGloucester_2023-2024_AnnualReport_Web

April 25 th was the NG250 Spoken Word Event held at Coolidge Family Farm, 1084 Lewiston Road, with 27 in Misty Coolidge’s barn that Thursday evening. There were 9 participants covering a variety of styles and topics, including Steve and Tom in their colonial outfits, and it was recorded by Richard and Patti. On May 2 nd , Tom donned the colonial gear and stood beside a tri-fold display created with his wife Shelley’s help to promote NG250 at Spring Family Night held at Memorial School and attended by more than 300 K thru 2 students and family. The NG250 tri-fold display was up two nights later at the annual Town Meeting. Three days after that, our shipment of 250 NG250 commemorative pencils arrived. They were designed and ordered by Shelley and paid for by the Historical Society. Thursday May 16th, the Historical Society program “Memories and Milestones”, another NG250 event, had 28 in attendance for a panel of 7 longtime residents sharing recollections of growing up in New Gloucester, with Tom serving as moderator. A few of the participants kindly joined at the last minute, but all enjoyed listening to Phil Blake, Dick Cadigan, Steve Chandler, Greg Joy, Jean Libby, Steve Libby, and Barbara Seaver. Mark Bowie joined Richard and Patti to record the evening’s stories, and Avis Ford supplied delicious spice cake. Two days later was the opening of the NG250 Photo Contest, where Linda, with help from her granddaughter Luna Pepin, had set up the 26 framed entries for viewing in the old fire station. Richard brought over the camcorder and took a still shot of each photo and also shot some video of the display. Kevyn and Lori Fowler stopped in for a first look, and returned the next day to judge the photos. Linda, Luna, and Tom welcomed visitors 9am-2pm on both Saturday and Sunday. Richard also returned on Sunday, this time with new cable TV volunteer William Welte, to record the awards presentation. 15 were present in the Community Building for the 2pm ceremony recognizing the winners of the child, teen, adult, and people’s choice awards. Digital images of most of the entries were collected and provided to the historical society for their calendar. Regrettably, Alana Jones and Penny Hilton resigned in May due to other commitments. Memorial Day weekend featured town-wide yard sales, each with a new NG250 logo sign, red with white lettering. Cumberland Lodge #12 was also celebrating NG250 with an open house followed by a “lobster and steak feed” on Memorial Day, serving over 125 guests. On Wednesday May 29 th , a special history assembly was held at Memorial School 1:15-1:30pm. Linda and Tom wore their colonial outfits, did a quick slideshow presentation about past and future celebrations, along with early school photos, and passed out NG250 pencils to all the students. Father’s Day June 16 th was a picture-perfect day for the next NG250 event: a Cruise-In at Hodgman’s sponsored by Knucklebusters Motor Club. Tom set up a table with Beverly Cadigan and Jean Libby of the Historical Society where they sold the newly minted 250th coins, while over 150 participants drove in to show off for the several hundred visitors. June 27 th was a beautiful evening for the Historical Society’s annual Strawberry Festival, with Jim Gallant providing local music, Kathie Anderson keeping it running smoothly, and Jean selling NG250 coins for $10 and the brand new 2025 calendars for $5 while everyone serenaded her with “Happy Birthday”.

Respectfully submitted, Thomas Blake, vice-chair NG250 Semiquincentennial Celebration Committee

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